The Chestermarke Instinct

aused in whatever task he was busied with, if Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke had crossed his path for the first time. The senior partner of Chestermarke's Bank was a noticeable

of doors, invariably rested the latest-styled and glossiest of silk hats-no man had ever seen Gabriel Chestermarke in any other form of head-gear, unless it was in a railway carriage, there he condescended to assume a checked cap. Underneath the brim of the silk hat looked out a countenance as remarkable as the head of which it was a part. A broad, smooth forehead, a pair of large, deep-set eyes, the pupils of which were black as sloes, a prominent, slightly hooked nose, a firm, thin-lipped

e never taken aback and never show surprise, and as his eyes ran over the three young men, there was no si

el

ouse door. "Mr. Horbury is not at ho

ll to a side-door sacred to the partners. He produced a key, opened the door, and motioned the clerks t

ea

er of the bank in a bygone age. He was suddenly struck by the curious resemblance between that dead Chestermarke and t

r. Horbury?

fashion, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on his informant

emarked, "he would have wired or telephoned by this. Telephoned, of course: there

At ten o'clock the street door was opened. A customer or two began to drop in. The business of the day had begun. It went on just as i

eed suit, a slouch hat, a flannel shirt. His brown beard usually needed trimming; he affected loose, flowing neckties, more suited to an artist than to a banker. His face was amiable in expression, a little weak, a little speculative. All these characteristics came out most strongly when he and his uncle were seen in company: nothing could be more in

vate parlour. Several minutes elapsed: then a bell rang. Neale answered it, and Shirley and Patten gl

ard over his desk to Shirley, who stood bet

rley. "Did you see his eyes when Neale said that Horbury wa

eady seething with boyish desire of ex

at the closed door throug

abriel'll want to know the whys and wherefores, you bet. Bu

s desk, stern, upright, his eyes burning a little more fiercely than usual: the junior, his slouch hat s

ke. "What do you know about this? Hav

ed Neale. "No

manded Gabriel. "You often see

lock on Saturday," replied Neal

that he was thinking of going awa

replie

oked at him as if he thought that something was being kept back. And Gabriel, after

eeper to step in here for

ate door, and presently re

ed his chair back and sat idly swaying in it while he watched her and his uncle. But Gabriel, waving Mrs. Carswel

and evening, Mrs. Carswell," he said. "This is a most extraordinary business

Neale. The two partners listened; Gabriel keenly attent

y well-thank you, Mrs. Carswell. Neale," he added, when the housekeeper had go

" respon

ring me or Mr. Joseph Chestermarke unless you're obliged to. Of co

to get his dinner. Nor had anything been seen or heard at one o'clock, when Patten came back, and it became Shirley and Neale's turn to go out. And thereupon arose a diffi

irley. "I'll wait. Perhaps

d hostelry from time immemorial-but now they remained within their parlour, apparently interned from their usual business world. And Neale had a very good idea of what they were doing. The bank's strong room was

ich was loaded with papers and documents; Joseph leaned against a sideboard, whereon was a decanter of sherry and a box of biscuits; he had a glass of wine in one hand, and a half-nibbl

No? Take a glass of wine and eat a biscuit-we shal

d, too full of vague fears, to think of his midday dinner. He took the glass which Joseph handed

speak confidentially. There's something wrong-seriously wro

e set down his glass, and he looked helplessly from one partner to another. Joseph merely shook his head, and

d. "But there's the fact-on a superficial examinati

rmarke!" exclaimed Neale. "Sure

of biscuit off his bea

s-what's best to do? Because-he'd have laid his

worst of it. Everything points to premeditati

e glanced into the room with an obvious desire to see what was goi

sir," he announce

dent surprise; then Gabriel moved to the doo

ship come in?"

try-squire type of man, came into the r

me, but of course you'll do just as well. The Countess and I only got back from abro

ing forward a chair, took his hand

ls!" he said. "Does

ago-when we went abroad," replied Lord Ellersdean

is head-and Neale, glancing from one partner to the