The Classic Mystery Collection - Arthur Conan Doyle [5878]
On her return, the girl could not help admitting that the Frenchman was all a careful car driver should be. He had shown skill and foresight in guiding the car through the summer-crowded traffic of Lakeside, and had been cheerful and polite.
"I am sorry you are going to leave us, Jean," she said, when he had brought her back to The Haven.
"I, too, am regretful," he said in his careful English. "But your father had other ideas, and I - I am really afraid of that big new car. It is not a machine, mademoiselle, it is - pardon - it is a devil! It will be the death of some one yet. I could never drive it."
"But if we sold that car, Jean, as we are going to do - "
"I could not stay, Miss Viola. I have a new place, and to that I go in two weeks. I am sorry, for I liked it here, though - Oh, well, of what use?" and he shrugged his shoulders.
"Was there something you did not like? Did my father not treat you well?" asked Viola quickly.
"Oh, as to that, mademoiselle, I should not speak. I liked your father. We, at times, did have difference; as who has not? But he was a friend to me. What would you have? I am sorry!" And he touched his hat and drove around to the garage.
As Viola was about to enter the house she chanced to look down the street and saw Minnie Webb approaching. She looked so thoroughly downcast that Viola was surprised.
"Hello, Minnie!" she exclaimed pleasantly. "Anything new or startling?"
"Nothing," was the somewhat listless reply. "Is there anything new here?" and Minnie Webb's face showed a momentary interest.
"I can't say that there is," returned Viola. She paused for a moment. "Won't you come in?"
"I don't think so-not to-day," stammered the other girl. And then as she looked at Viola her face began to flush. "I - I don't feel very well. I have a terrible headache. I think I'll go home and lie down," and she hurried on without another word.
"There is certainly something wrong with Minnie," speculated Viola, as she looked after her friend. "I wonder if it is on account of LeGrand Blossom."
She did not know how much Minnie Webb was in love with the man who had been her father's confidential clerk and who was now in charge of Mr. Carwell's business affairs, and, not knowing this, she could, of course, not realize under what a strain Minnie was now living with so many suspicions against Blossom.
Divesting herself of her street dress for a more simple gown, Viola inquired of the maid whether Colonel Ashley was in the house. When informed that he had gone fishing with Shag, the girl, with a little gesture of impatience, took her seat near a window to look over some mail that had come during her absence.
As she glanced up after reading a belated letter of sympathy she saw, alighting from his car which had stopped in front of The Haven, Captain Gerry Poland. He caught sight of her, and waved his hand.
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Viola. "If he hadn't seen me I could have said I was not at home, but now - "
She heard his ring at the door and resigned herself to meeting him, but if the captain had not been so much in love with Viola Carwell he could not have helped noticing her rather cold greeting.
"I called," he said, "to see if there was anything more I could do for you or for your aunt. I saw Blossom, and he says he is working over the books. I've had a good deal of experience in helping settle up estates that were involved. I mean - " he added hastily - "where no will was left, and, my dear Viola, if I could be of any assistance - "
"Thank you," broke in Viola rather coldly, "I don't know that there is anything you can do. It is very kind of you, but Mr. Blossom has charge and - "
"Oh, of course I realize that," went on Captain Poland quickly. "But I thought there might be something."
"There is nothing," and now the yachtsman could not help noticing the coldness in Viola's voice. He seemed to nerve himself for an effort as he