CHAPTER 12 Tommy Meets an Old Friend
From the opposite side of the road, Tommy surveyed th premises of Messrs. Partingdale, Harris, Lockeridge axx Pardngdale.
They looked eminently respectable and old-fashioned. Th brass plate was well worn but nicely polished. He crossed th street and passed through swing doors to be greeted by th muted note of typewriters at full speed.
He addressed himself to an open mahogany window on hi’, right which bore the legend rqumEs Inside was a small room where three women were typing am two male clerks were bending’over.desks.co?yig.
There was a faint, musty atmosphere vain a deactecuy ega fiavour.
A woman of thix-five odd, with a severe air, faded blond hair, and p/nce-ne rose from her typewriter mad cme to th window.
‘Can I help you?’ ‘I would like to see Mr Eccles.’ The woman’s air of severity redoubled.
‘Have you an appointment?’ ‘I’m afraid not. I’m just passing through London today.’ ‘I’m afraid Mr Eccles is rather busy this morning. Perhap another member of the firm ‘ ‘It was Mr Facies I particularly wanted to see. I have alread) had some correspondence with him.’ ‘Oh I see. Perhaps you’ll give me your name.’ Tommy gave his name and address and the blonde woman retired to confer with the telephone on her desk. After a murmured conversation she returned.
‘The clerk will show you into the waiting-room. Mr Eccles will be able to see you in about ten minutes’ time.’
Tommy was ushered into a waiting-room which had a bookcase of rather ancient and ponderous-looking law tomes and a round table covered with various fmancial papers.
Tommy sat there and went over in his own mind his planned methods of approach. He wondered what Mr Eccles would be like. When he was shown in at last and Mr Eccles rose from a desk to receive him, he decided for no particular reason that he could name to himself that he did not like Mr Eccles. He also wondered why he did not like Mr Eccles. There seemed no valid reason for dislike. Mr Eccles was a man of between forty and fifty with greyish hair thinning a little at the temples. He had a long rather sad-looking face with a particularly wooden expression, shrewd eyes, and quite a pleasant smile which from time to time rather unexpectedly broke up the natural melancholy of his countenance.
‘Mr Beresford?’
‘Yes. It is really rather a trifling matter, but my wife has been worried about it. She wrote to you, I believe, or possibly she may have rung you up, to know if you could give her the address of a Mrs Lancaster.’
‘Mrs Lancaster,’ said Mr Eccles, retaining a perfect poker face. It was not even a question. He just left the name hanging in the air.
‘A cautious man,’ thought Tommy, ‘but then it’s second nature for lawyers to be cautious. In fact, ffthey were one’s own lawyers one would prefer them to be cautious.’
He went on:
‘Until lately living at a place called Sunny Ridge, an establishment – and a very good one – for elderly ladies. In fact, an aunt of my own was there and was extremely happy and comfortable.’
‘Oh yes, of course, of course. I remember now. Mrs Lscaster. She is, I think, no longer living there? That is right is it not?’ ,yes,’ said Tommy.
‘ e ‘At the monent I do not exactly recall – h stretched out the tele hone – ‘I will just refresh my memory ‘ hand towards . p : w,,,m,,. ‘My wife wantec – ‘I cma tell you qutte smapiy, uu J Mrs Lancaster’s address because she happens to be it possession of a piece of property which originally belonged tc Mrs Lancaster. A picture, in fact. It was given by Lancaster as a present to my aunt, Miss Fanshawe. My aun died recently, and her few possessions have come into keeping. This included the picture which was given her by Lancaster. My wife likes it very much but she feels rathel guilty about it. She thinks that it may be a picture Lancaster values and in that case she feels she ought to offer t{ return it to Mrs Lancaster.’ ‘Ah, I see,’ said Mr Eccles. ‘It is very conscientious of yom wife, I am sure.’ ‘One never knows,’ said Tommy, smiling pleasantly, ‘whal elderly people may feel about their possessions. She may haw been glad for my aunt to have it since my aunt admired it, as my aunt died very soon after having received this gift, seems, perhaps, a little unfair that it should pass into th possession of strangers. There is no particular tire on th picture. It represents a house somewhere in the country. For ali I know it may be some family house associated with M Lancaster.’ ‘Quite, quite,’ said Mr Eccles, ‘but I don’t think-‘ There was a knock and the door opened and a clerk enterefl and produced a sheet of paper which he placed before M Eccles. Mr Eccles looked down.