Read The Roman Hat Mystery Online
Authors: Ellery Queen
The Roman Hat Mystery (25 page)
Ellery
’
s fingers tapped an absent tattoo on the handle of his stick.
“
Then the affair at the Webster. He insisted we have lunch together for the settlement of the last few details. That wasn
’
t his purpose at all, of course. You can guess, I suppose, his intentions . . . . He came out quite suavely with the overwhelming statement that he knew I was supporting a woman and my illegitimate child. He said that he had some of my letters to prove it, and a number of cancelled vouchers of checks I had sent her . . . . He admitted he had stolen them from me. I hadn
’
t looked at them for years, of course . . . . Then he blandly announced that he meant to make capital out of this evidence!
”
“
Blackmail!
”
muttered Ellery, a light creeping into his eyes.
“
Yes, blackmail,
”
retorted Morgan bitterly.
“
Nothing less. He described in very graphic terms what would happen if the story should come out. Oh, Field was a clever crook! I saw the entire structure of social position I had built up
―
a process which took years
―
destroyed in an instant. My wife, her family, my own family
―
and more than that, the circle in which we moved
―
I shouldn
’
t have been able to lift my head out of the muck. And as for business
―
well, it doesn
’
t take much to make important clients go elsewhere for their legal work. I was trapped
―
I knew it and he knew it.
”
“
Just how much did he want, Morgan?
”
asked Queen.
“
Enough! He wanted twenty-five thousand dollars
―
just to keep quiet. I didn
’
t even have any assurances that the affair would end there. I was caught and caught properly. Because, remember, this was not an affair which had died years before. I was still supporting that poor woman and my son. I am supporting them now. I will
―
continue to support them.
”
He stared at his fingernails.
“
I paid the money,
”
he resumed morosely.
“
It meant stretching a bit but I paid it. But the harm was done. I saw red there at the Club, and
―
but you know what happened.
”
“
And this blackmail has continued all the while, Morgan?
”
asked the Inspector.
“
Yes, sir
―
for two solid years. The man was insatiable, I tell you! Even today I can
’
t completely understand it. He must have been earning tremendous fees in his own practice, and yet he always seemed to be needing money. No small change, either
―
I have never paid him less than ten thousand dollars at one time!
”
Queen and Ellery looked at each other fleetingly. Queen said,
“
Well, Morgan, it
’
s a pretty kettle of fish. The more I hear about Field the more I dislike putting the irons on the fellow who did away with him. However! In the light of what you
’
ve told me, your statement last night that you hadn
’
t seen Field for two years is patently untrue. When
did
you see him last?
”
Morgan appeared to be racking his memory.
“
Oh, it was about two months ago, Inspector,
”
he said at last.
The Inspector shifted in his chair.
“
I see . . . .I
’
m sorry you didn
’
t tell me all this last night. You understand, of course, that your story is perfectly safe with the police. And it
’
s mighty vital information. Now then
―
do you happen to know a woman by the name of Angela Russo?
”
Morgan stared.
“
Why, no, Inspector. I
’
ve never heard of her.
”
Queen was silent for a moment.
“
Do you know a gentleman called
‘
Parson Johnny
’
?
”
“
I think I can give you some information there, Inspector. I
’
m certain that during our partnership Field was using the little thug for some shady business of his own. I caught him sneaking up into the office a number of times after hours, and when I asked Field about him, he would sneer and say,
‘
Oh, that
’
s only Parson Johnny, a friend of mine!
’
But it was sufficient to establish the man
’
s identity. What their connection was I can
’
t tell you, because I don
’
t know.
”
“
Thanks, Morgan,
”
said the Inspector.
“
I
’
m glad you told me that. And now
―
one last question. Have you ever heard the name Charles Michaels?
”
“
To be sure I have,
”
responded Morgan grimly.
“
Michaels was Field
’
s so-called valet
―
he acted in the capacity of bodyguard and was really a blackguard, or I
’
m greatly mistaken in my judgment of men. He came to the office once in a while. I can
’
t think of anything else about him, Inspector.
”
“
He knows you, of course?
”
asked Queen.
“
Why
―
I suppose so,
”
returned Morgan doubtfully.
“
I never spoke to him, but undoubtedly he saw me during his visits to the office.
”
“
Well, now, that
’
s fine, Morgan,
”
grunted Queen, rising.
“
This has been a most interesting and informative chat. And
―
no, I don
’
t think there
’
s anything else. That is, at the moment. Just ride along, Morgan, and keep in town
―
available if we need you for anything. Remember that, won
’
t you?
”
“
I
’
m not likely to forget it,
”
said Morgan dully.
“
And
―
of course the story I told you
―
about my son
―
it won
’
t come out?
”
“
You needn
’
t have the slightest fear
―
about that, Morgan,
”
said Queen, and a few moments later he and Ellery were on the sidewalk.
“
So it was blackmail, Dad,
”
murmured Ellery.
“
That gives me an idea, do you know?
”
“
Well, son, I
’
ve a few ideas of my own!
”
chuckled Queen, and in a telepathic silence they walked briskly down the street in the direction of headquarters.
Wednesday morning found Djuna pouring the coffee before a bemused Inspector and a chattering Ellery. The telephone bell rang. Both Ellery and his father jumped for the instrument.
“
Here! What are you doing?
”
exclaimed Queen.
“
I
’
m expecting a call and that
’
s it!
”
“
Now, now, sir, allow a bibliophile the privilege of using his own telephone,
”
retorted Ellery.
“
I have a feeling that that
’
s my friend the bookdealer calling me about the elusive Falconer.
”
“
Look here, Ellery, don
’
t start
―”
While they were chaffing each other good-naturedly across the table, Djuna picked up the telephone.
“
The Inspector
―
the Inspector, did you say? Inspector,
”
said Djuna, grinning as he held the mouthpiece to his thin chest,
“
it
’
s for you.
”
Ellery subsided in his chair while Queen, with an air of triumph, snatched the instrument.
“
Yes?
”
“
Stoates calling from Field
’
s office, Inspector,
”
came a fresh cheery young voice.
“
I want to put Mr. Cronin on the wire.
”
The Inspector
’
s brow wrinkled in anticipation. Ellery was listening intently, and even Djuna, with the monkeylike eagerness of his sharp features, had become rooted to his corner, as if he, too, awaited important news. Djuna in this respect resembled his brother anthropoid
―
there was an alertness, a bright inquisitiveness in his attitude and mien which delighted the Queens eternally.
Finally a high-pitched voice came over the wire.
“
This is Tim Cronin speaking, Inspector,
”
came Cronin
’
s excited tones.
“
As you know, I
’
ve been watching this bird Field for years. He
’
s been my pet nightmare for as long as I can remember. The D. A. tells me that he gave you the story night before last, so I needn
’
t go into it. But in all these years of watching and waiting and digging I
’
ve never been able to find a solitary piece of evidence against that crook that I could bring into a courtroom. And he was a crook, Inspector
―
I
’
d stake my life on that . . . . Anyway, it
’
s the old story here. I really shouldn
’
t have hoped for anything better, knowing Field as I did. And yet
―
well, I couldn
’
t help praying that somewhere, somehow, he would slip up, and that I
’
d nail it when I could get my hands on his private records. Inspector
―
there
’
s nothing doing.
”
Queen
’
s face reflected a fleeting disappointment, which Ellery interpreted with a sigh, rising as he did so to walk restlessly up and down the room.
“
I guess we can
’
t help it, Tim,
”
returned Queen, with an effort at heartiness.
“
Don
’
t worry
―
we
’
ve other irons in the fire.
”
“
Inspector,
”
said Cronin abruptly,
“
you
’
ve got your hands full. Field was a really slick article. And from the way it looks to me, the genius who could get past his guard and put him away is a really slick article, too. He couldn
’
t be anything else. Incidentally, we
’
re not halfway through with the files and maybe what we
’
ve looked over isn
’
t as unpromising as I made it sound. There
’
s plenty here to suggest shady work on Field
’
s part
―
it
’
s just that there
’
s no direct incriminating evidence. We
’
re hoping that we find something as we go on.
”
“
All right, Tim
―
keep up the good work,
”
muttered the Inspector.
“
And let me know how you make out . . . . Is Lewin there?
”
“
You mean the office manager?
”
Cronin
’
s voice lowered.
“
He
’
s around somewhere. Why?
”
“
You want to keep your eye peeled,
”
said Queen.
“
I have a sneaking suspicion he
’
s not as stupid as he sounds. Just don
’
t let him get too familiar with any records lying around. For all we know, he may have been in on Field
’
s little sideline.
”
“
Right, Inspector. Call you sometime later,
”
and the receiver clicked as Cronin hung up.
At ten-thirty Queen and Ellery pushed open the high gate at the entrance to the Ives-Pope residence on Riverside Drive. Ellery was moved to remark that the atmosphere was a perfect invitation to formal morning dress and that he was going to feel extremely uncomfortable when they were admitted through the stone portals.
In truth, the house which concealed the destinies of the Ives-Popes was in many respects awe-inspiring to men of the modest tastes of the Queens. It was a huge rambling old stone house, set far back from the Drive, hunched on the greensward of a respectable acreage.
“
Must have cost a pretty penny,
”
grunted the Inspector as his eyes swept the rolling lawns surrounding the building. Gardens and summer-houses; walks and bowered nooks
―
one would have thought himself miles away from the city which roared by a scant few rods away, behind the high iron palings which circled the mansion. The Ives-Popes were immensely wealthy and brought to this not uncommon possession a lineage stretching back into the dim recesses of American colonization.
The front door was opened by a whiskered patrician whose back seemed composed of steel and whose nose was elevated at a perilous angle toward the ceiling. Ellery lounged in the doorway, surveying this uniformed nobleman with admiration, while Inspector Queen fumbled in his pockets for a card. He was a long time producing one; the stiff-backed flunkey stood graven into stone. Red-faced, the Inspector finally discovered a battered card. He placed it on the extended salver and watched the butler retreat to some cavern of his own.
Ellery chuckled as his father drew himself up at the sight of Franklin Ives-Pope
’
s burly figure emerging from a wide carved doorway.
The financier hurried toward them.
“
Inspector! Mr. Queen!
”
he exclaimed in a cordial tone.
“
Come right in. Have you been waiting long?
”
The Inspector mumbled a greeting. They walked through a high-ceilinged shining-floored hall, decorated with austere old furniture.
“
You
’
re on the dot, gentlemen,
”
said Ives-Pope, standing aside to allow them to pass into a large room.
“
Here are some additional members of our little board meeting. I think you know all of us present.
”
The Inspector and Ellery looked about.
“
I know everybody, sir, except that gentleman
―
I presume he is Mr. Stanford Ives-Pope,
”
said Queen.
“
I
’
m afraid my son has still to make the acquaintance of
―
Mr. Peale, is it?
―
Mr. Barry
―
and, of course, Mr. Ives-Pope.
”
The introductions were made in a strained fashion.
“
Ah, Q!
”
murmured District Attorney Sampson, hurrying across the room.
“
I wouldn
’
t have missed this for the world,
”
he said in a low tone.
“
First time I
’
ve met most of the people who
’
ll be present at the inquisition.
”
“
What is that fellow Peale doing here?
”
muttered Queen to the District Attorney, while Ellery crossed the room to engage the three young men on the other side in conversation. Ives-Pope had excused himself and disappeared.
“
He
’
s a friend of young Ives-Pope, and, of course, he
’
s chummy with Barry there, too,
”
returned the District Attorney.
“
I gathered from the chitchat before you came that Stanford, Ives-Pope
’
s son, originally introduced these professional people to his sister Frances. That
’
s how she met Barry and fell in love with him. Peale seems on good terms with the young lady, too.
”
“
I wonder how much Ives-Pope and his aristocratic spouse like the bourgeois company their children keep,
”
said the Inspector, eyeing the small group on the other side of the room with interest.
“
You
’
ll find out soon enough,
”
chuckled Sampson.
“
Just watch the icicles dripping from Mrs. Ives-Pope
’
s eyebrows every time she sees one of these actors. I imagine they
’
re about as welcome as a bunch of Bolsheviks.
”
Queen put his hands behind his back and stared curiously about the room. It was a library, well stocked with rich and rare books, catalogued carefully and immaculate behind shining glass. A desk dominated the center of the room. It was unpretentious for a millionaire
’
s study, the Inspector noted with approval.
“
Incidentally,
”
resumed Sampson,
“
Eve Ellis, the girl who you said was with Miss Ives-Pope and her fiance at the Roman Theatre Monday night is here, too. She
’
s upstairs keeping the little heiress company, I imagine. Don
’
t think the old lady likes it much. But they
’
re both charming girls.
”
“
What a pleasant place this must be when the Ives-Popes and the actors get together in private!
”
grunted Queen.
The four young men strolled towards them. Stanford Ives-Pope was a slender, well-manicured young man, fashionably dressed. There were deep pouches under his eyes. He wore a restless air of boredom that Queen was quick to note. Both Peale and Barry, the actors, were attired faultlessly.
“
Mr. Queen tells me that you
’
ve got a pretty problem on your hands, Inspector,
”
drawled Stanford Ives-Pope.
“
We
’
re all uncommonly sorry to see poor Sis dragged into it. How in the world did her purse ever get into that chap
’
s pocket? Barry hasn
’
t slept for days over Frances
’
predicament, I give you my word!
”
“
My dear young man,
”
said the Inspector, with a twinkle in his eye,
“
if I knew how Miss Ives-Pope
’
s purse found its way into Monte Field
’
s pocket, I wouldn
’
t be here this morning. That
’
s just one of the things that make this case so infernally interesting.
”
“
The pleasure
’
s all yours, Inspector. But you certainly can
’
t think Frances had the slightest connection with all this?
”
Queen smiled.
“
I can
’
t think anything yet, young man,
”
he protested.
“
I haven
’
t heard what your sister has to say about it.
”
“
She
’
ll explain all right, Inspector,
”
said Stephen Barry, his handsome face drawn into lines of fatigue.
“
You needn
’
t worry about that. It
’
s the damnable suspicion that she
’
s open to that makes me angry
―
the whole thing is ridiculous!
”
“
I know just how you feel, Mr. Barry,
”
said the Inspector kindly.
“
And I want to take this opportunity of apologizing for my conduct the other night. I was perhaps a little
―
harsh.
”
“
I suppose I ought to apologize, too,
”
returned Barry, with a wan smile.
“
I guess I said a few things I didn
’
t mean in that office. In the heat of the moment
―
seeing Frances
―
Miss Ives-Pope go off in a faint
―”
He paused awkwardly.
Peale, a massive giant, ruddy and wholesome in his morning clothes, put his arm affectionately about Barry
’
s shoulders.
“
I
’
m sure the Inspector understood, Steve old boy,
”
he said cheerfully.
“
Don
’
t take it so much to heart
―
everything
’
s bound to come out all right.
”
“
You can leave it to Inspector Queen,
”
said Sampson, nudging the Inspector jovially in the ribs.
“
He
’
s the only bloodhound I
’
ve ever met who has a heart under his badge
―
and if Miss Ives-Pope can clear this thing up to his satisfaction, even to a reasonable extent, that will be the end of it.
”
“
Oh, I don
’
t know,
”
murmured Ellery thoughtfully.
“
Dad
’
s a great one for surprises. As for Miss Ives-Pope
”―
he smiled ruefully and bowed to the actor
―”
Mr. Barry, you
’
re a deucedly lucky fellow.
”
“
You wouldn
’
t think so if you saw the mater,
”
drawled Stanford Ives-Pope.
“
If I
’
m not mistaken, here she barges in now.
”
The men turned toward the door. An enormously stout woman was waddling in. A uniformed nurse supported her carefully under one huge arm, holding a large green bottle in her other hand. The financier followed briskly, by the side of a white-haired youngish looking man, wearing a dark coat and holding a black bag in his hand.
“
Catharine, my dear,
”
said Ives-Pope in a low voice to the stout woman as she sank into a greatchair,
“
these are the gentlemen whom I told you about
―
Inspector Richard Queen and Mr. Ellery Queen.
”
The two Queens bowed, receiving a stony glance from the myopic eyes of Mrs. Ives-Pope.
“
Charmed, I
’
m sure,
”
she shrilled.
“
Where
’
s Nurse? Nurse! I feel faint, please.
”
The uniformed girl hurried to her side, the green bottle ready. Mrs. Ives-Pope closed her eyes and inhaled, sighing with relief. The financier hurriedly introduced the white-haired man, Dr. Vincent Cornish, the family physician. The physician made swift apologies and disappeared behind the butler.
“
Great chap, this Cornish,
”
whispered Sampson to Queen.
“
Not only the most fashionable doctor on the Drive, but a genuine scientist as well.
”
The Inspector elevated his brows, but said nothing.
“
The mater
’
s one reason why I never cared for the medical profession,
”
Stanford Ives-Pope was saying in a loud whisper to Ellery.
“
Ah! Frances, my dear!
”
Ives-Pope hurried forward, followed by Barry, who dashed for the door. Mrs. Ives-Pope
’
s fishy stare enveloped his back with cold disapproval. James Peale coughed embarrassedly and made a mumbled remark to Sampson.
Frances, attired in a filmy morning gown, her face pale and drawn, entered the room leaning heavily on the arm of Eve Ellis, the actress. Her smile was somewhat forced as she murmured a greeting to the Inspector. Eve Ellis was introduced by Peale and the two girls seated themselves near Mrs. Ives-Pope. The old lady was sitting squarely in her chair, glaring about her like a lioness whose cub has been threatened. Two servants appeared silently and set chairs for the men. At Ives-Pope
’
s urgent request Queen sat down at the big desk. Ellery refused a chair, preferring to lean against a bookcase behind and to the side of the company.