A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 | A. MERRITT’S FANTASY os Presently she ushered in a well-set-up, alert-looking -man who might~ have been a stockbroker or a shopkeeper—but who actually was a trusted officer of the Spe- cial Branch of the C.I.D. For a few sec- onds the two men gazed at each other in silence. At the conclusion of Gees’ last case, they had agreed to bury a certain hatchet, but their expressions indicated that part of the handle still stuck out. “Come in, Inspector.” “Before I do, Mister Green—”’ the in- spector laid a heavy emphasis on the Mister—“Vd like to be sure that micro- phone of yours is not working. Because I’m speaking unofficially.” ‘““Whatever you say, Inspector,’ Gees assured him blandly, ‘“‘will not be used as evidence against you.” “T wish we had you back in uniform again,” Tott observed, rather wistfully. Gees shook his head. “My fee for an initial consultation is two guineas. I wouldn’t get that in uniform.” “T know what you’d get from me,” Tott replied grimly. “We both know,” Gees assured him. For a few seconds the inspector simply glared. “You remember that Kestwell case?’’ he asked eventually. Gees nodded. ‘You wanted to arrest me.” “Yes—that’s the point,” Tott said. “You got Mr. Briggs to come along and prevent that arrest.” Tott paused. “I _ believe they think a lot of Mr. Briggs at the Foreign Office.” Again Tott paused. Finally, as if the words were torn from him, he blurted: “TI suppose you’ve heard that Mr. Briggs has got engaged to be married ?” “T have, now. From you. Who is the lady? I must ring up Tony and congratu- late him.”’ “It’s because he’s not to be congratu- lated that I’m sitting here,” Tott said slowly. ‘“You’ve heard of Lady Bender- neck; T expect? ~ — “There is also a Buckingham Palace,” Gees observed pensively. “Yes, I thought you had. Well she sponsored this Miss Kefra—Cleo Kefra. Mr. Briggs. met her and—well, lost his head over her. And the engagement was announced day before yesterday.” “The old hag would sponsor anything, at a price,” Gees remarked. “Cleo Kefra. Sounds a bit exotic.” “Ts, I assure you,” Tott said, and made a grim comment. ‘Well, I’ve got a great respect for Mr. Briggs, and I’ve seen the lady,” Tott told him. “I'd hate to see a gentleman like him trapped.” “What is wrong with Miss Kefra?” - Gees asked. Tott shook his head. ‘You'd better see her for yourself,” he answered. “Mr. Briggs is a friend of yours, I know. There’s nothing wrong with her—noth- ing that I can put a finger on, but—”’ “Inspector, Briggs is pretty level- headed, and I don’t see any possibility of interfering, even if I felt like it.” “Well, I’ve got it off my chest,” Tott said, and stood up. Gees delayed him with a gesture. “Who is Cleo Kefra? The name isn’t English, for a_start.”’ 66Q‘HE looks Eastern to me,” Tott said. ““She’s got a passport issued by the British consulate in Alexandria describ- ing her as a British subject aged twenty- three, and apparently she’s very wealthy. No relatives, as far as I can gather. Came to this country five months ago, and she’s leased Barnby-under Hedlington Grange, furnished—that’s in the Cotswolds. Also runs a swagger flat in Gravenor Man- sions.” “It sounds as if Mr. Briggs is to be congratulated,’’ Gees remarked. “The flat is number thirteen,” Tott added. “My grandmother died of pneumonia,” Gees said. “What’s that got to do with it?” Tott almost barked. “As much as the number of the flat, I think,’ Gees told him. “Don’t get peeved. I appreciate your interest, and I shall certainly make a point of seeing the lady as soon as I can. But what is your grievance against Miss Kefra?” Tott shook his head. “I can’t pin it down,” he answered. “He turned toward the door. “Thank you for: listening to me,” he added. ‘It’s not—as I said—a matter over which I can do anything.” “Thank you for talking,” Gees said. “T’m glad you feel like that about Mr. Briggs, Inspector, though I don’t see—”’ comicbooks.com