returning next day thought no more of the matter when it was reported to him, until going to his safe that night he discovered that it had been opened and ransacked.
As it happened, most of Kara’s valuable and confidential possessions were at the bank. In a fret of panic and at considerable cost he had the safe removed and another put in its place of such potency that the makers offered to indemnify him against any loss from burglary.
T. X. finished his work, washed his hands, and was drying them when Mansus came bursting into the room. It was not usual for Mansus to burst into anywhere. He was a slow, methodical, painstaking man, with a deliberate and an official, manner.
“What’s the matter?” asked T. X. quickly.
“We didn’t search Vassalaro’s lodgings,” cried Mansus breathlessly. “It just occurred to me as I was coming over Westminster Bridge. I was on top of a bus—”
“Wake up!” said T. X. “You’re amongst friends and cut all that ‘bus’ stuff out. Of course we searched Vassalaro’s lodgings!”
“No, we didn’t, sir,” said the other triumphantly. “He lived in Great James Street.”
“He lived in the Adelphi,” corrected T. X.
“There were two places where he lived,” said Mansus.
“When did you learn this?” asked his Chief, dropping his flippancy.
“This morning. I was on a bus coming across Westminster Bridge, and there were two men in front of me, and I heard the word ‘Vassalaro’ and naturally I pricked up my ears.”
“It was very unnatural, but proceed,” said T. X.
“One of the men—a very respectable person—said, ‘That chap Vassalaro used to lodge in my place, and I’ve still got a lot of his things. What do you think I ought to do?’”
“And you said,” suggested the other.
“I nearly frightened his life out of him,” said Mansus. “I said, ‘I am a police officer and I want you to come along with me.’”
“And of course he shut up and would not say another word,” said T. X.
“That’s true, sir,” said Mansus, “but after awhile I got him to talk. Vassalaro lived in Great James Street, 604, on the third floor. In fact, some of his furniture is there still. He had a good reason for keeping two addresses by all accounts.”
T. X. nodded wisely.
“What was her name?” he asked.
“He had a wife,” said the other, “but she left him about four months before he was killed. He used the Adelphi address for business purposes and apparently he slept two or three nights of the week at Great James Street. I have told the man to leave everything as it is, and that we will come round.”
Ten minutes later the two officers were in the somewhat gloomy apartments which Vassalaro had occupied.
The landlord explained that most of the furniture was his, but that there were certain articles which were the property of the deceased man. He added, somewhat unnecessarily, that the late tenant owed him six months’ rent.
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