He announced himself with his customary, cheery garrulity as he
entered.
"Ah, here I am again, Mrs. Burke! And it's good news I've got for
ye. Merston's not so badly damaged after all, and your husband is
hoping to be back by midday in the morning."
He stopped short. The room was not empty, but the figure that rose
up with an easy, sinuous movement to meet him was not the figure he
had expected to see.
"Good evening, Kelly!" said Saul Kieff.
"What the devil!" said Kelly.
Kieff smiled in a cold, detached fashion. "I came over to find Mr.
Burke Ranger. But I gather he is away from home."
"What have you come for?" said Kelly.
He did not like Kieff though his nature was too kindly to entertain
any active antipathy towards anyone. But no absence of intimacy
could ever curb his curiosity, and he never missed any information
for lack of investigation.
Kieff's motionless black eyes took him in with satirical
comprehension. He certainly would never have made a confidant of
such a man as Kelly unless it had suited his purpose. He took
several moments for consideration before he made reply. "I presume
you are aware," he said then, "that Mrs. Ranger has left for
Brennerstadt?"
"What?" said Kelly.
Kieff did not repeat his question. He merely waited for it to sink
in. A faint, subtle smile still hovered about his sallow features.
Pages:
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314