“Look here, you!” he said. “What the devil do you mean by following me about? You clear off, d’you hear?”
“I think you are mistaken, sir,” said the man, quietly enough. “I have never seen you before.”
“Haven’t you, by Jove? Well, I’ve seen you hanging about, and if you do it any more, I’ll give you something to remember me by. D’you hear?”
“Hallo!” said Wimsey, who had stopped to speak to the commissionaire, “what’s up — Here, you, wait a moment!”
But at sight of Wimsey, the man had slipped like an eel among the roaring Strand traffic, and was lost to view.
George Fentiman turned to his companion triumphantly.
“Did you see that? That lousy little beggar! Made off like a shot when I threatened him. That’s the fellow who’s been dogging me about for three days.”
“I’m sorry,” said Wimsey, “but it was not your prowess, Fentiman. It was my awful aspect that drove him away. What is it about me? Have I a front like Jove to threaten and command? Or am I wearing a repulsive tie?”
“He’s gone, anyway.”
“I wish I’d had a better squint at him. Because I’ve got a sort of idea that I’ve seen those lovely features before, and not so long ago, either. Was this the face that launched a thousand ships? No, I don’t think it was that.”
“All I can say is,” said George, “that if I see him again, I’ll put such a face on him that his mother won’t know him.”
“Don’t do that. You might destroy a clue. I — wait a minute — I’ve got an idea. I believe it must be the same man who’s been haunting the Bellona and asking questions. Oh, Hades! and we’ve let him go. And I’d put him down in my mind as Oliver’s minion. If ever you see him again, Fentiman, freeze on to him like grim death. I want to talk to him.”
Chapter X
Lord Peter Forces a Card
“Hallo!”
“Is that you, Wimsey? Hallo! I say, is that Lord Peter Wimsey. Hallo! I must speak to Lord Peter Wimsey. Hallo!”
“All right. I’ve said hallo. Who’re you? And what’s the excitement?”
“It’s me. Major Fentiman. I say—is that Wimsey?”
“Yes. Wimsey speaking. What’s up?”
“I can’t hear you.”
“Of course you can’t if you keep on shouting. This is Wimsey. Good morning. Stand three inches from the mouthpiece and speak in an ordinary voice. Do not say hallo! To recall the operator, depress the receiver gently two or three times.”
“Oh, shut up! don’t be an ass. I’ve seen Oliver.”
“Have you, where?”
“Getting into a train at Charing Cross.”
“Did you speak to him?”
“No — it’s maddening. I was just getting my ticket when I saw him passing the barrier. I tore down after him. Some people got in my way, curse them. There was a Circle train standing at the platform. He bolted in and they clanged the doors. I rushed on, waving and shouting, but the train went out. I cursed like anything.”
“I bet you did. How very sickening.”
“Yes, wasn’t it? I took the next train—”
“What for?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I thought I might spot him on a platform somewhere.”
“What a hope! You didn’t think to ask where he’d booked for?”
“No. Besides, he probably got the ticket from an automatic.”
“Probably. Well, it can’t be helped, that’s all. He’ll probably turn up again. You’re sure it was he?”
“Oh, dear, yes. I couldn’t be mistaken. I’d know him anywhere. I thought I’d just let you know.”
“Thanks awfully. It encourages me extremely. Charing Cross seems to be a haunt of his. He ’phoned from there on the evening of the tenth, you know.”
“So he did.”
“I’ll tell you what we’d better do, Fentiman. The thing is getting rather serious. I propose that you should go and keep an eye on Charing Cross station. I’ll get hold of a detective—”
“A police detective?”
“Not necessarily. A private one would do. You and he can go along and keep watch on the station for, say a week. You must describe Oliver to the detective as best you can, and you can watch turn and turn about.”
“Hang it all, Wimsey — it’ll take a lot of time. I’ve gone back to my rooms at Richmond. And besides, I’ve got my own duties to do.”
“Yes, well, while you’re on duty the detective must keep watch.”
“It’s a dreadful grind, Wimsey.” Fentiman’s voice sounded dissatisfied.
“It’s half a million of money. Of course, if you’re not keen—”
“I am keen. But I don’t believe anything will come of it.”
“Probably not; but it’s worth trying. And in the meantime, I’ll have another watch kept at Gatti’s.”
“At Gatti’s?”
“Yes. They know him there. I’ll send a man down—”
“But he never comes there now.”
“Oh, but he may come again. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t. We know now that he’s in town, and not gone out of the country or anything. I’ll tell the management that he’s wanted for an urgent business matter, so as not to make unpleasantness.”