But if it's managed properly, he'll come without a suspicion,
and he'll be finely surprised when he finds that the long passage ends
in just this room. Come back to me as soon as you've attended to that.'
'Yes, sir,' said Simon, quite mystified, but none the less enchanted to
see Hugo so actively the old Hugo.
In ten minutes he had returned, and was beginning to relate new facts
which he had learnt while downstairs.
'Stop!' said Hugo. 'Don't worry me with needless details. I know enough.
And don't ask me any questions. We can't hope to remedy the state of
affairs to-day. Nevertheless, we can do something for to-morrow. I must
have Mr. Bentley, the drapery manager, brought here before six o'clock.
He must be found.'
'He is found, sir. He has shot himself in his house in Pimlico Road.'
Hugo started.
'Ah!' was all he said at first. He added dryly: 'Good! And Brown?'
'I have no news of him, sir. He's vanished.'
'Telephone down to the press department that Mr. Aked must come up to
see me at seven o'clock precisely, and, in the meantime, he must secure
an extra half-page in all to-morrow's papers.'
'Yes, sir.'
'And after closing-time the entire staff must assemble, the men in the
carpet-rooms, and the women in the central restaurant--or what's left
of it.
Pages:
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137