Introducing The Toff (23 page)

Frensham stood back from Anne, flushing a little. The Toff was telling himself that there was little likelihood of a broken engagement in that quarter, and he was glad. But she was a tantalizingly beautiful little imp!

Anne eyed him steadily.

‘Go on,’ said the Toff, ‘tell me what it’s all about. The Tennants are worried to death, the police are searching for you all over the country – and apparently all you did was to walk out of the place and come here. After a telephone-call or so. Who phoned, and –’

The girl’s voice was lower than usual.

‘It was – Kellson – who phoned.’

‘Kellson!’ exclaimed Frensham, but the Toff waved him back. Anne went on quickly.

‘He needed to get out of the country quickly and ho wanted to see me before he went. He had a special aeroplane ready, and – he’s well away by now. They won’t catch him. It wasn’t his fault altogether. Apart from – from dodging the Customs, and Willow was as much to blame for that as he was, it was – John’s fault.’

‘John!’ Frensham exclaimed, and the Toff wagged a finger.

‘Don’t shout, little man. You mean your brother. Anne?’

‘That’s right,’ said Anne Farraway. ‘Oh, it’s all been a beastly mix-up, but – Kellson was my step-father. Mother died, and for a year or two he – was pretty decent. Then I learned he was fooling with the Customs. I left him when he wouldn’t stop. But I couldn’t get away from the chemical firms, because I met Ted, and –’

‘Ted finished you,’ said the Toff slowly. ‘This doesn’t exactly coincide with the first story you told me, sweet one.’

‘I know. But it’s all true now. I wanted to keep Father out of it if I could. He was scared to death as it was. And John – well, it was John who told Dragoli about the smuggling, put Father in Dragoli’s hands. I – I’d always refused to take money from Father. I told you John always sent cash to me, and what I did with it. It was true, but – I hated their work and the way they made money. I meant to keep clear of it, until – I learned about Dragoli and John. Then I saw Father, asked him – and learned he was playing a part. I – I think I would have told the police, but’ – her eyes gleamed a little, although she looked very tired –’you came along. Rolly, and you seemed more than capable of looking after things. I warned Father to get away –’

‘Well, well!’ exclaimed the Toff. ‘You phoned him ten minutes before I reached him the other day. I’m not so sure you oughtn’t to be spanked, but –’

‘I couldn’t have told you more than you’d found out,’ said Anne. ‘I’d promised myself to tell you everything, on condition you didn’t pass it on to the police, as soon as you were active again. But you move pretty fast, Roily.’

‘Enough of your blarney,’ said the Toff, in mock ill humour. ‘I suppose you two aren’t married, by any chance? All right, Jolly’ll have to sleep in a chair, and I’ll have his bed. That’ll give you a room apiece and preserve the proprieties. I wonder what McNab would say if he knew?’

McNab, to the best of the Toff’s knowledge, never knew; nor did Warrender. Kellson was posted in the Yard’s missing-but-wanted file, and was likely to remain there for ever. If the Toff had any satisfaction out of the Kellson angle, it was the vindication of his belief that Anne Farraway had kept something up her sleeve.

When he sent them a wedding present, two months later, it was with a good heart, even if he wondered a little wryly what he would have done had Anne been free. And James Willow, relieved from blackmail, a bouncing, rather common little man who had not been so light-hearted for years, accepted what appeared to him an excellent suggestion from Rollison: he offered Frensham a partnership, and undertook to play no more games with the revenue authorities.

Dragoli, Colliss, and Garrotty were hanged some time after the wedding, and when the Frenshams were on the high seas, for a month’s honeymoon. Daisy Lee was serving ten years in prison; others had long terms to serve. The organization, bit by bit, was smashed. The Black Circle could operate in Stamboul, but in England it was broken beyond repair.

It was just six months after the affair at Camberley that the Toff visited Randle Street. It was a warm, early spring day, and he saw Old Ben – recovered from his wounds – in the window.

Old Ben had been sent fifty pounds when he had come out of hospital, and he wondered, day by day, who had sent it. He had no idea it was the spruce-looking man who was then knocking at the door of the house opposite. A chubby little woman opened the door and saw the Toff. Her eyes widened with pleasure as she asked him into a spotless sitting-room, well furnished now. The once-scared youngster was at school, but she came in soon afterwards. And Miller himself followed her.

The man’s eyes brightened when he saw the Toff, and he shook hands warmly.

‘I’ve wanted to see you for a long time, Mr. Rollison. I didn’t like to write and say so, but I’d guessed who got me the job with Willow and Kellson. They’re a darned fine firm, too – they’re treating me well.’

‘You can’t tell me much about Willow and Kellson,’ smiled the Toff, and he was chuckling to himself when he left Randle Street soon afterwards. Apart from busting Dragoli’s game, there were other things he would remember the Black Circle affair for: and the Millers, with their new prosperity and happiness, were by no means the least important.

And another family in London came to venerate the Toff.

Published or to be published by

House of Stratus

Dates given are those of first publication

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

Published by House of Stratus

‘Department ‘Z’’ (28 titles)

‘Dr. Palfrey Novels’ (34 titles)

‘Inspector West’ (43 titles)

‘Sexton Blake’ (5 titles)

‘The Baron’ (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

‘The Toff’ (59 titles)

along with:

The Masters of Bow Street This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey’s account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel’s Act in 1829.

Gideon’s Day Gideon’s day is a busy one. He balances family commitments with solving a series of seemingly unrelated crimes from which a plot nonetheless evolves and a mystery is solved. One of the most senior officers within Scotland Yard, George Gideon’s crime solving abilities are in the finest traditions of London’s world famous police headquarters. His analytical brain and sense of fairness is respected by colleagues and villains alike.

Meet the Baron John Mannering ( The Baron ) makes his first appearance in this volume. Lord Fauntley cannot help showing off both his daughter and the security under which his precious jewels are kept. Mannering finds himself attracted to both .... Money is tight and so he plans a burglary, but this fails and unexpected consequnces result. The relationship with Lorna Fauntley flourishes, and a series of high profile thefts and adventures ensure Mannering’s future, so he believes, until Lorna equates him with The Baron . One of the many further twists in this award winning novel occurs when the police appear to seek Mannering’s help, only to have everything turned upside down as the plot develops . . .