Georgette Heyer - Bodies from the Library

‘Well, if the fact that Germany is building submarines almost in accordance with those plans isn’t proof enough, I’d like to know what is!’ Winthrop retorted irritably.

‘Oh, I believe they were sold all right, but it can’t be proved. ’Twasn’t as though the plans were stolen. There wasn’t even a sign of anyone having tampered with the safe. The room—’

‘For goodness’ sake don’t let’s go all over it again!’ Winthrop begged. ‘We’ve torn it to bits. Oh, yes, I’m getting peevish, aren’t I?’ He smiled reluctantly. ‘You’d be peevish in my place.’

‘You’re certainly a bit morose,’ admitted Linckes, ‘What a mercurial sort of chap you are! A fortnight ago you were perfectly cheerful, and then you were suddenly plunged in despair!’

‘Can’t help it. Made that way.’ Winthrop picked up his pen, and started to address an envelope. ‘Oh, now the beastly pen won’t write! Damn! I hate quills!’

‘Then why use them?’

‘Heaven knows! I used to like them awfully. Yes, John?’

The butler had entered the room.

‘Mr Knowles to see you, sir.’

Winthrop’s brow cleared as if by magic.

‘Knowles? Show him in, will you? I say Linckes, do you mind if I interview this man? I won’t be many minutes.’

Linckes rose at once.

‘Rather not! I’ll clear out for a bit, shall I? Can you give me a little time when you’ve finished? There are one or two questions I want to ask you.’

‘Of course! Show Mr Linckes into the drawing-room, please, John.’

Linckes went to the door just as Winthrop’s visitor entered. As he went out Linckes cast him a passing glance, and noted that he was an elderly man with grizzled black hair and a short beard and moustache. He bowed slightly, received a pleasant smile in return, which vaguely reminded him of someone, and went out.

He had not to wait long. Presently, from the drawing-room window, he saw Knowles descend the steps of the house and hail a passing taxi. As the vehicle drew up beside the kerb, he turned and saw Linckes. He nodded slightly, smiling, and after speaking to the taxi-driver got briskly into the cab. He let down the window, and as the taxi moved forward looked up at Linckes with a strangely mocking expression in his eyes.

Then the butler came to tell Linckes that Sir Charles was at liberty.

Winthrop was standing with his back to the fire when Linckes came in, smoking, and he greeted the detective with his old, sunny smile.

‘I say, I’m awfully sorry to have turfed you out like that!’ he exclaimed. ‘My time’s not my own, you know. What do you want to ask me especially? Didn’t you say there were one or two questions?’

Something about him was puzzling Linckes. The frown had quite disappeared from Winthrop’s face; the nervous, irritable movements had left him. He was smiling in his own peculiarly charming fashion, and as he looked at Linckes he sent two long columns of smoke down through his nose.

‘Every track turns out to be the wrong one,’ Linckes answered bitterly. ‘I begin to think we shall never get to the bottom of it all.’

Winthrop went to his desk and picked up the despised quill. He held it poised, smiling at Linckes.

‘Oh, come! Don’t lose hope, Linckes! Something must leak out soon.’

Linckes stared at him.

‘Well, I like that! Only half an hour ago you were groaning that nothing would ever be discovered!’

‘Yes, but that was half an hour ago,’ Winthrop explained. ‘I’ve taken a turn for the better since then.’

‘You certainly have. You’ve cheered up wonderfully. Did your visitor bring you good news, or what?’

‘Knowles? Nothing to speak of. Now, who on earth has been mucking about with my pen? Beastly thing won’t write.’

Linckes leaned forward a little in his chair, eyes narrowed suddenly.

‘You said how well it did write a moment ago,’ he said deliberately.

Winthrop turned the pen round in his hand, and for an instant their eyes met.

‘I don’t remember saying any such thing,’ he replied.

A tiny smile hovered about the corners of his mouth, as if of triumph.

‘But you did!’ insisted Linckes. ‘What an appalling bad memory you’ve got!’

Winthrop looked back at his hand, scrutinising the bent nib-end that bore unmistakable evidence of having been jabbed down into some hard substance.

‘My dear Linckes, it’s your memory that’s at fault. I believe I cursed the pen.’

He glanced up again, one eyebrow raised quizzingly.

‘Did you?’ Linckes laughed. ‘I must be going to pieces. Yes, I think you did. Still, you did say that you always liked a quill, didn’t you?’

‘Of course I did! It’s true, too. Well, I’ll see what I can do for you in the matter of Fortescue, Caryu’s secretary, that you were asking about. Anything else?’

‘No, not at present, thanks. I must be getting along.’

Winthrop laughed, and held out his hand.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow, I suppose?’

‘Oh, I’m sure to come along to report,’ Linckes answered, and went out, his temples throbbing with excitement.

A month later Linckes was shown into Caryu’s study. Caryu looked at him hopefully, for there was a glitter in Linckes’ eyes, and a very purposeful look.

‘You’ve got a fresh suspicion?’ he said, with the glimmer of a smile.

Linckes sat down opposite him.

‘Yes, sir, I have. And I’ve come to ask your help.’

‘Have you, indeed? I’m sure I have to imitate the famous Watson, haven’t I? I shall meekly do your bidding, being myself quite in the dark.’

Linckes laughed.

‘That is about the size of it, sir,’ he confessed. ‘But I really believe I’ve got on to the right track at last.’

‘Any clue?’

‘No, sir. Pretty strong suspicion, though.’

A shadow crossed Caryu’s face.

‘Only a suspicion, Linckes? I seem to have listened to so many.’

‘This time it amounts to a conviction, sir. And, because I’m practically certain in my own mind, I’m going to have the cheek to ask you to do something that’ll seem quite insane to you.’

Caryu moved a paperweight uncertainly.

‘I’m not at all sure that I shall comply, then. What is it?’

Linckes clasped and unclasped fingers rather nervously.

‘Sir, you’ve got the plans of the new plane here, haven’t you?’

The elder man smiled a little.

‘You ought to know, Roger. You and your colleagues are supposed to be keeping an eye on them. But if you imagine they can be taken out of this new safe, you’re wrong. No one knows the secret of the combination except myself.’

‘I know, sir. I don’t expect the thief to attempt it. I want you to tell Sir Charles, when you see him tomorrow, that you have made one or two suggestions on the plans, and are sending them by your secretary to his house for him to see.’

Caryu reddened.

‘What are you driving at?’ he asked levelly. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Just that, sir. I think Mr Fortescue carries documents to Sir Charles’ house fairly often? Minor documents, I mean.’

‘Certainly. But I do not understand—’

‘I know, sir. I want you to give Mr Fortescue a package containing blank sheets. Keep the plans in your safe.’

Caryu drew himself up.

‘Linckes, you must please explain yourself. I don’t know what crack-brained notion you have got into your head, but if you are insinuating that Sir Charles is the criminal, I may as well tell you that it is an impertinent and foolish suggestion.’

‘I’m not insinuating anything, sir. I can’t even tell you who I suspect. But I do beg of you to just do as I ask without mentioning my name. It can’t do any harm, and I believe it’ll enable me to find the man who’s betraying us all.’