Page:Bentley- Trent's Last Case (Nelson, nd).djvu/42

34 go and wash? I shan't be three minutes.' He disappeared into the hotel, and Mr. Cupples, after a moment's thought, went to the telephone in the porter's office.

He returned to find his friend already seated, pouring out tea, and showing an unaffected interest in the choice of food. 'I expect this to be a hard day for me,' he said, with the curious jerky utterance which seemed to be his habit. 'I shan't eat again till the evening, very likely. You guess why I'm here, don't you?'

'Undoubtedly,' said Mr. Cupples. 'You have come down to write about the murder.'

'That is rather a colourless way of stating it,' the man called Trent replied, as he dissected a sole. 'I should prefer to put it that I have come down in the character of avenger of blood, to hunt down the guilty, and vindicate the honour of society. That is my line of business. Families waited on at their private residences. I say, Cupples, I have made a good beginning already. Wait a bit, and I'll tell you.' There was a silence, during which the newcomer ate swiftly and abstractedly, while Mr. Cupples looked on happily.

'Your manager here,' said the tall man at