As for me, I was wondering all round the affair. What was Parslewe after? What was Pawley doing there? Who was Pawley, anyway? Why, at that juncture, when his reinforcements had come up, did Parslewe want to parley with Pawley? For a parley it was that was going on in that kitchen, without a doubt. We heard nothing; there were no raised voices, no evidence of any angry or wordy discussion. All we heard was an occasional whisper from Weech, a muttered growl from Bickerdale in response. But on the hearth a kettle was singing, and at a corner of the rug, near Bickerdale’s slippered feet, a cat sat and purred and purred....
The door of the kitchen suddenly opened; just as suddenly I saw that whatever had been said, or whatever had taken place in that kitchen, a marvellous transformation had developed in Pawley’s manner. He held open the door for Parslewe, and stood aside deferentially as Parslewe passed him. When he followed Parslewe into the parlour it was with the air of a man who has either met his master or been made subject to some revelation. And it was he who spoke first—in answer to a nod from Parslewe. He turned to Bickerdale.
“Mr. Bickerdale!” he said in suave, placatory tones. “I think you’d better do what Mr. Parslewe asks! I—I’ve had some conversation with Mr. Parslewe, and—and I think that’s what you’d better do, Mr. Bickerdale—just so!”
Bickerdale turned on him with a sudden glare which denoted nothing but sheer surprise. I could see that the man was fairly astonished—amazed.
“Why—why!” he exclaimed. “It was you—you!—that told me just now to do nothing of the sort!”
Pawley smiled in a queer, sickly, deprecating sort of fashion.
“Circumstances alter cases, Mr. Bickerdale,” he said. “I—I didn’t know then what I know now. My advice is, now—do as Mr. Parslewe wants.”
Weech sprang to his feet—an epitome of anger and chagrin.
“But us!” he vociferated. “Us—me and him! What are we going to get out of it? Where shall we profit?” He turned almost savagely on Bickerdale. “Don’t!” he went on. “Don’t you do it! Never mind those fellows over there! there’s no police business in this that I know of, and——”
“I’ll give you in charge of the police in two minutes, my lad!” said Parslewe suddenly. “Just to show you——”