"Davis, Richard Harding - The Lost House" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davis Richard Harding)

London office of the REPUBLIC, he directed that one of his
assistants, an English lad named Cuthbert, should at once join him
at that hotel. Cuthbert was but just out of Oxford. He wished to
become a writer of fiction, and, as a means of seeing many kinds of
life at first hand, was in training as a "Pressman." His admiration
for Ford amounted to almost hero-worship; and he regarded an
"assignment" with his chief as a joy and an honor. Full of
enthusiasm, and as soon as a taxicab could bring him, he arrived at
Gerridge's, where, in a corner of the deserted coffee-room, Ford
explained the situation. Until he could devise a way to enter the
Sowell Street house. Cuthbert was to watch over it.

"The number of the house is forty," Ford told him; "the name on the
door-plate, Dr. Prothero. Find out everything you can about him
without letting any one catch you at it. Better begin at the
nearest chemist's. Say you are on the verge of a nervous breakdown,
and ask the man to mix you a sedative, and recommend a physician.
Show him Prothero's name and address on a piece of paper, and say
Prothero has been recommended to you as a specialist on nervous
troubles. Ask what he thinks of him. Get him to talk. Then visit
the trades-people and the public-houses in the neighborhood, and
say you are from some West End shop where Prothero, wants to open
an account. They may talk, especially if his credit is bad. And, if
you find out enough about him to give me a working basis, I'll try
to get into the house to-night. Meanwhile, I'm going to make
another quick search of this hotel for Pearsall. I'm not satisfied
he has not been here. For why should Miss Dale, with all the hotels
in London to choose from, have named this particular one, unless
she had good reason for it? Now, go, and meet me in an hour in
Sowell Street."

Cuthbert was at the door when he remembered he had brought with him
from the office Ford's mail and cablegrams. Among the latter was
the one for which Ford had asked.

"Wait," he commanded. "This is about the girl. You had better know
what it says." The cable read:

"Girl orphan, Dalesville named after her family, for three
generations mill-owners, father died four years ago, Pearsall
brother-in-law until she is twenty-one, which will be in three
months. Girl well known, extremely popular, lived Dalesville until
last year, when went abroad with uncle, since then reports of
melancholia and nervous prostration, before that health
excellent--no signs insanity--none in family. Be careful how handle
Pearsall, was doctor, gave up practice to look after estate, is
prominent in local business and church circles, best reputation,
beware libel."

For the benefit of Cuthbert, Ford had been reading the cable aloud.