"
"Goldberger was right in one thing," I remarked. "He pointed out,
after you left, that most crimes are not romances, but mere
brutalities. Perhaps this one--"
The ringing of my telephone stopped me.
"Hello," I said, taking down the receiver.
"Is that you, Mr. Lester?" asked a voice.
"Yes."
"This is Parks," and I suddenly realised that his voice was
unfamiliar because it was hoarse and quivering with emotion. "Could
you come down to the house right away, sir?"
"Why, yes," I said, wonderingly, "if it's important. Does Mr. Vantine
need me?"
"We all need you!" said the voice, and broke into a dry sob. "For
God's sake, come quick, Mr. Lester!"
"All right," I said without further parley, for evidently he had lost
his self-control. "Something has happened down at Vantine's," I added
to Godfrey, as I hung up the receiver. "Parks seems to be scared to
death. He wants me to come down right away," and I reached for my hat
and coat.
"Shall I come, too?" asked Godfrey.
Even under the stress of the moment, I could not but smile at the
question and at the tone in which it was uttered.
"Perhaps you'd better," I agreed. "It sounded pretty serious.
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