The Toff on Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

closer, saying as if to himself:
    â€œVery small tyre, either an old baby car or a motorcycle, more likely motor-cycle. Pity Jolly isn’t here, he could get a cast. Wonder if a flashlight photograph would show anything.” He straightened up, fully aware of Esmeralda’s closeness and her quick breathing. He was also aware of something else; a man turning into the street; but Esmeralda seemed to be unaware of that.
    â€œDo you really think a flashlight photo—”
    â€œShhhhh,” hissed Rollison, and gave her full value for her night out. “Someone’s coming.”
    Esmeralda stood still and silent as a mouse, and did not even look away from Rollison. It would take a lot to make her jumpy; she had the steady nerves of healthy youth. As he glanced towards the corner he found himself thinking, absently, that there were more qualities in Esmeralda than he would have suspected while at the Star Club or on the way here.
    Then: “It’s all right,” he said, “it’s a policeman.
    â€œA copper!”
    â€œA policeman,” repeated Rollison firmly. “We are in a mood to be polite. Start looking in front of the car, will you? Switch on the headlamps to give us more light.”
    Esmeralda didn’t ask why, but obeyed. The big car’s powerful lights showed more of the street than had been visible since dusk had fallen. The steady footsteps of the policeman drew nearer, while Rollison joined Esmeralda in the fake search.
    The policeman drew level.
    â€œEvening, sir.” He looked down at Rollison, and on the instant his manner changed and his voice altered. “Good evening, Mr. Rollison. Looking for something?”
    Rollison straightened up.
    â€œHallo, Jim. Yes, I’ve lost a propelling pencil, no great value but sentimental, you know. Afraid it’s not here, though—we’ve looked along the kerb pretty thoroughly.”
    â€œPerhaps it’s under the car, sir.”
    â€œCould be,” agreed Rollison, “but I don’t think it’s likely, I had it earlier in the evening. Probably left it at the Star Club. Serve me right if I will visit these dens of iniquity, doesn’t it?”
    â€œOh, the Star Club is quite respectable, sir.”
    â€œIt is?” Rollison sounded surprised. “I must have been misinformed.” He waited for the policeman’s chuckle, which wasn’t long in coming, and sensed that Esmeralda was looking at him almost with awe. “Not a lot you don’t know about your beat, Jim, is there?”
    â€œWell,” said the constable, modestly, “can’t be sure that we keep track of everything, but since that burglary in Gresham Mews we’ve been pretty much on the alert around here.”
    â€œI can imagine. Jim” – Rollison put a hand on Esmeralda’s shoulder, and gripped firmly; warningly – “this is Miss Esmeralda Gale, and she doesn’t know much about London by night. Earlier in the evening we were talking about your chaps on the beat, and I told her that there was very little you didn’t notice if it was at all out of the ordinary.”
    â€œWell, sir, we’re trained observers, you know.”
    â€œBelieve me, I do! There was the time when—but never mind me,” dissimulated Rollison hastily, “be a friend, and give us a demonstration.”
    â€œWell, sir—”
    â€œOh, please,” begged Esmeralda.
    â€œWell, don’t hold me to everything, will you? I wouldn’t swear to it all in the box, but I don’t think there’s much wrong. Let’s see. I came on duty at eight o’clock, and at eight-twenty-seven there was a minor accident involving a car and a cycle, in which the cyclist received slight scratches and bruises of the right leg. There was a bit of thunder about. At eight-forty-three a high-powered car was heard to be moving very fast, probably considerably in excess of the speed