Rollison to go to see him. Something about Keller obviously worried Bill.
An hour and a half later, a knock at the door of Whiting’s house heralded the arrival of three men from the gymnasium. Rollison spoke to them, to make sure that they were genuine ‘club’ members, gave instructions and left the house with Kemp.
In the street, Kemp asked gruffly:
“Who are those fellows, Rollison?”
“Good friends of mine and they will be friends of yours if you show them what you can do with your fists,” said Rollison. By the time he had finished explaining, they were back at the church hall.
As they attempted to tidy up the small room which Kemp used, Rollison spoke thoughtfully.
“I should have fixed a bodyguard for you, too.”
“Don’t worry about me,” said Kemp. “You’ve taken a load off my mind and I don’t know how to say thanks. I can look after myself but when it comes to other people being victimised—” he broke off, and smiled. “You certainly know your way about!”
Rollison was on the point of leaving when a taxi drew up outside and Jolly arrived.
He had little information. No word of the trouble at the hall had yet reached Freddie Day or others whom Jolly had seen but the hostility towards Kemp was already well known. Not until they were in the taxi, the driver of which was still in a good humour, did Jolly confide that the majority were taking a neutral attitude. Kemp had not yet made a very good impression among his parishioners.
“He will,” said Rollison, confidently.
He told Jolly what had happened before they reached the flat. Rollison paid the driver off, adding a pound to the fare and walked upstairs with the man’s gusty thanks ringing in his ears.
Jolly had gone ahead.
Afterwards, Rollison knew that he should have been prepared for some such development, although he had not thought of the possibility of a visit to the flat so early. As it was, he stepped inside the little hall and saw Jolly standing motionless with his back towards him, just inside the drawing-room.
“What—” he began.
“That’s enough from you, Rollison,” said a voice from behind him.
Rollison forced himself not to turn too hastily but his heart began to thump. The voice was that of the thick-set man whom he had seen at the back of Whiting’s house. He caught a glimpse of the owner of the educated voice, standing in front of Jolly. He got the impression that Jolly was being held up at the point of a gun, as he turned to look into the curiously docile looking brown eyes of the man with the growling voice.
CHAPTER FIVE
Once he had recovered from the surprise, Rollison smiled into the man’s face.
“Harry Keller, I presume,” he said.
“I’m Keller, yes,” answered the thick-set man. “When are you going to stop nosing into other people’s business?”
“It’s a congenital failing, I’m afraid,” said Rollison, sadly, “I can’t help myself.”
“You’ll help yourself this time,” said Keller.
His assurance in itself was puzzling. If the visitors had planned an attack it would probably have been made when Rollison had walked unsuspectingly into the hall. It appeared more likely that Keller had come to reason with him and that was puzzling.
“What makes you think so?” he inquired politely.
“We don’t want that big parson around and we don’t intend to let him stay, Toff or no Toff. Nothing you can do will make any difference but if you don’t lay off, you will get hurt.”
“Oh, dear,” said Rollison, blankly.
“I mean
“Where do you think that is?” asked Rollison.
“In the West End with all your fancy tarts and your wealthy friends,” said Keller. “This isn’t a game for you, Rollison. You might get your hands dirty.” Rollison watched his mobile features, seeing the way his lips curled and his eyebrows rose. Keller was an impressive personality, it would be folly to underestimate him. “You stay in Mayfair, Rollison, and if you must stick your nose into things that don’t concern you, there’s plenty of cleaning up to be done in your own back yard. But you wouldn’t try that, would you? You might find your precious friends are mixed up in it.”
“In what?” asked Rollison, obtusely.
“You know what,” rasped Keller. “I’m telling you to stick around your own back yard and not meddle in mine.”
“A whole world, all of your own?” asked Rollison.
“If you won’t take a warning, don’t blame me for anything that happens. I don’t want to interfere with you. You let me alone, I’ll let you alone.”
“Now who could say fairer than that?” asked Rollison, lightly. “What would you say if a policeman were to walk into the flat this minute?” He studied the man curiously and thought he had him guessing. “I don’t suggest that it’s
