Read Online A Matter of Breeding by J. Sydney Jones - Free Book Online Page B

thrusting Werthen back in his seat. Gross, seated across from him, took the newspaper out of his lap and found the article Werthen was reading.
    ‘Excellent,’ he said. ‘A new cat among the pigeons.’
    It took a moment for Werthen to understand. ‘You gave Krafft-Ebing that information.’
    Gross looked pleased with himself.
    ‘And the reporter?’ Werthen asked.
    ‘I merely made a conjecture in a telegram to an editor I know. We cannot very well have half of Europe believing there are vampires in Styria or that Jews are committing blood rituals.’
    ‘Manipulating the press now, are you?’ Werthen said.
    ‘Someone must,’ Gross said. ‘And neatly done, too, I believe. But I must apologize, Stoker,’ he said, turning to the third passenger. ‘This rather takes the steam out of your promotional efforts.’
    ‘I am not sure I follow you,’ Stoker said.
    ‘But of course you do, man,’ Gross said. ‘If the press takes up the cry of a sexual deviant being responsible for these murders, then the vampire angle is gone and so is your
Dracula
connection. You see, my same editor friend advised me that he had been contacted by your agent or publicist, or whatever such a person is called, regarding a possible series of articles on the vampire murders.’
    Stoker had the good grace to redden in the cheeks at being caught out.
    ‘Now, far be it from me to suggest that you, Herr Stoker, having read in the early editions of the supposed vampire killings in Styria, fabricated the story of being followed in order to worm your way into this investigation. That, knowing Advokat Werthen and I often work together, you decided to employ our good friend as a bodyguard.’
    ‘How could I know that you were involved in the investigation?’ Stoker protested.
    ‘It has come to my attention that various newspapers reported my presence at the third crime scene.’
    Werthen looked on in stunned amazement that quickly turned to pique.
    ‘Is this true, Stoker? You hired me under false pretenses?’
    ‘No, none of it,’ he said.
    Werthen and Gross both stared hard at him and he finally relented. ‘Oh, all right. If you must know, I was bored senseless in Vienna waiting for the day of my speech. I do not know why my publicist brought me over so early.’
    ‘You’re a free man,’ Werthen said. ‘Why not just come down here on your own? Why involve me in this ruse?’
    ‘I feel a kinship to you gentlemen. You may not know it, but I was once clerk of court to the petty sessions. It was a position that took a degree of legal training. I traveled all round Ireland as a young man, organizing the courts, listening in on cases, advising the Justices of the Peace. It was a fascinating time, my first introduction to real life outside the cosseted home life of my family.’
    ‘Collecting fines and issuing beer licenses hardly qualifies you as an investigator,’ Gross said.
    ‘I apologize, to both of you. Sincerely, I do. But I was so eager to put my brain to some real use.’
    ‘Not the gentlemanly thing to do, Stoker,’ Werthen said, but he took some pleasure in the realization that Stoker had fooled Schnitzler, too.
    ‘Whoever said I am a gentleman? I am a writer. But I
can
be of assistance, a third pair of eyes. Just give me a chance.’
    Remembering Stoker’s observation that von Hobarty had an edition of Gross’s
Criminal Investigations
, Werthen thought maybe the Irishman had a point. Perhaps he could be of service and see things with fresh foreign eyes.
    Werthen looked at Gross. ‘Well?’
    ‘Well what?’ the criminologist said. ‘We can hardly throw the man out of a moving carriage. Besides, he is rather too large for that endeavor. In fact his size might come in useful.’ Then to Stoker: ‘Are you handy with your fists?’
    ‘I’ve been known to spar in the ring.’
    ‘Then it’s settled. Roles are thus forth reversed,’ Gross said. ‘You shall be
our
protector.’
    ‘But what of my commission?’ Werthen