J. J. Connington

“ Old Dangerfield came out of his brown study with a start, made a gesture of acquiescence, and threw open the window to its full extent. Through the embrasure a faint breath of air wandered in from the outer twilight, laden with the smell of parched soil and the heavy perfume of flowers; but it brought no coolness with it.
“I suppose this doesn’t affect you, Mr. Wraxall?” Mrs. Brent turned to the American beside her. “You’re a New Yorker, aren’t you? Heat waves won’t trouble you as much as they do me. You’re acclimatised, no doubt.”
“It’s warm to-night. It’s certainly not what one calls cool. ”

“ Eileen Cressage had caught the rapid interchange of talk.
“Oh! Are you going to tell him the Legend? May I come? I’d like to hear it.”
“What legend? About the Talisman? I haven’t heard it either,” said Westenhanger. “Do you mind my coming with you along with the rest?”
Rollo Dangerfield’s smile had a touch of wistfulness, in which it seemed curiously alien from the general cast of his features.
“Anyone who is interested will be welcome,” he said, with a touch of an old-fashioned courtesy which seemed to be so much in character in his case. ”

“ Strong suspicion attaches to every guest. That’s how the land lies.”
“Oh, indeed, Freddie,” said Westenhanger. “Then, if we must suspect somebody, we may as well begin with yourself. What about it? Anything you say will be used against you at the trial, without regard for age or sex. Where’s my notebook?”
“It’s all very well for you,” protested Freddie. “You’re out of it all. But what about the rest of us? It’s a nasty idea to feel that the person sitting next to you in this room may be a thief.” ”

“ If I wasn’t stealing the Talisman, then they’d have their own ideas about where I was during that time. Mr. Westenhanger knows what I mean; and so do you, Douglas. And I can’t clear myself. I really can’t.”
She deliberately caught the eye of each man in turn and held it long enough to show that she was not avoiding them; then she looked down, as if thinking carefully.
“You certainly mustn’t say anything about this, just now. It wouldn’t do me any good. And there’s a better reason. Our one chance of catching this thief is to find the left-handed man amongst the people here. ”

“ We’ve eliminated everyone except Eric. He’s the only one who fits the facts. And yet old Dangerfield spoke as if he had absolute certainty. What was it he said? ‘He knows what he knows.’ But what does he know? This Dangerfield Secret? Is there some deadly business connected with the guarding of the Talisman, so dangerous that no one would risk touching it ‘if he knows what he knows’? The old man, if I read him right, isn’t a mystery-monger for the sheer love of it. ”

“ His only worry at present was whether Cynthia Pennard would marry him or not. No great need for anxiety there, Eileen reflected. Cynthia wasn’t throwing herself at his head, certainly; but it was one of those affairs which are bound to come right in the end. If only her own affairs would look as bright!
Finally, her partner, Conway Westenhanger, very obviously hadn’t a care in the world. Those mechanical inventions of his were known to be small gold mines; he wasn’t in love with anyone; and he got on well with people. What more could a man want? ”

“ Rollo Dangerfield’s face had regained its accustomed serenity. The tinge of suspicion had vanished completely and was replaced by a trustful expression, as he looked at his two guests. He turned first to Eileen.
“I am sorry you have been kept waiting for an answer to your question, Miss Cressage. It was my fault. You will forgive an old man’s impatience when I tell you that you and Mr. Westenhanger have cleared up something which has hung over fifty years of my life. And there are other reasons, too, as you will hear.” ”

“ Mrs. Caistor Scorton reflected for a moment.
“Well, you can give me a cheque, if you like,” she conceded. “But, frankly, I prefer to keep these things on a cash basis always. It’s a fad of mine; and I don’t like to break my rule.”
The ungraciousness of the tone was evident; but Eileen cared little for that. All she wanted was to escape the humiliation of a public explanation. A cheque would furnish a way out of present difficulties. She could hand it over; and then, later on, she could explain the state of affairs to her creditor without an embarrassing audience. ”

“ I would never dream of letting a guest of mine lie under suspicion when a word from me would clear up the matter. Never. Besides, whom could I shield?”
He met Westenhanger’s eye frankly.
“There are only two possible people: Eric and Helga. You might suspect either of them; but what does it amount to? Eric could have taken the thing, undoubtedly. He may have reasons for taking it. He’s left-handed, like the thief. . . .”
“You knew the thief was left-handed?” asked Westenhanger in surprise. ”

“ Rollo Dangerfield raised himself slightly in his chair and looked round directly at Wraxall’s face. For the first time, the American saw a keenness in the old man’s blue eyes, though their expression was inscrutable.
“No, I suspect nobody. I have no evidence, and I do not wish to collect any. The Talisman will be back in its place within a week; and that is the only important thing in the case. For all I know, the whole affair may be a practical joke. Some of these young folks may have taken it into their heads to test the Dangerfield legend.” ”

“ Brent took up the story, as though their parts had been pre-arranged between them.
“I seldom interfere in other people’s affairs. I was brought up to believe that one shouldn’t be a busybody. But some things seem to me outside the rules of the game, and then an outsider can take a hand. I noticed a thing that evening which seemed to me outside the rules. Taking advantage of a girl in a tight corner is . . . well, I needn’t comment on it.”
She darted a contemptuous glance at Morchard, without taking any pains to disguise it. ”

“ Westenhanger detected more feeling in the comment than he had expected; and for a moment he was surprised. Then it flashed across his mind that Rollo probably knew of Helga’s somnambulism and had thus a keener interest in such matters than most people. He hastened to reassure the old man.
“No; it’s not chronic. Just a touch of it one gets at times.”
A fleeting expression changed Rollo Dangerfield’s face for an instant; but it was gone before Westenhanger could identify it.
“I sometimes get it myself when I’m worried,” said old Dangerfield. “It’s a bad business if it gets a firm hold on one. ”

“ Brent’s return. She slipped into her chair and began to fan herself with an air of relief.
“This is the kind of night when one appreciates the Dangerfield methods,” she said, after a time. “They know how I hate climbing stairs; and they gave me a room on the ground floor. It’s the only one; all the rest are above. I blessed them just now as I passed the staircase and remembered that I might have had to climb it. I’ve got to the age when one economises on the unnecessary as far as possible; and I count stair climbing as a luxury on that standard.” ”

“ Caistor Scorton commented in a colourless tone, “you seem to have an unwholesome mind, if I may say it without offence.” Her voice became indignant. “You know precious little about girls if you think Eileen Cressage would raise money in that particular way. I’m not talking about morality; I’m speaking of fastidiousness. If you’d suggested Douglas Fairmile, it might have been credible; but it’s quite beyond believing if you drag in Mr. Morchard. She simply wouldn’t dream of it. There are some things a girl of that type won’t do; and a cash bargain with Mr. Morchard’s one of them.” ”

“ One has to agree even with Mr. Stickney at times. He’s quite right. We are all under suspicion until this thing is cleared up; and I think it ought to be cleared up. I know just exactly how it feels to be under suspicion. You must see it through to the end and catch the thief. I’m sure you can—you’re quite clever enough for that—and it’s the only way to clear the rest of us completely. I wouldn’t hear of it being used and wasted merely to clear me personally and leave all the rest in the lurch. We’ve got other people to think of as well.”
“Very sporting of you, Eileen,” said Douglas. ”

“ A faint shade of irritation showed in Rollo Dangerfield’s eyes, the first sign of emotion the American had seen. But when he spoke, his voice was as indifferent as before.
“Why should we call in the police? The Talisman will find its way home without their help. Would you bring the police among your guests, stir up trouble, make everyone uncomfortable with suspicions and cross-questioning? No, Mr. Wraxall, we shan’t need the police at Friocksheim. I told you so, before the Talisman disappeared, and you obviously didn’t believe me. ”

“ Mrs. Brent retorted. “And I prefer to keep what nerves I have, rather than wreck them further with drugs. One can always stand a thing if one makes up one’s mind to it.”
“One thing I won’t stand,” said Mrs. Dangerfield, “and that’s the heat in this room. Let’s go outside and see if we can’t find a cooler spot to sit.”
The doctor rose and followed her as she crossed the room; but Mrs. Brent seemed to reject the idea. She remained in her chair and Wraxall, after rising, sat down again. For a time Mrs. Brent remained silent, gazing out at the inky sky; but at last she turned to the American. ”

“ Something further was needed to establish the identity of the culprit beyond doubt. And the more he puzzled over the problem, the less chance could he see of bringing the thing home. One might devise a scheme for trapping a fellow-guest; but how could one out-manœuvre a man working on his own ground with complete knowledge of all the possibilities of the environment?
Even when he went to bed, Westenhanger lay awake seeking some solution of the problem. ”

“ On coming down to breakfast next morning he found Freddie Stickney busily spreading the news to Nina, Cynthia and Douglas.
“Heard the latest?” Freddie demanded as Westenhanger entered the room. “The Talisman’s turned up again—safe in its cabinet once more, just as old Dangerfield prophesied.”
“Who told you that?”
Westenhanger was completely taken aback by the news.
“Oh, it’s all right,” Freddie assured him. “You don’t catch me swallowing things on mere hearsay. I’ve been along to the Corinthian’s Room myself and had a look. And there it is, as large as life. ”

“ The American has a sense of humour, but not that sort, I’m sure. You don’t attribute it to one of the girls, do you? No? Well, then, that leaves us with . . . let’s see . . . with Mr. Frederick Stickney as the only possible culprit. I don’t think much of your taste in humour, Freddie, and that’s a fact.”
“All the same,” said Eileen Cressage, “I’d prefer it to be a case of practical joking rather than the other thing. Perhaps it will all come right and we shall find the Talisman back again in a few days, just as Mr. Dangerfield said.”
Freddie had recovered from Westenhanger’s attack. ”

“ On the afternoon of the day after Rollo Dangerfield had shown the Talisman to his guests, Freddie was lounging on a seat in the garden when one of these inference-bearing facts crossed his mind.
“Why,” he said to himself, “now that Westenhanger’s gone to town, we shall be thirteen at table to-night. That’s very thoughtless of the Dangerfields. Out of thirteen people there’s certain to be at least one person who’s superstitious. That’ll be most uncomfortable for everybody. ”

“ Caistor Scorton had seized on Rollo’s intervention as a possible way opening to safety; but with his recantation she seemed to lose heart completely.
“Well, I took it, then,” she admitted. “I couldn’t help it. I’m a kleptomaniac. I can’t help taking glittering things like these. I’m not a thief. I don’t steal for money. I don’t need money. It’s simply I can’t help taking some things. They fascinate me. I simply have to take them. I’ve fought against it, but it’s no good.”
“So I thought,” said Westenhanger. “But that hardly excuses the way in which you tried to throw suspicion on other people. ”

“ Douglas Fairmile laughed at the sight of Freddie’s expression; and with that laugh, the tension was released again. Douglas’s mirth seemed infectious, following so closely on the strain of the last quarter of an hour.
“Well, I’m glad you can’t suspect me,” said Nina Lindale with a faint smile. “I never thought a thunderstorm would clear my character. ”

“ Westenhanger considered for a few moments as though he found it difficult to choose words for what he had to say. At last he put down his pipe.
“There’s one thing, Douglas—that girl has got to be cleared. We’re all mixed up in that affair, thanks to Freddie’s infernal manœuvres; we can’t shirk responsibility. I don’t know what possessed her to go roaming about the house at that time of night. Still less can I imagine why she couldn’t tell us what she was after. But she’s a straight girl, if ever I saw one, and we simply can’t afford to let things rest as they are. ”

“ Wraxall,” said Cynthia to the American. “I’ve really no idea of what time it was that Nina came along to me; but it was just after that awful thunder-clap; and I expect that was the one you made a note of. Nina and I fell asleep after a while, once the storm had gone down. I don’t know what time that was, either. Do you generally fall asleep with your eyes on your watch, Mr. Stickney? It seems very hard to fix any definite times for things which happen at night.”
Freddie smiled in a superior fashion. ”

“ He’d be waiting there for her, not roaming about the house picking up the Talisman. Obvious, I think. Unless . . . Could he have taken it and meant to throw suspicion on her? No, he wouldn’t know she had been out of her room at all that night. No, that’s wrong. We can leave Morchard out of it.”
Douglas kicked angrily at the ground.
“The infernal thing is that one can do nothing to Morchard. The least row would lead to the devil of a scandal, and Eileen would suffer. It’s Freddie’s case over again, only fifty times worse. Our hands are tied.”
“That’s so,” said Westenhanger, shortly. ”

“ Old Rollo’s eyes twinkled.
“I doubt if they’d have played much if they’d been left to their own exertions. As a matter of fact, each player had a lackey to shift his pieces for him while he sat comfortably in his chair.”
He came forward and sat down as he spoke.
“This chess-board looks innocent enough; but it brought the death of my grandfather. You know what it was like in those days: men would quarrel about the tint of a snuff-box and fight a fatal duel over the fit of a cravat. My grandfather was as much of a fire-eater as his friends. ”