Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/115

not seen Shelah Fane since that moment in New York station, nine years ago?”

“I do.”

“You did not see her in Honolulu to-day?”

“No.”

“Or to-night?”

A pause. “No.”

Julie entered. “The coffee is ready,” she announced. “Please, all come into the dining-room.”

“I make haste to endorse that suggestion,” Chan put in.

Reluctantly they filed out, assuring one another that they could eat nothing, that the idea was unthinkable, but that perhaps a cup of coffee——— Their voices trailed away beyond the curtains. Of the dinner guests, only the fortune-teller lingered.

“Please go, Mr. Tarneverro,” Chan said. “Small stimulant will increase action of that fine brain on which I lean so heavily.”

Tarneverro bowed. “For a moment only,” he replied, and left the room.

Charlie turned to Kashimo. “As for you, I suggest you travel out to lanai, sit upon a chair and think about your sins. When you appeared a moment ago like Jack of the box, you scattered precious evidence to the winds.”

“So sorry,” Kashimo hissed.

“Please be sorry on the lanai,” Charlie advised, and hurrying him out, closed the windows after him. Turning, he came back to Robert Fyfe. “I am happy to be alone with you,” he began. “Though you may not have guessed, you are most interesting figure who has yet popped into this affair.”