Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/195

 I’m sort of saving you up, Iggy⸺”

“I must ask you again not to address me as Iggy. My name is Ignace⸺” began Teck with a trace of irritation.

“You mean, on such short acquaintance?” asked Val. “That raises a rather fine point in etiquette, doesn’t it? When do you know a man well enough to call him by a diminutive of his name? On the other hand, how intimate ought you to be with a man before attempting to murder him? I don’t think one should do it at the first or second meeting, anyway—but, you see Iggy, what fine, technical points we will be involved in if we pursue this train of thought? To get back to the original theorem, why shouldn’t I hand you over to the police?”

“Because,” said Teck, “if you hand me over to the police it will absolutely involve Jes⸺”

“Nonsense, I’ve heard that argument before. Don’t bank on it too heavily. Murder is murder, and must be punished, no matter whom it involves,” replied Val. “Under ordinary circumstances, perhaps I would mind my own business and say nothing—although such an affair is the business of every citizen. But when I see you brazenly going down South to make more trouble—to attempt to steal from a poor, fatherless girl her inheritance—to say nothing of attempting to intimidate her into marrying you, it makes me angry enough to cast all consideration to the winds and hand you into custody. Miss Pomeroy will have no difficulty in clearing herself. And as for⸺”

“And as for you, how will you clear yourself?” inquired Teck calmly. “Remember, that you knew most of the facts the next day—that you have known for some days now that I have the books—and you have