Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh Read Free Book Online

wishes to the contrary, sat down again and banged away at her machine. She couldn’t help hearing Mr. Period’s airy and inaccurate assurance that she was entirely in his confidence.
    “Well,” Sergeant Noakes said, “sir…in that case…”
    “Sit down, Noakes.”
    “Thank you, sir. I’ve dropped in to ask if you can help me in a small matter that has cropped up.”
    “Ah, yes? More social activities, Noakes?”
    “Not exactly, this time, sir. More of a routine item, really. I wonder if you’d mind telling me if a certain name is known to you.” He lowered his voice.
    “Leiss!” Mr. Period shrilly ejaculated. “Did you say
Leonard Leiss
?”
    “That was the name, yes.”
    “I encountered him for the first time this morning.”
    “Ah,” said Sergeant Noakes warmly. “That makes everything much easier, sir. Thank you. For the first time…So you are not at all familiar with Mr. Leiss?”
    “Familiar!”
    “Quite so, sir. And Mr. Cartell?”
    “Nor is Mr. Cartell. Until this morning Mr. Leiss was a complete stranger to both of us. He may be said to be one still.”
    “Perhaps I could see Mr. Cartell?”
    “Look here, Noakes, what the deuce are you talking about? — Nicola, my dear, pray stop typing, will you be so good? But don’t go.”
    Nicola stopped.
    “Well, sir,” Sergeant Noakes said. “The facts are as follows. George Copper happened to mention to me, about half an hour ago, that he’s selling a Scorpion sports model to a young gentleman called Leonard Leiss and he stated, further, that the customer had given your name and Mr. Cartell’s and Miss Cartell’s as references.”
    “Good God!”
    “Now, sir, in the Service there’s a regular system by which all stations are kept informed about the activities of persons known to be operating in a manner contrary to the law, or if not contrary within the meaning of the Act, yet in a suspicious and questionable manner. You might describe them,” Sergeant Noakes said with a flash of imagery, “as ripening fruit. Just about ready for the picking.”
    “Noakes, what in heaven’s name — Well. Go on.”
    “The name of Leonard Sydney Leiss appears on the most recent list. Two previous convictions. Obtaining goods under fake pretenses. The portry-parly coincides. It’s a confidential matter, Mr. Period, but seeing that the young man gave your name with such assurance and seeing he was very warmly backed up by the young lady, who is Miss Constance Cartell’s adopted niece, I thought I would come and mention it quietly. Particularly, sir, as there’s a complication.”
    Mr. Period stared dismally at him. “Complication?” lie said.
    “Well, sir, yes. You see, for some time Leiss has been working in collusion with a young female who — I’m very sorry, I’m sure, sir — but the description of this young female does tally rather closely with the general appearance of Miss Cartell’s aforesaid adopted niece.”
    There was a long silence. Then Mr. Period said: “This is all rather dreadful.”
    “I take it, sir, you gave the young man no authority to use your name?”
    “Merciful Heavens — NO.”
    “Then perhaps we may just have a little chat with Mr. Cartell?”
    Mr. Period rang the bell.
    Mr. Cartell behaved quite differently from Mr. Period. He contracted into the shell of what Nicola supposed to be his professional manner as a solicitor. He looked pinched. Two isolated spots of colour appeared on his cheekbones. Nicola thought he was very angry indeed.
    “I am much obliged to you, Sergeant,” he said at last, “for bringing this affair to my attention. You have acted very properly.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Very properly. If I may suggest a course of action it will be this. I shall inform my sister of the undesirability of having any further communication with this person, and she will see that his acquaintance with Miss Mary Ralston is terminated. Copper, of course, must be advised at once and he may then, if he thinks