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"Yes. That is, fairly certain. I solved it not five
minutes ago. I unravelled the mystery quite easily, having
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The House in Birdgate Alley Anel Viz
more than motive to go on. I'll explain later."
I marvelled at his prodigious intellect, which
allowed him to sift through the evidence, weigh it, and
draw conclusions whilst he listened to me recount what I
had done, paying close attention to my every word. "Who
was it then? Mrs. Lansing? Johnny Rice doesn't think so."
"That is a secret I shall not share with you. I have
another task for you, and if I let you know who the
murderer is, you may not be able to dissimulate your
loathing and distrust, and that would put him onto us. He
believes himself safe, and therein lies our advantage."
"But the boy. You say he'll be in mortal danger?
Have you told him who murdered his friend?"
"When would I have? I didn't know when I
questioned him. I'm fairly sure he knows, though. The lad
is quicker than you, Cousin John."
"Is he in on your plan?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Would I have formulated it
before I discovered who did it? I'll let him know soon
enough. I shan't keep it from you, either. Listen. It won't be
long before word gets around that young Rice has a private
client."
"He has? I'm surprised he'd chance it after what
happened to his friend."
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"Pretence, John, to flush out the murderer and
entrap him."
"And who, pray, is this pretend benefactor of his?"
"Why you, dear boy! Who else?"
So that's what he had meant when he said I'd be
seeing Johnny Rice again! "Me!" I exclaimed. "When
would I have met the likes of him?"
"You did just now. What do you think of your
protégé? Isn't he delicious?"
"So that explains his brazen behaviour when I
examined him!"
"Made advances to you already, has he? I told him
we might go that route. No doubt he played his role to the
hilt. A fine specimen in every way, don't you agree?"
"Why ask my opinion? You remained closeted with
him six times longer than I. I trust you found the experience
pleasurable?"
"Informative, Cousin; most informative. It was what
inspired me to try my hand at other cases. Seldom has
anything other than a chemical experiment so stimulated
me."
"Harrumph! I find the prospect of being in league
with a gang of perverts less than enthralling."
"You needn't return to Birdgate Alley. Rice will see
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to putting the killer on your scent."
"On my scent! Will I also be in danger, then? But I
meant Cock Robin and his lover. And Rice. May I ask
where these simulacra assignations are to occur?"
"When I said 'your scent', I meant both yours and
Johnny's. But you have no cause for worry. You'll be
perfectly safe; our murderer won't go after a gentleman."
"Mightn't he attempt blackmail?"
"Do you honestly believe he would be so foolish as
to blackmail a man involved with someone he intends to do
away with? What if you went to the police? He can't risk
leaving any clues that would point to him. As for where
you shall meet, I shall invite your new admirer to dine with
you this Wednesday in Sir Hugh's room in Shoreditch.
Explain to him that I shall use the premises to track down
the murderer, and he'll give you the key."
"Sir Hugh will hand it over without asking for an
explanation. But how, pray tell, am I to explain all this to
my wife?"
"Tell her the truth that you're assisting me with a
case. It won't surprise Belinda to learn I've taken up
detective work. She thinks I'm eccentric. I dare say you do,
too."
"I couldn't tell her you've set me up as bait to catch
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a murderer. It would terrify her. And as for telling her I'm
pretending to have an affair with a male prostitute "
"You needn't tell her the whole truth. Make up any
story you like. Rest assured that whatever you do with
Johnny Rice will remain private. I shan't ask questions."
"If you go on like this any longer, Cyril, I shall
refuse to play your little game."
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~ 4 ~
I did not see my cousin again for a long while.
Solving the Buckham murder kept him busy, and it seems
he temporarily abandoned chemistry to undertake one or
two other cases as well. I was curious to know how the
investigation was progressing, but he did not want me to
get involved. My role was to act as bait. More exactly,
Johnny Rice was the bait and I the fisherman dangling him
from the end of my pole while we waited for the murderer
to bite.
So while I saw Cyril not at all, I did spend a great
deal of time with Johnny, whom I found to be keenly
intelligent and, despite his atrocious grammar and
pronunciation, a congenial and most entertaining
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