The Roman Hat Mystery (31 page)

When his meticulous search of the lower floor was completed he trudged up the steps again. In the orchestra he found Louis Panzer waiting, slightly flushed from his exertions but displaying a triumphant smile. The little manager was carrying a small parcel wrapped in brown paper.

“
So you saw Cronin after all, Panzer?
”
said the Inspector, scurrying forward.
“
This is mighty nice of you, my boy
―
I appreciate it more than I can say. Is this the package Cronin gave you?
”

“
It is. A very nice chap, Cronin. I didn
’
t have to wait long after I telephoned you. He came in with two other men named Stoates and Lewin. He didn
’
t keep me more than ten minutes altogether. I hope it was important, Inspector?
”
Panzer continued, smiling.
“
I should like to feel that I
’
ve been instrumental in clearing up part of the puzzle.
”

“
Important?
”
echoed the Inspector, taking the parcel from the manager
’
s hand.
“
You have no idea how important it is. Some day I
’
ll tell you more about it . . . . Will you excuse me a moment, Panzer?
”

The little man nodded in a fleeting disappointment as the Inspector grinned, backing off into a dark corner. Panzer shrugged and disappeared into his office.

When he came out, hat and coat left behind, the Inspector was stuffing the parcel into his pocket.

“
Did you get what you wanted, sir?
”
inquired Panzer.

“
Oh, yes, yes, indeed!
”
Queen said, rubbing his hands.
“
And now
―
I see Ellery is still gone
―
suppose we go into your office for a few minutes and while away the time until he returns.
”

They went into Panzer
’
s sanctum and sat down. The manager lit a long Turkish cigarette while the Inspector dipped into his snuffbox.

“
If I
’
m not presuming, Inspector,
”
said Panzer casually, crossing his short fat legs and emitting a cloud of smoke,
“
how are things going?
”

Queen shook his head sadly.
“
Not so well
―
not so well. We don
’
t seem to be getting anywhere with the main angles of the case. In fact, I don
’
t mind telling you that unless we get on the track of a certain object we face failure . . . . It
’
s pretty hard on me
―
I
’
ve never encountered a more puzzling investigation.
”
He wore a worried frown as he snapped the lid of his snuffbox shut.

“
That
’
s too bad, Inspector,
”
Panzer clucked in sympathy.
“
And I was hoping
―
Ah, well! We can
’
t put our personal concerns above the demands of justice, I suppose! Just what is it you are seeking, Inspector, if you don
’
t mind telling an outsider?
”

Queen brightened.
“
Not at all. You
’
ve done me a good turn this morning and
―
By jingo, how stupid of me not to think of this before!
”
Panzer leaned forward eagerly.
“
How long have you been manager of the Roman Theatre, Panzer?
”

The manager raised his eyebrows.
“
Ever since it was built,
”
he said.
“
Before that I managed the old Electra on 43rd Street
―
it is also owned by Gordon Davis,
”
he explained.

“
Oh!
”
The Inspector seemed to reflect deeply.
“
Then you would know this theatre from top to bottom
―
you would be as familiar with its construction as the architect, perhaps?
”

“
I have a rather thorough knowledge of it, yes,
”
confessed Panzer, leaning back.

“
That
’
s excellent! Let me give you a little problem, then, Panzer . . . . Suppose you wished to conceal a
―
let us say, a tophat
―
somewhere in the building, in such a way that not even an exhaustive search of the premises would bring it to light. What would you do? Where would you hide it?
”

Panzer scowled thoughtfully at his cigarette.
“
A rather unusual question, Inspector,
”
he said at last,
“
and one which is not easy to answer. I know the plans of the theatre very well; I was consulted about them in a conference with the architect before the theatre was built. And I can positively state that the original blueprints did not provide for such medieval devices as concealed passageways, secret closets or anything of that sort. I could enumerate any number of places where a man might hide a comparatively small object like a tophat, but none of them would be proof against a really thorough search.
”

“
I see.
”
The Inspector squinted at his fingernails in an appearance of disappointment.
“
So that doesn
’
t help. We
’
ve been over the place from top to bottom, as you know, and we can
’
t find a trace of it . . . .
”

The door opened and Ellery, a trifle begrimed but wearing a cheerful smile, entered. The Inspector glanced at him in eager curiosity. Panzer rose hesitantly with the evident intention of leaving father and son alone. A flash of intelligence shot between the Queens.

“
It
’
s all right, Panzer
―
don
’
t go,
”
said the Inspector peremptorily.
“
We
’
ve no secrets from you. Sit down, man!
”

Panzer sat down.

“
Don
’
t you think, Dad,
”
remarked Ellery, perching on the edge of the desk and reaching for his pince-nez,
“
that this would be an opportune moment to inform Mr. Panzer of tonight
’
s opening? You remember we decided while he was gone that the theatre might be thrown open to the public this evening and a regular performance given . . . .
”

“
How could I have forgotten
―
!
”
said the Inspector without blinking, although this was the first time he had heard about the mythical decision.
“
I think we
’
re about ready, Panzer, to lift the ban on the Roman. We find that we can do nothing further here, so there is no reason for depriving you of your patronage any longer. You may run a performance tonight
―
in fact, we are most anxious to see a show put on, aren
’
t we Ellery?
”

“
‘
Anxious
’
is hardly the word,
”
said Ellery, lighting a cigarette.
“
I should say we insist upon it.
”

“
Exactly,
”
murmured the Inspector severely.
“
We insist upon it, Panzer.
”

The manager had bobbed out of his chair, his face shining.
“
That
’
s simply splendid, gentlemen!
”
he cried.
“
I
’
ll telephone Mr. Davis immediately to let him know the good news. Of course
”―
his face fell
―”
it
’
s terribly late to expect any sort of response from the public for tonight
’
s performance. Such short notice . . .
“

“
You needn
’
t worry about that, Panzer,
”
retorted the Inspector.
“
I
’
ve caused your shutdown and I
’
ll see that the theatre is compensated for it tonight. I
’
ll get the newspaper boys on the wire and ask them to ballyhoo the opening in the next edition. It will mean a lot of unexpected publicity for you and undoubtedly the free advertising, combined with the normal curiosity of the public, will give you a sellout.
”

“
That
’
s sporting of you, Inspector,
”
said Panzer, rubbing his hands.
“
Is there anything else I can do for you at the moment?
”

“
There
’
s one item you
’
ve forgotten, Dad,
”
interposed Ellery. He turned to the swart little manager.
“
Will you see that LL32 and LL30 Left are not sold tonight? The Inspector and I would enjoy seeing this evening
’
s performance. We
’
ve not really had that pleasure yet, you know. And naturally we wish to preserve a stately incognito, Panzer
―
dislike the adulation of the crowd and that sort of thing. You
’
ll keep it under cover, of course.
”

“
Anything you say, Mr. Queen. I
’
ll instruct the cashier to put aside those tickets,
”
returned Panzer pleasantly.
“
And now, Inspector
―
you said you would telephone the press, I believe
―
?
”

“
Certainly.
”
Queen took up the telephone and held pithy conversations with the city editors of a number of metropolitan newspapers. When he had finished Panzer bade them a hurried good-by to get busy with the telephone.

Inspector Queen and his son strolled out into the orchestra, where they found Flint and the two detectives who had been examining the boxes awaiting them.

“
You men hang around the theatre on general principles,
”
ordered the Inspector.
“
Be particularly careful this afternoon . . . . Any of you find anything?
”

Flint scowled.
“
I ought to be digging clams in Canarsie,
”
he said with a disgruntled air.
“
I fell down on the job Monday night, Inspector, and I
’
m blamed if I could find a thing for you today. That place upstairs is swept as clean as a hound
’
s tooth. Guess I ought to go back to pounding a beat.
”

Queen slapped the big detective on the shoulder.
“
What
’
s the matter with you? Don
’
t be acting like a baby, lad. How on earth could you find anything when there wasn
’
t anything to find? You fellows get something?
”
he demanded, swinging on the other two men.

They shook their heads in a gloomy negation.

A moment later the Inspector and Ellery climbed into a passing taxicab and settled back for the short drive to headquarters. The old man carefully closed the glass sliding window separating the driver
’
s seat from the interior of the car.

“
Now, my son,
”
he said grimly, turning on Ellery, who was puffing dreamily at a cigarette,
“
please explain to your old daddy that hocus-pocus in Panzer
’
s office!
”

Ellery
’
s lips tightened. He stared out of the window before replying.
“
Let me start this way,
”
he said.
“
You have found nothing in your search today. Nor have your men. And although I scouted about myself, I was just as unsuccessful. Dad, make up your mind to this one primary point: The hat which Monte Field wore to the performance of
‘
Gunplay
’
on Monday night, in which he was seen at the beginning of the second act, and which presumably the murderer took away after the crime was committed,
is not in the Roman Theatre now and has not been there since Monday night.
To proceed.
”
Queen stared at him with grizzled brows.
“
In all likelihood Field
’
s tophat no longer exists. I would stake my Falconer against your snuffbox that it has fled this life and now enjoys a reincarnation as ashes in the City dumps. That
’
s point number one.
”