Solar Pons leaned forward and his deep-set eyes stared steadily at the tall, fair girl.
"Just what do you think is in that wing, Miss Helstone?" "Some sort of invalid, evidently, Mr. Pons. I did not inquire, naturally."
Solar Pons leaned back again in his chair and half closed his eyes.
"And you have not seen the bearded man again since that first accidental glimpse at the interview?"
"Not at all, Mr. Pons. I had another shock when my two charges arrived. The children were attractive enough, but their voices were low and husky, and I was told by Mrs. Dresden they had colds. They seemed rather odd and sly, and I was completely nonplussed when I found that neither spoke a word of English."
Solar Pons gave a!ow chuckle.
"Excellent, Miss Helstone."
The fair girl stared at my companion with very bright eyes.
"And what is more, Mr. Pons, I am convinced their father cannot speak their language either!"
"Better and better, Parker."
Miss Helstone stared at my companion in astonishment. "I do not follow you, Mr. Pons."
"No matter, Miss Helstone. What was the next thing that happened in this extraordinary ménage?"
"Well, it was obvious, Mr. Pons, that I could not begin to conduct any lessons. When I pointed this out to Mrs. Dresden, she said it was of no consequence as they had a tutor in their own tongue. I would be required for companionship,to take them on walks in the grounds, on car trips and to control their deportment."
"An unusual list of requirements and one that apparently commands a salary of five hundred pounds, Parker," said Pons, a dreamy expression on his face. "It gives one pause to think, does it not?"
"My words exactly, Pons."
"And when you hear that the walks were mostly conducted at night in the floodlit grounds of The Priory, you will begin to realize my perplexity, Mr. Pons."
My companion's eyes had narrowed to mere slits, and he leaned forward, an intent expression on his face.
"The grounds were floodlit, Miss Helstone? And the walks were how many times a week?"
"About three times on the average, Mr. Pons. Between ten o'clock and midnight."
"Unusual hours for small children, Parker."
"There is something wrong somewhere."
"For once you do not exaggerate, my dear fellow."
"The last three months have been strange ones for me, gentlemen," said our visitor, whose paleness had gone and whose hatural vivacity had evidently returned, for her eyes were sparkling and her manner more animated.
"I took occasional meals with my employer, walked or drove with the children, read and played patience. I soon found that I was not allowed outside the gates alone, but I have learned that the art treasures in the house are so valuable that Mr. Basden is scared of burglars. I myself think he is afraid that his employees will be approached by criminal elements, for he insists that if one goes outside, then one does not go alone."
"Another curious circumstance that gives one much food for thought," observed Solar Pons.
"This was the odd routine of my life until a few weeks ago," Miss Helstone continued. "The people in the house were kind to me and I was well treated, but I felt circumscribed; almost imprisoned. The sealed wing was still barred to me, and medicines and medical staff were in evidence from time to time, but nothing was explained, and I did not think it circumspect to ask. But there was another peculiar circumstance; my employer does not smoke, or at least I have never seen him do so, yet I have on several occasions smelled strong cigar smoke in the children's room when I go to collect them for their walks. On one occasion there was a half-smoked cigar end on the window sill, and the little girl looked distinctly uneasy. I myself think that the bearded man had something to do with it."
Solar Pons looked searchingly at the girl.—
"You think he may be the real father and not Mr. Basden?"
Miss Helstone looked astonished.
"Those were my exact thoughts, Mr. Pons! You see, there is no genuine resemblance to Mr. Basden, and the man with the beard had a foreign look."
"You may have stumbled onto something, Miss Helstone," Pons went on. "It is a most intriguing tangle that you have described. But you mentioned life and death?"
The girl swallowed once or twice and her eyes looked bleak.
"Twice in the past two weeks we have been accosted on our walks abroad, by strange, bearded men in a car. They spoke first to the children and then became very excited when I approached. I could swear they were all speaking the same language together. Yesterday a big black car tried to force ours off the road near Clitherington when we were out driving. Our chauffeur accelerated and drove back to the estate like a madman. We were all considerably shaken, I can tell you."
"Mr. Basden was informed of this?"
"At once. He looked white and ill and came down to apologize to me immediately."
Solar Pons pulled once or twice at the lobe of his right ear and looked at me quizzically.
"Which brings us to the early hours of this morning, Miss Helstone."
"I was walking on the grounds with the children last night, Mr. Pons. They sleep much during the day and their parent does not seem to mind their nocturnal habits. We had left the floodlit portion and followed the drive as it curved around. It was nearly midnight or a little after, and we were about to turn back when there was a shot. It gave me such a shock, Mr. Pons! The bullet glanced off a tree trunk only a few feet from my head. I could hear guttural cries and I told the children to run."
"Highly commendable, Miss Helstone," I put in.
"Unfortunately, in their panic to escape they ran toward the voices," the girl went on. "Naturally, I had to go after them, as they were my charges. We all got lost in the darkness, blundering about. I heard two more shots and then the same guttural voices I had heard from the men who had questioned the children on the road. I was so frightened, Mr. Pons, that I hid. I must have been in the woods for hours.
"I found myself in an unfamiliar part of the grounds; it was dark and cold and I did not know what to do. I was in an absolute panic. I had abandoned my charges, you see, and I did not know what might have happened to them. I could not face Mr. Basden. I found a small wicket gate in the wall, which was unlocked; it may even have been used by the men to gain entrance to the grounds. Anyway, Mr. Pons, to bring a long and exceedingly rambling story to an end, I ran from The Priory and caught the milk train. I had read your name in the newspapers some months ago as being the country's greatest private detective, so here I am to put my destiny in your hands."
3
Here our client paused and looked so appealingly at Pons that I could not forbear saying, "There, do not distress yourself further, little lady," while Pons himself looked at me disapprovingly.
"While deploring Parker's sentimental way of expressing it, I am in great sympathy with you, Miss Helstone: I have no hesitation in saying I will accept your case."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Pons."
Helen Helstone rose from her chair and shook Pons' hand warmly. Pons looked at me interrogatively.
"Are you free, Parker?"
"Certainly, Pons. I have only to telephone my locum." "Excellent."
He turned back to Miss Helstone.
"We must make arrangements to get you back to The Priory as soon as possible, Miss Helstone."
"Go back?"
Dismay and apprehension showed on the girl's face.
"It is the only way. We all want to know what went on there, and I must confess I have not been so intrigued for a long while. And Parker and I will be with you."
"How are we going to manage that, Pons?" I said. "Considering that the estate is so well guarded."