“A number of thorns are also present,” he continued. “In short, from the point of view of an investigation, I am a most provoking object.”
He sighed wearily, and stared out of the window in the direction of the Tudor garden. There was a slight chilliness in the air, which, or perhaps a sudden memory of that which lay in the billiard room beneath us, may have accounted for the fact that I shivered violently.
Harley glanced up with a rather sad smile.
“The morning after Waterloo,” he said. “Sleep well, Knox.”
CHAPTER XX. A SPANISH CIGARETTE
Sleep was not for me, despite Harley’s injunction, and although I was early afoot, the big house was already astir with significant movements which set the imagination on fire, to conjure up again the moonlight scene in the garden, making mock of the song of the birds and of the glory of the morning.
Manoel replied to my ring, and prepared my bath, but it was easy to see that he had not slept.
No sound came from Harley’s room, therefore I did not disturb him, but proceeded downstairs in the hope of finding Miss Beverley about. Pedro was in the hall, talking to Mrs. Fisher, and:
“Is Inspector Aylesbury here?” I asked.