The Black Box Part 73

Quest touched the bell and his new secretary entered almost at once.

"Take Inspector French up into the laboratory," Quest directed. "See you later, French."

"Yes--perhaps--I hope so," the Inspector replied nervously.

Quest watched him disappear, with a puzzled smile.

Then he sat down at his desk, drew a sheet of paper towards him and began to write:

"My dear Inspector,

"I am taking this opportunity of letting you know that out of deference to the wishes of the woman I hope soon to marry, I am abandoning the hazardous and nerve-racking profession of criminology for a safer and happier career. You will have, therefore, to find help elsewhere in the future.

"With best wishes,

"Yours,

"SANFORD QUEST."

He left the sheet of paper upon the desk and, ringing the bell, sent for Lenora. She appeared in a few moments and came over to his side.

"What is it, Mr. Quest?" she asked.

He gave her the letter without remark. She read it through and, turning slowly around, looked at him expectantly.

"How's that seem to you?" he asked, reaching out his hand for a cigar.

"Very sensible indeed," she replied.

"It's no sort of life, this, for a married man," Quest declared. "You agree with me there, don't you, Lenora?"

"Yes!" she admitted, a little faintly.

Quest lit his cigar deliberately. Then he enclosed the letter in an envelope and addressed it to Inspector French.

"You'd better deliver this to the Inspector," he said, "in case he doesn't call round here on his way out."

He handed her the note. For a moment she looked at him, then she turned quickly away.

"He shall have it at once," she said in a low tone.

Quest watched her cross the room. She opened the door and pa.s.sed out without a backward glance. Then he shrugged his shoulders, hesitated for a moment, and followed her. He heard the door of her apartment on the next floor close, however, and made his way to the laboratory. He entered the room softly and paused upon the threshold. His presence was altogether un.o.bserved by the two people who were standing at the other end of the apartment.

"I say, Miss Laura," the Inspector was saying, "this has got to come sometime or other. Why don't you make up your mind to it? I'm no great hand at love-making, but I'm the right sort of man for you and I think you know it."

"This," Quest murmured to himself, "is where Laura boxes the Inspector's ears!"

Nothing of the sort happened, however. There was a queer, a mystifying change in Laura's expression. She was looking down at the floor. Suddenly her face was hidden in her hands. The Inspector threw his arms around her.

"That's all the answer I want," he declared.

Quest stole softly away. As he regained the door of his study, Lenora, dressed for the street, hurried out. She tried to pa.s.s him but he laid his hand upon her shoulder.

"I was just going round to Mr. French's office," she explained.

"That's all right," Quest replied. "The Inspector's here. You can leave the note upon the table. Hi, Parkins," he called out to his secretary in the next room, "get my hat and coat. Come back a moment, Lenora."

She turned into the room a little unwillingly and leaned against the table. Quest stood by her side.

"Lenora," he said quietly, "that was kind of a brutal note I told you to give to French, but I thought you'd understand."

She raised her eyes suddenly to his.

"Understand what?" she whispered.

The secretary entered the room, helped Quest on with his coat and handed him his hat.

"If you are quite ready, Lenora."

"Ready?" she exclaimed. "Where are we going?"

Quest sighed.

"Fancy having to explain all these things!" he said, taking her arm. "I just want you to understand, Lenora, that I've waited--quite long enough.

Parkins," he added, turning to his secretary, "if any one calls, just say that my wife and I will be back early in the afternoon. And you'd better step upstairs to the laboratory and give my compliments to Inspector French, and say that I hope he and Miss Laura will join us at Delmonico's for luncheon at one o'clock."

"Very good, sir," the man replied.

Lenora's face was suddenly transformed. She pa.s.sed her arm through Quest's. He stooped and kissed her as he led her towards the door.

"You understand now, don't you?" he whispered, smiling down at her.

"I think so," she admitted, with a little sigh of content.

THE END

JOHN FOX, JR'S.

STORIES OF THE KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS