The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris by Leon Garfield Read Free Book Online Page A

certain steps himself.
    At the Old Ship Inn there happened to be staying a certain Mr. Raven—Mr. Selwyn Raven. Had Dr. Harris heard of him? Well, well, perhaps not. Unless one had cause, one did not hear of such as Mr. Raven. Such persons are rather more discreet than most. The nature of their trade is against advertisement. Nonetheless, in his, Captain Bostock’s opinion, for what it was worth, the Harrises could do no better than consult Mr. Raven whose reputation, among those who had cause to know it, stood very high indeed for pursuing inquiries of
peculiar
delicacy. There could be little doubt that Mr. Raven, once in possession of the facts, would quickly arrive at the truth.
    At the word “truth” the younger Harris’s blood all but congealed. He felt like some rare and lovely creature caught in a forest of implacable hunters seeking to destroy him. He twisted, he turned, he darted this way and that in the secret places of his mind to escape. But outwardly, by reason of his almost superhuman strength of will, he appeared quite still, and with an air of utter calm. There was a small, remote part of Harris that was able to observe this, and even to admire it.
    At last Captain Bostock rose to go, and Harris, still brilliantly counterfeiting an inward peace, courteously offered to attend him. He had reached a conclusion and determined on a course of action.
    For a moment Captain Bostock fixed him with his piercing eyes which seemed to go right insideHarris’s head, but apparently he saw nothing there, for he patted the lad’s arm and suffered him to lead the way to the neighboring street.
    Harris waited for the sea captain to shut his front door, then with easy stealth he floated around to the back of the house and summoned his friend by means of a stone at his window. Bostock appeared, disappeared, then appeared again and came looping down through an ancient apple tree that grew against the house, pausing only to embrace Jupiter, his brutish ginger cat, who waited on a bough for some necessary bird.
    The friends shook hands, then Harris told Bostock about the consternation in the Harris household and the mention of the man who was staying at the Old Ship—the inquiry agent, Mr. Selwyn Raven. Bostock looked at Harris in terror. He could see Harris was alarmed, and to him Harris’s alarm was as the cracking of a temple or the shaking of a star in the sky.
    â€œBut I’ve thought of something, old friend,” whispered Harris reassuringly. In a curious way, Bostock’s simplicity seemed to reassure both of them. Bostock’s great faith gave Harris confidence, and the more confidence Harris displayed, the greater grew Bostock’s faith. There was really no limit to it all. “I think I know where she is.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œAdelaide. I’ve put two and two together, Bosty, and there’s only one answer.”
    â€œWhat’s that, Harris?” breathed Bostock, who was not strong on arithmetic.
    â€œShe’s back in the school.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œHuman nature, Bosty.”
    Bostock frowned; he did not like to question Harris, particularly about human nature.
    â€œMark my words, Bosty, at this very minute my sister’s asleep at the school, snug in Miss Alexander’s bed.”
    â€œThen—then Ralph took her all the way back again?”
    Harris tapped the side of his nose. “Human nature, old friend. He fancied Miss Alexander, Miss Alexander fancied Adelaide. Two and two, Bosty.”
    â€œHuman nature,” nodded Bostock, but with a note of uncertainty in his voice. Then Harris smiled and Bostock was reassured.
    â€œLet’s go, Bosty.”
    â€œWhere, Harris?”
    â€œTo the school. We’ve got to get her back, you know. It wouldn’t be natural to leave her.”
    â€œRight now, Harris?”
    â€œRight now, old friend. Safest and best. They’ll all be asleep at the school.