An Amiable Charlatan | Page 5

of the Sherlock
Holmes fraternity: in short, a detective."
I rose to my feet with some alacrity.
"Anything in the shape of an adventure--" I began.
"Not much adventure about this," Mr. Parker interrupted gloomily,
brushing the ashes from his waistcoat and also rising. "We are probably
going to be searched for spoons. However if it must be--"
For the first time in my life I walked side by side with a detective. He
led us to the far end of the restaurant, into an apartment usually used by
the manager as a wine-tasting office, and carefully closed the door
behind us. Outside I caught the glimmer of a policeman's helmet.
"Every precaution taken, you perceive," Mr. Parker remarked. "In case
we should turn out to be desperate characters and, appalled by the fear
of discovery, should be driven to make a personal attack upon Mr.
Cullen, a myrmidon of the law is lurking near. Under those
circumstances I shall eschew violence. I shall submit myself peaceably
to a second examination."
I found the affair, on the whole, interesting. I divested myself only of
my coat and waistcoat and Mr. Cullen's fingers did the rest. Only a
single and momentary frown betrayed his disappointment as, ten
minutes later, he unlocked the door.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I owe you my most profound apologies."
"That's all right, Cullen," Mr. Parker observed, patting him on the
shoulder; "but let's have this thing straight now. Are we to be allowed
to finish our dinner in peace or will you be turning up again with a new
idea? And if I take a box for the Tivoli presently, shall we have the
pleasure of seeing you bob in upon us?"

"So far as my present intentions are concerned," Mr. Cullen remarked
grimly, "you may rely upon remaining undisturbed. I am sorry, Mr.
Walmsley," he added, turning to me, "to have been the cause of any
annoyance to you this evening. My advice to you is, if you wish to
escape these inconveniences through life, to avoid the society of people
whose character is known to the police."
"I shall get you for libel yet, Cullen!" Mr. Parker declared, pulling
down his waistcoat.
"What I've done to annoy that man I can't imagine," he went on
impersonally. "Mind, he practises on me--I'm convinced of it."
Mr. Cullen left us abruptly and quitted the restaurant. I returned to our
table with my new friend.
"Really," he said, "I scarcely know how to apologize to you, Mr.
Walmsley. This sort of thing amuses me, as a rule; but I must admit
that Mr. Cullen is apt to get on one's nerves. A well-meaning man,
mind, but unduly persistent!"
I resumed my seat at the table. I was feeling a little dazed. Opposite,
talking to two ladies, was the smooth-faced _maître d'hôtel_ into whose
keeping I felt sure that packet had gone. Seated by my side was the
gentleman who had assured me with the utmost self-possession that he
was an adventurer. And standing in the doorway, looking at us, was the
girl who for the last few weeks had monopolized all my thoughts; who
had played havoc to such a complete extent with the principles of my
life that, for her sake, I was at that moment perfectly willing to range
myself even among the outcasts of the world.
CHAPTER II
--THE COUP IN THE GAMBLING DEN
On seeing us the girl advanced into the room. I called Mr. Parker's
attention to her and he rose at once to his feet. It was a cold evening in
April and she was wearing a long coat trimmed with some dark-colored

fur, and a hat also trimmed with fur, but with something blue in it. She
was rather tall; she had masses of dark brown hair, a suspicion of a
fringe, and deep blue eyes. She came toward us very deliberately, with
the same grace of movement I had watched and admired night after
night. She gave me a glance of the slightest possible curiosity as she
approached. Then her father introduced us.
"This is Mr. Paul Walmsley, my dear," he said--"my daughter. Have
you dined, Eve?"
She shook hands with me and smiled very charmingly.
"Hours ago," she replied. "I didn't mean to come out this evening, but I
was so bored that I thought I would try and find you."
She accepted the chair I was holding and unbuttoned her cloak.
"You will have some coffee?" I begged.
"Why, that would be delightful," she agreed. "I am so glad to find you
with my father, Mr. Walmsley," she continued. "I know he hates dining
alone; but this evening I had an appointment with a dressmaker quite
late --and I didn't feel a bit like dinner anyhow."
"You come here often,