Read Online Crime at Tattenham Corner by Annie Haynes - Free Book Online Page B

it.”
    â€œDid Sir John Burslem’s car pass you?”
    â€œShouldn’t have been any the wiser if it had,” Stanyard retorted. “I shouldn’t have recognized Burslem passing quickly in a car. I might have made a shot at him if he had been walking, but just jigging by in a car what chance should I have? Besides, most of the time my old bus was on top of me, and I was poking at her inside; should not have seen Peep o’ Day himself, let alone Burslem.”
    â€œBut Lady Burslem was with Sir John. You would have known her?”
    Stanyard turned his head away, and catching up an ivory ornament from the mantelshelf began to turn it about in his fingers.
    â€œNow you are talking! And I know what you are getting at. Because I was a silly ass about Sophie Carlford in my salad days, you think I am keen enough after all this time to do old Burslem in so that I can marry her myself. As if when a chap had been chucked over once he is dotty enough to go on hankering after the girl. If he is – well, his name will not be Charles Stanyard, and that is all there is to that!”
    â€œYou were dancing with Lady Burslem at the Ruthwyn Club a week or two ago.”
    â€œNow, how did you tumble to that?” Sir Charles inquired, staring at him. “Yes, I just came across her by chance talking to a friend of mine. I had nothing against her. Never do bear malice, you know, so I said, ‘Let’s have a turn for the sake of old times.’ So we did, and that’s all there is about that.”
    â€œThank you for being so frank, Sir Charles.” Stoddart waited a moment as if considering some point, then said:
    â€œAnd about the row at the Wilton Club a week before Sir John’s death?”
    Stanyard opened his eyes wider than ever. “I say, you have been pokin’ round, haven’t you? Well, it was a bit of a ramp – seemed as if the old chap was trying to get me. It was something I said about Peep o’ Day and old Matt Harker, and Burslem overheard and came for me. Bad-tempered sort of chap, I should say. But, bless your life, it meant nothing. Should have got over it and been good friends later on, I dare say.”
    â€œWell, you might,” Stoddart said doubtfully. “Now, what about this, Sir Charles?”
    He drew a little packet carefully wrapped up in tissue paper from his pocket; he threw off the paper and disclosed a silver cigarette-case with a monogram on the side.
    â€œIs this yours?”
    â€œWhy, yes it is,” Stanyard said, taking it from him. “I was wonderin’ this morning what had become of the bloomin’ thing. How did you come across it, inspector?”
    â€œIt was found in Sir John’s run-about the day after his death,” the inspector said quietly.
    The ivory ornament in Stanyard’s hand cracked suddenly. “Oh, I say, that’s impossible! How could it have got there?”
    â€œThat,” said the inspector very softly, “I thought you could explain, Sir Charles.”
    â€œWell, then, I can’t,” said Sir Charles, setting down the broken ornament with a snap and putting the cigarette-case beside it. “I know no more about it than the man in the moon or yourself, inspector; not so much I expect. So that’s that! Hadn’t you better arrest me and save yourself the trouble of lookin’ after me. There’s a dirty sort of dodger always at my heels; I guess he’s one of your lot.”
    The inspector made no answer to this sally. “Then there is nothing more to be done now, Sir Charles,” he said gravely.
    When they had left the Mansions and were walking across the Green Park, Stoddart glanced round at his assistant.
    â€œWhat do you think of that young man, Harbord?”
    â€œI really don’t know.” Harbord hesitated. “I thought he was all quite straight and above-board at first; but I didn’t quite like his manner over the