“Show him up; show him up at once,� was the reply, and the owner of so many millions began to pace the floor, wringing his hands, and showing every appearance of great excitement.
“If I were you, sir, I would calm myself, and hear quietly what this man has to report,� said the detective, at the same time drawing back toward a far corner of the room.
CHAPTER V.
TRAGIC NEWS.
The officer who came from the local police near Pleasantglades was of that stolid order which, while they can perform a duty perfectly, and carry out orders to the letter, have little originality, and no initiative.
If this man had possessed either he would have noticed the great excitement under which Mr. J. Cephas Lynne seemed to be laboring, and which he was apparently trying hard to suppress; but, seemingly, he did not see either, but, the moment he entered the room, began:
“I have come, sir, to report to you that Miss Lynne was found dead in the parlor of her own rooms at Pleasantglades shortly after four o’clock this morning.�
It was evident that he was awed to be in the presence of the “great man,� the millionaire of the neighborhood, where he had been born and had lived all his life, which had not been so many years at that.
This time Mr. Lynne did not go to pieces as he had done before; there were no more dramatics; no more theatricals—for Nick could not but regard them so, although he tried to tell himself that he must be mistaken.
But there was no doubt of the fact that Lynne’s hands were shaking, and that he found it difficult to steady himself properly. He motioned toward a chair—which, as it happened, stood with its back toward the detective, and so it was that the messenger had no idea of the presence of Nick Carter in the room.
“Sit down,� said the millionaire. “Now, tell me all you know.�