The Classic Mystery Collection - Arthur Conan Doyle [5880]
Viola became aware of some one walking toward her as she neared the bend of the river whither Patrick had directed her, and a second glance told her it was the faithful Shag.
He bowed with a funny little jerk and took off his cap.
"Is the colonel there?" and she indicated what seemed to be an ideal fishing place among the willows.
"He was, Miss Viola, but he done gone now."
"Gone? Where? Do you mean back to the house?"
"No'm. He done gone t' N'York."
"New York?"
"Yes'm. On de afternoon train. He say he may be back t'night, an' mebby not `twell mornin'."
"But New York-and so suddenly! Why did he go, Shag?"
"I don't know all de `ticklers, Miss Viola, but I heah him say he got t' git a book on poisons."
"A book on poisons?" and Viola started.
"Yes'm. He done want one fo' de case he's wukin' on, an' he can't git none at de library, so he go to N'York after one. I'se bringin' back his tackle. De fish didn't bite nohow, so he went away, de colonel did."
"Oh!"
Viola stood irresolute a moment, and then turned back toward the house, Shag walking beside her.
CHAPTER XIV
THE PRIVATE SAFE
Divided as she was among several opinions, torn by doubts and sufferings from grief, Viola Carwell found distinct relief in a message that awaited her on her return to the house after her failure to find Colonel Ashley. The message, given her by a maid, was to the effect:
"The safe man has come."
"The who?" asked Viola, not at first understanding.
"The safe man. He said you sent for him to open a safe and - "
"Oh, yes, I understand, Jane. Where is he?"
"In the library, Miss Viola."
Viola hastened to the room where so many fateful talks had taken place of late, and found there a quiet man, beside whose chair was a limp valise that rattled with a metallic jingle as his foot brushed against it when he arose on her entrance.
"Have you come from the safe company?" she asked.
"Yes. I understood that there was one of our safes which could not be opened, and they sent me. Here is the order," and he held out the paper.
He spoke with quiet dignity, omitting the "ma'am," from his salutation. And Viola was glad of this. He was a relief from the usual plumber or carpenter, who seemed to lack initiative.
"It is my father's private safe that we wish opened," she said. "He alone had the combination to it, and he - he is dead," she added softly.
"So I understood," he responded with appreciation of what her grief must be. "Well, I think I shall be able to open the safe without damaging it. That was what you wanted, was it not?"
"Yes. Father never let any one but himself open the safe when he was alive. I don't believe my mother or I saw it open more than ten times, and then by accident. In it he kept his private papers. But, now that he is - is gone, there is need to see how his affairs stand. The lawyer tells me I had better open the safe.
"When we found that none of us knew the combination, and when it was not found written down anywhere among father's other papers, and when his clerk, Mr. Blossom, did not have it, we sent to the company."
"I understand," said the safe expert. "If you will show me - "
Viola touched a button on the wall, a button so cleverly concealed that the ordinary observer would never have noticed it, and a panel slid back, revealing the door of the safe.
"It was one of father's ideas that his strong box was better hidden this way," said Viola, with a little wan smile. "Is there room enough for you to work? The safe is built into the wall."
"Oh, there is plenty of room, thank you. I can very easily get at it. It isn't the first safe I've had to work on this way. Many families have safes hidden like this. It's a good idea."
He looked at the safe, noted the manufacturer's number, and consulted a little book he carried with him. Then he began to turn the knob gently, listening the while, with acute and