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The Adventure of the Dancing Men
HiltonCubitthasherselflainundergravesuspicionofthemurderofherhusband,andthatitwasonlymypresencehere,andtheknowledgewhichIhappenedtopossess,whichhassavedherfromtheaccusation?Theleastthatyouoweheristomakeitcleartothewholeworldthatshewasinnoway,directlyorindirectly,responsibleforhistragicend.”
“Iasknothingbetter,”saidtheAmerican.“IguesstheverybestcaseIcanmakeformyselfistheabsolutenakedtruth.”
“Itismydutytowarnyouthatitwillbeusedagainstyou,”criedtheinspector,withthemagnificentfairplayoftheBritishcriminallaw.
Slaneyshruggedhisshoulders.
“I’llchancethat,”saidhe.“Firstofall,IwantyougentlementounderstandthatIhaveknownthisladysinceshewasachild.ThereweresevenofusinaganginChicago,andElsie’sfatherwasthebossoftheJoint.Hewasacleverman,wasoldPatrick.Itwashewhoinventedthatwriting,whichwouldpassasachild’sscrawlunlessyoujusthappenedtohavethekeytoit.Well,Elsielearnedsomeofourways,butshecouldn’tstandthebusiness,andshehadabitofhonestmoneyofherown,soshegaveusalltheslipandgotawaytoLondon.Shehadbeenengagedtome,andshewouldhavemarriedme,Ibelieve,ifIhadtakenoveranotherprofession,butshewouldhavenothingtodowithanythingonthecross.ItwasonlyafterhermarriagetothisEnglishmanthatIwasabletofindoutwhereshewas.Iwrotetoher,butgotnoanswer.AfterthatIcameover,and,asletterswerenouse,Iputmymessageswhereshecouldreadthem.
