Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/113

DURING the long silence that followed, Charlie stood gravely regarding this handsome actor who had, all unknowing, made the best entrance of his career. The actor looked back at him with a cool level stare. Still no one spoke, and Fyfe began to realize that the gaze of every one in the room was upon him. Accustomed though he was to the scrutiny of crowds, he found something a bit disconcerting in this situation. He stirred uneasily, and sought for words to break the spell.

“What is all this about Shelah? I came at the earliest possible moment, as I say. Though I had not seen her for many years———”

“How many years?” cried Chan quickly.

Fyfe looked him over casually. “You must pardon me,” he said, “if I do not at once grasp your position here———”

Nonchalantly Charlie pushed back the left side of his coat, revealing his badge of office. It was a gesture of which an actor could approve—business, not words.

“I am in charge,” Chan said. “You were, you say, at one time husband of Miss Shelah Fane. You have not seen her for many years. How many?”

Fyfe considered. “It was nine years ago, in April,