wonât double back over her tracks. However, I want the name and address of every one of you.â He turned to Mrs. Kirk. âIâll start with you.â
She stiffened at his tone. âYouâre very flattering, Iâm sure. I am Mrs. Dawson Kirk.â She added her address.
âYou.â Flannery turned to the explorer.
âColonel John Beetham. I am a visitor in the city, stopping at the Fairmont.â
Flannery went on down the list. When he had finished, he added:
âAnyone got any light to throw on this affair? If you have, better give it to me now. Thingsâll be a lot pleasanter all round than if I dig it up for myself later.â No one spoke. âSome lady saw a man running down the fire-escape,â he prompted.
âOhâI did,â said Eileen Enderby. âIâve been all over that with Miss Morrow. I had gone out into the gardenââ Again she related her experience.
âWhatâd this man look like?â demanded Flannery.
âI couldnât say. A very dim figure in the fog.â
âAll right. You can all go now. I may want to see some of you later.â Flannery strode past them into the garden.
One by one they said their strained farewells and departedâMrs. Kirk and her companion, Miss Gloria Garland, then the Enderbys, and finally the explorer. Charlie Chan also got his hat and coat, while Miss Morrow watched him inquiringly.
âUntil dark deed shaded the feast,â said Chan, âthe evening was an unquestioned joy. Mr. Kirkââ
âOh, but youâre not leaving,â cried Miss Morrow. âPlease. I want to have a talk with you.â
âTomorrow I am sea-going man,â Chan reminded her. âThe experience weakens me considerably. I have need of sleep, and relaxingââ
âIâll keep you only a moment,â she pleaded, and Chan nodded.
Captain Flannery appeared from the garden. âDark out there,â he announced. âBut if Iâm not mistaken, anyone could have reached the floor below by way of the fire-escape. Is that right?â
âUndoubtedly,â replied Kirk.
âAn important discovery,â approved Chan. âOn the gown of one of the lady guests were iron rust stains, which might have been suffered byâBut who am I to speak thus to keen man like the Captain? You made note of the fact, of course?â
Flannery reddened. âIâI canât say I did. Which lady?â
âThat Mrs. Enderby, who witnessed fleeing man. Do not mention it, sir. So happy to be of slightest service.â
âLetâs go back downstairs,â growled Flannery. On the floor below, he stood for a long moment, looking about. âWell, I got to get busy here.â
âI will say farewell,â remarked Chan.
âGoing, eh?â said Flannery, with marked enthusiasm.
âGoing far,â smiled Chan. âTomorrow I am directed toward Honolulu. I leave you to the largest problem of your life, Captain. I suffer no envy for you.â
âOh, Iâll pull through,â replied Flannery.
âOnly the witless could doubt it. But you will travel a long road. Consider. Who is great man silent now on couch? A famous detective with a glorious record. The meaning of that? A thousand victoriesâand a thousand enemies. All over broad world are scattered men who would do him into death with happy hearts. A long road for you, Captain. You have my warmest wishes for bright outcome. May you emerge in the shining garments of success.â
âThanks,â said Flannery.
âOne last point. You will pardon me if I put in final oar.â He took up from the table a little yellow book, and held it out. âSame was at the dead manâs elbow when he fell.â
Flannery nodded. âI know. The Cosmopolitan Club book. It canât mean a damn thing.â
âMaybe. I am stupid Chinese from tiny island. I know nothing. But if