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By Root 494 0

opened again. Both Elvira and Colonel Luscombe looked at them expectantly but Bertram’s Hotel had reverted to normal. It was merely a white-haired elderly cleric who came in. He stood for a moment looking round him with a slightly puzzled air as of one who fails to understand where he was or how he had come there. Such an experience was no novelty to Canon Pennyfather. It came to him in trains when he did not remember where he had come from, where he was going, or why! It came to him when he was walking along the street, it came to him when he found himself sitting on a committee. It had come to him before now when he was in his cathedral stall, and did not know whether he had already preached his sermon or was about to do so.

“I believe I know that old boy,” said Luscombe, peering at him. “Who is he now? Stays here fairly often, I believe. Abercrombie? Archdeacon Abercrombie—no, it’s not Abercrombie, though he’s rather like Abercrombie.”

Elvira glanced round at Canon Pennyfather without interest. Compared with a racing driver he had no appeal at all. She was not interested in ecclesiastics of any kind although, since being in Italy, she admitted to a mild admiration for Cardinals whom she considered as at any rate properly picturesque.

Canon Pennyfather’s face cleared and he nodded his head appreciatively. He had recognized where he was. In Bertram’s Hotel, of course; where he was going to spend the night on his way to—now where was he on his way to? Chadminster? No, no, he had just come from Chadminster. He was going to—of course—to the Congress at Lucerne. He stepped forward, beaming, to the reception desk and was greeted warmly by Miss Gorringe.

“So glad to see you, Canon Pennyfather. How well you are looking.”

“Thank you—thank you—I had a severe cold last week but I’ve got over it now. You have a room for me. I did write?”

Miss Gorringe reassured him.

“Oh yes, Canon Pennyfather, we got your letter. We’ve reserved No. 19 for you, the room you had last time.”

“Thank you—thank you. For—let me see—I shall want it for four days. Actually I am going to Lucerne and I shall be away for one night, but please keep the room. I shall leave most of my things here and only take a small bag to Switzerland. There won’t be any difficulty over that?”

Again Miss Gorringe reassured him.

“Everything’s going to be quite all right. You explained very clearly in your letter.”

Other people might not have used the word “clearly.” “Fully” would have been better, since he had certainly written at length.

All anxieties set at rest, Canon Pennyfather breathed a sigh of relief and was conveyed, together with his baggage, to Room 19.

In Room 28 Mrs. Carpenter had removed her crown of violets from her head and was carefully adjusting her nightdress on the pillow of her bed. She looked up as Elvira entered.

“Ah, there you are, my dear. Would you like me to help you with your unpacking?”

“No, thank you,” said Elvira politely. “I shan’t unpack very much, you know.”

“Which of the bedrooms would you like to have? The bathroom is between them. I told them to put your luggage in the far one. I thought this room might be a little noisy.”

“That was very kind of you,” said Elvira in her expressionless voice.

“You’re sure you wouldn’t like me to help you?”

“No, thanks, really I wouldn’t. I think I might perhaps have a bath.”

“Yes, I think that’s a very good idea. Would you like to have the first bath? I’d rather finish putting my things away.”

Elvira nodded. She went into the adjoining bathroom, shut the door behind her and pushed the bolts across. She went into her own room, opened her suitcase and flung a few things on the bed. Then she undressed, put on a dressing gown, went into the bathroom and turned the taps on. She went back into her own room and sat down on the bed by the telephone. She listened a moment or two in case of interruption, then lifted the receiver.

“This is Room 29. Can you give me Regent 1129 please?”

Chapter Four

Within the confines of Scotland Yard a conference was in progress. It was by way of being an