19 - Pit Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts

Imagine pulling over 26 miles outside Bordeaux and having your life transform forever. This is exactly what happens to Seymour Merriman. His ordinary halt spirals him into a whirlwind of mystery, illicit smuggling, chilling murder, and unexpected romance. With the clock ticking, two amateur sleuths scramble to solve the baffling enigma of alternating number plates and the dangerous dealings of the pit prop syndicate. If they fail, the notorious Inspector Willis from Scotland Yard will take over. Dive into this riveting narrative and see where the journey takes you.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter nineteen of the Pitt prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter nineteen
Willis spreads his net. Though Inspector Willis had spent so
much time out of London in his following up of
the case, he had by no means lost sight of
Madeline Coburn and Merriman. The girl he knew was still

(00:22):
staying with her aunt at Eastbourne, and the local police
authorities from whom he got his information believed that her
youth and health were reasserting themselves, and that she was
rapidly recovering from the shock of her father's tragic death.
Merriman haunted the town. He practically lived at the George,
going up and down daily to his office, and spending
as many of his evenings and his sundays at Missus

(00:44):
Luttrell's as he dared. But though the young man had
worn himself almost to a shadow by his efforts, he
felt that the realization of his hopes were as far
off as ever Madeleine had told him that she would
not marry him until the mystery of her father's murder
was cleared up and the guilty parties brought to justice,
and he was becoming more and more afraid that she
would keep her word in vain. He implored her to

(01:07):
consider the living rather than the dead, and not to
wreck his life and her own for what, after all,
was but a sentiment. But though she listened to his
entreaties and was always kind and gentle, she remained inflexible
in her resolve. Merriman felt that his only plan, failing
the discovery of mister Coburn's assassin, was unobtrusively to keep

(01:27):
as much as possible in her company, in the hope
that she would grow accustomed to his presences and perhaps
in time come to need it. Under these circumstances, his
anxiety as to the progress of the case was very great,
and on several occasions he had written to Willis asking
him how his inquiry was going on, But the Inspector
had not been communicative, and Merriman had no idea how

(01:48):
matters actually stood. It was therefore, with feelings of pleasurable
anticipation that he received a telephone call from Sir Willis
at Scotland Yard. I have just returned from Bordeaux, the
Inspector said, and I am anxiou to have a chat
with Miss Cobburn on some points that have arisen. I
should be glad of your presence. Also, if possible, can
you arrange an interview? Do you want her to come

(02:10):
to town? Not necessarily, I will go to Eastbourne if
more convenient. But our meeting must be kept strictly secret.
The syndicate must not get to know. Merriman felt excitement
and hope rising within him. Better go to Eastbourne. Then,
he advised, come down with me to night by the
five twenty from Victoria. No willis answered, we mustn't be

(02:33):
seen together. I shall meet you at the corner of
the Grand Parade and Carlyle Road at nine o'clock. This
being agreed on, both men began to make their arrangements.
In Merriman's case, these consisted in throwing up his work
at the office and taking the first train to Eastbourne.
At five o'clock. He was asking for Miss Coburn at
missus Lutchell's door. Dear Madeline, he said, when he had

(02:55):
told her this news, you must not begin to expect things.
It may mean nothing at all all. Don't build on it.
But soon he had made her as much excited as
he was himself. He stayed for dinner, leaving shortly before
nine to keep his appointment with Willis. Both men were
to return to the house when Madeleine would see them alone.
Inspector Willis did not travel by Merriman's train. Instead, he

(03:17):
caught the five thirty five to Brighton, dined there, and then,
slipping out of the motel, motored over to Eastbourne. Dismissing
his vehicle at the Grand Hotel, he walked down the
parade and found Merrimon at the rendezvous. In ten minutes
they were in missus Lutcherll's drawing room. I am sorry,
Miss Coleburn. Willis began politely to intrude on you in

(03:38):
this way. But the fact is I want your help,
and indirectly the help of mister Merriman. But it is
only fair I think to tell you first what has
transpired since we last met. I must warn you, however,
that I can only do so in the strictest confidence.
No whisper of what I am going to say must
pass the lips of either of you, I promise, said
Merriman instantly, and I echoed Madeleen. I didn't require that assurance.

(04:03):
Willis went on it is sufficient that you understand the
gravity of the situation. Well after the inquest, I set
to work, and he briefly related the story of his
investigations in London and in Hull, his discoveries at Fairby,
his proof that Archer was the actual murderer, the details
of the smuggling organization, and finally his suspicion that the

(04:24):
other members of the syndicate were privy to mister Cowburn's death,
together with his failure to prove it. His two listeners
heard him with eager attention, in which interest in his
story was mingled with the admiration of his achievement. So
Hilliard was right about the Brandy after all. Merriman exclaimed
he deserved some credit for that. I think he believed

(04:44):
in it all the time, in spite of our conclusion
that we had proved it impossible. By Jove, how you
can be had? Willis turned to him. Don't be disappointed
about your part in it, sir, he advised, I consider
that you and mister Hilliard did uncommonly well. I may
tell you that I thought so much of your work
that I checked nothing of what you had done. Merriman

(05:07):
colored with pleasure jolly good of you to say so,
I'm sure, Inspector, he said, But I'm afraid most of
the credit for that goes to Hilliard. It was your
joint work I was speaking of, Willis insisted. But now
to get on to business, as I said, my difficulty
is that I suspect the members of the Syndicate of
complicity in mister Cowburn's death, but I can't prove it.

(05:29):
I've thought out a plan which may or may not
produce this proof. It is in this that I want
your help, mister Inspector, cried Madeline, reproachfully. Need you ask
for it? Willis laughed, I don't think so, But I
can't very well come in and command it. You know,
of course you can, Madeleine returned. You know very well

(05:51):
that in such a cause, mister Merriman and I would
do anything. I believe it, and I am going to
put you to the test. I'll tell you my idea.
It has occurred to me that these people might be
made to give themselves away. Suppose they had one of
their private meetings to discuss the affairs of the syndicate,
and that, unknown to them, witnesses could be present to

(06:11):
overhear what was said. Would there not at least be
a sporting chance that they would incriminate themselves? Yes, said Merriman,
much interested, likely enough, But I don't see how you
could arrange that. Willis smiled slightly. I think it might
be managed, he answered. If a meeting were to take place,
we could easily learn where it was to be held

(06:33):
and hear what went on. But the first point is
the difficulty, the question of the holding of the meeting.
In the ordinary course, there might be none for months.
Therefore we must take steps to have one summoned. And that,
he turned to Madeleine, is where I want your help.
His hearers stared, mystified, and Willis resumed. Something must happen

(06:56):
of such importance to the welfare of the syndicate that
the leaders will side that a full conference of the
members is necessary. So far as I can see, you
alone can cause that something to happen. I will tell
you how, but I must warn you that I fear
it will rake up painful memories. Madeleine, her lips parted,
was hanging on his words. Go on, she said, quickly,

(07:19):
we have settled all that. Thank you, said, Willis, taking
a sheet of paper from his pocket. I have here
the drafts of a letter which I want you to
write to Captain Beamish. You can phrase it as you like.
In fact, I want it in your own words. Read
it over and you will understand. The draft ran as follows,
Silverdale Road, Eastbourne. Dear Captain Beamish, and going over some

(07:44):
papers belonging to my late father, I learned to my
surprise that he was not a salaried official of your syndicate,
but a partner. It seems to me therefore, that as
his heir, I am entitled to his share of the
capital of the concern, or at all events, to the
interest on it. I have to express my astonishment that
no recognition of this fact has as yet been made
by the Syndicate. I may say that I have also

(08:06):
come on some notes relative to the business of the syndicates,
which have filled me with anxiety and dismay, but which
I do not care to refer to in detail in writing.
I think I should like an interview with you to
hear your explanation of these two matters, and to discuss
what action is to be taken with regard to them.
You could perhaps find it convenient to call on me here,
or I could meet you in London if you preferred it.

(08:28):
Yours faithfully, Madeline Coburn. Madeleine made a grimace as she
read this letter. Oh, she cried, But how could I
do that? I didn't find any notes, you know, And
besides it would be so dreadful acting as a decoy.
There is something more important than that. Merriman burst in indignantly.

(08:49):
Do you realize, mister Inspector, that if Miss Coburn were
to send that letter she would put herself in very
real danger? Not at all? Willis answered quietly, You have
not heard my whole scheme. My idea is that when
Beamish gets that letter, he will lay it before Archer
and they will decide that they must find out what
Miss Coburn knows and get her quieted about the money.

(09:11):
They will say, we didn't think she was that kind,
but it's evident she is out for what she can get.
Let's pay her a thousand or two a year as
interest on her father's alleged share. It will be at a
drop in the bucket to us, but it will seem
a big thing to her, and that will give us
a hold on keeping her silence. If she really does
know anything. Then Beamish will ask Miss Coburn to meet him,

(09:33):
probably in London. She will do so not alone, but
with some near friend, perhaps yourself. Mister Merriman, seeing you
were at the clearing and know something of the circumstances,
you will be armed. And in addition, I shall have
a couple of men from the yard within call, say,
disguised as waiters. If a restaurant is chosen for the meeting, you,
Miss Coburn, will come out in a new light. At

(09:54):
that meeting. You will put up a bluff. You will
tell Captain Beamish you know he is smuggling brandy, and
that the money he offers won't meet the case at all.
You must have twenty five thousand pounds down paid as
the value of your father's share in the concern, and
in such a way as will raise no suspicion that
you knew what was in progress the interview. We can

(10:14):
go into in detail later, but it must be so
arranged that Beamish will see mister Merriman's hand in the
whole thing. On the twenty five thousand pounds being paid,
the incriminating notes will be handed over. You will explain
that as a precautionary measure, you have sent them in
a sealed envelope to your solicitor, together with a statement
of the whole case, with instructions to open the same afternoon,

(10:36):
if not reclaimed before that by yourself in person. Now,
with regard to your objection, Miss Cockburn, I quite realize
what an exceedingly nasty job this will be for you
in ordinary circumstances. I should not suggest it. But the
people against whom I ask you to act did not
hesitate to lure your father into the cab in which
they intended to shoot him. They did this by a

(10:59):
show of friend and by playing on the trust he
reposed in them, And they did it deliberately and in
cold blood. You need not hesitate from nice feeling to
act as I suggest, in order to get justice for
your father's memory. Madeline braced herself up. I know you
are right, and if there is no other way, I
shall not hesitate, she said, But there was a piteous

(11:22):
look in her eyes. And will you help me, Seymour,
She looked appealingly at her companion. Merriman demurred on the
ground that even after taking all Willis's precautions, the girl
would still be in danger, but she would not consider
that aspect of the question at all, and at last
he was overborne. Madeleine, with her companion's help, then rewrote

(11:44):
the letter in her own phraseology and addressed it to
Captain Beamish, care of Messrs the lands Pit prop Syndicate
Farrabe Hull. Having arraigned that he would receive immediate telephonic
information of a reply, Willis left the house and was
driving back to Brighton next morning he returned to London.

(12:05):
The Girondine he reckoned would reach Ferby on the following Friday,
and on the Thursday he returned to Hull. He did
not want to be seen with Hunt, as he expected
the latter's business would by this time be too well known.
He therefore went to a different hotel, ringing up the
excise man and arranging a meeting for that evening. Hunt
turned up about nine, and the two men retired to

(12:26):
Willis's bedroom, where the inspector described his doings at Bordeaux.
Then Hunt told of his discoveries since the other had left.
I've got all I want at last, he said, You
remember we both realized that those five houses were getting
in vastly more brandy than they could possibly sell. Well,
I've found out how they are getting rid of the surplus,

(12:48):
Willis looked his question. They are selling it round to
other houses. They have three men doing nothing else. They
go in and buy anything from a bottle up to
three or four kegs, and there is always a good
reason for the purchase. Usually it is that they represent
a publican whose stock is just out and who wants
a quantity to keep him going. But the point is

(13:09):
that all the purchases are perfectly in order. They are
openly made and the full price is paid. But following
it up, I discovered that there is afterwards a secret rebate,
a small percentage of the prices refunded. This pays everyone
concerned and insures secrecy. Willis nodded. It's well managed all through,

(13:31):
he commented. They deserved to succeed, yes, but they're not
going to all the same. My discoveries won't help you.
I am satisfied that none of these people know anything
of the main conspiracy. Early on the following morning, Willis
was once more at work. Dawn had not completely come
when he motored from the city to the end of
the Farby Lane ten minutes after leaving his car, he

(13:54):
was in the ruined cottage. There he unearthed his telephone
from the box in which he had hidden it and
took up his old position at the window, prepared to
listen in to whatever messages might pass. He had a
longer visual than on previous occasions, and it was not
until nearly four that he saw Archer lock the door
of his office and moved towards the filing room. Almost

(14:14):
immediately came Benson's voice, calling are you there? They conversed
as before for a few minutes. The Jirondine, it appeared,
had arrived some hours previously with a cargo of thirteen
seventy five. It was clear that the members of the
syndicate had agreed never to mention the word gallons. It was.
Willis presumed a likely enough precaution against eavesdroppers, and he

(14:37):
thought how much sooner both Hillyard and himself would have
guessed the real nature of the conspiracy had it not
been observed. Presently, they came to the subject about which
Willis was expecting to hear Beamish, the manager explained, was
there and wished to speak to Archer. That you Archer
came in what Willis believed he recognized as the Captain's voice.

(14:57):
I've had rather a nasty jar letter from Madeline Cockburn
wants Coburn's share in the affair and hints it knowledge
of what we're really up to, reads as if she
was put up to it by someone, probably that Merriman.
Hold on a minute and I'll read it to you.
Then followed Madeleine's letter. Archer's reply was short but lurid,
and Willis, notwithstanding the seriousness of the matter, could not

(15:20):
help smiling. There was a pause, and then Archer asked,
when did you get that now? When we got in?
But Benson tells me the letter has been waiting for
me three days. You might read it again. Beamish did so,
and presently Archer went on. In my opinion, we needn't
be unduly alarmed. Of course she may know something, but

(15:42):
I fancy it's what you say that Merriman is getting
her to put up a bluff. But it'll take thinkin over.
I have an appointment presently, and in any case we
couldn't discuss it adequately over the telephone. We must meet.
Could you come up to my house tonight? Yes, if
you think it wise it's not wise, but I think
we must risk it. You're not known here, but come alone, Benson,

(16:03):
shouldn't attempt it. Right? What time? What about nine? I
often work in the evenings and I'm never disturbed. Come
round to my study window and I shall be there.
Tap lightly. The window is on the right hand side
of the house. As you come up the drive, the
fourth from the corner. You can slip round to it
in the shadow of the bushes, and keep on the

(16:23):
grass the whole time. Right nine o'clock. Then the switch
of the telephone clicked, and presently Willis saw Archer reappear
in his office. The inspector was disappointed. He had hoped
that the conspirators would have completed their plans over the telephone,
and that he would have nothing to do but listen
to what they arranged. Now he saw that if he

(16:43):
were to gain the information he required, it would mean
a vast deal more trouble and perhaps danger as well.
He felt that at all costs he must be present
at the interview in Archer's study, But the more he
thought about it, the more difficult the accomplishment of this seemed.
He was ignorant of the plan of the house, or
what high places, if any, there might be in the study,
Nor could he think of any scheme by which he

(17:04):
could gain admittance. Further, there was but little time in
which to make inquiries or arrangements, as he could not
leave his present retreat until dark, or say six o'clock.
He saw the problem would be one of the most
difficult he had ever faced, but the need for solving
it was paramount, and when darkness had set in, he
let himself out of the cottage and walked to the
mile or more to Archer's residence. It was a big

(17:27):
square block of a house, approached by a short winding drive,
on each side of which was a border of rhododendrons.
The porch was in front, and the group of windows
to the left of its were lighted up the dining
room Willis imagined. He followed the directions given to Beamish
and moved round to the right, keeping well in the
shadow of the shrubs. The third and fourth windows from
the corner on the right side were also lighted up,

(17:50):
and the inspector crept silently up and peeped over the sill.
The blinds were drawn down, but that on the third
window was not quite pulled to the bottom, and through
the narrow slit room he could see into the room.
It was empty, but evidently only for the time being,
as a cheerful fire burned in the grate. Furnished as
a study, everything bore the impress of wealth and culture.

(18:12):
By looking from each end of the slot in turn,
nearly all the floor area and more than half of
the walls became visible, and a glance showed the inspector
that nowhere in his purview was there anything behind which
he might conceal himself. Supposing he could obtain permission, but
could he obtain ambition? He examined the sashes. They were
of steel, hinged and opening inwards in the French manner,

(18:35):
and were fastened by a handle which could not be
turned from without. Had they been the ordinary English sashes
fastened with snibs, he would have had the window open
in a few seconds. But with these he could do nothing.
He moved round the house, examining the other windows. All
were fitted with the same type of sash, and all
were fastened. The front door also was shut, and though

(18:56):
he might have been able to open it with his
bent wire, he felt that to a venture himself into
the hall without any idea of the interior would be
too dangerous. Here, as always, he was hampered by the
fact that discovery would mean the ruin of his case.
Having completed the circuit of the building, he looked once
more through the study window. At once he saw that
his opportunity was gone. At the large desk sat archer,

(19:19):
busily writing various expedients to obtain admission to the house
passed through his brain, all to be rejected as impracticable
unless some unexpected incident occurred of which he could take advantage.
He began to fear he would be unable to accomplish
his plan, as by this time it was half past eight.
He withdrew from the window and took up his position

(19:40):
behind a neighboring shrub. He did not wish to be
seen by Beamish, should the latter come early to the rendezvous.
He had, however, to wait for more than half an
hour before a dark form became vaguely visible in the
faint light which shone through the study blinds. It approached
the window and a tap sounded on the glass. In
a moment, the blo went up, the sash opened, the

(20:02):
figure passed through the sash closed softly, and the blind
was once more drawn down. In three seconds, Willis was
back at the sill. The slot under the blind still remained,
the other window having been opened. Willis first examined the
fastening of the latter in the hope of opening the
sash enough to hear what was said, but to his disappointment,

(20:22):
he found it tightly closed. He had therefore to be
content with observation through the slot. He watched the two
men sit down at either side of the fire and
light cigars. Then Beamish handed the other a paper, presumably
Madeline's letter, Archer having read it twice. A discussion began.
At first Archer seemed to be making some statement, to
judge by the other's rapt attention and the gestures of

(20:44):
excitement or concern which he made, But no word of
the conversation reached the inspector's ears. He watched for nearly
two hours, getting gradually more and more cramped from his
stooping position and chilled by the sharp autumn air. During
all that time, the men talked, walked earnestly. Then shortly
after eleven they got up and approached the window. Willis

(21:05):
retreated quickly behind his bush. The window opened softly, and
Beamish stepped out to the grass, the light shining on
his strong, rather lowering face. Archer leaned out of the
window after him, and Willis heard him say, in low tones,
then you'll speak up at eleven, to which the other
nodded and silently withdrew. The window closed, the blind was lowered,
and all remained silent. Willis waited for some minutes to

(21:29):
let the captain get clear away. Then, leaving his hiding
place and again keeping on their grass, he passed down
the drive and out on to the road. He was
profoundly disappointed. He had failed in his purpose, and the
only ray of light in the immediate horizon was that
last remark of Archers. If it meant as he presumed
it did, that the men were to communicate by the
secret telephone at eleven in the morning, all might not

(21:51):
yet be lost. He might learn then what he had
missed to night. It seemed hardly worth while returning to Hull.
He therefore went the Raven bar and Ferraby knocked up
the landlord, and, by paying four or five times a
proper amount, managed to get a meal and some food
for the next day. Then he returned to the deserted cottage.
He let himself in, closed the door behind him, and,

(22:13):
lying down on the floor with his head on his arm,
fell asleep. Next morning found him back at his post
at the broken window, with a telephone receiver at his ear.
His surmise at the meaning of Archer's remark at the
study window proved to be correct, For precisely at eleven
he heard the familiar are you there, which heralded a conversation.
Then Beamish's voice went on, I have talked this business

(22:35):
over with Benson, and he makes a suggestion which I
think is an improvement on our plan. He thinks we
should have our general meeting in London immediately after I
have interviewed Madeline Cockburn. The advantage of this scheme would
be that if we found she possessed really serious knowledge,
we could immediately consider our next move, and I could,
if necessary, see her again that night. Benson thinks I

(22:56):
should fix up a meeting with her at say ten
thirty or eleven, that I could then join you at
lunch at one thirty, after which we could discuss my
report and I could see the girl again at four
or five o'clock. It seems to me a sound scheme.
What do you say it has advantages? Archer answers slowly.
If you both think it best, I'm quite agreeable. Where
then should the meetings be held? In the case of

(23:18):
Miss Coburn, there would be no change in our last
night's arrangement. A private sitting room at the Gresham would
still do excellently. If you're going to town, you could
fix up some place for our own meeting, preferably close by.
Very well, I'm going up on Tuesday in any case,
and I'll arrange something. I shall let Benson know and
he can tell you and the others. I think we
should all go up by separate trains. I shall probably

(23:41):
go by the five thirty from Hull on the evening before.
Let's see when will you be in again Monday week
about midday. I expect Benson could go up that morning,
Bulla and I separately by the four and Fox, Henry
and Raymond. If he comes by the first train next morning,
how would that do? All right? I think the meetings
then will be on Tuesday at eleven and eleven thirty.

(24:03):
Benson to give you the address of the second we
can arrange at the meeting about returning to Hull. Right, oh,
Beemish answered shortly, and the conversation ended. Willis for once
was greatly cheered by what he had overheard. His failure
on the previous evening was evidently not going to be
so serious as he had feared. He had, in spite
of it, gained a knowledge of the conspirator's plans, and

(24:25):
he chuckled with delight as he thought how excellently his
ruse was working, and how completely the gang were walking
into the trap which he had prepared. As far as
he could see, he held all the trump cards of
the situation, and if he played his hand carefully, he
should undoubtedly get not only the men, but the evidence
to convict them. To learn the rendezvous for the meeting

(24:46):
of the syndicate, he would have to follow Archer's town
and shadow him as he did his business. This was Saturday,
and the managing director had said he was going on
the following Tuesday. From that there would be a week
until the meeting, which would give of more than time
to make the necessary arrangements. Willis remained in the cottage
until dark that evening, then, making his way to the

(25:08):
Ferby station, returned to Hull. His first action on reaching
the city was to send the letter to Madeleine, asking
her to forward Beamish's reply to him. At the yard
on Monday, he began his shadowing of Archer, lest the
latter should go to town that day, but the distiller
made no move until the Tuesday. Traveling up that morning
by the six fifteen from Hull, at twelve twenty five

(25:30):
they reached King's Cross. Archer leisurely left the train and,
crossing the platform, stepped into a taxi and was driven away.
Willis in a second taxi followed about fifty yards behind.
The chase led westwards along the Euston Road until turning
to the left down Gower Street. The leading vehicle pulled
up at the door of the Gresham Hotel in Bedford Square.

(25:52):
Willis's taxi ran on pass to the other, and through
the back light the inspector saw Archer alight and pass
into the hotel. Stopping at a door in Bloomsbury Street,
Willis sat watching. In about five minutes, Archer reappeared and,
again entering his taxi, was driven off southwards. Willis's car
slid once more in behind the other, and the chase recommenced.

(26:13):
They crossed Oxford Street, and, passing down Taring Cross Road,
stopped at a small foreign restaurant in a narrow lane
off Cranbourne Street. Willis's taxi repeated its previous maneuver and
halted opposite a shop, from where the inspector could see
the other vehicle through the back light. He thought he
had all the information he needed, but there was the
risk that Archer might not find the room he required

(26:35):
at the little restaurant and have to try elsewhere. This
second call lasted longer than the first, and a quarter
of an hour had passed before the distiller emerged and
re entered his taxi. This time the chase was short.
At the trocadero, Archer got out, dismissed his taxi and
passed into the building. Willis, following discreetly, was in time
to see the other seat himself at a table and

(26:57):
leisurely take up the bill of fare. The quarry would
remain where he was for another half hour at least.
The inspector slipped, unobserved, out of the room, and jumping
once more into his taxi, was driven back to the
little restaurant off Cranbourne Street. He sent for the manager
and drew him aside. I'm Inspector Willis from Scotland, Yard,
he said, with a sharpness, strangely at variance with his

(27:19):
usual easygoing mode of address. See here he showed his credentials,
at which the manager bowed obsequiously. I am following that
gentleman who was in here inquiring about a room a
few minutes ago. I want to know what passed between you.
The manager, who was a sly evil looking person seemingly
of Eastern blood, began to hedge, but Willis cut him

(27:40):
short with scant ceremony. Now look here, my friend, he
said brusquely, I haven't time to waste with you. That
man you were talking to is wanted for murder. And
what you have to decide is whether you're going to
act with the police or against them. If you give
us any trouble, you may find yourself in the dock
as an accomplice after the fact. In any case, it's
not healthy for a man in your position to run

(28:01):
up against the police. His bluff had more effect than
it might have had with an Englishman in similar circumstances,
and the manager became polite and anxious to assist yes.
The gentleman had come about a room. He had ordered
lunch in a private room for a party of seven
for one thirty on the following Tuesday. He had been
very particular about the room, had insisted on seeing it,

(28:22):
and had approved of it. It appeared the party had
some business to discuss after lunch, and the gentlemen had
required a guarantee that they would not be interrupted. The
gentleman had given his name as mister Hodgson, the price
had been agreed on. Willis, in his turn, demanded to
see the room, and he was led upstairs to a
small and rather dark chamber containing a fair sized oval

(28:42):
table surrounded by red plush chairs, a red plush sofa
along one side, and a narrow sideboard along another. The
walls supported tawdry and dilapidated decorations, in which beveled mirrors
and faded gilding bore a prominent part. Two large but
quite worthless oil paintings hung above the fireplace and the sideboard, respectively,
and the window was covered with jelatine paper simulating stained glass.

(29:06):
Inspector Willis stood surveying the scene with a frown on
his brow. How on Earth was he to secrete himself
in this barely furnished apartment. There was not room under
the sofa, still less beneath the sideboard, nor was there
any adjoining room or cupboard in which he could hide
his keen ear pressed to the keyhole. It seemed to
him that in this case he was doing nothing but

(29:27):
coming against one insoluble problem after another. Ruefully, he recalled
the conversation in Archer's study, and he decided that whatever
it cost in time and trouble, there must be no
repetition of that fiasco. He stood silently pondering over the
problem the manager of sequiously bowing and rubbing his hands,
and then the idea for which he was hoping flashed

(29:48):
into his mind. He walked to the wall behind the
sideboard and struck it sharply. It rang hollow a partition.
He asked, what is behind it? Anozer room, sir, A
private room, same as Deese show it to me. The
uzzer room was smaller, but otherwise similar to that they

(30:09):
had just left. The doors of the two rooms were
beside each other, leading on to the same passage. This
will do, willis declared. Now look here, mister manager, I
wish to overhear the conversation of your customers, and I
may or may not wish to arrest them. You will
show them up and give them lunch, exactly as you
have arranged. Some officers from the yard, and myself will

(30:30):
previously have hidden ourselves in here. See the manager nodded.
In the meantime, I shall send a carpenter and have
a hole made in that partition between the two rooms,
a hole about two feet by one behind the upper
part of that picture that hangs above the sideboard. Do
you understand? The manager wrung his hands. Ach, he cried,

(30:52):
but minas zimmern mine rooms Zeville be destroyed. Your rooms
will be none. The worse willis declared. I will have
the damage made good, and I shall pay you reasonably
well for everything. You'll not lose if you act on
the square. But if not, he stared aggressively in the
other's face. If the slightest hint of my plan reaches
any of the men, well it will be ten years

(31:14):
at least it shall be done. All shall happen as
you say it had. Better willis rejoined, and with a
menacing look, he strode out of the restaurant. The Gresham Hotel.
He called to his driver as he re entered his taxi.
His manner to the man address of the Bedford Square
Hotel was very different from that displayed to the German.
Introducing himself as an inspector from the yard, he inquired

(31:36):
the purpose of Archer's call. Without hesitation, he was informed
the distiller had engaged a private sitting room for a
business interview which was to take place at eleven o'clock
on the following Tuesday between a Miss Cowburn, a mister
Merriman and a Captain Beamish. So far, so good, thought,
willis exultingly as he drove off. They're walking into the trap.
I shall have them all. I shall have them in

(31:58):
a week. At the yard. He dismissed his taxi, and
on reaching his room, he found the letter he was
expecting from Madeleine. It contained that from Beamish and the
latter ran Ferriby Yorke's Saturday. Dear Miss Coburn, I have
just received your letter of twenty fifth instant, and I
hasten to reply. I am deeply grieved to learn that

(32:18):
you consider yourself badly treated by the members of the Syndicate,
and I may say at once that I feel positive
that any obligations which they may have contracted will be
immediately and honorably discharged. It is, however, news to me
that your late father was a partner, as I always
imagined that he held his position as I do my own,
namely as a salaried official who also receives a bonus

(32:40):
based on the profits of the concern. With regard to
the note you have found on the operations of the syndicate,
it is obvious that these must be capable of a
simple explanation, as there was nothing in the operations complicated
or difficult to understand. I shall be very pleased to
fall in with your suggestion that we should meet and
discuss the point at issue, and I will suggest eleven
ais m on Tuesday, tenth Proximo at the Gresham Hotel

(33:04):
in Bedford Square, if this would suit you. With kind regards,
yours sincerely, Walter Beamish. Willis smiled as he read this effusion.
It was really quite well worded and left the door
open for any action which the Syndicate might decide on.
Ah well, my friend, he thought, grimly, you'll get a
little surprise on Tuesday. You'll find miss Coburn is not

(33:27):
to be caught as easily as you think. Just you
wait and see. For the next three or four days,
Willis busied himself in preparing for his great coup. First
he went down again to Eastbourne via Brighton and coached
Madeleine and Merriman in the part they were to play
in the coming interview. Next, he superintended the making of
the hole through the wall dividing the two private rooms
at the Cranbourne Street restaurant, and drilled the party of

(33:48):
men who were to occupy the annexe. To his unbounded satisfaction,
he found that every word uttered at the table in
the larger room was audible next door to anyone standing
at the aperture. Then he DepEd killed two picked men
to wait within call of the private room at the
Gresham during the interview between Madeleine and Beamish. Finally, all
his preparations in London complete, he returned to Hull and

(34:10):
set himself, by means of the secret telephone, to keep
in touch with the affairs of the syndicate. End of
Chapter nineteen