Joseph Fletcher - The Herapath Property

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J. S. Fletcher

The Herapath Property

CHAPTER I

JACOB HERAPATH IS MISSING

This was the third week of Selwoods secretaryship to Jacob Herapath. Herapath was a well-known man in London. He was a Member of Parliament, the owner of a sort of model estate of up-to-date flats, and something of a crank about such matters as ventilation, sanitation, and lighting. He himself, a bachelor, lived in one of the best houses in Portman Square; when he engaged Selwood as his secretary he made him take a convenient set of rooms in Upper Seymour Street, close by. He also caused a telephone communication to be set up between his own house and Selwoods bedroom, so that he could summon his secretary at any hour of the night. Herapath occasionally had notions about things in the small hours, and he was one of those active, restless persons who, if they get a new idea, like to figure on it at once. All the same, during those three weeks he had not once troubled his secretary in this fashion. No call came to Selwood over that telephone until half-past seven one November morning, just as he was thinking of getting out of bed. And the voice which then greeted him was not Herapaths. It was a rather anxious, troubled voice, and it belonged to one Kitteridge, a middle-aged man, who was Herapaths butler.

In the act of summoning Selwood, Kitteridge was evidently interrupted by some person at his elbow; all that Selwood made out was that Kitteridge wanted him to go round at once. He dressed hurriedly, and ran off to Herapaths house; there in the hall, near the door of a room which Herapath used as a study and business room, he found Kitteridge talking to Mountain, Herapaths coachman, who, judging by the state of his attire, had also been called hurriedly from his bed.

What is it, Kitteridge? demanded Selwood. Mr. Herapath ill?

The butler shook his head and jerked his thumb towards the open door of the study.

The fact is, we dont know where Mr. Herapath is, sir, he answered. He hasnt slept in his bed, and he isnt in the house.

Possibly he didnt come home last night, suggested Selwood. He may have slept at his club, or at an hotel.

The butler and the coachman looked at each otherthen the coachman, a little, sharp-eyed man who was meditatively chewing a bit of straw, opened his tightly-compressed lips.

He did come home, sir, he said. I drove him homeas usual. I saw him let himself into the house. One oclock sharp, that was. Oh, yes, he came home!

He came home, repeated Kitteridge. Look here, sir. He led the way into the study and pointed to a small table set by the side of Herapaths big business desk. You see that tray, Mr. Selwood? Thats always left out, there, on that table, for Mr. Herapath every night. A small decanter of whiskey, a syphon, a few sandwiches, a dry biscuit or two. Well, there you are, sirhes had a drink out of that glass, hes had a mouthful or so of sandwiches. Oh, yes, he came home, but hes not at home now! Charlesworththe valet, you know, siralways goes into Mr. Herapaths room at a quarter past seven every morning; when he went in just now he found that Mr. Herapath wasnt there, and the bed hadnt been slept in. Sothats where things stand.

Selwood looked round the room. The curtains had not yet been drawn aside, and the electric light cast a cold glare on the various well-known objects and fittings. He glanced at the evidences of the supper tray; then at the blotting-pad on Herapaths desk; there he might have left a note for his butler or his secretary. But there was no note to be seen.

Still, I dont see that theres anything to be alarmed about, Kitteridge, he said. Mr. Herapath may have wanted to go somewhere by a very early morning train

No, sir, excuse me, that wont do, broke in the butler. I thought of that myself. But if hed wanted to catch a night train, hed have taken a travelling coat, and a rug, and a bag of some sorthes taken nothing at all in that way. Besides, Ive been in this house seven years, and I know his habits. If hed wanted to go away by one of the very early morning trains hed have kept me and Charlesworth up, making ready for him. No, sir! He came home, and went out againmust have done. Andits uncommonly queer. Seven years Ive been here, as I say, and he never did such a thing before.

Selwood turned to the coachman.

You brought Mr. Herapath home at one oclock? he said. Alone?

He was alone, sir, replied the coachman, who had been staring around him as if to seek some solution of the mystery. Ill tell you all that happenedI was just beginning to tell Mr. Kitteridge here when you come in. I fetched Mr. Herapath from the House of Commons last night at a quarter past eleventook him up in Palace Yard at the usual spot, just as the clock was striking. Mountain, he says, I want you to drive round to the estate officeI want to call there. So I drove therethats in Kensington, as you know, sir. When he got out he says, Mountain, he says, I shall be three-quarters of an hour or so herewrap the mare up and walk her about, he says. I did as he said, but he was more than three-quartersit was like an hour. Then at last he came back to the brougham, just said one word, Home! and I drove him here, and the clocks were striking one when he got out. He said Good night, and I saw him walk up the steps and put his key in the latch as I drove off to our stables. And thats all I know about it.

Selwood turned to the butler.

I suppose no one was up at that time? he inquired.

Nobody, sir, answered Kitteridge. There never is. Mr. Herapath, as youve no doubt observed, is a bit strict in the matter of rules, and its one of his rules that everybody in the house must be in bed by eleven-thirty. No one was ever to sit up for him on any occasion. Thats why this supper-tray was always left ready. His usual time for coming in when hed been at the House was twelve oclock.

Everybody in the house might be in bed, observed Selwood, but not everybody might be asleep. Have you made any inquiry as to whether anybody heard Mr. Herapath moving about in the night, or leaving the house? Somebody may have heard the hall door opened and closed, you know.

Ill make inquiry as to that, sir, responded Kitteridge, but Ive heard nothing of the sort so far, and all the servants are aware by now that Mr. Herapath isnt in the house. If anybody had heard anything

Before the butler could say more the study door opened and a girl came into the room. At sight of her Selwood spoke hurriedly to Kitteridge.

Have you told Miss Wynne? he whispered. Does she know?

She may have heard from her maid, sir, replied Kitteridge in low tones. Of course theyre all talking of it. I was going to ask to see Miss Wynne as soon as she was dressed.

By that time the girl had advanced towards the three men, and Selwood stepped forward to meet her. He knew her as Herapaths niece, the daughter of a dead sister of whom Herapath had been very fond; he knew, too, that Herapath had brought her up from infancy and treated her as a daughter. She was at this time a young woman of twenty-one or two, a pretty, eminently likeable young woman, with signs of character and resource in eyes and lips, and Selwood had seen enough of her to feel sure that in any disturbing event she would keep her head. She spoke calmly enough as the secretary met her.

Whats all this, Mr. Selwood? she asked. I understand my uncle is not in the house. But theres nothing alarming in that, Kitteridge, is there? Mr. Herapath may have gone away during the night, you know.

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