Acting on Impulse Read online

  “My good youth, are you seriously accusing Mr. Caryu? Even supposing that he is the man we’re after—which he isn’t—would he have copied the plans while they were in his house? He’s not a fool, you know.”

  “Where was he during those three days?”

  “At home. Winthrop went round to his house, and together they examined the plans. That was on the first day, and Winthrop left the house soon after nine in the evening. Shortly after he had gone Caryu put the plans into his safe. He had them with him next day at the War Office, and put them into the safe when he came home. Not even his secretary knew of their existence. They were returned to Tassel on the following afternoon.”

  Linckes’ forehead wrinkled in perplexity. “When did Johnson see them?”

  “Before. He worked with Tassel, you see.”

  “Um! And where did Sir Charles Winthrop go when he left Caryu’s house that night?”

  “He went straight down to his place in the country—Millbank. Took Max Lawson with him. He was there for the rest of the week, with a small house-party. That wipes him off the list.”

  “What sort of a man is he?” Linckes asked. “All I know is that he’s fairly young, very clever, and good-looking, rich, and an orphan.”

  “He’s an awfully decent chap. Everybody likes him. Son of old Mortimer Winthrop. the railwayman. Mortimer separated from his wife when Charles was a kid. You know Charles’ history. She went abroad with the other child, I believe, and Mortimer kept Charles. Did awfully well in the Secret Service during the war, and rose like a rocket. He’ll be a big man before long, if this awful business is cleared up. Of course, he feels pretty badly about it. Means he’ll perhaps have to resign his post.”

  “Yes, I suppose so. What about Tassel?”

  “Tassel’? My dear Linckes, if you’re going to shadow him I shall begin to regret I ever put you on to the case. Why, you might just as well suspect Caryu!”

  “Ah!” said Linckes, and saw the chief’s lips twitch.

  The telephone-bell rang sharply before Masters had time to speak again. He unhooked the receiver.

  “Hallo! What? Sir Charles? Yes, put him through to me at once, will you?” He nodded at Linckes. "I thought Winthrop would ring up. I told him about you. Our White Hope. Yes? Hallo! Is that Sir Charles? Good-morning! Yes, he’s here now. Yes, I’ve told him all I know. No, I don’t think so. Well, he hasn’t had much chance to yet. What? Yes, certainly! Now? All right, Sir Charles, I’ll send him along. What? Oh, I see! Yes, all right. Good-bye!”

  He put the receiver back.

  “Sir Charles wants you to go along to his house now, Linckes—16, Arlington Street. Get along there as quickly as you can, will you? I want you to put every ounce of your brain into this. It’s a big chance for you, you know.”

  Linckes rose, and drew a deep breath.

  II.

  HALF an hour later he stood in the library of No. 16, Arlington Street, taking in his surroundings with appreciative eyes. He was examining a fine old chest by the window when Winthrop came in.

  Linckes turned. He beheld a tall, slim man of perhaps thirty-five years old, with an open, handsome face, in which sparkled a pair of dark eyes, singularly expressive, and fringed by long black lashes. Winthrop held Linckes’ card in his hand, and he came forward, smiling. The smile dispersed the slight sternness about his mouth, and left it boyish and charming. Very simply he told Linckes all that he knew, while the young detective listened intently, occasionally putting a question.

  “And that’s all,” Winthrop ended ruefully. “’Tisn’t much to go on, is it?

  “No; very little. You don’t suspect anyone yourself?”

  “I don’t. I admit it looked like the work of an outsider, but I just don’t see how it can be. Masters first suspected Ruthven, my secretary; but that’s impossible. I can account for all his movements, and I know that he didn’t go near Caryu’s place during the three days that the plans were there, for the simple reason that he was with me at Millbank.”

  “There might be an accomplice.”

  Winthrop screwed up his nose, perplexed.

  “Well, of course there might be. But, considering that Ruthven himself doesn’t know the key to the safe, I don’t see how that helps. Besides, Caryu has a most elaborate alarm thing in his safe-room. Only he and I know the workings to it. Either of us could enter the room without disturbing it, provided we did not try to get in at the window, or any funny trick like that, but no one else could. Whoever did it must have watched the place for months; might even have been in the household. Probably was, because there were no signs of burglary. We had no idea anything had been tampered with until we had ample proof that Russia had learnt the secret of those new subs. I tell you it’s absolutely incomprehensible!”

  Linckes pulled out his cigarette-case, frowning. He started to tap a cigarette on it absent-mindedly.

  “The servants have been accounted for I suppose?”

  Winthrop’s white teeth gleamed in an infectious laugh.

  “Oh lor’, yes! They’re all being watched and interrogated, and Heaven knows what besides. We don’t think they have anything to do with it. It’s too big a thing.”

  “I may act as I think fit?” Linckes asked.

  “Absolutely! Interview all the servants, or anyone else you like. I say, don’t smoke your own cigarette. Have one of mine.”

  Linckes suddenly became aware of the cigarette in his hand.

  “I beg your pardon!” he exclaimed. “I ought to have asked you if you minded smoking. Well, thanks very much!” He took a cigarette from the box Winthrop held out to him, and inspected it. “’Fraid I don’t usually indulge in this brand. I smoke gaspers as a general rule.”

  He lit the cigarette, smiling.

  “Do you? I only smoke these. Sometimes, but very rarely, a cigar.”

  “Of course, I really prefer a pipe to anything,” Linckes remarked.

  Winthrop shook his head. “Can’t rise to that. I think they’re ghastly things. Look here! Have I told you enough? I mean, ask me any question you like.”

  “I think I’ve got enough to keep me occupied for a few days, thanks. I’ll be getting along now if you don’t mind.” He rose and held out his hand.

  Winthrop jumped up.

  “Right-ho! And try your damnedest, won’t you? We’re trying to keep a brave front. But—well, it’s serious. Just as serious as it can be. And until the mystery is solved Caryu and the rest of us are in a pretty sultry position. And —and it happens to mean rather a lot, to me especially, to have the thing cleared up.”

  “You may be quite sure that I shall do my best,” Linckes told him. He gripped Winthrop’s hand, and as he did so the door opened.

  “Charlie, it really is too bad of you!” chided an amused voice. “I suppose you’ve quite forgotten that you asked me to lunch with you at the Berkeley? I beg your pardon I’d no idea you were engaged. Daddy, he’s deep in business.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t burst in on him in that unceremonious way,” answered Caryu. He came leisurely into the room and cast a quick glance at Linckes. “Sorry to intrude like this, Charles. Autonia’s fault!”

  “How was I to know that he was engaged?” demanded Miss Caryu aggrievedly. She sauntered forward, bowing to Linckes.

  “I’m not engaged, I’m sorry to say,” retorted Winthrop. “I hadn’t forgotten, Tony, honestly. I was detained, but I was just coming. Caryu, may I introduce Mr. Linckes?”

  Linckes found himself the object of a keen scrutiny.

  “Very pleased to meet you!” said Caryu, and shook hands. “You’re not Tom Linckes’ son, by any chance?”

  “Yes, I am, sir. Do you know him?”

  “Very well. We were at college together. Hope you’ll be able to help us in this business.”

  Tony, who had just seated herself on the table, looked up. “Oh, are you the new detective, Mr. Linckes?” she asked interestedly.

  “Autonia!”

  “Well, all