In his hand he held a shaggy gray wig, and
before me on the floor lay the man whose headstone stood in
Casanova churchyard--Paul Armstrong.
Winters told the story in a dozen words. In his headlong flight
down the circular staircase, with Winters just behind, Paul
Armstrong had pitched forward violently, struck his head against
the door to the east veranda, and probably broken his neck. He
had died as Winters reached him.
As the detective finished, I saw Halsey, pale and shaken, in the
card-room doorway, and for the first time that night I lost my
self-control. I put my arms around my boy, and for a moment he
had to support me. A second later, over Halsey's shoulder, I saw
something that turned my emotion into other channels, for, behind
him, in the shadowy card-room, were Gertrude and Alex, the
gardener, and--there is no use mincing matters--he was kissing
her!
I was unable to speak. Twice I opened my mouth: then I turned
Halsey around and pointed. They were quite unconscious of us;
her head was on his shoulder, his face against her hair. As it
happened, it was Mr. Jamieson who broke up the tableau.
He stepped over to Alex and touched him on the arm.
"And now," he said quietly, "how long are you and I to play
OUR little comedy, Mr. Bailey?"
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE ODDS AND ENDS
Of Doctor Walker's sensational escape that night to South
America, of the recovery of over a million dollars in cash and
securities in the safe from the chimney room--the papers have
kept the public well informed.
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