Mystery of Mr. Jessop (40 page)

Mr. Larson strolled over, his coffee in his hand, to Mr. Moffatt, and dropped before him the card he had written in the dining-room. It bore the words:

“Share Pusher.”

Mr. Moffatt looked very startled. His eyes and mouth opened to their widest. His face, red with an outdoor life, went redder still. Before he could speak the door opened and there appeared the pale, soft-moving butler, a little more pale, more softly moving even than usual.

“Colonel Warden to see you, sir,” he said. “In the library, sir. On business. I was to say he wouldn't keep you more than a minute or two.”

“Colonel Warden?” repeated Mr. Moffatt, surprised. “Our chief constable,” he explained to the two men.

“Oh, dear,” exclaimed Ena, turning quite pale. “I do hope Noll hasn't been speeding again or anything.”

“Warden wouldn't come himself about that,” her father said. “Is Colonel Warden alone?” he asked the butler.

“No, sir,” Reeves answered, glancing uneasily over his shoulder. “A Scotland Yard man's with him – a detective-sergeant. Bobby Owen his name is.”