The midland journal., 1915-12-10
CHAPTER vlIl-continusd.

CaZalet excused himself with deci-
sion. He had a full morning In front
OF him. He was going to see Miss
Macnair's brother, son of the late head
Of his fathers old firm of solicitors,
and now one of the partners, to get
them either to take up Scruton's case
! themselves, or else to recommend a
firm perhaps more accustomed to
criminal practice. Cazalet was always
apt to be elaborate in the first person
singular, either in the past or in the
future tense; but he was more SO
than usual in explaining his consid-
cred intentions in this matter that
lay so very near his heart.
Going to see Scruton, too?" said
Toye.
Not necessarily was the short re-
ply. But 1t also was elaborated by
Cazalet on moments consideration.
The fact was that he wanted first to
know II it were not possible, by the
Intervention Of a really influential law,
yer, to obtain the prisoners immediate
release, at any rate on bail. If impos-
sible, he might hesitate to force HIM
self on Scruton in the prison, but he
would see.
IT'S perfect scandal that he should
be there at ALL" said Cazalet, as he
rose first and ushered Toye out into
the lounge "Only think: our old
gardener saw him run out of the drive
at half past seven, when the gong
went, when the real murderer must
have been shivering in the Michael
Angelo cupboard, wondering how the
devil he was ever going to get out
again"
"Then you think old man Craven
begging his poor pardon-was getting
out some cigars when the man, who
ever he was came in and knocked
him on the head?"
Cazalet nodded vigorously. "That's
the likeliest thing of ALL" he cried.
Then the gong went-there may even
have come knock at the door-and
there was that cupboard standing open
ct his elbow
With a hole in the floor that might
have been made for him?'
3As 1t happens, yes; he'd search
every inch like rat in trap, you
see; and there it was as I'd left it
twenty years before"
WELL it's a wonderful yarn!" ex-
claimed Hilton Toye, and he lighted
the cigar that Cazalet had given him.
II think it may be thought one if
the police ever own how they made
their find agreed Cazalet. laughing
and looking at his watch Toye had
never heard him laugh so often. "By
the way. Drinkwater doesn't want any
OF all this to come out until he's
dragged his man before the beak
again"
Which you mean to prevent?"
IF only can! more or less prom
tsed not to talk, however. and I'm
sure you won't. You knew SO much
already, you may just as well know
the rest this week as we'll as next, If
you don't mind keeping 1t to your
self"
Nobody could have minded this par
dcular embargo less than Hilton Toye.
He saw Cazalet OF with smile that
was as yet merely puzzled, and not
unfriendly until he had time to recall
Miss Blanche's part in the strange
affair of the previous afternoon.
Say, weren't they rather intimate.
those two. even il they had known
each other all their lives? He had it
from Blanche with her second re-
fusal) that she was not, and never
had been, engaged. And a fellow who
only wrote to her once in year
( stih. they must have been darned in
innate. and this funny AFFAIR would
bring them together again quicker
than anything
Say, what funny affair 1t was when
You came to thing of it! Funny all
through, it now struck Toye; begin
ming on board ship with that dream Of
Cazalet.s about the murdered man,
leading to all that talk of the old
grievance against him. and culminat-
ing in his actually finding the imple-
ments Of the crime in his inspired efs
forts to save the man of whose inno-
cence he was SO positive. say II