The New Adventures of Ellery Queen (13 page)

Ellery strolled over and glanced down at the box. Then he blew smoke and said: “Happy chance. It's a little after eight now. You discovered the theft, then, at a quarter of eight or so. Therefore the pearls were stolen between six and seven-forty-five. Didn't you hear anything, Miss Barrett?”

Leonie smiled ruefully. “I'm a disgustingly sound sleeper, Mr. Queen. That's something you'll learn, Dick. And then for years I've suspected that I snore, but nobody ever—”

The Lieutenant blushed. The General said: “Leonie,” not very convincingly, and Leonie made a face and began to weep again, this time on the Lieutenant's shoulder.

“What the deuce are we to do?” snarled the General. “We can't—well, hang it all, you just can't
search
people. Nasty business! If the pearls weren't so valuable I'd say forget the whole ruddy thing.”

“A body search is scarcely necessary, General,” said Ellery. “No thief would be so stupid as to carry the loot about on his person. He'd expect the police to be called; and the police, at least, are notoriously callous to the social niceties.”

“Police,” said Leonie in a damp voice, raising her head. “Oh, goodness. Can't we—”

“I think,” said Ellery, “we can struggle along without them for the proverbial nonce. On the other hand, a search of the premises … Any objection to my prowling about?”

“None whatever,” snapped Leonie. “Mr. Queen, you prowl!”

“I believe I shall. By the way, who besides the four of us—and the thief—knows about this?”

“Not another soul.”

“Very good. Now, discretion is our shibboleth today. Please pretend nothing's happened. The thief will know we're acting, but he'll be constrained to act, too, and perhaps …” He smoked thoughtfully. “Suppose you dress and join your guests downstairs, Miss Barrett. Come, come, get that Wimpole Street expression off your face, my dear!”

“Yes, sir,” said Leonie, trying out a smile.

“You gentlemen might co-operate. Keep everyone away from this floor while I go into my prowling act. I shouldn't like to have Mrs. Nixon, for example, catch me red-handed among her brassières.”

“Oh,” said Leonie suddenly. And she stopped smiling.

“What's the matter?” asked the Lieutenant in an anxious voice.

“Well, Dorothy Nixon is up against it. Horribly short of funds. No, that's a—a rotten thing to say.” Leonie flushed. “Goodness, I'm half-naked! Now,
please
, clear out.”

“Nothing,” said Ellery in an undertone to Lieutenant Fiske after breakfast. “It isn't anywhere in the house.”

“Damnation,” said the officer. “You're positive?”

“Quite. I've been through all the rooms. Kitchen. Solarium. Pantry. Armory. I've even visited the General's cellar.”

Fiske gnawed his lower lip. Leonie called gaily: “Dorothy and Mr. Harkness and I are going into the pool for a plunge. Dick! Coming?”

“Please go,” said Ellery softly; and he added: “And while you're plunging, Lieutenant, search that pool.”

Fiske looked startled. Then he nodded rather grimly and followed the others.

“Nothing, eh?” said the General glumly. “I saw you talking to Richard.”

“Not yet.” Ellery glanced from the house, into which the others had gone to change into bathing costume, to the riverside. “Suppose we stroll down there, General. I want to ask your man Braun some questions.”

They made their way cautiously down the stone steps in the cliff to the sliver of beach below, and found the old pensioner placidly engaged in polishing the brasswork of the General's launch.

“Mornin', sir,” said Braun, snapping to attention.

“At ease,” said the General moodily. “Braun, this gentleman wants to ask you some questions.”

“Very simple ones,” smiled Ellery. “I saw you fishing, Braun, at about eight this morning. How long had you been sitting on the jetty?”

“Well, sir,” replied the old man, scratching his left arm, “on and off since ha'-past five. Bitin' early, they are. Got a fine mess.”

“Did you have the stairs there in view all the time?”

“Sure thing, sir.”

“Has anyone come down this morning?” Braun shook his gray thatch. “Has anyone approached from the river?”

“Not a one, sir.”

“Did anyone drop or throw anything down here or into the water from the cliff up there?”

“If they'd had, I'd ‘a' heard the splash, sir. No, sir.”

“Thank you. Oh, by the way, Braun, you're here all day?”

“Well, only till early afternoon, unless someone's usin' the launch, sir.”

“Keep your eyes open, then. General Barrett is especially anxious to know if anyone comes down this afternoon. If someone does, watch closely and report,”

“General's orders, sir?” asked Braun, cocking a shrewd eye.

“That's right, Braun,” sighed the General. “Dismissed.”

“And now,” said Ellery, as they climbed to the top of the cliff, “let's see what friend Magruder has to say.”

Magruder was a gigantic old Irishman with leathery cheeks and the eyes of a top sergeant. He occupied a rambling little cottage at the only gateway to the estate.

“No, sir,” he said emphatically, “ain't been a soul near here all mornin'. Nob'dy, in or out.”

“But how can you be sure, Magruder?”

The Irishman stiffened. “From a quarter to six till seven-thirty I was a-settin' right there in full view o' the gate a cleanin' some o' the Gin'ral's guns, sir. And afther I was trimmin' the privets.”

“You may take Magruder's word as gospel,” snapped the General.

“I do, I do,” said Ellery soothingly. “This is the only vehicular exit from the estate, of course, sir?”

“As you see.”

“Yes, yes. And the cliffside … Only a lizard could scale those rocky side walls. Very interesting. Thanks, Magruder.”

“Well, what now?” demanded the General, as they walked back toward the house.

Ellery frowned. “The essence of any investigation, General, is the question of how many possibilities you can eliminate. This little hunt grows enchanting on that score. You say you trust your servants implicitly?”

“With anything.”

“Then round up as many as you can spare and have them go over every inch of the grounds with a fine comb. Fortunately your estate isn't extensive, and the job shouldn't take long.”

“Hmm.” The General's nostrils quivered. “B'gad, there's an idea! I see, I see. Splendid, Mr. Queen. You may trust my lads. Old soldiers, every one of 'em; they'll love it. And the trees?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“The trees, man, the trees! Crotches of 'em; good hiding-places.”

“Oh,” said Ellery gravely, “the trees. By all means search them.”

“Leave that to me,” said the General fiercely; and he trotted off breathing fire.

Ellery sauntered over to the pool, which churned with vigorous bodies, and sat down on a bench to watch. Mrs. Nixon waved a shapely arm and dived under, pursued by a bronzed giant who turned out to be Harkness when his dripping curls reappeared. A slim slick figure shot out of the water almost at Ellery's feet and in the same motion scaled the edge of the pool.

“I've done it,” murmured Leonie, smiling and preening as if to invite Ellery's admiration.

“Done what?” mumbled Ellery, grinning back.

“Searched them.”

“Searched—! I don't understand.”

“Oh, are
all
men fundamentally stupid?” Leonie leaned back and shook out her hair. “Why d'ye think I suggested the pool? So that everyone would have to take his clothes off! All I did was slip into a bedroom or two before going down myself. I searched
all
our clothes. It was possible the—the thief had slipped the pearls into some unsuspecting pocket, you see. Well … nothing.”

Ellery looked at her. “My dear young woman,
I'd
like to play Browning to your Ba, come to think of it.… But their bathing suits—”

Leonie colored. Then she said firmly: “That was a long, six-stranded rope. If you think Dorothy Nixon has it on her person
now
, in
that
bathing suit …” Ellery glanced at Mrs. Nixon.

“I can't say,” he chuckled, “that any of you in your present costumes could conceal an object larger than a fly's wing. Ah, there, Lieutenant! How's the water?”

“No good,” said Fiske, thrusting his chin over the pool's edge.

“Why, Dick!” exclaimed Leonie. “I thought you liked—”

“Your fiancé,” murmured Ellery, “has just informed me that your pearls are nowhere in the pool, Miss Barrett.”

Mrs. Nixon slapped Harkness's face, brought up her naked leg, set her rosy heel against the man's wide chin, and shoved. Harkness laughed and went under.

“Swine,” said Mrs. Nixon pleasantly, climbing out.

“It's your own fault,” said Leonie. “I
told
you not to wear that bathing suit.”

“Look,” said the Lieutenant darkly, “who's talking.”

“If you
will
invite Tarzan for a weekend,” began Mrs. Nixon, and she stopped. “What on earth are those men doing out there? They're crawling!'”

Everybody looked. Ellery sighed. “I believe the General is tired of our company and is directing some sort of wargame with his veterans. Does he often get that way, Miss Barrett?”

“Infantry maneuvers,” said the Lieutenant quickly.

“That's a silly game,” said Mrs. Nixon with spirit, taking off her cap. “What's on for this afternoon, Leonie? Let's do something exciting!”

“I think,” grinned Harkness, clambering out of the pool like a great monkey, “I'd like to play an exciting game, Mrs. Nixon, if you're going to be in it.” The sun gleamed on his wet torso.

“Animal,” said Mrs. Nixon. “What shall it be? Suggest something, Mr. Queen.”

“Lord,” said Ellery. “
I
don't know. Treasure hunt? It's a little
passé
, but at least it isn't too taxing on the brain.”

“That,” said Leonie, “has all the earmarks of a nasty crack. But I think it's a glorious idea. You arrange things, Mr. Queen.”

“Treasure hunt?” Mrs. Nixon considered it. “Mmm. Sounds nice. Make the treasure something worth while, won't you? I'm stony.”

Ellery paused in the act of lighting a cigarette. Then he threw his match away. “If I'm elected … When shall it be—after luncheon?” He grinned. “May as well do it up brown. I'll fix the clues and things. Keep in the house, the lot of you. I don't want any spying. Agreed?”

“We're in your hands,” said Mrs. Nixon gaily.

“Lucky dog,” sighed Harkness.

“See you later, then.” Ellery strolled off toward the river. He heard Leonie's fresh voice exhorting her guests to hurry into the house to dress for luncheon.

Major-General Barrett found him at noon standing by the parapet and gazing absently at the opposite shore, half a mile away. The old gentleman's cheeks were bursting with blood and perspiration, and he looked angry and tired.

“Damn all thieves for black-hearted scoundrels!” he exploded, mopping his bald spot. Then he said inconsistently: “I'm beginning to think Leonie simply mislaid it.”

“You haven't found it?”

“No sign of it.”

“Then where did she mislay it?”

“Oh, thunderation, I suppose you're right. I'm sick of the whole blasted business. To think that a guest under my roof—”

“Who said,” sighed Ellery, “anything about a guest, General?”

The old gentleman glared. “Eh? What's that? What d'ye mean?”

“Nothing at all. You don't know.
I
don't know. Nobody but the thief knows. Shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir. Now, tell me. The search has been thorough?” Major-General Barrett groaned. “You've gone through Magruder's cottage, too?”

“Certainly, certainly.”

“The stables?”

“My dear sir—”

“The trees?”

“
And
the trees,” snapped the General. “Every last place.”

“Good!”

“What's good about it?”

Ellery looked astonished. “My dear General, it's superb! I'm prepared for it. In fact, I anticipated it. Because we're dealing with a very clever person.”

“You know—” gasped the General.

“Very little concretely. But I see a glimmer. Now will you go back to the house, sir, and freshen up? You're fatigued, and you'll need your energies for this afternoon. We're to play a game.”

“Oh, heavens,” said the General; and he trudged off toward the house, shaking his head. Ellery watched him until he disappeared.

Then he squatted on the parapet and gave himself over to thought.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen,” began Ellery after they had assembled on the veranda at two o'clock, “I have spent the last two hours hard at work—a personal sacrifice which I gladly contribute to the gaiety of nations, and in return for which I ask only your lusty co-operation.”

“Hear,” said the General gloomily.

“Come, come, General, don't be antisocial. Of course, you all understand the game?” Ellery lit a cigarette. “I have hidden the ‘treasure' somewhere. I've left a trail to it—a winding trail, you understand, which you must follow step by step. At each step I've dropped a clue which, correctly interpreted, leads to the next step. The race is, naturally, to the mentally swift. This game puts a premium on brains.”

“That,” said Mrs. Nixon ruefully, “lets me out.” She was dressed in tight sweater and tighter slacks, and she had bound her hair with a blue ribbon.

“Poor Dick,” groaned Leonie. “I'm sure I shall have to pair up with him. He wouldn't get to first base by himself.”