The Secret of Chimneys

‘We are quite agreed upon that point. But you will understand that I have every intention of recovering these letters. In the part of the world where I come from, people are used to doing things for themselves. What I require from you therefore is the fullest possible information you can give me about this waiter, Giuseppe.’

‘I see no objection to that,’ said the manager after a moment or two’s pause. ‘I cannot give you the information offhand, of course, but if you will return in half an hour’s time I will have everything ready to lay before you.’

‘Thank you very much. That will suit me admirably.’

In half an hour’s time, Anthony returned to the office again to find that the manager had been as good as his word. Jotted down on a piece of paper were all the relevant facts known about Giuseppe Manelli.

‘He came to us, you see, about three months ago. A skilled and experienced waiter. Has given complete satisfaction. He has been in England about five years.’

Together the two men ran over a list of the hotels and restaurants where the Italian had worked. One fact struck Anthony as being possibly of significance. At two of the hotels in question there had been serious robberies during the time that Giuseppe was employed there, though no suspicion of any kind had attached to him in either case. Still, the fact was significant.

Was Giuseppe merely a clever hotel thief? Had his search of Anthony’s suitcase been only part of his habitual professional tactics? He might just possibly have had the packet of letters in his hand at the moment when Anthony switched on the light, and have shoved it into his pocket mechanically so as to have his hands free. In that case, the thing was mere plain or garden robbery.

Against that, there was to be put the man’s excitement of the evening before when he had caught sight of the papers lying on the table. There had been no money or object of value there such as would excite the cupidity of an ordinary thief.

No, Anthony felt convinced that Giuseppe had been acting as a tool for some outside agency. With the information supplied to him by the manager, it might be possible to learn something about Giuseppe’s private life and so finally track him down. He gathered up the sheet of paper and rose.

‘Thank you very much indeed. It’s quite unnecessary to ask, I suppose, whether Giuseppe is still in the hotel?’

The manager smiled.

‘His bed was not slept in, and all his things have been left behind. He must have rushed straight out after his attack upon you. I don’t think there is much chance of our seeing him again.’

‘I imagine not. Well, thank you very much indeed. I shall be staying on here for the present.’

‘I hope you will be successful in your task, but I confess that I am rather doubtful.’

‘I always hope for the best.’

One of Anthony’s first proceedings was to question some of the other waiters who had been friendly with Giuseppe, but he obtained very little to go upon. He wrote out an advertisement on the lines he had planned, and had it sent to five of the most widely read newspapers. He was just about to go out and visit the restaurant at which Giuseppe had been previously employed when the telephone rang. Anthony took up the receiver.

‘Hullo, what is it?’

A toneless voice replied.

‘Am I speaking to Mr McGrath?’

‘You are. Who are you?’

‘This is Messrs Balderson and Hodgkins. Just a minute, please. I will put you through to Mr Balderson.’

‘Our worthy publishers,’ thought Anthony. ‘So they are getting worried too, are they? They needn’t. There’s a week to run still.’

A hearty voice struck suddenly upon his ear.

‘Hullo! That Mr McGrath?’

‘Speaking.’

‘I’m Mr Balderson of Balderson and Hodgkins. What about that manuscript, Mr McGrath?’

‘Well,’ said Anthony, ‘what about it?’

‘Everything about it. I understand, Mr McGrath, that you have just arrived in this country from South Africa. That being so, you can’t possibly understand the position. There’s going to be trouble about that manuscript, Mr McGrath, big trouble. Sometimes I wish we’d never said we’d handle it.’

‘Indeed?’

‘I assure you it’s so. At present I’m anxious to get it into my possession as quickly as possible, so as to have a couple of copies made. Then, if the original is destroyed–well, no harm will be done.’

‘Dear me,’ said Anthony.

‘Yes, I expect it sounds absurd to you, Mr McGrath. But, I assure you, you don’t appreciate the situation. There’s a determined effort being made to prevent its ever reaching this office. I say to you quite frankly and without humbug that if you attempt to bring it yourself it’s ten to one that you’ll never get here.’

‘I doubt that,’ said Anthony. ‘When I want to get anywhere, I usually do.’

‘You’re up against a very dangerous lot of people. I wouldn’t have believed it myself a month ago. I tell you, Mr McGrath, we’ve been bribed and threatened and cajoled by one lot and another until we don’t know whether we’re on our heads or our heels. My suggestion is that you do not attempt to bring the manuscript here. One of our people will call upon you at the hotel and take possession of it.’

‘And supposing the gang does him in?’ asked Anthony.

‘The responsibility would then be ours–not yours. You would have delivered it to our representative and obtained a written discharge. The cheque for–er–a thousand pounds which we are instructed to hand to you will not be available until Wednesday next by the terms of our agreement with the executors of the late–er–author–you know whom I mean, but if you insist I will send my own cheque for that amount by the messenger.’

Anthony reflected for a minute or two. He had intended to keep the memoirs until the last day of grace, because he was anxious to see for himself what all the fuss was about. Nevertheless, he realized the force of the publisher’s arguments.

‘All right,’ he said, with a little sigh. ‘Have it your own way. Send your man along. And if you don’t mind sending that cheque as well I’d rather have it now, as I may be going out of England before next Wednesday.’

‘Certainly, Mr McGrath. Our representative will call upon you first thing tomorrow morning. It will be wiser not to send anyone direct from the office. Our Mr Holmes lives in South London. He will call in on his way to us, and will give you a receipt for the package. I suggest that tonight you should place a dummy packet in the manager’s safe. Your enemies will get to hear of this, and it will prevent any attack being made upon your apartments tonight.’