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The young man's state of exaltation persisted. He continued to murmur joyous
variations on his central theme: that his beloved
Louisa was still alive.
But from time to time, his overpowering joy in the survival of his beloved
alternated with fresh concern about the dangers which she might even now be
facing.
"There are the two mediums inspector, you must have the truth out of them!"
My medical experience told me that Abraham Kirkaldy was dying and would almost
certainly never be fit to answer questions, even though the Altamonts were
determined to provide him with the best care possible. But Sarah Kirkaldy was
still on the scene and capable of speech, though presently in a state of
shock; and Armstrong
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Fred Saberhagen - Séance for a Vampire expressed his determination to have the
full truth from her as soon as possible.
Merivale, looking at the young man with curiosity, assured him grimly that
Sarah had already been seriously questioned, that a police matron had been
summoned to stay with her, and that further intensive interrogation was
planned. Also the background of both
Kirkaldys would be thoroughly checked out.
I was firmly convinced that Armstrong's current views regarding his beloved
were mistaken, and I was determined not to encourage them.
"I think," I said, "that the investigation from now on must certainly follow a
different course."
"You bet it will!" And Armstrong had nothing more meaningful to say until we
were inside the station waiting for the train.
We had reached the station in ample time, there being no sign as yet of the
early train. At that hour we had the platform to ourselves. For a minute or
two we stood waiting, I with my bag beside me, when
Armstrong suddenly burst out again, as if with the enthusiasm of some fresh
discovery: "She's alive, Watson! Do you realize that?"
Still I could not even pretend to share the young man's passion. In his
innocence he meant, of course, that Louisa Altamont was still alive in the
normal breathing sense and I had seen convincing evidence that that could not
be so. Again I muttered something noncommittal.
Armstrong sobered, seeing my doubts; but he had misinterpreted them. He added:
"Not that she is safe, of course. Yes, I quite see
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Fred Saberhagen - Séance for a Vampire that. They whoever they are have
kidnapped her. Yes, I think there can be no other explanation. So my darling
is still in deadly danger, and therefore I say we must move quickly."
"Kidnapped!"
He blinked at me, and then at the inspector. "Yes. Surely you see it now?
Behind it all must be an attempt to get at Louisa's parents, to extort money
from them that must be it. You heard the words she was compelled to say, about
seeking the return of some stolen treasure?"
"I daresay we all heard something of the kind." And I exchanged looks with
Merivale, who had been listening to us intently and who, from his helpless
expression, appeared to be drifting farther and farther out to sea.
"Well, then!" Armstrong paced and gestured expansively.
"Naturally the Kirkaldys must be involved in the plot. They would know clever
ways, conjurer's tricks, for bringing a person in and out of a locked and
sealed room, like the library last night. But they're obviously not the chief
villains. You've only to talk to Sarah, and look at what's happened to her
brother, to understand that. Someone else must be the brains behind the whole
affair. Someone else who was there in the dark last night, and struck down
Abraham.
Inspector, you agree with me, don't you? You see how things must stand?"
Merivale heaved a sigh. "Can't say I feel confident just yet, sir, that we
have any explanation that'll properly fit all the facts. But it looks like
murder now, and you may rest assured that we'll do our best to get to the
bottom of the business."
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Fred Saberhagen - Séance for a Vampire
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I really believe young Armstrong did not hear this reply, that he was aware
only of its soothing tone; for even as the words were spoken, he had gone
momentarily rapt again, lost in the exaltation of knowing that his Louisa as
he thought still breathed. But a few seconds later he had once more turned to
me, wearing a puzzled look. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]