The Mask of Sumi Read Online Free

hotel,” said Mannering.
    â€œI can answer that one,” Bristow said. “It was Smith, at the hotel. He found Toji semi-conscious and asking for ‘Mis’ Mannering’. A slurred Mister can sound like Mrs.”
    â€œHow did he get my flat number?” asked Mannering. “Mannering isn’t an unusual name.”
    â€œToji had it written on a slip of paper. Here it is.” Bristow passed over a sheet of airmail paper which had two telephone numbers on it – Quinns as well as that of the Chelsea flat. “Smith tried the first number and it was engaged. So he tried the other. John, someone has stolen that mask, and it’s in England somewhere. Have you any idea where?”
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Chapter Three
ON BOARD?
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    â€œNo,” Mannering answered. “I’ve no idea where the mask is or who has taken it. I’m not really convinced it was the real one, and I’m not convinced that Toji killed himself.”
    â€œI’m satisfied that he did,” Bristow declared. “If you want to waste time on some cock-eyed theory there’s nothing I can do about it. How much was the mask worth?”
    â€œDidn’t Customs agree a value?”
    â€œIntrinsically, twenty-five thousand pounds,” said Bristow. “But to a collector – twice as much, say?”
    â€œAt least,” Mannering agreed. “Probably nearer a hundred thousand.” He slid his hand inside his pocket, feeling his wallet, thinking of that B.I. label. This was a moment of real decision – whether to make inquiries himself or leave it to the police. If the label had come off a bag belonging to the blonde who had fooled Toji it might be of vital importance. The police might be able to find out and quickly, for the woman called Yates would have left other prints and the police would have photographs of these by now. It might only need a moment’s comparison.
    If the prints on the label were not the blonde’s, no harm would be done. If they were then the police would have to be told at once and there would be little scope for private investigation.
    Bristow’s telephone bell rang.
    â€œExcuse me.” He lifted the receiver. “Yes, sir,” he said, so this was the Assistant Commissioner. “He’s with me now – yes, I’m sure he will.” Bristow rang off, pondered as if not sure of Mannering’s reaction, and then said quietly: “The Assistant Commissioner is worried about international complications over the death of Toji. He wants you to have a word with the Thai Consul. For some odd reason they seem to think highly of you.”
    Mannering smiled, feeling a deep sense of relief.
    â€œWhy don’t you take a leaf out of their book, Bill?”
    â€œI’ll go and get the Consul,” Bristow said.
    He went out, leaving Mannering alone in the office with all the files and the reports on the case.
    Mannering knew Bristow too well to believe that he would be slipshod or careless in any way. This looked almost as if he wanted Mannering to have access to those files. Mannering stretched across the desk, turned the file round, and flipped it open. Below some written notes were photographs of fingerprints, two of them marked female and one male. There were several copies of each. Mannering slipped one print of each into his pocket, as he scanned Bristow’s handwritten notes.
    These were in the form of questions.
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    1. Did Toji have more than the mask with him?
    2. Did M. tell anyone Toji was coming?
    3. If not, how did anyone know enough to make the interception at the airport possible?
    4. Is Mannering keeping anything back?
    5. Total value ( a ) mask ( b ) all jewels?
    6. Where to get history of jewels?
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    Beneath this list was a kind of postscript:
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    M. might have told a collector or some other dealer.
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    Well, he hadn’t.
    As he finished reading Mannering heard footsteps outside, much heavier than Bristow