Maggie MacKeever Read Online Free PDF

prepared the somewhat dull dinners for which the club was known. He inspected every avenue of entrance and egress. At length he was conducted into the Visitors Room, where awaiting him was a ludicrously fat gentleman with a dignified air.
    “Well?” demanded that individual, as he stared at Crump’s waistcoat. This was a fanciful creation of pale pink silk with an allover pattern in rose, worn over a second waistcoat of plain rose. “Have you found our missing plate? Damned if I know why Raggett called in Bow Street! While you saunter about poking and prying into comers, the thieves will be halfway to France.”
    “That’s not likely, guv’nor.” Though Crump’s manner remained affable, he was inspired to draw forth his battered pipe. “Why should your thieves travel all the way with stolen plate when all they have to do is melt it down in an iron ladle held over a fire?”
    Mr. Throckmorton collapsed into a chair. “The silver plate melted? Unthinkable!”
    Crump threw open a window and lit his pipe. “Suppose,” he said, through a smoky haze, “that you tell me what you know about the robbery.”
    Mr. Throckmorton grimaced at the tobacco stench. “Suppose I don’t.” Crump merely puffed harder on his pipe.
    Mr. Throckmorton threw up his hands. “Oh, very well! About the hour of 10 o’clock this morning the butler, as is his habit, proceeded to the plate closet to remove the supply of silver necessary to ready the dining tables for the members’ reception. He discovered that the double doors had been forced open and a large quantity of silver removed, including the massive silver candlesticks that he’d deposited there the previous night.”
    Crump hooked his thumbs in his waistcoat and rocked gently to and fro. “Does the butler recall if he locked the plate closet at that time?”
    “Of course he did!” Mr. Throckmorton’s glance was sharp. “What’s more, the hall porter will vouch for it.”
    Crump’s eyes narrowed. “Ah. The hall porter and the butler, you say? Just how much do you know about those two men, guv’nor?”
    “They’ve worked for this establishment for a great many years!” Mr. Throckmorton’s cheeks had turned a bright red. “You can’t think they were involved in this. It’s obvious our robbery was carried out by desperate and dangerous characters.” He shuddered. “And fortunate it is no one caught them red-handed, or we’d have seen bloodshed.”
    “Aye,” said Crump, “doubtless you would. Did anyone see your dangerous ruffians? Or any other suspicious characters lurking about?”
    Mr. Throckmorton opened his mouth, and then paused, a crafty look on his fat face. “ I did! A very suspicious looking person indeed, skulking about the club the very afternoon before the robbery. No doubt he was looking for a means by which he might get in.”
    Crump puffed on his pipe even more energetically. “Did you mention this sinister character to anyone?”
    “No,” said Mr. Throckmorton. “But I can describe him to you. He was thin and dark, brown-haired and furtive. And he had no notion of how to dress. No doubt he forced his way into the building after everyone was asleep and made his exit by the same means.”
    “Uncommonly promising,” mused Crump, and earned Mr. Throckmorton’s first smile. “And a tissue of falsehoods from end to end! I warn you, guv’nor, that it’s a serious offense to trifle with the law.”
    “Do you accuse me of fabrication?” Mr. Throckmorton’s bulbous nose had turned bright red. “A gentleman, sir, does not tell a lie. Did I not consider you beneath my notice, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is, I would call you out for this insult.”
    “Would you, guv’nor?” Crump was enjoying himself. “Apparently you’ve forgotten that dueling is against the law. I suggest you give me the rest of the story without circumlocution. You’ve already given me ample ground for suspicion of yourself.”
    “Preposterous!”
    Crump began to despair of