登陆注册
20281100000096

第96章

The very day after this conversation he bounced into her room in great dudgeon. "There, madam! the advertisements _have_ produced an effect; and not a pleasant one. Here's a detective on to us. He is feeling his way with Karl. I knew the man in a moment; calls himself Poikilus in print, and Smith to talk to; but he is Aaron at the bottom of it all, and can speak several languages. Confound their impudence! putting a detective on to _us,_ when it is they that are keeping dark.""Who do you think has sent him?" asked Ina, intently.

"The party interested, I suppose."

"Interested in what?"

"Why, in the money you won; for he was drawing Karl about that.""Then _he_ sent the man!" And Ina began to pant and change color.

"Well, now you put it to me, I think so. Come to look at it, it is certain. Who else _could_ it be? Here is a brace of sweeps. They wouldn't be the worse for a good kicking. You say the word, and Smith shall have one, at all events.""Alas! my friend," said Ina, "for once you are slow. What! a messenger comes here direct from _him;_ and are we so dull we can learn nothing from him who comes to question us? Let me think."She leaned her forehead on her white hand, and her face seemed slowly to fill with intellectual power.

"That man," said she at last, "is the only link between him and me. Imust speak to him."

Then she thought again.

"No, not yet. He must be detained in the house. Letters may come to him, and their postmarks may give us some clew.""I'll recommend the house to him."

"Oh, that is not necessary. He will lodge here of his own accord. Does he know you?""I think not."

"Do not give him the least suspicion that you know he is a detective.""All right, I won't."

"If he sounds you about the money, say nobody knows much about it, except Mademoiselle Klosking. If you can get the matter so far, come and tell me. But be _you_ very reserved, for you are not clear."Ashmead received these instructions meekly, and went into the _salle 'a manger_ and ordered dinner. Smith was there, and had evidently got some information from Karl, for he opened an easy conversation with Ashmead, and it ended in their dining together.

Smith played the open-handed country man to the life--stood champagne.

Ashmead chattered, and seemed quite off his guard. Smith approached the subject cautiously. "Gamble here as much as ever?""All day, some of them."

"Ladies and all?"

"Why, the ladies are the worst."

"No; are they now? Ah, that reminds me. I heard there was a lady in this very house won a pot o' money.""It is true. I am her agent."

"I suppose she lost it all next day?"

"Well, not all, for she gave a thousand pounds to the poor.""The dressmakers collared the rest?"

"I cannot say. I have nothing to do except with her theatrical business.

She will make more by that than she ever made at play.""What, is she tip-top?"

"The most rising singer in Europe."

"I should like to see her."

"That you can easily do. She sings tonight. I'll pass you in.""You are a good fellow. Have a bit of supper with me afterward. Bottle of fizz."These two might be compared to a couple of spiders, each taking the other for a fly. Smith was enchanted with Ina's singing, or pretended. Ashmead was delighted with him, or pretended.

"Introduce me to her," said Smith.

"I dare not do that. You are not professional, are you?""No, but you can say I am, for a lark."

Ashmead said he should like to; but it would not do, unless he was very wary.

"Oh, I'm fly," said the other. "She won't get anything out of me. I've been behind the scenes often enough."Then Ashmead said he would go and ask her if he might present a London manager to her.

He soon brought back the answer. "She is too tired to-night: but Ipressed her, and she says she will be charmed if you will breakfast with her to-morrow at eleven." He did not say that he was to be with her at half-past ten for special instructions. They were very simple. "My friend," said she, "I mean to tell this man something which he will think it his duty to telegraph or write to _him_ immediately. It was for this Iwould not have the man to supper, being after post-time. This morning he shall either write or telegraph, and then, if you are as clever in this as you are in some things, you will watch him, and find out the address he sends to."Ashmead listened very attentively, and fell into a brown study.

同类推荐
  • 春秋传说例

    春秋传说例

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 羯磨仪式

    羯磨仪式

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 翰林记

    翰林记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 静居集

    静居集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Hippolytus

    Hippolytus

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 当世英雄

    当世英雄

    蓝女身世神秘,武学通天,剑术称神,艺成后下山四处寻觅灭族仇人,与武林群人结下大怨,卷入了与朝廷、江湖、亲仇间错综交替的漩涡,在一段段的奇遇和离奇的仙缘经历后,与面带花脸儿面具的姑苏佑在一同抵抗武林纷争的同时检验自身的情感与存在。在这纷繁复杂的恩怨和名利世界里,不论是绝世的武林高手、传说当中的神秘人物亦或是形形色色的平常人都被共同串连在同一个江湖里,一起演绎了一段又一段,让人无尽回味的故事。我希望作者的心境可以与每一位的读者都共同交织在这个梦幻般的世界里,一起观摩这个纷繁复杂的江湖,共同去体会那别样武侠世界里的情感、快乐与忧愁。
  • 无艳

    无艳

    她可以是日本大臣宫木铃,也可以是军统的毒鹰,也可以是共产党的指尖砂,也可以是汪伪政府的白冷裳。他是明楼的秘书长阿诚,随明楼潜伏两党。曾经以为自己才是伪装得最辛苦最孤单最冷血的人,可是,她没有心。对于一个没有心的人来说,什么都可以只是故事,什么都可以变成谎言。可是这一次,他们都做不到了。他们可以决绝地转身,但是都无法抹掉眼底的那个背影。也许,在那样一个乱世,这只能是开始,却永远走不到结局。我恨你,所以我爱你,如此而已。
  • 绝代医女

    绝代医女

    她,是轻门之主。时韵大陆数一数二的毒医。绝代风华,冷漠如冰。她,本是寒门唯一准继承人。但由于寒门各长老一致决定驱逐她出门,后被轻云若收为义妹,成为轻门第二掌权者。她,是墨门之主,活泼跳脱,开朗欢乐。(作者并非第一次写文,还望大家见谅。里面的设定将会大部分保留。本文不牵扯任何药理、医理知识,请勿当真。本文原创,如有雷同,纯属巧合。)
  • 冷酷总裁的温柔妻

    冷酷总裁的温柔妻

    韩轩霸道,冷酷,绝情,只要是他抛弃过的女人没有一个是过的好的,夏氏集团面临着破产的危险,夏泽风利用自己的男女儿商业联婚,他能到达自己的目的么?“不,我不要嫁,”“我告诉你,你不嫁也得嫁,我这不是在争取你的同意,我只是把这件事告诉你而已,你乖乖的等着做你的新娘吧!”当善良的夏恩雪遇上冷酷总裁会发生什么事呢?
  • 囚翼

    囚翼

    末日末世,社会崩溃,人们丧失了道德,只是枯燥的活着,没有一点点意义。丧尸,妖兽,人类,三大势力之间的对决,三分天下的情况再次出现,这次,统一天下的不知道是丧尸,还是妖兽,或者是苟延残喘的人类。“今日今世,我会追寻,我那通往梦想的翅膀,只有它,才能让我走上那条路,那条拥有无法回头的路。”
  • 我的男人是流氓

    我的男人是流氓

    他是个孤儿,从小在孤儿院生活。但是在他九岁那年,他被一个流氓领养了。他都不知道等待他的是什么?是被人打死丢在街头?还是被人分尸丢在河里?敬请期待一个流氓的重生之路。。。。
  • 君临天下怎及你一慕繁华

    君临天下怎及你一慕繁华

    她,离家出走的贵族小姐。却流落街头,被陌生男子所救。十二年后,她是第一杀手——血祭。她为任务潜伏到他身边,却没想到会爱上他。当那个他知道了她的背叛,心痛不已,却又无能为力,原来早在十二年前他便爱上了她。他,商业帝王,三大家族帝家家主。传闻他冷血薄情却唯独对她宠爱入骨,当他知道她的到来只为一个任务时,他痛苦至极,依旧将她想要的东西给她。他对她的爱早已深入骨髓。他对她说:“君临天下怎及你一慕繁华。”
  • 一壶漂泊,我的深爱不回头

    一壶漂泊,我的深爱不回头

    温艾爱了安修廷十五年,从八岁起。安修廷恨了温艾十五年,从十岁起。十五年的时光太短,短到温艾还没细品,幸福就已变成噩梦。家破人亡之际,她被查出怀有身孕。孩子的爸爸,是安修廷。十五年的时光太长,长到安修廷谋划好了一切,将爱情变成了复仇的工具。他要温家血债血偿的时候,却被告知她怀孕了。孩子的妈妈,是他的仇人。
  • 苏洛的平行大冒险

    苏洛的平行大冒险

    大叔苏洛在毫无征兆的情况下穿越了;毫无头脑的他遭遇变身。。。但是变身的结果又不一定只有女孩一种在这个科技程度相似,但又设定猎奇的现代化都市,又会有怎样有趣的故事发生呢?
  • 庙堂江湖

    庙堂江湖

    “居庙堂之高则忧其民,处江湖之远则忧其君”,芜心庙堂江湖两边跑,混得风生水起,既不想忧民,又不想忧君,只愿和在乎的人携手天涯,坐看云卷云舒,可是随着一个个人物的出现,一件件真相的揭晓,他在收获亲情、友情、爱情的同时,也面临着背叛、利用、仇恨的挑战,她能否在乱流中不变初心?这是属于她的庙堂!这是属于她的江湖!