[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

if you like."
"By all means. Now I think I'll go and take a little nap; I feel quite worn
out. When the Inspector arrives you will be able to explain all that has
happened; but I think I should ask him to keep a quiet tongue in his head
about the island. If it leaks out at all, it may warn them, and they'll be off
elsewhere to a place perhaps where we may not be able to find them."
"I'll remember," said Mr Wetherell, and thereupon I retired to my room, and,
having partially undressed, threw myself upon my bed. In less than two minutes
I was fast asleep, never waking until the first gong sounded for breakfast;
then, after a good bath, which refreshed me wonderfully, I dressed in my usual
habiliments, and went downstairs. Mr Wetherell and the Marquis were in the
diningroom, and when I
entered both he and the Marquis, who held a copy of the Sydney Morning Herald
in his hand, seemed prodigiously excited.
"I say, Mr Hatteras," said the latter (after I had said 'Goodmorning'),
"here's an advertisement which is evidently intended for you!"
Page 115
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"What is it about?" I asked. "Who wants to advertise for me?"
"Read for yourself," said the Marquis, giving me the paper.
I took it, and glanced down the column to which he referred me until I came to
the following:
Richard Hatteras. If this should meet the eye of Mr Richard Hatteras of
Thursday Island, Torres Straits, lately returned from England, and believed to
be now in Sydney; he is earnestly requested to call at the office of Messrs
Dawson & Gladman, Solicitors, Castlereagh Street, where he will hear of
something to his advantage.
There could be no doubt at all that I was the person referred to; but what
could be the reason of it all? What was there that I could possibly hear to my
advantage, save news of Phyllis, and it would be most unlikely that
I would learn anything about the movements of the gang who had abducted her
from a firm of firstclass solicitors such as I understood Messrs Dawson &
Gladman to be. However, it was no use wondering about it, so I dismissed the
matter from my mind for the present, and took my place at the table. In the
middle of the meal the butler left the room, in response to a ring at the
front door. When he returned, it was to inform me that a man was in the hall,
who wished to have a few moments' conversation with me. Asking Mr Wetherell to
excuse me, I left the room.
In the hall I found a seedylooking individual of about middle age. He bowed,
and on learning that my name was Hatteras, asked if he might be permitted five
minutes alone with me. In response, I led him to the morningroom, and having
closed the door, pointed to a seat.
"What is your business?" I enquired, when he had sat down.
"It is rather a curious affair to approach, Mr Hatteras," the man began. "But
to commence, may I be permitted to suggest that you are uneasy in your mind
about a person who has disappeared?"
"You may certainly suggest that, if you like," I answered cautiously.
"If it were in a man's power to furnish a clue regarding that person's
whereabouts, it might be useful to you, I
suppose," he continued, craftily watching me out of the corners of his eyes.
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
A BID FOR FORTUNE OR DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
125
"Very useful," I replied. "Are you in a position to do so?"
"I might possibly be able to afford you some slight assistance," he went on.
"That is, of course, provided it were made worth my while."
"What do you call "worth your while"?"
"Well, shall we say five hundred pounds? That's not a large sum for really
trustworthy information. I ought to ask a thousand, considering the danger I'm
running in mixing myself up with the affair. Only I'm a father myself, and
that's why I do it."
"I see. Well, let me tell you, I consider five hundred too much."
"Well then I'm afraid we can't trade. I'm sorry."
"So am I. But I'm not going to buy a pig in a poke."
"Shall we say four hundred, then?"
"No. Nor three two, or one. If your information is worth anything, I don't
mind giving you fifty pounds for it. But I won't give a halfpenny more."
As I spoke, I rose as if to terminate the interview. Instantly my visitor
adopted a different tone.
"My fault is my generosity," he said. "It's the ruin of me. Well, you shall
have it for fifty. Give me the money, and I'll tell you."
"By no means," I answered. "I must hear the information first. Trust to my
honour. If what you tell me is worth anything, I'll give you fifty pounds for
it. Now what is it?"
"Well, sir, to begin with, you must understand that I was standing at the
corner of Pitt Street an evening or two back, when two men passed me talking
Page 116
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
earnestly together. One of 'em was a tall strapping fellow, the other a little
chap. I never saw two eviller looking rascals in my life. Just as they came
alongside me, one says to the other, "Don't be afraid; I'll have the girl at
the station all right at eight o'clock sharp." The other said something that I
could not catch, and then I lost sight of them. But what I had heard stuck in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • supermarket.pev.pl

    •