Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-26
CHAPTER XIV.
RetroSpection.

Most oe the lights IN the houses in Park
lane were out when Walter reached his
uncles residence. But as he entered the
hall he could see that the studio was stiii
ablaza The door was closed. but a thin
shaft of light penetrated from beneath. AS
Walter tried the door he found to his sur
nrisa that it was locked. With some feel
ing of apprehension he called to his uncle,
and a moment later Ravenspur turned the
KEY His face was pale. There was in his
ewes a look which spoke of some vague
fear
Il hope am not disturbing YOU" Walter
said.
INV dear boy I am only too pleased to
have a companion," Ravenspur said eager
w Upon my word, my nerves are so
much shaken by these terrible happenings
that I am almost afraid to be alone. Sit
down and have a cigarette
Walter took a cigarette from the silver
box on a little table. nor d!d ne ran 10 hote
the presence of stand of spirits. winch
was thing In which his uncle rarely or
never, INDUCED.
II really needed stimulant tonight
Ravenspur said, half apologeticaaaIiiy. mere
have you been all the evening"!
IT have been out making discoveries
Walter said, as he threw himself down into
Il com "ortable armchair. and one OF my
discoveries has been really Temark s 10
he perfectly candid, Venables and myself
have been doing a little private detective
business together. Venables was by no
means satisfied that that fellow stevens
had told all he knew at the inquest on poor
DeIahay. so we hunted Mr. Stevens up. and
finally ran him to eaftA III HIS o'hsS ious-
"And did he give you any valuable In
formation?" Ravenspur asked eagerly.
WAS it worth your while!
"JDdetd III YOU Will see LOT yDui
self. sir AS soon ever we got into the
room l was struck by picture there. one
does not usually find great works s,, or ART
in a bed-sittng room at five shilllngs
week And when you see picture hKe
that, worth a couple Of thousand pounds
at least it naturally arouses your curios-
nv And when, the top of that, the
picture is perfectly familiar to you. why,
my dear uncle
you mean you had seen the picture be-
fore? Where?"
sir. 1t is one of the three pictures which
were stolen from you some time ago ON,
YOU need not shake your head, uncle l
assure YOU that / have not made the slght-
est mistake. ! leave you to guess whlch or
the three pictures it was that l saw In
that dreary bed-sitting room.
II think l can tell YOU Ravenspur
groaned. 1T was the fancy portrait Some
Instinct tells me 50.
on TT was the portrait, surely enough.
INT if did not belong to Stevens, as you
will probably have guessed by this time.
If had been left In his care by an Italian
friend who gave very plausible reason
for being in possession of so valuable a
work / understand that this Italian S
! name was Luigi Silva. Have you heard OF
him."
Lord Ravenspur rose from his chair and
walked agitatedly up and down the studio.
| II was some little time before he spoke,
md then his words came slowly and pain
| fully.
II see you know more than l had ex-
pected.r he said For Instance, you have
formed the conclusion that this Luigi Silva
stole that picture. In fact, that he came
| here on purpose to get possession of it. and
that he took two other canvases at the
same time to prevent us finding out his
| real motive. Till tonight had not the re
hottest Idea why this Luigi Silva wanted
| that portrait, because the loss of the other
| pictures utterly deceived me- as 1t was in
| tended to do. Now know better"
But you did not answer my question.
| sir" Lance suggested.
| oh yes; you wanted to know if l was
personally acquainted with this AS
| a matter of fact, | am not, though l have
heard far too much about him for my
peace of mind. But tell me. how did you
| manage to ascertain the fellows proper
name?"
THAT, of course, We got from Stevens"
| Walter explained. Silva is in England
| ostensibly as a music-hall artist; in other
words he is Waldo, the flying man that l
| told you about little time ago. But don't
| you think We are getting rather from the