But he brought it back."
"When?"
"The afternoon--"
"Before Sir Charles's death? Yes. Go on. What did he tell you to
do with this serviette?"
"It--was in a box. He said I was not to open the box until I put
the serviette on the table, and that it had to be put by Sir
Charles's plate. It had to be put there just before the meal
began."
"What else?"
"I had to burn the box."
"Well?"
"That night I couldn't see how it was to be done. Benson had laid
the dinner table and Mrs. Howett was pottering about. Then, when
I thought I had my chance, Sir Charles sat down in the dining
room and began to read. He was still there and I had the box
hidden in the hall stand, all ready, when Sidney--rang up."
"Rang you up?"
"Yes. We had arranged it. He said he was my brother. I had to
tell him I couldn't do it."
"Yes!"
"He said: 'You must.' I told him Sir Charles was in the dining
room, and he said: 'I'll get him away. Directly he goes, don't
fail to do what I told you.'"
"And then?"
"Another 'phone call came--for Sir Charles. I knew who it was,
because I had told Sidney about the case Sir Charles was
attending in the square. When Sir Charles went out I changed the
serviettes. Mrs. Howett found me in the dining room and played
hell. But afterward I managed to burn the box in the kitchen.
That's all I know. What harm was there?"
"Harm enough!" said Harley, grimly.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128