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.Neither man saw the bearded face of Inspector Bliss at the window or heardthe grille open noiselessly as the Scotland Yard man came noiselessly into theroom. Do you know, doctor, said Alan,  I don t hate The Ringer as much as Ishould.Lomond paused with his glass raised. There are really no bad men who are all bad  except Meister  just as thereare no really good men who are all good. I want to tell you something, Lomond  Alan spoke slowly   I know TheRinger.182  You know him  really? Yes; well. And then, with fierce intensity:  And I m damned glad he killedMeister.Bliss watched the scene from behind the curtain of the alcove, his eyes neverleaving the two. Why? Did he get Mary Lenley? Lomond was asking. No, thank God  but it was only by luck that she was saved.Lomond, I  Ican tell you who is The Ringer.Slipping from the shadow of the curtains, Bliss came towards Lomond, anautomatic in his hand. You can tell me, eh  then who is The Ringer?A hand stretched out and snatched at his hat. You! said the voice of Bliss. I want you  Henry Arthur Milton!Lomond leapt to his feet. What the hell ?No longer was he the grey-haired doctor.A straight, handsome man ofthirty-five stood in his place. Stand still! Alan hardly recognised his own voice. Search him! said Bliss, and Alan stripped off the  doctor s overcoat.The Ringer chuckled. Bliss, eh? It doesn t fit you! You re the fellow who said I knifed you whenyou tried to arrest me three years ago. So you did, said Bliss. That s a lie! I never carry a knife.You know that.Bliss showed his teeth in an exultant grin. I know that I ve got you, Ringer  that s all I know.Come from Port Said,did you  attended a sick man there? I thought your woman knew I suspectedyou when she was scared that day at Scotland Yard.Henry Arthur Milton smiled contemptuously. You flatter yourself, my dear fellow.That woman  who happens to be mywife  was scared not because she even saw you  but because she recognisedme! That Port Said story was good, said Bliss. You saw a sick man there  Dr.Lomond, a dope who d been lost to sight for years and sunk to native level.Hedied and you took his name and papers. I also nursed him  and I paid for his funeral, added Milton. You tried to make people suspicious of me  you ve got a cheek! It was youwho let Lenley out of the cell!The Ringer inclined his head.183  Guilty.Best thing I ever did. Clever! approved Bliss. I hand it to you! Got your job as police surgeonby smoodging a Cabinet Minister you met on the boat, didn t you?The Ringer shuddered.  Smoodging is a vulgar word!  Flattering is a better.Yes, I was lucky toget the post  I was four years a medical student in my youth  Edinburgh  Ipresent you with that information.Bliss was beside himself with excitement. Well, I ve got you! I charge you with the wilful murder of MauriceMeister.Alan could bear the gloating no longer. I say, Bliss  he began. I m in charge of this case, Wembury, said Bliss sourly. When I want youradvice I ll ask you for it  who s that?He heard the patter of footsteps on the stairs.In another minute Cora Ann hadflown into her husband s arms. Arthur! Arthur! All right, Mrs.Milton.That ll do, that ll do, cried Bliss. I told you  I told you  oh, Arthur! she sobbed.Bliss tried to pull her away. Come on. One minute, said The Ringer, and then, to the girl:  Cora Ann, you haven tforgotten?She shook her head. You promised me something: you remember? Yes  Arthur, she said.Instantly all the suspicions of Bliss were aroused and he dragged the womanaway. What s the idea? You keep off and don t interfere.She turned her white face to his. You want to take him and shut him away, she cried wildly   like a wildanimal behind bars; like a beast  like something that isn t human.That s whatyou want to do! You re going to bury him alive, blot out his life, and you thinkI ll let you do i You think I ll stand right here and watch him slip into a livingt!grave and not save him from it. You can t save him from the gallows! was the harsh reply. I can t, can t I? she almost screamed. I ll show you that I can!Too late Bliss saw the pistol, but before he could snatch it from her hand shehad fired.The Ringer collapsed into a settee.184  You little brute  Wembury! yelled Bliss.Wembury went to his assistance and wrenched the revolver from her hand.As he did so, The Ringer rose swiftly from the place where he had been lyinglimp and apparently lifeless, and walked out of the door, locking it behind him. My God! He s gone! roared Bliss, and threw open the chamber of therevolver. Blank cartridge [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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