Four Max Carrados Detective Stories

  FOUR MAX CARRADOS DETECTIVE STORIES

  by

  ERNEST BRAMAH

  1914

  CONTENTS

  THE COIN OF DIONYSIUS

  THE KNIGHT'S CROSS SIGNAL PROBLEM

  THE TRAGEDY AT BROOKBEND COTTAGE

  THE LAST EXPLOIT OF HARRY THE ACTOR

  THE COIN OF DIONYSIUS

  It was eight o'clock at night and raining, scarcely a time when abusiness so limited in its clientele as that of a coin dealer couldhope to attract any customer, but a light was still showing in thesmall shop that bore over its window the name of Baxter, and in theeven smaller office at the back the proprietor himself sat reading thelatest _Pall Mall_. His enterprise seemed to be justified, forpresently the door bell gave its announcement, and throwing down hispaper Mr. Baxter went forward.

  As a matter of fact the dealer had been expecting someone and hismanner as he passed into the shop was unmistakably suggestive of acaller of importance. But at the first glance towards his visitor theexcess of deference melted out of his bearing, leaving the urbane,self-possessed shopman in the presence of the casual customer.

  "Mr. Baxter, I think?" said the latter. He had laid aside his drippingumbrella and was unbuttoning overcoat and coat to reach an innerpocket. "You hardly remember me, I suppose? Mr. Carlyle--two years agoI took up a case for you--"

  "To be sure. Mr. Carlyle, the private detective--"

  "Inquiry agent," corrected Mr. Carlyle precisely.

  "Well," smiled Mr. Baxter, "for that matter I am a coin dealer and notan antiquarian or a numismatist. Is there anything in that way that Ican do for you?"

  "Yes," replied his visitor; "it is my turn to consult you." He hadtaken a small wash-leather bag from the inner pocket and now turnedsomething carefully out upon the counter. "What can you tell me aboutthat?"

  The dealer gave the coin a moment's scrutiny.

  "There is no question about this," he replied. "It is a Siciliantetradrachm of Dionysius."

  "Yes, I know that--I have it on the label out of the cabinet. I cantell you further that it's supposed to be one that Lord Seastoke gavetwo hundred and fifty pounds for at the Brice sale in '94."

  "It seems to me that you can tell me more about it than I can tellyou," remarked Mr. Baxter. "What is it that you really want to know?"

  "I want to know," replied Mr. Carlyle, "whether it is genuine or not."

  "Has any doubt been cast upon it?"

  "Certain circumstances raised a suspicion--that is all."

  The dealer took another look at the tetradrachm through his magnifyingglass, holding it by the edge with the careful touch of an expert.Then he shook his head slowly in a confession of ignorance.

  "Of course I could make a guess--"

  "No, don't," interrupted Mr. Carlyle hastily. "An arrest hangs on itand nothing short of certainty is any good to me."

  "Is that so, Mr. Carlyle?" said Mr. Baxter, with increased interest."Well, to be quite candid, the thing is out of my line. Now if it wasa rare Saxon penny or a doubtful noble I'd stake my reputation on myopinion, but I do very little in the classical series."

  Mr. Carlyle did not attempt to conceal his disappointment as hereturned the coin to the bag and replaced the bag in the inner pocket.

  "I had been relying on you," he grumbled reproachfully. "Where onearth am I to go now?"

  "There is always the British Museum."

  "Ah, to be sure, thanks. But will anyone who can tell me be therenow?"

  "Now? No fear!" replied Mr. Baxter. "Go round in the morning--"

  "But I must know to-night," explained the visitor, reduced to despairagain. "To-morrow will be too late for the purpose."

  Mr. Baxter did not hold out much encouragement in the circumstances.

  "You can scarcely expect to find anyone at business now," he remarked."I should have been gone these two hours myself only I happened tohave an appointment with an American millionaire who fixed his owntime." Something indistinguishable from a wink slid off Mr. Baxter'sright eye. "Offmunson he's called, and a bright young pedigree-hunterhas traced his descent from Offa, King of Mercia. So he--quitenaturally--wants a set of Offas as a sort of collateral proof."

  "Very interesting," murmured Mr. Carlyle, fidgeting with his watch. "Ishould love an hour's chat with you about your millionairecustomers--some other time. Just now--look here, Baxter, can't yougive me a line of introduction to some dealer in this sort of thingwho happens to live in town? You must know dozens of experts."

  "Why, bless my soul, Mr. Carlyle, I don't know a man of them away fromhis business," said Mr. Baxter, staring. "They may live in Park Laneor they may live in Petticoat Lane for all I know. Besides, therearen't so many experts as you seem to imagine. And the two best willvery likely quarrel over it. You've had to do with 'expert witnesses,'I suppose?"

  "I don't want a witness; there will be no need to give evidence. All Iwant is an absolutely authoritative pronouncement that I can act on.Is there no one who can really say whether the thing is genuine ornot?"

  Mr. Baxter's meaning silence became cynical in its implication as hecontinued to look at his visitor across the counter. Then he relaxed.

  "Stay a bit; there is a man--an amateur--I remember hearing wonderfulthings about some time ago. They say he really does know."

  "There you are," explained Mr. Carlyle, much relieved. "There alwaysis someone. Who is he?"

  "Funny name," replied Baxter. "Something Wynn or Wynn something." Hecraned his neck to catch sight of an important motor-car that wasdrawing to the kerb before his window. "Wynn Carrados! You'll excuseme now, Mr. Carlyle, won't you? This looks like Mr. Offmunson."

  Mr. Carlyle hastily scribbled the name down on his cuff.

  "Wynn Carrados, right. Where does he live?"

  "Haven't the remotest idea," replied Baxter, referring the arrangementof his tie to the judgment of the wall mirror. "I have never seen theman myself. Now, Mr. Carlyle, I'm sorry I can't do any more for you.You won't mind, will you?"

  Mr. Carlyle could not pretend to misunderstand. He enjoyed thedistinction of holding open the door for the transatlanticrepresentative of the line of Offa as he went out, and then made hisway through the muddy streets back to his office. There was only oneway of tracing a private individual at such short notice--through thepages of the directories, and the gentleman did not flatter himself bya very high estimate of his chances.

  Fortune favoured him, however. He very soon discovered a Wynn Carradosliving at Richmond, and, better still, further search failed tounearth another. There was, apparently, only one householder at allevents of that name in the neighbourhood of London. He jotted down theaddress and set out for Richmond.

  The house was some distance from the station, Mr. Carlyle learned. Hetook a taxicab and drove, dismissing the vehicle at the gate. Heprided himself on his power of observation and the accuracy of hisdeductions which resulted from it--a detail of his business. "It'snothing more than using one's eyes and putting two and two together,"he would modestly declare, when he wished to be deprecatory ratherthan impressive. By the time he had reached the front door of "TheTurrets" he had formed some opinion of the position and tastes of thepeople who lived there.

  A man-servant admitted Mr. Carlyle and took his card--his privatecard, with the bare request for an interview that would not detain Mr.Carrados for ten minutes. Luck still favoured him; Mr. Carrados was athome and would see him at once. The servant, the hall through whichthey passed, and the room into which he was shown, all contributedsomething to the deductions which the quietly observant gentleman washalf unconsciously recording.

  "Mr. Carlyle," announced the servant.

  The room was a library or
study. The only occupant, a man of aboutCarlyle's own age, had been using a typewriter up to the moment of hisvisitor's entrance. He now turned and stood up with an expression offormal courtesy.

  "It's very good of you to see me at this hour," apologised Mr.Carlyle.

  The conventional expression of Mr. Carrados's face changed a little.

  "Surely my man has got your name wrong?" he explained. "Isn't it LouisCalling?"

  Mr. Carlyle stopped short and his agreeable smile gave place to asudden flash of anger or annoyance.

  "No sir," he replied stiffly. "My name is on