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The Red House Mystery
CHAPTER XX
Mr。 Beverley is Tactful
The inquest had been held at the 〃Lamb〃 at Stanton； at Stanton
Robert Ablett was to be buried next day。 Bill waited about outside for his
friend； wondering where he had gone。 Then； realizing that Cayley would
be coming out to his car directly； and that a farewell talk with Cayley
would be a little embarrassing； he wandered round to the yard at the back
of the inn； lit a cigarette； and stood surveying a torn and weather…beaten
poster on the stable wall。 〃GRAND THEATRICAL ENTER〃 it announced；
to take place on 〃Wednesday； Decem。〃 Bill smiled to himself as he
looked at it； for the part of Joe； a loquacious postman； had been played by
〃William B。 Beverl；〃 as the remnants of the poster still maintained； and he
had been much less loquacious than the author had intended； having
forgotten his words completely； but it had all been great fun。 And then he
stopped smiling； for there would be no more fun now at the Red House。
〃Sorry to keep you waiting；〃 said the voice of Antony behind him。
〃My old friends Amos and Parsons insisted on giving me a drink。〃
He slipped his hand into the crook of Bill's arm； and smiled happily at
him。
〃Why were you so keen about them？〃 asked Bill a little resentfully。 〃I
couldn't think where on earth you had got to。〃
Antony didn't say anything。 He was staring at the poster。
〃When did this happen？〃 he asked。
〃What？〃
Antony waved to the poster。
〃Oh； that？ Last Christmas。 It was rather fun。〃
Antony began to laugh to himself。
〃Were you good？〃
〃Rotten。 I don't profess to be an actor。〃
〃Mark good？〃
〃Oh； rather。 He loves it。〃
〃Rev。 Henry Stutters … Mr。 Matthew Cay；〃 read Antony。
〃Was that our friend Cayley？〃
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〃Yes。〃
〃Any good？〃
〃Well； much better than I expected。 He wasn't keen； but Mark made
him。〃
〃Miss Norris wasn't playing； I see。〃
〃My dear Tony； she's a professional。 Of course she wasn't。〃
Antony laughed again。
〃A great success； was it？〃
〃Oh。 rather！〃
〃I'm a fool； and a damned fool；〃 Antony announced solemnly。 〃And
a damned fool；〃 he said again under his breath； as he led Bill away from
the poster； and out of the yard into the road。 〃And a damned fool。 Even
now …〃 He broke off and then asked suddenly； 〃Did Mark ever have
much trouble with his teeth？〃
〃He went to his dentist a good deal。 But what on earth …〃
Antony laughed a third time。
〃What luck！〃 he chuckled。 〃But how do you know？〃
〃We go to the same man； Mark recommended him to me。 Cartwright；
in Wimpole Street。〃
〃Cartwright in Wimpole Street；〃 repeated Antony thoughtfully。 〃Yes；
I can remember that。 Cartwright in Wimpole Street。 Did Cayley go to
him too； by any chance？〃
〃I expect so。 Oh； yes； I know he did。 But what on earth …〃
〃What was Mark's general health like？ Did he see a doctor much？〃
〃Hardly at all； I should think。 He did a lot of early morning exercises
which were supposed to make him bright and cheerful at breakfast。 They
didn't do that； but they seemed to keep him pretty fit。 Tony； I wish you'd
…〃
Antony held up a hand and hushed him into silence。
〃One last question；〃 he said。 〃Was Mark fond of swimming？〃
〃No； he hated it。 I don't believe he could swim。 Tony； are you mad；
or am I？ Or is this a new game？〃
Antony squeezed his arm。
〃Dear old Bill；〃 he said。 〃It's a game。 What a game！ And the
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The Red House Mystery
answer is Cartwright in Wimpole Street。〃
They walked in silence for half a mile or so along the road to
Waldheim。 Bill tried two or three times to get his friend to talk； but
Antony had only grunted in reply。 He was just going to make another
attempt； when Antony came to a sudden stop and turned to him anxiously。
〃I wonder if you'd do something for me；〃 he said； looking at him with
some doubt。
〃What sort of thing？〃
〃Well； it's really dashed important。 It's just the one thing I want now。
Bill was suddenly enthusiastic again。
〃I say； have you really found it all out？〃
Antony nodded。
〃At least； I'm very nearly there； Bill。 There's just this one thing I
want now。 It means your going back to Stanton。 Well； we haven't come
far； it won't take you long。 Do you mind？〃
〃My dear Holmes； I am at your service。〃
Antony gave him a smile and was silent for a little； thinking。
〃Is there another inn at Stanton…fairly close to the station？〃
〃The 'Plough and Horses' … just at the corner where the road goes up to
the station … is that the one you mean？〃
〃That would be the one。 I suppose you could do with a drink；
couldn't you？〃
〃Rather！〃 said Bill； with a grin。
〃Good。 Then have one at the 'Plough and Horses。' Have two； if you
like； and talk to the landlord； or landlady； or whoever serves you。 I want
you to find out if anybody stayed there on Monday night。〃
〃Robert？〃 said Bill eagerly。
〃I didn't say Robert；〃 said Antony； smiling。 〃I just want you to find
out if they had a visitor who slept there on Monday night。 A stranger。 If
so； then any particulars you can get of him； without letting the landlord
know that you are interested …〃
〃Leave it to me；〃 broke in Bill。 〃I know just what you want。〃
〃Don't assume that it was Robert … or anybody else。 Let them
describe the man to you。 Don't influence them unconsciously by
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The Red House Mystery
suggesting that he was short or tall； or anything of that sort。 Just get them
talking。 If it's the landlord； you'd better stand him a drink or two。〃
〃Right you are；〃 said Bill confidently。 〃Where do I meet you again？〃
〃Probably at the 'George。' If you get there before me； you can order
dinner for eight o'clock。 Anyhow we'll meet at eight； if not before。〃
〃Good。〃 He nodded to Antony and strode off back to Stanton again。
Antony stood watching him with a little smile at his enthusiasm。 Then
he looked round slowly； as if in search of something。 Suddenly he saw
what he wanted。 Twenty yards farther on a lane wandered off to the left；
and there was a gate a little way up on the right…hand side of it。 Antony
walked to the gate； filling his pipe as he went。 Then he lit his pipe； sat on
the gate； and took his head in his hands。
〃Now then；〃 he said to himself； 〃let's begin at the beginning。〃
It was nearly eight o'clock when William Beverley； the famous sleuthhound； arrived； tired and dusty； at the 〃George；〃 to find Antony； cool and
clean； standing bare…headed at the door； waiting for him。
〃Is dinner ready？〃 were Bill's first words。
〃Yes。〃
〃Then I'll just have a wash。 Lord； I'm tired。〃
〃I never ought to have asked you；〃 said Antony penitently。
〃That's all right。 I shan't be a moment。〃 Half…way up the stairs he
turned round and asked； 〃Am I in your room？〃
〃Yes。 Do you know the way？〃
〃Yes。 Start carving； will you？ And order lots of beer。〃 He
disappeared round the top of the staircase。 Antony went slowly in。
When the first edge of his appetite had worn off； and he was able to
spare a little time between the mouthfuls； Bill gave a