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diff --git a/old/15323-8.txt b/old/15323-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b52af21..0000000 --- a/old/15323-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9775 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Eyes of Bâst, by Sax Rohmer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Green Eyes of Bâst - -Author: Sax Rohmer - -Release Date: March 11, 2005 [EBook #15323] -[Date last updated: October 9, 2005] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN EYES OF BÂST *** - - - - -Produced by Alicia Williams, Bethanne M. Simms-Troester and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team - - - - - - - - - -THE GREEN EYES -OF BÂST - -BY SAX ROHMER - -AUTHOR OF - -"_The Golden Scorpion_," "_Dope_," "_The Hand of Fu-Manchu_," -"_The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu_," "_The Return of Fu-Manchu_," -"_Tales of Secret Egypt_," "_The Yellow Claw_," -"_The Quest of the Sacred Slipper_," _etc._ - - -A.L. BURT COMPANY -Publishers New York - -Published by arrangement with Robert M. McBride & Co. -Copyright, 1920, by - -ROBERT M. MCBRIDE & Co. - - * * * * * - -_Printed in the -United States of America_ - - - - -CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER PAGE - - I. I SEE THE EYES 1 - II. THE SIGN OF THE CAT 12 - III. THE GREEN IMAGE 22 - IV. ISOBEL 32 - V. THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER 41 - VI. THE VOICE 52 - VII. THE CAT OF BUBASTIS 63 - VIII. MY VISITOR 73 - IX. THE VELVET CURTAIN 84 - X. "HANGING EVIDENCE" 95 - XI. THE SCARRED MAN 105 - XII. I DREAM OF GREEN EYES 117 - XIII. DR. DAMAR GREEFE 125 - XIV. THE BLACK DOCTOR 135 - XV. I RECEIVE VISITORS 147 - XVI. THE GOLDEN CAT 158 - XVII. THE NUBIAN MUTE 169 - XVIII. THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK 177 - XIX. THE MAN ON THE TOWER 187 - XX. GATTON'S STORY 198 - XXI. IN LONDON AGAIN 212 - XXII. THE GRAY MIST 225 - XXIII. THE INEVITABLE 240 - XXIV. A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED 251 - XXV. STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D. 263 - XXVI. STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED) 273 - XXVII. STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED) 285 -XXVIII. THE CLAWS OF THE CAT 300 - XXIX. AN AFTERWORD 309 - - - -THE GREEN EYES OF BÂST - - - - -CHAPTER I - -I SEE THE EYES - - -"Good evening, sir. A bit gusty?" - -"Very much so, sergeant," I replied. "I think I will step into your -hut for a moment and light my pipe if I may." - -"Certainly, sir. Matches are too scarce nowadays to take risks with -'em. But it looks as if the storm had blown over." - -"I'm not sorry," said I, entering the little hut like a sentry-box -which stands at the entrance to this old village high street for -accommodation of the officer on point duty at that spot. "I have a -longish walk before me." - -"Yes. Your place is right off the beat, isn't it?" mused my -acquaintance, as sheltered from the keen wind I began to load my -briar. "Very inconvenient I've always thought it for a gentleman who -gets about as much as you do." - -"That's why I like it," I explained. "If I lived anywhere accessible I -should never get a moment's peace, you see. At the same time I have to -be within an hour's journey of Fleet Street." - -I often stopped for a chat at this point and I was acquainted with -most of the men of P. division on whom the duty devolved from time to -time. It was a lonely spot at night when the residents in the -neighborhood had retired, so that the darkened houses seemed to -withdraw yet farther into the gardens separating them from the -highroad. A relic of the days when trains and motor-buses were not, -dusk restored something of an old-world atmosphere to the village -street, disguising the red brick and stucco which in many cases had -displaced the half-timbered houses of the past. Yet it was possible in -still weather to hear the muted bombilation of the sleepless city and -when the wind was in the north to count the hammer-strokes of the -great bell of St. Paul's. - -Standing in the shelter of the little hut, I listened to the rain -dripping from over-reaching branches and to the gurgling of a turgid -little stream which flowed along the gutter near my feet whilst now -and again swift gusts of the expiring tempest would set tossing the -branches of the trees which lined the way. - -"It's much cooler to-night," said the sergeant. - -I nodded, being in the act of lighting my pipe. The storm had -interrupted a spell of that tropical weather which sometimes in July -and August brings the breath of Africa to London, and this coolness -resulting from the storm was very welcome. Then: - -"Well, good night," I said, and was about to pursue my way when the -telephone bell in the police-hut rang sharply. - -"Hullo," called the sergeant. - -I paused, idly curious concerning the message, and: - -"The Red House," continued the sergeant, "in College Road? Yes, I know -it. It's on Bolton's beat, and he is due here now. Very good; I'll -tell him." - -He hung up the receiver and, turning to me, smiled and nodded his head -resignedly. - -"The police get some funny jobs, sir," he confided. "Only last night a -gentleman rang up the station and asked them to tell me to stop a -short, stout lady with yellow hair and a big blue hat (that was the -only description) as she passed this point and to inform her that her -husband had had to go out but that he had left the door-key just -inside the dog-kennel!" - -He laughed good-humoredly. - -"Now to-night," he resumed, "here's somebody just rung up to say that -he thinks, only _thinks_, mind you, that he has forgotten to lock his -garage and will the constable on that beat see if the keys have been -left behind. If so, will he lock the door from the inside, go out -through the back, lock that door and leave the keys at the station on -coming off duty!" - -"Yes," I said. "There are some absent-minded people in the world. But -do you mean the Red House in College Road?" - -"That's it," replied the sergeant, stepping out of the hut and looking -intently to the left. - -"Ah, here comes Bolton." - -He referred to a stolid, red-faced constable who at that moment came -plodding across the muddy road, and: - -"A job for you, Bolton," he cried. "Listen. You know the Red House in -College Road?" - -Bolton removed his helmet and scratched his closely-cropped head. - -"Let me see," he mused; "it's on the right--" - -"No, no," I interrupted. "It is a house about half-way down on the -left; very secluded, with a high brick wall in front." - -"Oh! You mean the _empty_ house?" inquired the constable. - -"Just what I was about to remark, sergeant," said I, turning to my -acquaintance. "To the best of my knowledge the Red House has been -vacant for twelve months or more." - -"Has it?" exclaimed the sergeant. "That's funny. Still, it's none of -my business; besides it may have been let within the last few days. -Anyway, listen, Bolton. You are to see if the garage is unlocked. If -it is and the keys are there, go in and lock the door behind you. -There's another door at the other end; go out and lock that too. Leave -the keys at the depôt when you go off. Got that fixed?" - -"Yes," replied Bolton, and he stood helmet in hand, half inaudibly -muttering the sergeant's instructions, evidently with the idea of -impressing them upon his memory. - -"I have to pass the Red House, constable," I interrupted, "and as you -seem doubtful respecting its whereabouts, I will point the place out -to you." - -"Thank you, sir," said Bolton, replacing his helmet and ceasing to -mutter. - -"Once more--good night, sergeant," I cried, and met by a keen gust of -wind which came sweeping down the village street, showering cascades -of water from the leaves above, I set out in step with my stolid -companion. - -It is supposed poetically that unusual events cast their shadows -before them, and I am prepared to maintain the correctness of such a -belief. But unless the silence of the constable who walked beside me -was due to the unseen presence of such a shadow, and not to a habitual -taciturnity, there was nothing in that march through the deserted -streets calculated to arouse me to the fact that I was entering upon -the first phase of an experience more strange and infinitely more -horrible than any of which I had ever known or even read. - -The shadow had not yet reached me. - -We talked little enough on the way, for the breeze when it came was -keen and troublesome, so that I was often engaged in clutching my hat. -Except for a dejected-looking object, obviously a member of the tramp -fraternity, who passed us near the gate of the old chapel, we met -never a soul from the time that we left the police-box until the -moment when the high brick wall guarding the Red House came into view -beyond a line of glistening wet hedgerow. - -"This is the house, constable," I said. "The garage is beyond the main -entrance." - -We proceeded as far as the closed gates, whereupon: - -"There you are, sir," said Bolton triumphantly. "I told you it was -empty." - -An estate agent's bill faced us, setting forth the desirable features -of the residence, the number of bedrooms and reception rooms, modern -conveniences, garage, etc., together with the extent of the garden, -lawn and orchard. - -A faint creaking sound drew my glance upward, and stepping back a pace -I stared at a hatchet-board projecting above the wall which bore two -duplicates of the bill posted upon the gate. - -"That seems to confirm it," I declared, peering through the trees in -the direction of the house. "The place has all the appearance of being -deserted." - -"There's some mistake," muttered Bolton. - -"Then the mistake is not ours," I replied. "See, the bills are headed -'To be let or sold. The Red House, etc.'" - -"H'm," growled Bolton. "It's a funny go, this is. Suppose we have a -look at the garage." - -We walked along together to where, set back in a recess, I had often -observed the doors of a garage evidently added to the building by some -recent occupier. Dangling from a key placed in the lock was a ring to -which another key was attached! - -"Well, I'm blowed," said Bolton, "this _is_ a funny go, this is." - -He unlocked the door and swept the interior of the place with a ray of -light cast by his lantern. There were one or two petrol cans and some -odd lumber suggesting that the garage had been recently used, but no -car, and indeed nothing of sufficient value to have interested even -such a derelict as the man whom we had passed some ten minutes before. -That is if I except a large and stoutly-made packing-case which -rested only a foot or so from the entrance so as partly to block it, -and which from its appearance might possibly have contained spare -parts. I noticed, with vague curiosity, a device crudely representing -a seated cat which was painted in green upon the case. - -"If there ever was anything here," said Bolton, "it's been pinched and -we're locking the stable door after the horse has gone. You'll bear me -out, sir, if there's any complaint?" - -"Certainly," I replied. "Technically I shall be trespassing if I come -in with you, so I shall say good night." - -"Good night, sir," cried the constable, and entering the empty garage, -he closed the door behind him. - -I set off briskly alone towards the cottage which I had made my home. -I have since thought that the motives which had induced me to choose -this secluded residence were of a peculiarly selfish order. Whilst I -liked sometimes to be among my fellowmen and whilst I rarely missed an -important first night in London, my inherent weakness for obscure -studies and another motive to which I may refer later had caused me to -abandon my chambers in the Temple and to retire with my library to -this odd little backwater where my only link with Fleet Street, with -the land of theaters and clubs and noise and glitter, was the -telephone. I scarcely need add that I had sufficient private means to -enable me to indulge these whims, otherwise as a working journalist I -must have been content to remain nearer to the heart of things. As it -was I followed the careless existence of the independent free-lance, -and since my work was accounted above the average I was enabled to -pick and choose the subjects with which I should deal. Mine was not an -ambitious nature--or it may have been that stimulus was lacking--and -all I wrote I wrote for the mere joy of writing, whilst my studies, of -which I shall have occasion to speak presently, were not of a nature -calculated to swell my coffers in this commercial-minded age. - -Little did I know how abruptly this chosen calm of my life was to be -broken nor how these same studies were to be turned in a new and -strange direction. But if on this night which was to witness the -overture of a horrible drama, I had not hitherto experienced any -premonition of the coming of those dark forces which were to change -the whole tenor of my existence, suddenly, now, in sight of the elm -tree which stood before my cottage the _shadow_ reached me. - -Only thus can I describe a feeling otherwise unaccountable which -prompted me to check my steps and to listen. A gust of wind had just -died away, leaving the night silent save for the dripping of rain from -the leaves and the vague and remote roar of the town. Once, faintly, I -thought I detected the howling of a dog. I had heard nothing in the -nature of following footsteps, yet, turning swiftly, I did not doubt -that I should detect the presence of a follower of some kind. This -conviction seized me suddenly and, as I have said, unaccountably. Nor -was I wrong in my surmise. - -Fifty yards behind me a vaguely defined figure showed for an instant -outlined against the light of a distant lamp--ere melting into the -dense shadow cast by a clump of trees near the roadside. - -Standing quite still, I stared in the direction of the patch of shadow -for several moments. It may be said that there was nothing to occasion -alarm or even curiosity in the appearance of a stray pedestrian at -that hour; for it was little after midnight. Indeed thus I argued with -myself, whereby I admit that at sight of that figure I had experienced -a sensation which was compounded not only of alarm and curiosity but -also of some other emotion which even now I find it hard to define. -Instantly I knew that the lithe shape, glimpsed but instantaneously, -was that of no chance pedestrian--was indeed that of no ordinary -being. At the same moment I heard again, unmistakably, the howling of -a dog. - -Having said so much, why should I not admit that, turning again very -quickly, I hurried on to the gate of my cottage and heaved a great -sigh of relief when I heard the reassuring bang of the door as I -closed it behind me? Coates, my batman, had turned in, having placed a -cold repast upon the table in the little dining-room; but although I -required nothing to eat I partook of a stiff whisky and soda, idly -glancing at two or three letters which lay upon the table. - -They proved to contain nothing of very great importance, and having -smoked a final cigarette, I turned out the light in the dining-room -and walked into the bedroom--for the cottage was of bungalow -pattern--and, crossing the darkened room, stood looking out of the -window. - -It commanded a view of a little kitchen-garden and beyond of a high -hedge, with glimpses of sentinel trees lining the main road. The wind -had dropped entirely, but clouds were racing across the sky at a -tremendous speed so that the nearly full moon alternately appeared and -disappeared, producing an ever-changing effect of light and shadow. At -one moment a moon-bathed prospect stretched before me as far as the -eye could reach, in the next I might have been looking into a cavern -as some angry cloud swept across the face of the moon to plunge the -scene into utter darkness. - -And it was during such a dark spell and at the very moment that I -turned aside to light the lamp that I saw _the eyes_. - -From a spot ten yards removed, low down under the hedges bordering the -garden, they looked up at me--those great, glittering cat's eyes, so -that I stifled an exclamation, drawing back instinctively from the -window. A tiger, I thought, or some kindred wild beast, must have -escaped from captivity. And so rapidly does the mind work at such -times that instinctively I had reviewed the several sporting pieces in -my possession and had selected a rifle which had proved serviceable in -India ere I had taken one step towards the door. - -Before that step could be taken the light of the moon again flooded -the garden; and although there was no opening in the hedge by which -even a small animal could have retired, no living thing was in sight! -But, near and remote, dogs were howling mournfully. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE SIGN OF THE CAT - - -When Coates brought in my tea, newspapers and letters in the morning, -I awakened with a start, and: - -"Has there been any rain during the night, Coates?" I asked. - -Coates, whose unruffled calm at all times provided an excellent -sedative, replied: - -"Not since a little before midnight, sir." - -"Ah!" said I, "and have you been in the garden this morning, Coates?" - -"Yes, sir," he replied, "for raspberries for breakfast, sir." - -"But not on this side of the cottage?" - -"Not on this side." - -"Then will you step out, Coates, keeping carefully to the paths, and -proceed as far as the tool-shed? Particularly note if the beds have -been disturbed between the hedge and the path, but don't make any -marks yourself. You are looking for _spoor_, you understand?" - -"Spoor? Very good, sir. Of big game?" - -"Of big game, yes, Coates." - -Unmoved by the strangeness of his instructions, Coates, an -object-lesson for those who decry the excellence of British Army -disciplinary methods, departed. - -It was with not a little curiosity and interest that I awaited his -report. As I sat sipping my tea I could hear his regular tread as he -passed along the garden path outside the window. Then it ceased and -was followed by a vague muttering. He had found something. All traces -of the storm had disappeared and there was every indication of a -renewal of the heat-wave; but I knew that the wet soil would have -preserved a perfect impression of any imprint made upon it on the -previous night. Nevertheless, with the early morning sun streaming -into my window out of a sky as near to turquoise as I had ever seen it -in England, I found it impossible to recapture that uncanny thrill -which had come to me in the dark hours when out of the shadows under -the hedge the great cat's eyes had looked up at me. - -And now, becoming more fully awake, I remembered something else which -hitherto I had not associated with the latter phenomenon. I remembered -that lithe and evasive pursuing shape which I had detected behind me -on the road. Even now, however, it was difficult to associate one with -the other; for whereas the dimly-seen figure had resembled that of a -man (or, more closely, that of a woman) the eyes had looked out upon -me from a point low down near the ground, like those of some crouching -feline. - -Coates' footsteps sounded again upon the path and I heard him walking -round the cottage and through the kitchen. Finally he reëntered the -bedroom and stood just within the doorway in that attitude of -attention which was part and parcel of the man. His appearance would -doubtless have violated the proprieties of the Albany, for in my rural -retreat he was called upon to perform other and more important -services than those of a valet. His neatly shaved chin, stolid red -countenance and perfectly brushed hair were unexceptionable of course, -but because his duties would presently take him into the garden he -wore, not the regulation black, but an ancient shooting-jacket, khaki -breeches and brown gaiters, looking every inch of him the old soldier -that he was. - -"Well, Coates?" said I. - -He cleared his throat. - -"There are footprints in the radish-beds, sir," he reported. - -"Footprints?" - -"Yes, sir. Very deep. As though some one had jumped over the hedge and -landed there." - -"Jumped over the hedge!" I exclaimed. "That would be a considerable -jump, Coates, from the road." - -"It would, sir. Maybe she scrambled up." - -"She?" - -Coates cleared his throat again. - -"There are three sets of prints in all. First a very deep one where -the party had landed, then another broken up like, where she had -turned round, and the third set with the heel-marks very deep where -she had sprung back over the hedge." - -_"She?"_ I shouted. - -"The prints, sir," resumed Coates, unmoved, "are those of a lady's -high-heeled shoes." - -I sat bolt upright in bed, staring at the man and scarcely able to -credit my senses. Words failed me. Whereupon: - -"Will you have tea or coffee for breakfast?" inquired Coates. - -"Tea or coffee be damned, Coates!" I cried. "I'm going out to look at -those footprints! If you had seen what I saw last night, even your old -mahogany countenance would relax for once, I assure you." - -"Indeed, sir," said Coates; "did you see the lady, then?" - -"Lady!" I exclaimed, tumbling out of bed. "If the eyes that looked at -me last night belonged to a 'lady' either I am mad or the 'lady' is of -another world." - -I pulled on a bath-robe and hurried out into the garden, Coates -showing me the spot where he had found the mysterious foot-prints. A -very brief examination sufficed to convince me that his account had -been correct. Some one wearing high-heeled shoes clearly enough had -stood there at some time whilst the soil was quite wet; and as no -track led to or from the marks, Coates' conclusion that the person who -had made them must have come over the hedge was the only feasible one. -I turned to him in amazement, but recognizing in time the wildly -fantastic nature of the sight which I had seen in the night, I -refrained from speaking of the blazing eyes and made my way to the -bathroom wondering if some chance reflection might not have deceived -me and the presence of a woman's footmarks at the same spot be no -more than a singular coincidence. Even so the mystery of their -presence there remained unexplained. - -My thoughts were diverted from a trend of profitless conjecture when -shortly after breakfast time my 'phone bell rang. It was the editor of -the _Planet_, to whom I had been indebted for a number of special -commissions--including my fascinating quest of the Giant Gnu, which, -generally supposed to be extinct, was reported by certain natives and -others to survive in a remote corner of the Dark Continent. - -Readers of the _Planet_ will remember that although I failed to -discover the Gnu I came upon a number of notable things on my journey -through the almost unexplored country about the head-waters of the -Niger. - -"A most extraordinary case has cropped up," he said, "quite in your -line, I think, Addison. Evidently a murder, and the circumstances seem -to be most dramatic and unusual. I should be glad if you would take it -up." - -I inquired without much enthusiasm for details. Criminology was one of -my hobbies, and in several instances I had traced cases of alleged -haunting and other supposedly supernatural happenings to a criminal -source; but the ordinary sordid murder did not interest me. - -"The body of Sir Marcus Coverly has been found in a crate!" explained -my friend. "The crate was being lowered into the hold of the S.S. -_Oritoga_ at the West India Docks. It had been delivered by a -conveyance specially hired for the purpose apparently, as the -_Oritoga_ is due to sail in an hour. There are all sorts of curious -details but these you can learn for yourself. Don't trouble to call at -the office; proceed straight to the dock." - -"Right!" I said shortly. "I'll start immediately." - -And this sudden decision had been brought about by the mention of the -victim's name. Indeed, as I replaced the receiver on the hook I -observed that my hand was shaking and I have little doubt that I had -grown pale. - -In the first place, then, let me confess that my retirement to the odd -little retreat which at this time was my home, and my absorption in -the obscure studies to which I have referred were not so much due to -any natural liking for the life of a recluse as to the shattering of -certain matrimonial designs. I had learned of the wreck of my hopes -upon reading a press paragraph which announced the engagement of -Isobel Merlin to Eric Coverly. And it was as much to conceal my -disappointment from the world as for any better reason that I had -slunk into retirement; for if I am slow to come to a decision in such -a matter, once come to, it is of no light moment. - -Yet although I had breathed no word of my lost dreams to Isobel but -had congratulated her with the rest, often and bitterly I had cursed -myself for a sluggard. Too late I had learned that she had but awaited -a word from me; and I had gone off to Mesopotamia, leaving that word -unspoken. During my absence Coverly had won the prize which I had -thrown away. He was heir to the title, for his cousin, Sir Marcus, -was unmarried. Now here, a bolt from the blue, came the news of his -cousin's death! - -It can well be imagined with what intense excitement I hurried to the -docks. All other plans abandoned, Coates, arrayed in his neat blue -uniform, ran the Rover round from the garage, and ere long we were -jolting along the hideously uneven Commercial Road, East, dodging -traction-engines drawing strings of lorries, and continually meeting -delay in the form of those breakdowns which are of hourly occurrence -in this congested but rugged highway. - -In the West India Dock Road the way became slightly more open, but -when at last I alighted and entered the dock gates I recognized that -every newspaper and news agency in the kingdom was apparently -represented. Jones, of the _Gleaner_, was coming out as I went in, -and: - -"Hello, Addison!" he cried, "this is quite in your line! It's as mad -as 'Alice in Wonderland.'" - -I did not delay, however, but hurried on in the direction of a dock -building, at the door of which was gathered a heterogeneous group -comprising newspaper men, dock officials, police and others who were -unclassifiable. Half a dozen acquaintances greeted me as I came up, -and I saw that the door was closed and that a constable stood on duty -before it. - -"I call it damned impudence, Addison!" exclaimed one pressman. "The -dock people are refusing everybody information until Inspector -Somebody-or-Other arrives from New Scotland Yard. I should think he -has stopped on the way to get his lunch." - -The speaker glanced impatiently at his watch and I went to speak to -the man on duty. - -"You have orders to admit no one, constable?" I asked. - -"That's so, sir," he replied. "We're waiting for Detective-Inspector -Gatton, who has been put in charge of the case." - -"Ah! Gatton," I muttered, and, stepping aside from the expectant -group, I filled and lighted my pipe, convinced that anything to be -learned I should learn from Inspector Gatton, for he and I were old -friends, having been mutually concerned in several interesting cases. - -A few minutes later the Inspector arrived--a thick-set, clean-shaven, -very bronzed man, his dark hair streaked with gray, and with all the -appearance of a retired naval officer, in his well-cut blue serge suit -and soft felt hat; a very reserved man whose innocent-looking blue -eyes gave him that frank and open expression which is more often -associated with a seaman than with a detective. He nodded to several -acquaintances in the group, and then, observing me where I stood, came -over and shook hands. - -"Open the door, constable," he ordered quietly. - -The constable produced a key and unlocked the door of the small stone -building. Immediately there was a forward movement of the whole -waiting group, but: - -"If you please, gentlemen," said Gatton, raising his hand. "I must -make my examination first; and Mr. Addison," he added, seeing the -resentment written upon the faces of my disappointed confrères, "has -special information which I am going to ask him to place at my -disposal." - -The constable stood aside and I followed Inspector Gatton into the -stone shed. - -"Lock the door again, constable," he ordered; "no one is to be -admitted." - -Thereupon I looked about me, and the scene which I beheld was so -strange and gruesome that its every detail remains imprinted upon my -memory. - -The building then was lighted by four barred windows set so high in -the walls that no one could look in from the outside. Blazing sunlight -poured in at the two southerly windows and drew a sharp black pattern -of the bars across the paved floor. Kneeling beside a stretcher, fully -in this path of light, so that he presented a curious striped -appearance, was a man who presently proved to be the divisional -surgeon, and two paces beyond stood a police inspector who was engaged -at the moment of our entrance in making entries in his note-book. - -On the stretcher, so covered up that only his face was visible, lay -one whom at first I failed to recognize, for the horribly contorted -features presented a kind of mottled green appearance utterly -indescribable. - -Stifling an exclamation of horror, I stared and stared at that ghastly -face, then: - -"My God!" I muttered. "Yes! it _is_ Sir Marcus!" - -The surgeon stood up and the inspector advanced to meet Gatton, but my -horrified gaze had strayed from the stretcher to a badly damaged and -splintered packing-case, which was the only other object in the -otherwise empty shed. At this I stared as much aghast as I had stared -at the dead man. - -The iron bands were broken and twisted and the whole of one side lay -in fragments on the floor; but upon a board which had formed part of -the top I perceived the figure of a cat roughly traced in green paint. - -Beyond any shadow of doubt this crate was the same which on the night -before had lain in the garage of the Red House! - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE GREEN IMAGE - - -"Yes," said Gatton, "I was speaking no more than the truth when I told -them that you had special information which I hoped you would place at -my disposal. Some of the particulars were given to me over the 'phone, -you see, and I was glad to find you here when I arrived. I should have -consulted you in any event, and principally about--that." - -He pointed to an object which I held in my hand. It was a little green -enamel image; the crouching figure of a woman having a cat's head, a -piece of Egyptian workmanship probably of the fourth century B.C. -Considered in conjunction with the figure painted upon the crate, the -presence of this little image was so amazing a circumstance that from -the moment when it had been placed in my hand I had stood staring at -it almost dazedly. - -The divisional surgeon had gone, and only the local officer remained -with Gatton and myself in the building. Sir Marcus Coverly presented -all the frightful appearance of one who has died by asphyxia, and -although of course there would be an autopsy, little doubt existed -respecting the mode of his death. The marks of violence found upon the -body could be accounted for by the fact that the crate had fallen a -distance of thirty feet into the hold, and the surgeon was convinced -that the injuries to the body had all been received after death, death -having taken place in his opinion fully twelve hours before. - -"You see," said Gatton, "when the crate broke several things which -presumably were in Sir Marcus' pockets were found lying loose amongst -the wreckage. That cat-woman was one of them." - -"Yet it may not have been in any of his pockets at all," said I. - -"It _may_ not," agreed Gatton. "But that it was somewhere in the crate -is beyond dispute, I think. Besides this is more than a coincidence." - -And he pointed to the painted cat upon the lid of the packing-case. I -had already told him of the episode at the Red House on the previous -night, and now: - -"The fates are on our side," I said, "for at least we know where the -crate was despatched from." - -"Quite so," agreed Gatton. "We should have got that from the carter -later, of course, but every minute saved in an affair such as this is -worth considering. As a pressman you will probably disagree with me, -but I propose to suppress these two pieces of evidence. Premature -publication of clews too often handicaps us. Now, what _is_ that -figure exactly?" - -"It is a votive offering of a kind used in Ancient Egypt by pilgrims -to Bubastis. It is a genuine antique, and if you think the history of -such relics is likely to assist the investigation I can give you some -further particulars this evening if you have time to call at my -place." - -"I think," said Gatton, taking the figure from me and looking at it -with a singular expression on his face, "that the history of the thing -is very important. The fact that a rough reproduction of a somewhat -similar figure is painted upon the case cannot possibly be a -coincidence." - -I stared at him silently for a moment, then: - -"You mean that the crate was specially designed to contain the body?" -I asked. - -"I am certainly of that opinion," declared Inspector Heath, the local -officer. "It is of just the right size and shape for the purpose." - -Once more I began to examine the fragments stacked upon the floor, and -then I looked again at the several objects which lay beside the crate. -They were the personal belongings of the dead baronet and the police -had carefully noted in which of his pockets each object had been -found. He was in evening dress and a light top-coat had been packed -into the crate beside him. In this had been found a cigar-case and a -pair of gloves; a wallet containing £20 in Treasury notes and a number -of cards and personal papers had fallen out of the crate together with -the cat statuette. The face of his watch was broken. It had been in -his waistcoat pocket but it still ticked steadily on where it lay -there beside its dead owner. A gold-mounted malacca cane also figured -amongst the relics of the gruesome crime; so that whatever had been -the object of the murderer, that of robbery was out of the question. - -"The next thing to do," said Gatton, "is to trace Sir Marcus's -movements from the time that he left home last night to the time that -he met his death. I am going out now to 'phone to the Yard. We ought -to have succeeded in tracing the carter who brought the crate here -before the evening. I personally shall proceed to Sir Marcus's rooms -and then to this Red House around which it seems to me that the -mystery centers." - -He put the enamel figure into his pocket and taking up the broken -board which bore the painted cat: - -"You are carrying a top-coat," he said. "Hide this under it!" - -He turned to Inspector Heath, nodding shortly. - -"All right," he said, with a grim smile, "go out now and talk to the -crowd!" - -Having issued certain telephonic instructions touching the carter who -had delivered the crate to the docks, and then imparting to the -representatives of the press a guarded statement for publication, -Inspector Gatton succeeded in wedging himself into my little -two-seater and ere long we were lurching and bumping along the -ill-paved East-end streets. - -The late Sir Marcus's London address, which had been unknown to me, we -had learned from his cards, and it was with the keenest anticipation -of a notable discovery that I presently found myself with Gatton -mounting the stairs to the chambers of the murdered baronet. - -At the very moment of our arrival the door was opened and a man--quite -obviously a constable in plain clothes--came out. Behind him I -observed one whom I took to be the late Sir Marcus's servant, a -pathetic and somewhat disheveled figure. - -"Hello, Blythe!" said Gatton, "who instructed you to come here?" - -"Sir Marcus's man--Morris--telephoned the Yard," was the reply, "as he -couldn't understand what had become of his master and I was sent along -to see him." - -"Oh," said Gatton, "very good. Report to me in due course." - -Blythe departed, and Gatton and I entered the hall. The man, Morris, -closed the door, and led us into a small library. Beside the telephone -stood a tray bearing decanter and glasses, and there was evidence that -Morris had partaken of a hurried breakfast consisting only of biscuits -and whisky and soda. - -"I haven't been to bed all night, gentlemen," he began the moment that -we entered the room. "Sir Marcus was a good master and if he was -sleeping away from home he never failed to advise me, so that I knew -even before the dreadful news reached me that something was amiss." - -He was quite unstrung and his voice was unsteady. The reputation of -the late baronet had been one which I personally did not envy him, but -whatever his faults, and I knew they had been many, he had evidently -possessed the redeeming virtue of being a good employer. - -"A couple of hours' sleep would make a new man of you," said Gatton -kindly. "I understand your feelings, but no amount of sorrow can mend -matters, unfortunately. Now, I don't want to worry you, but there are -one or two points which I must ask you to clear up. In the first place -did you ever see this before?" - -From his pocket he took out the little figure of Bâst, the -cat-goddess, and held it up before Morris. - -The man stared at it with lack-luster eyes, scratching his unshaven -chin; then he shook his head slowly. - -"Never," he declared. "No, I am positive I never saw a figure like -that before." - -"Then, secondly," continued Gatton, "was your master ever in Egypt?" - -"Not that I am aware of; certainly not since I have been with him--six -years on the thirty-first of this month." - -"Ah," said Gatton. "Now, when did you last see Sir Marcus?" - -"At half-past six last night, sir. He was dining at his club and then -going to the New Avenue Theater. I booked a seat for him myself." - -"He was going alone, then?" - -"Yes." - -Gatton glanced at me significantly and I experienced an uncomfortable -thrill. In the inspector's glance I had read that he suspected the -presence of a woman in the case and at the mention of the New Avenue -Theater it had instantly occurred to me that Isobel Merlin was -appearing there! Gatton turned again to Morris. - -"Sir Marcus had not led you to suppose that there was any likelihood -of his _not_ returning last night?" - -"No, sir; that was why, knowing his regular custom, I became so -alarmed when he failed to come back or to 'phone." - -Gatton stared hard at the speaker and: - -"It will be no breach of confidence on your part," he said, speaking -slowly and deliberately, "for you to answer my next question. The best -service you can do your late master now will be to help us to -apprehend his murderer." - -He paused a moment, then: - -"Was Sir Marcus interested in some one engaged at the New Avenue -Theater?" he asked. - -Morris glanced from face to face in a pathetic, troubled fashion. He -rubbed the stubble on his chin again and hesitated. Finally: - -"I believe," he replied, "that there was a lady there who--" - -He paused, swallowing, and: - -"Yes," Gatton prompted, "who--?" - -"Who--interested Sir Marcus; but I don't know her name nor anything -about her," he declared. "I knew about--some of the others, but Sir -Marcus was--very reserved about this lady, which made me think--" - -"Yes?" - -"That he perhaps hadn't been so successful." - -Morris ceased speaking and sat staring at a bookcase vacantly. - -"Ah," murmured Gatton. Then, abruptly: "Did Sir Marcus ever visit any -one who lived in College Road?" he demanded. - -Morris looked up wearily. - -"College Road?" he repeated. "Where is that, sir?" - -"It doesn't matter," said Gatton shortly, "if the name is unfamiliar -to you. Had Sir Marcus a car?" - -"Not latterly, sir." - -"Any other servants?" - -"No. As a bachelor he had no use for a large establishment, and -Friars' Park remains in the possession of the late Sir Burnham's -widow." - -"Sir Burnham? Sir Marcus's uncle?" - -"Yes." - -"What living relatives had Sir Marcus?" - -"His aunt--Lady Burnham Coverly--with whom I believe he was on bad -terms. Her own son, who ought to have inherited the title, was dead, -you see. I think she felt bitterly towards my master. The only other -relative I ever heard of was Mr. Eric--Sir Marcus's second cousin--now -_Sir_ Eric, of course." - -I turned aside, glancing at some books which lay scattered on the -table. The wound was a new one and I suppose I was not man enough to -hide the pain which mention of Eric Coverly still occasioned me. - -"Were the cousins good friends?" continued the even, remorseless voice -of the inquisitor. - -Morris looked up quickly. - -"They were not, sir," he answered. "They never had been. But some few -months back a fresh quarrel arose and one night in this very room it -almost came to blows." - -"Indeed? What was the quarrel about?" - -The old hesitancy claimed Morris again, but at last: - -"Of course," he said, with visible embarrassment, "it was--a woman." - -I felt my heart leaping wildly, but I managed to preserve an outward -show of composure. - -"What woman?" demanded Gatton. - -"I don't know, sir." - -"Do you mean it?" - -A fierce note of challenge had come into the quiet voice, but Morris -looked up and met Gatton's searching stare unflinchingly. - -"I swear it," he said. "I never was an eavesdropper." - -"I suggest it was the same woman that Sir Marcus went to see last -night?" Gatton continued. - -The examination of Morris had reached a point at which I found myself -hard put to it to retain even a seeming of composure. All Gatton's -questions had been leading up to this suggestion, as I now perceived -clearly enough; and from the cousins' quarrel to Isobel, Eric's -_fiancée_, who was engaged at the New Avenue Theater, was an -inevitable step. But: - -"Possibly, sir," was Morris's only answer. - -Inspector Gatton stared hard at the man for a moment or so, then: - -"Very well," he said. "Take my advice and turn in. There will be much -for you to do presently, I am afraid. Who was Sir Marcus's solicitor?" - -Morris gave the desired information in a tired, toneless voice, and we -departed. Little did Gatton realize that his words were barbed, when, -as we descended to the street, he said: - -"I have a call to make at Scotland Yard next, after which my first -visit will be to the stage-doorkeeper of the New Avenue Theater." - -"Can I be of further assistance to you at the moment?" I asked, -endeavoring to speak casually. - -"Thanks, no. But I should welcome your company this afternoon at my -examination of the Red House. I understand that it is in your -neighborhood, so perhaps as you are also professionally interested in -the case, you might arrange to meet me there. Are you returning home -now or going to the _Planet_ office?" - -"I think to the office," I replied. "In any event 'phone there making -an appointment and I will meet you at the Red House." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -ISOBEL - - -Ten minutes later I was standing in a charming little boudoir which -too often figured in my daydreams. My own photograph was upon the -mantelpiece, and in Isobel's dark eyes when she greeted me there was a -light which I lacked the courage to try to understand. I had not at -that time learned what I learned later, and have already indicated, -that my own foolish silence had wounded Isobel as deeply as her -subsequent engagement to Eric Coverly had wounded me. - -The psychology of a woman is intriguing in its very naïveté, and now -as she stood before me, slim and graceful in her well-cut walking -costume, a quick flicker of red flaming in her cheeks and her eyes -alight with that sweet tantalizing look in which expectation and a hot -pride were mingled, I wondered and felt sick at heart. Desirable she -was beyond any other woman I had known, and I called myself witling -coward, to have avoided putting my fortune to the test on that fatal -day of my departure for Mesopotamia. For just as she looked at me now -she had looked at me then. But to-day she was evidently on the point -of setting out--I did not doubt with the purpose of meeting Eric -Coverly; on that day of the irrevocable past she had been free and I -had been silent. - -"You nearly missed me, Jack," she said gayly. "I was just going out." - -By the very good-fellowship of her greeting she restored me to myself -and enabled me to stamp down--at least temporarily--the monster -through whose greedy eyes I had found myself considering the happiness -of Eric Coverly. - -"I am afraid, Isobel," I replied, "that what I have to tell you is not -by any means pleasant--although--" - -"Yes?" she prompted, noting how I hesitated. - -"Although it means that you are now the future Lady Coverly." - -The bright color left her cheeks. That some black tragedy underlay my -words she had intuitively perceived, but I could see that she failed -to grasp the whole meaning of my bald statement. She sank down slowly -into a cushioned chair, so that a beam of golden light pouring in -through the opened window set aglowing the russet tints in her dark -brown hair. - -"Did you know Sir Marcus?" I asked, speaking as gently as I could. - -With what intense, if hidden, emotion I awaited her answer it were -impossible to describe. - -"Do you mean--" - -She met my glance, and I nodded gravely. - -"Oh, Jack! When did it happen?" - -"Last night. But you have not told me if you knew him?" I persisted. - -Isobel shook her head. - -"Not in any way--intimately," she replied. "Eric"--she hesitated, -glancing up quickly and as quickly down again--"and he were not on -good terms." - -"But you had met him?" I persisted; for I had detected in her manner a -reluctance to discuss Sir Marcus which I failed to understand. - -"I used to meet him, Jack, when--when you were away. He came once or -twice with Eric. They were not good friends, even then. But I never -liked him. I quite lost sight of him from the time that he came into -the title--about four years ago, was it not?--until quite recently. He -had been in Russia, I think. Then he--" Again she hesitated. It was -odd how often people hesitated, as if seeking for words, when speaking -of the late baronet. "He called at the theater. Considering that he -knew of my engagement to Eric, his manner was not quite nice. But I -was anxious to prevent trouble, and did not mention the visit to Eric. -Sir Marcus was very persistent, however. One night Eric saw him -leaving the stage-door and I believe there was a dreadful scene at -Eric's rooms." - -"And that is all you know of him, Isobel?" - -"Practically all, except what I have heard, of course. I might add -that I instructed Marie to tell Sir Marcus I was engaged whenever he -might call in future." - -"And did he call again?" - -"Marie said that he sent his card up on several occasions, but she -knew how the affair worried me and did not tell me at the time. I saw -him in the stalls occasionally, and--oh!--" - -The last word was a mere murmur. Isobel's expression grew more than -ever troubled. - -"He was there last night," she whispered, and raising her eyes to me: -"Tell me how it happened, and where--" - -But ere I had time to begin there was an interruption. Dimly, a -telephone bell rang. I could hear the voice of Marie, Isobel's maid, -answering the call then: - -"Mr. Coverly to speak to you, madam," said Marie, entering the room. - -"He must have only just heard the news!" cried Isobel, rising swiftly -and going out. - -Consumed by impatience, I walked up and down the dainty apartment -listening to Isobel's muffled voice speaking in the lobby. Twice I -went to the window and peered down into the street, expecting to see -the thick-set figure of Inspector Gatton approaching. My frame of mind -was peculiar and troubled. Gatton's inquiries pointed unmistakably to -a suspicion that Sir Marcus's last hours had been spent, if not -actually with, at any rate near to Isobel. And since the man who would -most directly profit by the baronet's death happened also to be -Isobel's _fiancé_, I foresaw a dreadful ordeal for both if Eric -Coverly was not in a position to establish an alibi. - -I had been about to ask her if Coverly had been in her company on the -previous night when the interruption had occurred. Now if Gatton -should arrive and find me in Isobel's flat, what construction would he -put upon my presence? - -Yet again I went to the window and peered anxiously up and down the -street. Every cab that approached I expected to contain the inspector, -and I heaved a sigh of relief as one after another passed the door. -Pedestrians who turned the distant corner I scrutinized closely and -was so employed when Isobel came running back to the room. - -All her color had fled and her eyes were wide and fear-stricken. - -"Oh, Jack, Jack!" she cried, "it is horrible, horrible! Eric is at his -solicitors' and they tell him that suspicion is bound to fall on -_him_! It's preposterous--unthinkable. It must have been some fiend -who committed such a crime, not a human being--" - -"Then," I interrupted excitedly, "Coverly was not with you last -night?" - -"No! That is the crowning tragedy of it all. He 'phoned me early in -the evening saying that he had an unavoidable business appointment to -keep. From the tone of his voice--" - -She ceased speaking abruptly, and stared at me rather wildly. - -"Isobel," I said, "you should surely know that you can trust your life -to me--and the life of any one dear to you." - -She quickly laid her hand on my arm and her face flushed sweetly. I -fear I had infused my words with an ardor which exhibited at an -earlier and more opportune moment might have changed the course of -both our lives. - -"Of course I know, Jack," she said. "But I am so frightened that I -distrust my very self. Well, then, I thought that I noticed a change -in Eric's manner last night--in the tone of his voice. In fact I asked -him if I had done anything of which he had disapproved." She gave me a -quick little embarrassed glance. "He is somewhat exacting, you know. -He laughed at the idea, but in rather a forced way, it seemed. Then he -arranged to meet me for lunch at the Carlton to-day." - -"But surely he can satisfactorily account for his movements? He must -have been seen by those who know him." - -Isobel frowned in a troubled manner that awakened strange, wild -longings. - -"I cannot make it out," she replied. "He appears to be keeping -something back." - -"He is very ill-advised. He will certainly have to make up his mind to -speak out when Inspector Gatton examines him. I cannot disguise from -you, Isobel, that the police know that Sir Marcus was at the New -Avenue last night, and since his death occurred some hours later the -nature of their suspicion is obvious enough. Are you joining him at -the solicitors', Isobel?" - -"Yes, he asked me to do so." - -"Then come along at once. I expect a Scotland Yard man to arrive at -any moment and it would be advisable to see Coverly and to take a -legal opinion before you give your testimony." - -"But, Jack!" Isobel confronted me. "You don't think that I or Eric -have anything to hide?" - -"Certainly not. You must know that I do not think so. But on the other -hand, the legal mind being used to considering problems of evidence, a -solicitor will be able to advise you of the best course to adopt, and -that most likely to result in your being spared all association with -the inquiry. Meanwhile--let us hurry. I prefer to give Inspector -Gatton my own account of this visit rather than to be discovered here -by him. He will learn from Marie that I have called, of course, but -that doesn't matter." - -We had now quitted the flat and were descending the stairs. On -reaching the street I glanced sharply to right and left. But Gatton -was not in sight. - -I secured a taxi at the corner and Isobel set out for the office of -Coverly's solicitor. I stood looking after the cab until it was out of -sight and then I set out to walk to the _Planet_ office. By the time -that I had reached Fleet Street I had my ideas in some sort of order -and I sat down to write the first of my articles on the "_Oritoga_ -mystery"--for under that title the murder of Sir Marcus Coverly was -destined to figure as the _cause célèbre_ of the moment. I had more -than one reason for reticence and indeed I experienced no little -difficulty in preparing the requisite amount of copy without involving -Isobel and Eric Coverly. Half-way through my task I paused, laid down -my pen, and was on the point of tearing up the pages already written -and declining the commission at the eleventh hour. - -A few minutes' reflection, however, enabled me to see that the best -service I could offer to the suspected man (always assuming that he -had no alibi to offer) was that of representing the facts as I saw -them to the vast public reached by this influential journal. In my own -mind I had never entertained a shadow of suspicion that Coverly was -the culprit. Underlying the horrible case I thought I could perceive -even darker things--a mystery within a mystery; a horror overtopping -horror. - -I had just resumed work, then, when a boy came in to inform me that -Gatton had rung up and wished to speak to me. - -Half fearful of what I should hear, I went to the adjoining room and -took up the receiver. Presently: - -"Hullo! Is that Mr. Addison?" came Gatton's voice. - -"Yes, speaking. What developments, Gatton?" - -"Several. I've got the report of the estate-agent and I've seen the -stage-doorkeeper of the New Avenue! You mustn't write anything until I -see you, but in order to regularize things a bit I've spoken to the -Chief and formally asked his permission to consult you on the -case--about the Egyptian figures, you know. He remembered you at once, -so it's all square. But I've got a bone to pick with you." - -"What is that?" - -"Never mind now. Can you meet me at the Red House at five o'clock?" - -"Yes. I will be there." - -"Good. I don't hope for much. It's the strangest case I ever touched. -We are dealing with unusual people, not ordinary criminals." - -"I agree." - -"If there is any man in London who can see daylight through the -mystery I believe you are the man. Do you know on what I think the -whole thing turns?" - -"On some undiscovered incident in Sir Marcus's past, beyond a doubt. -Probably an amorous adventure." - -"You're wrong," said Gatton grimly. "It turns on the figure of the -green cat. Good-by. Five o'clock." - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER - - -I arrived at the Red House before Inspector Gatton. A constable was on -duty at the gate and as I came up and paused he regarded me rather -doubtfully until I told him that I had an appointment with Gatton. I -stared up the drive towards the house. It was not, apparently, a very -old building, presenting some of the worst features of the -mid-Victorian period, and from whence it derived its name I could not -conjecture unless from the fact that the greater part of the facade -was overgrown with some kind of red creeper. - -The half-moon formed by the crescent-shaped carriage-way and the wall -bordering the road was filled with rather unkempt shrubbery, laurels -and rhododendrons for the most part, from amid which arose several big -trees. In the blaze of the afternoon sun the place looked commonplace -enough with estate agents' bills pasted in the dirty windows, and it -was difficult to conceive that it had been the scene of the mysterious -crime of which at that hour all London was talking and which later was -to form a subject of debate throughout the civilized world. - -Gatton joined me within a few minutes of my arrival. He was -accompanied by Constable Bolton with whom I had first visited the Red -House. Bolton was now in plain clothes, and he had that -fish-out-of-water appearance which characterizes the constable in -mufti. Indeed he looked rather dazed, and on arriving before the house -he removed his bowler and mopped his red face with a large -handkerchief, nodding to me as he did so. - -"Good afternoon, sir; it was lucky you came along with me last night. -I thought it was a funny go and I was right, it seems." - -"Quite right," said Gatton shortly, "and now here are the keys which -you returned to the depôt this morning." - -From his pocket the Inspector produced a steel ring bearing a large -and a small key which I recognized as that which had hung from the -lock of the garage door on the previous night. - -We walked along to the garage and Inspector Gatton placed the key in -the lock; then turning to Bolton: - -"Now," he directed, "show us exactly what you did." - -Bolton replaced his bowler, which hitherto he had carried in his hand, -hesitated for a moment, and then unlocked the door. - -"Of course I had my lantern with me last night," he explained, "and -this gentleman and myself stood looking in for a moment." - -"Mr. Addison has already described to me exactly what he saw," said -Gatton. "Show us what you did after Mr. Addison left you." - -Bolton, with a far-away look in his eyes betokening an effort of -retrospection, withdrew the key from the lock and entered the garage, -Gatton and I following. There was a sky window to light the place, so -that when Bolton reclosed the door we could see well enough. His -movements were as follows: Relocking the door from the inside, he -walked slowly along to a smaller door at the opposite end and with the -other key attached to the ring unfastened it. - -"Wait a moment," said Gatton. "Did you look about you at all before -opening this door?" - -"Only long enough to find where it was, sir. Just about as long as I -showed you." - -"All right. Go on, then." - -We followed Bolton out into a very narrow hedge-bordered path, -evidently a tradesman's entrance, and he turned and locked the door -behind him. Slipping the keys into his pocket, he tramped stolidly out -to the main road whereon we emerged immediately beside the garage. - -"Ah," murmured Gatton. "Now give me the keys," and as the man did so: -"Throughout all this time did you see or hear anything of an unusual -nature?" - -Bolton removed his bowler once more. I had gathered by this time that -he regarded fresh air as an aid to reflection. - -"Well, sir," he replied in a puzzled way, "that first door--" - -"Well," said Gatton, as the man hesitated. - -"It seemed to open more easily just now than it did last night. There -seemed to be a sort of hitch before when it was about half-way open." - -"Perhaps the crate was in the way?" suggested Gatton. "Except for the -absence of the crate do you notice anything different, anything -missing, or anything there now that was not there before?" - -Bolton shook his head. - -"No," he answered; "it looks just the same to me--except, as I say, -that the door seemed to open more easily." - -"H'm," muttered Gatton; "and you carried the keys in your pocket until -you went off duty?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"All right. You can go now." - -Bolton touched his bowler and departed, and Gatton turned to me with a -grim smile. - -"We'll just step inside again," he said, "so as not to attract any -undue attention." - -He again unlocked the garage door and closed it as we entered. - -"Now," said he, "before we go any further what was your idea in -keeping back the fact that one of the missing links in the chain of -evidence was already in your possession?" - -"No doubt," I said rather guiltily, "you refer to the fact of my -acquaintance with Miss Isobel Merlin?" - -"I do!" said Gatton, "and to the fact that you nipped in ahead of me -and interviewed this important witness before I had even heard of her -existence." He continued to smile, but the thoroughness and -unflinching pursuit of duty which were the outstanding features of -the man, underlay his tone of badinage. "I want to say," he continued, -"that for your cooperation, which has been very useful to me on many -occasions, I am always grateful, but if in return I give you -facilities which no other pressman has, I don't expect you to abuse -them." - -"Really, Inspector," I replied, "you go almost too far. I have done -nothing to prejudice your case nor could I possibly have known until -my interview this morning with Miss Merlin, that it was she in whom -the late Sir Marcus was interested." - -"H'm," said Gatton, but still rather dubiously, his frank, wide-open -eyes regarding me in that naïve manner which was so deceptive. - -"All that I learned," I continued, "is unequivocally at your disposal. -Finally I may tell you--and I would confess it to few men--that Miss -Merlin is a very old friend and might have been something more if I -had not been a fool." - -"Oh!" said Gatton, and his expression underwent a subtle change--"Oh! -That's rather awkward; in fact"--he frowned perplexedly--"it's damned -awkward!" - -"What do you mean?" I demanded. - -"Well," said he, "I don't know what account Miss Merlin gave to you of -her relations with Sir Marcus--" - -"Relations!" I said hotly, "the man was a mere acquaintance; she -hadn't even seen him, except from the stage, for some months past." - -"Oh," replied Gatton, "is that so?" He looked at me very queerly. "It -doesn't seem to dovetail with the evidence of the stage-doorkeeper." - -I felt myself changing color, and: - -"What, then, does the stage-doorkeeper assert?" I asked. - -Gatton continued to look at me in that perplexed way, and believing -that I detected the trend of his reflections: - -"Look here, Inspector," I said, "let us understand one another. -Whatever may be the evidence of stage-doorkeepers and others, upon one -point you can be assured. Miss Merlin had nothing whatever to do with -this horrible crime. The idea is unthinkable. So confident am I of -this, that you can be perfectly open with me and I give you my word of -honor that I shall be equally frank with you. The truth of the matter -cannot possibly injure her in the end and I am as anxious to discover -it as you are." - -Gatton suddenly extended his hand, and: - -"Good!" he said. "We understand one another, but how is Miss Merlin -going to explain this?" - -He drew a note-book from his pocket, turned over several leaves, and -then: - -"On no fewer than six occasions," he said, "I have approximate dates -here, Sir Marcus sent his card to Miss Merlin's dressing-room." - -"I know," I interrupted him; "he persecuted her, but she never saw -him." - -"Wait a minute. Last night"--Gatton glanced at me sharply--"Marie, -the maid, came down after Sir Marcus's card had been sent to the -dressing-room and talked for several minutes to the late baronet, just -by the doorkeeper's box, but out of earshot. That was at ten o'clock. -At eleven, that is after the performance, Sir Marcus returned, and -again Marie came down to see him. They went out into the street -together and Sir Marcus entered a cab which was waiting and drove off. -Miss Merlin left a quarter of an hour later." - -Our glances met and a silence of some moments' duration fell between -us; then: - -"You suggest," I said, "that Miss Merlin had arranged a rendezvous -with him and to save appearances had joined him there later?" - -"Well"--Gatton raised his eyebrows--"what do _you_ suggest?" - -I found myself temporarily at a loss for words, but: - -"Knowing nothing of this," I explained, "naturally I was not in a -position to tax Miss Merlin with it. Possibly you have done so. What -is her explanation?" - -"I have not seen her," confessed Gatton; "I arrived at her flat ten -minutes after she had gone out--with you." - -"You saw Marie?" - -"Unfortunately Marie was also out, but I saw an old charwoman who -attends daily, I understand, and it was from her that I learned of -your visit." - -"Marie," I said, "may be able to throw some light on the matter." - -"I don't doubt it!" replied Gatton grimly. "Meanwhile we have -sufficient evidence to show that Sir Marcus drove from the New Avenue -Theater to this house." - -"He may not have driven here at all," I interrupted; "he may have -driven somewhere else and performed the latter part of his journey -here--" - -"In the crate!" cried Gatton. "Yes, you are right; his body may -actually have been inside the crate at the time that you and Bolton -arrived here last night; for that would be fully an hour after Sir -Marcus left the stage-door." - -"But who can have rung up the police station last night?" I cried, -"and what can have been the object of this unknown person?" - -"That we have to find out," said Gatton quietly; "undoubtedly it -formed part of a scheme planned with extraordinary cunning; it was not -an accident or an oversight, I mean. The men who are assisting me -haven't been idle, for we have already learned some most amazing facts -about the case. I haven't yet visited the house myself, but I have -here the report of one of my assistants who has done so; also I have -the keys. The garage I will inspect more carefully later on." - -He glanced quickly about the place before we left it, then, leaving -the door locked behind us, we walked along to the gate before which -the constable stood on duty, and from thence proceeded up the drive to -the front entrance. There was a deep porch supported by pillars and -densely overgrown with creeper. I noted, too, a heavy and unhealthy -odor as of decaying leaves, and observed that a perfect carpet of -these lay on the path. In the shade of the big trees it was -comparatively cool, but the heavy malarious smell did not please me -and I imagined that it must have repelled more than one would-be -lessee. - -As we approached the porch I saw that the windows of the rooms -immediately left and right of it had been stripped of the agent's -bills, for I could see where fragments of paper still adhered to the -glass. There were no bills in the porch either; but when Gatton opened -the front door I uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -We stood in a small lounge-hall. There was a staircase on the left and -three doors opened on to the hall. But although the Red House was -palpably unoccupied, the hall was furnished! There were some rugs upon -the polished floor, a heavy bronze club-fender in front of the grate, -several chairs against the walls and a large palm in a Chinese pot. - -"Why," I exclaimed, "the place is furnished and the stairs are -carpeted too!" - -"Yes," said Gatton, looking keenly about him, "but according to report -if you will step upstairs you will get a surprise." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Well, suppose we go and see." - -Gatton led the way and I followed up the stairs as far as the first -landing. Here I paused in amazement. For at this point all attempts at -furnishing ceased. The landing was quite bare and so were the stairs -above it! Seeing my expression of incredulous surprise: - -"Yes," said Gatton, smiling, "it's a strange arrangement, isn't it?" - -We descended again to the furnished hall. - -"Look here," continued my companion. - -He unlocked a door on the left, having tried several keys from the -bunch which he carried without success, but finally discovering the -right one. - -A long rectangular room was revealed, evidently intended for a -dining-room. It was empty and unfurnished, odds and ends of newspaper -and other rubbish lying here and there upon the floor. My astonishment -was momentarily increasing. A second door, that in the center, Gatton -opened, revealing another empty room, but: - -"I have reserved this one for the last," he said: "you will find that -it is unlocked." - -He pointed to the third door, that on the right, and as he evidently -intended me to open it, I stepped forward, turned the handle and -entered a small square room, exquisitely furnished. - -A heavy Persian carpet was spread upon the floor and the windows were -draped with some kind of brightly colored Madras. Tastefully-framed -water-colors hung upon the wall. There was a quaint cabinet in the -room, too; a low cushioned settee and two armchairs. In the center was -a table upon which stood a lamp with a large mosaic shade. Two -high-backed chairs were set to the table--and the table was laid for -supper! A bottle of wine stood in an ice-pail, in which the ice had -long since melted, and a tempting cold repast was spread. The table -was decorated with a bowl of perfect white roses. The silver was good; -the napery was snowy. - -Like a fool I stood gaping at the spectacle, until, noting the -direction of Gatton's glance, I turned my attention to the mantelpiece -upon which a clock was ticking with a dull and solemn note. - -Standing beside the clock, in a curious carved frame, was a large -photograph of Isobel! - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE VOICE - - -"This is where the mystery centers," said Gatton. - -I made no reply, for I had not yet recovered from the shock of that -discovery in the deserted supper room. It was so wholly unexpected and -yet it so cruelly confirmed the Inspector's undisguised suspicions -that it seemed to me to have created a sort of impalpable barrier -between us. Of this Gatton was evidently conscious. He endeavored to -arouse my interest in the inquiries which he was conducting in the -garage, but for long enough I saw nothing of the place in which we -stood; I could only see that photograph smiling at me inquiringly -through a haze of doubt, and my companion's words reached me in a -muffled fashion. Finally, however, I succeeded in rousing myself from -this dazed condition, and confident as ever that Isobel was innocent -of all complicity in the matter: - -"The presence of the photograph," I said, "takes us a step further. -Don't you see, Inspector, that this is a deeply and cunningly laid -trap? What I had taken for a series of unfortunate coincidences I -perceive now to be the workings of an elaborate scheme involving -perfectly innocent people in the crime." - -"H'm," said Gatton doubtfully; "it may be as you suggest; at any rate -it is a new point of view and one which I confess had not occurred to -me. There is one witness who can clear up any doubt on the subject." - -"You mean Marie?" - -"Exactly. She will lie, beyond doubt, but we shall find means to reach -the truth." - -"Would it not be advisable, Inspector," I asked excitedly, "to make -sure of her at once?" - -Gatton smiled grimly, and: - -"Marie would have to make herself invisible to evade Scotland Yard -now," he replied. "She is being watched closely. But," he continued, -"what do you make of these marks on the door?" - -We had reclosed the garage door and now were standing immediately -inside. The marks to which my companion had drawn my attention were -situated high up near the roof. - -"This may account for the statement of Bolton that the door seemed -more difficult to open last night than to-day," he said. "Unless I am -greatly mistaken, some sort of attachment existed here until quite -recently." - -"Possibly a contrivance for reclosing the door?" I suggested. - -The marks in fact roughly corresponded to those which would be made by -the presence of such a contrivance and there seemed to have been some -attempt where it had been removed to disguise the holes left by the -screws. - -"But the purpose of it?" muttered Gatton helplessly. - -"God knows," I said; "the purpose of the whole thing is a mystery -beyond me entirely." - -"Assuming that such a piece of mechanism as you suggest had been -attached to the door," mused Gatton, "you would have noticed its -operation last night, unless one of you held the door open." - -"Neither of us held the door!" I interrupted excitedly. "I remember -that we stood just outside looking in. I was behind the constable and -he was directing the rays of his lantern into the place." - -"H'm," muttered Gatton. "Then it wasn't a contrivance for closing the -door; it was something else. Suppose we investigate the other door?" - -We proceeded to the other door and I became aware of an intense -curiosity respecting what we should find, and of a conviction too that -there would be evidence here of another attachment. In this I was -quite correct. Some piece of mechanism had evidently been fastened to -this door also. Together we stood staring up at these tell-tale -screw-holes and then rather blankly we stared at one another. - -"We only lack one thing," said Gatton; "the scheme upon which all -these contrivances and apparently isolated episodes were hung -together. Nothing, as we have already assumed, was accident, and -nothing coincidence. It was with some deliberate purpose that the -constable was instructed to walk through this garage, opening and -shutting the doors behind him." - -"From whom did these instructions come?" - -"That is one of the minor points which I have already cleared up," he -replied. "On my way here I called at the house agent's, as you know, -since I have the keys; I also called at the station. The sergeant who -was on duty last night I could not see, unfortunately, but I -learned--that it was a woman who rang up." - -My heart sank lower and lower. It seemed to me as we stood in that -empty garage that an invisible hand was drawing a net closer and -closer about Isobel and my ideas became increasingly chaotic, for the -purpose of it all eluded me, try how I would to conceive of a scheme -by which any one could profit which necessitated the imprisonment, or -worse, of Isobel. - -"And the agent?" I asked in a rather toneless voice. - -Gatton shook his head. - -"I have no reason to doubt the word of this man of business," he -replied, "because at the time when I saw him he could not possibly -have learned of the crime, but nevertheless his account is almost -unbelievable. It appears then, he, too, received his instructions -throughout by telephone." - -"What?" I exclaimed. - -"By telephone," repeated Gatton. "He was rung up about ten days ago by -some one who made a verbal offer to lease the Red House for a period -of twelve months. A foreigner, who in lieu of the usual references, -was prepared to pay the annual rent in advance. As the Red House, to -use an Irishism, was regarded as something of a white elephant, the -agent was interested, apparently; and when on the following day the -sum agreed upon arrived by post, he did not demur about delivering the -keys to the prospective lessee, who desired to take certain -measurements in regard to carpets and so forth." - -"Wait a moment," I interrupted; "to whom did he deliver these keys?" - -"To a district messenger who called for them, as the agent had been -advised that one would do." - -"Very well. What then?" - -"That is all that the agent had to say." - -"What, that is all?" - -"Substantially there is nothing more. It is quite evident that the -sole intention of this unknown lessee was to secure possession of the -house for the purpose of the crime only." - -"Do you mean that from first to last no one but the district messenger -appeared in the matter?" - -"No one," Gatton assured me, "and the rent, payment of which quite -disarmed the agent of course, was sent in the form of Treasury notes -and not by check." - -"But surely some name, some address, must have been given?" - -"A name was given," replied Gatton, "and a hotel address, but -confirmation of their accuracy was never sought, after the receipt of -the money." - -"And the voice on the telephone?" - -Again I saw that odd expression creep over Gatton's face, and: - -"It was a woman's voice," he answered. - -"Great heavens!" I muttered--"what does it all mean?" - -That the evidence of the cabman when he was discovered and of the -carter who had taken the box from the garage to the docks, and (for it -was possibly the same man) who had first delivered it at the Red -House, would but tighten the net about Isobel, whom I knew to be -innocent, I felt assured. - -"Gatton," I said, "this case appears to me to resolve itself into a -deliberate conspiracy of which the end was not the assassination of -Sir Marcus, but the conviction of Miss Merlin!" - -Gatton looked at me with evident complexity written all over him. - -"I begin to think the same," he confessed. "This business was never -planned and carried out by a woman, I'll swear to that. There is a -woman concerned in it, for at every point we come upon evidence of her -voice issuing the mysterious instructions; but she is not alone in the -matter. Already the intricacy of the thing points to a criminal of -genius. When we know the whole truth, if we ever do, that the crime -was planned by a man of amazing, if perverted, intellect, will be put -beyond dispute, I think." - -"What is puzzling me, Gatton," I said, "is the connection existing -between the incidents which took place in this garage and those, -unknown at present, which took place in the furnished room in the Red -House." - -"Obviously," replied Gatton, "a supper for two had been prepared, and -that one of those two was the late Sir Marcus is perfectly obvious. -That he expected the other to be Miss Merlin is at least suggested by -the presence of her photograph in the room; for you will have noticed -that it is the _only_ photograph there." - -"Nevertheless," I said firmly, "I am positive that no one would be -more surprised than herself to learn of its presence." - -"And as I have already said," replied Gatton, "I am rapidly coming -round to your way of thinking. But even if I were quite sure of it the -evidence at the moment is all the other way, you will admit. As to the -connection between this garage and the interrupted supper party (for -obviously it was interrupted) this it must be my business to find -out." - -"Don't you think," I said, "that we are attaching perhaps undue -importance to the fact that some kind of fittings have been removed -from the doors? They may have been removed by the late occupier, and -the call to the police depôt may have been made with the idea of -securing a witness, and a credible one, to the presence of the crate -here on the night of the murder." - -"At the moment," replied Gatton, musingly, "I cannot see that this -would have served any useful purpose; but nevertheless you may be -right. I am going to assume, however, that you are wrong, and that the -object of sending Bolton here last night was to open and shut these -doors. I propose now to return again to the scene of the interrupted -supper." - -Leaving the garage not very much wiser than when we had entered it, -we paced once more up the drive in the shade of the big trees and -were greeted again by the malarious smell of rotting leaves. Entering -the Red House, Gatton and I proceeded first to that incredible oasis -in the desert of empty rooms and my companion made a detailed -examination of everything in the place, even sounding the walls, -examining the fittings of the door, and finally proceeding through the -hall in the direction of the south wing of the house--that nearest to -the garage. - -What he expected to find I had no idea, but his attention seemed to be -more particularly directed towards the wainscot and the picture-rails -of the empty and uncarpeted rooms which we entered. Whatever he had -sought he failed to find, and at last we stood in a desolate apartment -looking out into the tangled shrubbery before the windows. The back of -the garage was visible from there and I viewed it dully, wondering -what evil secret it held, and marveling at the trick of fate which had -made me witness of an act in this gruesome drama. - -"Of course, Gatton," I said, "we are all along assuming that Sir -Marcus actually met his death in this house. We must remember that he -may merely have been brought here after the crime." - -"Such a short period elapsed," replied the Inspector, "between his -leaving the New Avenue Theater and the approximate time of his death -that it seems unlikely that he visited any intermediate spot." - -"But he may not have been in the crate when Bolton and I saw it." - -"I don't believe he was in the crate then," replied Gatton, "but I -think he was at the Red House nevertheless." - -I stared at him with curiosity. - -"You mean that he was in the house at the time that the constable and -I opened the garage?" - -"I do. I think he was in that room where supper was laid for two." - -"Good God!" I exclaimed; for there was something horrible in the idea -of the man who now lay murdered having been in the house presumably -alive, whilst Bolton and I had stood within forty yards of him; in the -idea that it had lain in our power, except for those human limitations -which rendered us ignorant of his presence, to have averted his fate, -perhaps to have checked the remorseless movement of this elaborate -murder machine which seemingly had been set up in the Red House. - -"Some one was here last night," declared Gatton suddenly, as we turned -to leave the deserted room, "after you and Bolton had gone. Everything -incriminating the assassin has been removed. Looking at the matter -judicially, it becomes quite evident that any one clever enough to -have planned this crime could not possibly have been guilty of an act -of such glaring stupidity as that of accidentally leaving a photograph -planted upon the mantelpiece." - -That this fact had presented itself to the Inspector with such a force -of conviction raised a great load from my mind. It had all along been -evident to me, but I had feared that to the official outlook of my -companion, and the official outlook is always peculiar, it might have -seemed otherwise. - -"The clever and cunning villain who planned this thing," I said, "has -overstepped himself, as you say, Gatton. If the murder was planned -artistically, in his attempt to throw the onus of the crime upon -innocent shoulders he has been guilty of a piece of very mediocre -work. It would not deceive a child." - -"No, I agree with you there. The discovery of that photograph has done -more to convince me of the innocence of Miss Merlin than any amount of -testimonials to her good character could ever have done. You see," he -added, smiling whimsically, "all sorts of people hitherto unsuspected -by their closest friends of criminal tendency, develop that taint, so -that I am never surprised to find a convicted thief or assassin -possessed of credentials which would do justice to an Archbishop. But -when I see an obviously artificial clew I recognize it a mile off. -Real clews never stare you in the face like that." - -Coming out of the front door, we walked down the leaf-strewn drive to -find that the constable on duty at the gate had been joined by a -plain-clothes man who was evidently waiting to speak to the Inspector. - -"Yes?" said Gatton eagerly, at sight of the newcomer. - -"We have her, sir," he reported tersely. - -"Does he refer to Marie?" I asked. - -Gatton nodded. - -"I think, Mr. Addison," he said, "I will proceed immediately to Bow -Street, where she has been taken to be interrogated. Will you come -with me or are you otherwise engaged?" - -I hesitated ere I replied: - -"I do not particularly want to confront this woman, but I should be -much indebted if you could let me know the result of your -examination." - -"I shall do that without fail," said Gatton, "and some time to-day I -should be obliged if you could provide me with the facts concerning -the little cat-images which you said you had in your possession." - -"Certainly," I agreed. "You are still of the opinion that the mark -upon the crate and the image of the cat-woman have an important -bearing upon the crime?" - -"I don't doubt it," was the reply. "If the photograph clew is a false -one, the cat clew is a true one and one to be followed up. Perhaps," -he added, "it would be as well if you returned now and looked out the -points which you think would be of interest, as when I come I may not -have long to stay." - -"I will do so," I said, "although I think I can lay my hands upon the -material almost immediately." - -Accordingly Gatton set off with the detective who had brought the news -of Marie's arrest and I, turning in the opposite direction, proceeded -towards my cottage in such a state of mental tumult respecting what -the end of all this would be and what it might mean for Isobel, that I -found myself unable to think connectedly; and needless to say I failed -to conjure up by any stretch of the imagination a theory which could -cover this amazing and terrible sequence of events. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE CAT OF BUBASTIS - - -"She belongs to the innumerable family of cats which suddenly came -forth from the ruins of Tell Bastah in 1878," I wrote, Sir Gaston -Maspero's "Egyptian Art" lying before me on the table, "and were in a -few years scattered over the whole world." - -"She is Bâst, a goddess of good family, the worship of whom flourished -especially in the east of the delta, and she is very often drawn or -named on the monuments, although they do not tell us enough of her -myths or her origin. She was allied or related to the Sun, and was now -said to be his sister or wife, now his daughter. She sometimes filled -a gracious and beneficent rôle, protecting men against contagious -diseases or evil spirits, keeping them off by the music of her -sistrum: she had also her hours of treacherous perversity, during -which she played with her victim as with a mouse, before finishing him -off with a blow of her claws. She dwelt by preference in the city that -bore her name, Poubastit, the Bubastis of classical writers. Her -temple, at which Cheops and Chephren had worked while building their -pyramids, was rebuilt by the Pharaohs of the 22nd Dynasty, enlarged by -those of the 26th; when Herodotus visited it in the middle of the -fifth century B.C. he considered it one of the most remarkable he had -seen in the parts of Egypt through which he had traveled. - -"The fêtes of Bâst attracted pilgrims from all parts of Egypt, as at -the present day those of Sidi Ahmed el-Bedawee draw people to the -modern fair of Tantah. The people of each village crowded into large -boats to get there, men and women pell-mell, with the fixed intention -of enjoying themselves on the journey, a thing they never failed to -do. They accompanied the slow progress of navigation with endless -songs, love songs rather than sacred hymns, and there were also to be -found among them flute-players and castanet-players to support or keep -time to the voices. Whenever they passed by a town they approached the -bank as near as they could without landing, and then, while the -orchestra redoubled its noise, the passengers threw volleys of insults -and coarse remarks at the women standing on the banks; they retorted, -and when they had exhausted words ..." - -I finished my notes at this point; the improper behavior of the -Ancient Egyptians mentioned by the great Egyptologist having no -possible bearing upon the matter in hand, I thought. I then proceeded -to add some facts directly relating to the votive offerings laid at -the feet of the goddess. - -"The greater number of pilgrims, before returning home, left a -souvenir of their visit at the feet of Bâst. It was a votive stele -with a fine inscription, and a picture showing the donor worshiping -his goddess; or a statuette in blue or green pottery, or if they were -wealthy, in bronze, silver, or sometimes gold: the goddess would be -standing, seated, crouching, with a woman's body and a cat's head, a -sistrum or an ægis in her hand. During the Greek period the figures -were in bronze or in painted or gilded wood surmounted by a cat's head -in bronze, many were life-size and modeled with elaborate art; they -had eyes of enamel and amulets on the forehead." - -The learned authority went on to explain that these accumulated -offerings were after a time stored by the priests in cellars or in -pits dug expressly for them, "veritable _favissæ_ similar to those of -classical times." They accumulated in thousands, large and small, some -intact and fresh as when just made, others already out of shape and of -no value. The places of concealment were soon forgotten, and the -stores hidden therein reposed beyond the reach of men until the day -when the chances of excavation brought them to light. - -My notes completed, I turned my attention to the little image of green -enamel ware which Gatton had left with me for examination. It was not -possible to determine the period at which it was buried, but judging -from the contours and general forms, together with the aspect of the -enamel, I thought I recognized the style of the second Saïte Period, -and attributed the piece to the early Ptolemies, or the fourth century -B.C. It was the time when the worship of Bâst and her subordinate -forms, Pakh, Maît, was most popular, the period when the most -extensive cemetery of cats was established in Egypt. The execution of -the little figure was pure Egyptian, and in no way betrayed Greek -influence. - -So far had my studies proceeded when I heard the door-bell ring, and -Coates entered the room. - -"Detective-Inspector Gatton to see you, sir." - -Gatton came in looking if anything more puzzled than when I had left -him at the Red House; also I thought he looked tired, and: - -"Mix yourself a drink, Inspector," I said, pointing to a side-table -upon which refreshments were placed. - -"Thanks," replied Gatton. "I have not had time to stop for a drink or -even a smoke since I left you; but evidence is coming in quickly -enough now." - -He helped himself to a whisky and soda, being an old visitor and one -used to the Bohemian ways of my household; then setting his glass upon -a corner of my writing-table, he dropped into the armchair and began -in leisurely fashion to fill his pipe. - -Although the hour was growing late, sunset was still a long way off -and the prospect visible through the window was bathed in golden -light. From where I sat I could catch a glimpse of the tree-lined -road, and for the first time since that strange experience had -befallen me, I found myself wondering if the vaguely-perceived -follower whom I had detected on the previous night and those blazing -feline eyes which had looked out at me from beneath the shadow of the -hedge could have had any possible connection with the tragedy which at -about the same hour was being enacted in the Red House. I determined -presently to confide the strange particulars to my friend, but first I -was all anxiety to learn what evidence Marie had given; and that this -evidence, to which he had referred had done little more than to -increase Gatton's perplexity was clear enough from his expression. -Therefore: - -"Tell me about Marie," I said. - -Gatton smiled grimly, took a drink from his glass, and then: - -"She began of course as I had anticipated, by denying all knowledge of -the matter, but recognizing that she was in a tight corner, she -presently changed her tactics, and although every available plan was -tried to induce her to change her ground, she afterwards stuck to the -extraordinary story which we first extracted from her. Briefly it was -this: - -"The late Sir Marcus had been paying unwelcome attention to Miss -Merlin for a long time, and Marie had instructions that he was to be -discouraged as much as possible. In fact I am pleased to say that your -theory of Miss Merlin's ignorance respecting the murder plot is borne -out by the testimony of her maid. On several occasions, it appears, -when he sent his card to the dressing-room, Marie returned equivocal -messages and did not even inform her mistress of Sir Marcus's visit. -This had been going on for some time when one night whilst Miss Merlin -was on the stage a telephone call came for Marie and a certain -proposal was made to her. - -"It was this: if on the following night Sir Marcus should present -himself she was to tell him that Miss Merlin would take supper in his -company after the performance, but that he was to observe every -possible precaution. Marie, according to her account, at first -declined to entertain the proposal, but being informed that it was -merely intended to play a practical joke upon the baronet, she -ultimately consented. I may add that the promise of a ten-pound note -undoubtedly hastened her decision and it was on her receipt of the -amount by post on the following morning that she determined to carry -out her part of the bargain. - -"Her instructions had been explicit. She was to tell Sir Marcus that -Miss Merlin would see him after the performance, then when he -presented himself, to inform him that her mistress had decided it -would be more prudent for him to proceed to the rendezvous alone, -where she would join him in a quarter of an hour. She was to give him -the door key (which had arrived with the money) and to direct him to -enter and wait in the room on the right of the hall. A cabman who knew -the address would be waiting at the stage door." - -Gatton paused, puffing slowly at his pipe, then: "Unknown to Miss -Merlin," he continued, "this scheme was carried out. Sir Marcus -presented himself at ten o'clock and received Marie's message; he -returned about eleven and she told him, as she had been instructed, -that her mistress would join him in a quarter of an hour. Curiosity -respecting the joke which she believed was being played upon the -baronet prompted her to go outside the stage-door to see if there was -actually a cab waiting. There was, and she heard Sir Marcus ask the -man if he knew the address to which he was to drive. - -"The cabman replied that he did, and Marie claims to know no more -about the matter, except that Sir Marcus drove off in the cab, and -that her mistress returned to her flat alone about a quarter of an -hour later. Next point. Inquiries for the cabman have been made at all -the ranks since early this morning, and he turned up at the Yard about -a couple of hours ago. His story is simple enough; some one called up -the rank where he chanced to be standing that evening, instructing him -to call for Sir Marcus at the stage-door of the New Avenue Theater and -to drive him to--" - -He paused: - -"Yes?" - -"To the Red House!" - -"At last we have it!" I cried excitedly. - -"There is no doubt of it," answered Gatton; "the cabman drove him -there, and it was certainly at the Red House that he met his death. -Indeed the cabby appears to be the last witness who spoke to the -murdered man. He inquired his way to the Red House from a chance -pedestrian, a tramp, whom he met at the corner of College Road. He has -even described this person to us, but I don't think his evidence of -sufficient importance to justify our searching for him. On reaching -the Red House the cabman and his fare found it to be vacant. Sir -Marcus, however, who had a very brusk manner with his inferiors, -having paid the cabman, curtly dismissed him, and the man, who admits -having bargained for a double fare for the journey, because it was -such an out-of-the-way spot, drove away vaguely curious, but not so -curious as another might have been, since London cabmen are used to -strange jobs." - -"We are getting near the heart of the mystery." - -"H'm," said Gatton, "I'm not so sure. The deeper we go the darker it -gets. A man has been scouring the neighborhood all day in quest of the -carter who delivered the crate to the docks, but so far without -results. I consider it a very important point that we should learn not -only how and when the crate was collected, but when and by whom it was -delivered at the garage." - -"Another question," I said: "although I believe I know the answer. Was -it a man or a woman who ordered the cab?" - -"Both in the case of Marie and in the case of the cab-rank," replied -Gatton, "it was a woman's voice that spoke." - -"Thank God, one doubt is resolved!" I said. "It cannot possibly have -been Isobel in either of these cases!" - -"Right!" agreed Gatton, promptly. "I am as glad as you are. There is -clearly a second woman in the case; yet I can't bring myself to -believe that this elaborate scheme was the work of a woman." - -"Not of a _jealous_ woman?" I suggested. - -"Not of any woman," he replied. "Besides--who put the body into the -crate? What kind of a woman would it be who could do a deed like -that?" - -"In other words," said I, "you are still without a ghost of a clew to -the identity of the person who committed the murder, and to the means -employed?" - -Resting his pipe upon an ash-tray, the Inspector took up from my -writing-table the little image of Bâst and held it up between finger -and thumb. - -"We always come back to the green cat," he said slowly. "I will -trouble you now, Mr. Addison, for the history of such a little image -as this." - -"Yes," I replied abstractedly. "But there is a matter about which I -have not spoken to you hitherto because quite frankly I had doubted if -it had any existence outside my imagination; but every new development -of the case is so utterly fantastic that I no longer regard my -experience as being in the least degree outside the province of -possibility. Before we go further, therefore, into the purely -archæological side of the inquiry (and I have still serious doubt -respecting the usefulness of such a quest) let me relate a peculiar -experience which I had last night after I had left Bolton." - -Gatton listened in silence whilst I gave him an account of that -evasive shadow which I had perceived behind me, and then of the great -cat's eyes which had looked in through the window. - -His expression of naïve wonderment was almost funny; and when I had -concluded: - -"Well, Mr. Addison," said he, "if you had told me this story before I -had taken up 'the _Oritoga_ mystery,' for so I observe--" drawing an -evening paper from his pocket--"the press has agreed to entitle the -case, I should have suggested that your peculiar studies had begun to -tell upon your nerves; but this voice on the 'phone and this empty -house in which only one room was furnished, finally the green cat -painted on the packing-case and the green cat which stands there upon -the table have prepared me for even stranger things than your -adventure of last night." - -"Yet," I urged, "there is no visible connection between the episodes -of the case and this strange apparition which I saw in the garden last -night." - -"There was no visible connection between Sir Marcus's body in a -packing-case in the hold of the _Oritoga_ and the garage of the house -in College Road until we found one," retorted Gatton. "Anyway I am -glad you mentioned the matter to me; I will take a note of it, for it -may prove to provide a link in the chain. And now"--taking out a -note-book and pencil--"for the history of these cat things." - -I sighed rather wearily as I crossed the room to my bookcase and took -down the volume of Gaston Maspero, the same which I had been reading -but had returned to its shelf as Gatton had been admitted. - -"We have it here in a nutshell," I said. - -Gatton methodically noted the passages which I read to him. The task -concluded: - -"H'm," he muttered, scanning his notes, "very strange, very strange -indeed. 'She had also her hours of treacherous perversity, during -which she played with her victim as with a mouse, before finishing him -off with a blow of her claws.'" - -He raised his eyes and stared at me strangely. - -"She played with her victim as with a mouse," he murmured, "before -finishing him off with a blow--" - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -MY VISITOR - - -For long enough after Gatton's departure I sat thinking over our -conversation. Despite the lateness of the hour at which he had -departed, he had had no thought of rest and was setting out in quest -of further evidence to point to the author of Sir Marcus's death. The -room was laden with tobacco smoke, for our conference had lasted more -than two hours, but dusk was very fully established and when presently -as I sat there in the dark contemplating the horrible labyrinth into -which my steps had drifted, Coates entered. - -"Ah, Coates," I said, "light up." - -He switched on the electric light and I saw layers of smoke--clouds -drifting from the open window towards the newly opened door. - -"Shall you be going out again to-night, sir?" asked Coates, standing -rigidly to attention as was his custom when addressing me. - -"I think not, Coates," I replied. "I have done enough for one day, but -I should be glad if you would ring up the New Avenue Theater and -inquire if Miss Merlin will speak to me. It will be about time now for -the performance to have finished." - -"Very good, sir," said Coates, and proceeded to make the call, whilst -I sat listlessly smoking and listening to his voice. Presently: - -"Miss Merlin did not appear to-night, sir," he announced: "she is -indisposed." - -"I thought as much," I muttered. "I could hardly have expected after -such a day of horror and excitement that she would have been capable -of appearing to-night. Ring up her flat, Coates," I added. "I should -like to speak to her, for I know she is in great trouble." - -"Indeed, sir," Coates permitted himself to remark. "Is it something to -do with the discovery at the docks this morning, sir?" - -"It is, Coates," I replied. "It is an utterly damnable business." - -"Indeed, sir," said Coates again, and went to the telephone. - -Three minutes later I was talking to Isobel. - -"I find it utterly impossible to tell you what has happened," she -declared, "since I saw you last. I feel incapable of thinking, and of -course it was quite out of the question for me to go to the theater -to-night. But it is not so bad as it might have been." She hesitated, -then: "I was only able to give them very short notice unfortunately, -but from a selfish point of view, as you know--I was leaving the -stage--very shortly--" - -"Yes," I answered dully, "I know; but have you seen the police?" - -"I have seen Inspector Gatton," she replied; "but as he told me that -he was coming along to you, no doubt you know what took place." - -"No," I replied; "he did not mention the visit, but you quite -recognize the fact, Isobel, that he does not regard you as being in -any way concerned in this ghastly affair." - -"He was awfully kind," she admitted; "in fact I quite changed my -opinion regarding the methods of the police authorities after my -interview with Inspector Gatton; but although he was so extremely -tactful with me, I really cannot forgive him his suspicions, which he -was at scarcely any pains to disguise, regarding Eric." - -"Regarding Eric!" I exclaimed. - -"Oh," continued Isobel, "he may have concealed his views from you, as -he knows that you are--a friend of Eric's; but he was less careful -about concealing them from me. To all intents and purposes Eric is -under police surveillance!" - -"But this is utterly incredible!" said I. "You don't mean to tell me, -Isobel, that Coverly has persisted in his silence respecting his -movements last night? If he has done so, in the circumstances he has -only himself to thank. Social position and everything else counts for -nothing when an inquiry concerning a murder is concerned. He knows -that perfectly well." - -I think I spoke hotly, and certainly I spoke with a certain -indignation, for I very strongly resented Coverly's attitude in the -case, which could only add to the difficulties and sorrows of Isobel's -position. - -Yet a moment afterwards I regretted that I had done so, for: - -"Are _you_ going to quarrel with me, too?" she asked pathetically. - -"What do you mean? Who has been quarreling with you?" - -"Eric quarreled with me fiercely at the solicitors' to-day, and when I -begged of him to be frank respecting his movements last night, his -attitude became"--she hesitated--"almost unbearable. He did not seem -to realize that I was only thinking of him, nor did he seem to realize -the construction which I might have placed upon his silence. I mean, -Jack, what can he possibly have to conceal?" - -Temporarily I felt myself to have become tongue-tied. What _could_ it -be that Coverly was concealing? The idea of complicity in the crime I -scouted; nothing could have induced me to believe it. Only one -explanation presented itself to my mind, as evidently it had presented -itself to Isobel's--another woman. However: - -"You may depend," I said, endeavoring to speak soothingly, "that he -has some good and sufficient reason for this silence, and one which is -not in any way discreditable. Nevertheless he will have to reconsider -his attitude in the near future. Of course there are times when almost -every one of us would be hard put to it to establish an alibi if we -were called upon to do so--as regards witnesses of our movements, I -mean; but at least we can state roughly where we were during any hour -of the day, even if we have to trust to luck to find witnesses to -prove the truth of words. His attitude of silence, Isobel, is -ridiculous." - -"Have you seen the evening papers?" she asked pathetically. - -"Some of them," I replied. - -"They have got my name in already," she continued, "and my photograph -appears in one. It is outrageous how they leap at an opportunity for -scandal." - -"It will all be cleared up," I said, speaking with as much confidence -as I had at my command. "You know and I know that Coverly is innocent -and I don't believe that Gatton thinks him guilty." - -A while longer we talked and then I returned rather wearily to my -chair in the room where the air was still laden with tobacco fumes. - -Without believing it to contain any very special significance as I had -supposed, but merely attracted by the strangeness of the passage, I -remembered how Gatton had harped upon Maspero's description of the -attributes of Bâst. "Sometimes she plays with her victim as with a -mouse," etc. The big book with its fine plates, several of them -representing cats similar to that which Gatton had left behind for my -more particular examination, still lay open upon the table, and I -reread those passages appertaining to the character of the -cat-goddess, which I had marked for Gatton's information. Scarce -noting what I read--for all the time I was turning over in my mind the -manifold problems of the case--I sat there for an hour perhaps, in -fact until I was interrupted by the entrance of Coates. - -"Shall you require me again to-night, sir?" he inquired. - -"No," I replied; "you had better turn in now, as in all probability we -shall be early afoot to-morrow, Coates. Inspector Gatton will probably -be calling for me." - -"Very good. Good-night, sir," said Coates; and performing a smart -about-turn, he walked out of the room. - -I went on reading, not in quest of any particular information, but in -that idle mood when one reads anything, interesting or otherwise. For -a time I heard my conscientious batman fastening doors and windows as -was his nightly custom; then the door of his own room closed and I -heard him no more. - -When I first became aware of the howling of distant dogs I know not; -but it was with a great start that I was aroused from my semi-reverie -by the ringing of the door-bell. I realized that I had sat much longer -than I had supposed. It was a quarter to one. - -Gatton was my first thought; there must be an unexpected development -in the case calling in some way for my services. Coates was a sound -sleeper and evidently had not been awakened by the ringing of the -bell; therefore, arrayed as I was in pajamas, slippers and bath-robe -(for this, during the hot weather was my indoor costume) I walked out -along the little corridor, unbolted the front door and opened it. - -A woman stood there. - -For a moment I thought foolishly that it was Isobel, and my heart gave -a great leap. But the delusion was instantly dispelled when my visitor -spoke. - -Her voice had a totally different tone from that of Isobel--it was a -low, almost caressing voice, with a vaguely husky note in it, -fascinating in a way, yet although I found myself unable to account -for the fact, vaguely uncanny--queer. - -"Please excuse me," she said. "You will naturally wonder what has -brought a visitor to your door at this hour of the night, and indeed -my explanation is a strange one." - -She glanced apprehensively over her shoulder as she spoke, out into -the darkness of the roadway. I observed that she was apparently in -evening dress and wore a very handsome cloak, having a thick silk -scarf so draped about her head and shoulders that her face was quite -concealed. Very clearly, now, I could hear the howling of dogs. - -Instinct is a curious thing, and that which it prompted me to do at -the moment when I found myself confronting this strange woman was -promptly to awaken Coates! Honestly I was afraid of her and wished for -nothing better than to have the closed door between us. This was all -the more unaccountable as she had the appearance and manners of a -cultured woman, presenting indeed a figure of great elegance as she -stood there with her tall slender form outlined by the moonlight which -slanted down through the trees to form a scimitar of light upon the -path behind her. - -Of course I could never have acted upon this singular instinct, but -the decision was taken out of my hands; for suddenly my visitor -uttered a low cry of fear, swayed dizzily and seemed about to fall. - -Perforce I stepped forward to support her and before I knew what had -happened, she had tottered into the passage, resting heavily upon my -shoulder. - -"Close the door!" she said in that low husky voice. "Quick! Quick! I -have seen them again!" - -An unpleasant chill communicated itself to me. - -"The eyes!" she whispered. "Two great eyes have followed me! That was -why I knocked at your door. I was afraid." - -It was enough, the mention of two great eyes. Leaving my visitor -temporarily to take care of herself, I sprang to the door and closed -it hurriedly. As I turned, in the light from the partly open study -door I saw the woman walking slowly ahead of me. I overtook her, -holding the door fully open for her to pass in. - -"Please sit down a while," I said. "You have evidently been seriously -alarmed." - -Still there was no sign from Coates, whose voice would have been -welcome music to my ears, for I could not reconcile myself to this -woman's presence, strive how I might, nor could I understand how she -had come to be wandering alone in such a place at that hour. One bond -of sympathy there was between us. I could forgive any one fearing -those awful eyes, for I had feared them myself; and I could no longer -doubt that some strange apparition was haunting the vicinity. - -"Believe me, I quite understand," I said, turning to my visitor. "It -is most extraordinary, but I believe there is some unusually large cat -frequenting the neighborhood at present." - -I stood by the side table and was on the point of pouring out a glass -of water when the woman raised her white-gloved hand in a gesture of -refusal. - -"Thank you," she said, "thank you, but I am quite recovered, and -indeed if the cause of my alarm is no more than a cat, as you say, I -will proceed." - -She laughed, and her laughter was low-pitched, but very musical. In -the light of the shaded table-lamp I could see the gleam of white -teeth through her veil, but I could not imagine why she swathed -herself in that manner. Yet in spite of this enwrapping she could not -disguise the fact that she possessed remarkably large and beautiful -eyes. She seemed now to have recovered her composure, but I noted that -she made no attempt to remove her veil. - -"Are you quite sure that you will not be nervous on your way?" I -asked. - -"Oh, no. I am staying with some friends quite near," she explained, -detecting my curiosity; "and I was indiscreet enough to wander out at -this hour to post a letter." - -Possibly this explanation might have satisfied me; it is even possible -that I should have thought little more about the incident at that time -when I lived in a constant turmoil of episodes even stranger, but by -one of those accidents which sometimes seem to be directed by the hand -of an impish fate, I was to learn who or what my visitor was. When I -say I was to learn what she was, perhaps I err; more correctly I was -to learn what she was not, namely, an ordinary human being. - -It was as she rose to depart that the hand of fate intervened. I had -only one lamp burning in the room, a table-lamp; and at this moment, -preceded by a sudden accession of light due to some flaw of the -generating plant, the filament expired, plunging the room into -darkness! I stood up with a startled cry. I do not deny that I felt -ill at ease in the gloom with my strange visitor; but worse was to -come. Looking across the darkened room to the chair upon which she was -seated, I saw a pair of blazing eyes regarding me fixedly! - -Something in their horrid, luminous watchfulness told me that my -slightest movement was perceptible to my uncanny visitor of whom I -could see nothing but those two fiery eyes. - -What I did or what occurred within the next few seconds I am not -prepared to state in detail. I know I uttered a hoarse cry and threw -myself back from those dreadful eyes which seemed to be advancing upon -me. The cry awakened Coates. I heard the pad of his bare feet upon the -floor as he leaped out of bed, and an instant later his door was -opened and he came blundering out into the darkened passage. - -"Hello, sir!" he cried, in a half-dazed voice. "Here, Coates!" I -replied, and my tones were far from normal. - -Falling over a chair on his way, Coates came running into the study. -An impression I had of a flying shape, and the dimly seen square of -the open window (for that side of the cottage lay in shadow) seemed -momentarily to become blackened. - -"Bring a light, Coates!" I cried. "The lamp has gone out." - -"Matches on the table, sir," said Coates. - -Instantly I remembered that this was the case, that they lay in fact -near to my hand. I struck one, and in its flickering light looked -about the room. My visitor had gone--palpably through the window, for -certainly the front door had not been opened. - -"She has gone, Coates!" I exclaimed. - -And on this occasion it was Coates who repeated in an amazed voice: - -"_She_?" - -But even as he spoke, my attention had become diverted. - -I was staring at that portion of the table upon which Maspero's book -lay. Beside it had stood the little Bubastis statuette ... but the -statuette was there no longer! - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE VELVET CURTAIN - - -"This gets me well out of my depth, Mr. Addison," said Inspector -Gatton. - -We were standing in the garden at a point near to my open study -window. A small flower-bed intervened between the path and the high -privet hedge. It lay much in shade, and Coates had set tobacco plants -there. But the soil was softer here than elsewhere. - -Clearly marked upon it were the imprints of little high-heeled shoes. - -"It seems to take us back to the days of 'Spring-heeled Jack,'" my -friend continued; "which was before my time! I don't think _that_ -mystery was ever cleared up?" - -"No," I replied, meeting his questioning glance; "it never was, -satisfactorily. Therefore the analogy is an unfortunate one. But as -you say, it certainly looks as though my visitor had sprung across a -six-foot hedge!" - -"It's absolutely mad," said Gatton gloomily. "Far from helping us, it -only plunges us deeper in the mire." - -We returned to the study, and: - -"You will have seen the daily papers?" asked the Inspector. - -I nodded. - -"Practically all of them. They give a hateful prominence to the name -of Miss Merlin." - -"And to that of the new baronet--Sir Eric," said Gatton significantly. - -I stared at him straightly. - -"Do you seriously believe," said I, "that Eric Coverly had anything -whatever to do with the death of his cousin?" - -Gatton stirred uneasily in his chair. - -"Well," he answered, "ignoring everything else for the moment, who -else benefits by Sir Marcus Coverly's death?" - -It was a poser--a question which I had dreaded because I had known it -to be unanswerable. - -"He inherits the title," continued Gatton, "and on the death of Lady -Burnham Coverly he inherits Friars' Park. There is some clause or -entail, or legal hotchpotch whereby the estate and revenue remain hers -during her lifetime." - -"But I understand the estate is mortgaged?" - -"That I have to confirm, Mr. Addison," replied Gatton. "Sir Eric's -solicitor has no information on the point and that of Sir Marcus's man -of business is inexact. But even supposing that only the title is -concerned, many a man has lost his life for less. Then you have to -consider--Miss Merlin." - -"In what way?" I demanded - -"In relation to the attitude of Sir Marcus. Jealousy makes men (and -women) do strange and desperate things. The character of Eric Coverly, -the new baronet, is a very odd one." - -"He is headstrong and in some respects weak," I admitted. "But -otherwise he is an ordinary English gentleman, with the traditions of -an old name and a public school to back him up. I tell you, Gatton, -it's nonsense. His army career alone shows him to be a sound man." - -"Yes," murmured Gatton; "he was awarded a decoration for distinguished -service in Egypt." - -That seemingly simple remark struck me with all the force of a -physical blow. Gatton began quietly to load his pipe, without even -glancing in my direction; but the covert significance of his words was -all too apparent: - -"Gatton," I said--"what the devil are you driving at?" - -He slightly shrugged his shoulders. - -"What you may term the hocus-pocus side of the case," he replied, -"turns on matters Egyptian, doesn't it? Very well. Who else, that we -know about, is associated, or ever has been associated with Egypt?" - -"But--the woman?" - -"Ah!" said Gatton. "Now you are getting down to the depths. But -assuming that the extraordinary characteristics of this visitor of -yours can be explained in some way, by deliberate trickery, for -example, might she not be a woman whom Eric Coverly met in Egypt?" - -I stared silently a while, and then: - -"In short, a rival of Miss Merlin's?" I suggested. - -"Precisely. The trick with the photograph was just of the kind one -would expect from a madly jealous woman. Everything planned with -supreme cunning, but the scene at which the hated rival enters the -scheme badly overdone." - -"And you believe Coverly's silence to be due to the fact that he is -shielding some one?" - -"Well, that or shielding himself. What else can it mean? A man -suspected of murder doesn't hesitate to establish an alibi unless he -is in a desperately tight corner. The exact position of your -strange-eyed acquaintance in the case is not apparent to me at the -moment, I'll admit, but I seem to have heard that there have been rare -instances of human beings with luminous eyes." - -"Quite right, Inspector," I agreed; "I hope very shortly to have some -further particulars for you bearing upon this point. I am endeavoring -to obtain a work by Saint-Hilaire dealing with teratology." - -"As to her extraordinary activity and agility," Gatton continued, "we -must remember that a privet hedge is not like a stone wall. I mean she -may not have actually cleared the whole six feet, and after all, this -is the age of the athletic girl. There are women athletes who can -perform some extraordinary feats of high-jumping. Of course, there are -still a number of witnesses to be discovered and examined, but I know -by now exactly what to expect. It's an ingenious idea, although not -entirely new to me. - -"The whole thing has been managed by means of the telephone--a -powerful ally of the modern criminal. Briefly what happened was this: -The Red House--selected because of its lonely position, but also -because it was fairly accessible--was leased by our missing assassin -without any personal interview taking place. We have to look then in -the first instance for some one possessing considerable financial -resources. It was by the effective substitution of a year's rent--in -cash--for the more usual references, that our man--or woman--whom I -will call 'A' secured possession of the keys and right of entry to the -premises. A limited amount of furniture was obtained in the same -manner. We haven't found the firm who supplied it, but I don't doubt -that the business was done over the telephone, cash being paid as -before. Duplicate keys must have been made for some of the doors, I -think--a simple matter. We shall find that the furnishing people as -well as the caterer who later on supplied the supper were admitted to -the Red House by a district messenger or else had the keys posted to -them for the purpose. - -"The whole business was built up around a central idea, simple in -itself: that of inveigling Sir Marcus into the prepared supper-room. -His attendance at the New Avenue Theater last night was doubtless -assured--although we may never prove it--by another of these -mysterious telephone messages, probably purporting to come from Miss -Merlin. The cold-blooded thoroughness with which 'A' arranged for a -crate to be delivered at the garage and for the body of the murdered -man to be taken to the docks and shipped to the West Indies, -illuminates the character of the person we have to seek. - -"Discovery sooner or later was inevitable, of course. It came sooner -because of the accident at the docks. Had it come later I don't doubt -that 'A' would have dismantled the Red House again so that the -investigation would have been severely handicapped. As it is, the only -dismantling done was the most important of all." - -"You mean?" I said with keen interest. - -"The death-machine," answered Gatton. "The cunning device around which -all these trappings were erected. We don't have to wait for the -coroner's inquest nor the pathologists' report to know that Sir Marcus -was asphyxiated." - -"In that room where supper was laid for two?" I muttered. - -"Can you doubt it?" - -"No," I said, "and I don't." - -"I have allowed nothing to be touched," continued Gatton, "and I am -going around there now to make a final attempt to unravel the mystery -of how Sir Marcus met his death." - -"There is one detail," said I, "which it seems impossible to fit into -its proper place in the scheme. The figure of Bâst painted upon the -crate--you have that at Scotland Yard--and the little image of the -goddess which was stolen from my table last night." - -Gatton stood up, uttering a sigh. - -"I have always found, Mr. Addison," he replied, "that it is these -outstanding features of a case, these pieces which don't seem to fit, -that are the most valuable clews. It's the apparently simple cases in -which there is no outstanding point that are the most baffling." - -I laughed shortly. - -"One could not very well complain of the lack of such features in 'the -_Oritoga_ mystery,'" I said. "As a confrère of mine remarked when the -body of Sir Marcus was discovered in the crate, the whole thing is as -mad as 'Alice in Wonderland'!" - -Gatton presently departed for the Red House and I accompanied him, for -I was intensely curious to learn by what means the murder of Sir -Marcus had been accomplished. As I proposed later in the morning to -call on Isobel, Coates drove Gatton and myself as far as the Red House -and I instructed the man to wait for me. - -Although the morning was still young, the prominence given by the -press to this sensational crime had resulted in the presence of quite -a considerable group of pilgrims who even thus early had arrived to -look upon the scene of the mysterious tragedy. London is a city of -onlookers. The most trivial street accident never lacks its interested -audience, and a house in which a murder is reputed to have taken place -becomes a center upon which the idly curious focus from the four -points of the compass. - -Our arrival created a subdued excitement amongst the nondescript group -gathered upon the pavement. Despite the efforts of a constable on -duty, men, women and children persistently gathered before the gates -of the drive peering up at the empty house as if they anticipated -seeing the face of the murderer or an apparition of the victim appear -behind one of the windows. A considerable group, too, was gathered -before the garage, but as Gatton and I descended and began to walk up -the drive there was a general movement in our direction. - -"I wonder," said I, "if 'A,' the wanted man, is among the crowd? One -reads that murderers are irresistibly drawn back to the scene of their -crimes." - -"He may be," replied Gatton; "anyway there are two C.I.D. men there -for certain, so that 'A' will do well to be upon his guard." - -A few moments later I found myself again in the lounge-hall of the Red -House; and the place now seemed to me to have taken on an air of -oppressive mystery. In the very deserted silence of the house I -detected something sinister. Of course, no doubt this was merely an -effect created upon my mind by the ghastly associations of the place; -but I know that whereas on the previous day surprise and curiosity had -been the most characteristic emotions aroused by our discoveries -there, this morning something darker seemed to have taken their place; -and I found myself listening for a sound that never came and wondering -vaguely and vainly, what secret was hidden in this desolate mansion. - -By Gatton's orders the room in which that gruesome supper was laid had -been left undisturbed and once more we stood surveying the spotless -napery and sparkling silver. I listened to the ticking of the clock -upon the mantelpiece and stared dully at the wine resting in the -ice-pail which now contained nothing but dirty water. A big dish of -fruit stood upon the table, peaches and apricots and nectarines; and -several large wasps had entered through one of the windows which some -one had opened, and were buzzing sleepily around the dish. -Lastly--there beside the clock stood Isobel's photograph. - -For any evidence of a struggle I looked in vain, but the nature of my -companion's investigation was more obscure. Again the whole of his -attention seemed to be directed upon the wall, the window-ledges and -the door-frame. Suddenly: - -"Ah," I said, "I know what you are looking for! Some connection -between this room and the garage?" - -Gatton, who was kneeling examining a lower panel of the door, looked -up with a grim smile. - -"Perhaps I am," he replied. - -By the tone of his voice I knew that whatever he had sought he had -failed once more to find. Presently, desisting from this quest of his, -he stood and stared curiously for some time at a recess immediately -behind one of the high-backed chairs drawn up to the supper table. We -had already explored this recess and had found it to be vacant. Gatton -advanced towards it and drew aside the curtain which was draped in the -opening. - -It was a recess about four feet wide by three deep and it contained -nothing in the nature of furniture or ornament. - -"Does anything strike you as curious about this arrangement?" said my -companion. - -I looked for a long time, but failed to detect anything of a notable -nature. - -"Nothing," I said, "except that it seems a peculiar idea to drape a -curtain before a recess in that way." - -"And such a curtain!" said Gatton, fingering the texture. - -I in turn touched the material with my fingers and found it to be an -extremely heavy velvet. Looking upward, I noticed that it was attached -to a rod set so high in the wall on either side that the top of the -drapery actually touched the ceiling. - -"Well," said Gatton, looking at me oddly, "in addition to the texture -of the curtain do you notice anything else?" - -"No," I confessed. - -"Well," he continued, "you may remember that yesterday when I examined -this place, I had to drape the curtain over a chair, which I moved -here for the purpose, in order to see the recess." - -"So you did," I said; "I remember." - -"Well, doesn't it strike you as odd? If you'll notice the way it is -fastened above, you will see that it is not upon rings. In other words -it is not intended to be opened. You see that it is in one piece so -that anybody having occasion to enter the recess would have to lift it -aside and let it fall to behind him." - -I studied the arrangement of the drapings more closely and saw that -his statement was correct; also I saw something else, and: - -"This room has been lighted by gas at some time!" I cried. "Here, up -under the picture-rail, is a plug." - -"Most houses are provided both with gas and electric light about -here," replied Gatton abstractedly. - -But even before he had finished speaking I saw his expression change, -and in a moment he had dragged a chair into the recess. - -"Hold the curtain back," he directed sharply. - -Standing on the chair, he began to examine the little brass plug to -which I had drawn his attention. For some time I watched him in -silence, and then: - -"What do you think you have found?" I inquired. - -He glanced down over his shoulder. - -"I think I have found a _clew_!" he replied. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -"HANGING EVIDENCE" - - -Isobel came into the room and approached the chair from which I had -arisen. In her plain morning frock, with the sun bringing out those -wonderful russet tints in her hair, but having that frightened look -still in her eyes, she had never seemed more beautiful. Yet I saw as I -rose to greet her that she was laboring under the influence of -dangerous nervous excitement. - -"You are worried about Eric?" I said, when we had exchanged those -rather formal greetings in which I think we took mutual shelter. -Certainly I did, and later I was to know that Isobel did so, too. - -"Every day seems to make the case grow blacker against him," she -replied, sinking down upon the settee beside me. - -And indeed the shadow which had fallen upon all of us seemed at that -moment almost palpable--a thing to be felt like the darkness of Egypt -and not to be dispelled even by the brightness of the morning. - -"When did you last see Coverly?" - -Isobel raised her head wearily. - -"Last night, and he seemed to think that some one was following him--a -detective." - -I noticed that Isobel spoke of Eric Coverly with a certain manner of -restraint for which I could not account. Yet perhaps it was only -natural that she should do so, but at the time I was foolishly blind -to the opposing emotions which fought and conflicted within her. - -"He still refused to explain his movements on the night of the -murder?" I asked. - -"Yes, he persisted in his extraordinary silence," said Isobel. - -The look of trouble in her eyes grew more acute. - -"What I cannot understand is a sort of attitude of resentment which he -has lately adopted." - -"Of resentment? Towards whom?" - -"Towards _me_." - -"But--" - -"Oh, it's quite incomprehensible, Jack, and it is making me horribly -unhappy. He complained so bitterly too about this police surveillance -to which he is subjected. He realizes that the coroner is almost -certain to put a wrong construction on his silence, but instead of -being frank about it he adopts, even when alone with me, this -incomprehensible attitude of resentment. In fact his behavior almost -suggests that _I_ am responsible for his present misfortunes." - -"He must be mad," I said, and I expect I spoke bitterly, for Isobel -lowered her eyes and her face flushed with embarrassment. - -"Don't think that I condemn him," I added hastily, "but really in -justice to you, if not in order to clear his own good name, he should -speak out at once. Are you expecting to see him to-day?" - -Isobel nodded. - -"I am expecting him at almost any moment," she replied; then glancing -aside at a number of daily papers which lay littered upon the floor -beside the settee: "Of course you have seen what the press has to say -about it?" she added. - -I nodded. - -"What can you expect?" said I. "It is one of those cases in which -practically all the evidence, although it is of a purely -circumstantial nature, points to an innocent man as the culprit. I -feel very keenly annoyed with Coverly, for not only is he involving -both of you in a most unsavory case but he is also hindering the work -of justice. In fact by his inexplicable silence he is, although no -doubt unconsciously, affording the murderer time to elude the law." - -Even as I spoke the words I heard a cab draw up in the street below, -and glancing out of the window, I saw Coverly alight from the cab, pay -the man and enter the doorway. His bearing was oddly furtive, that, as -I thought with a sudden pang, of a fugitive. A few moments later he -came into the room and his expression when he found me there was one -of marked hostility. - -Eric Coverly bore no resemblance whatever to the deceased baronet from -whom he inherited the title, belonging as he did to quite another -branch of the family. Whereas Sir Marcus had been of a dark and sallow -type, Eric Coverly was one of those fair, fresh-colored, open-air -English types, handsome in an undistinguished way, and as a rule of a -light and careless disposition. There had never been any very close -sympathy between us, for the studies to which I devoted so much time -were by him regarded as frankly laughable absurdities. Although well -enough informed, he was typical of his class, and no one could justly -have catalogued him as an intellectual. - -"Good morning, Addison," he said, having greeted Isobel in a -perfunctory fashion which I assumed to be accounted for by my -unwelcome presence. "The men of your Fleet Street tribe have conspired -to hang me, I see." - -"Don't talk nonsense, Coverly," I said bruskly; "this misapprehension -is bound to arise if you decline to give any account of your -movements." - -"But it is an outrage!" cried Coverly hotly. "What the devil do _I_ -know about Marcus's death?" - -"I am perfectly convinced that you know nothing whatever; but then I -have known you for many years. The 'Fleet Street tribe' to whom you -refer merely regard you as a unit of our rather large population. In a -case of this kind, Coverly, all men are equal." - -Whilst I had been delivering myself of this somewhat priggish -speech--designed, I may add, in self-defense, to spur Coverly to a -rejoinder which might throw some light upon the mystery--he had -regarded me with an expression of ever increasing dislike. I noted -that there were shadows under his eyes, and that he was in a highly -nervous and excited condition. He had slept but little I judged during -the last forty-eight hours and had possibly had recourse to stimulants -to enable him to face the new trials which arose with every day. - -"I don't feel called upon," he said angrily, "to give an account of my -movements to every policeman who cares to inquire. I know nothing -whatever about the matter. I have said so, and I am not accustomed to -have my word doubted." - -"My dear Coverly," said I, "you must be perfectly well aware that -sooner or later you will have to relinquish this heroic pose. Will you -allow no one to advise you? You will have to answer the coroner, and -if you persist in this extraordinary refusal to give a simple answer -to a simple question, surely you realize that the matter will be -transferred to a higher tribunal?" - -"Oh, I told you that they had hanged me in Fleet Street already, -Isobel!" cried Coverly, with a burst of unmirthful laughter. - -But (and no man could have construed the thing favorably to Coverly) -to my anger and amazement he added: - -"Let them do it! I'll speak if I choose, but not otherwise!" - -That I was annoyed with the young fool already, my remarks to him, -which had transgressed every code of good taste, must sufficiently -have shown. But I had hoped to provoke him to a declaration which -would clear his name from the shadow which was settling darkly upon -it, and which would raise that shadow from the girl who stood beside -him, watching me with a sort of reproachful look in her dark eyes. - -Now I recognized that I could remain no longer and keep the peace, -therefore: - -"Perhaps it is time that I went about my own business," I said, -conjuring up a smile, although it must have been a dreary one, "and -ceased to interfere with the affairs of other people. Good-by, Isobel. -Anything I can do, you know you may command. Good-by, Coverly. I am -deeply sorry about this business." - -He barely touched my extended hand, but instantly turned and walked to -the bay window. Descending to the street, I had immediate confirmation -of Coverly's statement that his movements were watched. - -In the porch below a man stood talking to the hall-porter. As I -appeared he immediately averted his face and began to light a -cigarette. Nevertheless I had had time to recognize him as the man who -had brought Gatton news of Marie's detention. - -It was in a truly perturbed frame of mind that I proceeded on my way -to the _Planet_ offices. I would have sacrificed much to have been -afforded means to comfort Isobel; a furious anger towards the man who -thus deliberately had brought doubt and unhappiness upon her had taken -up permanent quarters in my mind. I counted Coverly's declination to -clear himself little better than the attitude of a cad. - -I read religiously through a pile of cuttings bearing upon the case, -and found the unmistakable trend of opinion to be directed towards -Coverly as the culprit. The use made of Isobel's name enraged me to -boiling point and I presently took up the entire bundle of cuttings -and crammed them into a waste-paper basket. I was engaged in stamping -them down with my foot when I was called to the telephone. - -Inspector Gatton was speaking from New Scotland Yard; and his voice -was very grave. - -"Can you possibly come along at once?" he asked. "There is a new -development; a most unpleasant one." - -He would say no more over the telephone. Therefore I hurried out to -where Coates was waiting, and in ten minutes found myself in one of -those bare, comfortless apartments which characterize the headquarters -of the Metropolitan Police Force. - -With his hat off Gatton looked more like a seaman than ever, for he -had short, crisply curly hair and that kind of bull-dog line of -cranium which one associates with members of the senior service. Upon -a chair set in a recess formed by one of the lofty windows a leather -grip rested. It was wet and stained, and had palpably been recovered -but recently from the water. Seeing my glance straying towards this -object at the moment of my entrance, the Inspector nodded. - -"Yes," said he, "it has just come in." - -"What is it?" - -"Well," replied Gatton, sitting upon a corner of the table and folding -his arms, "it is a piece of evidence sufficient to hang the most -innocent man breathing." - -He eyed me in a significant manner and I felt my heart beginning to -beat more rapidly. - -"May I know the particulars?" - -"Certainly. I asked you to come along for the purpose of telling you. -Sir Eric Coverly's refusal to answer the questions put to him had -necessitated his being watched, as you know. I mean to say, it's -sheerly automatic; the Commissioner himself couldn't make an -exception. Well, last night he left his chambers and started for Miss -Merlin's flat. He came out of a back door and went along a narrow -passage, instead of going out at the front. He evidently thought he -had got away unobserved. He was carrying--that." - -"Good heavens!" I said. "The young fool seems determined to put a rope -around his own neck." - -"As a matter of fact," continued Gatton, "he was _not_ unobserved. He -was followed right across St. James's Park. By the lake he lingered -for some time; and the man tracking him kept carefully out of sight, -of course. There was nobody else about at the moment, and presently, -thinking himself safe, Coverly dropped his bag in the water! -Immediately he set off walking rapidly again, and he was followed -right to Miss Merlin's door. But the spot where he had dropped the bag -had been marked, of course, and when I came in here to-day it had been -fished, up--and placed there for my inspection." - -With ever-growing misgivings: - -"What does it contain?" I asked. - -Inspector Gatton walked across to the chair and threw the bag open. -First he took out several lumps of wet coal. - -"To weight it, of course," he said. - -Then one by one he withdrew from the clammy interior a series of -ragged garments, the garments of a tramp. A pair of heavy boots there -were, a pair of patched trousers and an old shabby coat, a greasy cap, -and finally a threadbare red muffler! - -Gatton looked hard at me. - -"He will have to break his obstinate silence now," he said. "Failing -our discovery of new clews pointing in another direction, this is -hanging evidence!" - -"It is maddening!" I cried. "Can nothing be done, Gatton? Is there no -possible line of inquiry hitherto neglected which might lead to the -discovery of the truth? For whatever your own ideas may be, personally -I am certain that Coverly is innocent." - -Gatton replaced the sodden garments one by one in the bag, frowning as -he did so, and: - -"It occurred to me this morning," he replied, "that there _is_ one -inquiry which in justice to the suspected man and in order to round -off the investigation, should be instituted. I'm afraid Coverly will -have a bad time in the Coroner's court, but it is even possible that -something might be done before the inquest. Now--" - -He looked at me quizzically, and: - -"Knowing your keen personal interest in the case, I am going to make a -suggestion. It is probably going outside the intentions of the chief -in regard to your share of the inquiry, but I'll risk that. I -stipulate, however, that anything you learn is to be communicated -direct to me, not to the _Planet_. Is this arrangement consistent with -your journalistic conscience?" - -"Quite," I said eagerly; "my contributions to the _Planet_ are always -subject, of course, to your censorship. What is it that you propose I -should do?" - -"This," said Gatton tersely; "I should like to know under what -circumstances Mr. Roger Coverly died." - -"Roger Coverly?" I echoed. - -"The son of Sir Burnham Coverly," continued Gatton, "and therefore the -direct heir to the title. He died somewhere abroad about five or six -years ago, and as a result the late Sir Marcus inherited the baronetcy -on the death of his uncle, Sir Burnham. You will remember that the -man, Morris, spoke of the ill-feeling existing between Lady Burnham -Coverly and Sir Marcus, because of the premature death of her own son, -of course." - -"I follow you," I said eagerly. "You suggest that I should go down to -Friar's Park and interview Lady Burnham Coverly?" - -"Exactly," replied Gatton. "It's very irregular, of course, but I know -you well enough to take my chance of a carpeting. I may send a C.I.D. -man down as well. I've too much to do in town to think of going -myself; but I will advise you of any such step." - -The motive underlying Inspector Gatton's suggestion was perfectly -evident to me and I experienced a feeling of gratitude for the -humanity which directed it. I held out my hand, and: - -"Thanks, Gatton," I said; "you can leave the matter in my care with -every confidence. I will start for Friar's Park to-day." - -"Good," replied Gatton. "Let me give you a hint. Take a good pistol -with you!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE SCARRED MAN - - -It was towards the hour of seven in the evening that I reached the -Abbey Inn at Upper Crossleys, itself among the most hoary buildings of -the ancient village. It belonged to the days when white-clad brethren -from the once great monastery of Croix-de-lis had labored in the abbey -meadows and fished in the little stream which ran slowly through a -neighboring valley. Time had scarred it deeply and the balcony -overhanging the coachyard sagged in a rather alarming fashion as -though about to drop down from sheer old age. - -The surrounding country had impressed me at first sight. There were -long billowing hills and vales, much of their surface densely wooded, -but with wide spaces under cultivation and even greater tracts of a -sort of heath-land very wild in aspect and conjuring up pictures of -outlaws' camps and the clash of battling feudal days. Hard by had -resided of old a warden of the marches, and the ruins of his stronghold -might still be seen on the crest of a near-by hill. - -From the room allotted to me I could look out over a varied prospect -of farmland and heath, terminated by the woody slopes which everywhere -hemmed in the valley. Peeping above the outer fringe of trees showed -a tower of some old house whereof the rest was hidden by verdure. - -Having partaken of a typical country dinner, the small number of -courses being amply compensated by their quantity, I lighted my pipe -and went down to the bar-parlor, being minded to learn something of -the neighborhood at first hand from any chance visitor who might serve -my purpose. - -The landlord, a somewhat taciturn member of his class, sat behind the -bar, pipe in mouth, as I entered, and only one other man was in the -room. This was a gipsy-looking fellow, with a very wild eye, attired -in the manner of a game-keeper, and wearing leggings and a fur cap. A -sporting rifle stood in the corner beside him. The landlord nodded, -and the other gave me a "Good evening" as I entered, whereupon I -determined to try the game-keeper as the more likely source of -information, and: - -"Is the shooting good hereabouts?" I asked, by way of opening a -conversation. - -My inquiry seemed hugely to amuse the man. - -"None better," was the reply; "it's thick with game, sir, it is for -sure--and nobody to profit, only"--he winked at the landlord--"young -Jim Corder!" - -The landlord emitted a deep grunt which was evidently recognized by -the other as a laugh; for he himself laughed in a wild and not wholly -pleasant manner, whereby I concluded that "young Jim Corder" was a -standing joke in the neighborhood. - -"You look as though you knew a hare from a partridge," said I, "so -I'll take your word for it." - -This remark provoked a second and deeper growl from the landlord and a -further burst of outlandish laughter from my acquaintance, the -game-keeper. Presently: - -"Why, sir, if I tell you," declared the latter, "them birds all know -me like I was their father, they do. I says, 'Good morning' regular -and them birds all bows to me, they does." - -When the laughter had subsided, scenting possible information: - -"I gather," said I, "that you get few shooting-parties nowadays?" - -Gloom descended upon both my gossips. - -"You're right, you are, sir," replied the game-keeper. "He's right, -ain't he, Martin?" - -Martin, the landlord, growled. It occurred to me that he regarded the -other with a certain disfavor. - -"This 'ere country," continued the game-keeper, vaguely waving his arm -around, "is a blighted spot. A blighted spot, ain't it, Martin?" - -Martin growled, whilst the game-keeper studied him covertly. - -"Since Sir Burnham went to his long rest these 'ere parts ain't knowed -themselves. I'm tellin' you, sir. Ain't knowed 'emselves. It's all -that quiet, winter and summer alike. The Park all shut up; and the -Park _was_ the Park in them days--warn't it, Martin?" - -Martin achieved speech; he removed his pipe, and: - -"It were, Hawkins," he concurred. - -Silence fell for a minute or two. My new acquaintance, Hawkins, and -Martin both seemed to be pondering upon the degeneracy of Upper -Crossleys, and I could mot help thinking that Hawkins took a secret -delight in it. Then: - -"Surely the Park is still occupied by Lady Coverly?" I asked. - -"Aye," Hawkins nodded. "She's kep' me on, me and the missus, she has, -like the real lady she is. But things is different; things is wrong. -Ain't they, Martin?" he asked, with a mischievous glance at the stolid -host. - -"Things is," agreed Martin. - -"Best part of Park be shut up," declared Hawkins. "Horses gone, -carriages gone, everybody gone; only me and my old woman." - -"There must be house servants," I interjected. - -"My old woman!" cried Hawkins triumphantly; "same as I'm tellin' you!" - -"You mean that Lady Coverly lives alone in the place with only--er, -Mrs. Hawkins to look after her?" - -It was Martin the landlord who answered my question. - -"Things ain't right," he observed, and returned to his mouth the pipe -which he had removed for the purpose of addressing me. - -"You don't know half of it," declared Hawkins. "What's _my_ job, for -instance? I ask you--what is it?" - -Having thus spoken, he exchanged a significant look with the landlord -and relapsed into silence. Even my offer to replenish his tankard, -although it was accepted, did not result in any further confidences. -Prospects of crops and fruit were briefly touched upon, but that -exchange of glances between mine host and Hawkins seemed to have been -mutually understood to mean that the conversation touching Friar's -Park had proceeded far enough. - -It was very mystifying, and naturally it served only to pique my -curiosity. A certain quality of loneliness which had seemed to belong -to the village, even in the brightness of the summer evening, now -asserted itself potently. Seated there in the quiet little inn parlor, -I recalled that many of the old-world cottages to right and left of -the Abbey Inn had exhibited every indication of being deserted, and -the lack of patrons instanced by the emptiness of the bar-parlor was -certainly not ascribable to the quality of the ale, which was -excellent. A sort of blight it would seem had descended upon humanity -in Upper Crossleys. It was all very curious. - -Reflecting upon the matter, and sometimes interjecting a word or two -into the purely technical and very desultory conversation proceeding -between the landlord and Hawkins, I sat looking from one to the other, -more than ever convinced that no friendship was lost between them. My -position in the room was such that any one entering would not detect -my presence until he was right up to the bar, and to this sheltered -seat I was undoubtedly indebted for a very strange experience. - -During a lull in the patently forced conversation I heard footsteps -upon the cobbles outside. Hawkins and the landlord exchanged a swift -glance, and then to my surprise they both stared at me questioningly. -Before a word could be exchanged, however, and before I had time even -to surmise what this covert uneasiness might portend, a young fellow -entered whose carriage and dress immediately attracted my attention. - -He was attired, then, in a sort of burlesque "fashionable" lounge suit -and wore a straw hat set rakishly backward on his well-oiled dark -hair. He carried gloves and a malacca cane, and his gait was one of -assured superiority. He was a stoutly-built, muscular young fellow and -might ordinarily have been good-looking after a rustic fashion, but -what principally rendered him noticeable was the fact that he wore -surgical bandages around his neck in lieu of a collar and that his -face was literally a mosaic of sticking-plaster! - -"Evening, Martin--evening, Hawkins," he said jauntily; and advancing -to the bar, "The usual, Martin." - -As he gave the order and as the landlord turned to execute it, -exhibiting a sort of half-amused deference, the embarrassed glance of -Hawkins, who was watching me uncomfortably, drew the newcomer's -attention to my presence. He turned in a flash and I saw those parts -of his face which were visible between the pieces of strapping to turn -fierily red. His brown eyes glared at me, and: - -"Martin!" he cried, throwing out his hand in the landlord's direction, -"Martin, damn you! There is a stranger here! Why the devil didn't you -tell me?" - -"Sorry, Mr. Edward," said the landlord, setting a glass of whisky -before the excited man. "No time." - -"It's a lie!" cried the other, with a wild fury which so trivial a -matter did not seem to warrant, "a deliberate damned lie! You want to -make me the laughing-stock of the place!" - -Taking up the newly-filled glass, he dashed it violently to the sanded -floor, so that it was shattered to bits. Then, snatching off his hat, -he held it as a shield between my inquiring gaze and his plastered -face, and ran out of the room. At the door: - -"Damn you all!" he shouted back at us. - -I heard his quick footsteps receding. Then, as he turned the corner -the sound died away. I looked across at Hawkins. He was staring into -his tankard with which he was describing slow circles as if to stir -the contents. Martin, having raised the bar-flap was phlegmatically -engaged in sweeping up the fragments of glass into a dustpan. It came -to me all at once that these simple folk regarded the other's outburst -as a personal matter; their attitude was that of the grieved elders of -a family, some member of which has misbehaved himself. But assuredly I -was not prepared to concur in this shielding silence; the pressman -within me demanded an explanation. - -"A strange young man," I said tentatively. "Very touchy, I should -think?" - -"Touchy?" repeated Hawkins, glancing up quickly. "I seen him take Tom -Pike by the scruff of his neck and the seat of his pants and pitch him -in the horse-trough for askin' of him who his tailor was, I have." - -"Indeed," said I, "a local Carpentier, no doubt?" - -"Ah," said Martin, glancing at me as he turned to his seat behind the -bar. "Very 'andy with 'is 'ands." - -"He is evidently acutely sensitive of his present disfigurement. Might -I suggest that his most recent encounter was with a barbed-wire -entanglement?" - -But to my acute disappointment, Martin merely growled, shaking his -head gloomily; and in this significant gesture he was closely imitated -by Hawkins. Therefore: - -"Is he badly disfigured?" I persisted. - -"Only one is deep," replied Hawkins, glancing almost apologetically at -the landlord. The unfortunate incident seemed to have drawn them more -closely together. "The one on his neck. But he prides himself on his -looks, don't he, Martin?" - -"He do," agreed Martin. - -I took the bull by the horns. I never neglect an opportunity of this -nature, for however irrelevant to the matter in hand an episode may -seem to be, not infrequently I have found that it is by the pursuit of -such chance clews that one is led to the very piece of news that is -sought. - -"Drink up, gentlemen," I said, "and as the night draws on, we shall -just have time for a peg of whisky before ten o'clock." - -My effort proved successful, for whilst Martin prepared the ordered -drinks, almost with alacrity, Hawkins became quite confidential. - -"Young Mr. Edward Hines that was, sir," he confided, in a church -whisper. "His father is the biggest farmer round these parts and young -Mr. Edward is a terror with the gals, he is. Mind you, he's straight -out about it. Comes in here, he do, and says straight out who he's -after. And it's woe betide the one who takes him up on it. I'm glad my -gal is up to London, with that Mr. Edward about, I am." - -The drinks being placed upon the counter, he ceased, and: - -"Good health!" said I; then: "Yes--about our mutilated young friend?" -I prompted. - -"Well," continued Hawkins--"it's kind o' funny, ain't it, Martin?" - -The landlord growled. - -"Mr. Edward he come in here three weeks back all puffed up with -himself. Said he'd got an appointment with a lady down from London -what was coming all the way from West Wingham to see him. Didn't he, -Martin?" - -Martin corroborated. - -"He see her, too," declared Hawkins with a sort of schoolboy naïveté. -"And he see her again four nights after. She give him a present--a -keepsake. He showed us. Then he seen her a third time, and--" - -Hawkins ceased speaking and looked at the landlord as if mutely -appealing for his aid in making clear to me what occurred at this -third tryst with the mysterious "lady from London." - -"Go on," prompted Martin. "Tell him. He's stopping here; he's all -right." - -I keenly appreciated the compliment conveyed by this, the landlord's -longest speech of the evening, and raised my glass to him. "Well, -then," Hawkins resumed, "we didn't see him for a night or two, but on -the Wednesday--" - -"The Thursday," corrected Martin. - -"Right you are, Martin," agreed Hawkins--"the Thursday it were. I met -Farmer Hines comin' back from Wingham market as I came here mid-day. -It were the Thursday. Well, then, on the Thursday young Mr. Edward he -turns up after dark. Sort of slinked in he did. There was three or -four of us here, there was that night, wasn't there, Martin? 'Course -it were market day. Slinked in he did, and his face was like you see -it to-night only worse. He never said a word to nobody and nobody -never said nothin' to him, not likely. Just gulped down a double -Scotch and slinked out. What do you think about that for a story, eh, -sir?" - -He looked at me triumphantly. For my own part I must confess I was -disappointed. A cat-and-dog squabble between a rustic Lothario and -some local virago did not excite me so intensely as it seemed to -excite my companions. - -"Is that all you know of the matter?" I asked. - -"No," answered Martin, "it ain't. Tell him, Hawkins." - -"Aye," resumed Hawkins, "he might as well know, as he's livin' here. -Well, sir, young Mr. Edward he's very quiet about what happened to -him. Maybe we shouldn't have thought so much about it like if it -hadn't been that in this very bar, six months ago, he'd plagued the -life out of young Harry Adams." - -"For what reason?" I asked idly; the conversation was beginning to -bore me. But: - -"Young Harry Adams," explained Hawkins with gusto, and his former -wicked look returning to his eyes, "at one time was Mr. Edward's only -rival with the gals, he was. A good-lookin' young fellow; got a -commission in the war he did. He's up to London now. Well, six months -ago young Harry Adams come staggerin' in here one night with blood -runnin' from his face and neck. He fell down in that seat where you're -sitting now and fainted right off, didn't he, Martin? We had to send -young Jim Corder (what used to come here in them days) off runnin' all -the way past Leeways for the doctor. Ah, that were a night." - -"It were," agreed Martin. - -"Same as Mr. Edward," continued the narrator, "young Harry Adams -wouldn't say a word about what happened to him. But when Mr. Edward -first see him, all over sticking-plaster, he laughed till the pots -nearly fell off the hooks, he did. Little did he guess his own turn -was to come!" - -My interest revived. - -"Then in the case of, er--Mr. Adams," I said, "you never had any -particulars whatever?" - -"Never," replied Martin. "Time, please, gentlemen." - -"Aye," said Hawkins, rising. "Time it be. Well, good night, sir. Good -night, Martin." - -"Good night." - -Hawkins moved towards the door, and indeed was on the point of going -out when I remembered something which I had meant to ask earlier, but -which, owing to lack of opportunity, I had postponed asking. - -"You spoke of a gift or keepsake, which the lady from London gave to -Mr. Hines," I said. "I think you mentioned that he had shown it to -you. I am rather curious about this story. Might I ask the nature of -the gift?" - -"Aye, to be sure," answered Hawkins, standing half in shadow on the -step of the bar-parlor, rifle on shoulder, where I thought he made a -very wild figure. "Brought it here, he did. All of us see it. That -stuck up about it, he was. Not as I should have thought much of it if -a party had give it to me, I do say." - -"Then what was it?" - -"Why--it were a little figure like--gold _he_ said it were, but brass -I reckon. Ugly it were, but he says he's goin' to wear it on his -watch-chain. Good night, sir." - -He turned and departed, but: - -"What kind of figure?" I called after him. - -Out of the darkness his voice came back: - -"A sort of a _cat_, sir." - -And I heard his outlandish laughter dying away in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -I DREAM OF GREEN EYES - - -It was long enough before sleep visited me that night. For nearly half -an hour I stood at my open window looking across a moon-bathed slope -to where a tower projected, ghostly, above the fringe of the woods. -The landlord had informed me that it was Friar's Park which could thus -be seen peeping out from the trees, and as I stood watching that -sentinel tower a thousand strange ideas visited me. - -The curious air of loneliness of which I had become conscious at the -moment of my arrival, was emphasized now that the residents in the -district had retired to their scattered habitations. No sound of bird -or beast disturbed the silence. From the time that the footsteps of -Martin the landlord had passed my door as he mounted heavily to his -bed-chamber, no sound had reached me but the muffled ticking of a -grandfather's clock upon the landing outside my room. And even this -sound, the only one intruding upon the stillness, I weaved into my -imaginings, so that presently it began to resemble the ticking of the -clock on the mantelpiece in that gruesome room at the Red House. - -The view which I commanded was an extensive one and although in the -clear country air I could quite easily discern the upstanding wing of -Friar's Park, actually the house and the park were some two miles -distant. Where the park ended and the woods began it was impossible to -determine, yet such was my curious mood that I lingered there -endeavoring to puzzle out those details which were veiled from me by -distance. - -To-morrow, I thought, I should be seeking admittance to that house -among the trees. In fact so great was my anxiety to plumb the depths -of the mystery in the hope of recovering some new fact which should -exculpate Coverly, that nothing but the unseemly lateness of the hour -had deterred me from presenting myself that very evening. - -Yet, my night of idleness had not been altogether unfruitful. I had -met the scarred man, and from Hawkins I had heard something of his -singular story. Now as I stood there drinking in, as it were, the -loneliness of the prospect, my thoughts turned for the hundredth time -to the game-keeper's account of what had befallen the two rustic -rake-hells. I admit that the concluding part of Hawkins' story, quite -evidently regarded by him as a detail of no importance, had -re-awakened hope which had been at lowest ebb in the hour of my -arrival. - -Although it was possible that the gift of a "sort of cat" to young -Edward Hines might prove on investigation to be not a clew but a -will-o'-the-wisp, I preferred to think that fate or the acute -reasoning of Inspector Gatton had sent me down to this quiet country -for a good purpose; and I built great hopes around the figure of the -"lady down from London." Indeed it appeared to me that there were more -lines of investigation demanding attention than alone I could hope to -deal with in the short time at my disposal. Except that I was -determined to visit Friar's Park early on the following day, I -scarcely knew in which direction next to prosecute my inquiries. - -Determining that I should be well-advised to sleep on the problem, I -presently turned in. And when I blew out the candle with which the -chambermaid had provided me, I remember thinking that the moonlight -was so bright that it would have been possible to read moderately -large type without inconvenience. - -I slept perhaps for two hours or more, an unrefreshing sleep disturbed -by dreams of a wildly grotesque nature. Figures increasingly horrible -and menacing crowded upon me; but that which proved the culminating -horror and which finally awakened me, bathed in cold perspiration, was -a dream of two huge green eyes regarding me with a fixed stare, -fascinating and hypnotic, against which evil power I fought in my -dream with all the strength of my will. - -Vaguely defined as if in smoke I could perceive the body of the -creature to which these incredible eyes belonged. It was slender and -sinuous and sometimes I thought it to be that of a human being and -sometimes that of an animal. For at one moment it possessed all the -lines of a woman's form and in the next, with those terrible eyes -regarding me from low down upon the ground, it had assumed the shape -of a crouching beast of prey. This fearsome apparition seemed to be -creeping towards me--nearer and nearer, and was about to spring, I -thought, when I awakened as I have said and sat suddenly upright. - -One thing I immediately perceived which may have accounted for my bad -dreams; I had been sleeping with the moonlight shining directly upon -my face. Another thing I thought I perceived, but endeavored to assure -myself that it represented the aftermath of an unpleasant nightmare. -This was a lithe shape streaking through my open window--a figment of -the imagination, as I concluded at the time, the tail-end of a dream -visibly retreating in the moment of awakening. - -So self-assured of this did I become, that I did not get up to -investigate the matter, nor was there any sound from the road below to -suggest that the figure had been otherwise than imaginary, yet I found -it difficult to woo slumber again, and for nearly an hour I lay -tossing from side to side, listening to the ticking of the -grandfather's clock and constantly seeing in my mind's eye that -deserted supper-room at the Red House. - -And presently as I lay thus, I became aware of two things: first of -the howling of dogs, and, second, of a sort of muttered conversation -which seemed to be taking place somewhere near me. Listening intently, -I thought I could distinguish the voice of a man and that of a woman. -Possibly I was not the only wakeful inhabitant of the Abbey Inn was my -first and most natural idea; but it presently became apparent to me -that the speakers were not in the inn, but outside in the road. - -Curiosity at last overcame inclination. Of the exact time I was not -aware, but I think dawn could not have been far off, and I naturally -wondered who these might be that conversed beneath my window at such -an hour. I rose quietly and crept across the room, endeavoring to -avoid showing my head in the moonlight. By the exercise of a little -ingenuity I obtained a view of the road before the inn doors. - -At first I was unable to make out from whence this muttered -conversation arose, until fixing my attention upon a patch of shadow -underlying a tall tree which stood almost immediately opposite the -window, I presently made out two figures there. Somewhere, a dog was -howling mournfully. - -For a long time I failed to distinguish any more than indefinite -outlines, nor, throughout the murmured colloquy, did I once detect -even so much as a phrase. The night remained perfect and the moon -possessed a tropical brilliance, casting deep and sharply defined -shadows, and lending to the whole visible landscape a quality of -hardness which for some obscure reason set me thinking of a painting -by Wiertz. - -The low-pitched voices continued in what I thought was a dispute. -Something in the voice of the woman, although I could only hear her -occasionally, piqued yet eluded my memory. But it was the voice of a -young woman, whilst that of the man suggested a foreigner of some sort -and one past youth. Subconsciously pursuing the Wiertz idea, I know -not why, I invested the dimly-visible speakers with distinct -personalities. The man became Asmodeus, master of the revels at the -Black Sabbath, and the young woman I cast for that "young witch" -depicted in one of the canvasses of the weird Belgian genius. - -Everything in the black and silver scene seemed to fit the picture. -Here was the unholy tryst, and I pictured the distant woods "peopled -with gray things, the branches burdened with winged creatures arisen -from the pit; the darkness a curtain 'broidered with luminous eyes...." - -And it was my recollection of that phrase, from a work on sorcery, -which now set every nerve tingling. Closely I peered into the masking -shadow, telling myself that I was the victim of a subjective -hallucination. If this was indeed the case or if what I saw was -actual, I must leave each who reads to determine for himself; and the -episodes which follow and which I must presently relate will doubtless -aid the decision. - -But it seemed to me that for one fleeting moment "luminous eyes" -indeed "'broidered the darkness!'" From out of the shade below the big -tree they regarded me greenly--and I saw them no more. - -A while longer I watched, but could not detect any evidence of -movement in the shadow patch. The voices, too, had ceased; so that -presently it occurred to me that the speakers must have withdrawn -along a narrow lane which I had observed during the evening and which -communicated with a footpath across the meadows. - -I realized that my heart was beating with extraordinary rapidity. So -powerful and so unpleasant was the impression made upon my mind by -this possibly trivial incident and by the extraordinary dream which -had preceded it, that on returning to bed (and despite the warmth of -the night) I closed both lattices and drew the curtains. - -Whether as a result of thus excluding the moonlight or because of some -other reason I know not, but I soon fell into a sound sleep from which -I did not awaken until the chambermaid knocked at the door at eight -o'clock. Neither did I experience any return of those terrifying -nightmares which had disturbed my slumbers earlier in the night. - -My breakfast despatched, I smoked a pipe on the bench in the porch, -and Mr. Martin, who evidently had few visitors, became almost -communicative. Undesirable patrons, he gave me to understand, had done -his business much harm. By dint of growls and several winks he sought -to enlighten me respecting the identity of these tradekillers. But I -was no wiser on the point at the end of his exposition than I had been -at the beginning. - -"Things ain't right in these parts," he concluded, and thereupon -retired within doors. - -Certainly, whatever the reason might be, the village even in broad -daylight retained that indefinable aspect of neglect, of loneliness. -Many of the cottages were of very early date--and many were empty. A -deserted mill stood at one end of the village street, having something -very mournful and depressing about it, with its black, motionless -wings outspread against the blue sky like those of a great bat -transfixed. - -There were rich-looking meadows no great way from the village, but -these, I learned, formed part of the property of Farmer Hines, and -Farmer Hines was counted an inhabitant of the next parish. It was, -then, this particular country about Upper Crossleys over which the -cloud hung; and I wondered if the district had been one of -those--growing rare nowadays--which had flourished under the -protection of the "big house" and had decayed with the decay of the -latter. It had been a common enough happening in the old days, and I -felt disposed to adopt this explanation. - -My brief survey completed, then, I returned to the Abbey Inn for my -stick and camera, and set out forthwith for Friar's Park. - -From certain atmospherical indications which I had observed, I had -anticipated a return of the electrical storm which a few days before -had interrupted the extraordinary heat-wave. And now as I left the -village behind and came out on the dusty highroad a faint breeze -greeted me--and afar off I discerned a black cloud low down upon the -distant hills. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -DR. DAMAR GREEFE - - -As the crow flies Friar's Park was less than two miles from the Abbey -Inn; but the road, which according to a sign-board led "to -Hainingham," followed a tortuous course through the valley, and when -at last I came to what I assumed to be the gate-lodge, a thunderous -ebony cloud crested the hill-top above, and its edge, catching the -burning rays of the sun, glowed fiercely like the pall of Avalon in -the torchlight. Through the dense ranks of firs cloaking the slopes a -breeze presaging the coming storm whispered evilly, and here in the -hollow the birds were still. - -I stared rather blankly at the ivy-covered lodge, which, if -appearances were to be trusted, was unoccupied. But I pushed open the -iron gate and tugged at a ring which was suspended from the wall. A -discordant clangor rewarded my efforts, the cracked note of a bell -which spoke from somewhere high up in the building, that seemed to be -buffeted to and fro from fir to fir, until it died away, mournfully, -in some place of shadows far up the slope. - -In the voice of the bell there was something lonesome, something akin -to the atmosphere of desertion which seemed to lie upon the whole -neighborhood--something fearful, too, as though the bell would -whisper: "Return! Beware of disturbing the dwellers in this place." - -The house, one wing of which I have said was visible from the inn -window, could not be seen at all from the gate. Indeed I had lost -sight of it at the moment that I had set out and had never obtained a -glimpse of it since. - -Ten minutes before, I had inquired the way from a farm-laborer whom I -had met on the road, and he had answered me with a curiosity but -thinly veiled. His directions had been characterized by that rustic -vagueness which assumes in the inquirer an intimate knowledge of local -landmarks. But nevertheless I believed I had come aright. I gathered -from its name that Friar's Park was in part at least a former monastic -building, and certainly the cracked bell spoke with the voice of -ancient monasteries, and had in it the hush of cloisters and the sigh -of renunciation. - -Although I had mentioned nothing of the purpose of my journey to mine -host of the Abbey Inn or to any of his cronies--and these were few in -number--I had hoped to find Hawkins at the lodge; and a second time I -awoke the ghostly bell-voice. But nothing responded to its call; man, -bird and beast had seemingly deserted Friar's Park. - -Faintly I detected the lowing of cattle in some distant pasture; the -ranks of firs whispered secretly one to another; and the pall above -the hills grew blacker and began to stretch out over the valley. - -Amid this ominous stillness of nature I began to ascend the -cone-strewn path. Evidently enough the extensive grounds had been -neglected for years, and that few pedestrians and fewer vehicles ever -sought Friar's Park was demonstrated by the presence of luxurious -weeds in the carriage-way. Having proceeded for some distance, until -the sheer hillside seemed to loom over me like the wall of a tower, I -paused, peering about in the ever growing darkness. I was aware of a -physical chill; certainly no ray of sunlight ever penetrated to this -tunnel through the firs. Could I have mistaken the path and be -proceeding, not towards the house, but away from it, and into the -gloom of the woods? Or perhaps the deserted lodge was that of some -other, empty establishment. - -There was something uncomfortable in this reflection; momentarily I -knew a childish fear of the dim groves. I thought of the "darkness -'broidered with luminous eyes," and I walked forward rapidly, -self-assertively. Ten paces brought me to one of the many bends in the -winding road--and there, far ahead, as though out of some cavern in -the very hillside, a yellow light shone. - -I pressed on with greater assurance, until the house became visible. -Now I perceived that I had indeed strayed from the carriage sweep in -some way, for the path that I was following terminated at the foot of -a short flight of moss-covered steps. I mounted the steps and found -myself at the bottom of a terrace. The main entrance was far to my -left and separated from the terrace by a neglected lawn. That portion -of the place was Hanoverian and ugly, whilst the wing nearest to me -was Tudor and picturesque. Excepting the yellow light shining out from -a window on the right of the porch, no illuminations were visible -about the house, although the brewing storm had already plunged the -hollow into premature night. - -My conception of Friar's Park had been wide of the reality--and there -was no sign of occupancy about this strange-looking mansion, which -might have hidden forgotten for centuries in the horse-shoe of the -hills. The stillness of the place was of that sort which almost seems -to be palpable; that can be seen and felt. A humid chill arose -apparently from the terrace, with its stone pavings outlined in moss, -and crept up from the wilderness below and down from the fir woods -above. - -I had crossed the terrace and the lawn, and now stood looking through -the open French window from which light had proceeded into a room that -evidently adjoined the hall. A great still darkness had come, and on a -littered table in this room a reading-lamp was burning. - -The room was furnished as a library. Every available foot of wall -space was occupied by laden bookcases. The volumes were nearly all old -and many of them were in strange, evidently foreign, bindings. Items -of chemical apparatus and cases of specimens were visible also as well -as an amazing collection of Egyptian relics strewn about the place in -the utmost disorder. - -At the table a man was seated, deep in study of a huge leather-bound -volume. He was strangely gaunt, and apparently very tall. His -clean-shaven face resembled that of Anubis, the hawk-headed god of -Ancient Egypt, and his hair, which was growing white, he wore long and -brushed back from his bony brow. His skin was of a dull, even yellow -color, and his long thin brown hands betrayed to me the fact that the -man was a Eurasian. The crunching of a piece of gravel under foot -revealed my presence. The man looked up swiftly. - -I started. Those widely-opened black eyes were truly hawk-like in -their dark intensity of gaze, and the uncanny resemblance to Anubis -was heightened by them. More than ever convinced that I had made a -mistake: - -"Forgive me for so rudely disturbing you," I said, "but I was under -the impression that this was Friar's Park, whereas I fear I have -trespassed." - -The intense gaze never left my face for a moment, but: - -"There is no trespass," answered the man at the table, speaking in a -high harsh voice and with a marked but evasive accent. "All visitors -are welcome--chance ones, or otherwise. But you have certainly lost -your way; this is the Bell House." - -"And am I far from Friar's Park?" - -"No great distance. May I ask if Lady Coverly knew of your proposed -visit?" - -"She did not," I said with surprise. - -"Then I fear your journey has been fruitless. She is an invalid and -can receive no one." - -There was something peremptory and imperious in his manner which I -resented, and evidently perceiving this resentment: - -"I am Lady Coverly's medical adviser," added the Eurasian. "Possibly I -can afford you some assistance. In any event I fear you will have to -accept my poor hospitality for the nonce. The alternative is a -drenching." - -Even as he spoke, the hollow was illuminated by a blinding flash of -lightning, and indeed his last words were drowned in the thunder that -boomed and crashed in deepening peals over the hills. - -In a sudden tropical torrent the rain descended, and I stepped forward -into the room. Its occupant rose to his great height to greet me. - -"I am Dr. Damar Greefe," he said, and bowed formally. - -I made myself known to him in turn, and with a sort of stately -courtesy he set a high-backed chair for me and himself resumed his -former seat. - -"You are a stranger to this neighborhood, I gather?" he continued. - -Now, in spite of his polished courtesy, there was that about Dr. Damar -Greefe which I did not and could not like. The voice was the voice of -a gentleman, but the face was a mask--a mask of Anubis; and seated -there in that strange untidy apartment, amid varied relics of the past -and obscure experiments possibly designed to pry into the future, -whilst thunder boomed high over the Bell House, I determined to -withhold from Dr. Damar Greefe the true nature of my mission. In fact -already I regretted having told him my name--although to have given a -fictitious one would have been a gross violation of hospitality -unhesitatingly offered. - -Even now I find it hard to explain the mingled sentiments which -claimed me on the occasion of this my first meeting with a very -singular man. - -"I am taking a brief rest cure," I replied; "and as I am given to -understand that Friar's Park is of much historical interest, I had -purposed seeking permission to look over the place and if possible to -take a few photographs." - -Dr. Damar Greefe inclined his head gravely. - -"A former monastic house, Mr. Addison," he replied. "And as you say, -of great archæological interest. But the regrettably poor health of -Lady Coverly makes it impossible for her to entertain visitors." - -Something in the tone of his voice, which now he had lowered so that -some of its natural harshness was disguised, set me wondering where I -had heard it before. It needed no further scrutiny of the hawk face to -convince me that I had never hitherto met Dr. Damar Greefe; but I -certainly believed that I had previously heard his voice, although I -quite failed to recall where and under what circumstances. - -"Sir Burnham has been dead for several years, I believe?" I asked -tentatively. - -"For several years, yes." - -Without returning to the peremptory tone which had distinguished his -earlier manner, Dr. Damar Greefe coldly but courteously blocked my -path to discussion of the Coverly family; and after several abortive -attempts to draw him out upon the point, I recognized this deliberate -design and abandoned the matter. - -The storm was moving westward, and although brilliant flashes of -lightning several times lighted up the queer room, gleaming upon the -gayly-painted lid of an Egyptian sarcophagus or throwing into horrid -relief some anatomical specimen in one of the cases, the thunder -crashed no more over the house. But its booming reached my ears from -away upon a remote spur of the hills. I became aware of a growing -uneasiness in the company of my chance host, who sat by the oddly -littered table, watching me with those birdlike eyes. - -"Surely," I said, "the rain has ceased?" - -"Temporarily," he replied, glancing toward the terrace. "But I should -advise you to delay a few minutes longer. There is every threat of a -concluding downpour to come ere long." - -"Many thanks," I returned; "I'll risk it. I have already trespassed -unwarrantably upon your time, Dr. Greefe. It was good of you to give -me shelter." - -He rose, a tall thin figure, vaguely repellent, upon realizing that I -was set on departure, and conducted me out by way of the front door. -Standing in the porch: - -"At any time that you chance to be again in my neighborhood, Mr. -Addison," he said, "I beg of you to call. I have few visitors." - -By what process, whether of reasoning or intuition, I came to the -conclusion, I know not; but as I turned the bend of the tree-roofed -drive and saw the deserted lodge ahead, I knew beyond any possibility -of doubt that Dr. Damar Greefe had not returned to his studies, but -had swiftly passed along some path through the trees so as to head me -off! His purpose in so doing I knew not, but that he had cherished -this purpose and proposed to act upon it I had divined in some way at -the moment that I had left him in the porch. - -Now, hastening my steps, I began to wonder if his design was to -intercept me or merely to watch which way I should turn on gaining the -main road. That it was the latter I presently learned; for although my -unpleasant imagination pictured the gaunt hawk-like figure lurking -amid the shadows which hemmed me in, I played the part of innocence -and never once looked back. - -Coming out into the highroad, I turned sharply left, retracing the -route by which I had come to the Eurasian doctor's abode. If he had -suspected that I had intended to call at Friar's Park despite his -assurance that such a visit would prove futile, then he was -disappointed. A new and strange theory to account for "the _Oritoga_ -mystery" had presented itself to me--a horrible theory, yet, so far as -my present data went, a feasible one. Above all, I realized that I had -committed a strategical error in openly seeking an interview with Lady -Coverly. But I had not, when I had formed that plan, known of the -existence of Dr. Damar Greefe. - -I uttered a sigh of relief upon emerging upon the highroad. The -certainty that the white-haired Eurasian was dogging me through the -trees was an unpleasant one. And now I perceived that several courses -presented themselves; but first I must obtain more information. I -perceived a mystery within a mystery; for I was not likely to forget -that in Dr. Damar Greefe's collection I had noted a number of -_Bubastite cats_. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE BLACK DOCTOR - - -My mail, neatly readdressed by Coates, was awaiting me when I returned -to the Abbey Inn. The postal deliveries in Upper Crossleys were -eccentric and unreliable, but having glanced through the cuttings -enclosed, I partook of a hasty lunch and sat down to the task of -preparing a column for the _Planet_ which should not deflect public -interest from the known central figures in the tragedy but which at -the same time should hint at new developments. - -Many times in the intervals of writing I glanced through my open -window across the valley to where the upstanding wing of Friar's Park -jutted above the trees. Strange and terrible ideas flocked to my -mind--ideas which must be carefully excluded from the _Planet_ -article. But at last the manuscript was completed and I determined to -walk into the neighboring town, some miles distant, to post it and at -the same time to despatch a code telegram to Inspector Gatton. The -long walk did me good, helping me to clear my mind of morbid vapors; -therefore, my business finished, and immune from suspicion in my -character of a London pedestrian, I set out to obtain that vital -information which I lacked. - -A natural taciturnity rendered mine host of the Abbey Inn a difficult -subject for interrogation. Moreover that patriarchal outlook which had -been evidenced in his attitude towards the uncouth Edward Hines -clearly enough deterred him from imparting to me any facts detrimental -to the good name of Upper Crossleys. But on the highroad and just -before entering the outskirts of the little country town, I had -observed an inn which had seemed to be well patronized by the local -folks, and since your typical country tap-room is a clearing-house for -the gossip of the neighborhood, to "The Threshers" I made my way. - -The doors had only just been opened; nevertheless as I set my foot -upon the step I met the very gossip that I sought. - -"Hope you wasn't caught in the shower, this morning, sir?" said an old -man seated solitary in an armchair in the corner of the bar-parlor. -"But the country'll be all the better for the rain." He eyed me, and: -"There's many a fine walk hereabouts," he averred. "There's lots -comes down from London, especially of a Sunday." - -"No doubt," said I encouragingly, stepping up to the counter. - -"There's Manton-on-the-Hill," continued the ancient. "You can see the -sea from there in clear weather; and many's the time in the war I've -heard the guns in France from Upper Crowbury of a still night. Then, -four mile away, there's the old Friar's Park; though nobody's allowed -past the gate. Not as nobody wants to be," he added reflectively. - -"How is that? I understood that Friar's Park was of great interest." - -"Oh, ah!" murmured my acquaintance. "Oh, ah! Maybe you was thinkin' of -lookin' over it like?" - -"I was--yes." - -"Oh, ah! Well--there's some likes a bit o' danger." - -"Danger?" I echoed. "To what danger do you refer?" - -He surveyed me with cunning, old rheumy eyes, and: - -"What about man-traps?" he inquired. "Ain't man-traps dangerous? And -what about shot-guns? Shot-guns can make a party feel sick, can't -they? Oh, ah!" - -"But," I exclaimed, "you surely don't mean that there are traps laid -in the grounds of the Park? It isn't legal. And why should any one -shoot at visitors?" - -"Maybe 'cause they're told to," he shouted. "Aye--that's the reason as -like as not; 'cause they're told to." - -"Who are 'they'?" - -"Old Gipsy Hawkins as used to be Sir Burnham's under-keeper. What's he -doin' of up there at Park all day? Layin' traps and such--that's what -he's doin' of. My son Jim knows it, he do. My son Jim found one of -'em--and left best part of a pair of trousers in it, too!" - -These statements if true would seem to cast an unpleasant sidelight -upon the character of my acquaintance of the Abbey Inn. I wondered if -the "Jim" referred to was that "young Jim Corder" whose name seemed -to be a standing joke with the man Hawkins (I learned later that it -was so). And I wondered if Martin's mysterious references to certain -patrons, whose patronage had damaged his business, might not have -referred to the game-keeper. Moreover I now put a new construction -upon Hawkins' sly amusement when I had inquired about the "shooting" -in the neighborhood. - -I began to grow keenly interested, and: - -"Surely you took some steps in the matter?" I asked. - -"Oh, ah. My son Jim did. He lay for days for that there Gipsy -Hawkins--but Hawkins was too wise for him." - -"But," said I, "you could legally have claimed damages." - -"Maybe," was the reply; "but I reckon they'd have asked what my son -Jim was doing in the Park. Oh, ah, I reckon they would." - -This point of view had not hitherto presented itself to me, but that -it was a just one I did not doubt. - -"What is the object of all this?" I asked. "Does Lady Coverly object -to any one entering the grounds?" - -"'Tain't Lady Coverly," confided the old man; "it's that there black -doctor." - -"What black doctor?" I exclaimed. - -"Him they call Doctor Greefe." - -"Oh," said I, "you call him the black doctor. Is he a negro?" - -"He's black," was the reply, "black he is although his hair is white. -Oh, ah, there's black blood in him all right." - -"And what has he to do with the man-traps in the Park?" - -"Has 'em put there--has 'em put there, he does." - -"But what for? Surely the property belongs not to Dr. Greefe but to -Lady Coverly." - -"Belongs to her! Her own soul don't belong to her!" - -I was conscious of a growing excitement. I thought that I was about to -learn the very fact which I was seeking, and accordingly: - -"What is the age of Lady Burnham Coverly?" I asked. - -"Lady Burnham? Well, let me see; she were not more'n about -twenty-five, I reckon, when Sir Burnham first brought her to the Park. -Them was the days, them was. These parts 'as changed cruel since I was -a young man. Then it was soon after as Sir Burnham went off to Egypt -for government, and eleven years afore he come back again." - -"Did Lady Burnham accompany him to Egypt?" I asked, interestedly. - -"Oh, ah, for sure she did. Poor Mr. Roger was born in Egypt. It was -eight years come October they returned home to Park, and six years -come September poor young Mr. Roger died." - -"Then Lady Coverly must be something over forty years of age," said I -musingly. - -One of my theories, a wild one, I must confess, was shattered by this -piece of information. In short I had conceived the idea (and the news -that Lady Coverly had resided for some years in Egypt had strengthened -it) that the woman in the case was none other than the mistress of -Friar's Park! Her antipathy towards the late baronet had seemed to -suggest a motive for the crime. But it was impossible to reconcile the -figure of this lonely and bereaved woman with that of the -supernormally agile visitant to my cottage in London, in short, with -the possessor of those dreadful green eyes. I determined to try a new -tack, and remembering that the real object of my journey to Upper -Crossleys was to learn particulars respecting the early death of Roger -Coverly: - -"Did Mr. Roger Coverly die in England?" I inquired. - -"Oh, no, sir; he died in foreign parts, but they brought him home to -bury him, they did." - -"Do you know of what he died?" - -"Oh, ah. I have heard tell it was some foreign fever like--took him -off sudden, and him only a lad. It killed poor Sir Burnham, it did." - -"Then Sir Burnham died shortly afterwards?" - -"Two years afterwards, and these parts has never been the same since." - -"But what has Dr. Greefe to do with all this?" - -"Ah, now you're asking. Seven years ago he settled here in the big -house up by the Park; part of the Park estate it is; and there he's -been ever since, him and his black servant." - -"Black servant!" I exclaimed. - -"Oh, ah, real black he is--not half-and-half like his master, but as -black as a lump o' coal, an' ugly--oh, ah, he's ugly right enough. -Goes up to the Abbey Inn of a night he do, him and that there Gipsy -Hawkins, the prettiest pair o' rascals in Upper Crossleys. Drove all -the decent folk away from the place, and Martin keeps the best beer -about here, too. If I was Martin," continued the ancient, truculently, -"I'd know what to say to them two, I would; aye, and what to do to -'em," he added with great ferocity. - -"Oh," said I; for this unexpected clearing up of so many minor -mysteries had rather taken me aback. "Then Dr. Greefe is not popular?" - -"Popular!" echoed the old man. - -He drained his tankard and set it down on the table with a bang. - -"He's been the ruin o' these parts, he has. He's worse than the -turnip-fly." - -"But in what way is he responsible for these evils of which you -complain?" - -The old man peered into his empty mug with a glance of such eloquence -that I could not mistake its import. Accordingly, I caused it to be -refilled, thus preventing any check in the flow of his eloquence, and: - -"In what way?" he asked, his voice raised in a high quavering note. He -laughed, and his laughter was pitched in the same time-worn key. "That -doctor is a blot on the country. When Sir Burnham was alive--and afore -he went to Egypt--it was different; although, mind you, it's my -belief--oh, ah, it is indeed--that him coming here had as much to do -with Sir Burnham's death as the loss of his son what I told you -about. That's my belief." - -I took a sip from my replenished mug, and: - -"I cannot understand," I said, "why the presence of Dr. Greefe should -have brought about the death of Sir Burnham or the death of anybody -else." - -"No," said the old man, cunningly; "you can't, eh? Well, there be -things none of us can understand and things some of us can. If you -ever clap eyes on that there black doctor, like enough this'll be one -of the things you'll be able to understand." - -With the idea of drawing yet more intimate confidences: - -"You suggest that Dr. Greefe had some hold upon the late Sir Burnham?" - -"I don't suggest nothing." - -"Some hold upon Lady Burnham, then?" - -"Oh, ah, like enough." - -"Don't think," I added solicitously, "that I doubt the truth of your -statements in any way, but what could this black doctor, as you call -him, have to gain by persecuting these people?" - -"There be things," replied my aged friend, "what none of us can -understand, but there be things that all of us do. Oh, ah, there be; -and all of us in these parts knows as Upper Crossleys ain't been the -same since that black doctor settled here. Besides, first Mr. Roger -went, then Sir Burnham went. Now I do read in this 'ere paper as -another of 'em is gone." - -He held up two gnarled and twitching fingers crossed before him. - -"Did you ever hear tell of the evil eye?" he asked, and peered at me -cunningly. He took a long drink from his mug. "But maybe you'll laugh -at _that_," he added. - -"I am in no way disposed to laugh at anything you have told me," I -assured him; "and as to the evil eye, I have certainly heard of such a -thing, although I must admit, and I am glad to admit, that I have -never met with it." - -"I do trust, sir," responded the ancient, "that such a kind-hearted -gent may never meet with it. Ah, I do trust that you never may, which -is to say, so to speak, as I do trust as you'll never meet that black -doctor. If ever a man, had the evil eye, that black doctor's got it, -and old Mother Shale what lives in the cottage on the heath down -against the windmill, she warned me, she did, three days after he come -here. 'Mr. Corder,' she says, 'that black doctor has the evil eye!' -And never was a truer word spoke. He's been the bane and blight of -this 'ere place, he has." - -He paused from sheer lack of breath, and having allowed him some -little interval of repose: - -"But what has the evil eye to do with the laying of man-traps and the -shooting of visitors who may chance to cross the estate?" I inquired. - -"Ah, that's it! But the evil eye, I'm told, goes with the evil heart, -and that man's heart's as black as his face. Blacker," he added, on -second thoughts. - -"Yet you have no positive evidence that Dr. Greefe is responsible for -the setting of these man-traps and the attitude of Hawkins?" - -"Nobody has," declared my acquaintance earnestly. "If anybody had, -we'd have had the law on him long ago." - -"And is Lady Burnham often seen about?" I inquired. - -"Never!" was the reply. "She ain't passed the gates of the Park this -twelve months and more." - -He looked about him covertly, and: - -"It's my belief," he affirmed, lowering his quavering voice almost to -a whisper, "that she'll never pass them gates again alive." - -"Oh," said I. "This seems to be a very cheerful neighborhood. Yet in -spite of your wishes on my behalf, I must confess I should like a -glimpse of this black doctor. Does he practice about here?" - -"Practice? Is it likely?" - -"Then he has private means?" - -"His house belongs to the estate," was the reply; "and you can't tell -me he ever pays any rent. As to his means I don't know nothing about -that." - -I gathered little more of interest from my acquaintance of "The -Threshers," but indeed I had gathered enough, and as I wended my way -back to the Abbey Inn, I was turning over in my mind the extraordinary -story that he had related to me concerning Dr. Damar Greefe. - -Clearly the man lived the life of a pariah and I knew not whether to -pity him or otherwise. In an ignorant community it is a dreadful thing -to earn such a reputation as that which evidently attached to the -Eurasian doctor; and this talk of the evil eye took me back -automatically to the early days of this quaint spot, where, cut off -from the larger things of life, the simple folk continued to hold the -same beliefs which had stirred their forefathers. In those remote -times when the white brethren from the neighboring Abbey had held -absolute sway in that country-side, the life history of one accused, as -Dr. Damar Greefe was now accused, of possessing the evil eye, would -very probably have terminated upon a pile of faggots, by order of -Mother Church. It was all very strange, and apart from its importance -in the eyes of the ignorant country folk, seemed to contain a nucleus -of something more germane to the object of my mission than the -imaginings of ancient sorcery which still lingered in the minds of the -people of Upper Crossleys. - -I thought how I had looked out of my window and had found in the -moon-bathed landscape something which had translated my ideas to that -strange picture of Wiertz. Then I had known nothing of this nebula of -witchcraft which, according to popular tradition, rested upon the -vicinity; yet I had pictured the night as "a curtain 'broidered with -luminous eyes"--and I could only suppose that my mind had become -impressed by a picture conjured up by this focusing of local thought. -In short, the people of the neighborhood had created this atmosphere -of desolation and of something more sinister, which I had observed in -the very hour of my arrival at the little village. - -So my thoughts ran as I proceeded back to the Abbey Inn; and as I had -collected much new and valuable information, I determined to embody it -in a long report to Gatton. Furthermore, I was doubtful as to my next -step, the bold move which I made later not having yet presented itself -to my mind. - -Twice during the evening, however, I looked into the bar-parlor, but -neither "Gipsy" Hawkins nor the black servant appeared. But when at -last I turned in, I closed my windows and drew the curtains. I desired -no repetition of the dreams which had made hideous my first night at -the Abbey Inn. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -I RECEIVE VISITORS - - -Over my breakfast, on the following morning, I began to formulate that -plan which was to lead to an extraordinary discovery. I breakfasted in -my own room, and just as I had finished and was about to light my -pipe, Mr. Martin, the landlord, knocked at the door. - -"Come in," I cried. - -He entered, and: - -"A lady has called to see you, sir," he announced. - -The manner in which he made the statement evidenced a curious mixture -of disapproval and respect. For my own part it is perhaps unnecessary -for me to say that my first thought, as always, was Isobel! In the -very moment, however, that this idea visited me (the wish being father -of the thought) I recognized its folly. - -"A lady," I repeated; "but I know no one here. Are you certain that it -was for me she asked?" - -"Quite, sir," replied the landlord, who was evidently flurried out of -his usual calm by what I gathered to be an episode unprecedented in -his memories of the Abbey Inn. "Mr. Addison, she asked for. She is -waiting in the coffee-room, sir." - -Wholly at a loss to understand who my visitor could be, I made my way -to the little apartment at the side of the bar-parlor which Mr. Martin -had dignified with the title of coffee-room. I observed upon the bench -before the door a shabby-looking fellow whom I might have taken to be -some local tradesman except that he appeared to be a chance visitor -and was evidently unacquainted with Martin. He was reading a newspaper -and I saw a cup of coffee set upon the bench beside him. - -This was a hazy morning, which I thought betokened another hot day, -and as I entered the "coffee-room" I found it to be pervaded by a -curious half-light, not unlike that of summer twilight. The glow of -the sun peering redly through the mist added warmth to this soft -illumination, but since the room boasted only one small window it was -badly lighted even at noon. - -From a little horse-hair-covered sofa set before this window my -visitor rose to greet me, and with my hand upon the knob of the door I -paused. For certainly this was a stranger who stood before me! - -She was tall and very slender, attired with great elegance, and in her -whole appearance there was something markedly foreign--or perhaps I -should say exotic. She wore a small hat which I judged to be Parisian -and expensive, and from its brim depended a figured veil which -effectually disguised her features, without being able or perhaps -without being intended to disguise her brilliant, almond-shaped eyes. -For one moment, a dreadful idea presented itself to me; but the most -appalling memory which I retained of those other witch-eyes around -which so much mystery clustered was their brilliant greenness. The -eyes of my visitor, although unusually large and brilliant, were -totally different in shape, being long and narrow, and apparently of a -wonderful amber color. - -When she spoke her voice was very cultured and soft; yet I started and -I know I must have been staring very hard and very rudely. There was a -faint huskiness in its tone, a caress in its accents, which -irresistibly reminded me of the scene in my study which had resulted, -in the loss of the image of Bâst. - -I think I have already indicated that I am one of those who arrive at -a decision somewhat laboriously; and now convinced that my memory of -the luminous eyes was threatening to become an obsession, so that I -looked to find them blazing out at me from the face of every stranger -whom I encountered, I forced myself to believe that a chance -resemblance in my visitor's voice to the voice of that other visitor -had tricked me. - -"Mr. Addison," she said, "I'm afraid you will think this call somewhat -unconventional, but"--she paused almost imperceptibly--"I am staying -at Friar's Park, and Lady Coverly has heard from Dr. Greefe that you -wish to see the house." - -"Really," I murmured, "it was good of you to take so much trouble, -but--" - -"It was no trouble at all," she declared. "I had occasion to come this -way and Lady Coverly asked me to call and tell you that whilst she is -not well enough to receive visitors, you are quite welcome to inspect -the older parts of the house." - -"I am much indebted," I said. - -Having so spoken, I ceased and was aware of a kind of embarrassment. -For whilst I was naturally anxious to avoid unpleasant suspicions -regarding a lady who apparently had gone out of her way to perform an -act of courtesy, yet I could not place this elegant figure in the -household of Friar's Park as that household had been depicted by my -old gossip of "The Threshers." - -I mentally determined there and then to question Martin, and if -possible Hawkins, upon the point, directly an opportunity arose, and -the former immediately my visitor had departed. But she seemed to be -in no hurry to depart. - -"You have never visited this neighborhood before?" she continued, in -the soft, caressing voice which persistently awakened memories of that -evening in my cottage. - -She re-seated herself upon the sofa, leaving me no alternative but to -sit down in the only chair which the coffee-room boasted. I could not -fail to notice, however, that although she addressed me as Mr. -Addison, she did not volunteer her own name. Furthermore, she remained -throughout with her back to the window. - -"Never," I replied; "it is very interesting in many ways, I believe." - -"You will find Friar's Park most fascinating," she assured me. "It -stands upon the site of one of the oldest and largest monasteries in -the south of England. Indeed, some parts of the house, notably the -chapel and the west tower, which is visible from here, I think, are -remains of the original building." - -She was palpably trying to interest me; and conscious that my somewhat -frigid attitude was churlish, if she was really what she professed to -be--namely, a friend of Lady Coverly's--I endeavored in turn to -display an intelligent interest in the history of the old monastic -house. - -I do not regret that I did so. I think that I have never heard the dry -bones of history clothed so fascinatingly. The knowledge displayed by -my unknown visitor of the history of that old monkish corner of -England was truly amazing. The Coverlys, it appeared, had played their -part in that history right back to the misty times of Saxon England. -The scenes conjured up by my first sight of the curiously wild country -which lay between the village and the distant parkland were presented -now with all the color and truth of real life. This woman seemingly -was acquainted with almost every act of importance of every Coverly -since the days of Canute and with the doings of all the abbots who had -ever ruled over Croix-de-Lis. - -Finally, while I listened in ever growing wonder, fascinated by the -extent of this strange woman's knowledge and in part, too, by the -husky music of her voice, she seemed to become conscious of the -passage of time and, rising suddenly, she laughed; and her laughter -again awakened a memory. - -"How perfectly absurd of me, Mr. Addison!" she said. "You will -certainly think I am more than eccentric to sit here fulfilling the -part of a local guide." - -Even as she spoke the words, a sound intruded from the road outside. A -heavy footstep came first, the footstep of one who approached the door -of the inn; then: - -"Martin!" I heard; "a moment, please." - -It was Dr. Damar Greefe! - -If the sound of his voice had startled me, its effect upon my visitor -was truly singular. Taking a swift step towards me, she grasped my arm -with her strangely slender gloved hand. Now that she stood so close to -me, I realized that she was even taller than I had supposed, nearly as -tall as myself, in fact. Her swift, lithe movements possessed an -indescribable grace which, as I thought, and experienced a sudden -revulsion, were oddly uncanny--cat-like. - -"Oh, Mr. Addison," she said, and drew even nearer, so that I could -feel her breath upon my cheek, "I fear that man as one fears a snake. -I am going to ask a favor of you. I see that there is another door to -this room, and I have a particular reason for wishing to avoid him. I -don't know where that doorway leads to, but I can doubtless find my -way out." - -Her grasp upon my arm tightened. - -"Dare I ask you," she added pleadingly, "to conceal from him if -necessary the fact that I have been here?" - -"But Martin knows that you have been here," I protested, my mind in a -whirl at this sudden turn of affairs; "and the man sitting on the -bench outside must have seen you come in also." - -"He did not," she replied rapidly, "and Martin does not know who I -am." - -It was on the tip of my tongue to say, "Neither do I," but: - -"Please," she pleaded; "it is not much to ask, but it means so much to -me." - -Thereupon, without waiting for my answer, she turned and ran out -through the little doorway, which opened as a matter of fact into the -larder of the inn, from which there was an exit into a kitchen-garden. - -I could hear Martin, the landlord, talking to the Eurasian doctor in -the passage outside the coffee-room, and before I had time to open the -door, there came a peremptory rap, the door was opened from the -outside and Dr. Damar Greefe entered. - -In spite of the already great heat of the morning he wore a heavy -black overcoat, and his white hair showed in startling relief beneath -a wide-brimmed black felt hat. If I had been surprised at the tallness -of the woman who had so suddenly departed, the stature of the Eurasian -was curiously illustrated by the fact that he had to lower his head in -order to enter the little doorway. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, peering towards me where I stood in the badly -lighted room--"Mr. Addison, I believe?" - -"At your service, Dr. Greefe," I replied. - -"I understood that my niece was here?" - -"Your niece!" I exclaimed, and my astonishment was quite unfeigned. - -"Precisely." - -That peremptory manner which I had previously resented in him evinced -itself now; and even had I lacked reasons other than personal for -foiling him I should certainly have returned a reply far from pacific. - -"I was not aware," he continued, his voice high-pitched and harsh, -"that you were acquainted. Inform me." - -All the time he was peering about the room suspiciously, and: - -"I inform you that we are not!" I said. "But if we were, I cannot -conceive that our acquaintance would concern you in any way." - -"You are rude, sir!" he cried, and bent towards me so that I could see -the fierce hawk face set in a vicious scowl. - -"I should be sorry to think so," I said indifferently; for the -Eurasian's behavior transcended the merely annoying and was that of a -lunatic. "I would not willingly provoke a sick man, and the tone and -manner of your address forcibly suggest to me that your temperature is -not normal." - -A moment he stood bending towards me, his pose that of one about to -spring, then: - -"Ah," he exclaimed, "yes, you are right, Mr. Addison. I live much -alone and I fear my manner grows brusk. Overlook it. She has gone, -then?" - -"If you refer to a lady who called upon me half an hour ago--yes, she -is gone." - -He drew himself upright again and stood there, gigantic in the little -room--a great, gaunt figure. - -"Ah! And she was not my niece?" - -"I lack the pleasure of your niece's acquaintance, Dr. Greefe." - -"Yes. You said so. Good day, Mr. Addison." - -He turned, lowered his head, and walked out of the room. When I, in -turn, emerged into the passage, I saw him striding out of the inn. -Martin was standing by the door of the bar-parlor looking very -confused; and as I joined him, intent upon a chat, I observed that the -shabby-looking stranger had departed. - -"Hullo, Martin!" I exclaimed. "I thought I saw a customer here." - -"When you came in there was. He went off with Cassim and Hawkins. They -was goin' to show him the road to Manton." - -"Cassim?" - -"Aye." - -Martin growled and walked behind the bar-counter. - -"You have some curious residents in this neighborhood." - -"Too curious by half." - -"Cassim, for instance, is not an English name." - -Martin indulged in that rumbling sound which was his only form of -laughter. - -"English!" he said. "He's as black as your hat!" - -My hat chanced to be gray, but I followed the idea nevertheless, and: - -"What!" I exclaimed, "a negro?" - -"A blackamoor. That's all I know or care; and dumb!" - -"Dumb! and a friend of Hawkins?" - -"God knows. Things ain't right." - -"Do you know if--a lady--resides with Dr. Greefe?" - -"Maybe--maybe not. There _is_ tales told." - -Substantially this was all I learned from mine host; but, having -lighted my pipe, I sat down on the bench before the door and set my -mind to work in an endeavor to marshal all the facts into some sort of -order. - -The reputation locally enjoyed by Dr. Damar Greefe I could afford to -ignore, I thought, but from my personal observation of the man I had -come to the conclusion that there was much about him which I did not -and could not understand. In the first place, for any man to choose to -live, solitary, in such an abode as the Bell House was remarkable. Why -had the masterful Eurasian retired to that retreat in company with his -black servitor? I thought of my own case, but it did not seem to -afford a strict analogy. - -Then, who was the "niece" so closely guarded by Dr. Greefe? And if she -was none other than my late elegant visitor why had she sought the -interview? Not even my natural modesty, which in such matters I have -sometimes thought to be excessive, could conceal from me the fact that -she had found my society pleasing. But, since I had never seen her -before, did this theory account for her visit? Recalling again that -huskily caressing voice, I asked myself the question: _Had_ I seen her -before? - -Perhaps the apparition of green eyes looking up to my window from the -lane below, which on the night of my arrival I had relegated to the -limbo of dreamland, had been verity and not phantasm. If that were so, -then the uncanny visitant to my cottage had pursued me to Upper -Crossleys! - -Or could it be the fact that she had preceded me? Perhaps Gatton had -not confided the whole of his ideas to me--perhaps, as I had already -suspected, the heart of "the _Oritoga_ mystery" lay here and not in -London. - -The result of my meditations was that I determined, in pursuit of my -original plan, first to call upon Mr. Edward Hines; and having -inquired of Martin the way to Leeways Farm, I took my stick and set -out. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE GOLDEN CAT - - -It was a perfect morning and although the sun had not yet attained to -its full power it had dispersed the early mist and I knew that in -another hour or less the heat would once more have become tropical. -During the first part of my walk, and whilst I remained in the -neighborhood of Upper Crossleys, I met never a wayfarer, and memories -of the green eyes followed me step by step so that I was often tempted -to look back over my shoulder by the idea that I should detect, as I -had detected once before, the presence of some follower. I resented -this impulse, however. I felt that my imagination was adding horrors -to those which already actually existed, so that I should presently -find myself unable to distinguish the real from the imaginary. - -At the end of half an hour's steady tramping I saw before me a place -where a wood dipped down to the wayside so that its trees cast a broad -shadow across the path. I knew that the entrance to the farm lay just -beyond; and, pressing on past the trees, I saw many outbuildings -having none of that deserted appearance which characterized the -neighboring homesteads of Upper Crossleys. Twenty yards beyond the -farm itself appeared in view. - -There was some sign of activity about the yard, and, walking briskly -forward, I presently found myself looking into a stone-paved place -containing numbers of milk-cans. Here a woman was engaged in sweeping -the floor, and: - -"I have called to see Mr. Edward Hines," I said. "Can you tell me -where I shall find him?" - -The woman stared at me in a strange and almost stupefied manner. - -"Is he a friend of yours?" she inquired. - -"He is not exactly a friend of mine," I continued; "but I have very -particular business with him." - -She continued to stare in that curious way and remained silent for so -long that I began to think she was not going to reply, when: - -"If Mr. Edward is not expecting you," she said, "I don't know that I -should advise you to go in. He is not very well just now--and he is -sometimes rather strange." - -"I know," I said. "I quite understand; but he will be willing to see -me when he knows what I have come about. Shall I find him yonder?" - -I pointed towards an open door leading to which was a neat, graveled -path lined by well-kept flower-beds, and which I took to be the main -entrance to the farm. - -"Well, sir," said the woman doubtfully, "they'll tell you there if Mr. -Edward is to be seen; but I don't advise it" - -"That's all right!" I cried, and proceeded in the direction of the -doorway. - -I presently obtained a view of a cozily furnished room, where a -white-haired old lady was bustling about engaged in some domestic -duties. I paused at the threshold. - -"My name is Addison," I said. "Would it be possible for me to have a -few minutes' conversation with Mr. Edward Hines?" - -The old lady (whom I suspected to be the mother of the youth whom I -was seeking) paused in the midst of her task and looked at me in a -troubled way. It was evident enough that the reputation of Mr. Edward -was the same in his home as elsewhere, and it occurred to me that his -upbringing must have been a very bad one. - -"Well," she replied, after this eloquent pause, "he's up in his room -certainly, but he doesn't like to see visitors, I know." - -"He will be perfectly willing to see _me_," I said, confidently. "I -have news of importance for him"--and as she continued to look at me -in that troubled way: "I know of his present disfigurement," I -explained. "You need not be afraid of any unpleasant scenes." - -"If I were sure of that," she said hesitatingly, and looked me over -with a critical eye. "Does he know you, sir?" - -"Oh, yes," I answered; "we have met before. I assure you it will be -quite all right if you will just let me walk up and announce myself to -him, Mrs. Hines." - -If I had had any doubt upon the point I was soon to learn that she was -indeed the mother of the notorious Mr. Edwards; for, ere she had time -to reply, a high-pitched, querulous voice which I had heard before -cried out from somewhere above: - -"If that's any one for me, mother, tell him to go away! You know -perfectly well I won't see any one." - -"There you are, sir," said Mrs. Hines, unable to hide her -embarrassment; "I told you he wouldn't see you." - -"Please give me permission to go up," I said; "he will change his mind -when he hears what I have to say." - -"You hear, mother!" came the irritable voice; "I'll break his neck if -he comes up here!" - -Judging from the sound of the voice, I concluded that the excited -young man was located in a room immediately above that at the door of -which I stood. - -"Don't be alarmed, madam," I said, and, stepping into the room, I -placed my hand reassuringly upon the old lady's shoulder. - -Without waiting for any further protest I advanced to an open -staircase which I had already marked as leading to the apartment above -and confidently mounted. The copy-hunting pressman is not readily -excluded, and a few moments later I found myself in an extremely -untidy bedroom, the walls of which were decorated with sporting -prints, Kirchner drawings and photographs of many damsels. - -The scarred young man, his face still a mass of sticking-plaster, -stood with clenched fists facing me, and: - -"Get out!" was his greeting--"before I throw you out." - -"My dear sir," I said, "unless you particularly want to figure in a -very undignified light as a witness in a trial for murder, sit down -and listen to me." - -Edward Hines hesitated, opening and closing his hands and glaring at -me in a preposterous fury. - -"What's the game?" he demanded. "What are you talking about?" - -"I am talking of 'the _Oritoga_ mystery,'" I replied. - -"The _Oritoga_ mystery?" - -His expression changed, and he dropped down into an armchair from -which he had evidently arisen upon hearing my voice below. I observed -a copy of a daily paper lying upon the carpet, and the conspicuous -headline was sufficient to show me that he had actually been reading -the latest reports concerning the case at the time of my arrival. I -had judged my man pretty accurately by this time, and drawing up -another chair which stood near me I sat down facing him, holding out -my open cigar-case. - -"I quite understand your sensitiveness in the circumstances," I said -soothingly; "but there is no occasion to suppose that I have come to -remind you of your misfortune. Have a cigar. I want a chat with you." - -He continued to watch me in a lowering way, but I was gradually -getting him in hand. With very poor grace he accepted a cigar, lighted -it, and threw the match away without offering to light mine. I did -not appear to notice his churlishness, but immediately approached the -matter about which I had come. - -"Although I am not a member of the Criminal Investigation Department," -I continued, "I am nevertheless in a sense an agent of Scotland Yard, -and I must ask you to listen very seriously to what I have to say. You -have in your possession a certain gold amulet--" - -He was on his feet in a moment, the patches of skin visible between -the strapping assuming a purple color. A more choleric young man I had -never met. - -"Damn you!" he cried. "What has it to do with you?" - -"Sit down!" I said sternly. "I have given you one warning; I shall not -give you another. You will either answer my questions civilly here and -now or answer them in court, whichever you please. I shall not give -you another opportunity of choosing. I will repeat my remark: you have -in your possession a certain gold amulet in the form, I believe, of a -cat." - -He was choking and muttering and glaring at me as I spoke, but I -stared at him coolly, and finally he resumed his seat and reached out -one hand towards a chest-of-drawers which stood beside his chair. -Pulling one of the drawers open, he took out a little gold figure of -Bâst, and holding it towards me: - -"Is this the thing you mean?" he jerked uncivilly. - -"It is," I replied; "allow me to examine it." - -He seemed rather reluctant to do so, but nevertheless I took it from -his hand and looked at it closely. Beyond doubt it was of Ancient -Egyptian workmanship and probably a genuine Bubastite votive -offering. Raising my eyes to him again: - -"Without in any way desiring to pry into your affairs," I said, "would -you be good enough to tell me how this came into your possession?" - -The studied coolness of my manner was having its proper effect, and -Edward Hines, although sulkily, replied at once: - -"A woman gave it to me." - -"What was her name?" - -"I don't know." - -"You don't know the name of a woman who gave you a costly trinket of -this kind?" - -A ridiculous look of vanity appeared in his eyes. - -"Is it very valuable?" he inquired. - -"It may be worth as much as £50," I answered quietly. - -"Really!" said he, with something approaching geniality in his tones. -"Well, it's an extraordinary thing, but I assure you I don't know her -name." - -"Of course," I said, with Machiavellian cunning, "I don't expect you -to remember the name of every girl who has loved you, but this is an -unusual present to receive even from an infatuated woman." - -"It's an extraordinary thing, isn't it?" repeated Edward Hines, full -of self-esteem. "I can't make out the women at all; they're always -giving me presents. Look at that picture-frame. I got that from a girl -I had only seen three times--and it's solid silver," he added. - -I glanced at the memento indicated, and observed that it contained a -photograph of Mr. Hines (without the sticking-plaster). - -"An excellent likeness of yourself, too," I remarked. - -"It's not bad," said he disparagingly; "it was done by one of the big -people up in London. The girl paid for it." - -"But even that," I pursued--"even that is not so remarkable a gift as -this valuable piece of jewelry which I hold in my hand." - -"No," said the youth, now restored to the utmost good-humor by my -undisguised admiration of his Don Juan-like qualities. "But the fact -remains that I don't know her name to this day. What did you mean," he -continued, "when you said that I was concerned in some way in 'the -_Oritoga_ mystery'?" - -"I meant," I explained, "that the police are looking for a woman who -answers to the description of your friend." - -"Really!" he cried. "A tall woman, very fine figure, beautifully -dressed?" - -"I think it is probably the same," I said. "Had she any peculiarities -of appearance or manner by which you would recognize her again?" - -"She had several peculiarities by which I should recognize her," he -declared, a note of resentment now proclaiming itself in his voice. - -"And they were?" - -Mr. Hines leaned forward, tapping me on the knee confidentially. - -"I met her by accident, you understand," he confided, "on the London -Road one evening about sunset set. She asked me the way to Friar's -Park and I could see that I had made an impression at once. It was -just an excuse to speak to me of course. I offered to walk that far -with her; she agreed, and to cut a long story short--the usual thing, -of course; she wanted to meet me again. - -"Well," he resumed complacently, "I met her on the following Thursday -and we became very good friends, you understand, except that she -always seemed particularly anxious to return home before dusk. All -this time I never knew who she was, or even where she lived, but of -course I could see how the land lay. She was some lady from London -staying at one of the big houses about here and had to show up for -dinner. That night when we parted she gave me this little gold thing -and arranged to see me again." - -He paused, knocking ash from his cigar and seemingly reflecting as to -how he should word his next communication; but finally: - -"The third time I saw her," he said, "I managed to arrange that she -could not get in quite so early, you understand; and then--I don't -know exactly how to tell you. I am not a chap that gets in a panic -very easily; but (I may mention that the scene took place in a wood) -she gave me the biggest scare I have ever had in my life." - -He bent forward and again tapped me on the knee. - -"My dear--Mr. Addison, I think you said your name was?--her eyes -lighted up in the dark like a cat's!" - -He stared at me with some return of his old truculence as if -anticipating ridicule and prepared to resent it, but I nodded sternly, -watching him as if enthralled by his narrative, whereupon: - -"Yes--like a cat's!" he repeated; "and I'll admit I got in a panic. I -don't know if she thought from the way I yelled that I was going to -attack her or what, but the next thing I knew she was at my throat." - -He uttered a sort of choking sound, tenderly touched the bandages -about his neck and fingered the plaster which ornamented his face. - -"At your throat?" said I. "You mean she tried to throttle you?" - -"Throttle me!" he exclaimed scornfully. "She seized me with her -_teeth_!" - -"But," I said, and hesitated, for I feared I might wound his curious -susceptibility--"the damage to your face?" - -"Damn her!" he cried. "Damn her! I had never seen her without her -gloves, you understand, but she must have taken them off that night; -for _this_"--he indicated his plastered countenance--"is what she did -with her nails!" - -He paused, staring at me dully, and then with a hint of the old -ridiculous vanity entering his voice: - -"But I scored after all," he said, tossing the little amulet into the -drawer from which he had taken it. "If that's worth £50 it will more -than pay the doctor's bill, I think!" - -Following a brief interval: - -"Of course," I said, "you would recognize the woman again?" - -"I am not so certain," declared the scarred man. "She always wore some -sort of veil; but you may be sure," he added in a tone of supreme -condescension, "that she was a very pretty woman, or I shouldn't have -been bothering with her." - -"You are quite sure of that?" I ventured to remark. - -"No doubt about it at all. Most extraordinary eyes--too damned -extraordinary by half!" - -"Well," I said, "I am much indebted to you for your statement, and you -may be confident that it will materially assist the investigation now -in progress." - -"Don't mention it," said Hines, airily. "If I can ever do anything -else for you, just let me know; but--I mean to say I rely upon you not -to bring me into it. You understand what I mean?" - -"You may be absolutely certain," I replied, "that no hint of this -occurrence will ever be made public so far as I am concerned." - -I took my departure from Leeways Farm fully satisfied with the result -of the first move in the plan of campaign upon which I had decided. -Returning to my quarters at the Abbey Inn, I spent the greater part of -the afternoon in writing a detailed account of my interview with -Edward Hines. Having completed this, I set out for the town, as by -posting my report there and not in the wayside box at Upper Crossleys -I knew that I could count upon its delivery at New Scotland Yard by -the first mail in the morning. - -In leisurely fashion I performed the journey, for my next move could -not be made until after dusk. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE NUBIAN MUTE - - -I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical -brilliance. The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect -moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the -shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges -showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed -them before. But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the -night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most -extraordinary case. - -Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only -more completely to obscure the issue. Mystery revealed itself within -mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I -sometimes despaired of penetrating. Who was this woman whose elusive -figure appeared at every turn in the case? Was she one and the same -with the visitor to my cottage who had purloined the green enameled -statuette--and could it be that I had actually sat in conversation -with her in the coffee-room of the Abbey Inn and had failed to -recognize her for what she was? - -Beyond doubt she had extraordinary cleverness and was a weaver of -spells, so that in a sense she could temporarily disguise her -personality. Whilst at one moment she was a repellent, half-animal -creature, at another she was a fascinating woman of the world versed -in strange lores and a most entertaining companion. What object -underlay her diverse activities? Assuming that she was concerned in -the murder of Sir Marcus Coverly, the purpose of her visit to my -cottage was not far to seek; she had come to recover incriminating -evidence and had been aided, it seemed, by the hand of fate. - -But why had she come to visit me at the Abbey Inn and what had she -gained by this interview? Perhaps--I reflected, as I plodded along the -deserted country road--she had been interrupted on that occasion by -the inopportune appearance of Dr. Damar Greefe. Again, why had he -appeared there at that moment if not because he had suspected her -presence at the Inn; and what was the relationship existing between -these two singular people? - -That the strange story related to me by the idiotic Edward Hines -simply resolved itself into an idle adventure on the part of the -mysterious woman, which she had been forced to terminate (somewhat -ferociously, I admit) by the uncouth ardor of this rustic swain I -seemed to perceive. But unless her visit to the Abbey Inn portended -that she had selected me as Mr. Edward Hines' successor, I failed to -fit it into the scheme. - -I began to long for the presence of Inspector Gatton, for the -assistance of his trained mind in plumbing these depths which defied -my single efforts. Who this woman could be I failed to imagine; and -assuming that she had been concerned in the death of the late baronet, -in what way she stood to profit by it was utterly beyond my -comprehension, as was the position of Dr. Damar Greefe in the matter. - -On I walked and on, unconsciously increasing my pace as is my way when -I am lost in abstraction; and, perhaps stimulated to greater mental -clarity by the exercise, some of my doubts were dispersed and I became -convinced at last that the shadowy figure which had dogged my -footsteps on the night of the crime--the owner of those blazing eyes -which had watched me from my garden--the woman who had stolen the -amulet from my writing-table, and the woman who had mutilated Edward -Hines, were one and the same as my visitor at the Abbey Inn--and the -unseen speaker who had conversed beneath my window on the night of my -arrival at Upper Crossleys! - -Here then was a definite chain linking the Red House with Friar's -Park, or at least with its vicinity, and now so clearly did my ideas -fit themselves each into its correct place, that I determined upon the -identity of that other speaker who had stood in the shadows opposite -the Inn when I had awakened in the night. Mentally I recaptured the -high, rather coarse tones of his voice, and remembering how, touched -by the spell which had seemed to lie upon the whole country-side, I -had thought of him as Asmodeus, the master of the witches' revels, I -determined that my judgment had been not inexact. For now I identified -the speaker as Dr. Damar Greefe! - -So far my meditations had proceeded and I suppose I was about half-way -on my journey towards the Abbey Inn, when all at once I became aware -again of that uncomfortable feeling of surveillance. As on that night -when returning from the Red House to my cottage I had experienced a -conviction that I was followed, so now a like conviction impressed -itself upon my mind. But whereas on the former occasion I had been -less fearful than curious, now I was aware of a positive dread of this -follower whose presence I had detected, by what sense I know not, and -of a certainty of a very grave menace. - -Accordingly, I determined upon a certain plan which I proceeded to put -into execution without delay. I was traversing a stretch of -moon-bathed road at the moment that I first fell a victim to this -unpleasant suspicion which indeed was more than a suspicion, when -ahead of me I observed a patch, some twenty yards in extent, which was -entirely overshadowed by trees. For at this point the woods, clothing -a slope which ran right down to the road, closely impinged upon the -highway; and I had noticed something at this spot, on my outward -journey, which I now proposed to employ to my advantage. - -Into this patch of darkness I walked then, my steps sounding crisply -along the road. On I went for some twenty yards until I found the -particular spot for which I was seeking. This was a sort of little bay -or inlet where until quite recently a heap of stones used by -roadmenders had lain, and into this I marched, never once altering my -pace. But having gained it I performed an about-turn and continued to -mark time there, whilst surveying the moon-bathed road behind me. - -The object of this trick will be evident enough; for whilst the sound -of my footsteps would lead one in pursuit to suppose that I was -proceeding upon my way through the shadows, actually I was staring -intently back in quest of the pursuer of whose presence I had become -assured. - -Perhaps in spite of the cautious manner in which he had advanced, he -had made some slight sound which, subconsciously detected, had -nevertheless intruded upon my reverie and in this way had acquainted -me with his presence. For now, continuing that steady beat, but -watching intently, I saw him. - -Taking every advantage of the shade cast by the hedge on the right of -the road, a softly-moving figure was coming towards me! - -That the tracker was desirous of avoiding observation the manner of -his approach sufficiently proved; and if I had had any doubts -respecting his purpose they would have been resolved in a manner -painful to myself had I not had the good fortune to detect him in -time. - -A piece of road there was, which because of a gap in the hedge -afforded no shadow, and as the gliding shape reached this point and -passed it, I obtained a momentary but clear view of my pursuer. - -I was being tracked by a Nubian mute! - -That one glance was sufficient to convince me of the horrible truth. -The man was stripped to the waist, in order no doubt that his -movements might not be impeded, and I beheld a torso like that of some -Milo wrought in ebony! The cruel, animal face, the blubber lips, the -partly bared teeth--all spoke of the fate designed for me. I knew the -type and knew what scant mercy I could look for at his hands. -Indubitably this was a mute such as is sometimes attached to the -harêms of great Eastern houses to this day; and even if I had known -nothing of the functions of such a servitor, the fact that he carried -something in his left hand would have enlightened me. - -It was a _strangling-cord_! - -I smiled grimly. Respecting the identity of my would-be assassin there -was little room for doubt; he was the black servant of Dr. Damar -Greefe. Now, as he passed the bright patch of roadway and began to -glide silently nearer through the shadows, I marked time with a -lighter step, the more deeply to confuse him. Of the strange Nubian -dialect I knew nothing, but taking it for granted that the man was -familiar with Arabic, I raised my voice in a mournful cry, and (in the -Arab tongue): - -"Cassim! Cassim!" I wailed--"Satan is calling for you!" - -I think I have never witnessed such an exhibition of panic fright as I -now beheld. Cassim was less than ten yards away--and I could hear his -teeth chattering! - -"Cassim!" I cried again--"Fly! fly! Satan is here!" - -A horrible tongueless babbling answered the cry. There came a -scuffling--and I saw the Nubian's gleaming body leap out into the -lighted roadway as he fled. - -"Faster! faster! Cassim!" I wailed. "He is behind you! Ah! he is _in -front_!" - -Cassim staggered, turned and then stood still, looking this way and -that in a perfect delirium of fear. Finally he whirled around to the -right, shrieking wildly (I think some nocturnal insect had brushed -against him), plunged babbling up the bank to the hedge and heedless -of the fact that it contained many thorns which must have cruelly -lacerated his bare body, scrambled half through it and half over it -into the plowed field beyond! - -Against such an enemy there is no more potent weapon than -superstition. Nevertheless I kept my hand upon the pistol in my pocket -and proceeded at an increased pace during the latter half of my -journey; nor am I ashamed to admit that the lights of the Abbey Inn -were a welcome sight, and it was with a feeling of relief that, -leaving the highroad behind me, I found myself again in the village -street of Upper Crossleys. - -What to expect next, I knew not. The other party had made a false -move, for I now had definite evidence of the antagonism of Dr. Damar -Greefe and of his intent to cause my murder through the agency of his -Nubian servant. - -My plan of nocturnal operations, already sufficiently dangerous, now -promised to lead me into extreme peril. I would have given much for -the company of Gatton, but, if I must act alone--alone I would set -out. If I am slow in planning, at least I can state with truth that I -am tenacious in execution. But here, now, was open warfare: and I must -look for an enemy prepared. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK - - -Glancing into the bar-parlor as I entered, I observed that it was -empty. Martin sat behind the counter, and he seemed to be immersed in -the contents of a newspaper which was spread open before him. Going up -to my room, I put on a pair of puttees--which, although useless and -indeed injurious for general wear, are ideal for traversing -bramble-land--took my thick stick, and further looked to the condition -and readiness of my pistol. Finally, slipping an electric torch into -my pocket, I set out. - -The bar was closing when I came downstairs. Martin stared at me dully. - -"I'm going for a moonlight ramble," I explained. "Will any one be up -to let me in or should you prefer to give me the key of the side -door?" - -"Never locked," was the laconic reply; "come in when you like." - -To a town-dweller, such a piece of information must have sounded -alarming, but knowing something of the ways of these country -communities, it did not greatly surprise me; and bidding the landlord -"good night," I set out. - -The false move made by Dr. Damar Greefe had advanced the inquiry -further than any unaided endeavors of mine could well have done. -Clearly enough, the Eurasian regarded my presence as inimical to his -safety. In admitting so much he had admitted guilt of some kind. In -fact I felt assured that he was determined at all costs to prevent my -visiting Friar's Park. - -Having failed in his unmistakable endeavor to remove me entirely--for -so I construed the Nubian's instructions--he would undoubtedly -recognize that the game was up. He was clearly a desperate man and I -recognized that the only hope I had of foiling him lay in acting with -despatch. - -This was a perfect night with never a cloud to mar the blue serenity -of the sky, but in spite of its beauty I was more than ever conscious -of that sense of loneliness and desolateness which seemed to be the -most marked characteristic of the country hereabouts. I met never a -soul upon the highway, nor indeed did I encounter any evidence of life -whatever, until, turning into a narrow lane which would bring me to -that road in the valley upon which stood the deserted lodge belonging -to the Bell House, an owl hooted in the trees above my head. - -Keenly alert to the possibility that my movements might be watched, I -paused, wondering if the sound--which had proceeded from a low bough -directly above me--had really been made by an owl or by a human mimic. -For the hoot of an owl, being easy to imitate, is much favored for -signaling purposes. Taking my electric torch from my pocket, I -directed its ray upward into the close foliage of the oak tree; -whereupon, with a ghostly fluttering of dark wings, an owl flew away. - -I proceeded confidently down the sloping road amid a silence so -intense that my steps seemed to create a positive clamor. Coming to -the corner, I looked along to the left where the lane, alternate -patches of silver and ebony, showed deserted as far as I could see. -This was the direction of the gate of the Bell House, and the road, -which sloped gently downwards on that side rose in a rather sharper -activity on my right. It was at this point that I had mistaken the way -on my first journey to Friar's Park. - -Therefore I proceeded to the right, seeking the entrance, which I was -convinced I should find somewhere within the next two hundred yards. -The lane inclined gently leftward, and presently, as I had -anticipated, I came upon a lodge, overgrown with ivy and but partly -visible beyond the gates which barred the end of the drive. - -That this was the entrance to Friar's Park I felt assured, but I had -no intention of seeking admittance in the usual way. Pursuing a high -wall, evidently of great age, which divided the grounds from the road, -I walked on for fully three hundred yards. Here the wall, which -enclosed what had once been the kitchen garden of the monastery, gave -place to a lofty hedge in which I presently discovered a gap wide -enough to allow of my making my way through. - -Entering, I found myself in a sort of parkland, boasting many majestic -and venerable trees, elms for the most part. Where the parkland ended -and the woods began it was impossible to make out, but away to my -left I could follow the high wall to where, clearly visible in the -moonlight which at this point was unobstructed by trees, a gate -appeared. - -Towards this I made my way, keeping a sharp lookout for those -man-traps of which I had heard, and equally on the alert for any -hidden human presence. Without meeting with any obstacle, however, I -reached the gate--only to find that it was closed and fastened with a -stout padlock. - -There was a dry ditch bordering the wall, and I followed this back -towards the highroad, hoping that somewhere I might chance upon a -means of scaling the wall. I made slow progress, for presently I came -upon a quantity of undergrowth which I distrusted keenly as it would -afford admirable cover for traps. In this way I had come nearly back -to the hedge lining the road before I discovered what I was looking -for. - -Here a fir-tree grew sufficiently close to the ditch to serve my -purpose. Its lower branches were within easy reach whilst further up I -espied one which stretched out across the top of the wall. Looping -over my wrist the thong attached to my stick, I scrambled up into the -tree and soon found myself astride the wall. - -Beneath me was a neglected orchard and beyond to the right a -wilderness which once had been an extensive kitchen-garden. Directly -before me lay the lodge, but the house was invisible from where I sat, -being evidently situated somewhere beyond a dense coppice into which -I perceived the drive to lead, for patched here and there by the -moonlight I could trace it running ribbon-like through the trees. - -A vine grew upon the wall beneath me, its aged tendrils of the -thickness of ropes, and it afforded a natural ladder whereby I made my -descent. Arrived in the miniature jungle which at some period had been -a flower-bed, I set out towards the lodge, prompted to do so by the -presence of a light shining out from one of the windows through a -network of leaves. - -I knew not if I should look for man-traps within the place enclosed by -the wall, but nevertheless I neglected no precaution, picking my way -through the forest of weeds which had supplanted the vegetables and -sweet herbs to which doubtless this land had once been sacred. -Observing even greater precaution as I neared the building, I -presently found myself looking in at the lighted window, and only -concealed from the occupants of the room by the presence of a tangled -bush which formed a sort of natural curtain. - -The room into which I was peering presented a scene of great disorder. -It was a poorly furnished apartment characteristic of the rustic -workman's dwelling, and was evidently the living room of the -lodge-keeper. It was in process of being dismantled; cupboards and -chests stood open and my acquaintance Hawkins was engaged in packing -various belongings into a large wooden box set in the center of the -floor. Upon the bare wooden table stood the oil lamp whose light I had -seen shining out of the window, and bending over a number of papers, -apparently engaged in making up some sort of an account, was a -gipsy-looking woman whom I took to be the wife of the game-keeper. - -She had oily black hair and a very lowering and unpleasant cast of -countenance; whilst the large earrings which she wore added to her -gipsy appearance. An argument of some kind was in progress between the -two, for ever and anon the woman would raise her eyes from her task -and dart venomous glances at the man, who knelt upon the floor packing -the big box. Fragments of the conversation reached me through the -partly open window, and although it was difficult to follow I gathered -that the woman was reproaching her husband with some alleged -indiscretion which had necessitated the departure for which they were -preparing. Hawkins retorted with a savage energy which displayed the -darker side of the man's character and the one which I had suspected -to lie beneath his rather sinister merriment. - -Having satisfied myself that the pair were deeply occupied with their -personal affairs, I crept out upon the drive and began to approach the -house. I had formed a rough idea of the distance at which it lay from -the road and this was proved to have been about correct. The drive -swung round in a wide semi-circle and presently, majestic in the -moonlight, with some of its mediæval charm restored by the magic of -night, I saw Friar's Park before me. - -It was a low, rambling building, bespeaking the monastery in some of -its severe outlines and showing a succession of cloisteresque arches -on the left, terminated by a chapel beyond which rose the ancient -tower visible from the inn-window--a wonderful example of Saxon -architecture, and closely resembling that at Earl's Barton. There was -no light in any of the windows, and indeed as I peered more closely -across the wide space intervening between the end of the drive and the -main entrance of the house, it seemed to me that the place was more of -a ruin than a habitable establishment. - -Unaware of what eyes might be watching me from any one of the numerous -windows, I stepped into the shrubbery beneath the trees bordering the -drive, and set out to make a detour of the house without, if possible, -revealing my presence to any one who might be watching from within. - -In the prosecution of this plan, I met with not a little difficulty; -several times, in fact, I had to show myself in the moonlight upon the -edge of the unkempt lawns, but by this device and that, I finally -achieved my purpose and returned to the spot from whence I had set -out, without having attracted any visible notice. Here I paused to -consider what I had learned. - -The most notable thing was this: only one wing of Friar's Park--that -remote from the tower--exhibited any evidence of occupation, indeed of -being habitable at all. In other words, the greater part of the -building was no more than a majestic ruin. Eyeless windows there were -and crumbling arches, whilst the chapel which had looked so -picturesque from a distance proved on closer inspection to be a mere -shell. A dense shrubbery grew right up to the walls of the east wing, -that which was terminated by the tower, and I had been enabled to peer -right in at the window of the chapel and out at a window at the other -side; for the place was roofless and its floor carpeted with weeds. I -could not help wondering how much of this decay dated from the days of -Sir Burnham, for certainly I could not reconcile it with the character -of the man as depicted by the local people. - -My inquiry then was considerably narrowed down, for of the habitable -apartments of Friar's Park I had only been enabled to count seven or -eight, although two of these appeared to be of great extent, one of -them, I fancy, being the old refectory of the monastery. My next -discovery was this: that the likeliest point of entry to the house was -afforded by either one of two French windows which opened upon a small -lawn some twenty yards beyond the drive. But in order to approach them -I should have to expose myself in the brilliant moonlight which bathed -that side of the house. - -I stood there listening intently, and wondering if I dared attempt the -venture. Not a sound could I detect, however, and the night was so -still that scarce a leaf stirred about me. I determined upon the -plunge; and walking boldly forward, I approached the more easterly of -the two windows. - -Three stone steps led up to it and linen blinds were drawn down -within, but strengthened by the memory of the inn door which was -"never locked," and hoping that the same trustfulness prevailed in -Friar's Park, I turned the handle whose brassy glitter I had -previously perceived from the corner of the shrubbery. - -It operated smoothly, and upon giving a gentle push the window opened -and I found myself standing upon a polished oak floor. I stood -stock-still, listening; but there was never a sound; and partly -reclosing the window, I pressed the button of my electric torch and -looked about me. - -I stood in a long lofty room which I supposed to have been a -drawing-room. It was empty, containing not a single item of furniture. -From my pocket I took two pairs of thick woolen socks and drew them -one over the other on to my boots to deaden my footfalls. The door of -this empty and desolate room was open, and, stepping softly, I walked -out into a wide corridor, my mind filled with terrifying recollections -of the Red House. - -Three other rooms I explored, and although in two of them some items -of massive furniture remained, covered with dust-sheets, no sign of -habitation did I come upon. The whole of the ground floor proved to be -vacant and a broad uncarpeted stair suggested that the floors above -were also deserted by their occupants. - -I mounted softly, but the stairs creaked in a horrible fashion, so -that I became hotly apprehensive before I gained the top. I had -nothing to fear, however, for again empty rooms alone rewarded my -search. My most significant discovery in the upper part of the house -was that of a bedroom which was still almost completely furnished and -in which even the bed-linen yet remained untidily strewn about the -bed. But there were thick spiders' webs stretching from the coverlet -to the canopy, and a coating of dust lay everywhere. - -When I finally returned to the empty drawing-room, I had convinced -myself of that which I had come to seek. - -Friar's Park was uninhabited! - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE MAN ON THE TOWER - - -I quitted Friar's Park unobserved--as I had entered it; walking -quickly across to the shrubbery, I began to work my way back to the -point at which I must strike westward in order to reach the weed-grown -kitchen-garden. At the risk of encountering man-traps I gave the lodge -a wide berth and came out in sight of the wall at a point much nearer -the lawns of the house than that from which I had entered. - -What it was that prompted me to turn and take a final look at the -house I cannot say, but before commencing to make my way through the -wilderness of the kitchen-garden, I know that I stood and looked back -towards the ancient Saxon tower which uprose, silvered by the -moonlight, above the trees that obscured from my view all the rest of -the house. - -Right to the embrasured crest it was sharply outlined by the brilliant -moon--and as I looked I felt my heart leap suddenly; and then, almost -holding my breath, I crouched, distrusting the very shadows which -afforded me shelter. - -For leaning out through one of the embrasures at the top of the tower, -I clearly saw the figure of a man! - -At first so whitely was his face lighted up by the moon that I had no -doubt of the figure being that of a man, but he remained so still, -seeming always to look in a fixed way in the same direction, that now, -momentarily I doubted, until a slight movement betrayed the fact that -my first impression had been correct. - -Who he was I could not possibly tell from that distance, but of his -occupation I became assured at the moment that he moved; for the -moonlight glittered brightly on the lenses of the binoculars through -which he had been surveying some point visible only from that -elevation. - -Still I watched, and again I saw the man of the tower raise his -glasses and resume his scrutiny of that distant object which so -closely engaged his attention. Remembering that a patch of light -touched the top of the wall, spearlike, at the point where I must -cross it in order to reach the fir tree, I abandoned my former -precautions and hurried through the tangled weeds towards the fir -which was my sailing mark. - -Hastily I scrambled up the natural ladder formed by the vine, and -without pause climbed down again to the edge of the dry ditch beyond. -To have looked back over the wall would have been useless, since from -that point the tower would have been invisible. Nor indeed had I any -desire to pause in my precarious journey. - -That I had avoided man-traps in that hurried retreat through the -weeds, I knew not whether to ascribe to good luck or to the fact that -none were set there, but now in the more open ground, thickly -bestrewn, however, with clumps of undergrowth, I resumed all my old -vigilance, and carefully retraced the path, so well as I could -remember it, by which I had first arrived at the friendly fir. - -When at last I found myself once more upon the highroad and free of -the ground of Friar's Park, I stood a while and wondered to find -myself bathed in perspiration. - -There was something very eerie in the thought that I had explored -those numerous rooms of the deserted house and had moreover encircled -the entire building habitable and otherwise, whilst that mysterious -watcher all the time had been lurking up there in the tower! I -wondered what his survey portended. If it signified that he had -detected my presence at the moment that I had left the house, why was -his gaze focused upon the distance and not upon the surrounding -grounds? If he had not seen or heard me, then I must compliment myself -upon a very successful burglarious feat. - -But assuming the latter explanation to be the correct one, how much -darker became the mystery of the man's presence and purpose. Who was -he? And what did he do at this hour in deserted Friar's Park? - -Since I had left the game-keeper deeply engaged in his packing -operations at the lodge, I dismissed the idea that the figure on the -tower might have been that of Hawkins, nor was I in any way assisted -in my attempts to solve the mystery by what I had seen of the man, for -the distance had been too great to allow of my perceiving his face -with anything like clearness. - -Presently, then, I set out upon my return journey to the Abbey Inn, -turning over in my mind this added perplexity which had entered the -case. As Gatton had quite recently observed, every new piece of -evidence which came to light in this most bewildering affair seemed -merely to plunge the issue in greater obscurity than ever. My feet -once set upon the slope which led to Upper Crossleys, I allowed this -mood of abstraction to have its way, and the problem with which I -found myself principally engaged was that of the disappearance of Lady -Burnham Coverly. - -As I remembered the suave assurances of Dr. Damar Greefe that the -ill-health of Lady Burnham rendered it impossible for her to receive -visitors, I wondered anew at the complex villainy of this formidable -Eurasian. The state of the rooms in Friar's Park clearly demonstrated -the fact that neither Lady Coverly nor any other had resided there for -many months, perhaps many years. What then did it all mean? What was -the purpose of the watch and ward kept by the gipsy game-keeper over -the grounds and approaches to the house? - -It could only mean that this was a device of Dr. Damar Greefe's to -prevent any of the neighbors from seeking admittance to the house and -thus learning the strange secret which its emptiness revealed. - -Here, in fact, in this old monastic establishment, would seem to -reside the very genius of that spirit of desolation which had touched -me unpleasantly in the hour of my arrival in Crossleys. I determined -to ascertain by inquiries amongst the local tradespeople, none of whom -I had hitherto met, by what means the fact that no one resided at -Friar's Park was concealed from those whose ordinary business -activities would demand their presenting themselves at the house for -orders, etc. But even as the plan suggested itself to me, I thought I -perceived an answer to my question; in all probability, I determined, -Dr. Damar Greefe or the Hawkins's, who were palpably his creatures, -acted as a barrier between the tradespeople and the missing lady of -the Park. - -But what it could all portend was a problem beyond the power of my -imagination or deductive reasoning. If Lady Coverly had changed her -residence for some reason, with what object did the Eurasian continue -to lead every one in the neighborhood to suppose that she still -resided at Friar's Park? - -It was all a hopeless tangle, and the more I thought about it the more -discouraged did I become. I seemed to get further, too, from that link -for which I sought--the link connecting the mystery with that other -which I always associated with the Red House. The luminous eyes -afforded the visible link; this I could not doubt. But what relation -to the death of Sir Marcus did the disappearance of Lady Burnham -Coverly bear? Secondly, what was Dr. Damar Greefe's place in the -scheme? And thirdly (the most appalling mystery of all) who or what -was the woman with the cat's eyes? - -At this point in my meditations I discovered that I had arrived -before the Abbey Inn, now plunged in darkness, and believing that I -detected the sound of footsteps behind me I became eventually the -victim of a sort of panic which perhaps will be forgiven me under the -circumstances. For emerging from these unpleasant reflections and -hearing or believing that I heard sounds of pursuit from the lonely -moon-patched road behind, I know that I hurried forward to the side -door and silently prayed that I should find it unfastened as Martin -had assured me that it would be. - -In this particular I was speedily reassured, for the door opened to my -touch--and I became conscious of a wish that there might be some means -of fastening it from within. However, I could find none, but hurrying -upstairs, I determined to take a precaution which hitherto I had not -adopted and that night to lock my bedroom door. - -Entering the room, I fumbled for a box of matches in my pocket and -presently discovering them struck one and looked about me for the -candle which usually stood upon a little cabinet beside the bed. -To-night, however, it had been moved for some reason, and put over by -the window on the dressing-table. As I made this discovery the match -smoldered out, and at the moment I was about to strike another the -sound of footsteps which I had formerly detected grew louder and -nearer, so that I could no longer doubt that some one was running -along the road towards the Abbey Inn. - -A great curiosity respecting this person seized me, and without -striking a match as I had intended to do, I walked to the window and -looked out into the road. Twenty yards away I saw the figure of a man -who seemed to be come almost to the end of his resources; for I could -hear him panting as he ran. Nor did my wonder decrease when, as he -came nearer and stared up in my direction, I recognized him for the -shabby-looking person whom I had observed that morning sitting on the -bench before the inn door. - -Wondering what his presence might portend--for clearly his business -was with _me_--I leaned out of the window, and as he came up to the -door of the inn I saw him stagger and clutch at the post which -supported the sign-board, swaying dizzily. He was clearly almost -exhausted, and his voice when he spoke was a husky whisper: - -"Don't light your candle!" he said. - -Now, this remark, coming at such a time and in these circumstances, -struck me as so ludicrous that at first I was tempted to laugh; but -the man's earnest sincerity, as evidenced by his exhausted condition -and the urgency of his manner, did not fail to impress me, and: - -"Why not?" I asked, still leaning out of the window and filled with a -great wonderment. - -"Never mind," he panted. "Don't! Can I come up?" - -Something now in the breathless speech of the man below struck me as -oddly familiar. But yet so dense was I that I failed to recognize the -truth of the matter, and: - -"Certainly," I said. "I will bring a light down to show you the way, -if you have business with me." - -"No light!" he cried hoarsely. "If you value your life, don't strike a -match!" - -By this time so bewildered had I become that I scarce knew whether to -descend to meet this apparent madman or to remain where I was. - -"Don't hesitate, Mr. Addison!" he cried, now beginning to recover his -breath. "Do exactly as I tell you!" - -"Good God!" I exclaimed. - -I turned and ran to the door and on downstairs. For at last I had -recognized the voice of this midnight runner. Throwing open the door, -I held out my hand and the shabby-looking man extended his in return. - -"_Gatton!"_ I cried excitedly. "Gatton! What on earth does this mean? -Why have you been masquerading in this fashion? I saw you here this -morning and you never gave me the slightest sign of acknowledgment!" - -"I never intended to!" panted the Inspector, staggering rather than -walking up the stairs. "But I have performed one of the hardest tasks -of my life to-night and have only succeeded by a few seconds!" - -We were now at the door of my room, but: - -"Don't go in!" said Gatton shortly. "Let me think what we must do." - -"But I don't understand at all!" - -"You will understand in a moment!" was the grim reply. "You would have -understood already if you had lighted your candle." - -Words failed me altogether. At that we stood in the passage for some -moments in silence; then: - -"We have got to risk it," said Gatton, "if my theory is to be put to -the test" - -"Risk it?" - -"Oh! I can assure you of the risk," he declared. "It will be -touch-and-go. Are you game?" - -"Well," I said, laughing in a very forced fashion, "this has been a -night of such intense surprises that I think I can survive one more." - -"Very well," replied the Inspector; and there was something strange in -hearing the familiar voice and dimly discerning in the reflected -moonlight, which shone in at a window further along the passage, the -unfamiliar figure before me. - -"What have we to do?" - -"We have to take a chance of sudden death!" he answered, "but we will -minimize it as much as possible." - -Seeing me about to give voice to one of the many questions which -literally burned upon my tongue: - -"Explanations can come later," said he. "Where can I find a candle?" - -"There is one on the dressing-table just to the left of the window. I -will get it--" - -But he grasped my arm roughly, and: - -"This is _my_ business! Wait here for me," he rapped tersely. - -He heard the rasp of the match upon the box, as I struck a light to -guide him in his search. Whereupon: - -"I thought I warned you!" he cried, and struck the match from my hand. -"_No light_!" - -With that he pushed open the door, and I saw his square figure -outlined against the moon-bright open window as he crossed the room. -Since he had referred to the peril which hung over us, it was with -bated breath that I awaited his return, not in the least knowing what -to expect. A few moments later he returned with the candlestick. - -"Now," said he, carefully reclosing the door, "light the candle." - -Awed by something in his voice and manner, I did as he directed -without demur, noting with amazement, in the light thus created, how -simple yet how effective was the disguise which my friend had adopted. - -He gave me no time for comment, however, but: - -"Listen," said he. "I'm going to put this candle in your room and then -you and I are going to run." - -"Run?" I cried. - -"Exactly. Run for our lives! Preferably upstairs. Is there any vacant -room above from which we can look out in the same direction as from -your window?" - -"The room above is vacant," I replied, "and probably we shall find the -door unlocked." - -"We'll risk that, then," said Gatton. "You might start and lead the -way." - -"Can I use my electric torch?" I asked. - -"On the stairs," replied Gatton; "but you must extinguish it when we -enter the room above." - -With that he thrust open the door of my bedroom, ran in and ran out -again, banging the door behind him as though pursued by devils! - -Then the pair of us were racing up the stairs madly for the room -above, I vaguely wondering if my companion had taken leave of his -senses. Yet of the verity of the peril which he dreaded came speedy -confirmation. - -At the very moment that my hand touched the knob of the door above, -and ere I could open it, the whole fabric of the Abbey Inn was -convulsed--the floor rocked beneath my feet; and there ensued the -sound of a deafening explosion from the room below! An echo, or what -sounded like an echo, sharp and staccato, came from the distant -hills! - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -GATTON'S STORY - - -"It's no good going in now," said Gatton, in a weary voice; "in fact -it might be dangerous. We have to consider the possibility of fire, -however," he added. - -Voices of sleepers awakened and cries of inquiry sounded now from all -over the inn; for naturally the household had been aroused by the -tremendous noise of the explosion. For my own part I was altogether -too dazed to conjecture what had happened. But that Gatton had saved -me from some deadly peril I was well convinced. Stirrings and the -noise of footsteps came from an adjoining room, and presently in his -night attire Martin appeared, very bemused. - -"Mr. Addison," he began, and stared from me to my companion. - -"Let no one leave their rooms," said Gatton decisively, "until I give -them permission." - -"Eh," began Martin heavily. - -"I am a police officer," added Gatton; "and you will all do as I -direct. Does any one sleep on the same floor as Mr. Addison?" - -"No, sir," replied Martin, who was not yet more than half awake, but -who nevertheless had been impressed by the Inspector's authoritative -manner. - -Sounds of footsteps from the floor above now became audible, -whereupon: - -"Order every one to remain in their rooms!" repeated Gatton. - -Martin, raising his voice, obeyed him. - -"What are your arrangements in the case of fire?" continued the -Inspector. - -Several betousled heads were peeping down from the landing above but -no one spoke until Martin collected his ideas sufficiently to reply: - -"There's buckets in the stables--and there's the well. Wilkins sleeps -over the stables--" - -"Can you make him hear without going downstairs?" - -"I can try," was the answer. - -Martin walked to a window which lighted the landing, and threw it -widely open. Leaning out: - -"Wilkins!" he roared--"Wilkins!" - -"Aye, aye, boss!" came faintly from somewhere below. - -"Tell him to stand by with fire-buckets, but not to leave the yard -without orders from me," directed Gatton. - -Martin issued these instructions in a voice which must have been -audible at Leeways, and then stood scratching his head stupidly. - -But indeed of all the bewildered company who gathered that night -beneath the roof of the Abbey Inn, I think I was the most nonplused of -all, and turning to Gatton: - -"For God's sake tell me what it all means!" I said. - -"It means," he answered, and even through his disguise I recognized -the old grim smile, "that only a match stood between you and eternity! -Even now, we cannot afford to sit down, but I am not anxious to pass -your door for a few minutes. As we both have much to say, let us find -a room where we can talk." - -Accordingly we went up to a large empty room at the back of the inn. -Through the open doorway I could hear the excited voices of the entire -staff of the establishment, who had congregated in Martin's room -across the landing. Never in the history of the Abbey Inn had such -doings taken place. - -"Perhaps," continued Gatton, "it will save time if you tell me exactly -what you have done first." - -"Very well," I said; "but before I begin--when did you arrive?" - -"An hour and a half after receiving your code telegram! I came by car. -The car is at Manton now." - -"Why this disguise?" - -"I will explain in a moment. But meanwhile--your own story." - -At that, although consumed with impatience, I quickly outlined my -movements from the time of my arrival at Upper Crossleys, the -Inspector following me closely. The tale concluded: - -"Now, Gatton!" I cried--"for heaven's sake tell me what it all means!" - -"I will tell you all I know," he replied slowly. "In the first place I -had two reasons for suggesting the visit to Friar's Park. I had formed -an opinion that the 'cat-woman' was interested in _you_. Whether -because she regarded you as dangerous or from some other cause I could -not determine. And I thought of a plan for finding out if she was by -any chance associated with Friar's Park. It was to send you down here -(a) to make straightforward inquiries, and (b) to 'draw the cat'!" - -"Very good of you!" I murmured. - -"I warned you it was dangerous!" said Gatton grimly. "But I am pleased -to say the plan worked to perfection. Your own inquiries have been -highly satisfactory and you have also 'drawn the cat'! Now just to -show you how dramatic your discoveries really were I will explain my -second and more important reason and the one which primarily had -prompted me to turn my attention to Friar's Park. A few hours before -you came to the Yard the other morning--to see the bag dropped in the -water by Eric Coverly--I had been in touch with the solicitors who had -acted for the late Sir Burnham." - -"Ah!" I exclaimed--"what had they to say?" - -"I was seeking information of course respecting the entail; in short, -trying to fathom the mystery of what Eric Coverly would have had to -gain by getting his cousin out of the way. I learned that financially -he gained nothing but a bundle of debts. Friar's Park was mortgaged to -the hilt. Furthermore, Lady Burnham Coverly had a life interest in the -property under the will of her husband. - -"Next, from the senior partner, a solicitor of the old school who -still retained pleasant memories of Sir Burnham's port, I learned a -number of very significant details." - -He paused, staring at me oddly; and the familiar expression beneath -the unfamiliar disguise was very curious. Then: - -"About seven or eight years ago," he resumed, "shortly after his -return from _Egypt_, according to Mr. Hardacre, the solicitor, -something occurred which made a changed man of his client, Sir -Burnham. You will note, Mr. Addison, shortly after his return from -_Egypt_. He realized upon quantities of securities, and raised a big -sum of ready money, which he disposed of in some way which has always -remained a mystery to Mr. Hardacre. In short, within a period of three -years or less, from being a wealthy man, he became a poor one. - -"Next, he sent Mr. Roger Coverly, his only child, then a mere lad, -abroad in care of a tutor; Mr. Hardacre never knew for what reason as -there was apparently nothing wrong with the boy's health! He began to -dismiss his servants. The greater part of Friar's Park was shut up and -allowed to fall into decay. Finally, to Mr. Hardacre's surprise and -grief, Sir Burnham mortgaged the property. But it was the terms of the -mortgage--which I was privileged to inspect--which aroused my -curiosity. - -"In brief, the mortgagee agreed, in the event of Sir Burnham's death, -to allow the widow to retain possession of the property for life, -whether payments fell in arrears or otherwise!" - -"But this--" I exclaimed. - -"Is, as a friend of yours once remarked, as mad as 'Alice in -Wonderland'! I agree. But to continue. At the time that this -extraordinary agreement was drawn up, Mr. Hardacre went down to -Friar's Park, of course; and he was a witness of several most singular -and significant occurrences. For instance, on the evening of his -arrival, whilst he was dressing for dinner, Sir Burnham came running -to his room and begged of him to lock his door and to remain in his -room until his host gave him permission to come out! He was -particularly warned against admitting any one _who might knock_ in the -interval!" - -"Good heavens!" I cried--"and did any one knock?" - -"No one; but about half an hour later Sir Burnham came and released -him. Mr. Hardacre was unspeakably distressed to observe that Sir -Burnham looked white and ill; in fact, in Mr. Hardacre's own words, -five years older! Again, quite by accident, on the same night, he came -upon his host kneeling in the chapel--in those days it still boasted a -roof--deep in prayer. An atmosphere of indescribable horror, he -declared, had settled upon Friar's Park, and although, as he -confessed, he had no evidence to prove the correctness of his theory, -he nevertheless traced this to the person of the mortgagee. For it -seemed to correspond roughly with the appearance in the neighborhood -of this man--whom he now met for the first time." - -Again Gatton paused, taking out his pipe and pouch, and: - -"Who was this person?" I asked. - -"A certain Dr. Damar Greefe!" - -"Good God!" I cried--"where is all this leading us, Gatton?" - -"It is leading us slowly to the truth, Mr. Addison, and that truth, -when we come to it, is going to be more horrible than we even suspect. -Passing over much of Mr. Hardacre's evidence, I come to the death, in -Switzerland, of Mr. Roger Coverly, under circumstances so obscure that -I fear we shall never know the particulars. Of one thing, however, I -am assured: there was foul play." - -"You mean that Roger Coverly was--murdered?" - -"I really don't doubt it," replied Gatton, who, having filled his -pipe, now lighted it. "I believe he was the first victim." - -"The _first_ victim?" - -"Mr. Addison, I agree with the late Sir Burnham's solicitor, that the -spider at the heart of this web is Dr. Damar Greefe. The shock of his -son's premature death led to a collapse from which Sir Burnham never -recovered, and Friar's Park entered upon the final phase during which -it was occupied by Lady Burnham who seems to have been wholly under -the influence of this Eurasian doctor." - -"But, my dear Gatton!" I cried--"where _is_ Lady Burnham?" - -"In my opinion, dead!" he answered solemnly. "Oh, it sounds -preposterous, but in the case of this lonely woman who had apparently -no living relatives and who was estranged from Sir Marcus and the -other members of her husband's family, it was no very difficult -matter to hush up the fact of her death." - -"But, Gatton, you don't mean that she, too, met with foul play?" - -"Most certainly I don't! It is as clear as day that the whole object -of this elaborate secrecy was to _hide_ the fact of her death! She was -infinitely more useful alive than dead, Mr. Addison; and they hoped to -keep up the solemn farce until--" - -"Yes?" - -"Until Sir Eric was hanged for the murder of his cousin!" - -"Gatton! What do you mean?" - -"He is the last of the Coverlys!" answered Gatton simply. "There would -be no further danger of any one paying off the mortgage." - -"Danger?" - -"Exactly. There is some secret at Friar's Park--or at the Bell -House--which necessitates the property remaining in the possession of -Dr. Damar Greefe--as it has virtually remained since Sir Burnham's -death! So much is clear, and although Eric Coverly has persisted in -his obstinate silence, one of my assistants who has been at work on -the late Sir Marcus's papers made a discovery yesterday, which -together with what I had learned from Mr. Hardacre and your code -message, brought me down to Crossleys post haste." - -"What was this discovery?" - -"An invitation from Dr. Damar Greefe, dated only a short time after -the death of Sir Burnham, to Sir Marcus, asking him to visit Friar's -Park! The doctor explained that the state of Lady Coverly's health -made it impossible for her to entertain, but he assured Sir Marcus -that she was anxious to see him and to heal any breach which might -exist between them. Most significant of all, the Eurasian proposed -that Sir Marcus should put up _here_!" - -"At the Abbey Inn?" - -"Exactly. Now the 'best room' of the inn is that which you have been -occupying--and it is that which Sir Marcus would have occupied had he -accepted the doctor's invitation. Listen then: all these clews seemed -to point to Friar's Park, but the receipt of your message mentioning -one Damar Greefe as being a suspicious party, and asking me to look up -his record, quite tipped the scales. I saw, frankly, that you had made -a false move, but nevertheless it served my purpose, and I determined -to look into the Crossleys end of the inquiry personally, without -giving Dr. Damar Greefe reason to suspect that I was in any way -associated with the matter. - -"I picked up one or two hints from the county police as to the -geography as well as the 'notables' of the neighborhood; and the plan -which you put into execution to-night, I had adopted last night!" - -"What! You visited Friar's Park?" - -"I did. But I did not enter through the French window. It never -occurred to me that it would be unfastened! I had come provided with a -neat set of burglars' tools (_and_ a warrant for use if necessary) and -I broke into the kitchen! _I_ found, as you afterwards found, that -the place had obviously been deserted for a long time. I was badly -puzzled. But my search was more detailed than yours. I climbed up to -the top of the tower!" - -"To the top of the tower!" - -"Yes. I'll tell you what I found there in a minute. But, briefly, -beyond learning that the story of the invalid Lady Coverly was a myth, -I discovered nothing likely to help the inquiry. I seriously debated -the idea of putting Dr. Damar Greefe under arrest; but finally I -determined to watch him for a time without showing my hand. I had the -good fortune to meet him this morning here at the Abbey Inn! Also, I -saw your mysterious lady visitor! Lastly, I got into conversation with -the man, Hawkins, who was accompanied by your friend, the mute! - -"Leaving this dangerous pair, I made a rush for the Bell House, -thinking I saw my opportunity to examine it unmolested. I was too -late, though. One of my assistants warned me of the Eurasian's return -just as I was about to enter. - -"I watched the house all day. But it was not until some time after -dusk that the Eurasian came out. He went to Friar's Park--and I -followed him!" - -"What! You were there to-night!" - -"I was! I dogged Dr. Damar Greefe, determined to learn the nature of -the business which brought him to Friar's Park at such an hour. I may -add that it was only by the merest accident or good luck that I -fathomed it after all. I had no idea into what part of the building he -had gone, but, knowing that he was somewhere inside, I watched from -the shrubbery. In fact, I was still in the grounds when _you_ -arrived!" - -"Then it was you I saw on the tower!" - -"Oh, no, it was not! I had thoroughly examined the tower on my -previous visit, and what I found there had puzzled me badly. In fact -it was not until your admirable withdrawal from Friar's Park to-night -that the horrible explanation dawned upon me ...and I realized that -the object of inviting Sir Marcus to Upper Crossleys was to 'remove' -him! The first plan failed, of course; he never came. He went back -again on duty to Russia, I believe--for a time. But when he -returned--a second was adopted, at the Red House. However--the -murder-machine erected in accordance with the earlier plan was still -there--" - -"Where?" I cried in bewilderment. - -"On the tower of Friar's Park! It was the appearance of _Damar Greefe_ -on the platform of the tower, armed with binoculars, which awakened me -to the ghastly truth. The device, never used in the case of Sir -Marcus, was not to be wasted, but was to be employed to remove a -dangerous obstacle from the conspirator's path! I had left the car -near Crossleys, you see, and never in my life have I run as I ran -after you to-night!" - -"But, Gatton, _what_ did you find on the tower--and what connection -exists between the tower and the explosion which occurred here -to-night?" - -"This: a sort of small howitzer--I think of Krupp's manufacture, but -you would be better able to judge than I--is mounted on the platform -of the tower! I examined it, Mr. Addison, last night, and like a fool -concluded that it had been used at some time for a local celebration -and never dismounted! It was trained--as I remembered nearly too -late--and laid at a certain elevation in such a way that it was -evidently never meant to be moved. Yet at the time the significance of -this did not strike me. How the range was found so exactly we shall -probably never know; but the truth suddenly burst upon me as you made -off through the bushes and as Dr. Damar Greefe came out and began to -peer through his glasses--that it was mechanically set in such a -manner that it could drop a projectile into the window above the porch -of the Abbey Inn!" - -"Good God! It's hardly credible!" - -"It isn't, I admit. But weather conditions favored him; there wasn't a -breath of wind. And that he succeeded is proved by the fact that at -the present moment your room below is probably still full of poison -gas! Of course, it _may_ not have been a gas-shell; he may have -relied, as well he might do, on the burst! But I'm taking no chances. -You can well imagine that failing a knowledge of the arrangement on -the tower, no explanation of the mystery would ever have been found! A -thunder-bolt would be the popular theory, and if any fragments of -shell were found who would ever know from where it had been fired?" - -"Gatton," I said, "I owe you my life. But why did this fiend try to -murder me?" - -Gatton smiled. - -"I have a theory, Mr. Addison," he replied, "and it is this: I believe -he thought that the indiscretion of a certain mysterious lady would -bring about his ruin. If I am not mistaken, she has already gone far -to put his neck in a halter; and he was determined to nip this latest -adventure in the bud by removing the object of her--" - -I felt myself changing color, and: - -"For heaven's sake say no more!" I interrupted. "It is a gruesome and -horrible thought! Yet, perhaps you are right. What must we do, Gatton? -These people have rendered the neighborhood uninhabitable for -themselves, now, and--" - -Dimly to my ears came the sound of a gun-shot. - -"And have fled!" cried Gatton, springing up. "Quick! we must chance -the gas!" - -"Why? What was that shot?" - -"A signal! Dr. Damar Greefe and 'the cat' have escaped!" - -He raced out across the landing, amid a chorus of frightened inquiries -from the inn staff. I followed him into a front room, and: - -"This comes of turning my attention elsewhere for half an hour!" he -cried angrily. "I seem to be cursed with fools for assistants!" - -Throwing up the window, he leaned out. I stood at his elbow; and as I -looked I saw a great red glow rising from the distant woods. The sound -of a car approaching at headlong speed reached my ears, and at the -same moment I saw the headlights. - -"Hullo, there!" cried Gatton. "Blythe! Petersham!" - -The car stopped, and a cry came back: - -"We've lost him, sir!... and the Bell House is in flames!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -IN LONDON AGAIN - - -"Then the sudden change in the police attitude towards Eric," said -Isobel, "is not due to any discoveries which you or Inspector Gatton -have made at Friar's Park?" - -"That I cannot say," I replied. "We have made certain discoveries as I -have already told you, but whilst they distinctly point to some -criminal whose identity is not yet fully established, unfortunately I -cannot say that in a legal sense they clear Coverly." - -Isobel, as I had thought at the first moment of our meeting, looked -very tired and had that pathetic expression of appeal in her eyes -which had hurt me so much when first it had appeared there on the -morning after the tragedy. She was palpably ill at ease, and I had -small cause to wonder at this. Although a veiled paragraph (in which I -thought I could detect the hand of Gatton) had appeared in the press -on the previous day, briefly stating that evidence had been -volunteered by Sir Eric Coverly which had led to an entirely new line -of police inquiry, the item of news--which had naturally excited -wide-spread interest--had never been amplified. Amid the alarms and -excursions which had terminated my visit to Upper Crossleys, Gatton I -supposed had forgotten to refer to this matter; but I did not doubt -that the paragraph was an inspired one issued from Scotland Yard. - -My friend's object in circulating this statement was not by any means -evident to me, but as I expected to see him later that day I hoped to -be able to obtain from him some explanation of his new tactics. - -Many hours had elapsed since, with the flames of the burning Bell -House reddening the night behind me, and throwing into lurid relief -the fir-groves surrounding Dr. Damar Greefe's mysterious stronghold, I -had been borne along the road towards London. That Gatton had hoped -for much from a detailed search of the Eurasian's establishment, I -knew, for I had not forgotten his anger at the appearance of the -flames above the tree tops which had told of the foiling of his plans. - -Under cover of the conflagration the cunning Eurasian had escaped. -Every possible means had been taken to intercept him, and whilst -Gatton, inspired by I know not what hopes, had hastened to the burning -Bell House, I had set out in the police car in pursuit of Dr. Damar -Greefe accompanied by Detective-Sergeant Blythe--upon whom, -apparently, the onus of the fiasco rested. - -In despite of these measures, the hunted man had made good his -retreat; and Blythe and I had entered the outskirts of London without -once sighting the car in which Dannar Greefe had fled. - -No communication reached me on the following morning, and I found -myself, consumed with impatient curiosity, temporarily out of touch -with Gatton. Then, shortly after mid-day, came a telegram: - -"Endeavor induce Sir Eric come to your house eight to-night. Will meet -him there. Gatton." - -Welcoming any ground for action--since to remain passive at such a -time was torture--I called at once at Coverly's chambers. He was out. -But I left an urgent written message for him, and in the hope of -finding him with Isobel, hurried to her flat. He had not been there -that day, however; and now I could only hope that he would return to -his rooms in time to keep the appointment. For that Gatton had some -good reason for suggesting the meeting I did not doubt. - -Gatton and I were now agreed that Dr. Damar Greefe, if not directly -responsible for the death of Sir Marcus, at least had been an -accessory to his murder. At any rate he had shown his hand; firstly, -in the attempted assault upon myself by his Nubian servant and -secondly, by the devilish device whereby he had propelled some sort of -gas projectile (for this we now knew it to have been) from the tower -of Friar's Park into my room at the Abbey Inn. I had, then, become -obnoxious to him; he evidently regarded my continued existence as a -menace to his own. - -Two explanations of his attitude presented themselves: one, that my -inquiries had led me daily nearer to the heart of the mystery; or, -two, that the doctor's mysterious associate, the possessor of the -green eyes, had adopted an attitude towards myself which the Eurasian -had counted sooner or later as certain to compromise him. In short, -whilst it was sufficiently evident to me that these mysterious people -residing at Upper Crossleys were the criminals for whom New Scotland -Yard was searching, no definite link between their admittedly -dangerous activities and the crime we sought to unravel, had yet been -brought to light. - -On the other hand, whilst it was not feasible to suppose that any -relationship existed between Sir Eric, the new baronet, and the -Eurasian, or the woman associated with the Eurasian, I was quite well -aware that, equally, there was no evidence to show that such an -association did not exist. - -I longed to be able to offer some consolation to Isobel, who at this -time was passing through days and nights of dreadful apprehension; but -beyond imparting to her some of my own personal convictions, I was -unable to say honestly that the complicity of Coverly in the murder -was definitely and legally disproved. - -"If only he would break his absurd silence," she said suddenly. "This -ridiculous suspicion which still seems to be entertained in some -quarters would be removed of course; but his every act since the night -of the tragedy has only intensified it." - -She sat facing me on the settee, her hands locked in her lap, and: - -"Do you refer to any new act of his," I asked, "with which I am not at -present acquainted?" - -She nodded slowly. - -"Yes," she said; "but I can only tell you in confidence, for it is -something which Inspector Gatton does not know." - -"Please tell me," I urged; "for you are aware that I have no other -object but the clearing of Coverly in the eyes of the police and the -public." - -"Well," she continued, with hesitation, "last night he lodged with me -a copy of a _declaration_ which he assured me cleared him entirely. -But he imposed an extraordinary condition." - -"What was that?" I asked with interest. - -"It was only to be used in the event of the worst happening!" she -said. - -"What do you mean? In the event of his being put on trial for murder?" - -Isobel nodded. - -"I suppose so," she said sadly; "it seems madness, doesn't it?" - -"Absolute madness!" I agreed. "If he is in a position to establish an -alibi why not do it now and be done with the whole unsavory business?" - -"That is exactly what I pointed out to him, but he was adamant on the -matter and became dreadfully irritable and excited. I did not dare to -press the point, so of course--" She shrugged her shoulders -resignedly. - -Was it a selfish joy, I wonder, which possessed me as I noted the -restrained impatience with which Isobel spoke of Coverly? I suppose it -was, and perhaps it was even indefensible; yet I record it, desiring -to be perfectly honest with myself and with others. Nevertheless, in -the near future I was to regret the sentiments which at that moment I -entertained towards Coverly. But how was I to know in my poor human -blindness that his innocence would soon be established in the eyes of -the world by other means than the publication of the statement which -he had so strangely placed with Isobel? - -Since, excepting the telegram, no communication had reached me from -Gatton, I could only assume that he had discovered nothing in the -ruins of the Bell House of sufficient importance to justify a report. -Doubtless he had reported to New Scotland Yard, but that his -discoveries, if any, had not resulted in an arrest, was painfully -evident. - -My latest contribution to the _Planet_ had been in the nature of a -discursive essay rather than an informative article, although I had -enlivened it with some account of my experiences at Upper Crossleys. -But at the moment that I had set pen to paper I had realized the -difficulty of expressing, within the scope of a newspaper -contribution, the peculiar conditions which ruled in that oddly -deserted village. And at Gatton's request I had been most guarded in -my treatment of the two abortive attempts made upon my own life by the -Eurasian doctor. - -The appeal in Isobel's eyes, as I have said, was very difficult to -resist, but after all I had little substantial consolation to offer; -and in the circumstances I shall be understood, I think, when I say -that it was with an odd sense of relief that I finally took my -departure from her flat. To long for the right to comfort a woman as -only a lover may do, and to suspect that this sweet privilege might -have been his for the asking, is a torture which no man can suffer -unmoved. - -Anticipating, almost hourly, a further message from Gatton, I went -first to the _Planet_ offices, but although I lunched at the club and -returned later, no news reached me there; whereupon, I proceeded to my -cottage. As I walked down the high-street of the onetime village, -passing that police-box at which (so far as my part in it was -concerned) the first scenes of the drama actually had been laid, I was -seized with wonder on reflecting that all these episodes, strange and -tragic, had been crowded into so short a space of time. - -An officer was on duty there as on the night when I had first made -acquaintance with the green eyes of the woman of mystery; but I did -not know the man and I walked on deep in meditation, until, arriving -at the Red House, other and dreadful reflections were aroused by the -sight of that deserted building. - -There were no spectators to-day, for the first excitement aroused by -the crime had begun to subside, and I did not even notice a constable -posted there. Whereby I concluded that the investigations at the Red -House had been terminated and that no more was hoped for from an -examination of those premises. - -Coates was awaiting me as I entered my cottage with the news that -Inspector Gatton had telephoned an hour before from Crossleys, -confirming his telegram and stating that he would call immediately he -arrived in London. This was stimulating, and I only regretted that I -had not been at home personally to speak to him. Then: - -"Sir Eric Coverly also rang up, sir," continued Coates, "at about -three o'clock and said that he would be calling this evening at eight -in accordance with your request." - -I looked at the military figure standing bolt upright just within the -doorway. - -"Good. Is that all?" I asked. - -"That was all the message, sir," he reported. - -I walked into the study in a very thoughtful mood, and from the open -window contemplated that prospect of tree-lined road, now for ever to -be associated in my mind with the darkest places in the tragedy in -which I had so strangely become involved. - -Gatton, I knew, entertained a theory that the selection of the Red -House for the dreadful purpose for which it had been employed, was not -the result of any mere accident, but was ascribable to the fact that -the place was conveniently situated from the point of view of the -assassin. In short, he had an idea that the London headquarters of the -wanted man, whom we had now definitely invested with the personality -of Dr. Damar Greefe, was somewhere within my immediate neighborhood! - -It was a startling conclusion and one which rested, as I thought, upon -somewhat slender premises; but nevertheless I found it disquieting. -And recognizing how the more sinister manifestations of that singular -green-eyed creature (whom I could never think of as a woman, nor -indeed regard as anything quite human) were associated with -darkness--a significantly feline trait--I confess to a certain -apprehension respecting the coming night. This apprehension was -strengthened no doubt by my memories of Gatton's last words as I had -been on the point of setting out from Upper Crossleys. - -"With their Friar's Park base destroyed, Mr. Addison," he had said, -"they will be forced to fly to that other abode, at present unknown, -from which I believe they conducted the elaborate assassination of Sir -Marcus. The only alternative is flight from the country, and the -mechanism of the C.I.D. having been put into motion, this we may -regard as almost impossible--especially in view of the marked -personality of Dr. Damar Greefe. Of course," he had added, "they may -have some other residence of which we know nothing but I incline to -the idea that they will make for London." - -That the published paragraph relating to Eric Coverly's alleged -evidence was in some way associated with this theory of Gatton's I -knew, but of the soundness of his theory I had yet to learn. - -Since (as Isobel had that day informed me) the document lodged with -her was a profound secret from all, Carton's inspired paragraph could -have been no more than a shot in the dark; and the fact that it had -hit the mark one of those seeming coincidences which sometimes rest -upon mere chance, but which rested, in this case upon a process of -careful reasoning. The Inspector was certain, as I was certain, of -Coverly's innocence, and he had credited him with an alibi because he -knew that if he would but consent to break his inexplicable silence, -he was in a position to establish one. Why he had forestalled Coverly -I knew not. - -I made a poor and hasty dinner, for I was too excited to eat, and -returning to the study, I crossed to the bookcase and took down -Maspero's "Egyptian Art." I idly glanced again through those passages -which Gatton had copied into his note-book--the passages relating to -the attributes of Bâst, the cat-goddess. My mind rested particularly, -I remember, upon the line, "she plays with her victim as with a -mouse." - -Stifling a somewhat weary sigh, I returned the book to its place and -lingered looking out of the open window into the deepening dusk. -Mentally my mood was a restless one, but it did not reflect itself -physically; for I stood there leaning against the window whilst a -procession of all the figures associated with the "_Oritoga_ mystery" -raced through my mind. - -And presently as I stood there contemplating a mental image of the -Eurasian doctor, I heard the telephone bell ring. The sound aroused me -in a moment, and walking out into the little ante-room in which the -instrument was placed, I took it up--anticipating Coates, who had -immediately come in from the garden where he was engaged at the time. - -"Hello!" I said. - -A voice with which I was unfamiliar, a man's voice speaking rather -thickly, replied: - -"Is that Mr. Addison?" - -"Yes." - -"I have just arrived from Crossleys with Inspector Gatton. He requests -me to ask you to meet him by the police-box at the corner of the high -street immediately." - -"Very good," I said. "I will come." - -"And," continued the voice--"could you spare Coates with the car for -an hour?" - -"Certainly," I replied. "For what do you want him?" - -"If he will take the car to Denmark Hill Station and be there by a -quarter past eight," continued the voice, "Detective-Sergeant Blythe -will meet him. There is a large box," he added, "which Inspector -Gatton wishes to have taken to your house." - -"Very well," I said. "Coates will start in ten minutes' time, and I -will come along immediately to meet Inspector Gatton." - -I replaced the telephone upon the little table and went out into the -garden, whither my man had returned. - -"Coates," I said, "get out the Rover." - -Coates immediately ceased his gardening operations and stood upright -in an attitude of attention. - -"Very good, sir." - -"You will just have time to get ready at the garage and return here to -admit Sir Eric Coverly at eight o'clock. I am going out, now, to meet -Inspector Gatton. But inform Sir Eric that I shall be back in a few -minutes. Show him into the study and make him comfortable. You will -then proceed in the Rover to Denmark Hill Station. You will meet there -a man with a box--a detective from Scotland Yard who will make -himself known to you. His name is Blythe. You have to bring the box -back here." - -"Very good, sir," repeated Coates. - -And as he entered the house he was already stripping off the old -shooting jacket which he wore in the garden. For my part I slipped a -light top-coat over my somewhat untidy house attire, and taking my hat -and a stick, stepped quickly out along the road in the direction of -the village street. A brisk walk brought me to the little sentry-box -under the trees. But Gatton was not to be seen. Indeed, with the -exception of several ordinary pedestrians who were obviously returning -from the city to their homes (all of whom I scrutinized, thinking that -Coverly might come this way) and the constable on duty at the point, -there was no one about who looked in the least like either of my -expected visitors. - -Having waited for some ten minutes unavailingly, I spoke to the man in -the box. - -"Good evening, constable," I said; "I expected to meet a friend -here--Inspector Gatton, of Scotland Yard--you may know him?" - -"I know of him quite well, sir," answered the constable, "and should -recognize him if I saw him. But he has not been here this evening." - -"You have seen no one hanging about who might have been sent by him?" - -"No one, sir." - -"Strange," I muttered; then: "My name is Addison, constable," I said, -"and if any one should ask for me will you direct him to proceed to -my house?" And I gave the man instructions respecting its whereabouts. - -"I will," answered the constable; and wishing him "good night," I -retraced my steps, curious respecting the matter, but not apprehensive -as I well might have been--and with no glimmering of the ghastly truth -penetrating to my mind. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE GRAY MIST - - -I was about half-way on my return journey when I heard a car racing -along the road behind me, and as it came nearer I detected the fact -that it was slowing down. Ere I could turn: - -"Hi! Mr. Addison!" hailed a voice. - -I stopped, turned round, and there was Gatton leaning out of the car -and staring towards me through the deepening dusk. - -"Why, Gatton!" I said, walking up to him--"I waited more than ten -minutes for you, and then gave it up." - -"Waited for me?" - -"Yes, by the police-box." - -He stared in evident wonder at me and then at the police chauffeur who -drove the car. - -"Whatever prompted you to do that?" he said. "Coates must have given -you the wrong message. I said I would come to the house for you, not -meet you in the street." - -Still I remained dense to the truth, and: - -"I know you did," I replied. "I refer to the second message." - -"I sent no second message." - -"What!" - -"Get in," cried Gatton shortly; "this wants explaining." - -I stepped into the car, and as it moved onward again I explained to -the Inspector what had taken place. As I talked I saw his expression -grow darker and darker, until finally: - -"There's something wrong!" he muttered. - -"Then you did not inspire the message?" - -"I know nothing whatever about it. At the time you received it I was -on my way from Crossleys. I have been traveling for the last hour and -a half." - -I stared at him very blankly. The object of such a communication was -difficult to imagine, and I knew of nothing incriminating in my -possession, which might have tempted the assassin to lure me from the -house whilst he obtained possession of it. - -In ever-growing excitement I watched the houses slipping behind us as -we swept along. Then we came to the tree-lined expanse of road -immediately leading to the cottage. As the car stopped, I leaped out -quickly, Gatton close upon my heels, and ran up the path to the door. - -From certain indications with which I was familiar, I observed that -Coates was out, whereby I concluded that he had set off to meet the -mythical "man with a box." Not without apprehension I inserted the key -in the lock and opened the door. - -As I did so, I beheld a most singular spectacle. - -The careful Coates had closed all the windows as usual before quitting -the house, so that there was comparatively little draught along the -corridor. But as the door swung open I perceived a sort of gray -fog-like vapor floating over the carpet about a foot in depth and -moving in slightly sinuous spirals upward towards the opened door! - -At this phenomenon I stared in speechless astonishment; for whilst it -resembled steam or the early morning mist which one sometimes sees -upon the grass in hot weather, I was wholly at a loss to account for -its presence inside my cottage! - -"Good heavens!" cried Gatton, and grasped me by the arm with so strong -a grip that I almost cried out. "_Look! Look!_" - -"What the devil is it?" I muttered; and turning, I stared into his -face. "What _can_ it be?" - -"Stand back," he said strangely, and pulled me out into the porch. "Do -you notice a peculiar smell?" - -"I do--a most foul and abominable smell." - -Gatton nodded grimly. - -"God knows what has happened here since you left," he said; "but of -one thing I am sure--you must certainly bear a charmed life, Mr. -Addison. There has been a third attempt at your removal!" - -This choking smell which now rose to my nostrils had in it something -vaguely familiar, yet something which at that place and that time I -found myself unable to identify; but: - -"We shall have to open the windows!" rapped Gatton. - -Suiting the action to the word, he took out his handkerchief, and -holding it to his nostrils went running along the corridor, his feet -oddly enveloped in that mysterious mist. A moment later I heard the -bang of a swiftly raised window, then another, and: - -"Stand clear of the door!" called a muffled voice. - -A moment later Gatton came racing back again, coughing and choking -because of the fumes which arose from that supernatural fog carpeting -the passages. - -The chauffeur now appeared upon the path leading from the gate to the -porch, but: - -"Stay by the car!" ordered Gatton. "Don't move without instructions." - -I scarcely noted his words. For I was watching the gray fog. In the -dusk I could see it streaming out, that deathly mist, and creeping -away across grass and flower-beds, right and left of the door. - -"Give it a chance to clear," said Gatton; "I fancy one good whiff -would finish any man!" - -Even as he spoke the words the nature of this vapor suddenly occurred -to me, and: - -"The Abbey Inn!" I whispered. "The Abbey Inn!" - -"Ah!" said he--"you've solved the mystery, have you? But can you -explain how this stuff comes to be floating about the floor of your -house?" - -"I cannot," I confessed. "But at all costs we must go in. We must -learn the worst!" - -"Yes, we'll risk it now," said the Inspector. - -Close together we entered and made our way towards the study. As we -passed the door-way of the ante-room in which the telephone was -placed. I glanced, aside, and thereupon: - -"My God, Gatton!" I groaned. "Look!" - -He pulled up and the two of us stood, horror-stricken, rooted to the -spot, looking into the little room. - -I have said that Coates invariably closed the windows before leaving -the house, but here the window was open. Prone upon the floor was -stretched the figure of a man! - -He wore a light overcoat, and his hat lay under the telephone -table--where it had evidently rolled at the moment of his fall. The -poisonous smell was more apparent here than elsewhere; and looking -down at the prone figure, the face of which was indiscernible because -of the man's position: - -"Why, Gatton!" I said in an awed whisper--"look!... he was speaking to -some one!" - -"I'm looking!" replied Gatton grimly. - -Grasped rigidly in his left hand the fallen man held the telephone! - -"We want gas-masks for this job," said the Inspector. - -His words were true enough. I had already recognized the odor of the -foul stuff. It was identical with that which, as we had come down from -the upper floor of the Abbey Inn, had proceeded from the room wherein -the mysterious shell had exploded. In a word my cottage was filled -with some kind of poison-gas! - -"We must risk it, anyway," said Gatton, "and find out who it is." - -I nodded, sick with foreboding. Stooping swiftly, he succeeded in -turning over the prone figure, whereupon I quite failed to restrain a -hoarse cry of horror.... - -_It was Eric Coverly_! - -The fume-laden room seemed to swim around me as I looked down at the -dreadfully contorted features over which was creeping that greenish -tint which had characterized the face of Sir Marcus as I had seen it -on the morning of the body's recovery from the hold of the _Oritoga_. - -"Drag him out," said Gatton huskily; "he may be alive." - -But even as we bent to the attempt, both my companion and I were -seized with violent nausea; for the wisps of gray mist which still -floated in the air were nevertheless sufficiently deadly. However, we -succeeded at last in dragging Eric Coverly into the passage. Here it -became necessary to detach the telephone from the death-grip in which -he held it. - -I turned my head aside whilst Gatton accomplished this task; then -together we bore Coverly out into the porch. At this point we were -both overcome again by the fumes. Gatton was the first to recover -sufficiently to stoop and examine the victim of this fiendish outrage. -I clutched dizzily at an upright of the porch, and: - -"Don't tell me he's dead," I whispered. - -But Gatton stood up and nodded sternly. - -"He was the last!" he said strangely. "They have triumphed after all." - -The man who had driven the car and who now stood in a state of -evident stupefaction looking over the gate, where he had been warned -to remain by the Inspector, came forward on seeing Gatton beckoning to -him. - -"Notify the local officer in charge and bring a doctor," said Gatton. -He turned to me. "Which is the nearest?" - -Rapidly I gave the man the necessary instructions and he went running -out to the car and soon was speeding away towards the house of a local -physician. - -I find it difficult to recapture the peculiar horror of the next few -minutes, during which, half-fearful of entering the cottage, Gatton -and I stood in the little sheltered garden adjoining the porch looking -down at the body of this man who had met his end under my roof, in -circumstances at once dreadful and incomprehensible. - -Tragically, Eric Coverly was vindicated; by his death he was proved -innocent. And by the manner of his death we realized that he had -fallen a victim to the same malign agency as his cousin. - -I have explained that my cottage stood in a strangely secluded spot, -although so near to the sleepless life of London; and I remember that -throughout the period between the departure of the man with the car -and his return with the doctor and two police officers whom he had -brought from the local depôt, only one pedestrian passed my door and -he on the opposite side of the road. - -How little that chance traveler suspected what a scene was concealed -from his eyes by the tall hedges which divided the garden from the -highroad! It was as the footsteps of this wayfarer became faint in the -distance, that suddenly: - -"Come along!" said Gatton. "We might chance it now. I want to get to -the bottom of this telephone trick." - -We returned to the door of the ante-room, and side by side stood -looking down at the telephone which had only been extracted from the -grip of the dead man with so much difficulty. The Inspector stooped -and took it up from the floor. The deadly gray mist was all but -dissipated now, and together we stood staring stupidly at the -telephone which Gatton held in his hand. - -To all outward seeming it was an ordinary instrument, and my number -was written upon it in the space provided for the purpose. Then, all -at once, as we stepped into the room, I observed something out of the -ordinary. - -I could see a length of green cable proceeding from the wall-plug -_out_ through the open window. The cable attached to the instrument -which Gatton held did not come from the proper connection at all, but -came _in_ through the window, and was evidently connected with -something outside in the garden! - -"What does this mean, Gatton?" I cried. - -Evidently as deeply mystified as I, Gatton placed the telephone on the -little table and fully opening the window, leaned out. - -"Hullo!" he cried. "The cable leads up to the roof of the tool-shed!" - -"To the roof of the tool-shed!" I echoed incredulously. - -But Gatton did not heed my words, for: - -"What the devil have we here?" he continued. - -He was hauling something up from the flower-bed below the window, and -now, turning to me, he held out ... a second telephone! - -"Why, Gatton!" I cried, and took it from his hand, "_this_ is the -authentic instrument! See! It is connected in the proper way!" - -"I see quite clearly," he replied. "It was simply placed outside, -whilst a duplicate one was substituted for it. I observe a ladder -against the shed. Let us trace the cable attached to the duplicate." - -The ladder was one used by Coates about the garden; and now, climbing -out of the window, Gatton mounted it and surveyed the roof of the -lean-to which I used as a tool-shed. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed. "A gas cylinder!" - -"What!" - -He fingered the green cable. - -"This is not cable at all," he cried; "it's _covered tubing_! Do you -see?" - -He descended and rejoined me. - -"You see?" he continued. "A call from the exchange would ring the bell -in the ante-room here. This devilish contrivance"--he pointed to the -false telephone--"is really hollow. The weight of the receiver -hermetically closes the end of the tube, no doubt. But any one -answering the call and taking up the duplicate instrument would -receive the full benefit of the contents of the cylinder which lies -up there on the roof!" - -"My God, Gatton!" I muttered. "The fiends! But why was the contrivance -not removed?" - -"They hadn't time," he said grimly. "They had not counted on the -death-grip of the victim!" - -I heard a car come racing up to the gate, followed by the sound of -many excited voices. - -"At last we know where the gray mist came from," I said, as Gatton and -I walked through the cottage to meet the new arrivals. - -"We know more than that," he retorted. "We know how _Sir Marcus_ -died!" - -"Gatton!" I cried excitedly, as we approached a group waiting in the -porch--"do you mean--" - -He looked at me grimly. - -"I mean," he said slowly, "that I have not forgotten the _gas-plug_ in -the wall of that recess in the supper-room at the Red House! The only -thing I was doubtful about (the means by which the victim was induced -to admit the gas into the room) is now as clear as daylight." - -"You are right, Gatton," I agreed. "The same trick has succeeded -twice." - -"The same trick, as you say, Mr. Addison; with one trifling variation, -a device which would only suggest itself to such a brain as that of--" - -"Dr. Damar Greefe!" I cried. - -"I believe you are right." - -And now fell an awesome silence; for whilst Gatton and I stood -bare-headed, the unfortunate Eric Coverly was being carried out to the -waiting car; and even as I turned my eyes away in horror from that -spectacle, I was endeavoring to frame the words in which I should -acquaint Isobel with this second ghastly tragedy. - -Here, indeed, was a new development of "the _Oritoga_ mystery"; and so -queerly does the mind depart from the actualities at such a moment -that I found myself thinking, even whilst Gatton was talking to me, of -the bold head-lines which would greet readers of the press in the -morning--and of the renewed excitement which would sweep throughout -the length and breadth of the land when this dreadful alibi was -proven. - -Over the details of that gruesome tragedy I feel myself compelled to -pass lightly, for even now the horror of it remains with me. The fumes -of the poisonous gray mist lingered for hours in the house; and there -were official visitations, testimonies and attestations, and the -hundred and one formalities which invariably accompany such a tragedy -but which I need not deal with in detail here. - -Coates returned with the Rover, just as the body of the victim was -being removed, and his account of what had occurred was simple enough, -and followed the lines which we had anticipated. He had locked up and -then gone to the garage for the car as I had directed him to do, -returning to the cottage in time to admit Eric Coverly, whom he showed -into the study, having informed him that I should be back in less than -ten minutes. He had then proceeded to Denmark Hill railway station -only to find, as I had found, that the appointment was a hoax and -"the man with a box" a myth. - -"You see," said Gatton, "the scheme of the plotter was simply this: to -get Coates out of the way for a long enough time to allow the -substitution of the telephone to be accomplished. The fact that Coates -had closed the windows before leaving the house didn't interfere very -much with the scheme. It's an old-fashioned catch on the ante-room -window, and I have seen the marks upon the brass-work where it was -forced from the outside with the blade of a knife. For the person who -opened the window to take out the real telephone and put the other in -its place was easy; and all that remained was to lift the gas-cylinder -on to the shed and partly reclose the window as we found it. Coates, -even if he had troubled to look, would not have noticed any difference -in the dusk. It is the next move, however, which _I_ find most -interesting." - -Gatton spoke with repressed excitement, and: - -"What do you mean by 'the next move'?" I asked. - -"Well," he replied, "we have good evidence to show that the assassin -possesses an almost Napoleonic capacity for working by the time-table. -Witness the employment of Constable Bolton in the Red House -affair--which showed that our man was perfectly acquainted with the -movements of the officer on that beat and timed his scheme -accordingly. Very well ... having laid the telephone trap in your -ante-room--did our man hurry away and make the call _in person_, -which brought Coverly to the 'phone?--or did he remain watching the -house and give the signal to _some one else_ to do it?" - -"I cannot imagine, Gatton. Nor does the point strike me as important." - -"No?" said Gatton, smiling triumphantly. "Then I must explain. -Whereas, in the Red House, the scheme worked _automatically_--for the -time of Sir Marcus's arrival was _fixed_--in the present instance, -some one had to watch for _your_ return from the mythical -appointment!" - -"For _my_ return?" - -"Unquestionably! This scheme was arranged for your benefit, Mr. -Addison. Unknowingly, poor Coverly saved you from a dreadful fate at -the price of his own life! You see, they did not know that Coverly was -coming here! Now, it will not have escaped your attention that he wore -a soft felt hat, a light overcoat, and carried a black cane. So did -_you_ when you went out to keep the appointment made by the assassin!" - -He paused, staring at me hard, and: - -"Whoever was watching for your return," he said solemnly, "mistook -Coverly for you! The moment that Coates drove away, the signal was -given. It _must_ have been. We were back here a few minutes later, -_Now_ do you see?" - -"I do not, Gatton! What are you driving at?" - -"At this: The telephone call _must_ have been made from somewhere in -the immediate neighborhood! There wasn't time to do it otherwise. And -there is no public call office within a mile _which is open after -seven o'clock!"_ - -"Good heavens!" I cried. "At last I understand!" - -Gatton looked at me, smiling in grim triumph; and: - -"Dr. Damar Greefe has a residence somewhere within a quarter-mile -radius of this house!" he declared. "He has betrayed himself! -Then--look here." - -Unscrewing the front of the mouthpiece of the false telephone, he took -out the strip of cardboard upon which my number was written, turned it -over ... and there upon the back was another number! - -"Just look up Dr. Brown-Edwards," he said. "He was the last occupant -of the Red House, and may still be in the book." - -Grasping the purpose of his inquiry, excitedly I did as he directed; -and there sure enough the number appeared! - -"The identical instrument that was used at the Red House!" cried -Gatton. "Note the artistic finish with which even the _correct_ -exchange numbers are looked up!" - -I sank back in my chair, silent, appalled at the perverted genius of -this fiend whom we were pitted against in a life-or-death struggle. -But presently: - -"What was the object of the opening and closing of the garage doors at -the Red House?" I asked, almost mechanically. - -"Simple enough," Gatton replied. "Whereas here the telephone was -installed, so that the bell could be rung by some one merely calling -up your number--and the ringing stopped by the caller telling the -exchange he had made a mistake--in the Red House, as I have -discovered, the 'phone had been disconnected shortly after Dr. -Brown-Edwards left the place." - -"Then the opening and closing of the doors was merely a device for -ringing the bell?" - -"Yes. The opening of the first door set it ringing and the opening of -the second probably stopped it. Mr. Addison," he stood up, resting his -hands upon the table and regarding me fixedly--"we enter upon the -final battle of wits: New Scotland Yard _versus_ Dr. Damar Greefe and -the green-eyed lady of Bâst. Regarding the latter--there is a very -significant point." - -"What is that?" - -"The 'voice' on this last occasion was that, not of a woman, but of a -man." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE INEVITABLE - - -"I very much regret having to trouble you, Miss Merlin, at such a -time," said Inspector Gatton, "but as the paper lodged with you by the -late Sir Eric Coverly may throw some light upon a very dark matter, -perhaps you will read it to us." - -I watched the play of expression upon Isobel's face with a depth of -sympathy which I cannot attempt to describe. The successive trials -which had been imposed upon her in so short a time had robbed her -cheeks of their sweet color and there were dark shadows under her -eyes. The tumult of my own feelings was such that I was scarcely -capable of consistent thought nor had I the moral courage to examine -those emotions which stirred so wildly within me. - -Late on the previous night I had performed the unhappy duty of -breaking to her the news of Coverly's dreadful death. I shall never -forget that black hour. Her courage, however, under all these trials -had been admirable, and although I well knew what it must have cost -her, she replied now with perfect composure: - -"Look--I took it out of my bureau when I heard that you were here, -Inspector." - -She took up from the table a foolscap envelope sealed and having her -name written upon it in large and somewhat unsteady characters. - -"I would suggest," said Gatton, with a delicacy which earned my -gratitude, "that you read it yourself first, Miss Merlin. If there is -anything helpful in it you can then communicate it to me." - -I saw Isobel biting her lip hard, but she resolutely tore open the -envelope; and leaving her to read the contents, I joined Gatton at the -window. We both stood staring out for what seemed a very long time, -then: - -"It is rather long," said Isobel in a low voice. - -Gatton and I turned together, and saw her, looking even more pale than -before, seated by the table holding a sheet of notepaper in her hand. -Without glancing at either of us, she began to read as follows, in an -even and monotonous voice which I knew she had adopted to hide her -emotion: - - "This account of my movements on the night of August 6th will only - be read in the event of my being falsely adjudged guilty of the - murder of my cousin, Marcus Coverly, or in the event of my death. - - "On the afternoon of that date I was informed over the telephone - that my fiancée, Isobel Merlin, was meeting Sir Marcus the same - night at a place called the Red House. The address was given me and - I was asked, in case I doubted the word of the speaker, to watch - Miss Merlin's movements that evening. - - "I had already quarreled with my cousin respecting his unwelcome - attentions and although the result did not confirm the promise of - the informant, in part at least the information was accurate. I - have no idea of the speaker's identity except that the voice was - the voice of a woman. - - "Not desiring to trust any one in such a matter I, myself, obtained - in a remote district the dilapidated garments which are now in the - possession of the police and respecting which they have subjected - me to close examination. Attired in these and having my face and - hands artificially dirtied as a further disguise, I left my - chambers by a back entrance about nine o'clock, and not having - sufficient confidence in my make-up to enter a public vehicle, - walked the whole of the way to College Road. - - "I had little difficulty in finding the Red House, but on - discovering that it was vacant, I immediately suspected a hoax. - However, I determined to wait in the neighborhood until the time at - which the voice had warned me the meeting was to take place. There - were very few people about and a tremendous downfall of rain - drenched me to the skin, for the only shelter afforded was that of - the trees bordering the road unless I had been content to abandon - my watch. - - "Just before the downpour ceased but after it had abated its first - fury, I came out from my inadequate shelter and began to walk in - the direction of the High Street. I had not gone more than twenty - paces when I saw a cab approaching, and the man, seeing my - bedraggled figure, slowed up, and to my astonishment asked me the - way to the Red House. - - "I immediately peered into the cab--to find that the passenger was - none other than Marcus Coverly. I had begun to doubt, but at this I - doubted no longer. I gave the cabman the necessary directions and, - slowly following on foot, I saw from the shelter of the trees on - the opposite side of the road, Sir Marcus dismiss the cab and walk - up the drive of the empty house. - - "He was alone, and since I knew that Miss Merlin had not preceded - him, I could only conclude that she would be following later. - Accordingly I walked slowly away from the Red House again in the - direction of the High Street, and some five minutes later I passed - a constable accompanied by a man wearing a light Burberry and a - soft hat, whom I knew later (although I failed to recognize him at - the time) to have been Mr. Jack Addison. - - "I stood at the corner by the High Street until long after - midnight. Twice I returned to the Red House and once even - penetrated as far as the porch; but although I thought I could - detect a light shining out through the shutters of the room on the - right of the door, I could not be sure of it and there was no sound - of movement within. - - "These were my only discoveries, and very wretched and dissatisfied - I tramped back to my chambers wondering what the visit of Marcus - Coverly to this apparently empty house could mean and why he had - remained there, but particularly wondering why the voice had told - me this part-truth which had turned me into a spy unavailingly. - - "The discovery made at the docks on the following day placed a new - and dreadful construction upon the motives of the speaker, and I - awakened to the fact that although entirely innocent of any - complicity I had laid myself open to a charge of having been - concerned in the murder of my cousin. - - "My ill-advised attempt to conceal the garments which I had used as - a disguise, and of which I had not known how to dispose, was - dictated by panic. I knew the police were watching me and I was - fool enough to think that I could escape their vigilance. - - "This is all I have to say. It explains nothing and it does not - exonerate me, I am aware, but I swear that it is the truth," - - "(Signed) ERIC COVERLY, Bart." - -Although she retained so brave a composure I recognized the strain -which this new and cruel ordeal had imposed upon Isobel; and Gatton -incurred a further debt of gratitude by his tactful behavior, for: - -"Miss Merlin," he said earnestly--"you are a very brave woman. Thank -you. I only wish I could have spared you this." - -Shaking me warmly by the hand, he bowed and departed, leaving me alone -with Isobel. - -As the sound of his footsteps died away Isobel returned again to the -seat from which she had risen; and a silence fell between us. My own -feelings I cannot attempt to depict, but I will confess that I was -afraid of my humanity at that moment. Never had Isobel seemed more -desirable; never had I longed as I longed now to take her in my arms. - -The tension of that silence becoming insupportable: - -"You will not stay here alone?" I asked in an unnatural voice. - -Isobel, without looking up, shook her head. - -"I am going to Mrs. Wentworth--my Aunt Alison," she replied. - -"Good," I said. "I am glad to know that you will be in her cheery -company." - -Mrs. Wentworth was, indeed, a charming old lady, and so far as I knew, -Isobel's only relation in London, if not in England. She occupied a -house which, like herself, was small, scrupulously neat and -old-worldly. One of those tiny residences which, once counted as being -"in the country," had later become enmeshed in the ever-spreading -tentacles of greater London. - -It was situated on the northern outskirts of the county-city, and -although rows of modern "villas" had grown up around it, within the -walls of that quaint little homestead one found oneself far enough -removed from suburbia. - -"When are you going, Isobel?" I asked. - -"I think," she replied, "in the morning." - -"Will you let me drive you in the Rover?--or are you taking too much -baggage?" - -"Oh, no," she said, smiling sadly--"I am going to live the simple life -for a week. Going out shopping with Aunt Alison--and perhaps sometimes -to the pictures!" - -"Then I can drive you over?" - -"Yes--if you would like to," she answered simply. - -I took my leave shortly afterwards and proceeded to the _Planet_ -office. I had work to do, but I must admit that I little relished the -idea of returning to my cottage. Diverted, now, from the notorious Red -House, public interest had centered upon my residence, and the -seclusion which I had gone so far to seek was disturbed almost hourly -by impertinent callers who seemed to think that the scene of a -sensational crime was public property. - -Coates had effectually disillusioned several of them on this point, -but, nevertheless, the cottage had become distasteful to me. I -realized that I must seek a new residence without delay. Shall I add -that the primary cause of my reclusion no longer operated so -powerfully? Of my dreams at this time I will speak later; but here I -may say that I knew, and accepted the knowledge with a fearful joy, -that if my new house of hope was doomed to be shattered, no spot in -broad England could offer me rest again. - -It was not then, until late that night, that I returned to my once -peaceful abode. Coates was waiting up for me, but he had nothing of -importance to report, apparently, until, when I had dismissed him, he -turned in the doorway, and: - -"Excuse me, sir," he said--and cleared his throat. - -"Yes, Coates?" - -"About half an hour ago, sir, the dogs all around started howling, -sir. I thought I'd better mention it, as Inspector Gatton asked me -this morning if I had ever heard the dogs howling." - -I looked at him straightly. - -"Inspector Gatton asked you thus?" - -"He did, sir. So I have reported the occurrence. Good night, sir." - -"Good night, Coates," I replied. - -But for long enough after his departure I sat there in the armchair in -my study, thinking over this seemingly trivial occurrence. From where -I sat I could see the light shining upon the gilt-lettered title of -Maspero's "Egyptian Art"--and my thoughts promised to be ill -bedfellows. - -Contrary to custom, I slept that night with closed windows! And -although I awakened twice, once at two o'clock and again at four, -thinking that I had heard the mournful signal of the dogs, nothing but -my own uneasy imagination disturbed my slumbers. - -Breakfast despatched, and my correspondence dealt with, I sent Coates -to the garage for my little car, and since I should have another -companion, left him behind, and myself drove to Isobel's flat. -Woman-like, she was not nearly ready, and there was much bustling on -the part of the repentant Marie--who had been retained in spite of her -share in the tragedy of Sir Marcus's death--before we finally set out -for Mrs. Wentworth's. - -Isobel was very silent on the way, but once I intercepted a sidelong -glance and felt my heart leaping madly when she blushed. - -Mrs. Wentworth made me very welcome as had ever been her way. She was -an eccentric, but embarrassingly straightforward old lady; and if I -had heeded her simple motherly counsel in the past all might have been -different. - -She bore Isobel off to her room, leaving me to my own devices, for she -had never observed any ceremony towards me in all the years that I had -known her, but had taught me to make myself at home beneath her -hospitable roof. I knew, too, because she had never troubled to -disguise the fact, that she regarded Isobel and me as made for one -another. Isobel's engagement to poor Eric Coverly, Mrs. Wentworth had -all along regarded as a ghastly farce, and I can never forget her -reception of me on the occasion of my first visit after returning from -Mesopotamia. - -Half an hour or so elapsed, then, before Isobel returned; and, -although she came into the room confidently enough, the old tension -reasserted itself immediately. I felt that commonplaces would choke -me. And although to this day I cannot condone my behavior, for the -good of my soul I must confess the truth. - -I took her in my arms, held her fast and kissed her. - -An overwhelming consciousness of guilt came to me even as her lips -met mine, and, releasing her, I turned aside, groaning. - -"Isobel!" I said hoarsely--"Isobel, forgive me! I was a cad, a -villain ... to _him_. But--it was inevitable. Try to forget that -I was so weak. But, Isobel--" - -I felt her hand trembling on my arm. - -"We must _both_ try to forget, Jack," she whispered. - -I grasped her hands and looked eagerly--indeed I think wildly--into -her eyes. - -"Because my life is over if I lose you," I said, "I suppose I was mad -for a moment. Tell me that one day--when it is fit and proper that you -should do so--you will give me a hearing, and I will perform any -penance you choose. I acted like a blackguard." - -"Stop!" she commanded softly. - -She raised her eyes, and her grave, sweet glance cooled the fever -which consumed me and brought a great and abiding peace to my heart. - -"You were no more to blame than I!" she said. "And because--I -understand, it is not hard to forgive. I don't try to excuse myself, -but even if--_he_--had lived, I could never have gone on with it, -after his ... suspicions. Oh, Jack! why did you leave me to make that -awful mistake?" - -"My dearest," I replied, "God knows I have suffered for it." - -"Please," she said, and her voice faltered, "help me to be fair to ... -_him_. Never--never--speak to me again--like that ... until--" - -But the sentence was never completed; for at this moment in bustled -Aunt Alison--in appearance a white-haired, rosy-faced little matron, -very brisk in her movements and very shrewd-eyed. A dear old lady, -dearer than ever to me in that she had tried so hard to bring Isobel -and my laggard self together. She had, as usual, more to say than -could be said in the time at her disposal. As we proceeded to the -dining-room: - -"Now then, you boys and girls, I'm starving, if you're not. What a -time I've had with cook, not knowing when you might be here. Cook's -leaving to be married: I'm afraid she's neglected this sea-kale. Dear, -dear! what love will do for people's minds, to be sure. Put your hair -straight, Isobel, dear, or Mary will think Jack has been kissing you! -I saw her kiss the postman yesterday. Mary, I mean! You're eating like -a pigeon, Jack! Gracious me! Where's the pepper? Mary! Ring the bell, -Isobel. I must speak to that postman; he's made Mary forget to put any -pepper in the cruet, and any one might have seen them. It isn't -respectable!" - -"Dear Aunt Alison!" I said, as the active old lady ran out (Mary not -being promptly enough in attendance). "She loves to keep running in -and out like a waiter! What a friend she has been to me, Isobel! You -could not be in better company at such a time." - -"She's a darling!" agreed Isobel, and when I met her glance across the -table she blushed entrancingly. - -Then, in a moment, tears were in her eyes; and knowing of whom she was -thinking, I sat abashed--guilty and repentant. I had transgressed -against the murdered man; and there and then I made a solemn, silent -vow that no word of love again should pass my lips until the fit and -proper time of mourning was over. Because I faithfully kept this vow, -I dare to hope that my sin is forgiven me. - -Luncheon at that homely house, with Isobel, was an unalloyed delight; -and I regretted every passing minute which brought me nearer to the -time when I must depart. But when at last I said good-by it was a new -world upon which I looked--a new life upon which I entered. I have -said that to-day I venture to hope my poor human transgression is -forgiven me. Yet it did not go unpunished. Little did I dream, in my -strange new happiness, how soon I was to return to that house--how -soon I was to know the deadliest terror of my life. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED - - -"The case has narrowed down," said Gatton, "from my point of view, -into the quest of one man--" - -"Dr. Damar Greefe!" - -"Precisely. You have asked me what I found at Friar's Park and the -Bell House, and I can answer you very briefly. Nothing! The latter -place, had quite obviously been fired in a systematic and deliberate -way. I suspect that the contents of the rooms had been soaked with -petrol. It burned to a shell and then collapsed. At the present moment -it is merely a mound of smoking ashes. - -"Of course, the local fire-brigade was hopelessly ill-equipped, but -even with the most up-to-date appliances I doubt if the conflagration -could have been extinguished. The men watching the house were thrown -quite off their guard when flames began to leap out of the windows: -hence, the escape of Damar Greefe." - -"You are sure he _did_ escape?" - -Gatton stared at me grimly. - -"To whom do you suppose you are indebted for the telephone trick?" he -asked. "Besides--Blythe, the fool, actually heard the car at the -moment that it came out on to the highroad! Oh, they bungled the -thing villainously. My Marathon feat saved your life, Mr. Addison, but -it looks like losing me the case! We have the Hawkins couple. But, -although a graceless pair, they were more dupes than knaves. I am -convinced, personally, that neither of them suspected that Lady -Burnham Coverly was dead. Damar Greefe had represented to them that -she had lost her reason." - -"Good heavens! what a scheme!" - -"What a scheme, indeed. Hawkins seems to have considered that his -duty--which was merely to keep intruders out of the park--was dictated -by necessity. He thought that if Lady Coverly's real condition became -known she would be removed to a madhouse! He also thought that a -_nurse_ was in attendance." - -"A nurse!" - -"Yes. He assured me that he had heard and seen her! Mrs. Hawkins also -was certain on the point. Neither of them were ever allowed in the -house, by the way. But Damar Greefe paid them well--and they were -satisfied. The identity of the 'nurse' is evident, I think?" - -"Perfectly evident. But how was poor Lady Coverly disposed of--and why -this elaborate secrecy?" - -"Well," replied Gatton slowly--"out of the multitude of notes which I -have compiled upon the case, I have worked out a sort of summary, and -it amounts to this: The whole series of outrages turns upon something -in the financial arrangements of the late Sir Burnham of benefit to -the Eurasian doctor. It may be that Damar Greefe had some secret -locked up in the Bell House which he could not very well remove, and -that the greatest peril he feared was the taking over of the Park -property by an heir. I assume he had complete authority over the late -Lady Burnham; and his object in concealing her death (for our -investigations at Friar's Park have definitely established the fact -that no one had resided there for twelve months at least) was clearly -this: he hoped to carry on the pretense of attending upon the invalid -until--" - -"Until there was no heir to the property remaining alive!" I -interrupted excitedly. "Exactly, Gatton! That is my own theory, too! - -"We have now received," continued the Inspector, "some particulars -concerning the circumstances of Roger Coverly's death in Basle. Whilst -there was no direct evidence of foul play (and at that time at any -rate no reason to suspect it) I am convinced that the local physician -who attended him at the hotel and the specialist who was sent for -post-haste from Zurich were by no means agreed as to the cause of -death. - -"The symptoms were apparently not unlike those which would be caused -by a snake-bite, for instance; but naturally one does not look for -poisonous snakes in Switzerland. There was some sort of inflammation -of the skin apparently"--he consulted a page of his note-book--"which -might have been eczema or something similar, of course, but which -according to medical evidence had no apparent connection with the -cause of his death. This was given in the certificate simply as -syncope--although there did not appear to be any hereditary cardiac -trouble or anything of the kind to account for a young fellow of that -age dying suddenly of heart failure. And there had been nothing in his -life during his sojourn at Basle which would help to clear up the -mystery. - -"However, no doubt seems to have arisen at the time, as you can well -understand; nevertheless, I, personally, count the death of Roger -Coverly as the first of the outrages to be laid to the credit of Dr. -Damar Greefe!" - -"The object of the whole thing is still completely dark to me," I -declared. - -"In a sense it is dark to _me_," replied Gatton; "but considering that -the boy died at a time when the health of his father, Sir Burnham, was -already giving cause for anxiety, I maintain that he was removed -because his inheritance of Friar's Park was feared--by some one. The -invitation from Dr. Damar Greefe to Sir Marcus is a very significant -piece of evidence, of course; and when we consider that it reached Sir -Marcus within a very short time of his return from Russia, the -conclusion is obvious. - -"He inherited the title on the death of Sir Burnham, whilst he was on -service in Archangel. Being in Russia, I conclude that he was not -accessible from the Eurasian doctor's point of view. Directly he -_became_ accessible, this invitation arrived; and it is perfectly -clear that the fate intended for him was that which so nearly befell -yourself! Remember, I have seen the gun mounted on the tower of -Friar's Park and I assure you it was not placed there yesterday. In -short, I have no doubt that it was put there in anticipation of Sir -Marcus's visit and only employed in your case as a sort of -afterthought. - -"The Red House plot was the next move on the part of the Eurasian, and -it succeeded almost faultlessly. The accident at the docks prevented -the scheme being carried out in all its details, but it did not -entirely dislocate the murderer's arrangements, for it left us with no -better clew to his identity than the statuette of the cat." - -"The presence of that statuette calls for some explanation, Gatton," I -said. - -Gatton very carefully lighted his pipe. - -"That is true," he admitted, "but I will come to this side of the case -later; at present I am summing up the evidence against Damar -Greefe--who is certainly the acting partner in this series of outrages -against the members of the house of Coverly. Observe the ingenuity of -the Red House plot. - -"He hoped by this not only to bring about the death of Sir Marcus, but -also, by conviction for his murder, the death of the next heir, Mr. -Eric Coverly! In fact, so well was his plan conducted, that even -now--although we know poor Sir Eric to have been innocent--you will -note that he has been unable to establish an alibi even by a full -confession of his movements on the night of the crime! In other words, -if he had not fallen a victim to the precipitancy of his enemies, -to-day his name would be under as black a cloud as ever. It was with -the idea of clearing him that I caused those paragraphs to be -distributed to the press, in which I anticipated the existence of -such a confession as he had actually made--but, I may add, of one more -convincing than that which we heard Miss Merlin read." - -"Do you mean, Gatton," I said, looking hard at him, "that by -professing to have established the innocence of Eric Coverly, you -hoped to draw down upon him the renewed activities of his enemies?" - -Gatton looked rather guilty, but: - -"I do admit it!" he said. "Nevertheless he did not fall a victim to -this trap which I had laid for him in his own best interests. After -all, you must admit that his death was an accident; for he suffered -the penalty of your misdeeds." - -"My misdeeds!" I cried. - -Gatton smiled grimly. - -"I say misdeeds," he continued--"although they were not conscious on -your part. But it is fairly evident, I think, that whereas the unknown -partner of Dr. Damar Greefe was an active enemy of the Coverlys -(witness the evidence of 'the voice' and of the cat statuette), it is -to Dr. Damar Greefe _himself_ that you are indebted for the three -attempts on your life; the first two at Upper Crossleys and the third -here in your own home by the simple but deadly expedient of -substituting for your own 'phone the duplicate one which previously -had been employed so successfully at the Red House! He hoped to remove -a dangerous obstacle from his path and a menace to this safety." - -"But, my dear Gatton, why should he regard _me_ as a menace more -deadly than you, for instance?" - -"The reason is very plain," answered Gatton. "I don't think he paid -you the compliment of regarding your investigations as likely to prove -more successful than my own, but I do think that he apprehended danger -from the indiscretions of his lady accomplice." - -"Do you refer to the woman who visited me at the Abbey Inn?" - -"I do," said Gatton shortly, "and to the woman who visited you here -and stole the statuette of Bâst! The history of Edward Hines and his -predecessor, which you have so admirably summarized, points to the -presence in the Upper Crossleys neighborhood of such a character as we -have been seeking ever since your experience here (I refer to the -cat-eyes which looked in through the window)." - -"I begin to see, Gatton," I said slowly. - -"With what object this unknown woman visited you at the Abbey Inn I -cannot conjecture, but doubtless this would have been revealed had not -her visit been interrupted and terminated by the appearance of the -Eurasian doctor upon the scene. From your own account she recognized -that she had committed an indiscretion by coming there, and of the -doctor's anger--- which he was quite unable to conceal--you have told -me. Note also that the next episode was your being followed by Cassim, -the Nubian, undoubtedly with murderous intent. Then, recognizing that -he had hopelessly compromised himself, the Eurasian took desperate -means to silence you for ever." - -"He did," I said, "and came very near to succeeding. But to return, -Gatton, to this problem of the image of Bâst. You see, the figure of -a cat was painted upon the case in which Sir Marcus's body was found -and the image of a cat was discovered inside the case. Then, you will -not have overlooked the significance of the fact that Edward Hines was -the recipient of a present from his unknown friend which also took the -form of a gold figure of a cat, and which I found, when I examined it, -to be of ancient Egyptian workmanship." - -"Right!" said Gatton, and emphatically bringing his open hand down -upon the table: "I said at the very beginning of the case, Mr. -Addison, that it turned upon the history of this Egyptian goddess, and -I think my theory has been substantiated at every point." - -"It has, Inspector," I agreed; "but I don't know that the fact -enlightens us very much; for it merely indicates that the man whom you -declare to be the central figure of the conspiracy is only a secondary -figure, and that all we know about the person whom we may regard as -the prime mover is that she is a woman--apparently possessing -supernormal eyes which glitter in the dark. She is also associated in -some way with the figure of Bâst. What is her relation to Dr. Damar -Greefe and in what way is she interested in the destruction of the -Coverly family?" - -Gatton smoked in silence for a while, staring at me reflectively, -then: - -"If we knew that, Mr. Addison," he said, "we should know all there is -to know about 'the _Oritoga_ mystery.' But I think we should have -advanced a long step towards this information if we could apprehend -the Eurasian. Of course we have gathered up all the ragged details of -the Red House incident: I refer to the carter who delivered the crate -and collected it in the morning, of the caterer who supplied the -supper and so forth. As I had fully expected, none of the evidence -helped us at all." - -"'The voice,'" I began. - -"Exactly! The same 'voice' beyond a doubt, and the whole thing worked -through the means of district messengers and others, telephonically -instructed. No one appeared throughout, Mr. Addison." - -"Yet," I said deliberately, "there was one point at which some one -_must_ have appeared--" - -"Yes," he interrupted, "some one dragged the body out of that -supper-room, down to the garage, and packed it in the crate." - -"You have definitely convinced yourself that the telephone device was -practiced there?" - -"Beyond question. Haven't you seen the exchange number? That plug -where at some time a gas-fitting had been fixed up in the wall--you -remember?--proved on investigation to communicate with an empty room -adjoining. The gas cylinder was placed there of course, and the -telephone in the recess of the supper-room, where, fastened in by the -velvet curtain, any one using the poison installation would be -suffocated almost immediately." - -"Good God, Gatton!" I cried. "It's a horrible business, and for my own -part I have no idea what the next step should be." - -"I'm a bit doubtful, myself," admitted Gatton; "but you know the line -of reasoning which has led me to the conclusion that these people -possess a base of operations somewhere in this district. I am having -the neighborhood scoured pretty thoroughly, and I think it is merely a -question of time, now, for us to hem in the wanted man--" - -"And the wanted woman!" I added. - -We were interrupted by a knock at the study door, and Coates came in -with the evening mail. - -"Excuse me, Gatton," I said--for I had observed that one of the -letters was from Isobel. - -Eagerly I tore open the envelope ... and what I read struck a sudden -chill to my heart. Looking up: - -"Gatton!" I cried--"Miss Merlin has received, by post, a small -statuette of Bâst!" - -"What!" - -"From her brief description I am almost tempted to believe that it is -the one which was stolen from here! She is dreadfully frightened, -naturally." - -The Inspector stood up. - -"We must see it," he said rapidly, "at once; and we must see the -wrapping it came in and the postmark. It is maddening," he burst out -angrily, "to think that Dr. Damar Greefe may be somewhere within less -than half a mile of us as we sit here now, that we could ring him up -if we knew his number; but that even with all the resources of the -Criminal Investigation Department at work we may yet be unable to find -him! Even an outside suburb like this is a very big place to search -and the job is something like looking for a needle in a haystack!" - -My own frame of mind was one of horrible doubt and indecision. I knew -not what to do for the best; and Gatton had begun to pace up and down -like a caged wild beast. Therefore: - -"Fill your pipe," I said wearily. "A lot may depend upon our next -move. To make a false one would perhaps be fatal." - -Gatton stared at me almost savagely, then threw himself back into the -armchair from which he had arisen, and was just reaching out for the -tobacco-jar which I had pushed before him, when a bell rang. I heard -Coates opening the front door, and wondering whom this late visitor -could be, I stared questioningly at the Inspector. - -Came a tap upon the door. - -"Come in," I cried. - -Coates entered, and standing stiffly in the doorway: - -"_Dr. Damar Greefe_!" he announced. - -Unmoved, he stood aside; and whilst Gatton and I slowly rose from our -chairs in a state of utter stupefaction, the Eurasian doctor entered, -and stood, a tall, gaunt figure, towering over the burly form of -Coates in the doorway! - -His hawk eyes blazed feverishly and his face was drawn and haggard, -whilst I observed with a sort of horrified wonder that he seemed to be -almost too weak to stand. For, as Gatton and I came finally to our -feet, he clutched at the edge of a bookcase, but recovered himself, -bowed in that stately fashion which immediately translated me in -spirit to the strange library in the Bell House, and: - -"Gentlemen," he said, and his harsh voice rose scarcely above a -whisper--"pray resume your seats. I shall not detain you long." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D. - - -The speaker reeled and seemed about to fall. Whereupon Gatton sprang -forward and placed an armchair, which he himself had occupied, for Dr. -Damar Greefe. The latter inclined his head in acknowledgment and sank -down weakly, clutching at both arms of the chair. - -For my own part, I had not yet recovered power of speech; but: - -"Dr. Damar Greefe," said the Inspector, closely watching the man who -sat there collapsed in the chair, "I arrest you on a charge of murder. -I have to warn you that anything you now say will be used in evidence -against you." - -The Eurasian exerted a supreme effort, straightening his gaunt body, -and fixing the gaze of those hawk eyes upon Inspector Gatton. When he -spoke his harsh voice had gained strength and his manner was -imperious. - -"Detective-Inspector Gatton," he replied, "you do no more than your -duty. I have come here only with the utmost difficulty in my weak -state. Therefore, you need apprehend no attempt at escape on my part. -I have come with a purpose. This purpose I shall fulfill; after -which"--he shrugged his square shoulders--"I shall be at your -service." - -"Very good," said Gatton shortly, but I noted that his face was -flushed in a way which betokened repressed excitement. - -Giving me a significant glance, he went out to the ante-room, and: - -"Sydenham 1448," I heard him call. - -Damar Greefe closed his eyes and lay back in the chair; and a moment -later: - -"Hullo!" said Gatton. "Detective-Inspector Gatton, C.I.D., speaking -from Willow Cottage, College Road. Send two men in a cab here at once -to remove a prisoner.... Right! Good-by." - -He came in again, and closing the door behind him, stood staring at -Damar Greefe in a sort of wonderment. The Eurasian wearily opened his -eyes and looked slowly from side to side. Then: - -"Pray be seated, Inspector Gatton," he said. "I have a communication -to make." - -Gatton, with never a word, drew up a chair and sat down. - -"I do not desire to be interrupted," continued Damar Greefe, "until my -communication is finished. You understand? It will not be repeated." - -"I am afraid," murmured Gatton dryly, "it will have to be." - -The Eurasian fully opened his glittering black eyes, and fixing them -upon the speaker: - -"It will not be repeated," he said harshly. "If I am misunderstood, -inform me." - -His peremptory manner in the circumstances was extraordinary--uncanny. -As I had perceived in the first hour of our meeting, Dr. Damar Greefe -was a man possessing tremendous force of character and a pride of -intellect which clearly rendered him indifferent even of retribution. - -"This point being settled," he continued, "be good enough, Inspector -Gatton, and"--he turned his eyes in my direction--"Mr. Addison, to -give me your undivided attention." - -His manner was that of a lecturer--of a lecturer who takes it for -granted that his discourse is above the heads of his audience; but -when I say that the statement now made by this strange and terrible -man held Gatton and me spellbound I say no more than the truth. -Wearily, and more often than not having his eyes closed, Dr. Damar -Greefe commenced to unfold a story of nameless horrors--and save that -his harsh voice grew ever weaker and weaker, he displayed not the -slightest trace of emotion throughout his appalling revelations. - -"I am informing you," he said, "of these facts concerning my inquiries -in the realm of teratology and the subjoined province of animism -because I know that my life-work upon this subject can never now be -completed. It having been necessary for me to destroy my papers and -those specimens which, at hideous cost, I had accumulated during -twenty years of travel through some of the most barbaric as well as -the most civilized parts of the world, this present brief verbal -account of the most important inquiry of all shall alone survive me. -You are privileged. Therefore listen: - -"Two important facts contributed to my choice of a special study: the -social ostracism which very early in my professional career I found to -be my lot; and the fact that in myself I afforded a living example of -the _hybrid_. It has been said and not untruly that the Eurasian hates -his father and scorns his mother. Certainly, this unnatural passion is -reciprocated by the parent stock; for the Eurasian is barely -acknowledged by his dark brethren and hardly tolerated by the white. - -"In spite of my qualifications--I am a Doctor of Medicine, a Master of -Arts, and hold other degrees of Leipzig, the Sorbonne, and -elsewhere--I recognized very early in my career that ordinary practice -was impossible for me. I therefore turned my attention to the special -study of embryology, as I fortunately possessed sufficient private -means to enable me--by careful living--to dispense with the usual -proceeds of my profession. - -"In short, I hoped to triumph over my hereditary handicap and to build -for myself a reputation which should rise above the petty disabilities -of caste and place my name upon a level with those of Haeckel, -Weismann, Wallace, Focke and the other great students who have helped -to advance our knowledge of the science of evolution. - -"I early turned my attention to the traditions associated with the -_Cynocephalus hamadryas_, or Sacred Baboon of Abyssinia. I took up my -quarters on the banks of the Hawash and succeeded in ingratiating -myself with the Amharûn. The result of my sojourn amongst these -strange people is embodied in my work 'The Ape-Men of Shoa.' - -"This work is unpublished and may never see the light, but briefly I -may state that the Amharûn are a Semitic tribe allied to the Falashas -and have been settled for many generations in this southern province -of Abyssinia. Claiming descent from Menelek, son of Suleiman and the -Queen of Sheba, they have always been regarded as unclean pariahs. In -part this is due to their bestial custom of eating meat cut from -living animals, but it is more particularly attributable to the -periodical appearance among them of these _cynocephalytes_, or -man-apes, which form the subject of my work. - -"My close inquiries into the physiological history of these -monstrosities were only conducted with the utmost difficulty. In the -first place I found that it was customary among the Amharûn to slay -the creatures at birth, but in those rare cases of survival the -_cynocephalytes_ were banished from the community and were compelled -to lead a wild life, subsisting as best they might in the foothills of -the desolate mountain region. - -"Thus, in the first place these creatures were difficult of access; in -the second place, they readily contracted tuberculosis, even in that -warm, dry climate; and in the third place their ferocity rendered them -more formidable to approach than any tiger in its lair. I may add here -that this predisposition to pulmonary disease is (and this I have -definitely established) a characteristic of all mammalian hybrids. - -"Nevertheless, my studies were by no means unfruitful, since they -resulted in a triumphant vindication of my theory, which, contrary to -that universally received and more closely allied to the 'exploded' -Mendel's Law, ascribed the appearance of such monsters not to any -strict physiological process but to a hitherto unclassified law of -embryology which I had hoped would one day take its place in science -under my name. - -"Armed with the results of my Abyssinian inquiry, I next proceeded to -Syria; for among certain desert tribes I hoped to find further -evidence to support my theory. In short, in the Arabic tradition of -the jackal-man (which is allied to the medieval and universal belief -in the were-wolf or _loup-garou_) and in the Indian myth of the woman -who, possessing an ordinary human form by day, assumes that of a -tigress by night, I thought I detected a profound truth. - -"Since my life-work is destroyed, I am egotist enough to desire that -credit for it should not accrue to another. I do not propose, -therefore, more than lightly to touch upon the Damar Greefe Law, but I -may say that in its essentials it is this: - -"Such strange hybrids do actually occur periodically and in rare cases -survive; but their animal proclivities which are physically -demonstrable, and the possession of certain animal attributes (as the -furry body of the _cynocephalyte_, the claws and teeth of the -jackal-man, etc.), are _physical_ reflections of a _mental_ process -taking place in the female parent." - -He glared at me wildly, as if anticipating contradiction, but Gatton -and I remaining silent: - -"There is no physical association," he continued, "between the hybrid -and that creature whose qualities and peculiarities he seemingly -inherits. I have proved by a long series of elaborate experiments that -a _true_ hybrid of this description is a physiological impossibility. -But that a _false_ hybrid such as I have indicated may appear is a -fact which does not rest solely upon my studies amongst the Amharûn, -nor upon my subsequent inquiries throughout Assyria, Somaliland and -the middle valleys of the Yellow River." - -He paused, and suddenly turning a glance of the hawk-like eyes upon -me: - -"As an explorer of the Dark Continent, Mr. Addison," he said, "and -also, if I mistake not, something of an Orientalist, the significance -of this itinerary may possibly be apparent to you. But I waste time: - -"The discovery which triumphantly crowned my life's work by what some -may deem poetic justice was destined also to destroy it. This brings -me to the matter which has led to my presence here to-night. My -preceding remarks were a necessary foreword. I come to the year 1902, -when I was established in Cairo, whither I had conveyed the results of -the labor of many years and where I had taken up my quarters in a -large native house not twenty yards from the Bâb-es-Zuwêla." - -Gatton stirred restlessly in his chair and my own curiosity knew no -bounds. - -"My inquiries at this time had nearly exhausted my always slender -financial resources, and the proceeds of a small practice which I -succeeded in establishing (exclusively amongst the extensive -half-caste colony resident in this neighborhood) proved a welcome -addition to my income. It was due to the fact that at this time I was -an active practitioner that I came in touch with the most perfect and -notable example of a _psycho-hybrid_ which I had ever encountered, -indeed which, so far as I am aware, has ever appeared." - -He paused again, as if overcome with faintness, and in anticipation of -what was to come I could scarcely contain myself, when: - -"At this time," he resumed, in a yet lower voice, "and indeed until -quite recently, there were but few reliable European medical men in -Cairo, and during the summer of 1902 an outbreak of cholera -temporarily depleted their already scanty ranks. It happened then that -one night, whilst I sat in the huge, lofty room, once the principal -harem apartment of the house, which I had appropriated as a study, -Cassim, my Nubian servant, communicated to me (by means of a -sign-language which I had taught him) some startling news. My -immediate presence was desired at the residence of Sir Burnham -Coverly, then newly appointed to a government office, and who with his -wife had only arrived in the country some few months earlier. - -"I thought I knew the nature of the services required of me, but my -employment by this typical English aristocrat, hide-bound with caste -traditions as he could not fail to be, since he had spent five years -of his official life in India, surprised me very greatly. I was later -to learn that the services of no other medical man (or of no medical -man so highly qualified as myself) were available; but even had I -known this at the time I should have put my pride in my pocket, and -for this reason: - -"I had learned from a native acquaintance of a certain occurrence -which had taken place on the very day of the baronet's arrival in -Egypt; and it led me to look for a particular manifestation, in fact, -I will boldly declare, since science is admittedly a callous mistress, -that it had led me to _hope_ for this manifestation, however -unpleasant it might prove for those intimately concerned. Accordingly, -having made suitable preparation I accompanied Sir Burnham's servant -back to the residence of the baronet...." - -I heard the door-bell ring, and I heard Coates's regular tread as he -proceeded along the passage. There was a brief, muttered colloquy, a -rap on the study-door, and Coates entered. - -"A sergeant of police and a constable, sir, to see Inspector Gatton!" - -Damar Greefe raised his thin, yellow hand. His voice, when next he -spoke, exhibited no trace of emotion. - -"Let them be told to wait," he said. "I have not finished." - -It was wildly bizarre, that scene in my study, with the dignified -white-haired Eurasian doctor, palpably laboring against some deathly -sickness, sitting there unperturbed, his brilliant, perverted -intellect holding him aloof from the ordinary things of life--whilst -those who came to hale him to a felon's cell waited in the ante-room! - -I glanced swiftly at Gatton, and he nodded impatiently. - -"Let them stay in the dining-room, Coates," I said. "Make them -comfortable." - -"Very good, sir." - -Unmoved, Coates withdrew--and I saw Gatton glance at his watch. -Throughout the latter part of his strange narrative, neither Gatton -nor I interrupted the narrator, therefore I give his story, so far as -I remember it, in his own words. He no longer addressed either of us -directly; he seemed, indeed, to be thinking aloud. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED) - - -As I walked along through the deserted native streets, for the hour -was late, I reviewed mentally the circumstances of that affair, -already several months old, to which I have referred. Since it proved -to have a very important bearing upon my own life and unfortunately -the lives of many others, I will briefly recount it here. - -Sir Burnham and Lady Coverly, having arrived at Port Said, were -proceeding by rail to Cairo when an accident farther up the line -necessitated their breaking their journey at Zagazig. - -Now, for a time in the spring of the previous year, I had devoted much -labor to an inquiry in this place, which stands of course roughly upon -the site of the ancient Egyptian city of _Bubastis_. In those myths, -or so-called myths, of the Ancient Egyptian religion which represented -the various attributes of man in the guises of animals, I had -perceived a nucleus of wisdom pointing to the possibility that the law -which I had so laboriously established might have been known to the -early Egyptian priesthood. Indeed I was partly induced to inquire into -the myths of Bâst, the cat-headed goddess to whom of old this town was -dedicated, by the following two things: first, a chance reference in -the pages of Herodotus; and, second, a persistent superstition that -during a certain season of the year, _psycho-hybrids_ occurred in this -town. - -By dint of close research I discovered that the date favored by the -inhabitants of Zagazig, as that upon which such creatures were born -there, corresponded very closely with the Sacred Sothic month, -formerly sacred to Bâst, the titulary goddess of the place, -corresponded in short with the ancient Feast of Bâst. - -My inquiries at the time, however, proved futile, and beyond the fact -that the town was remarkable for a singular number of semi-wild cats, -I discovered nothing to support my theory. However, as I have already -stated, a native acquaintance there, a very learned Moslem, to whom I -had imparted during my residence some idea of the nature of my -studies, sent me a long communication containing particulars of the -event which had befallen Lady Coverly during her one-night's sojourn -in Zagazig. - -Briefly, she had learned from a native attached to the one possible -hotel which the town boasted, of the tradition associated with the -place. Some other member of the party (for quite a large company had -been detained in Zagazig by the mishap) unwisely pointed out to her -that the favored date was that upon which they had arrived in the -town. - -Nothing might have resulted from this; but by a strange fatality (or -because of the operation of some unsuspected law understood by the -ancients but misapprehended to-day) the matter was sealed in a very -extraordinary fashion. - -Lady Coverly's room opened upon a balcony, and during the night one of -those huge cats of the kind which I had observed myself to infest the -neighborhood, gained access to this balcony. Since the appearance of -the creature produced so singular and disastrous an effect, it must -certainly have been an unusually large specimen of its kind. I may add -that according to my Moslem friend--who, although a man of great -culture, was soaked in the traditions of his religion--it was none -other than a member of the _ginn_, an _efreet_ or evil spirit, and not -a cat of flesh and blood which appeared to Lady Coverly. I leave each -to choose his own explanation, but let it suffice that Lady Coverly -was awakened some time during the night by the appearance at her -bedside of this gaunt and hungry-eyed creature. The result was an -illness of a kind very dangerous to one in her delicate state of -health. - -Reflecting, then, upon these matters, I presently came to the official -residence of Sir Burnham Coverly, and my expectations regarding the -nature of the case were realized....[1] - -[Footnote 1: Part of the statement which immediately followed, being -of a purely technical nature, is omitted here.] - - * * * * * - -My house in the narrow street so near to the Bâb-es-Zuwêla and the -minarets of Muayyâd was admirably adapted for my new purpose. For here -in the very heart of native Cairo, with my great house (which had been -built, as are all Oriental houses, to guard secrets) I was as safe -from unwelcome intrusion as one upon a desert island, whilst at the -same time I was denied none of the conveniences and facilities of -civilization. - -Lady Coverly, then, never set eyes upon her firstborn, and Sir -Burnham, who did, readily reconciled himself to the loss of such a -daughter. The announcement which should have appeared joyfully under -the press-heading "Births" was unobtrusively inserted under "Deaths," -and Sir Burnham being fortunately far from the haunts of the social -paragraph writers, this unfortunate event aroused comparatively little -comment in the English journals; beyond one or two formal condolences -it passed unnoticed. - -The fever of research at last had led me into my first definite crime -against society--if so it can be called. I had rescued alive the most -perfect example of a _psycho-hybrid_ with which throughout my -extensive special inquiries, I had ever come in contact. Lady Coverly -never knew her unnatural child, and Sir Burnham--as well as the old -family nurse who had accompanied them out from England--never doubted -that it had died in the hour of birth. - -I set to work with enthusiasm upon my last and greatest experiment. - -To a half-caste woman upon whom I knew I could rely--for she was -deeply indebted to me--I entrusted the fostering of the infant hybrid. -I personally supervised every detail of the secret nursery, Cassim -procuring for me everything necessary for the rearing of this delicate -and fragile creature. - -Over the early years of her life I will hasten. On three occasions I -despaired of preserving her existence, which, from the beginning, had -hung by a thread. The first crisis came when she was only four months -old, the second on the occasion of her fourth birthday, and the third -(most serious of all) when she was eleven, at which age she had become -a woman in the Oriental sense and was physically and mentally -comparable with an ordinary European girl of nineteen or twenty. - -With what scientific ardor did I study her development, noting how the -_cat_ traits at certain periods (corresponding to the Feast of Bâst) -proclaimed themselves above the human traits, whilst at other times -the psychic-felinism sank into a sort of sub-conscious quietude, -leaving the subject almost a normal woman. Of the physical reflections -which were the visible evidence of her hybrid mentality I have already -spoken at length (_this refers to a portion of the statement which has -been deleted_). She invariably wore gloves out of doors and a veil to -conceal the chatoyant eyes. She could, as I have explained, see as -well in the dark as in daylight, and her agility was phenomenal as was -her power of climbing. Having her hands and feet bare I have -repeatedly seen her climb to the top platform of the ivy-clad tower of -Friar's Park. - -At the age of eleven, then, I recognized that the balance of character -was definitely established, and that the two outstanding -characteristics of the subject were--firstly (a hereditary trait of -the Coverlys) an intense pride of race and a fierce jealousy of any -infringement upon what she regarded as prerogatives of birth; -secondly, a susceptibility to sudden infatuations which invariably -terminated in a mood of ferocious cruelty. - -To one unacquainted with the Orient, thus to speak of this girl--in -years a mere child--as one speaks of a mature woman, would seem -strange, if not unnatural. But in the East, of course, at the age of -ten a girl is counted marriageable; at the age of fourteen she is not -infrequently the devoted mother of a family. - -Significantly--from the point of view of the Damar Greefe Law--my ward -had grown up, not as English girls grow, but, like the Easterners, as -the hot-house flower grows. The point has intense interest for the -scientist. At the age of twelve she was a tall, slender woman, -beautifully formed and with a natural elegance and taste which came -from the Coverly stock, or possibly from her mother's side. - -During eleven months of every year it would have been possible--- -although I considered it undesirable--for her to have appeared in -public unveiled. She possessed features of perfect _Ancient Egyptian -regularity_. I emphasize the point. Her eyes, during the day, were -those of a handsome native woman--almond-shaped and of a wonderful -amber color. At night they appeared green. - -Of her fingers, toes, and the peculiar formation of certain teeth I -have spoken at length (_another reference to a deleted passage_). I -will deal, now, with those manifestations which proclaimed themselves -during the Sothic month of each year formerly associated with the -Feast of Bâst. - -At such times, which I always dreaded, and with good cause, her innate -love of admiration became so excessive as to approach nearly to mania. -She hungered for homage, for praise--I had almost said for adoration. - -What I may term, for convenience, the _psychic_ side of her hybrid -mentality at these periods undoubtedly bordered closely upon true -insanity; and learning from the Eurasian nurse to whom I have referred -the whole history of her birth, my charge, to whom I had given the -name of Nahémah (students will recognize its significance), began to -display even more marked evidence of a sort of monomania. Bâst, the -cat-goddess, became an obsession with her, and she finally conceived -the idea that the attributes of that mystical and partly-understood -deity were active within her; that she was Bâst, re-born. And, -certainly, during one month of every year, her condition closely -resembled that which was termed in the Middle Ages "possession." - -At such times, moreover (a phenomenon with which I have dealt at -length in my work on the subject), she evinced an antipathy towards -the whole of the _canine_ species which was reciprocated in a singular -way. Thus, when, contrary to my express orders, she has wandered -abroad during the Sothic period, I have been enabled to trace her -movements by the progressive howling of dogs. - -Since I had enjoined the nurse to be silent upon all things bearing -upon Nahémah's birth, I was enraged at this breach of faith and sent -the woman away. But a new situation had been created which I found -myself called upon immediately to face. - -Nahémah demanded news of her family. As I have made sufficiently -evident, it was often difficult, if not impossible, to thwart the -desires of my protegée. To condense into a few words a matter which -occasioned me long and anxious thought, I may say that I made the -necessary arrangements for quitting the house near to the Mosque of -Muayyâd which had been my home for fifteen years. - -I recognized the danger of Nahémah's traveling in the ordinary way, -and she performed the journey to England in the character of an -invalid under my professional care. Equally, residence at any public -establishment was out of the question, and although I found myself -compelled for a time to court discovery by lodging Nahémah in a -private suite in an obscure hotel, I hastened to seek a house in some -quiet suburb which should reproduce as nearly as possible the -advantages of my abode in Cairo. - -Such a house I discovered after about a week of feverish questing (for -apart from the ordinary dangers of discovery to which my protegée was -subject, her proclivity for adventures at the most unseasonable times -greatly enhanced the danger which I apprehended). Judge, then, of my -satisfaction when I succeeded in obtaining the lease of a small -villa--indeed I might almost term it a bungalow--in one of those odd -survivals of less crowded days which are yet counted suburbs or parts -of greater London. - -This house stood alone in some two acres of ground, and because of its -lack of modern conveniences and the comparative inaccessibility of its -position, my application was eagerly entertained by the agent -interested in the leasing of the property. One week later I entered -into possession, Cassim, Nahémah and myself comprising the entire -household. Much of my valuable--indeed I may say unique--collection, I -had been compelled to store; for my new quarters lacked the necessary -space for the purpose. But although I was unaware of the fact at the -time, I was not destined to be long deprived of a suitable home for -the records of my life's work. - -Nahémah's demand for some understanding between herself and her family -grew daily more insistent; but I might have continued to oppose her -wishes had it not been for the fact that by this time my slender -resources were almost exhausted. - -It suddenly became evident to me that I held in my hand an instrument -whereby I might force Sir Burnham Coverly to finance the new -experiments upon which I had entered at this time with all the -enthusiasm that a love for science inspires in the student! You may -judge me unscrupulous, but the wheel of progress is at least as -unrelenting. It was not, however, without much searching self-analysis -that one day I presented myself before Sir Burnham Coverly at Friar's -Park. - -If I had had any scruples prior to that visit they were instantly -dispelled by the manner of my reception. Forgetful of the service -which (as he believed) I had done him in the past, Sir Burnham allowed -all the prejudice of the Anglo-Indian to reveal itself in his first -greeting. - -Because I am an Eurasian, the worst traits which attach to such a -parentage--and of which I am only too painfully conscious--revealed -themselves in me. My heart hardened towards this man whose treatment -of an intellectual superior was so icily, so offensively -condescending. Knowing that I had it in my power to deal him a blow -from which he might never recover, I toyed with him for a time; and, -his manner growing momentarily more objectionable, I rejoiced to know -that his very life and career were in my keeping. - -His son, Roger Coverly, at that time a boy only about nine years old, -as the prospective heir to Friar's Park was cherished as an only child -is always cherished in these circumstances. I pictured to myself the -meeting of brother and sister! Yes! because of the refined and -deliberate cruelty which Sir Burnham displayed towards myself, I -retaliated with a poisoned blade. Having led the conversation in the -direction of the heir, I threw away the scabbard of pretense--I -launched my challenge. - -Never shall I forget Sir Burnham's change of countenance. He tottered, -a stricken man. With a sentence of ten words I had won my battle. Upon -the details of the arrangement which presently was come to between us, -I need not linger. For this statement is intended not as a -defense--for what I have done I pay the price--but as a résumé of -this crowning inquiry of my scientific career. - - * * * * * - -At this point the speaker was seized with an alarming spasm of pain. -His black eyes opened widely and his face became contorted with agony. - -I sprang to his assistance. For, villain self-confessed though he was, -humanity would not allow of any man's witnessing unmoved such -paroxysms in a fellow creature. - -But, ere I could reach his side, Damar Greefe, clenching his teeth and -clutching at the chair-arms so that his knuckles gleamed in the -lamp-light like white marbles, turned his glance upon me, and: - -"Be seated, sir," he whispered. "I desire you to be seated." - -Something repellent, yet something powerful, there was in word and -glance. Gatton, who also had sprung forward, hesitated. Damar Greefe -raised one hand from the chair-arm and waved to us to return to our -chairs. Exchanging wondering glances, we both obeyed. - -Thereupon, the Eurasian doctor, whose high, bony forehead was dewed -with a deathly perspiration and whose hawk-face had assumed an -indescribable leaden hue, drew from his pocket a heavy gold watch (his -every movement intently followed by the alert Inspector) and consulted -it. His hand shook wildly as he returned the timepiece to its place. -Then: - -"I must hasten," he said hoarsely. "I have--only nineteen -minutes...." Gatton looked at me questioningly, but I could only -shake my head. The significance of the Eurasian's words escaped me -entirely; but as Damar Greefe begun, slowly and with palpable effort, -to speak again, I saw a queer expression stealing over the face of the -watchful Gatton. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED) - - -A month later I found myself installed at the Bell House, a property -belonging to the Friar's Park estate, and in the commodious apartments -of this establishment I had ample room for the accommodation of my -library and my priceless specimens. Nahémah was likewise an inmate of -the Bell House; but recognizing the precarious nature of my tenure, I -had taken the precaution of retaining the suburban villa to which I -have already referred; its modest rental proving no tax upon my -greatly increased resources. - -Blackmail, I hear you exclaim! And, so, if you wish, you may construe -my behavior, since I reply--"Science first, science last!" To have -been deprived of the means to pursue my experiments at this time would -have been, I believed, to impoverish the world. For not even science -could reveal to me that my life's work was destined to perish amid the -ashes of the Bell House. - -My studies had temporarily led me into a by-path, and apprehending -that a great international struggle was imminent, I had turned my -investigations in a new direction. My great work, whose publication -would have shattered so many scientific idols, was complete. The life -history of Nahémah had crowned my inquiries into the embryology, -physiology and psychology of _psycho-hybrids_. In fact, the presence -of my strange protegée promised to become something of an incubus. -Later, I was to realize that she was an ever-present means of renewing -those funds which the costly character of my new studies absorbed at -rather an alarming rate. Perhaps I neglected my self-imposed task of -studying the mental and physical development of Nahémah; for, I must -admit that lost in my new work I presently awakened to the fact that -she had outgrown the control which I had formerly exercised over her. - -There were unpleasant episodes. For example, in spite of those -precautions which I adopted, and of the ceaseless vigilance of Cassim, -the existence of a female inmate of the Bell House was soon a popular -scandal throughout Upper Crossleys. For this I cared nothing; but far -more perturbing was Nahémah's behavior on the occasion of a certain -visit of Sir Burnham's legal adviser to Friar's Park. - -In some way she secretly gained admission to the house (the episode -occurred during that Sothic month whose annual coming I had learned to -dread). Sir Burnham actually saw her in the chapel. He sent a -messenger post-haste to the Bell-House, and I finally discovered -Nahémah in hiding and insisted upon her immediate return. This was -only one of several instances of her perverse behavior, which truly -seemed to be inspired by some demon bent upon the destruction of both -of us. - -Her mental activity was extraordinary, and unknown to me she had -followed my new researches with that intellectual ardor which she -directly inherited from the Coverlys. Her ferocious jealousy of any -infringement upon those family rights denied her by her father had -also developed, it seemed; and one night, shortly after the scene to -which I have referred, entering my study she placed before me a -proposal to which I listened with absolute horror. - -I should explain that Sir Burnham, placing the repute of his house and -that of his heir above all other considerations (with one possible -exception: the necessity for concealing the appalling truth from his -wife) had consented to make arrangements for the support of Nahémah on -the understanding that her existence was to remain a profound secret -from the world. It was upon this understanding that I leased the Bell -House. And although, in certain wild indiscretions, I had recognized -in Nahémah the symptoms of revolt against such a monastic existence, -because of absorption in my new studies I had not realized how deep -was her resentment of this enforced anonymity. Certainly I had never -grasped the power and the depth of her hatred of her brother, Roger -Coverly. - -Now, on this fateful night, in one of the semi-insane outbursts which -I had learned to dread, she poured out her loathing and detestation of -her brother. She was a Coverly (such was the gist of her plaint) and -the doors of Friar's Park were closed to her; the world knew nothing -of her existence. In the event of the death of Sir Burnham, then Roger -would inherit the property, and complete disaster would be our lot. - -To condense the purport of her demand, it was this: that I should test -the efficacy of my new discovery by removing this objectionable -obstacle from her path! - -Of my subsequent behavior I offer no defense. I am not prepared to -admit that I was forced into action by the forceful personality of my -protegée; in fact, I state emphatically that a chance interview with -the heir during one of his visits to Friar's Park led me to regard the -matter in a new light and from a standpoint almost identical with that -of Nahémah. - -How warning was conveyed to Sir Burnham I know not, unless by some -indiscretion of Nahémah, but, instead of returning to the public -school from which he had come to Friar's Park, Roger Coverly was sent -abroad in haste, accompanied by a private tutor. The date of his -departure corresponded with that which I associate with the beginning -of my downfall. - -Nahémah threatened to present herself to her mother, and painfully -aware that such a course (which, nevertheless, I recognized her to be -quite capable of adopting) would spell disaster, I fell in with her -wishes. Two months later we were established, Nahémah, Cassim and I, -within two miles of the new residence of Roger Coverly and his tutor -in Basle. - -The circumstances attendant upon the death of Roger Coverly have -hitherto been veiled in obscurity, and although Sir Burnham suspected -the truth, in the first place he had no evidence, and in the second -place, because of the existence of Nahémah, I knew that he dared not -attempt to prove it. - -Briefly, I had perfected that Chinese poison called in the northern -provinces _hlangkûna_. By a series of dangerous experiments I had -convinced myself that it was almost identical with _contarella_, the -preparation made notorious by the Borgia family. Therefore I concluded -that _contarella_ came to Rome from the East, possibly via Palestine. -Inoculating with _hlangkûna_, I found, produced death in two hours -(_contarella_--one hour and forty-five minutes) leaving no trace by -which the means employed could be discovered. Self-inoculation by the -subject was the method which I adopted--and which Cæsar Borgia had -adopted before me; so that no chain of evidence existed. - -All that was necessary was for a scarf, a collar or other article of -apparel coming in direct contact with the skin of the subject, to be -placed in my possession. (A glove was the Borgia's favorite medium.) -It was painted with _hlangkûna_ and replaced. When worn, an intense -irritation was produced and a cutaneous eruption which, if scratched -even very lightly, resulted in a puncture of the skin sufficient to -allow the inimical elements of the poison to obtain access to the -system of the subject. - -I do not propose to enter into details, but so it was that Roger -Coverly died. Following a brief sojourn abroad, we presently returned -again to the Bell House. This gratification of her bloodthirsty -desires had done no more than to whet the feline appetite of Nahémah, -and she forced me to impose new and almost insupportable conditions -upon Sir Burnham, with the result, as is known, that from being a very -wealthy man he became an impoverished one. - -I even held a mortgage on Friar's Park on behalf of Nahémah; for by -this time I had fully recognized the fact that like a second -Frankenstein, I had raised up a monster which sooner or later must -devour me. - -Her indiscretions threatened daily to result in exposure; and after -the death of Sir Burnham, which occurred a short time later, these -increased in number and audacity. The dying baronet had impressed upon -his wife the necessity of following my guidance in all things. -Undoubtedly he died hoping that Lady Coverly might live out her days -in ignorance of the grim secret of the Bell House. This dying wish of -his was gratified. The loss of her son, so closely followed by that of -her husband, prostrated Lady Coverly in a mental illness from which -she never recovered, although I exercised all my skill in an endeavor -to restore her reason. She spent the remainder of her days in a -semi-comatose state which so closely resembled death that to this -present moment I do not know the exact hour at which dissolution took -place. - -In the man Hawkins, once a game-keeper of Sir Burnham's, I found an -instrument ready to my hand. I closed the Park to the public and took -all those precautions for preserving my secret which prudence -dictated: this at the cost of a reputation in Upper Crossleys which -few men would have survived, but which troubled me not at all, since -it left me undisturbed to those studies which to me were everything. - -The death of Sir Burnham, however, had raised a new danger; for in the -person of Sir Marcus Coverly, the heir, I perceived a formidable -enemy, who because of his wealth might redeem Friar's Park, and, -because of the fact that he belonged to a cadet line, might care -nothing for the skeleton in Sir Burnham's cupboard. - -I have said that science is callous, and I admit that it needed little -prompting from Nahémah to urge me to take the next step. It is worthy -of note, however, from a scientific point of view, that whilst I was -prompted by motives of expediency, she was actuated solely by a lust -to destroy everything that bore the name of Coverly. - -My experiments for some time past had been directed to the discovery -of new instruments of warfare. Particularly I had addressed myself to -the preparation of a _gas_ which should possess the peculiar -properties of _hlangkûna_, and by inhalation affect the lung tissues, -thus producing instantaneous results. In this I had succeeded a short -time prior to Sir Burnham's death, and one of the future belligerents -had approached me. - -For the purpose of carrying out experiments, a specially designed gun -was brought from Essen and installed in a secluded part of the Park. -Artillery specialists carried out a number of tests with shells of -various patterns; but because I bluntly declined to divulge the -formula for the making of "L.K. Vapor" (so I had named it) until -substantial guarantees were given, negotiations were broken off. I -retained, however, the model howitzer as well as a number of special -light shells. The gun was one of extraordinary accuracy, and it was -possible, given suitable weather conditions, mechanically to train it -upon a given target and without any preliminary "searching" to score a -certain hit. - -I caused the piece to be mounted on the top platform of the tower at -Friar's Park, and having completed those mathematical calculations -with the result of which Mr. Addison has since become familiar, I -awaited the return of the new baronet from Russia. Shortly after his -arrival, I invited him to visit Upper Crossleys. - -He refused--in terms which provoked an outburst on Nahémah's part more -violent than I had ever witnessed. But on his final return to England, -she made it her business closely to study his habits and movements. -She sought, feverishly, for some pregnable point of attack. -_Hlangkûna_ was tried three times--and three times failed. It was the -distorted genius of Nahémah, however, which finally dictated a new -line of action. She learned that Sir Marcus was paying attention to -Isobel Merlin, the fiancée of Eric Coverly (who in the event of Sir -Marcus's death would inherit the title). - -Nahémah propounded to me a theory so strange and so novel that I was -lost in admiration of that brilliant intellect which, partly inherited -from her forebears, was stimulated and brightened by a cat-like -cunning which belonged to the other side of her hybrid personality. - -In that district where my suburban villa was situated there were -several other isolated establishments which their owners experienced -some difficulty in leasing; and one of these--namely the Red -House--particularly suited the purpose which Nahémah had in view. The -extensive resources now at my disposal enabled me to dispense with the -usual formalities which beset the lessee and to obtain possession of -the Red House without even appearing in person. - -The deeper to complicate the issue, Nahémah carried out the whole of -the negotiations over the telephone, and hers was the "voice" -afterwards rendered notorious by the press, which issued the -directions culminating in the death of Marcus Coverly. - -I recognize that the inquiries of the police have placed in your -possession many particulars respecting this matter, so that I will not -repeat them here but will content myself with explaining the nature of -the device employed. In this case, for the removal of the subject, I -had obtained possession of an old telephone and had adjusted it to -meet my requirements. - -In a recess of the room which I caused Sir Marcus Coverly to visit at -the Red House, I placed this duplicate telephone; the false cable -communicating with the instrument was attached to a plug in the wall -above, but communicated with a gas cylinder in the adjoining room. In -short, what appeared to be cable was in reality tubing and the act of -taking the receiver from the hook released through the mouthpiece a -sufficient quantity of L.K. Vapor to have asphyxiated a dozen men. - -In order to insure the subject's receiving the benefit of the whole -discharge, I had caused a very heavy curtain to be draped in this -recess, which thus became a rough gas-chamber. Following the first -discharge, the subject would fall to the floor and the gas being a -heavy one he would there receive his _quietus_. - -The only detail which occasioned much thought was that of the bell by -which Sir Marcus should be summoned to this prepared telephone; for it -formed no part of the plan for myself to appear anywhere in the -neighborhood at the time of the experiment. I was of course compelled -to pay a secret visit to the Red House for the purpose of installing -the telephone device, and at the same time I installed the bell. This -was worked from a small storage battery and I arranged that by the -opening of the garage door the bell would be put in motion and by the -closing of the door at the end of the same building the ringing would -cease. - -A simple contrivance screwed to both doors made this possible, but I -know not by whose hand the ringing would have been accomplished if it -had not been for one of those brilliant suggestions of Nahémah's, -which hovered between the domain of genius and that of fiendishness. - -She proposed that she should ring up the local police depôt and ask -the constable on that beat to lock the garage, thus making him the -direct instrument for the removal of Sir Marcus! - -I knew, since I myself had been a resident in this district, that a -constable patrolled College Road at an hour roughly corresponding with -that at which it was proposed to cause Sir Marcus to visit the Red -House; and because all strategy is based upon the clock, a brief -survey of the facts convinced me that Nahémah's plan was feasible. - -Thus, it was Police-Constable Bolton, whose evidence has appeared in -the press, who actually killed Sir Marcus Coverly! I come now to the -dangerous attitude adopted by Nahémah immediately after the event. - -We had had a case of suitable dimensions made for containing the body, -and had had it delivered at the Red House garage, where it was -received by a district messenger instructed for the purpose. Upon me -devolved the task of carrying the body from the supper-room to the -garage--a task which I performed shortly after the departure of -Police-Constable Bolton. I packed the body, removed the telephone and -also all traces of the bell-device. - -The same carter had instructions to call for the case in the morning, -and the garage door was left open to enable him to collect it. In -short, except for these two essential visits, one before and one after -the experiment, there was no occasion for myself or Nahémah to appear -in the neighborhood of the Red House. - -But that cat-like spirit of impish mischief which possessed her at -this season (and especially at night) together with an almost insane -joy which she took in gloating over the destruction of her cousin, -had led her, contrary to my special injunctions, to haunt the -vicinity on the evening of the experiment. Thus, she not only -witnessed the arrival of the doomed man, but also saw the constable -perform the duty imposed upon him. This might have mattered little, -had it not been for the presence of Mr. Addison, whom an unkind fate -at this juncture involved in the matter. - -For Mr. Addison Nahémah conceived one of those sudden and violent -infatuations which characterized the feline element of her complex -mentality. Unknown to me, Nahémah followed Mr. Addison to his home in -the neighborhood and indeed was actually seen by him, I believe, on -two occasions. Thus far all might yet have been well; but when later I -entered the Red House to carry out the only dangerous part of the -scheme, to my consternation Nahémah insisted upon accompanying me. - -Prompted by that destructive devil which sometimes possessed her she -not only (unknown to me) painted a figure of a cat upon the crate, but -also she placed an image of Bâst in the box with the dead man! - -The premature discovery of Sir Marcus, owing to the accident at the -docks, prevented the plan being carried out in all its details, but -when, through certain rumors which began to creep into the press, I -learned of the presence of the statuette, I began to realize the -dangerous position in which I was placed and the handicap of such an -accomplice. - -As a result of the scene which ensued, Nahémah, still under the worst -influences of her hybrid disposition, openly visited Mr. Addison and -recovered the image of Bâst! This she did in circumstances which -hopelessly compromised both of us, since they revealed in a hitherto -faultless plan the presence of an unsuspected party and directed the -police inquiries into an entirely new channel. - -I thought it expedient to retire immediately to the Bell House, which -during my brief absence in London had been in charge of Cassim, all -approaches to Friar's Park being carefully guarded by the man Hawkins. - -At this point I may touch upon a previous danger which had been met -and overcome. Provision had been made in the will of Sir Burnham for -the retention by his widow of Friar's Park and the revenues thereof; -but since in the event of her death I should have been compelled to -appear in the character of the mortgagee, it was contrary to our -interests that Lady Coverly should die whilst any heir to the estate -remained alive. - -Nevertheless, despite all my care, this stricken woman had died six -months prior to the first return of Sir Marcus from Russia. Since she -had been a helpless invalid during the last years of her life I -experienced little difficulty in concealing the fact of her death. -Cassim and I interred her by night in the family mausoleum where she -lies beside her husband. - -In these circumstances, judge of my feelings when, shortly after the -premature discovery termed in the press "the _Oritoga_ mystery," Mr. -Addison one day presented himself at the Bell House! His avowed -intention of calling upon Lady Coverly left me no alternative. Never -in all his days, not even when he miraculously escaped the L.K. Vapor -at the Abbey Inn, did Mr. Addison stand so near to death as there--in -my study! - -Let me explain the situation more fully. The fatal Sothic month which -I have learned to regard with horror, commenced on the twenty-third -ultimo and does not terminate for another five days. Nahémah was--and -still remains--"possessed." You will understand my employment of the -term. - -On the night preceding this visit of Mr. Addison's, I had traced her -nocturnal movements by the howling of many dogs, and fearful of some -indiscretion which might place my neck in a noose, I had followed her. -I found her in a narrow footpath which leads to the Abbey Inn! - -Despite entreaties, threats, she declined to give any explanation of -her behavior. But finally I prevailed upon her to return to the Bell -House. The appearance of Mr. Addison on the following morning opened -my eyes to the truth. With the scandal still attaching to the names of -Edward Hines and another man, called, I believe, Adams, a subject for -gossip throughout the neighborhood, I could not at so perilous a time -risk the consequences of a third intrigue. I determined that Mr. -Addison could better be spared by the community than I. Nahémah's next -insanity--an open visit to the Abbey Inn--confirmed my opinion. - -Thereupon I committed my first mistake. Cassim, the Nubian mute, who -had been in my service for many years, was formerly attached to a -great household in Stambûl. I shall probably be understood. I -instructed him; and Mr. Addison very cleverly playing upon his -superstitious nature, Cassim failed. - -My time grows short. I will touch upon my second folly of that night. -Long before, the possibility of firing a projectile from the tower of -Friar's Park into the upper front of the Abbey Inn had presented -itself to me in the light of a feasible experiment. - -Unaware that Inspector Gatton was watching me--unaware that in my -absence he had actually detected the presence of the gun upon the -tower--I played my last card ... and lost. - -Cassim it was who detected the fact that police were watching the Bell -House! Cassim had failed me once. I instructed him a second time. - -I near the end of my statement. Destruction of all my effects, of all -evidence of my work, and, crowning tragedy, of every trace of a life's -research, was unavoidable. Knowing that every railway station and port -would be watched and that my marked personality could not hope to -escape the vigilance of the authorities, I determined to make a bid -for freedom by seeking the shelter of my villa in London. - -Cassim systematically fired the Bell House ... and perished in the -flames! Under cover of the confusion which the conflagration -occasioned, Nahémah and I succeeded in making our retirement by the -gate opening on the Hainingham road. - -But, in my attempts upon the life of Mr. Addison, I had not counted -with Nahémah. I had raised up a monster ... that monster ... has -destroyed me.... - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE CLAWS OF THE CAT - - -The hoarse voice ceased. Neither Gatton nor I moved or spoke. Then: - -"I have three minutes--or less," whispered Damar Greefe. "Question me. -I am at your service." - -"Where is your villa?" asked Gatton suddenly. - -"It is called The Laurels--" - -"The Laurels!" I cried incredulously. - -"It is called so," whispered the Eurasian. "It is the last house but -one in College Road! From there I conducted my last experiment with -L.K. Vapor, which resulted not in the death of Mr. Addison, but in -that of Eric Coverly--" - -Gatton sprang to his feet. - -"Come along, Mr. Addison!" he cried. But: - -"The Laurels is empty," came, ever more faintly. "In her Sothic fury, -Nahémah fled. The bloodlust is upon her. I warn you. She is more -dangerous ... than ... any rabid dog.... Tuberculosis will end her -life ... before the snows ... come. But there is time for her to ... -Ah, God's mercy!" - -He writhed. He was contorted. Foam appeared Upon his lips. - -"_Hlangkûna!"_ he moaned, "_hlangkûna! She_ ... touched me with a -poisoned needle ... _two hours_--ago...." - -He rose to his full height, uttered a stifled scream, and crashed down -upon the floor--dead! - -In a species of consternation, Gatton and I stood looking at one -another--standing rigidly like men of stone one on either side of that -long, thin body stretched upon my study floor. The hawk face in -profile was startlingly like that of Anubis as it lay against the red -carpet. - -Neither of us, I think, was capable of grasping the fact that the -inquiry was all but ended and that the mysteries which had seemed so -dark and insoluble were cleared up and the inner workings of this -strange conspiracy laid bare before us. One thought, I believe, was -uppermost in both our minds: that the man who now lay dead upon the -floor, a victim of one of his own devilish inventions, was no more -than a brilliant madman. - -If his great work on the ape-men of Abyssinia and that greater one -dealing with what he called "the _psycho-hybrids_" had ever had -existence outside his own strange imagination no one was ever likely -to know. But that Dr. Damar Greefe was a genius whom much learning had -made mad, neither of us doubted. - -The whole thing seemed the wildest phantasy, and, for a time, in -doubting the reality of the Eurasian's work, I found myself doubting -the evidence of my own senses and seriously wondering if this -possessed witch-cat whose green eyes had moved like Satanic lanterns -throughout the whole phantasmagoria, had any more palpable existence -than the other strange things spoken of by the unscrupulous scientist. - -That Gatton's thoughts had been running parallel with my own was -presently made manifest, for: - -"Without a moment's delay, Mr. Addison," he said, speaking like a man -newly awakened from slumber, "we must proceed to The Laurels and test -the truth of what we have heard." - -He crossed to the door, threw it open, and: - -"Sergeant!" he cried. "Come in! The prisoner is dead!" - -As the sergeant and the constable who were waiting came into the study -and stood looking in stupefaction at the body stretched on the floor, -I heard the telephone bell ring. I started nervously. That sound -awakened ghastly memories, and I thought of the man who only a few -hours before had met his death in the room where now the bell was -ringing its summons. - -I doubted if I could ever spend another night beneath that roof, for -here Dr. Damar Greefe, the arch-assassin, and one of his victims both -had met their ends. I heard the voice of Coates speaking in the -adjoining room, and presently, as Gatton went to the door: - -"Miss Merlin wishes to speak to you, sir," said Coates. - -I ran eagerly to the 'phone, and: - -"Hello!" I cried. "Is that you, Isobel?" - -"Yes!" came her reply, and I noted the agitation in her voice. "I am -more dreadfully frightened than I have ever been in my life. If only -you were here! Is it possible for you to come at once?" - -"What has alarmed you?" I asked anxiously. - -"I can't explain," she replied. "It is a dreadful sense of -foreboding--and all the dogs in the neighborhood seem to have gone -mad!" - -"Dogs!" I cried, a numbing fear creeping over me. "You mean that they -are howling?" - -"Howling!" she answered. "I have never heard such a pandemonium at any -time. In my present state of nerves, Jack, I did the wrong thing in -coming to this funny lonely little house. I feel deserted and hopeless -and, for some reason, in terrible danger." - -"Are you _alone_, then?" I asked, in ever growing anxiety. - -To my utter consternation: - -"Yes!" she replied. "Aunt Alison was called away half an hour ago--to -identify some one at a hospital who had asked for her--" - -"What! an accident?" - -"I suppose so." - -"But the servants?" - -"Cook left this morning. You remember Aunt told you she was leaving." - -"There is the girl, Mary?" - -"Aunt 'phoned for her to join her at the hospital!" - -"What! I don't understand! _'Phoned_, you say? Was it Mrs. Wentworth -_herself_ who 'phoned?" - -"No; I think not. One of the nurses, Mary said. But at any rate, she -has gone, Jack, and I'm frightened to death! There's something else," -she added. - -"Yes?" I said eagerly. - -She laughed in a way that sounded almost hysterical. - -"Since Mary went I have thought once or twice that I have seen some -one or something creeping around outside the house in the shadows -amongst the trees! And just a while ago something happened which -really prompted me to 'phone you." - -"What was it?" - -"I heard a sort of scratching at an upper window. It was just like--" - -"Yes! Yes!" - -"Like a great _cat_ trying to gain admittance!" - -"See that all the doors and windows are fastened!" I cried. "Whatever -happens or whoever knocks don't open to any one, you understand? We -will be with you in less than half an hour!" - -Still in that frightened voice: - -"For heaven's sake," she begged, "don't be long, Jack!..." - -I became aware of a singular rasping sound on the wires, which -rendered Isobel's words almost unintelligible. Then: - -"Jack," I heard, in a faint whisper, "there is a strange noise ... -just outside the room...." - -Silence came. But, vaguely, above that rasping sound, I had detected -the words: "Cutting ... telephone ... wires...." - -I replaced the receiver. My hand was shaking wildly. - -"Gatton!" I said, "do you understand? _It_ has turned its attention -to Miss Merlin!" Then, raising my voice: "Coates!" I cried, "Coates! -run for the car! Hurry, man! Some one's life depends on your speed!" - -Inspector Gatton grabbed the telephone directory. - -"I will instruct the local police," he muttered. "Give me the exact -address, Mr. Addison, and go and see the cab that's outside. If it's a -good one we'll take it instead of waiting." - -Out I dashed, spurred by a sickly terror, crying Mrs. Wentworth's -address as I ran. And of the ensuing five minutes I retain nothing but -chaotic memories: the bewildered cabman; the police bending over the -gaunt form on my study floor; Gatton's voice shouting orders. Then, we -had jumped into the cab and enjoining the man to drive like fury, were -speeding off through the busy London streets. Leaving the quietude of -one suburb for the maelstrom of central London, we presently emerged -into an equally quiet backwater upon the Northerly outskirts. - -It was a nightmare journey, but when at last we approached the house -for which we were bound my apprehension and excitement grew even -keener. It was infinitely more isolated and lonely than I had ever -realized, behind its high brick walls. - -Of the local police there was no sign. And without hesitation we ran -in at the open gate and up the path towards the porch. Every window in -the house was brightly illuminated, testifying to the greatness of the -occupant's fear. Gaining the porch, we stopped, as if prompted by some -mutual thought, and listened. - -There was the remote murmuring of busy London, but here surrounding us -was a stillness as great as that which prevailed in my own -neighborhood; and as we stood there, keenly alert--distinctly we both -heard the howling of dogs! - -"You hear it?" rapped Gatton. - -"I do!" I replied. - -Grasping the bell-knob, I executed a vigorous peal upon the bell. -There was a light in the hallway but my ringing elicited no response, -until: - -"My God, look!" cried Gatton. - -He pulled me backward out of the porch, looking upward to the window -of a room on the first floor. - -A silhouette appeared there--undoubtedly that of Isobel. She seemed to -be endeavoring to pull the curtain aside ... when the shadow of a long -arm reached out to her, and she was plucked irresistibly back. The -sound of a muffled scream reached my ears, and: - -"Great heavens! _It_ has got in!" whispered Gatton. - -He raised his hand and the shrill note of a police whistle split the -silence. - -The closed door was obviously too strong to be forced without the aid -of implements for the purpose, and we began to run around the house, -looking for some means of entrance. Suddenly: - -"There's the way!" said Gatton, and pointed up to where the branches -of an old elm tree stretched out before a window. The glass of the -window was entirely shattered except for some few points which -glittered like daggers around the edges of the frame. - -"Can you do it?" - -"In the circumstances--yes!" I said. - -Without more ado I began to climb the elm, stimulated by memories of -how I had entered Friar's Park. It afforded little foothold for the -first six feet and proved an even tougher job than I had anticipated, -but at last I reached a projecting limb, the bulk of which had been -sawn off. Gatton's agility was not so great as mine, but at the moment -that I half staggered and half fell into the room, I heard him -swinging himself onto the limb behind me so that as I leaped to the -open door he came tumbling in through the window, and the pair of us -raced side by side along the corridor towards an apartment facing -front from which horrifying cries and sounds of conflict now arose. - -Gaining the closed door of this room, I literally hurled myself upon -it. It crashed open ... and I beheld a dreadful spectacle. - -Isobel lay forced back upon a settee which occupied the window -recess--and bending over her, having her back turned towards me, was a -tall, lithe, black-clad woman who, so far as I could see, was -clutching Isobel's throat and forcing her further backward--backward -upon the cushions strewn upon the settee! - -But instant upon the door's opening this horrible scene changed. With -never a backward glance (so that neither Gatton nor I had even a -momentary glimpse of her face) the black-robed woman sprang to the -window, opened it in a moment, and to my dismay and astonishment -sprang out into the darkness! - -My first thought was for Isobel--but Gatton leaped across the room and -craned out, peering on to the path below. Indeed, even as I dropped on -my knees beside the swooning girl, I found myself listening for the -thud of the falling body upon the gravel path. But no sound reached -me. That uncanny creature must have alighted truly in the manner of a -cat. Through the stillness of the house rang the flat note of a -police-whistle. From some distant spot I heard a faint reply. - - * * * * * - -For long I failed to persuade myself that Isobel had not sustained -some ghastly injury from the attack of the cat-woman. Memories uprose -starkly before me of that _hlangkûna_ and the other dreadful -death-instruments of the mad Eurasian doctor. Not even the assurances -of the local medical man who had been summoned in haste could convince -me. For I recognized how petty was his knowledge in comparison with -that of Dr. Damar Greefe. But although I trembled to think what her -fate might have been if we had arrived a few minutes later, the fact -remained (and I returned thanks to Heaven) that she had escaped -serious physical injury at the hands of her assailant. - -But, alas, to this very hour she sometimes awakes shrieking in the -night. And her terrified cry is always the same: "The green eyes of -Bâst!... the green-eyes of Bâst!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -AN AFTERWORD - - -I wish it lay in my power to satisfy the curiosity in all quarters -expressed respecting the identity of "Nahémah"--the cat-woman, or -_psycho-hybrid_, who figured in Dr. Damar Greefe's statement. But it -is my duty, as chronicler of the strange and awful occurrences which -at this period disturbed the even tenor of my existence, to state that -from the moment in which she leaped from the window of Mrs. -Wentworth's house to the path below, neither I nor any other witness -who ever came forward _beheld her again_. - -At the end of a quest which exercised the intricate machinery of New -Scotland Yard throughout the length and breadth of the land, Inspector -Gatton was compelled to admit himself defeated in this particular. And -his explanation of the failure to apprehend the central figure of the -tragedies which had exterminated the house of Coverly was a curious -one. - -"You know, Mr. Addison," he said to me one evening, "the more I think -of this Nahémah the more I wonder if such a person ever really -existed!" - -"What do you mean, Gatton?" I asked. - -"Well," he replied, "I mean that although you and I and others are -prepared to testify to the existence of a woman in the case, what do -we really know about her (leaving Damar Greefe's statement out of the -question) except that she possessed very remarkable eyes?" - -"And very remarkable agility," I interrupted. - -"Yes, I'll grant you that," he said; "her agility was certainly -phenomenal. But, still, as I was saying, except for this definite -information we have no _proof_ outside the statement of Dr. Damar -Greefe that such a person as Nahémah ever existed or at any rate that -there ever was a creature possessing the attributes which he ascribed -to her. The Laurels is an ordinary suburban house, which has been -leased for a number of years by a 'Mr. and Miss da Costa'--Damar -Greefe, no doubt, and a female companion. But of his 'great work' and -so forth there's not a trace. There are a lot of Egyptian antiquities, -I'll admit, but not a scrap of evidence; and the rooms evidently used -by the female inmate of the household are those of an ordinary -cultured Englishwoman." - -"But, good heavens, Gatton," I cried, "whatever explanation can you -offer of a series of crimes which were palpably directed against the -members of the Coverly family?" - -"I don't say," continued Gatton, "that there wasn't a sort of feud or -vendetta at the bottom of the business. I merely mention that we have -no _evidence_ to show that the person responsible for it was any other -than this Eurasian doctor." - -"But what could have been his object?" - -"I could suggest several; but my point at the moment is this: although -I am prepared to grant that he had a woman associate of some kind, I -can't see that there is any evidence to prove that she was otherwise -than an ordinary human being, except that I am disposed to think she -was demented." - -"You are probably right there, Gatton," I agreed; "and Dr. Damar -Greefe was by no means normal; in fact I think he was a dangerous and -very brilliant maniac." - -"At any rate," added Gatton, "no trace of this Nahémah has been -found--which, at the least, is very significant." - -"Significant, if you like," I replied; "but for my own part I have no -ambition whatever to see again those dreadful green eyes." - -"I never did see them," said Gatton musingly; "therefore I can't speak -upon the matter; but when we got Dr. Damar Greefe I think we had the -head of the conspiracy. How much of his 'statement' is true and how -much the product of a diseased mind is something we are never likely -to know." - -"Nor am I curious to know it," I assured him. "I only desire to forget -the tragedies associated with the green eyes of Bâst and to leave the -darkness of the past behind--" - -"And," said Gatton, with a smile less grim than usual, "you have my -best wishes for the future." - - - -THE END - - - - -_The greatest pleasure in life is -that of reading. Why not then -own the books of great novelists -when the price is so small_ - - - * * * * * - - -_Of all the amusements which can possibly -be imagined for a hard-working man, after -his daily toil, or in its intervals, there is -nothing like reading an entertaining book. -It calls for no bodily exertion. It transports -him into a livelier, and gayer, and more diversified -and interesting scene, and while he -enjoys himself there he may forget the evils -of the present moment. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Green Eyes of Bâst - -Author: Sax Rohmer - -Release Date: March 11, 2005 [EBook #15323] -[Date last updated: October 9, 2005] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN EYES OF BÂST *** - - - - -Produced by Alicia Williams, Bethanne M. Simms-Troester and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - -<div id="tp"> -<h1>THE GREEN EYES <br /> OF BÂST</h1> - - -<h2>BY SAX ROHMER</h2> - -<h4>AUTHOR OF</h4> - -<p>"<i>The Golden Scorpion</i>," "<i>Dope</i>," "<i>The Hand of Fu-Manchu</i>," -"<i>The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu</i>,"<br /> "<i>The -Return of Fu-Manchu</i>," "<i>Tales of Secret -Egypt</i>," "<i>The Yellow Claw</i>,"<br /> "<i>The Quest -of the Sacred Slipper</i>," <i>etc.</i></p> -<br /> - -<p>A.L. BURT COMPANY <br /> -Publishers New York</p> - -<p>Published by arrangement with Robert M. McBride & Co. <br /> -Copyright, 1920, by <br /> ROBERT M. MCBRIDE & Co.</p> -</div> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<div id="verso"> -<p><i>Printed in the <br /> -United States of America</i></p> -</div> - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CONTENTS'></a><h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<ol style='list-style-type: upper-roman'> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I SEE THE EYES</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE SIGN OF THE CAT</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_III">THE GREEN IMAGE</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">ISOBEL</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_V">THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">THE VOICE</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">THE CAT OF BUBASTIS</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">MY VISITOR</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">THE VELVET CURTAIN</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_X">"HANGING EVIDENCE"</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">THE SCARED MAN</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">I DREAM OF GREEN EYES</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">DR. DAMAR GREEFE</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE BLACK DOCTOR</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">I RECEIVE VISITORS</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">THE GOLDEN CAT</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">THE NUBIAN MUTE</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">THE MAN ON THE TOWER</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">GATTON'S STORY</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">IN LONDON AGAIN</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">THE GRAY MIST</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">THE INEVITABLE</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE, M.D.</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">STATAEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED)</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED)</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">THE CLAWS OF THE CAT</a></li> - <li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">AN AFTERWARD</a></li> -</ol> - - - -<br /> - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_I'></a><h2>CHAPTER I <br /> I SEE THE EYES</h2> - - -<br /> - -<p>"Good evening, sir. A bit gusty?"</p> - -<p>"Very much so, sergeant," I replied. "I think I will step into your -hut for a moment and light my pipe if I may."</p> - -<p>"Certainly, sir. Matches are too scarce nowadays to take risks with -'em. But it looks as if the storm had blown over."</p> - -<p>"I'm not sorry," said I, entering the little hut like a sentry-box -which stands at the entrance to this old village high street for -accommodation of the officer on point duty at that spot. "I have a -longish walk before me."</p> - -<p>"Yes. Your place is right off the beat, isn't it?" mused my -acquaintance, as sheltered from the keen wind I began to load my -briar. "Very inconvenient I've always thought it for a gentleman who -gets about as much as you do."</p> - -<p>"That's why I like it," I explained. "If I lived anywhere accessible I -should never get a moment's peace, you see. At the same time I have to -be within an hour's journey of Fleet Street."</p> - -<p>I often stopped for a chat at this point and I was acquainted with -most of the men of P. division on whom the duty devolved from time to -time. It was a lonely spot at night when the residents in the -neighborhood had retired, so that the darkened houses seemed to -withdraw yet farther into the gardens separating them from the -highroad. A relic of the days when trains and motor-buses were not, -dusk restored something of an old-world atmosphere to the village -street, disguising the red brick and stucco which in many cases had -displaced the half-timbered houses of the past. Yet it was possible in -still weather to hear the muted bombilation of the sleepless city and -when the wind was in the north to count the hammer-strokes of the -great bell of St. Paul's.</p> - -<p>Standing in the shelter of the little hut, I listened to the rain -dripping from over-reaching branches and to the gurgling of a turgid -little stream which flowed along the gutter near my feet whilst now -and again swift gusts of the expiring tempest would set tossing the -branches of the trees which lined the way.</p> - -<p>"It's much cooler to-night," said the sergeant.</p> - -<p>I nodded, being in the act of lighting my pipe. The storm had -interrupted a spell of that tropical weather which sometimes in July -and August brings the breath of Africa to London, and this coolness -resulting from the storm was very welcome. Then:</p> - -<p>"Well, good night," I said, and was about to pursue my way when the -telephone bell in the police-hut rang sharply.</p> - -<p>"Hullo," called the sergeant.</p> - -<p>I paused, idly curious concerning the message, and:</p> - -<p>"The Red House," continued the sergeant, "in College Road? Yes, I know -it. It's on Bolton's beat, and he is due here now. Very good; I'll -tell him."</p> - -<p>He hung up the receiver and, turning to me, smiled and nodded his head -resignedly.</p> - -<p>"The police get some funny jobs, sir," he confided. "Only last night a -gentleman rang up the station and asked them to tell me to stop a -short, stout lady with yellow hair and a big blue hat (that was the -only description) as she passed this point and to inform her that her -husband had had to go out but that he had left the door-key just -inside the dog-kennel!"</p> - -<p>He laughed good-humoredly.</p> - -<p>"Now to-night," he resumed, "here's somebody just rung up to say that -he thinks, only <i>thinks</i>, mind you, that he has forgotten to lock his -garage and will the constable on that beat see if the keys have been -left behind. If so, will he lock the door from the inside, go out -through the back, lock that door and leave the keys at the station on -coming off duty!"</p> - -<p>"Yes," I said. "There are some absent-minded people in the world. But -do you mean the Red House in College Road?"</p> - -<p>"That's it," replied the sergeant, stepping out of the hut and looking -intently to the left.</p> - -<p>"Ah, here comes Bolton."</p> - -<p>He referred to a stolid, red-faced constable who at that moment came -plodding across the muddy road, and:</p> - -<p>"A job for you, Bolton," he cried. "Listen. You know the Red House in -College Road?"</p> - -<p>Bolton removed his helmet and scratched his closely-cropped head.</p> - -<p>"Let me see," he mused; "it's on the right—"</p> - -<p>"No, no," I interrupted. "It is a house about half-way down on the -left; very secluded, with a high brick wall in front."</p> - -<p>"Oh! You mean the <i>empty</i> house?" inquired the constable.</p> - -<p>"Just what I was about to remark, sergeant," said I, turning to my -acquaintance. "To the best of my knowledge the Red House has been -vacant for twelve months or more."</p> - -<p>"Has it?" exclaimed the sergeant. "That's funny. Still, it's none of -my business; besides it may have been let within the last few days. -Anyway, listen, Bolton. You are to see if the garage is unlocked. If -it is and the keys are there, go in and lock the door behind you. -There's another door at the other end; go out and lock that too. Leave -the keys at the depôt when you go off. Got that fixed?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Bolton, and he stood helmet in hand, half inaudibly -muttering the sergeant's instructions, evidently with the idea of -impressing them upon his memory.</p> - -<p>"I have to pass the Red House, constable," I interrupted, "and as you -seem doubtful respecting its whereabouts, I will point the place out -to you."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, sir," said Bolton, replacing his helmet and ceasing to -mutter.</p> - -<p>"Once more—good night, sergeant," I cried, and met by a keen gust of -wind which came sweeping down the village street, showering cascades -of water from the leaves above, I set out in step with my stolid -companion.</p> - -<p>It is supposed poetically that unusual events cast their shadows -before them, and I am prepared to maintain the correctness of such a -belief. But unless the silence of the constable who walked beside me -was due to the unseen presence of such a shadow, and not to a habitual -taciturnity, there was nothing in that march through the deserted -streets calculated to arouse me to the fact that I was entering upon -the first phase of an experience more strange and infinitely more -horrible than any of which I had ever known or even read.</p> - -<p>The shadow had not yet reached me.</p> - -<p>We talked little enough on the way, for the breeze when it came was -keen and troublesome, so that I was often engaged in clutching my hat. -Except for a dejected-looking object, obviously a member of the tramp -fraternity, who passed us near the gate of the old chapel, we met -never a soul from the time that we left the police-box until the -moment when the high brick wall guarding the Red House came into view -beyond a line of glistening wet hedgerow.</p> - -<p>"This is the house, constable," I said. "The garage is beyond the main -entrance."</p> - -<p>We proceeded as far as the closed gates, whereupon:</p> - -<p>"There you are, sir," said Bolton triumphantly. "I told you it was -empty."</p> - -<p>An estate agent's bill faced us, setting forth the desirable features -of the residence, the number of bedrooms and reception rooms, modern -conveniences, garage, etc., together with the extent of the garden, -lawn and orchard.</p> - -<p>A faint creaking sound drew my glance upward, and stepping back a pace -I stared at a hatchet-board projecting above the wall which bore two -duplicates of the bill posted upon the gate.</p> - -<p>"That seems to confirm it," I declared, peering through the trees in -the direction of the house. "The place has all the appearance of -being deserted."</p> - -<p>"There's some mistake," muttered Bolton.</p> - -<p>"Then the mistake is not ours," I replied. "See, the bills are headed -'To be let or sold. The Red House, etc.'"</p> - -<p>"H'm," growled Bolton. "It's a funny go, this is. Suppose we have a -look at the garage."</p> - -<p>We walked along together to where, set back in a recess, I had often -observed the doors of a garage evidently added to the building by some -recent occupier. Dangling from a key placed in the lock was a ring to -which another key was attached!</p> - -<p>"Well, I'm blowed," said Bolton, "this <i>is</i> a funny go, this is."</p> - -<p>He unlocked the door and swept the interior of the place with a ray of -light cast by his lantern. There were one or two petrol cans and some -odd lumber suggesting that the garage had been recently used, but no -car, and indeed nothing of sufficient value to have interested even -such a derelict as the man whom we had passed some ten minutes before. -That is if I except a large and stoutly-made packing-case which -rested only a foot or so from the entrance so as partly to block it, -and which from its appearance might possibly have contained spare -parts. I noticed, with vague curiosity, a device crudely representing -a seated cat which was painted in green upon the case.</p> - -<p>"If there ever was anything here," said Bolton, "it's been pinched and -we're locking the stable door after the horse has gone. You'll bear me -out, sir, if there's any complaint?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," I replied. "Technically I shall be trespassing if I come -in with you, so I shall say good night."</p> - -<p>"Good night, sir," cried the constable, and entering the empty garage, -he closed the door behind him.</p> - -<p>I set off briskly alone towards the cottage which I had made my home. -I have since thought that the motives which had induced me to choose -this secluded residence were of a peculiarly selfish order. Whilst I -liked sometimes to be among my fellowmen and whilst I rarely missed an -important first night in London, my inherent weakness for obscure -studies and another motive to which I may refer later had caused me to -abandon my chambers in the Temple and to retire with my library to -this odd little backwater where my only link with Fleet Street, with -the land of theaters and clubs and noise and glitter, was the -telephone. I scarcely need add that I had sufficient private means to -enable me to indulge these whims, otherwise as a working journalist I -must have been content to remain nearer to the heart of things. As it -was I followed the careless existence of the independent free-lance, -and since my work was accounted above the average I was enabled to -pick and choose the subjects with which I should deal. Mine was not an -ambitious nature—or it may have been that stimulus was lacking—and -all I wrote I wrote for the mere joy of writing, whilst my studies, of -which I shall have occasion to speak presently, were not of a nature -calculated to swell my coffers in this commercial-minded age.</p> - -<p>Little did I know how abruptly this chosen calm of my life was to be -broken nor how these same studies were to be turned in a new and -strange direction. But if on this night which was to witness the -overture of a horrible drama, I had not hitherto experienced any -premonition of the coming of those dark forces which were to change -the whole tenor of my existence, suddenly, now, in sight of the elm -tree which stood before my cottage the <i>shadow</i> reached me.</p> - -<p>Only thus can I describe a feeling otherwise unaccountable which -prompted me to check my steps and to listen. A gust of wind had just -died away, leaving the night silent save for the dripping of rain from -the leaves and the vague and remote roar of the town. Once, faintly, I -thought I detected the howling of a dog. I had heard nothing in the -nature of following footsteps, yet, turning swiftly, I did not doubt -that I should detect the presence of a follower of some kind. This -conviction seized me suddenly and, as I have said, unaccountably. Nor -was I wrong in my surmise.</p> - -<p>Fifty yards behind me a vaguely defined figure showed for an instant -outlined against the light of a distant lamp—ere melting into the -dense shadow cast by a clump of trees near the roadside.</p> - -<p>Standing quite still, I stared in the direction of the patch of shadow -for several moments. It may be said that there was nothing to occasion -alarm or even curiosity in the appearance of a stray pedestrian at -that hour; for it was little after midnight. Indeed thus I argued with -myself, whereby I admit that at sight of that figure I had experienced -a sensation which was compounded not only of alarm and curiosity but -also of some other emotion which even now I find it hard to define. -Instantly I knew that the lithe shape, glimpsed but instantaneously, -was that of no chance pedestrian—was indeed that of no ordinary -being. At the same moment I heard again, unmistakably, the howling of -a dog.</p> - -<p>Having said so much, why should I not admit that, turning again very -quickly, I hurried on to the gate of my cottage and heaved a great -sigh of relief when I heard the reassuring bang of the door as I -closed it behind me? Coates, my batman, had turned in, having placed a -cold repast upon the table in the little dining-room; but although I -required nothing to eat I partook of a stiff whisky and soda, idly -glancing at two or three letters which lay upon the table.</p> - -<p>They proved to contain nothing of very great importance, and having -smoked a final cigarette, I turned out the light in the dining-room -and walked into the bedroom—for the cottage was of bungalow -pattern—and, crossing the darkened room, stood looking out of the -window.</p> - -<p>It commanded a view of a little kitchen-garden and beyond of a high -hedge, with glimpses of sentinel trees lining the main road. The wind -had dropped entirely, but clouds were racing across the sky at a -tremendous speed so that the nearly full moon alternately appeared and -disappeared, producing an ever-changing effect of light and shadow. At -one moment a moon-bathed prospect stretched before me as far as the -eye could reach, in the next I might have been looking into a cavern -as some angry cloud swept across the face of the moon to plunge the -scene into utter darkness.</p> - -<p>And it was during such a dark spell and at the very moment that I -turned aside to light the lamp that I saw <i>the eyes</i>.</p> - -<p>From a spot ten yards removed, low down under the hedges bordering the -garden, they looked up at me—those great, glittering cat's eyes, so -that I stifled an exclamation, drawing back instinctively from the -window. A tiger, I thought, or some kindred wild beast, must have -escaped from captivity. And so rapidly does the mind work at such -times that instinctively I had reviewed the several sporting pieces in -my possession and had selected a rifle which had proved serviceable in -India ere I had taken one step towards the door.</p> - -<p>Before that step could be taken the light of the moon again flooded -the garden; and although there was no opening in the hedge by which -even a small animal could have retired, no living thing was in sight! -But, near and remote, dogs were howling mournfully.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_II'></a><h2>CHAPTER II <br />THE SIGN OF THE CAT</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>When Coates brought in my tea, newspapers and letters in the morning, -I awakened with a start, and:</p> - -<p>"Has there been any rain during the night, Coates?" I asked.</p> - -<p>Coates, whose unruffled calm at all times provided an excellent -sedative, replied:</p> - -<p>"Not since a little before midnight, sir."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said I, "and have you been in the garden this morning, Coates?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," he replied, "for raspberries for breakfast, sir."</p> - -<p>"But not on this side of the cottage?"</p> - -<p>"Not on this side."</p> - -<p>"Then will you step out, Coates, keeping carefully to the paths, and -proceed as far as the tool-shed? Particularly note if the beds have -been disturbed between the hedge and the path, but don't make any -marks yourself. You are looking for <i>spoor</i>, you understand?"</p> - -<p>"Spoor? Very good, sir. Of big game?"</p> - -<p>"Of big game, yes, Coates."</p> - -<p>Unmoved by the strangeness of his instructions, Coates, an -object-lesson for those who decry the excellence of British Army -disciplinary methods, departed.</p> - -<p>It was with not a little curiosity and interest that I awaited his -report. As I sat sipping my tea I could hear his regular tread as he -passed along the garden path outside the window. Then it ceased and -was followed by a vague muttering. He had found something. All traces -of the storm had disappeared and there was every indication of a -renewal of the heat-wave; but I knew that the wet soil would have -preserved a perfect impression of any imprint made upon it on the -previous night. Nevertheless, with the early morning sun streaming -into my window out of a sky as near to turquoise as I had ever seen it -in England, I found it impossible to recapture that uncanny thrill -which had come to me in the dark hours when out of the shadows under -the hedge the great cat's eyes had looked up at me.</p> - -<p>And now, becoming more fully awake, I remembered something else which -hitherto I had not associated with the latter phenomenon. I remembered -that lithe and evasive pursuing shape which I had detected behind me -on the road. Even now, however, it was difficult to associate one with -the other; for whereas the dimly-seen figure had resembled that of a -man (or, more closely, that of a woman) the eyes had looked out upon -me from a point low down near the ground, like those of some crouching -feline.</p> - -<p>Coates' footsteps sounded again upon the path and I heard him walking -round the cottage and through the kitchen. Finally he reëntered the -bedroom and stood just within the doorway in that attitude of -attention which was part and parcel of the man. His appearance would -doubtless have violated the proprieties of the Albany, for in my rural -retreat he was called upon to perform other and more important -services than those of a valet. His neatly shaved chin, stolid red -countenance and perfectly brushed hair were unexceptionable of course, -but because his duties would presently take him into the garden he -wore, not the regulation black, but an ancient shooting-jacket, khaki -breeches and brown gaiters, looking every inch of him the old soldier -that he was.</p> - -<p>"Well, Coates?" said I.</p> - -<p>He cleared his throat.</p> - -<p>"There are footprints in the radish-beds, sir," he reported.</p> - -<p>"Footprints?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. Very deep. As though some one had jumped over the hedge and -landed there."</p> - -<p>"Jumped over the hedge!" I exclaimed. "That would be a considerable -jump, Coates, from the road."</p> - -<p>"It would, sir. Maybe she scrambled up."</p> - -<p>"She?"</p> - -<p>Coates cleared his throat again.</p> - -<p>"There are three sets of prints in all. First a very deep one where -the party had landed, then another broken up like, where she had -turned round, and the third set with the heel-marks very deep where -she had sprung back over the hedge."</p> - -<p><i>"She?"</i> I shouted.</p> - -<p>"The prints, sir," resumed Coates, unmoved, "are those of a lady's -high-heeled shoes."</p> - -<p>I sat bolt upright in bed, staring at the man and scarcely able to -credit my senses. Words failed me. Whereupon:</p> - -<p>"Will you have tea or coffee for breakfast?" inquired Coates.</p> - -<p>"Tea or coffee be damned, Coates!" I cried. "I'm going out to look at -those footprints! If you had seen what I saw last night, even your old -mahogany countenance would relax for once, I assure you."</p> - -<p>"Indeed, sir," said Coates; "did you see the lady, then?"</p> - -<p>"Lady!" I exclaimed, tumbling out of bed. "If the eyes that looked at -me last night belonged to a 'lady' either I am mad or the 'lady' is of -another world."</p> - -<p>I pulled on a bath-robe and hurried out into the garden, Coates -showing me the spot where he had found the mysterious foot-prints. A -very brief examination sufficed to convince me that his account had -been correct. Some one wearing high-heeled shoes clearly enough had -stood there at some time whilst the soil was quite wet; and as no -track led to or from the marks, Coates' conclusion that the person who -had made them must have come over the hedge was the only feasible one. -I turned to him in amazement, but recognizing in time the wildly -fantastic nature of the sight which I had seen in the night, I -refrained from speaking of the blazing eyes and made my way to the -bathroom wondering if some chance reflection might not have deceived -me and the presence of a woman's footmarks at the same spot be no -more than a singular coincidence. Even so the mystery of their -presence there remained unexplained.</p> - -<p>My thoughts were diverted from a trend of profitless conjecture when -shortly after breakfast time my 'phone bell rang. It was the editor of -the <i>Planet</i>, to whom I had been indebted for a number of special -commissions—including my fascinating quest of the Giant Gnu, which, -generally supposed to be extinct, was reported by certain natives and -others to survive in a remote corner of the Dark Continent.</p> - -<p>Readers of the <i>Planet</i> will remember that although I failed to -discover the Gnu I came upon a number of notable things on my journey -through the almost unexplored country about the head-waters of the -Niger.</p> - -<p>"A most extraordinary case has cropped up," he said, "quite in your -line, I think, Addison. Evidently a murder, and the circumstances seem -to be most dramatic and unusual. I should be glad if you would take it -up."</p> - -<p>I inquired without much enthusiasm for details. Criminology was one of -my hobbies, and in several instances I had traced cases of alleged -haunting and other supposedly supernatural happenings to a criminal -source; but the ordinary sordid murder did not interest me.</p> - -<p>"The body of Sir Marcus Coverly has been found in a crate!" explained -my friend. "The crate was being lowered into the hold of the S.S. -<i>Oritoga</i> at the West India Docks. It had been delivered by a -conveyance specially hired for the purpose apparently, as the -<i>Oritoga</i> is due to sail in an hour. There are all sorts of curious -details but these you can learn for yourself. Don't trouble to call at -the office; proceed straight to the dock."</p> - -<p>"Right!" I said shortly. "I'll start immediately."</p> - -<p>And this sudden decision had been brought about by the mention of the -victim's name. Indeed, as I replaced the receiver on the hook I -observed that my hand was shaking and I have little doubt that I had -grown pale.</p> - -<p>In the first place, then, let me confess that my retirement to the odd -little retreat which at this time was my home, and my absorption in -the obscure studies to which I have referred were not so much due to -any natural liking for the life of a recluse as to the shattering of -certain matrimonial designs. I had learned of the wreck of my hopes -upon reading a press paragraph which announced the engagement of -Isobel Merlin to Eric Coverly. And it was as much to conceal my -disappointment from the world as for any better reason that I had -slunk into retirement; for if I am slow to come to a decision in such -a matter, once come to, it is of no light moment.</p> - -<p>Yet although I had breathed no word of my lost dreams to Isobel but -had congratulated her with the rest, often and bitterly I had cursed -myself for a sluggard. Too late I had learned that she had but awaited -a word from me; and I had gone off to Mesopotamia, leaving that word -unspoken. During my absence Coverly had won the prize which I had -thrown away. He was heir to the title, for his cousin, Sir Marcus, -was unmarried. Now here, a bolt from the blue, came the news of his -cousin's death!</p> - -<p>It can well be imagined with what intense excitement I hurried to the -docks. All other plans abandoned, Coates, arrayed in his neat blue -uniform, ran the Rover round from the garage, and ere long we were -jolting along the hideously uneven Commercial Road, East, dodging -traction-engines drawing strings of lorries, and continually meeting -delay in the form of those breakdowns which are of hourly occurrence -in this congested but rugged highway.</p> - -<p>In the West India Dock Road the way became slightly more open, but -when at last I alighted and entered the dock gates I recognized that -every newspaper and news agency in the kingdom was apparently -represented. Jones, of the <i>Gleaner</i>, was coming out as I went in, -and:</p> - -<p>"Hello, Addison!" he cried, "this is quite in your line! It's as mad -as 'Alice in Wonderland.'"</p> - -<p>I did not delay, however, but hurried on in the direction of a dock -building, at the door of which was gathered a heterogeneous group -comprising newspaper men, dock officials, police and others who were -unclassifiable. Half a dozen acquaintances greeted me as I came up, -and I saw that the door was closed and that a constable stood on duty -before it.</p> - -<p>"I call it damned impudence, Addison!" exclaimed one pressman. "The -dock people are refusing everybody information until Inspector -Somebody-or-Other arrives from New Scotland Yard. I should think he -has stopped on the way to get his lunch."</p> - -<p>The speaker glanced impatiently at his watch and I went to speak to -the man on duty.</p> - -<p>"You have orders to admit no one, constable?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"That's so, sir," he replied. "We're waiting for Detective-Inspector -Gatton, who has been put in charge of the case."</p> - -<p>"Ah! Gatton," I muttered, and, stepping aside from the expectant -group, I filled and lighted my pipe, convinced that anything to be -learned I should learn from Inspector Gatton, for he and I were old -friends, having been mutually concerned in several interesting cases.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later the Inspector arrived—a thick-set, clean-shaven, -very bronzed man, his dark hair streaked with gray, and with all the -appearance of a retired naval officer, in his well-cut blue serge suit -and soft felt hat; a very reserved man whose innocent-looking blue -eyes gave him that frank and open expression which is more often -associated with a seaman than with a detective. He nodded to several -acquaintances in the group, and then, observing me where I stood, came -over and shook hands.</p> - -<p>"Open the door, constable," he ordered quietly.</p> - -<p>The constable produced a key and unlocked the door of the small stone -building. Immediately there was a forward movement of the whole -waiting group, but:</p> - -<p>"If you please, gentlemen," said Gatton, raising his hand. "I must -make my examination first; and Mr. Addison," he added, seeing the -resentment written upon the faces of my disappointed confrères, "has -special information which I am going to ask him to place at my -disposal."</p> - -<p>The constable stood aside and I followed Inspector Gatton into the -stone shed.</p> - -<p>"Lock the door again, constable," he ordered; "no one is to be -admitted."</p> - -<p>Thereupon I looked about me, and the scene which I beheld was so -strange and gruesome that its every detail remains imprinted upon my -memory.</p> - -<p>The building then was lighted by four barred windows set so high in -the walls that no one could look in from the outside. Blazing sunlight -poured in at the two southerly windows and drew a sharp black pattern -of the bars across the paved floor. Kneeling beside a stretcher, fully -in this path of light, so that he presented a curious striped -appearance, was a man who presently proved to be the divisional -surgeon, and two paces beyond stood a police inspector who was engaged -at the moment of our entrance in making entries in his note-book.</p> - -<p>On the stretcher, so covered up that only his face was visible, lay -one whom at first I failed to recognize, for the horribly contorted -features presented a kind of mottled green appearance utterly -indescribable.</p> - -<p>Stifling an exclamation of horror, I stared and stared at that ghastly -face, then:</p> - -<p>"My God!" I muttered. "Yes! it <i>is</i> Sir Marcus!"</p> - -<p>The surgeon stood up and the inspector advanced to meet Gatton, but my -horrified gaze had strayed from the stretcher to a badly damaged and -splintered packing-case, which was the only other object in the -otherwise empty shed. At this I stared as much aghast as I had stared -at the dead man.</p> - -<p>The iron bands were broken and twisted and the whole of one side lay -in fragments on the floor; but upon a board which had formed part of -the top I perceived the figure of a cat roughly traced in green paint.</p> - -<p>Beyond any shadow of doubt this crate was the same which on the night -before had lain in the garage of the Red House!</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_III'></a><h2>CHAPTER III <br />THE GREEN IMAGE</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"YES," said Gatton, "I was speaking no more than the truth when I told -them that you had special information which I hoped you would place at -my disposal. Some of the particulars were given to me over the 'phone, -you see, and I was glad to find you here when I arrived. I should have -consulted you in any event, and principally about—that."</p> - -<p>He pointed to an object which I held in my hand. It was a little green -enamel image; the crouching figure of a woman having a cat's head, a -piece of Egyptian workmanship probably of the fourth century B.C. -Considered in conjunction with the figure painted upon the crate, the -presence of this little image was so amazing a circumstance that from -the moment when it had been placed in my hand I had stood staring at -it almost dazedly.</p> - -<p>The divisional surgeon had gone, and only the local officer remained -with Gatton and myself in the building. Sir Marcus Coverly presented -all the frightful appearance of one who has died by asphyxia, and -although of course there would be an autopsy, little doubt existed -respecting the mode of his death. The marks of violence found upon the -body could be accounted for by the fact that the crate had fallen a -distance of thirty feet into the hold, and the surgeon was convinced -that the injuries to the body had all been received after death, death -having taken place in his opinion fully twelve hours before.</p> - -<p>"You see," said Gatton, "when the crate broke several things which -presumably were in Sir Marcus' pockets were found lying loose amongst -the wreckage. That cat-woman was one of them."</p> - -<p>"Yet it may not have been in any of his pockets at all," said I.</p> - -<p>"It <i>may</i> not," agreed Gatton. "But that it was somewhere in the crate -is beyond dispute, I think. Besides this is more than a coincidence."</p> - -<p>And he pointed to the painted cat upon the lid of the packing-case. I -had already told him of the episode at the Red House on the previous -night, and now:</p> - -<p>"The fates are on our side," I said, "for at least we know where the -crate was despatched from."</p> - -<p>"Quite so," agreed Gatton. "We should have got that from the carter -later, of course, but every minute saved in an affair such as this is -worth considering. As a pressman you will probably disagree with me, -but I propose to suppress these two pieces of evidence. Premature -publication of clews too often handicaps us. Now, what <i>is</i> that -figure exactly?"</p> - -<p>"It is a votive offering of a kind used in Ancient Egypt by pilgrims -to Bubastis. It is a genuine antique, and if you think the history of -such relics is likely to assist the investigation I can give you some -further particulars this evening if you have time to call at my -place."</p> - -<p>"I think," said Gatton, taking the figure from me and looking at it -with a singular expression on his face, "that the history of the thing -is very important. The fact that a rough reproduction of a somewhat -similar figure is painted upon the case cannot possibly be a -coincidence."</p> - -<p>I stared at him silently for a moment, then:</p> - -<p>"You mean that the crate was specially designed to contain the body?" -I asked.</p> - -<p>"I am certainly of that opinion," declared Inspector Heath, the local -officer. "It is of just the right size and shape for the purpose."</p> - -<p>Once more I began to examine the fragments stacked upon the floor, and -then I looked again at the several objects which lay beside the crate. -They were the personal belongings of the dead baronet and the police -had carefully noted in which of his pockets each object had been -found. He was in evening dress and a light top-coat had been packed -into the crate beside him. In this had been found a cigar-case and a -pair of gloves; a wallet containing £20 in Treasury notes and a number -of cards and personal papers had fallen out of the crate together with -the cat statuette. The face of his watch was broken. It had been in -his waistcoat pocket but it still ticked steadily on where it lay -there beside its dead owner. A gold-mounted malacca cane also figured -amongst the relics of the gruesome crime; so that whatever had been -the object of the murderer, that of robbery was out of the question.</p> - -<p>"The next thing to do," said Gatton, "is to trace Sir Marcus's -movements from the time that he left home last night to the time that -he met his death. I am going out now to 'phone to the Yard. We ought -to have succeeded in tracing the carter who brought the crate here -before the evening. I personally shall proceed to Sir Marcus's rooms -and then to this Red House around which it seems to me that the -mystery centers."</p> - -<p>He put the enamel figure into his pocket and taking up the broken -board which bore the painted cat:</p> - -<p>"You are carrying a top-coat," he said. "Hide this under it!"</p> - -<p>He turned to Inspector Heath, nodding shortly.</p> - -<p>"All right," he said, with a grim smile, "go out now and talk to the -crowd!"</p> - -<p>Having issued certain telephonic instructions touching the carter who -had delivered the crate to the docks, and then imparting to the -representatives of the press a guarded statement for publication, -Inspector Gatton succeeded in wedging himself into my little -two-seater and ere long we were lurching and bumping along the -ill-paved East-end streets.</p> - -<p>The late Sir Marcus's London address, which had been unknown to me, we -had learned from his cards, and it was with the keenest anticipation -of a notable discovery that I presently found myself with Gatton -mounting the stairs to the chambers of the murdered baronet.</p> - -<p>At the very moment of our arrival the door was opened and a man—quite -obviously a constable in plain clothes—came out. Behind him I -observed one whom I took to be the late Sir Marcus's servant, a -pathetic and somewhat disheveled figure.</p> - -<p>"Hello, Blythe!" said Gatton, "who instructed you to come here?"</p> - -<p>"Sir Marcus's man—Morris—telephoned the Yard," was the reply, "as he -couldn't understand what had become of his master and I was sent along -to see him."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said Gatton, "very good. Report to me in due course."</p> - -<p>Blythe departed, and Gatton and I entered the hall. The man, Morris, -closed the door, and led us into a small library. Beside the telephone -stood a tray bearing decanter and glasses, and there was evidence that -Morris had partaken of a hurried breakfast consisting only of biscuits -and whisky and soda.</p> - -<p>"I haven't been to bed all night, gentlemen," he began the moment that -we entered the room. "Sir Marcus was a good master and if he was -sleeping away from home he never failed to advise me, so that I knew -even before the dreadful news reached me that something was amiss."</p> - -<p>He was quite unstrung and his voice was unsteady. The reputation of -the late baronet had been one which I personally did not envy him, but -whatever his faults, and I knew they had been many, he had evidently -possessed the redeeming virtue of being a good employer.</p> - -<p>"A couple of hours' sleep would make a new man of you," said Gatton -kindly. "I understand your feelings, but no amount of sorrow can mend -matters, unfortunately. Now, I don't want to worry you, but there are -one or two points which I must ask you to clear up. In the first place -did you ever see this before?"</p> - -<p>From his pocket he took out the little figure of Bâst, the -cat-goddess, and held it up before Morris.</p> - -<p>The man stared at it with lack-luster eyes, scratching his unshaven -chin; then he shook his head slowly.</p> - -<p>"Never," he declared. "No, I am positive I never saw a figure like -that before."</p> - -<p>"Then, secondly," continued Gatton, "was your master ever in Egypt?"</p> - -<p>"Not that I am aware of; certainly not since I have been with him—six -years on the thirty-first of this month."</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Gatton. "Now, when did you last see Sir Marcus?"</p> - -<p>"At half-past six last night, sir. He was dining at his club and then -going to the New Avenue Theater. I booked a seat for him myself."</p> - -<p>"He was going alone, then?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>Gatton glanced at me significantly and I experienced an uncomfortable -thrill. In the inspector's glance I had read that he suspected the -presence of a woman in the case and at the mention of the New Avenue -Theater it had instantly occurred to me that Isobel Merlin was -appearing there! Gatton turned again to Morris.</p> - -<p>"Sir Marcus had not led you to suppose that there was any likelihood -of his <i>not</i> returning last night?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; that was why, knowing his regular custom, I became so -alarmed when he failed to come back or to 'phone."</p> - -<p>Gatton stared hard at the speaker and:</p> - -<p>"It will be no breach of confidence on your part," he said, speaking -slowly and deliberately, "for you to answer my next question. The best -service you can do your late master now will be to help us to -apprehend his murderer."</p> - -<p>He paused a moment, then:</p> - -<p>"Was Sir Marcus interested in some one engaged at the New Avenue -Theater?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Morris glanced from face to face in a pathetic, troubled fashion. He -rubbed the stubble on his chin again and hesitated. Finally:</p> - -<p>"I believe," he replied, "that there was a lady there who—"</p> - -<p>He paused, swallowing, and:</p> - -<p>"Yes," Gatton prompted, "who—?"</p> - -<p>"Who—interested Sir Marcus; but I don't know her name nor anything -about her," he declared. "I knew about—some of the others, but Sir -Marcus was—very reserved about this lady, which made me think—"</p> - -<p>"Yes?"</p> - -<p>"That he perhaps hadn't been so successful."</p> - -<p>Morris ceased speaking and sat staring at a bookcase vacantly.</p> - -<p>"Ah," murmured Gatton. Then, abruptly: "Did Sir Marcus ever visit any -one who lived in College Road?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>Morris looked up wearily.</p> - -<p>"College Road?" he repeated. "Where is that, sir?"</p> - -<p>"It doesn't matter," said Gatton shortly, "if the name is unfamiliar -to you. Had Sir Marcus a car?"</p> - -<p>"Not latterly, sir."</p> - -<p>"Any other servants?"</p> - -<p>"No. As a bachelor he had no use for a large establishment, and -Friars' Park remains in the possession of the late Sir Burnham's -widow."</p> - -<p>"Sir Burnham? Sir Marcus's uncle?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"What living relatives had Sir Marcus?"</p> - -<p>"His aunt—Lady Burnham Coverly—with whom I believe he was on bad -terms. Her own son, who ought to have inherited the title, was dead, -you see. I think she felt bitterly towards my master. The only other -relative I ever heard of was Mr. Eric—Sir Marcus's second cousin—now -<i>Sir</i> Eric, of course."</p> - -<p>I turned aside, glancing at some books which lay scattered on the -table. The wound was a new one and I suppose I was not man enough to -hide the pain which mention of Eric Coverly still occasioned me.</p> - -<p>"Were the cousins good friends?" continued the even, remorseless voice -of the inquisitor.</p> - -<p>Morris looked up quickly.</p> - -<p>"They were not, sir," he answered. "They never had been. But some few -months back a fresh quarrel arose and one night in this very room it -almost came to blows."</p> - -<p>"Indeed? What was the quarrel about?"</p> - -<p>The old hesitancy claimed Morris again, but at last:</p> - -<p>"Of course," he said, with visible embarrassment, "it was—a woman."</p> - -<p>I felt my heart leaping wildly, but I managed to preserve an outward -show of composure.</p> - -<p>"What woman?" demanded Gatton.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, sir."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean it?"</p> - -<p>A fierce note of challenge had come into the quiet voice, but Morris -looked up and met Gatton's searching stare unflinchingly.</p> - -<p>"I swear it," he said. "I never was an eavesdropper."</p> - -<p>"I suggest it was the same woman that Sir Marcus went to see last -night?" Gatton continued.</p> - -<p>The examination of Morris had reached a point at which I found myself -hard put to it to retain even a seeming of composure. All Gatton's -questions had been leading up to this suggestion, as I now perceived -clearly enough; and from the cousins' quarrel to Isobel, Eric's -<i>fiancée</i>, who was engaged at the New Avenue Theater, was an -inevitable step. But:</p> - -<p>"Possibly, sir," was Morris's only answer.</p> - -<p>Inspector Gatton stared hard at the man for a moment or so, then:</p> - -<p>"Very well," he said. "Take my advice and turn in. There will be much -for you to do presently, I am afraid. Who was Sir Marcus's solicitor?"</p> - -<p>Morris gave the desired information in a tired, toneless voice, and we -departed. Little did Gatton realize that his words were barbed, when, -as we descended to the street, he said:</p> - -<p>"I have a call to make at Scotland Yard next, after which my first -visit will be to the stage-doorkeeper of the New Avenue Theater."</p> - -<p>"Can I be of further assistance to you at the moment?" I asked, -endeavoring to speak casually.</p> - -<p>"Thanks, no. But I should welcome your company this afternoon at my -examination of the Red House. I understand that it is in your -neighborhood, so perhaps as you are also professionally interested in -the case, you might arrange to meet me there. Are you returning home -now or going to the <i>Planet</i> office?"</p> - -<p>"I think to the office," I replied. "In any event 'phone there making -an appointment and I will meet you at the Red House."</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a><h2>CHAPTER IV <br />ISOBEL</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>Ten minutes later I was standing in a charming little boudoir which -too often figured in my daydreams. My own photograph was upon the -mantelpiece, and in Isobel's dark eyes when she greeted me there was a -light which I lacked the courage to try to understand. I had not at -that time learned what I learned later, and have already indicated, -that my own foolish silence had wounded Isobel as deeply as her -subsequent engagement to Eric Coverly had wounded me.</p> - -<p>The psychology of a woman is intriguing in its very naïveté, and now -as she stood before me, slim and graceful in her well-cut walking -costume, a quick flicker of red flaming in her cheeks and her eyes -alight with that sweet tantalizing look in which expectation and a hot -pride were mingled, I wondered and felt sick at heart. Desirable she -was beyond any other woman I had known, and I called myself witling -coward, to have avoided putting my fortune to the test on that fatal -day of my departure for Mesopotamia. For just as she looked at me now -she had looked at me then. But to-day she was evidently on the point -of setting out—I did not doubt with the purpose of meeting Eric -Coverly; on that day of the irrevocable past she had been free and I -had been silent.</p> - -<p>"You nearly missed me, Jack," she said gayly. "I was just going out."</p> - -<p>By the very good-fellowship of her greeting she restored me to myself -and enabled me to stamp down—at least temporarily—the monster -through whose greedy eyes I had found myself considering the happiness -of Eric Coverly.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid, Isobel," I replied, "that what I have to tell you is not -by any means pleasant—although—"</p> - -<p>"Yes?" she prompted, noting how I hesitated.</p> - -<p>"Although it means that you are now the future Lady Coverly."</p> - -<p>The bright color left her cheeks. That some black tragedy underlay my -words she had intuitively perceived, but I could see that she failed -to grasp the whole meaning of my bald statement. She sank down slowly -into a cushioned chair, so that a beam of golden light pouring in -through the opened window set aglowing the russet tints in her dark -brown hair.</p> - -<p>"Did you know Sir Marcus?" I asked, speaking as gently as I could.</p> - -<p>With what intense, if hidden, emotion I awaited her answer it were -impossible to describe.</p> - -<p>"Do you mean—"</p> - -<p>She met my glance, and I nodded gravely.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Jack! When did it happen?"</p> - -<p>"Last night. But you have not told me if you knew him?" I persisted.</p> - -<p>Isobel shook her head.</p> - -<p>"Not in any way—intimately," she replied. "Eric"—she hesitated, -glancing up quickly and as quickly down again—"and he were not on -good terms."</p> - -<p>"But you had met him?" I persisted; for I had detected in her manner a -reluctance to discuss Sir Marcus which I failed to understand.</p> - -<p>"I used to meet him, Jack, when—when you were away. He came once or -twice with Eric. They were not good friends, even then. But I never -liked him. I quite lost sight of him from the time that he came into -the title—about four years ago, was it not?—until quite recently. He -had been in Russia, I think. Then he—" Again she hesitated. It was -odd how often people hesitated, as if seeking for words, when speaking -of the late baronet. "He called at the theater. Considering that he -knew of my engagement to Eric, his manner was not quite nice. But I -was anxious to prevent trouble, and did not mention the visit to Eric. -Sir Marcus was very persistent, however. One night Eric saw him -leaving the stage-door and I believe there was a dreadful scene at -Eric's rooms."</p> - -<p>"And that is all you know of him, Isobel?"</p> - -<p>"Practically all, except what I have heard, of course. I might add -that I instructed Marie to tell Sir Marcus I was engaged whenever he -might call in future."</p> - -<p>"And did he call again?"</p> - -<p>"Marie said that he sent his card up on several occasions, but she -knew how the affair worried me and did not tell me at the time. I saw -him in the stalls occasionally, and—oh!—"</p> - -<p>The last word was a mere murmur. Isobel's expression grew more than -ever troubled.</p> - -<p>"He was there last night," she whispered, and raising her eyes to me: -"Tell me how it happened, and where—"</p> - -<p>But ere I had time to begin there was an interruption. Dimly, a -telephone bell rang. I could hear the voice of Marie, Isobel's maid, -answering the call then:</p> - -<p>"Mr. Coverly to speak to you, madam," said Marie, entering the room.</p> - -<p>"He must have only just heard the news!" cried Isobel, rising swiftly -and going out.</p> - -<p>Consumed by impatience, I walked up and down the dainty apartment -listening to Isobel's muffled voice speaking in the lobby. Twice I -went to the window and peered down into the street, expecting to see -the thick-set figure of Inspector Gatton approaching. My frame of mind -was peculiar and troubled. Gatton's inquiries pointed unmistakably to -a suspicion that Sir Marcus's last hours had been spent, if not -actually with, at any rate near to Isobel. And since the man who would -most directly profit by the baronet's death happened also to be -Isobel's <i>fiancé</i>, I foresaw a dreadful ordeal for both if Eric -Coverly was not in a position to establish an alibi.</p> - -<p>I had been about to ask her if Coverly had been in her company on the -previous night when the interruption had occurred. Now if Gatton -should arrive and find me in Isobel's flat, what construction would he -put upon my presence?</p> - -<p>Yet again I went to the window and peered anxiously up and down the -street. Every cab that approached I expected to contain the inspector, -and I heaved a sigh of relief as one after another passed the door. -Pedestrians who turned the distant corner I scrutinized closely and -was so employed when Isobel came running back to the room.</p> - -<p>All her color had fled and her eyes were wide and fear-stricken.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Jack, Jack!" she cried, "it is horrible, horrible! Eric is at his -solicitors' and they tell him that suspicion is bound to fall on -<i>him</i>! It's preposterous—unthinkable. It must have been some fiend -who committed such a crime, not a human being—"</p> - -<p>"Then," I interrupted excitedly, "Coverly was not with you last -night?"</p> - -<p>"No! That is the crowning tragedy of it all. He 'phoned me early in -the evening saying that he had an unavoidable business appointment to -keep. From the tone of his voice—"</p> - -<p>She ceased speaking abruptly, and stared at me rather wildly.</p> - -<p>"Isobel," I said, "you should surely know that you can trust your life -to me—and the life of any one dear to you."</p> - -<p>She quickly laid her hand on my arm and her face flushed sweetly. I -fear I had infused my words with an ardor which exhibited at an -earlier and more opportune moment might have changed the course of -both our lives.</p> - -<p>"Of course I know, Jack," she said. "But I am so frightened that I -distrust my very self. Well, then, I thought that I noticed a change -in Eric's manner last night—in the tone of his voice. In fact I asked -him if I had done anything of which he had disapproved." She gave me a -quick little embarrassed glance. "He is somewhat exacting, you know. -He laughed at the idea, but in rather a forced way, it seemed. Then he -arranged to meet me for lunch at the Carlton to-day."</p> - -<p>"But surely he can satisfactorily account for his movements? He must -have been seen by those who know him."</p> - -<p>Isobel frowned in a troubled manner that awakened strange, wild -longings.</p> - -<p>"I cannot make it out," she replied. "He appears to be keeping -something back."</p> - -<p>"He is very ill-advised. He will certainly have to make up his mind to -speak out when Inspector Gatton examines him. I cannot disguise from -you, Isobel, that the police know that Sir Marcus was at the New -Avenue last night, and since his death occurred some hours later the -nature of their suspicion is obvious enough. Are you joining him at -the solicitors', Isobel?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, he asked me to do so."</p> - -<p>"Then come along at once. I expect a Scotland Yard man to arrive at -any moment and it would be advisable to see Coverly and to take a -legal opinion before you give your testimony."</p> - -<p>"But, Jack!" Isobel confronted me. "You don't think that I or Eric -have anything to hide?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not. You must know that I do not think so. But on the other -hand, the legal mind being used to considering problems of evidence, a -solicitor will be able to advise you of the best course to adopt, and -that most likely to result in your being spared all association with -the inquiry. Meanwhile—let us hurry. I prefer to give Inspector -Gatton my own account of this visit rather than to be discovered here -by him. He will learn from Marie that I have called, of course, but -that doesn't matter."</p> - -<p>We had now quitted the flat and were descending the stairs. On -reaching the street I glanced sharply to right and left. But Gatton -was not in sight.</p> - -<p>I secured a taxi at the corner and Isobel set out for the office of -Coverly's solicitor. I stood looking after the cab until it was out of -sight and then I set out to walk to the <i>Planet</i> office. By the time -that I had reached Fleet Street I had my ideas in some sort of order -and I sat down to write the first of my articles on the "<i>Oritoga</i> -mystery"—for under that title the murder of Sir Marcus Coverly was -destined to figure as the <i>cause célèbre</i> of the moment. I had more -than one reason for reticence and indeed I experienced no little -difficulty in preparing the requisite amount of copy without involving -Isobel and Eric Coverly. Half-way through my task I paused, laid down -my pen, and was on the point of tearing up the pages already written -and declining the commission at the eleventh hour.</p> - -<p>A few minutes' reflection, however, enabled me to see that the best -service I could offer to the suspected man (always assuming that he -had no alibi to offer) was that of representing the facts as I saw -them to the vast public reached by this influential journal. In my own -mind I had never entertained a shadow of suspicion that Coverly was -the culprit. Underlying the horrible case I thought I could perceive -even darker things—a mystery within a mystery; a horror overtopping -horror.</p> - -<p>I had just resumed work, then, when a boy came in to inform me that -Gatton had rung up and wished to speak to me.</p> - -<p>Half fearful of what I should hear, I went to the adjoining room and -took up the receiver. Presently:</p> - -<p>"Hullo! Is that Mr. Addison?" came Gatton's voice.</p> - -<p>"Yes, speaking. What developments, Gatton?"</p> - -<p>"Several. I've got the report of the estate-agent and I've seen the -stage-doorkeeper of the New Avenue! You mustn't write anything until I -see you, but in order to regularize things a bit I've spoken to the -Chief and formally asked his permission to consult you on the -case—about the Egyptian figures, you know. He remembered you at once, -so it's all square. But I've got a bone to pick with you."</p> - -<p>"What is that?"</p> - -<p>"Never mind now. Can you meet me at the Red House at five o'clock?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I will be there."</p> - -<p>"Good. I don't hope for much. It's the strangest case I ever touched. -We are dealing with unusual people, not ordinary criminals."</p> - -<p>"I agree."</p> - -<p>"If there is any man in London who can see daylight through the -mystery I believe you are the man. Do you know on what I think the -whole thing turns?"</p> - -<p>"On some undiscovered incident in Sir Marcus's past, beyond a doubt. -Probably an amorous adventure."</p> - -<p>"You're wrong," said Gatton grimly. "It turns on the figure of the -green cat. Good-by. Five o'clock."</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_V'></a><h2>CHAPTER V <br /> THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>I arrived at the Red House before Inspector Gatton. A constable was on -duty at the gate and as I came up and paused he regarded me rather -doubtfully until I told him that I had an appointment with Gatton. I -stared up the drive towards the house. It was not, apparently, a very -old building, presenting some of the worst features of the -mid-Victorian period, and from whence it derived its name I could not -conjecture unless from the fact that the greater part of the facade -was overgrown with some kind of red creeper.</p> - -<p>The half-moon formed by the crescent-shaped carriage-way and the wall -bordering the road was filled with rather unkempt shrubbery, laurels -and rhododendrons for the most part, from amid which arose several big -trees. In the blaze of the afternoon sun the place looked commonplace -enough with estate agents' bills pasted in the dirty windows, and it -was difficult to conceive that it had been the scene of the mysterious -crime of which at that hour all London was talking and which later was -to form a subject of debate throughout the civilized world.</p> - -<p>Gatton joined me within a few minutes of my arrival. He was -accompanied by Constable Bolton with whom I had first visited the Red -House. Bolton was now in plain clothes, and he had that -fish-out-of-water appearance which characterizes the constable in -mufti. Indeed he looked rather dazed, and on arriving before the house -he removed his bowler and mopped his red face with a large -handkerchief, nodding to me as he did so.</p> - -<p>"Good afternoon, sir; it was lucky you came along with me last night. -I thought it was a funny go and I was right, it seems."</p> - -<p>"Quite right," said Gatton shortly, "and now here are the keys which -you returned to the depôt this morning."</p> - -<p>From his pocket the Inspector produced a steel ring bearing a large -and a small key which I recognized as that which had hung from the -lock of the garage door on the previous night.</p> - -<p>We walked along to the garage and Inspector Gatton placed the key in -the lock; then turning to Bolton:</p> - -<p>"Now," he directed, "show us exactly what you did."</p> - -<p>Bolton replaced his bowler, which hitherto he had carried in his hand, -hesitated for a moment, and then unlocked the door.</p> - -<p>"Of course I had my lantern with me last night," he explained, "and -this gentleman and myself stood looking in for a moment."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Addison has already described to me exactly what he saw," said -Gatton. "Show us what you did after Mr. Addison left you."</p> - -<p>Bolton, with a far-away look in his eyes betokening an effort of -retrospection, withdrew the key from the lock and entered the garage, -Gatton and I following. There was a sky window to light the place, so -that when Bolton reclosed the door we could see well enough. His -movements were as follows: Relocking the door from the inside, he -walked slowly along to a smaller door at the opposite end and with the -other key attached to the ring unfastened it.</p> - -<p>"Wait a moment," said Gatton. "Did you look about you at all before -opening this door?"</p> - -<p>"Only long enough to find where it was, sir. Just about as long as I -showed you."</p> - -<p>"All right. Go on, then."</p> - -<p>We followed Bolton out into a very narrow hedge-bordered path, -evidently a tradesman's entrance, and he turned and locked the door -behind him. Slipping the keys into his pocket, he tramped stolidly out -to the main road whereon we emerged immediately beside the garage.</p> - -<p>"Ah," murmured Gatton. "Now give me the keys," and as the man did so: -"Throughout all this time did you see or hear anything of an unusual -nature?"</p> - -<p>Bolton removed his bowler once more. I had gathered by this time that -he regarded fresh air as an aid to reflection.</p> - -<p>"Well, sir," he replied in a puzzled way, "that first door—"</p> - -<p>"Well," said Gatton, as the man hesitated.</p> - -<p>"It seemed to open more easily just now than it did last night. There -seemed to be a sort of hitch before when it was about half-way open."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps the crate was in the way?" suggested Gatton. "Except for the -absence of the crate do you notice anything different, anything -missing, or anything there now that was not there before?"</p> - -<p>Bolton shook his head.</p> - -<p>"No," he answered; "it looks just the same to me—except, as I say, -that the door seemed to open more easily."</p> - -<p>"H'm," muttered Gatton; "and you carried the keys in your pocket until -you went off duty?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"All right. You can go now."</p> - -<p>Bolton touched his bowler and departed, and Gatton turned to me with a -grim smile.</p> - -<p>"We'll just step inside again," he said, "so as not to attract any -undue attention."</p> - -<p>He again unlocked the garage door and closed it as we entered.</p> - -<p>"Now," said he, "before we go any further what was your idea in -keeping back the fact that one of the missing links in the chain of -evidence was already in your possession?"</p> - -<p>"No doubt," I said rather guiltily, "you refer to the fact of my -acquaintance with Miss Isobel Merlin?"</p> - -<p>"I do!" said Gatton, "and to the fact that you nipped in ahead of me -and interviewed this important witness before I had even heard of her -existence." He continued to smile, but the thoroughness and -unflinching pursuit of duty which were the outstanding features of -the man, underlay his tone of badinage. "I want to say," he continued, -"that for your cooperation, which has been very useful to me on many -occasions, I am always grateful, but if in return I give you -facilities which no other pressman has, I don't expect you to abuse -them."</p> - -<p>"Really, Inspector," I replied, "you go almost too far. I have done -nothing to prejudice your case nor could I possibly have known until -my interview this morning with Miss Merlin, that it was she in whom -the late Sir Marcus was interested."</p> - -<p>"H'm," said Gatton, but still rather dubiously, his frank, wide-open -eyes regarding me in that naïve manner which was so deceptive.</p> - -<p>"All that I learned," I continued, "is unequivocally at your disposal. -Finally I may tell you—and I would confess it to few men—that Miss -Merlin is a very old friend and might have been something more if I -had not been a fool."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Gatton, and his expression underwent a subtle change—"Oh! -That's rather awkward; in fact"—he frowned perplexedly—"it's damned -awkward!"</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" I demanded.</p> - -<p>"Well," said he, "I don't know what account Miss Merlin gave to you of -her relations with Sir Marcus—"</p> - -<p>"Relations!" I said hotly, "the man was a mere acquaintance; she -hadn't even seen him, except from the stage, for some months past."</p> - -<p>"Oh," replied Gatton, "is that so?" He looked at me very queerly. "It -doesn't seem to dovetail with the evidence of the stage-doorkeeper."</p> - -<p>I felt myself changing color, and:</p> - -<p>"What, then, does the stage-doorkeeper assert?" I asked.</p> - -<p>Gatton continued to look at me in that perplexed way, and believing -that I detected the trend of his reflections:</p> - -<p>"Look here, Inspector," I said, "let us understand one another. -Whatever may be the evidence of stage-doorkeepers and others, upon one -point you can be assured. Miss Merlin had nothing whatever to do with -this horrible crime. The idea is unthinkable. So confident am I of -this, that you can be perfectly open with me and I give you my word of -honor that I shall be equally frank with you. The truth of the matter -cannot possibly injure her in the end and I am as anxious to discover -it as you are."</p> - -<p>Gatton suddenly extended his hand, and:</p> - -<p>"Good!" he said. "We understand one another, but how is Miss Merlin -going to explain this?"</p> - -<p>He drew a note-book from his pocket, turned over several leaves, and -then:</p> - -<p>"On no fewer than six occasions," he said, "I have approximate dates -here, Sir Marcus sent his card to Miss Merlin's dressing-room."</p> - -<p>"I know," I interrupted him; "he persecuted her, but she never saw -him."</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute. Last night"—Gatton glanced at me sharply—"Marie, -the maid, came down after Sir Marcus's card had been sent to the -dressing-room and talked for several minutes to the late baronet, just -by the doorkeeper's box, but out of earshot. That was at ten o'clock. -At eleven, that is after the performance, Sir Marcus returned, and -again Marie came down to see him. They went out into the street -together and Sir Marcus entered a cab which was waiting and drove off. -Miss Merlin left a quarter of an hour later."</p> - -<p>Our glances met and a silence of some moments' duration fell between -us; then:</p> - -<p>"You suggest," I said, "that Miss Merlin had arranged a rendezvous -with him and to save appearances had joined him there later?"</p> - -<p>"Well"—Gatton raised his eyebrows—"what do <i>you</i> suggest?"</p> - -<p>I found myself temporarily at a loss for words, but:</p> - -<p>"Knowing nothing of this," I explained, "naturally I was not in a -position to tax Miss Merlin with it. Possibly you have done so. What -is her explanation?"</p> - -<p>"I have not seen her," confessed Gatton; "I arrived at her flat ten -minutes after she had gone out—with you."</p> - -<p>"You saw Marie?"</p> - -<p>"Unfortunately Marie was also out, but I saw an old charwoman who -attends daily, I understand, and it was from her that I learned of -your visit."</p> - -<p>"Marie," I said, "may be able to throw some light on the matter."</p> - -<p>"I don't doubt it!" replied Gatton grimly. "Meanwhile we have -sufficient evidence to show that Sir Marcus drove from the New Avenue -Theater to this house."</p> - -<p>"He may not have driven here at all," I interrupted; "he may have -driven somewhere else and performed the latter part of his journey -here—"</p> - -<p>"In the crate!" cried Gatton. "Yes, you are right; his body may -actually have been inside the crate at the time that you and Bolton -arrived here last night; for that would be fully an hour after Sir -Marcus left the stage-door."</p> - -<p>"But who can have rung up the police station last night?" I cried, -"and what can have been the object of this unknown person?"</p> - -<p>"That we have to find out," said Gatton quietly; "undoubtedly it -formed part of a scheme planned with extraordinary cunning; it was not -an accident or an oversight, I mean. The men who are assisting me -haven't been idle, for we have already learned some most amazing facts -about the case. I haven't yet visited the house myself, but I have -here the report of one of my assistants who has done so; also I have -the keys. The garage I will inspect more carefully later on."</p> - -<p>He glanced quickly about the place before we left it, then, leaving -the door locked behind us, we walked along to the gate before which -the constable stood on duty, and from thence proceeded up the drive to -the front entrance. There was a deep porch supported by pillars and -densely overgrown with creeper. I noted, too, a heavy and unhealthy -odor as of decaying leaves, and observed that a perfect carpet of -these lay on the path. In the shade of the big trees it was -comparatively cool, but the heavy malarious smell did not please me -and I imagined that it must have repelled more than one would-be -lessee.</p> - -<p>As we approached the porch I saw that the windows of the rooms -immediately left and right of it had been stripped of the agent's -bills, for I could see where fragments of paper still adhered to the -glass. There were no bills in the porch either; but when Gatton opened -the front door I uttered an exclamation of surprise.</p> - -<p>We stood in a small lounge-hall. There was a staircase on the left and -three doors opened on to the hall. But although the Red House was -palpably unoccupied, the hall was furnished! There were some rugs upon -the polished floor, a heavy bronze club-fender in front of the grate, -several chairs against the walls and a large palm in a Chinese pot.</p> - -<p>"Why," I exclaimed, "the place is furnished and the stairs are -carpeted too!"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Gatton, looking keenly about him, "but according to report -if you will step upstairs you will get a surprise."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Well, suppose we go and see."</p> - -<p>Gatton led the way and I followed up the stairs as far as the first -landing. Here I paused in amazement. For at this point all attempts at -furnishing ceased. The landing was quite bare and so were the stairs -above it! Seeing my expression of incredulous surprise:</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Gatton, smiling, "it's a strange arrangement, isn't it?"</p> - -<p>We descended again to the furnished hall.</p> - -<p>"Look here," continued my companion.</p> - -<p>He unlocked a door on the left, having tried several keys from the -bunch which he carried without success, but finally discovering the -right one.</p> - -<p>A long rectangular room was revealed, evidently intended for a -dining-room. It was empty and unfurnished, odds and ends of newspaper -and other rubbish lying here and there upon the floor. My astonishment -was momentarily increasing. A second door, that in the center, Gatton -opened, revealing another empty room, but:</p> - -<p>"I have reserved this one for the last," he said: "you will find that -it is unlocked."</p> - -<p>He pointed to the third door, that on the right, and as he evidently -intended me to open it, I stepped forward, turned the handle and -entered a small square room, exquisitely furnished.</p> - -<p>A heavy Persian carpet was spread upon the floor and the windows were -draped with some kind of brightly colored Madras. Tastefully-framed -water-colors hung upon the wall. There was a quaint cabinet in the -room, too; a low cushioned settee and two armchairs. In the center was -a table upon which stood a lamp with a large mosaic shade. Two -high-backed chairs were set to the table—and the table was laid for -supper! A bottle of wine stood in an ice-pail, in which the ice had -long since melted, and a tempting cold repast was spread. The table -was decorated with a bowl of perfect white roses. The silver was good; -the napery was snowy.</p> - -<p>Like a fool I stood gaping at the spectacle, until, noting the -direction of Gatton's glance, I turned my attention to the mantelpiece -upon which a clock was ticking with a dull and solemn note.</p> - -<p>Standing beside the clock, in a curious carved frame, was a large -photograph of Isobel!</p> - - - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a><h2>CHAPTER VI <br />THE VOICE</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"This is where the mystery centers," said Gatton.</p> - -<p>I made no reply, for I had not yet recovered from the shock of that -discovery in the deserted supper room. It was so wholly unexpected and -yet it so cruelly confirmed the Inspector's undisguised suspicions -that it seemed to me to have created a sort of impalpable barrier -between us. Of this Gatton was evidently conscious. He endeavored to -arouse my interest in the inquiries which he was conducting in the -garage, but for long enough I saw nothing of the place in which we -stood; I could only see that photograph smiling at me inquiringly -through a haze of doubt, and my companion's words reached me in a -muffled fashion. Finally, however, I succeeded in rousing myself from -this dazed condition, and confident as ever that Isobel was innocent -of all complicity in the matter:</p> - -<p>"The presence of the photograph," I said, "takes us a step further. -Don't you see, Inspector, that this is a deeply and cunningly laid -trap? What I had taken for a series of unfortunate coincidences I -perceive now to be the workings of an elaborate scheme involving -perfectly innocent people in the crime."</p> - -<p>"H'm," said Gatton doubtfully; "it may be as you suggest; at any rate -it is a new point of view and one which I confess had not occurred to -me. There is one witness who can clear up any doubt on the subject."</p> - -<p>"You mean Marie?"</p> - -<p>"Exactly. She will lie, beyond doubt, but we shall find means to reach -the truth."</p> - -<p>"Would it not be advisable, Inspector," I asked excitedly, "to make -sure of her at once?"</p> - -<p>Gatton smiled grimly, and:</p> - -<p>"Marie would have to make herself invisible to evade Scotland Yard -now," he replied. "She is being watched closely. But," he continued, -"what do you make of these marks on the door?"</p> - -<p>We had reclosed the garage door and now were standing immediately -inside. The marks to which my companion had drawn my attention were -situated high up near the roof.</p> - -<p>"This may account for the statement of Bolton that the door seemed -more difficult to open last night than to-day," he said. "Unless I am -greatly mistaken, some sort of attachment existed here until quite -recently."</p> - -<p>"Possibly a contrivance for reclosing the door?" I suggested.</p> - -<p>The marks in fact roughly corresponded to those which would be made by -the presence of such a contrivance and there seemed to have been some -attempt where it had been removed to disguise the holes left by the -screws.</p> - -<p>"But the purpose of it?" muttered Gatton helplessly.</p> - -<p>"God knows," I said; "the purpose of the whole thing is a mystery -beyond me entirely."</p> - -<p>"Assuming that such a piece of mechanism as you suggest had been -attached to the door," mused Gatton, "you would have noticed its -operation last night, unless one of you held the door open."</p> - -<p>"Neither of us held the door!" I interrupted excitedly. "I remember -that we stood just outside looking in. I was behind the constable and -he was directing the rays of his lantern into the place."</p> - -<p>"H'm," muttered Gatton. "Then it wasn't a contrivance for closing the -door; it was something else. Suppose we investigate the other door?"</p> - -<p>We proceeded to the other door and I became aware of an intense -curiosity respecting what we should find, and of a conviction too that -there would be evidence here of another attachment. In this I was -quite correct. Some piece of mechanism had evidently been fastened to -this door also. Together we stood staring up at these tell-tale -screw-holes and then rather blankly we stared at one another.</p> - -<p>"We only lack one thing," said Gatton; "the scheme upon which all -these contrivances and apparently isolated episodes were hung -together. Nothing, as we have already assumed, was accident, and -nothing coincidence. It was with some deliberate purpose that the -constable was instructed to walk through this garage, opening and -shutting the doors behind him."</p> - -<p>"From whom did these instructions come?"</p> - -<p>"That is one of the minor points which I have already cleared up," he -replied. "On my way here I called at the house agent's, as you know, -since I have the keys; I also called at the station. The sergeant who -was on duty last night I could not see, unfortunately, but I -learned—that it was a woman who rang up."</p> - -<p>My heart sank lower and lower. It seemed to me as we stood in that -empty garage that an invisible hand was drawing a net closer and -closer about Isobel and my ideas became increasingly chaotic, for the -purpose of it all eluded me, try how I would to conceive of a scheme -by which any one could profit which necessitated the imprisonment, or -worse, of Isobel.</p> - -<p>"And the agent?" I asked in a rather toneless voice.</p> - -<p>Gatton shook his head.</p> - -<p>"I have no reason to doubt the word of this man of business," he -replied, "because at the time when I saw him he could not possibly -have learned of the crime, but nevertheless his account is almost -unbelievable. It appears then, he, too, received his instructions -throughout by telephone."</p> - -<p>"What?" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"By telephone," repeated Gatton. "He was rung up about ten days ago by -some one who made a verbal offer to lease the Red House for a period -of twelve months. A foreigner, who in lieu of the usual references, -was prepared to pay the annual rent in advance. As the Red House, to -use an Irishism, was regarded as something of a white elephant, the -agent was interested, apparently; and when on the following day the -sum agreed upon arrived by post, he did not demur about delivering the -keys to the prospective lessee, who desired to take certain -measurements in regard to carpets and so forth."</p> - -<p>"Wait a moment," I interrupted; "to whom did he deliver these keys?"</p> - -<p>"To a district messenger who called for them, as the agent had been -advised that one would do."</p> - -<p>"Very well. What then?"</p> - -<p>"That is all that the agent had to say."</p> - -<p>"What, that is all?"</p> - -<p>"Substantially there is nothing more. It is quite evident that the -sole intention of this unknown lessee was to secure possession of the -house for the purpose of the crime only."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean that from first to last no one but the district messenger -appeared in the matter?"</p> - -<p>"No one," Gatton assured me, "and the rent, payment of which quite -disarmed the agent of course, was sent in the form of Treasury notes -and not by check."</p> - -<p>"But surely some name, some address, must have been given?"</p> - -<p>"A name was given," replied Gatton, "and a hotel address, but -confirmation of their accuracy was never sought, after the receipt of -the money."</p> - -<p>"And the voice on the telephone?"</p> - -<p>Again I saw that odd expression creep over Gatton's face, and:</p> - -<p>"It was a woman's voice," he answered.</p> - -<p>"Great heavens!" I muttered—"what does it all mean?"</p> - -<p>That the evidence of the cabman when he was discovered and of the -carter who had taken the box from the garage to the docks, and (for it -was possibly the same man) who had first delivered it at the Red -House, would but tighten the net about Isobel, whom I knew to be -innocent, I felt assured.</p> - -<p>"Gatton," I said, "this case appears to me to resolve itself into a -deliberate conspiracy of which the end was not the assassination of -Sir Marcus, but the conviction of Miss Merlin!"</p> - -<p>Gatton looked at me with evident complexity written all over him.</p> - -<p>"I begin to think the same," he confessed. "This business was never -planned and carried out by a woman, I'll swear to that. There is a -woman concerned in it, for at every point we come upon evidence of her -voice issuing the mysterious instructions; but she is not alone in the -matter. Already the intricacy of the thing points to a criminal of -genius. When we know the whole truth, if we ever do, that the crime -was planned by a man of amazing, if perverted, intellect, will be put -beyond dispute, I think."</p> - -<p>"What is puzzling me, Gatton," I said, "is the connection existing -between the incidents which took place in this garage and those, -unknown at present, which took place in the furnished room in the Red -House."</p> - -<p>"Obviously," replied Gatton, "a supper for two had been prepared, and -that one of those two was the late Sir Marcus is perfectly obvious. -That he expected the other to be Miss Merlin is at least suggested by -the presence of her photograph in the room; for you will have noticed -that it is the <i>only</i> photograph there."</p> - -<p>"Nevertheless," I said firmly, "I am positive that no one would be -more surprised than herself to learn of its presence."</p> - -<p>"And as I have already said," replied Gatton, "I am rapidly coming -round to your way of thinking. But even if I were quite sure of it the -evidence at the moment is all the other way, you will admit. As to the -connection between this garage and the interrupted supper party (for -obviously it was interrupted) this it must be my business to find -out."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think," I said, "that we are attaching perhaps undue -importance to the fact that some kind of fittings have been removed -from the doors? They may have been removed by the late occupier, and -the call to the police depot may have been made with the idea of -securing a witness, and a credible one, to the presence of the crate -here on the night of the murder."</p> - -<p>"At the moment," replied Gatton, musingly, "I cannot see that this -would have served any useful purpose; but nevertheless you may be -right. I am going to assume, however, that you are wrong, and that the -object of sending Bolton here last night was to open and shut these -doors. I propose now to return again to the scene of the interrupted -supper."</p> - -<p>Leaving the garage not very much wiser than when we had entered it, -we paced once more up the drive in the shade of the big trees and -were greeted again by the malarious smell of rotting leaves. Entering -the Red House, Gatton and I proceeded first to that incredible oasis -in the desert of empty rooms and my companion made a detailed -examination of everything in the place, even sounding the walls, -examining the fittings of the door, and finally proceeding through the -hall in the direction of the south wing of the house—that nearest to -the garage.</p> - -<p>What he expected to find I had no idea, but his attention seemed to be -more particularly directed towards the wainscot and the picture-rails -of the empty and uncarpeted rooms which we entered. Whatever he had -sought he failed to find, and at last we stood in a desolate apartment -looking out into the tangled shrubbery before the windows. The back of -the garage was visible from there and I viewed it dully, wondering -what evil secret it held, and marveling at the trick of fate which had -made me witness of an act in this gruesome drama.</p> - -<p>"Of course, Gatton," I said, "we are all along assuming that Sir -Marcus actually met his death in this house. We must remember that he -may merely have been brought here after the crime."</p> - -<p>"Such a short period elapsed," replied the Inspector, "between his -leaving the New Avenue Theater and the approximate time of his death -that it seems unlikely that he visited any intermediate spot."</p> - -<p>"But he may not have been in the crate when Bolton and I saw it."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe he was in the crate then," replied Gatton, "but I -think he was at the Red House nevertheless."</p> - -<p>I stared at him with curiosity.</p> - -<p>"You mean that he was in the house at the time that the constable and -I opened the garage?"</p> - -<p>"I do. I think he was in that room where supper was laid for two."</p> - -<p>"Good God!" I exclaimed; for there was something horrible in the idea -of the man who now lay murdered having been in the house presumably -alive, whilst Bolton and I had stood within forty yards of him; in the -idea that it had lain in our power, except for those human limitations -which rendered us ignorant of his presence, to have averted his fate, -perhaps to have checked the remorseless movement of this elaborate -murder machine which seemingly had been set up in the Red House.</p> - -<p>"Some one was here last night," declared Gatton suddenly, as we turned -to leave the deserted room, "after you and Bolton had gone. Everything -incriminating the assassin has been removed. Looking at the matter -judicially, it becomes quite evident that any one clever enough to -have planned this crime could not possibly have been guilty of an act -of such glaring stupidity as that of accidentally leaving a photograph -planted upon the mantelpiece."</p> - -<p>That this fact had presented itself to the Inspector with such a force -of conviction raised a great load from my mind. It had all along been -evident to me, but I had feared that to the official outlook of my -companion, and the official outlook is always peculiar, it might have -seemed otherwise.</p> - -<p>"The clever and cunning villain who planned this thing," I said, "has -overstepped himself, as you say, Gatton. If the murder was planned -artistically, in his attempt to throw the onus of the crime upon -innocent shoulders he has been guilty of a piece of very mediocre -work. It would not deceive a child."</p> - -<p>"No, I agree with you there. The discovery of that photograph has done -more to convince me of the innocence of Miss Merlin than any amount of -testimonials to her good character could ever have done. You see," he -added, smiling whimsically, "all sorts of people hitherto unsuspected -by their closest friends of criminal tendency, develop that taint, so -that I am never surprised to find a convicted thief or assassin -possessed of credentials which would do justice to an Archbishop. But -when I see an obviously artificial clew I recognize it a mile off. -Real clews never stare you in the face like that."</p> - -<p>Coming out of the front door, we walked down the leaf-strewn drive to -find that the constable on duty at the gate had been joined by a -plain-clothes man who was evidently waiting to speak to the Inspector.</p> - -<p>"Yes?" said Gatton eagerly, at sight of the newcomer.</p> - -<p>"We have her, sir," he reported tersely.</p> - -<p>"Does he refer to Marie?" I asked.</p> - -<p>Gatton nodded.</p> - -<p>"I think, Mr. Addison," he said, "I will proceed immediately to Bow -Street, where she has been taken to be interrogated. Will you come -with me or are you otherwise engaged?"</p> - -<p>I hesitated ere I replied:</p> - -<p>"I do not particularly want to confront this woman, but I should be -much indebted if you could let me know the result of your -examination."</p> - -<p>"I shall do that without fail," said Gatton, "and some time to-day I -should be obliged if you could provide me with the facts concerning -the little cat-images which you said you had in your possession."</p> - -<p>"Certainly," I agreed. "You are still of the opinion that the mark -upon the crate and the image of the cat-woman have an important -bearing upon the crime?"</p> - -<p>"I don't doubt it," was the reply. "If the photograph clew is a false -one, the cat clew is a true one and one to be followed up. Perhaps," -he added, "it would be as well if you returned now and looked out the -points which you think would be of interest, as when I come I may not -have long to stay."</p> - -<p>"I will do so," I said, "although I think I can lay my hands upon the -material almost immediately."</p> - -<p>Accordingly Gatton set off with the detective who had brought the news -of Marie's arrest and I, turning in the opposite direction, proceeded -towards my cottage in such a state of mental tumult respecting what -the end of all this would be and what it might mean for Isobel, that I -found myself unable to think connectedly; and needless to say I failed -to conjure up by any stretch of the imagination a theory which could -cover this amazing and terrible sequence of events.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a><h2>CHAPTER VII <br />THE CAT OF BUBASTIS</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"She belongs to the innumerable family of cats which suddenly came -forth from the ruins of Tell Bastah in 1878," I wrote, Sir Gaston -Maspero's "Egyptian Art" lying before me on the table, "and were in a -few years scattered over the whole world."</p> - -<p>"She is Bâst, a goddess of good family, the worship of whom flourished -especially in the east of the delta, and she is very often drawn or -named on the monuments, although they do not tell us enough of her -myths or her origin. She was allied or related to the Sun, and was now -said to be his sister or wife, now his daughter. She sometimes filled -a gracious and beneficent rôle, protecting men against contagious -diseases or evil spirits, keeping them off by the music of her -sistrum: she had also her hours of treacherous perversity, during -which she played with her victim as with a mouse, before finishing him -off with a blow of her claws. She dwelt by preference in the city that -bore her name, Poubastit, the Bubastis of classical writers. Her -temple, at which Cheops and Chephren had worked while building their -pyramids, was rebuilt by the Pharaohs of the 22nd Dynasty, enlarged by -those of the 26th; when Herodotus visited it in the middle of the -fifth century B.C. he considered it one of the most remarkable he had -seen in the parts of Egypt through which he had traveled.</p> - -<p>"The fêtes of Bâst attracted pilgrims from all parts of Egypt, as at -the present day those of Sidi Ahmed el-Bedawee draw people to the -modern fair of Tantah. The people of each village crowded into large -boats to get there, men and women pell-mell, with the fixed intention -of enjoying themselves on the journey, a thing they never failed to -do. They accompanied the slow progress of navigation with endless -songs, love songs rather than sacred hymns, and there were also to be -found among them flute-players and castanet-players to support or keep -time to the voices. Whenever they passed by a town they approached the -bank as near as they could without landing, and then, while the -orchestra redoubled its noise, the passengers threw volleys of insults -and coarse remarks at the women standing on the banks; they retorted, -and when they had exhausted words ..."</p> - -<p>I finished my notes at this point; the improper behavior of the -Ancient Egyptians mentioned by the great Egyptologist having no -possible bearing upon the matter in hand, I thought. I then proceeded -to add some facts directly relating to the votive offerings laid at -the feet of the goddess.</p> - -<p>"The greater number of pilgrims, before returning home, left a -souvenir of their visit at the feet of Bâst. It was a votive stele -with a fine inscription, and a picture showing the donor worshiping -his goddess; or a statuette in blue or green pottery, or if they were -wealthy, in bronze, silver, or sometimes gold: the goddess would be -standing, seated, crouching, with a woman's body and a cat's head, a -sistrum or an ægis in her hand. During the Greek period the figures -were in bronze or in painted or gilded wood surmounted by a cat's head -in bronze, many were life-size and modeled with elaborate art; they -had eyes of enamel and amulets on the forehead."</p> - -<p>The learned authority went on to explain that these accumulated -offerings were after a time stored by the priests in cellars or in -pits dug expressly for them, "veritable <i>favissæ</i> similar to those of -classical times." They accumulated in thousands, large and small, some -intact and fresh as when just made, others already out of shape and of -no value. The places of concealment were soon forgotten, and the -stores hidden therein reposed beyond the reach of men until the day -when the chances of excavation brought them to light.</p> - -<p>My notes completed, I turned my attention to the little image of green -enamel ware which Gatton had left with me for examination. It was not -possible to determine the period at which it was buried, but judging -from the contours and general forms, together with the aspect of the -enamel, I thought I recognized the style of the second Saïte Period, -and attributed the piece to the early Ptolemies, or the fourth century -B.C. It was the time when the worship of Bâst and her subordinate -forms, Pakh, Maît, was most popular, the period when the most -extensive cemetery of cats was established in Egypt. The execution of -the little figure was pure Egyptian, and in no way betrayed Greek -influence.</p> - -<p>So far had my studies proceeded when I heard the door-bell ring, and -Coates entered the room.</p> - -<p>"Detective-Inspector Gatton to see you, sir."</p> - -<p>Gatton came in looking if anything more puzzled than when I had left -him at the Red House; also I thought he looked tired, and:</p> - -<p>"Mix yourself a drink, Inspector," I said, pointing to a side-table -upon which refreshments were placed.</p> - -<p>"Thanks," replied Gatton. "I have not had time to stop for a drink or -even a smoke since I left you; but evidence is coming in quickly -enough now."</p> - -<p>He helped himself to a whisky and soda, being an old visitor and one -used to the Bohemian ways of my household; then setting his glass upon -a corner of my writing-table, he dropped into the armchair and began -in leisurely fashion to fill his pipe.</p> - -<p>Although the hour was growing late, sunset was still a long way off -and the prospect visible through the window was bathed in golden -light. From where I sat I could catch a glimpse of the tree-lined -road, and for the first time since that strange experience had -befallen me, I found myself wondering if the vaguely-perceived -follower whom I had detected on the previous night and those blazing -feline eyes which had looked out at me from beneath the shadow of the -hedge could have had any possible connection with the tragedy which at -about the same hour was being enacted in the Red House. I determined -presently to confide the strange particulars to my friend, but first I -was all anxiety to learn what evidence Marie had given; and that this -evidence, to which he had referred had done little more than to -increase Gatton's perplexity was clear enough from his expression. -Therefore:</p> - -<p>"Tell me about Marie," I said.</p> - -<p>Gatton smiled grimly, took a drink from his glass, and then:</p> - -<p>"She began of course as I had anticipated, by denying all knowledge of -the matter, but recognizing that she was in a tight corner, she -presently changed her tactics, and although every available plan was -tried to induce her to change her ground, she afterwards stuck to the -extraordinary story which we first extracted from her. Briefly it was -this:</p> - -<p>"The late Sir Marcus had been paying unwelcome attention to Miss -Merlin for a long time, and Marie had instructions that he was to be -discouraged as much as possible. In fact I am pleased to say that your -theory of Miss Merlin's ignorance respecting the murder plot is borne -out by the testimony of her maid. On several occasions, it appears, -when he sent his card to the dressing-room, Marie returned equivocal -messages and did not even inform her mistress of Sir Marcus's visit. -This had been going on for some time when one night whilst Miss Merlin -was on the stage a telephone call came for Marie and a certain -proposal was made to her.</p> - -<p>"It was this: if on the following night Sir Marcus should present -himself she was to tell him that Miss Merlin would take supper in his -company after the performance, but that he was to observe every -possible precaution. Marie, according to her account, at first -declined to entertain the proposal, but being informed that it was -merely intended to play a practical joke upon the baronet, she -ultimately consented. I may add that the promise of a ten-pound note -undoubtedly hastened her decision and it was on her receipt of the -amount by post on the following morning that she determined to carry -out her part of the bargain.</p> - -<p>"Her instructions had been explicit. She was to tell Sir Marcus that -Miss Merlin would see him after the performance, then when he -presented himself, to inform him that her mistress had decided it -would be more prudent for him to proceed to the rendezvous alone, -where she would join him in a quarter of an hour. She was to give him -the door key (which had arrived with the money) and to direct him to -enter and wait in the room on the right of the hall. A cabman who knew -the address would be waiting at the stage door."</p> - -<p>Gatton paused, puffing slowly at his pipe, then: "Unknown to Miss -Merlin," he continued, "this scheme was carried out. Sir Marcus -presented himself at ten o'clock and received Marie's message; he -returned about eleven and she told him, as she had been instructed, -that her mistress would join him in a quarter of an hour. Curiosity -respecting the joke which she believed was being played upon the -baronet prompted her to go outside the stage-door to see if there was -actually a cab waiting. There was, and she heard Sir Marcus ask the -man if he knew the address to which he was to drive.</p> - -<p>"The cabman replied that he did, and Marie claims to know no more -about the matter, except that Sir Marcus drove off in the cab, and -that her mistress returned to her flat alone about a quarter of an -hour later. Next point. Inquiries for the cabman have been made at all -the ranks since early this morning, and he turned up at the Yard about -a couple of hours ago. His story is simple enough; some one called up -the rank where he chanced to be standing that evening, instructing him -to call for Sir Marcus at the stage-door of the New Avenue Theater and -to drive him to—"</p> - -<p>He paused:</p> - -<p>"Yes?"</p> - -<p>"To the Red House!"</p> - -<p>"At last we have it!" I cried excitedly.</p> - -<p>"There is no doubt of it," answered Gatton; "the cabman drove him -there, and it was certainly at the Red House that he met his death. -Indeed the cabby appears to be the last witness who spoke to the -murdered man. He inquired his way to the Red House from a chance -pedestrian, a tramp, whom he met at the corner of College Road. He has -even described this person to us, but I don't think his evidence of -sufficient importance to justify our searching for him. On reaching -the Red House the cabman and his fare found it to be vacant. Sir -Marcus, however, who had a very brusk manner with his inferiors, -having paid the cabman, curtly dismissed him, and the man, who admits -having bargained for a double fare for the journey, because it was -such an out-of-the-way spot, drove away vaguely curious, but not so -curious as another might have been, since London cabmen are used to -strange jobs."</p> - -<p>"We are getting near the heart of the mystery."</p> - -<p>"H'm," said Gatton, "I'm not so sure. The deeper we go the darker it -gets. A man has been scouring the neighborhood all day in quest of the -carter who delivered the crate to the docks, but so far without -results. I consider it a very important point that we should learn not -only how and when the crate was collected, but when and by whom it was -delivered at the garage."</p> - -<p>"Another question," I said: "although I believe I know the answer. Was -it a man or a woman who ordered the cab?"</p> - -<p>"Both in the case of Marie and in the case of the cab-rank," replied -Gatton, "it was a woman's voice that spoke."</p> - -<p>"Thank God, one doubt is resolved!" I said. "It cannot possibly have -been Isobel in either of these cases!"</p> - -<p>"Right!" agreed Gatton, promptly. "I am as glad as you are. There is -clearly a second woman in the case; yet I can't bring myself to -believe that this elaborate scheme was the work of a woman."</p> - -<p>"Not of a <i>jealous</i> woman?" I suggested.</p> - -<p>"Not of any woman," he replied. "Besides—who put the body into the -crate? What kind of a woman would it be who could do a deed like -that?"</p> - -<p>"In other words," said I, "you are still without a ghost of a clew to -the identity of the person who committed the murder, and to the means -employed?"</p> - -<p>Resting his pipe upon an ash-tray, the Inspector took up from my -writing-table the little image of Bâst and held it up between finger -and thumb.</p> - -<p>"We always come back to the green cat," he said slowly. "I will -trouble you now, Mr. Addison, for the history of such a little image -as this."</p> - -<p>"Yes," I replied abstractedly. "But there is a matter about which I -have not spoken to you hitherto because quite frankly I had doubted if -it had any existence outside my imagination; but every new development -of the case is so utterly fantastic that I no longer regard my -experience as being in the least degree outside the province of -possibility. Before we go further, therefore, into the purely -archæological side of the inquiry (and I have still serious doubt -respecting the usefulness of such a quest) let me relate a peculiar -experience which I had last night after I had left Bolton."</p> - -<p>Gatton listened in silence whilst I gave him an account of that -evasive shadow which I had perceived behind me, and then of the great -cat's eyes which had looked in through the window.</p> - -<p>His expression of naïve wonderment was almost funny; and when I had -concluded:</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Addison," said he, "if you had told me this story before I -had taken up 'the <i>Oritoga</i> mystery,' for so I observe—" drawing an -evening paper from his pocket—"the press has agreed to entitle the -case, I should have suggested that your peculiar studies had begun to -tell upon your nerves; but this voice on the 'phone and this empty -house in which only one room was furnished, finally the green cat -painted on the packing-case and the green cat which stands there upon -the table have prepared me for even stranger things than your -adventure of last night."</p> - -<p>"Yet," I urged, "there is no visible connection between the episodes -of the case and this strange apparition which I saw in the garden last -night."</p> - -<p>"There was no visible connection between Sir Marcus's body in a -packing-case in the hold of the <i>Oritoga</i> and the garage of the house -in College Road until we found one," retorted Gatton. "Anyway I am -glad you mentioned the matter to me; I will take a note of it, for it -may prove to provide a link in the chain. And now"—taking out a -note-book and pencil—"for the history of these cat things."</p> - -<p>I sighed rather wearily as I crossed the room to my bookcase and took -down the volume of Gaston Maspero, the same which I had been reading -but had returned to its shelf as Gatton had been admitted.</p> - -<p>"We have it here in a nutshell," I said.</p> - -<p>Gatton methodically noted the passages which I read to him. The task -concluded:</p> - -<p>"H'm," he muttered, scanning his notes, "very strange, very strange -indeed. 'She had also her hours of treacherous perversity, during -which she played with her victim as with a mouse, before finishing him -off with a blow of her claws.'"</p> - -<p>He raised his eyes and stared at me strangely.</p> - -<p>"She played with her victim as with a mouse," he murmured, "before -finishing him off with a blow—"</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII <br />MY VISITOR</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>For long enough after Gatton's departure I sat thinking over our -conversation. Despite the lateness of the hour at which he had -departed, he had had no thought of rest and was setting out in quest -of further evidence to point to the author of Sir Marcus's death. The -room was laden with tobacco smoke, for our conference had lasted more -than two hours, but dusk was very fully established and when presently -as I sat there in the dark contemplating the horrible labyrinth into -which my steps had drifted, Coates entered.</p> - -<p>"Ah, Coates," I said, "light up."</p> - -<p>He switched on the electric light and I saw layers of smoke—clouds -drifting from the open window towards the newly opened door.</p> - -<p>"Shall you be going out again to-night, sir?" asked Coates, standing -rigidly to attention as was his custom when addressing me.</p> - -<p>"I think not, Coates," I replied. "I have done enough for one day, but -I should be glad if you would ring up the New Avenue Theater and -inquire if Miss Merlin will speak to me. It will be about time now for -the performance to have finished."</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir," said Coates, and proceeded to make the call, whilst -I sat listlessly smoking and listening to his voice. Presently:</p> - -<p>"Miss Merlin did not appear to-night, sir," he announced: "she is -indisposed."</p> - -<p>"I thought as much," I muttered. "I could hardly have expected after -such a day of horror and excitement that she would have been capable -of appearing to-night. Ring up her flat, Coates," I added. "I should -like to speak to her, for I know she is in great trouble."</p> - -<p>"Indeed, sir," Coates permitted himself to remark. "Is it something to -do with the discovery at the docks this morning, sir?"</p> - -<p>"It is, Coates," I replied. "It is an utterly damnable business."</p> - -<p>"Indeed, sir," said Coates again, and went to the telephone.</p> - -<p>Three minutes later I was talking to Isobel.</p> - -<p>"I find it utterly impossible to tell you what has happened," she -declared, "since I saw you last. I feel incapable of thinking, and of -course it was quite out of the question for me to go to the theater -to-night. But it is not so bad as it might have been." She hesitated, -then: "I was only able to give them very short notice unfortunately, -but from a selfish point of view, as you know—I was leaving the -stage—very shortly—"</p> - -<p>"Yes," I answered dully, "I know; but have you seen the police?"</p> - -<p>"I have seen Inspector Gatton," she replied; "but as he told me that -he was coming along to you, no doubt you know what took place."</p> - -<p>"No," I replied; "he did not mention the visit, but you quite -recognize the fact, Isobel, that he does not regard you as being in -any way concerned in this ghastly affair."</p> - -<p>"He was awfully kind," she admitted; "in fact I quite changed my -opinion regarding the methods of the police authorities after my -interview with Inspector Gatton; but although he was so extremely -tactful with me, I really cannot forgive him his suspicions, which he -was at scarcely any pains to disguise, regarding Eric."</p> - -<p>"Regarding Eric!" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Oh," continued Isobel, "he may have concealed his views from you, as -he knows that you are—a friend of Eric's; but he was less careful -about concealing them from me. To all intents and purposes Eric is -under police surveillance!"</p> - -<p>"But this is utterly incredible!" said I. "You don't mean to tell me, -Isobel, that Coverly has persisted in his silence respecting his -movements last night? If he has done so, in the circumstances he has -only himself to thank. Social position and everything else counts for -nothing when an inquiry concerning a murder is concerned. He knows -that perfectly well."</p> - -<p>I think I spoke hotly, and certainly I spoke with a certain -indignation, for I very strongly resented Coverly's attitude in the -case, which could only add to the difficulties and sorrows of Isobel's -position.</p> - -<p>Yet a moment afterwards I regretted that I had done so, for:</p> - -<p>"Are <i>you</i> going to quarrel with me, too?" she asked pathetically.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean? Who has been quarreling with you?"</p> - -<p>"Eric quarreled with me fiercely at the solicitors' to-day, and when I -begged of him to be frank respecting his movements last night, his -attitude became"—she hesitated—"almost unbearable. He did not seem -to realize that I was only thinking of him, nor did he seem to realize -the construction which I might have placed upon his silence. I mean, -Jack, what can he possibly have to conceal?"</p> - -<p>Temporarily I felt myself to have become tongue-tied. What <i>could</i> it -be that Coverly was concealing? The idea of complicity in the crime I -scouted; nothing could have induced me to believe it. Only one -explanation presented itself to my mind, as evidently it had presented -itself to Isobel's—another woman. However:</p> - -<p>"You may depend," I said, endeavoring to speak soothingly, "that he -has some good and sufficient reason for this silence, and one which is -not in any way discreditable. Nevertheless he will have to reconsider -his attitude in the near future. Of course there are times when almost -every one of us would be hard put to it to establish an alibi if we -were called upon to do so—as regards witnesses of our movements, I -mean; but at least we can state roughly where we were during any hour -of the day, even if we have to trust to luck to find witnesses to -prove the truth of words. His attitude of silence, Isobel, is -ridiculous."</p> - -<p>"Have you seen the evening papers?" she asked pathetically.</p> - -<p>"Some of them," I replied.</p> - -<p>"They have got my name in already," she continued, "and my photograph -appears in one. It is outrageous how they leap at an opportunity for -scandal."</p> - -<p>"It will all be cleared up," I said, speaking with as much confidence -as I had at my command. "You know and I know that Coverly is innocent -and I don't believe that Gatton thinks him guilty."</p> - -<p>A while longer we talked and then I returned rather wearily to my -chair in the room where the air was still laden with tobacco fumes.</p> - -<p>Without believing it to contain any very special significance as I had -supposed, but merely attracted by the strangeness of the passage, I -remembered how Gatton had harped upon Maspero's description of the -attributes of Bâst. "Sometimes she plays with her victim as with a -mouse," etc. The big book with its fine plates, several of them -representing cats similar to that which Gatton had left behind for my -more particular examination, still lay open upon the table, and I -reread those passages appertaining to the character of the -cat-goddess, which I had marked for Gatton's information. Scarce -noting what I read—for all the time I was turning over in my mind the -manifold problems of the case—I sat there for an hour perhaps, in -fact until I was interrupted by the entrance of Coates.</p> - -<p>"Shall you require me again to-night, sir?" he inquired.</p> - -<p>"No," I replied; "you had better turn in now, as in all probability we -shall be early afoot to-morrow, Coates. Inspector Gatton will probably -be calling for me."</p> - -<p>"Very good. Good-night, sir," said Coates; and performing a smart -about-turn, he walked out of the room.</p> - -<p>I went on reading, not in quest of any particular information, but in -that idle mood when one reads anything, interesting or otherwise. For -a time I heard my conscientious batman fastening doors and windows as -was his nightly custom; then the door of his own room closed and I -heard him no more.</p> - -<p>When I first became aware of the howling of distant dogs I know not; -but it was with a great start that I was aroused from my semi-reverie -by the ringing of the door-bell. I realized that I had sat much longer -than I had supposed. It was a quarter to one.</p> - -<p>Gatton was my first thought; there must be an unexpected development -in the case calling in some way for my services. Coates was a sound -sleeper and evidently had not been awakened by the ringing of the -bell; therefore, arrayed as I was in pajamas, slippers and bath-robe -(for this, during the hot weather was my indoor costume) I walked out -along the little corridor, unbolted the front door and opened it.</p> - -<p>A woman stood there.</p> - -<p>For a moment I thought foolishly that it was Isobel, and my heart gave -a great leap. But the delusion was instantly dispelled when my visitor -spoke.</p> - -<p>Her voice had a totally different tone from that of Isobel—it was a -low, almost caressing voice, with a vaguely husky note in it, -fascinating in a way, yet although I found myself unable to account -for the fact, vaguely uncanny—queer.</p> - -<p>"Please excuse me," she said. "You will naturally wonder what has -brought a visitor to your door at this hour of the night, and indeed -my explanation is a strange one."</p> - -<p>She glanced apprehensively over her shoulder as she spoke, out into -the darkness of the roadway. I observed that she was apparently in -evening dress and wore a very handsome cloak, having a thick silk -scarf so draped about her head and shoulders that her face was quite -concealed. Very clearly, now, I could hear the howling of dogs.</p> - -<p>Instinct is a curious thing, and that which it prompted me to do at -the moment when I found myself confronting this strange woman was -promptly to awaken Coates! Honestly I was afraid of her and wished for -nothing better than to have the closed door between us. This was all -the more unaccountable as she had the appearance and manners of a -cultured woman, presenting indeed a figure of great elegance as she -stood there with her tall slender form outlined by the moonlight which -slanted down through the trees to form a scimitar of light upon the -path behind her.</p> - -<p>Of course I could never have acted upon this singular instinct, but -the decision was taken out of my hands; for suddenly my visitor -uttered a low cry of fear, swayed dizzily and seemed about to fall.</p> - -<p>Perforce I stepped forward to support her and before I knew what had -happened, she had tottered into the passage, resting heavily upon my -shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Close the door!" she said in that low husky voice. "Quick! Quick! I -have seen them again!"</p> - -<p>An unpleasant chill communicated itself to me.</p> - -<p>"The eyes!" she whispered. "Two great eyes have followed me! That was -why I knocked at your door. I was afraid."</p> - -<p>It was enough, the mention of two great eyes. Leaving my visitor -temporarily to take care of herself, I sprang to the door and closed -it hurriedly. As I turned, in the light from the partly open study -door I saw the woman walking slowly ahead of me. I overtook her, -holding the door fully open for her to pass in.</p> - -<p>"Please sit down a while," I said. "You have evidently been seriously -alarmed."</p> - -<p>Still there was no sign from Coates, whose voice would have been -welcome music to my ears, for I could not reconcile myself to this -woman's presence, strive how I might, nor could I understand how she -had come to be wandering alone in such a place at that hour. One bond -of sympathy there was between us. I could forgive any one fearing -those awful eyes, for I had feared them myself; and I could no longer -doubt that some strange apparition was haunting the vicinity.</p> - -<p>"Believe me, I quite understand," I said, turning to my visitor. "It -is most extraordinary, but I believe there is some unusually large cat -frequenting the neighborhood at present."</p> - -<p>I stood by the side table and was on the point of pouring out a glass -of water when the woman raised her white-gloved hand in a gesture of -refusal.</p> - -<p>"Thank you," she said, "thank you, but I am quite recovered, and -indeed if the cause of my alarm is no more than a cat, as you say, I -will proceed."</p> - -<p>She laughed, and her laughter was low-pitched, but very musical. In -the light of the shaded table-lamp I could see the gleam of white -teeth through her veil, but I could not imagine why she swathed -herself in that manner. Yet in spite of this enwrapping she could not -disguise the fact that she possessed remarkably large and beautiful -eyes. She seemed now to have recovered her composure, but I noted that -she made no attempt to remove her veil.</p> - -<p>"Are you quite sure that you will not be nervous on your way?" I -asked.</p> - -<p>"Oh, no. I am staying with some friends quite near," she explained, -detecting my curiosity; "and I was indiscreet enough to wander out at -this hour to post a letter."</p> - -<p>Possibly this explanation might have satisfied me; it is even possible -that I should have thought little more about the incident at that time -when I lived in a constant turmoil of episodes even stranger, but by -one of those accidents which sometimes seem to be directed by the hand -of an impish fate, I was to learn who or what my visitor was. When I -say I was to learn what she was, perhaps I err; more correctly I was -to learn what she was not, namely, an ordinary human being.</p> - -<p>It was as she rose to depart that the hand of fate intervened. I had -only one lamp burning in the room, a table-lamp; and at this moment, -preceded by a sudden accession of light due to some flaw of the -generating plant, the filament expired, plunging the room into -darkness! I stood up with a startled cry. I do not deny that I felt -ill at ease in the gloom with my strange visitor; but worse was to -come. Looking across the darkened room to the chair upon which she was -seated, I saw a pair of blazing eyes regarding me fixedly!</p> - -<p>Something in their horrid, luminous watchfulness told me that my -slightest movement was perceptible to my uncanny visitor of whom I -could see nothing but those two fiery eyes.</p> - -<p>What I did or what occurred within the next few seconds I am not -prepared to state in detail. I know I uttered a hoarse cry and threw -myself back from those dreadful eyes which seemed to be advancing upon -me. The cry awakened Coates. I heard the pad of his bare feet upon the -floor as he leaped out of bed, and an instant later his door was -opened and he came blundering out into the darkened passage.</p> - -<p>"Hello, sir!" he cried, in a half-dazed voice. "Here, Coates!" I -replied, and my tones were far from normal.</p> - -<p>Falling over a chair on his way, Coates came running into the study. -An impression I had of a flying shape, and the dimly seen square of -the open window (for that side of the cottage lay in shadow) seemed -momentarily to become blackened.</p> - -<p>"Bring a light, Coates!" I cried. "The lamp has gone out."</p> - -<p>"Matches on the table, sir," said Coates.</p> - -<p>Instantly I remembered that this was the case, that they lay in fact -near to my hand. I struck one, and in its flickering light looked -about the room. My visitor had gone—palpably through the window, for -certainly the front door had not been opened.</p> - -<p>"She has gone, Coates!" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>And on this occasion it was Coates who repeated in an amazed voice:</p> - -<p>"<i>She</i>?"</p> - -<p>But even as he spoke, my attention had become diverted.</p> - -<p>I was staring at that portion of the table upon which Maspero's book -lay. Beside it had stood the little Bubastis statuette ... but the -statuette was there no longer!</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a><h2>CHAPTER IX <br />THE VELVET CURTAIN</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"This gets me well out of my depth, Mr. Addison," said Inspector -Gatton.</p> - -<p>We were standing in the garden at a point near to my open study -window. A small flower-bed intervened between the path and the high -privet hedge. It lay much in shade, and Coates had set tobacco plants -there. But the soil was softer here than elsewhere.</p> - -<p>Clearly marked upon it were the imprints of little high-heeled shoes.</p> - -<p>"It seems to take us back to the days of 'Spring-heeled Jack,'" my -friend continued; "which was before my time! I don't think <i>that</i> -mystery was ever cleared up?"</p> - -<p>"No," I replied, meeting his questioning glance; "it never was, -satisfactorily. Therefore the analogy is an unfortunate one. But as -you say, it certainly looks as though my visitor had sprung across a -six-foot hedge!"</p> - -<p>"It's absolutely mad," said Gatton gloomily. "Far from helping us, it -only plunges us deeper in the mire."</p> - -<p>We returned to the study, and:</p> - -<p>"You will have seen the daily papers?" asked the Inspector.</p> - -<p>I nodded.</p> - -<p>"Practically all of them. They give a hateful prominence to the name -of Miss Merlin."</p> - -<p>"And to that of the new baronet—Sir Eric," said Gatton significantly.</p> - -<p>I stared at him straightly.</p> - -<p>"Do you seriously believe," said I, "that Eric Coverly had anything -whatever to do with the death of his cousin?"</p> - -<p>Gatton stirred uneasily in his chair.</p> - -<p>"Well," he answered, "ignoring everything else for the moment, who -else benefits by Sir Marcus Coverly's death?"</p> - -<p>It was a poser—a question which I had dreaded because I had known it -to be unanswerable.</p> - -<p>"He inherits the title," continued Gatton, "and on the death of Lady -Burnham Coverly he inherits Friars' Park. There is some clause or -entail, or legal hotchpotch whereby the estate and revenue remain hers -during her lifetime."</p> - -<p>"But I understand the estate is mortgaged?"</p> - -<p>"That I have to confirm, Mr. Addison," replied Gatton. "Sir Eric's -solicitor has no information on the point and that of Sir Marcus's man -of business is inexact. But even supposing that only the title is -concerned, many a man has lost his life for less. Then you have to -consider—Miss Merlin."</p> - -<p>"In what way?" I demanded</p> - -<p>"In relation to the attitude of Sir Marcus. Jealousy makes men (and -women) do strange and desperate things. The character of Eric Coverly, -the new baronet, is a very odd one."</p> - -<p>"He is headstrong and in some respects weak," I admitted. "But -otherwise he is an ordinary English gentleman, with the traditions of -an old name and a public school to back him up. I tell you, Gatton, -it's nonsense. His army career alone shows him to be a sound man."</p> - -<p>"Yes," murmured Gatton; "he was awarded a decoration for distinguished -service in Egypt."</p> - -<p>That seemingly simple remark struck me with all the force of a -physical blow. Gatton began quietly to load his pipe, without even -glancing in my direction; but the covert significance of his words was -all too apparent:</p> - -<p>"Gatton," I said—"what the devil are you driving at?"</p> - -<p>He slightly shrugged his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"What you may term the hocus-pocus side of the case," he replied, -"turns on matters Egyptian, doesn't it? Very well. Who else, that we -know about, is associated, or ever has been associated with Egypt?"</p> - -<p>"But—the woman?"</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said Gatton. "Now you are getting down to the depths. But -assuming that the extraordinary characteristics of this visitor of -yours can be explained in some way, by deliberate trickery, for -example, might she not be a woman whom Eric Coverly met in Egypt?"</p> - -<p>I stared silently a while, and then:</p> - -<p>"In short, a rival of Miss Merlin's?" I suggested.</p> - -<p>"Precisely. The trick with the photograph was just of the kind one -would expect from a madly jealous woman. Everything planned with -supreme cunning, but the scene at which the hated rival enters the -scheme badly overdone."</p> - -<p>"And you believe Coverly's silence to be due to the fact that he is -shielding some one?"</p> - -<p>"Well, that or shielding himself. What else can it mean? A man -suspected of murder doesn't hesitate to establish an alibi unless he -is in a desperately tight corner. The exact position of your -strange-eyed acquaintance in the case is not apparent to me at the -moment, I'll admit, but I seem to have heard that there have been rare -instances of human beings with luminous eyes."</p> - -<p>"Quite right, Inspector," I agreed; "I hope very shortly to have some -further particulars for you bearing upon this point. I am endeavoring -to obtain a work by Saint-Hilaire dealing with teratology."</p> - -<p>"As to her extraordinary activity and agility," Gatton continued, "we -must remember that a privet hedge is not like a stone wall. I mean she -may not have actually cleared the whole six feet, and after all, this -is the age of the athletic girl. There are women athletes who can -perform some extraordinary feats of high-jumping. Of course, there are -still a number of witnesses to be discovered and examined, but I know -by now exactly what to expect. It's an ingenious idea, although not -entirely new to me.</p> - -<p>"The whole thing has been managed by means of the telephone—a -powerful ally of the modern criminal. Briefly what happened was this: -The Red House—selected because of its lonely position, but also -because it was fairly accessible—was leased by our missing assassin -without any personal interview taking place. We have to look then in -the first instance for some one possessing considerable financial -resources. It was by the effective substitution of a year's rent—in -cash—for the more usual references, that our man—or woman—whom I -will call 'A' secured possession of the keys and right of entry to the -premises. A limited amount of furniture was obtained in the same -manner. We haven't found the firm who supplied it, but I don't doubt -that the business was done over the telephone, cash being paid as -before. Duplicate keys must have been made for some of the doors, I -think—a simple matter. We shall find that the furnishing people as -well as the caterer who later on supplied the supper were admitted to -the Red House by a district messenger or else had the keys posted to -them for the purpose.</p> - -<p>"The whole business was built up around a central idea, simple in -itself: that of inveigling Sir Marcus into the prepared supper-room. -His attendance at the New Avenue Theater last night was doubtless -assured—although we may never prove it—by another of these -mysterious telephone messages, probably purporting to come from Miss -Merlin. The cold-blooded thoroughness with which 'A' arranged for a -crate to be delivered at the garage and for the body of the murdered -man to be taken to the docks and shipped to the West Indies, -illuminates the character of the person we have to seek.</p> - -<p>"Discovery sooner or later was inevitable, of course. It came sooner -because of the accident at the docks. Had it come later I don't doubt -that 'A' would have dismantled the Red House again so that the -investigation would have been severely handicapped. As it is, the only -dismantling done was the most important of all."</p> - -<p>"You mean?" I said with keen interest.</p> - -<p>"The death-machine," answered Gatton. "The cunning device around which -all these trappings were erected. We don't have to wait for the -coroner's inquest nor the pathologists' report to know that Sir Marcus -was asphyxiated."</p> - -<p>"In that room where supper was laid for two?" I muttered.</p> - -<p>"Can you doubt it?"</p> - -<p>"No," I said, "and I don't."</p> - -<p>"I have allowed nothing to be touched," continued Gatton, "and I am -going around there now to make a final attempt to unravel the mystery -of how Sir Marcus met his death."</p> - -<p>"There is one detail," said I, "which it seems impossible to fit into -its proper place in the scheme. The figure of Bâst painted upon the -crate—you have that at Scotland Yard—and the little image of the -goddess which was stolen from my table last night."</p> - -<p>Gatton stood up, uttering a sigh.</p> - -<p>"I have always found, Mr. Addison," he replied, "that it is these -outstanding features of a case, these pieces which don't seem to fit, -that are the most valuable clews. It's the apparently simple cases in -which there is no outstanding point that are the most baffling."</p> - -<p>I laughed shortly.</p> - -<p>"One could not very well complain of the lack of such features in 'the -<i>Oritoga</i> mystery,'" I said. "As a confrère of mine remarked when the -body of Sir Marcus was discovered in the crate, the whole thing is as -mad as 'Alice in Wonderland'!"</p> - -<p>Gatton presently departed for the Red House and I accompanied him, for -I was intensely curious to learn by what means the murder of Sir -Marcus had been accomplished. As I proposed later in the morning to -call on Isobel, Coates drove Gatton and myself as far as the Red House -and I instructed the man to wait for me.</p> - -<p>Although the morning was still young, the prominence given by the -press to this sensational crime had resulted in the presence of quite -a considerable group of pilgrims who even thus early had arrived to -look upon the scene of the mysterious tragedy. London is a city of -onlookers. The most trivial street accident never lacks its interested -audience, and a house in which a murder is reputed to have taken place -becomes a center upon which the idly curious focus from the four -points of the compass.</p> - -<p>Our arrival created a subdued excitement amongst the nondescript group -gathered upon the pavement. Despite the efforts of a constable on -duty, men, women and children persistently gathered before the gates -of the drive peering up at the empty house as if they anticipated -seeing the face of the murderer or an apparition of the victim appear -behind one of the windows. A considerable group, too, was gathered -before the garage, but as Gatton and I descended and began to walk up -the drive there was a general movement in our direction.</p> - -<p>"I wonder," said I, "if 'A,' the wanted man, is among the crowd? One -reads that murderers are irresistibly drawn back to the scene of their -crimes."</p> - -<p>"He may be," replied Gatton; "anyway there are two C.I.D. men there -for certain, so that 'A' will do well to be upon his guard."</p> - -<p>A few moments later I found myself again in the lounge-hall of the Red -House; and the place now seemed to me to have taken on an air of -oppressive mystery. In the very deserted silence of the house I -detected something sinister. Of course, no doubt this was merely an -effect created upon my mind by the ghastly associations of the place; -but I know that whereas on the previous day surprise and curiosity had -been the most characteristic emotions aroused by our discoveries -there, this morning something darker seemed to have taken their place; -and I found myself listening for a sound that never came and wondering -vaguely and vainly, what secret was hidden in this desolate mansion.</p> - -<p>By Gatton's orders the room in which that gruesome supper was laid had -been left undisturbed and once more we stood surveying the spotless -napery and sparkling silver. I listened to the ticking of the clock -upon the mantelpiece and stared dully at the wine resting in the -ice-pail which now contained nothing but dirty water. A big dish of -fruit stood upon the table, peaches and apricots and nectarines; and -several large wasps had entered through one of the windows which some -one had opened, and were buzzing sleepily around the dish. -Lastly—there beside the clock stood Isobel's photograph.</p> - -<p>For any evidence of a struggle I looked in vain, but the nature of my -companion's investigation was more obscure. Again the whole of his -attention seemed to be directed upon the wall, the window-ledges and -the door-frame. Suddenly:</p> - -<p>"Ah," I said, "I know what you are looking for! Some connection -between this room and the garage?"</p> - -<p>Gatton, who was kneeling examining a lower panel of the door, looked -up with a grim smile.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I am," he replied.</p> - -<p>By the tone of his voice I knew that whatever he had sought he had -failed once more to find. Presently, desisting from this quest of his, -he stood and stared curiously for some time at a recess immediately -behind one of the high-backed chairs drawn up to the supper table. We -had already explored this recess and had found it to be vacant. Gatton -advanced towards it and drew aside the curtain which was draped in the -opening.</p> - -<p>It was a recess about four feet wide by three deep and it contained -nothing in the nature of furniture or ornament.</p> - -<p>"Does anything strike you as curious about this arrangement?" said my -companion.</p> - -<p>I looked for a long time, but failed to detect anything of a notable -nature.</p> - -<p>"Nothing," I said, "except that it seems a peculiar idea to drape a -curtain before a recess in that way."</p> - -<p>"And such a curtain!" said Gatton, fingering the texture.</p> - -<p>I in turn touched the material with my fingers and found it to be an -extremely heavy velvet. Looking upward, I noticed that it was attached -to a rod set so high in the wall on either side that the top of the -drapery actually touched the ceiling.</p> - -<p>"Well," said Gatton, looking at me oddly, "in addition to the texture -of the curtain do you notice anything else?"</p> - -<p>"No," I confessed.</p> - -<p>"Well," he continued, "you may remember that yesterday when I examined -this place, I had to drape the curtain over a chair, which I moved -here for the purpose, in order to see the recess."</p> - -<p>"So you did," I said; "I remember."</p> - -<p>"Well, doesn't it strike you as odd? If you'll notice the way it is -fastened above, you will see that it is not upon rings. In other words -it is not intended to be opened. You see that it is in one piece so -that anybody having occasion to enter the recess would have to lift it -aside and let it fall to behind him."</p> - -<p>I studied the arrangement of the drapings more closely and saw that -his statement was correct; also I saw something else, and:</p> - -<p>"This room has been lighted by gas at some time!" I cried. "Here, up -under the picture-rail, is a plug."</p> - -<p>"Most houses are provided both with gas and electric light about -here," replied Gatton abstractedly.</p> - -<p>But even before he had finished speaking I saw his expression change, -and in a moment he had dragged a chair into the recess.</p> - -<p>"Hold the curtain back," he directed sharply.</p> - -<p>Standing on the chair, he began to examine the little brass plug to -which I had drawn his attention. For some time I watched him in -silence, and then:</p> - -<p>"What do you think you have found?" I inquired.</p> - -<p>He glanced down over his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"I think I have found a <i>clew</i>!" he replied.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_X'></a><h2>CHAPTER X <br />"HANGING EVIDENCE"</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>Isobel came into the room and approached the chair from which I had -arisen. In her plain morning frock, with the sun bringing out those -wonderful russet tints in her hair, but having that frightened look -still in her eyes, she had never seemed more beautiful. Yet I saw as I -rose to greet her that she was laboring under the influence of -dangerous nervous excitement.</p> - -<p>"You are worried about Eric?" I said, when we had exchanged those -rather formal greetings in which I think we took mutual shelter. -Certainly I did, and later I was to know that Isobel did so, too.</p> - -<p>"Every day seems to make the case grow blacker against him," she -replied, sinking down upon the settee beside me.</p> - -<p>And indeed the shadow which had fallen upon all of us seemed at that -moment almost palpable—a thing to be felt like the darkness of Egypt -and not to be dispelled even by the brightness of the morning.</p> - -<p>"When did you last see Coverly?"</p> - -<p>Isobel raised her head wearily.</p> - -<p>"Last night, and he seemed to think that some one was following him—a -detective."</p> - -<p>I noticed that Isobel spoke of Eric Coverly with a certain manner of -restraint for which I could not account. Yet perhaps it was only -natural that she should do so, but at the time I was foolishly blind -to the opposing emotions which fought and conflicted within her.</p> - -<p>"He still refused to explain his movements on the night of the -murder?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes, he persisted in his extraordinary silence," said Isobel.</p> - -<p>The look of trouble in her eyes grew more acute.</p> - -<p>"What I cannot understand is a sort of attitude of resentment which he -has lately adopted."</p> - -<p>"Of resentment? Towards whom?"</p> - -<p>"Towards <i>me</i>."</p> - -<p>"But—"</p> - -<p>"Oh, it's quite incomprehensible, Jack, and it is making me horribly -unhappy. He complained so bitterly too about this police surveillance -to which he is subjected. He realizes that the coroner is almost -certain to put a wrong construction on his silence, but instead of -being frank about it he adopts, even when alone with me, this -incomprehensible attitude of resentment. In fact his behavior almost -suggests that <i>I</i> am responsible for his present misfortunes."</p> - -<p>"He must be mad," I said, and I expect I spoke bitterly, for Isobel -lowered her eyes and her face flushed with embarrassment.</p> - -<p>"Don't think that I condemn him," I added hastily, "but really in -justice to you, if not in order to clear his own good name, he should -speak out at once. Are you expecting to see him to-day?"</p> - -<p>Isobel nodded.</p> - -<p>"I am expecting him at almost any moment," she replied; then glancing -aside at a number of daily papers which lay littered upon the floor -beside the settee: "Of course you have seen what the press has to say -about it?" she added.</p> - -<p>I nodded.</p> - -<p>"What can you expect?" said I. "It is one of those cases in which -practically all the evidence, although it is of a purely -circumstantial nature, points to an innocent man as the culprit. I -feel very keenly annoyed with Coverly, for not only is he involving -both of you in a most unsavory case but he is also hindering the work -of justice. In fact by his inexplicable silence he is, although no -doubt unconsciously, affording the murderer time to elude the law."</p> - -<p>Even as I spoke the words I heard a cab draw up in the street below, -and glancing out of the window, I saw Coverly alight from the cab, pay -the man and enter the doorway. His bearing was oddly furtive, that, as -I thought with a sudden pang, of a fugitive. A few moments later he -came into the room and his expression when he found me there was one -of marked hostility.</p> - -<p>Eric Coverly bore no resemblance whatever to the deceased baronet from -whom he inherited the title, belonging as he did to quite another -branch of the family. Whereas Sir Marcus had been of a dark and sallow -type, Eric Coverly was one of those fair, fresh-colored, open-air -English types, handsome in an undistinguished way, and as a rule of a -light and careless disposition. There had never been any very close -sympathy between us, for the studies to which I devoted so much time -were by him regarded as frankly laughable absurdities. Although well -enough informed, he was typical of his class, and no one could justly -have catalogued him as an intellectual.</p> - -<p>"Good morning, Addison," he said, having greeted Isobel in a -perfunctory fashion which I assumed to be accounted for by my -unwelcome presence. "The men of your Fleet Street tribe have conspired -to hang me, I see."</p> - -<p>"Don't talk nonsense, Coverly," I said bruskly; "this misapprehension -is bound to arise if you decline to give any account of your -movements."</p> - -<p>"But it is an outrage!" cried Coverly hotly. "What the devil do <i>I</i> -know about Marcus's death?"</p> - -<p>"I am perfectly convinced that you know nothing whatever; but then I -have known you for many years. The 'Fleet Street tribe' to whom you -refer merely regard you as a unit of our rather large population. In a -case of this kind, Coverly, all men are equal."</p> - -<p>Whilst I had been delivering myself of this somewhat priggish -speech—designed, I may add, in self-defense, to spur Coverly to a -rejoinder which might throw some light upon the mystery—he had -regarded me with an expression of ever increasing dislike. I noted -that there were shadows under his eyes, and that he was in a highly -nervous and excited condition. He had slept but little I judged during -the last forty-eight hours and had possibly had recourse to stimulants -to enable him to face the new trials which arose with every day.</p> - -<p>"I don't feel called upon," he said angrily, "to give an account of my -movements to every policeman who cares to inquire. I know nothing -whatever about the matter. I have said so, and I am not accustomed to -have my word doubted."</p> - -<p>"My dear Coverly," said I, "you must be perfectly well aware that -sooner or later you will have to relinquish this heroic pose. Will you -allow no one to advise you? You will have to answer the coroner, and -if you persist in this extraordinary refusal to give a simple answer -to a simple question, surely you realize that the matter will be -transferred to a higher tribunal?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I told you that they had hanged me in Fleet Street already, -Isobel!" cried Coverly, with a burst of unmirthful laughter.</p> - -<p>But (and no man could have construed the thing favorably to Coverly) -to my anger and amazement he added:</p> - -<p>"Let them do it! I'll speak if I choose, but not otherwise!"</p> - -<p>That I was annoyed with the young fool already, my remarks to him, -which had transgressed every code of good taste, must sufficiently -have shown. But I had hoped to provoke him to a declaration which -would clear his name from the shadow which was settling darkly upon -it, and which would raise that shadow from the girl who stood beside -him, watching me with a sort of reproachful look in her dark eyes.</p> - -<p>Now I recognized that I could remain no longer and keep the peace, -therefore:</p> - -<p>"Perhaps it is time that I went about my own business," I said, -conjuring up a smile, although it must have been a dreary one, "and -ceased to interfere with the affairs of other people. Good-by, Isobel. -Anything I can do, you know you may command. Good-by, Coverly. I am -deeply sorry about this business."</p> - -<p>He barely touched my extended hand, but instantly turned and walked to -the bay window. Descending to the street, I had immediate confirmation -of Coverly's statement that his movements were watched.</p> - -<p>In the porch below a man stood talking to the hall-porter. As I -appeared he immediately averted his face and began to light a -cigarette. Nevertheless I had had time to recognize him as the man who -had brought Gatton news of Marie's detention.</p> - -<p>It was in a truly perturbed frame of mind that I proceeded on my way -to the <i>Planet</i> offices. I would have sacrificed much to have been -afforded means to comfort Isobel; a furious anger towards the man who -thus deliberately had brought doubt and unhappiness upon her had taken -up permanent quarters in my mind. I counted Coverly's declination to -clear himself little better than the attitude of a cad.</p> - -<p>I read religiously through a pile of cuttings bearing upon the case, -and found the unmistakable trend of opinion to be directed towards -Coverly as the culprit. The use made of Isobel's name enraged me to -boiling point and I presently took up the entire bundle of cuttings -and crammed them into a waste-paper basket. I was engaged in stamping -them down with my foot when I was called to the telephone.</p> - -<p>Inspector Gatton was speaking from New Scotland Yard; and his voice -was very grave.</p> - -<p>"Can you possibly come along at once?" he asked. "There is a new -development; a most unpleasant one."</p> - -<p>He would say no more over the telephone. Therefore I hurried out to -where Coates was waiting, and in ten minutes found myself in one of -those bare, comfortless apartments which characterize the headquarters -of the Metropolitan Police Force.</p> - -<p>With his hat off Gatton looked more like a seaman than ever, for he -had short, crisply curly hair and that kind of bull-dog line of -cranium which one associates with members of the senior service. Upon -a chair set in a recess formed by one of the lofty windows a leather -grip rested. It was wet and stained, and had palpably been recovered -but recently from the water. Seeing my glance straying towards this -object at the moment of my entrance, the Inspector nodded.</p> - -<p>"Yes," said he, "it has just come in."</p> - -<p>"What is it?"</p> - -<p>"Well," replied Gatton, sitting upon a corner of the table and folding -his arms, "it is a piece of evidence sufficient to hang the most -innocent man breathing."</p> - -<p>He eyed me in a significant manner and I felt my heart beginning to -beat more rapidly.</p> - -<p>"May I know the particulars?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly. I asked you to come along for the purpose of telling you. -Sir Eric Coverly's refusal to answer the questions put to him had -necessitated his being watched, as you know. I mean to say, it's -sheerly automatic; the Commissioner himself couldn't make an -exception. Well, last night he left his chambers and started for Miss -Merlin's flat. He came out of a back door and went along a narrow -passage, instead of going out at the front. He evidently thought he -had got away unobserved. He was carrying—that."</p> - -<p>"Good heavens!" I said. "The young fool seems determined to put a rope -around his own neck."</p> - -<p>"As a matter of fact," continued Gatton, "he was <i>not</i> unobserved. He -was followed right across St. James's Park. By the lake he lingered -for some time; and the man tracking him kept carefully out of sight, -of course. There was nobody else about at the moment, and presently, -thinking himself safe, Coverly dropped his bag in the water! -Immediately he set off walking rapidly again, and he was followed -right to Miss Merlin's door. But the spot where he had dropped the bag -had been marked, of course, and when I came in here to-day it had been -fished, up—and placed there for my inspection."</p> - -<p>With ever-growing misgivings:</p> - -<p>"What does it contain?" I asked.</p> - -<p>Inspector Gatton walked across to the chair and threw the bag open. -First he took out several lumps of wet coal.</p> - -<p>"To weight it, of course," he said.</p> - -<p>Then one by one he withdrew from the clammy interior a series of -ragged garments, the garments of a tramp. A pair of heavy boots there -were, a pair of patched trousers and an old shabby coat, a greasy cap, -and finally a threadbare red muffler!</p> - -<p>Gatton looked hard at me.</p> - -<p>"He will have to break his obstinate silence now," he said. "Failing -our discovery of new clews pointing in another direction, this is -hanging evidence!"</p> - -<p>"It is maddening!" I cried. "Can nothing be done, Gatton? Is there no -possible line of inquiry hitherto neglected which might lead to the -discovery of the truth? For whatever your own ideas may be, personally -I am certain that Coverly is innocent."</p> - -<p>Gatton replaced the sodden garments one by one in the bag, frowning as -he did so, and:</p> - -<p>"It occurred to me this morning," he replied, "that there <i>is</i> one -inquiry which in justice to the suspected man and in order to round -off the investigation, should be instituted. I'm afraid Coverly will -have a bad time in the Coroner's court, but it is even possible that -something might be done before the inquest. Now—"</p> - -<p>He looked at me quizzically, and:</p> - -<p>"Knowing your keen personal interest in the case, I am going to make a -suggestion. It is probably going outside the intentions of the chief -in regard to your share of the inquiry, but I'll risk that. I -stipulate, however, that anything you learn is to be communicated -direct to me, not to the <i>Planet</i>. Is this arrangement consistent with -your journalistic conscience?"</p> - -<p>"Quite," I said eagerly; "my contributions to the <i>Planet</i> are always -subject, of course, to your censorship. What is it that you propose I -should do?"</p> - -<p>"This," said Gatton tersely; "I should like to know under what -circumstances Mr. Roger Coverly died."</p> - -<p>"Roger Coverly?" I echoed.</p> - -<p>"The son of Sir Burnham Coverly," continued Gatton, "and therefore the -direct heir to the title. He died somewhere abroad about five or six -years ago, and as a result the late Sir Marcus inherited the baronetcy -on the death of his uncle, Sir Burnham. You will remember that the -man, Morris, spoke of the ill-feeling existing between Lady Burnham -Coverly and Sir Marcus, because of the premature death of her own son, -of course."</p> - -<p>"I follow you," I said eagerly. "You suggest that I should go down to -Friar's Park and interview Lady Burnham Coverly?"</p> - -<p>"Exactly," replied Gatton. "It's very irregular, of course, but I know -you well enough to take my chance of a carpeting. I may send a C.I.D. -man down as well. I've too much to do in town to think of going -myself; but I will advise you of any such step."</p> - -<p>The motive underlying Inspector Gatton's suggestion was perfectly -evident to me and I experienced a feeling of gratitude for the -humanity which directed it. I held out my hand, and:</p> - -<p>"Thanks, Gatton," I said; "you can leave the matter in my care with -every confidence. I will start for Friar's Park to-day."</p> - -<p>"Good," replied Gatton. "Let me give you a hint. Take a good pistol -with you!"</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XI <br />THE SCARRED MAN</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>It was towards the hour of seven in the evening that I reached the -Abbey Inn at Upper Crossleys, itself among the most hoary buildings of -the ancient village. It belonged to the days when white-clad brethren -from the once great monastery of Croix-de-lis had labored in the abbey -meadows and fished in the little stream which ran slowly through a -neighboring valley. Time had scarred it deeply and the balcony -overhanging the coachyard sagged in a rather alarming fashion as -though about to drop down from sheer old age.</p> - -<p>The surrounding country had impressed me at first sight. There were -long billowing hills and vales, much of their surface densely wooded, -but with wide spaces under cultivation and even greater tracts of a -sort of heath-land very wild in aspect and conjuring up pictures of -outlaws' camps and the clash of battling feudal days. Hard by had -resided of old a warden of the marches, and the ruins of his stronghold -might still be seen on the crest of a near-by hill.</p> - -<p>From the room allotted to me I could look out over a varied prospect -of farmland and heath, terminated by the woody slopes which everywhere -hemmed in the valley. Peeping above the outer fringe of trees showed -a tower of some old house whereof the rest was hidden by verdure.</p> - -<p>Having partaken of a typical country dinner, the small number of -courses being amply compensated by their quantity, I lighted my pipe -and went down to the bar-parlor, being minded to learn something of -the neighborhood at first hand from any chance visitor who might serve -my purpose.</p> - -<p>The landlord, a somewhat taciturn member of his class, sat behind the -bar, pipe in mouth, as I entered, and only one other man was in the -room. This was a gipsy-looking fellow, with a very wild eye, attired -in the manner of a game-keeper, and wearing leggings and a fur cap. A -sporting rifle stood in the corner beside him. The landlord nodded, -and the other gave me a "Good evening" as I entered, whereupon I -determined to try the game-keeper as the more likely source of -information, and:</p> - -<p>"Is the shooting good hereabouts?" I asked, by way of opening a -conversation.</p> - -<p>My inquiry seemed hugely to amuse the man.</p> - -<p>"None better," was the reply; "it's thick with game, sir, it is for -sure—and nobody to profit, only"—he winked at the landlord—"young -Jim Corder!"</p> - -<p>The landlord emitted a deep grunt which was evidently recognized by -the other as a laugh; for he himself laughed in a wild and not wholly -pleasant manner, whereby I concluded that "young Jim Corder" was a -standing joke in the neighborhood.</p> - -<p>"You look as though you knew a hare from a partridge," said I, "so -I'll take your word for it."</p> - -<p>This remark provoked a second and deeper growl from the landlord and a -further burst of outlandish laughter from my acquaintance, the -game-keeper. Presently:</p> - -<p>"Why, sir, if I tell you," declared the latter, "them birds all know -me like I was their father, they do. I says, 'Good morning' regular -and them birds all bows to me, they does."</p> - -<p>When the laughter had subsided, scenting possible information:</p> - -<p>"I gather," said I, "that you get few shooting-parties nowadays?"</p> - -<p>Gloom descended upon both my gossips.</p> - -<p>"You're right, you are, sir," replied the game-keeper. "He's right, -ain't he, Martin?"</p> - -<p>Martin, the landlord, growled. It occurred to me that he regarded the -other with a certain disfavor.</p> - -<p>"This 'ere country," continued the game-keeper, vaguely waving his arm -around, "is a blighted spot. A blighted spot, ain't it, Martin?"</p> - -<p>Martin growled, whilst the game-keeper studied him covertly.</p> - -<p>"Since Sir Burnham went to his long rest these 'ere parts ain't knowed -themselves. I'm tellin' you, sir. Ain't knowed 'emselves. It's all -that quiet, winter and summer alike. The Park all shut up; and the -Park <i>was</i> the Park in them days—warn't it, Martin?"</p> - -<p>Martin achieved speech; he removed his pipe, and:</p> - -<p>"It were, Hawkins," he concurred.</p> - -<p>Silence fell for a minute or two. My new acquaintance, Hawkins, and -Martin both seemed to be pondering upon the degeneracy of Upper -Crossleys, and I could mot help thinking that Hawkins took a secret -delight in it. Then:</p> - -<p>"Surely the Park is still occupied by Lady Coverly?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Aye," Hawkins nodded. "She's kep' me on, me and the missus, she has, -like the real lady she is. But things is different; things is wrong. -Ain't they, Martin?" he asked, with a mischievous glance at the stolid -host.</p> - -<p>"Things is," agreed Martin.</p> - -<p>"Best part of Park be shut up," declared Hawkins. "Horses gone, -carriages gone, everybody gone; only me and my old woman."</p> - -<p>"There must be house servants," I interjected.</p> - -<p>"My old woman!" cried Hawkins triumphantly; "same as I'm tellin' you!"</p> - -<p>"You mean that Lady Coverly lives alone in the place with only—er, -Mrs. Hawkins to look after her?"</p> - -<p>It was Martin the landlord who answered my question.</p> - -<p>"Things ain't right," he observed, and returned to his mouth the pipe -which he had removed for the purpose of addressing me.</p> - -<p>"You don't know half of it," declared Hawkins. "What's <i>my</i> job, for -instance? I ask you—what is it?"</p> - -<p>Having thus spoken, he exchanged a significant look with the landlord -and relapsed into silence. Even my offer to replenish his tankard, -although it was accepted, did not result in any further confidences. -Prospects of crops and fruit were briefly touched upon, but that -exchange of glances between mine host and Hawkins seemed to have been -mutually understood to mean that the conversation touching Friar's -Park had proceeded far enough.</p> - -<p>It was very mystifying, and naturally it served only to pique my -curiosity. A certain quality of loneliness which had seemed to belong -to the village, even in the brightness of the summer evening, now -asserted itself potently. Seated there in the quiet little inn parlor, -I recalled that many of the old-world cottages to right and left of -the Abbey Inn had exhibited every indication of being deserted, and -the lack of patrons instanced by the emptiness of the bar-parlor was -certainly not ascribable to the quality of the ale, which was -excellent. A sort of blight it would seem had descended upon humanity -in Upper Crossleys. It was all very curious.</p> - -<p>Reflecting upon the matter, and sometimes interjecting a word or two -into the purely technical and very desultory conversation proceeding -between the landlord and Hawkins, I sat looking from one to the other, -more than ever convinced that no friendship was lost between them. My -position in the room was such that any one entering would not detect -my presence until he was right up to the bar, and to this sheltered -seat I was undoubtedly indebted for a very strange experience.</p> - -<p>During a lull in the patently forced conversation I heard footsteps -upon the cobbles outside. Hawkins and the landlord exchanged a swift -glance, and then to my surprise they both stared at me questioningly. -Before a word could be exchanged, however, and before I had time even -to surmise what this covert uneasiness might portend, a young fellow -entered whose carriage and dress immediately attracted my attention.</p> - -<p>He was attired, then, in a sort of burlesque "fashionable" lounge suit -and wore a straw hat set rakishly backward on his well-oiled dark -hair. He carried gloves and a malacca cane, and his gait was one of -assured superiority. He was a stoutly-built, muscular young fellow and -might ordinarily have been good-looking after a rustic fashion, but -what principally rendered him noticeable was the fact that he wore -surgical bandages around his neck in lieu of a collar and that his -face was literally a mosaic of sticking-plaster!</p> - -<p>"Evening, Martin—evening, Hawkins," he said jauntily; and advancing -to the bar, "The usual, Martin."</p> - -<p>As he gave the order and as the landlord turned to execute it, -exhibiting a sort of half-amused deference, the embarrassed glance of -Hawkins, who was watching me uncomfortably, drew the newcomer's -attention to my presence. He turned in a flash and I saw those parts -of his face which were visible between the pieces of strapping to turn -fierily red. His brown eyes glared at me, and:</p> - -<p>"Martin!" he cried, throwing out his hand in the landlord's direction, -"Martin, damn you! There is a stranger here! Why the devil didn't you -tell me?"</p> - -<p>"Sorry, Mr. Edward," said the landlord, setting a glass of whisky -before the excited man. "No time."</p> - -<p>"It's a lie!" cried the other, with a wild fury which so trivial a -matter did not seem to warrant, "a deliberate damned lie! You want to -make me the laughing-stock of the place!"</p> - -<p>Taking up the newly-filled glass, he dashed it violently to the sanded -floor, so that it was shattered to bits. Then, snatching off his hat, -he held it as a shield between my inquiring gaze and his plastered -face, and ran out of the room. At the door:</p> - -<p>"Damn you all!" he shouted back at us.</p> - -<p>I heard his quick footsteps receding. Then, as he turned the corner -the sound died away. I looked across at Hawkins. He was staring into -his tankard with which he was describing slow circles as if to stir -the contents. Martin, having raised the bar-flap was phlegmatically -engaged in sweeping up the fragments of glass into a dustpan. It came -to me all at once that these simple folk regarded the other's outburst -as a personal matter; their attitude was that of the grieved elders of -a family, some member of which has misbehaved himself. But assuredly I -was not prepared to concur in this shielding silence; the pressman -within me demanded an explanation.</p> - -<p>"A strange young man," I said tentatively. "Very touchy, I should -think?"</p> - -<p>"Touchy?" repeated Hawkins, glancing up quickly. "I seen him take Tom -Pike by the scruff of his neck and the seat of his pants and pitch him -in the horse-trough for askin' of him who his tailor was, I have."</p> - -<p>"Indeed," said I, "a local Carpentier, no doubt?"</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Martin, glancing at me as he turned to his seat behind the -bar. "Very 'andy with 'is 'ands."</p> - -<p>"He is evidently acutely sensitive of his present disfigurement. Might -I suggest that his most recent encounter was with a barbed-wire -entanglement?"</p> - -<p>But to my acute disappointment, Martin merely growled, shaking his -head gloomily; and in this significant gesture he was closely imitated -by Hawkins. Therefore:</p> - -<p>"Is he badly disfigured?" I persisted.</p> - -<p>"Only one is deep," replied Hawkins, glancing almost apologetically at -the landlord. The unfortunate incident seemed to have drawn them more -closely together. "The one on his neck. But he prides himself on his -looks, don't he, Martin?"</p> - -<p>"He do," agreed Martin.</p> - -<p>I took the bull by the horns. I never neglect an opportunity of this -nature, for however irrelevant to the matter in hand an episode may -seem to be, not infrequently I have found that it is by the pursuit of -such chance clews that one is led to the very piece of news that is -sought.</p> - -<p>"Drink up, gentlemen," I said, "and as the night draws on, we shall -just have time for a peg of whisky before ten o'clock."</p> - -<p>My effort proved successful, for whilst Martin prepared the ordered -drinks, almost with alacrity, Hawkins became quite confidential.</p> - -<p>"Young Mr. Edward Hines that was, sir," he confided, in a church -whisper. "His father is the biggest farmer round these parts and young -Mr. Edward is a terror with the gals, he is. Mind you, he's straight -out about it. Comes in here, he do, and says straight out who he's -after. And it's woe betide the one who takes him up on it. I'm glad my -gal is up to London, with that Mr. Edward about, I am."</p> - -<p>The drinks being placed upon the counter, he ceased, and:</p> - -<p>"Good health!" said I; then: "Yes—about our mutilated young friend?" -I prompted.</p> - -<p>"Well," continued Hawkins—"it's kind o' funny, ain't it, Martin?"</p> - -<p>The landlord growled.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Edward he come in here three weeks back all puffed up with -himself. Said he'd got an appointment with a lady down from London -what was coming all the way from West Wingham to see him. Didn't he, -Martin?"</p> - -<p>Martin corroborated.</p> - -<p>"He see her, too," declared Hawkins with a sort of schoolboy naïveté. -"And he see her again four nights after. She give him a present—a -keepsake. He showed us. Then he seen her a third time, and—"</p> - -<p>Hawkins ceased speaking and looked at the landlord as if mutely -appealing for his aid in making clear to me what occurred at this -third tryst with the mysterious "lady from London."</p> - -<p>"Go on," prompted Martin. "Tell him. He's stopping here; he's all -right."</p> - -<p>I keenly appreciated the compliment conveyed by this, the landlord's -longest speech of the evening, and raised my glass to him. "Well, -then," Hawkins resumed, "we didn't see him for a night or two, but on -the Wednesday—"</p> - -<p>"The Thursday," corrected Martin.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, Martin," agreed Hawkins—"the Thursday it were. I met -Farmer Hines comin' back from Wingham market as I came here mid-day. -It were the Thursday. Well, then, on the Thursday young Mr. Edward he -turns up after dark. Sort of slinked in he did. There was three or -four of us here, there was that night, wasn't there, Martin? 'Course -it were market day. Slinked in he did, and his face was like you see -it to-night only worse. He never said a word to nobody and nobody -never said nothin' to him, not likely. Just gulped down a double -Scotch and slinked out. What do you think about that for a story, eh, -sir?"</p> - -<p>He looked at me triumphantly. For my own part I must confess I was -disappointed. A cat-and-dog squabble between a rustic Lothario and -some local virago did not excite me so intensely as it seemed to -excite my companions.</p> - -<p>"Is that all you know of the matter?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"No," answered Martin, "it ain't. Tell him, Hawkins."</p> - -<p>"Aye," resumed Hawkins, "he might as well know, as he's livin' here. -Well, sir, young Mr. Edward he's very quiet about what happened to -him. Maybe we shouldn't have thought so much about it like if it -hadn't been that in this very bar, six months ago, he'd plagued the -life out of young Harry Adams."</p> - -<p>"For what reason?" I asked idly; the conversation was beginning to -bore me. But:</p> - -<p>"Young Harry Adams," explained Hawkins with gusto, and his former -wicked look returning to his eyes, "at one time was Mr. Edward's only -rival with the gals, he was. A good-lookin' young fellow; got a -commission in the war he did. He's up to London now. Well, six months -ago young Harry Adams come staggerin' in here one night with blood -runnin' from his face and neck. He fell down in that seat where you're -sitting now and fainted right off, didn't he, Martin? We had to send -young Jim Corder (what used to come here in them days) off runnin' all -the way past Leeways for the doctor. Ah, that were a night."</p> - -<p>"It were," agreed Martin.</p> - -<p>"Same as Mr. Edward," continued the narrator, "young Harry Adams -wouldn't say a word about what happened to him. But when Mr. Edward -first see him, all over sticking-plaster, he laughed till the pots -nearly fell off the hooks, he did. Little did he guess his own turn -was to come!"</p> - -<p>My interest revived.</p> - -<p>"Then in the case of, er—Mr. Adams," I said, "you never had any -particulars whatever?"</p> - -<p>"Never," replied Martin. "Time, please, gentlemen."</p> - -<p>"Aye," said Hawkins, rising. "Time it be. Well, good night, sir. Good -night, Martin."</p> - -<p>"Good night."</p> - -<p>Hawkins moved towards the door, and indeed was on the point of going -out when I remembered something which I had meant to ask earlier, but -which, owing to lack of opportunity, I had postponed asking.</p> - -<p>"You spoke of a gift or keepsake, which the lady from London gave to -Mr. Hines," I said. "I think you mentioned that he had shown it to -you. I am rather curious about this story. Might I ask the nature of -the gift?"</p> - -<p>"Aye, to be sure," answered Hawkins, standing half in shadow on the -step of the bar-parlor, rifle on shoulder, where I thought he made a -very wild figure. "Brought it here, he did. All of us see it. That -stuck up about it, he was. Not as I should have thought much of it if -a party had give it to me, I do say."</p> - -<p>"Then what was it?"</p> - -<p>"Why—it were a little figure like—gold <i>he</i> said it were, but brass -I reckon. Ugly it were, but he says he's goin' to wear it on his -watch-chain. Good night, sir."</p> - -<p>He turned and departed, but:</p> - -<p>"What kind of figure?" I called after him.</p> - -<p>Out of the darkness his voice came back:</p> - -<p>"A sort of a <i>cat</i>, sir."</p> - -<p>And I heard his outlandish laughter dying away in the distance.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XII <br />I DREAM OF GREEN EYES</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>It was long enough before sleep visited me that night. For nearly half -an hour I stood at my open window looking across a moon-bathed slope -to where a tower projected, ghostly, above the fringe of the woods. -The landlord had informed me that it was Friar's Park which could thus -be seen peeping out from the trees, and as I stood watching that -sentinel tower a thousand strange ideas visited me.</p> - -<p>The curious air of loneliness of which I had become conscious at the -moment of my arrival, was emphasized now that the residents in the -district had retired to their scattered habitations. No sound of bird -or beast disturbed the silence. From the time that the footsteps of -Martin the landlord had passed my door as he mounted heavily to his -bed-chamber, no sound had reached me but the muffled ticking of a -grandfather's clock upon the landing outside my room. And even this -sound, the only one intruding upon the stillness, I weaved into my -imaginings, so that presently it began to resemble the ticking of the -clock on the mantelpiece in that gruesome room at the Red House.</p> - -<p>The view which I commanded was an extensive one and although in the -clear country air I could quite easily discern the upstanding wing of -Friar's Park, actually the house and the park were some two miles -distant. Where the park ended and the woods began it was impossible to -determine, yet such was my curious mood that I lingered there -endeavoring to puzzle out those details which were veiled from me by -distance.</p> - -<p>To-morrow, I thought, I should be seeking admittance to that house -among the trees. In fact so great was my anxiety to plumb the depths -of the mystery in the hope of recovering some new fact which should -exculpate Coverly, that nothing but the unseemly lateness of the hour -had deterred me from presenting myself that very evening.</p> - -<p>Yet, my night of idleness had not been altogether unfruitful. I had -met the scarred man, and from Hawkins I had heard something of his -singular story. Now as I stood there drinking in, as it were, the -loneliness of the prospect, my thoughts turned for the hundredth time -to the game-keeper's account of what had befallen the two rustic -rake-hells. I admit that the concluding part of Hawkins' story, quite -evidently regarded by him as a detail of no importance, had -re-awakened hope which had been at lowest ebb in the hour of my -arrival.</p> - -<p>Although it was possible that the gift of a "sort of cat" to young -Edward Hines might prove on investigation to be not a clew but a -will-o'-the-wisp, I preferred to think that fate or the acute -reasoning of Inspector Gatton had sent me down to this quiet country -for a good purpose; and I built great hopes around the figure of the -"lady down from London." Indeed it appeared to me that there were more -lines of investigation demanding attention than alone I could hope to -deal with in the short time at my disposal. Except that I was -determined to visit Friar's Park early on the following day, I -scarcely knew in which direction next to prosecute my inquiries.</p> - -<p>Determining that I should be well-advised to sleep on the problem, I -presently turned in. And when I blew out the candle with which the -chambermaid had provided me, I remember thinking that the moonlight -was so bright that it would have been possible to read moderately -large type without inconvenience.</p> - -<p>I slept perhaps for two hours or more, an unrefreshing sleep disturbed -by dreams of a wildly grotesque nature. Figures increasingly horrible -and menacing crowded upon me; but that which proved the culminating -horror and which finally awakened me, bathed in cold perspiration, was -a dream of two huge green eyes regarding me with a fixed stare, -fascinating and hypnotic, against which evil power I fought in my -dream with all the strength of my will.</p> - -<p>Vaguely defined as if in smoke I could perceive the body of the -creature to which these incredible eyes belonged. It was slender and -sinuous and sometimes I thought it to be that of a human being and -sometimes that of an animal. For at one moment it possessed all the -lines of a woman's form and in the next, with those terrible eyes -regarding me from low down upon the ground, it had assumed the shape -of a crouching beast of prey. This fearsome apparition seemed to be -creeping towards me—nearer and nearer, and was about to spring, I -thought, when I awakened as I have said and sat suddenly upright.</p> - -<p>One thing I immediately perceived which may have accounted for my bad -dreams; I had been sleeping with the moonlight shining directly upon -my face. Another thing I thought I perceived, but endeavored to assure -myself that it represented the aftermath of an unpleasant nightmare. -This was a lithe shape streaking through my open window—a figment of -the imagination, as I concluded at the time, the tail-end of a dream -visibly retreating in the moment of awakening.</p> - -<p>So self-assured of this did I become, that I did not get up to -investigate the matter, nor was there any sound from the road below to -suggest that the figure had been otherwise than imaginary, yet I found -it difficult to woo slumber again, and for nearly an hour I lay -tossing from side to side, listening to the ticking of the -grandfather's clock and constantly seeing in my mind's eye that -deserted supper-room at the Red House.</p> - -<p>And presently as I lay thus, I became aware of two things: first of -the howling of dogs, and, second, of a sort of muttered conversation -which seemed to be taking place somewhere near me. Listening intently, -I thought I could distinguish the voice of a man and that of a woman. -Possibly I was not the only wakeful inhabitant of the Abbey Inn was my -first and most natural idea; but it presently became apparent to me -that the speakers were not in the inn, but outside in the road.</p> - -<p>Curiosity at last overcame inclination. Of the exact time I was not -aware, but I think dawn could not have been far off, and I naturally -wondered who these might be that conversed beneath my window at such -an hour. I rose quietly and crept across the room, endeavoring to -avoid showing my head in the moonlight. By the exercise of a little -ingenuity I obtained a view of the road before the inn doors.</p> - -<p>At first I was unable to make out from whence this muttered -conversation arose, until fixing my attention upon a patch of shadow -underlying a tall tree which stood almost immediately opposite the -window, I presently made out two figures there. Somewhere, a dog was -howling mournfully.</p> - -<p>For a long time I failed to distinguish any more than indefinite -outlines, nor, throughout the murmured colloquy, did I once detect -even so much as a phrase. The night remained perfect and the moon -possessed a tropical brilliance, casting deep and sharply defined -shadows, and lending to the whole visible landscape a quality of -hardness which for some obscure reason set me thinking of a painting -by Wiertz.</p> - -<p>The low-pitched voices continued in what I thought was a dispute. -Something in the voice of the woman, although I could only hear her -occasionally, piqued yet eluded my memory. But it was the voice of a -young woman, whilst that of the man suggested a foreigner of some sort -and one past youth. Subconsciously pursuing the Wiertz idea, I know -not why, I invested the dimly-visible speakers with distinct -personalities. The man became Asmodeus, master of the revels at the -Black Sabbath, and the young woman I cast for that "young witch" -depicted in one of the canvasses of the weird Belgian genius.</p> - -<p>Everything in the black and silver scene seemed to fit the picture. -Here was the unholy tryst, and I pictured the distant woods "peopled -with gray things, the branches burdened with winged creatures arisen -from the pit; the darkness a curtain 'broidered with luminous eyes...."</p> - -<p>And it was my recollection of that phrase, from a work on sorcery, -which now set every nerve tingling. Closely I peered into the masking -shadow, telling myself that I was the victim of a subjective -hallucination. If this was indeed the case or if what I saw was -actual, I must leave each who reads to determine for himself; and the -episodes which follow and which I must presently relate will doubtless -aid the decision.</p> - -<p>But it seemed to me that for one fleeting moment "luminous eyes" -indeed "'broidered the darkness!'" From out of the shade below the big -tree they regarded me greenly—and I saw them no more.</p> - -<p>A while longer I watched, but could not detect any evidence of -movement in the shadow patch. The voices, too, had ceased; so that -presently it occurred to me that the speakers must have withdrawn -along a narrow lane which I had observed during the evening and which -communicated with a footpath across the meadows.</p> - -<p>I realized that my heart was beating with extraordinary rapidity. So -powerful and so unpleasant was the impression made upon my mind by -this possibly trivial incident and by the extraordinary dream which -had preceded it, that on returning to bed (and despite the warmth of -the night) I closed both lattices and drew the curtains.</p> - -<p>Whether as a result of thus excluding the moonlight or because of some -other reason I know not, but I soon fell into a sound sleep from which -I did not awaken until the chambermaid knocked at the door at eight -o'clock. Neither did I experience any return of those terrifying -nightmares which had disturbed my slumbers earlier in the night.</p> - -<p>My breakfast despatched, I smoked a pipe on the bench in the porch, -and Mr. Martin, who evidently had few visitors, became almost -communicative. Undesirable patrons, he gave me to understand, had done -his business much harm. By dint of growls and several winks he sought -to enlighten me respecting the identity of these tradekillers. But I -was no wiser on the point at the end of his exposition than I had been -at the beginning.</p> - -<p>"Things ain't right in these parts," he concluded, and thereupon -retired within doors.</p> - -<p>Certainly, whatever the reason might be, the village even in broad -daylight retained that indefinable aspect of neglect, of loneliness. -Many of the cottages were of very early date—and many were empty. A -deserted mill stood at one end of the village street, having something -very mournful and depressing about it, with its black, motionless -wings outspread against the blue sky like those of a great bat -transfixed.</p> - -<p>There were rich-looking meadows no great way from the village, but -these, I learned, formed part of the property of Farmer Hines, and -Farmer Hines was counted an inhabitant of the next parish. It was, -then, this particular country about Upper Crossleys over which the -cloud hung; and I wondered if the district had been one of -those—growing rare nowadays—which had flourished under the -protection of the "big house" and had decayed with the decay of the -latter. It had been a common enough happening in the old days, and I -felt disposed to adopt this explanation.</p> - -<p>My brief survey completed, then, I returned to the Abbey Inn for my -stick and camera, and set out forthwith for Friar's Park.</p> - -<p>From certain atmospherical indications which I had observed, I had -anticipated a return of the electrical storm which a few days before -had interrupted the extraordinary heat-wave. And now as I left the -village behind and came out on the dusty highroad a faint breeze -greeted me—and afar off I discerned a black cloud low down upon the -distant hills.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII <br />DR. DAMAR GREEFE</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>As the crow flies Friar's Park was less than two miles from the Abbey -Inn; but the road, which according to a sign-board led "to -Hainingham," followed a tortuous course through the valley, and when -at last I came to what I assumed to be the gate-lodge, a thunderous -ebony cloud crested the hill-top above, and its edge, catching the -burning rays of the sun, glowed fiercely like the pall of Avalon in -the torchlight. Through the dense ranks of firs cloaking the slopes a -breeze presaging the coming storm whispered evilly, and here in the -hollow the birds were still.</p> - -<p>I stared rather blankly at the ivy-covered lodge, which, if -appearances were to be trusted, was unoccupied. But I pushed open the -iron gate and tugged at a ring which was suspended from the wall. A -discordant clangor rewarded my efforts, the cracked note of a bell -which spoke from somewhere high up in the building, that seemed to be -buffeted to and fro from fir to fir, until it died away, mournfully, -in some place of shadows far up the slope.</p> - -<p>In the voice of the bell there was something lonesome, something akin -to the atmosphere of desertion which seemed to lie upon the whole -neighborhood—something fearful, too, as though the bell would -whisper: "Return! Beware of disturbing the dwellers in this place."</p> - -<p>The house, one wing of which I have said was visible from the inn -window, could not be seen at all from the gate. Indeed I had lost -sight of it at the moment that I had set out and had never obtained a -glimpse of it since.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes before, I had inquired the way from a farm-laborer whom I -had met on the road, and he had answered me with a curiosity but -thinly veiled. His directions had been characterized by that rustic -vagueness which assumes in the inquirer an intimate knowledge of local -landmarks. But nevertheless I believed I had come aright. I gathered -from its name that Friar's Park was in part at least a former monastic -building, and certainly the cracked bell spoke with the voice of -ancient monasteries, and had in it the hush of cloisters and the sigh -of renunciation.</p> - -<p>Although I had mentioned nothing of the purpose of my journey to mine -host of the Abbey Inn or to any of his cronies—and these were few in -number—I had hoped to find Hawkins at the lodge; and a second time I -awoke the ghostly bell-voice. But nothing responded to its call; man, -bird and beast had seemingly deserted Friar's Park.</p> - -<p>Faintly I detected the lowing of cattle in some distant pasture; the -ranks of firs whispered secretly one to another; and the pall above -the hills grew blacker and began to stretch out over the valley.</p> - -<p>Amid this ominous stillness of nature I began to ascend the -cone-strewn path. Evidently enough the extensive grounds had been -neglected for years, and that few pedestrians and fewer vehicles ever -sought Friar's Park was demonstrated by the presence of luxurious -weeds in the carriage-way. Having proceeded for some distance, until -the sheer hillside seemed to loom over me like the wall of a tower, I -paused, peering about in the ever growing darkness. I was aware of a -physical chill; certainly no ray of sunlight ever penetrated to this -tunnel through the firs. Could I have mistaken the path and be -proceeding, not towards the house, but away from it, and into the -gloom of the woods? Or perhaps the deserted lodge was that of some -other, empty establishment.</p> - -<p>There was something uncomfortable in this reflection; momentarily I -knew a childish fear of the dim groves. I thought of the "darkness -'broidered with luminous eyes," and I walked forward rapidly, -self-assertively. Ten paces brought me to one of the many bends in the -winding road—and there, far ahead, as though out of some cavern in -the very hillside, a yellow light shone.</p> - -<p>I pressed on with greater assurance, until the house became visible. -Now I perceived that I had indeed strayed from the carriage sweep in -some way, for the path that I was following terminated at the foot of -a short flight of moss-covered steps. I mounted the steps and found -myself at the bottom of a terrace. The main entrance was far to my -left and separated from the terrace by a neglected lawn. That portion -of the place was Hanoverian and ugly, whilst the wing nearest to me -was Tudor and picturesque. Excepting the yellow light shining out from -a window on the right of the porch, no illuminations were visible -about the house, although the brewing storm had already plunged the -hollow into premature night.</p> - -<p>My conception of Friar's Park had been wide of the reality—and there -was no sign of occupancy about this strange-looking mansion, which -might have hidden forgotten for centuries in the horse-shoe of the -hills. The stillness of the place was of that sort which almost seems -to be palpable; that can be seen and felt. A humid chill arose -apparently from the terrace, with its stone pavings outlined in moss, -and crept up from the wilderness below and down from the fir woods -above.</p> - -<p>I had crossed the terrace and the lawn, and now stood looking through -the open French window from which light had proceeded into a room that -evidently adjoined the hall. A great still darkness had come, and on a -littered table in this room a reading-lamp was burning.</p> - -<p>The room was furnished as a library. Every available foot of wall -space was occupied by laden bookcases. The volumes were nearly all old -and many of them were in strange, evidently foreign, bindings. Items -of chemical apparatus and cases of specimens were visible also as well -as an amazing collection of Egyptian relics strewn about the place in -the utmost disorder.</p> - -<p>At the table a man was seated, deep in study of a huge leather-bound -volume. He was strangely gaunt, and apparently very tall. His -clean-shaven face resembled that of Anubis, the hawk-headed god of -Ancient Egypt, and his hair, which was growing white, he wore long and -brushed back from his bony brow. His skin was of a dull, even yellow -color, and his long thin brown hands betrayed to me the fact that the -man was a Eurasian. The crunching of a piece of gravel under foot -revealed my presence. The man looked up swiftly.</p> - -<p>I started. Those widely-opened black eyes were truly hawk-like in -their dark intensity of gaze, and the uncanny resemblance to Anubis -was heightened by them. More than ever convinced that I had made a -mistake:</p> - -<p>"Forgive me for so rudely disturbing you," I said, "but I was under -the impression that this was Friar's Park, whereas I fear I have -trespassed."</p> - -<p>The intense gaze never left my face for a moment, but:</p> - -<p>"There is no trespass," answered the man at the table, speaking in a -high harsh voice and with a marked but evasive accent. "All visitors -are welcome—chance ones, or otherwise. But you have certainly lost -your way; this is the Bell House."</p> - -<p>"And am I far from Friar's Park?"</p> - -<p>"No great distance. May I ask if Lady Coverly knew of your proposed -visit?"</p> - -<p>"She did not," I said with surprise.</p> - -<p>"Then I fear your journey has been fruitless. She is an invalid and -can receive no one."</p> - -<p>There was something peremptory and imperious in his manner which I -resented, and evidently perceiving this resentment:</p> - -<p>"I am Lady Coverly's medical adviser," added the Eurasian. "Possibly I -can afford you some assistance. In any event I fear you will have to -accept my poor hospitality for the nonce. The alternative is a -drenching."</p> - -<p>Even as he spoke, the hollow was illuminated by a blinding flash of -lightning, and indeed his last words were drowned in the thunder that -boomed and crashed in deepening peals over the hills.</p> - -<p>In a sudden tropical torrent the rain descended, and I stepped forward -into the room. Its occupant rose to his great height to greet me.</p> - -<p>"I am Dr. Damar Greefe," he said, and bowed formally.</p> - -<p>I made myself known to him in turn, and with a sort of stately -courtesy he set a high-backed chair for me and himself resumed his -former seat.</p> - -<p>"You are a stranger to this neighborhood, I gather?" he continued.</p> - -<p>Now, in spite of his polished courtesy, there was that about Dr. Damar -Greefe which I did not and could not like. The voice was the voice of -a gentleman, but the face was a mask—a mask of Anubis; and seated -there in that strange untidy apartment, amid varied relics of the past -and obscure experiments possibly designed to pry into the future, -whilst thunder boomed high over the Bell House, I determined to -withhold from Dr. Damar Greefe the true nature of my mission. In fact -already I regretted having told him my name—although to have given a -fictitious one would have been a gross violation of hospitality -unhesitatingly offered.</p> - -<p>Even now I find it hard to explain the mingled sentiments which -claimed me on the occasion of this my first meeting with a very -singular man.</p> - -<p>"I am taking a brief rest cure," I replied; "and as I am given to -understand that Friar's Park is of much historical interest, I had -purposed seeking permission to look over the place and if possible to -take a few photographs."</p> - -<p>Dr. Damar Greefe inclined his head gravely.</p> - -<p>"A former monastic house, Mr. Addison," he replied. "And as you say, -of great archaeological interest. But the regrettably poor health of -Lady Coverly makes it impossible for her to entertain visitors."</p> - -<p>Something in the tone of his voice, which now he had lowered so that -some of its natural harshness was disguised, set me wondering where I -had heard it before. It needed no further scrutiny of the hawk face to -convince me that I had never hitherto met Dr. Damar Greefe; but I -certainly believed that I had previously heard his voice, although I -quite failed to recall where and under what circumstances.</p> - -<p>"Sir Burnham has been dead for several years, I believe?" I asked -tentatively.</p> - -<p>"For several years, yes."</p> - -<p>Without returning to the peremptory tone which had distinguished his -earlier manner, Dr. Damar Greefe coldly but courteously blocked my -path to discussion of the Coverly family; and after several abortive -attempts to draw him out upon the point, I recognized this deliberate -design and abandoned the matter.</p> - -<p>The storm was moving westward, and although brilliant flashes of -lightning several times lighted up the queer room, gleaming upon the -gayly-painted lid of an Egyptian sarcophagus or throwing into horrid -relief some anatomical specimen in one of the cases, the thunder -crashed no more over the house. But its booming reached my ears from -away upon a remote spur of the hills. I became aware of a growing -uneasiness in the company of my chance host, who sat by the oddly -littered table, watching me with those birdlike eyes.</p> - -<p>"Surely," I said, "the rain has ceased?"</p> - -<p>"Temporarily," he replied, glancing toward the terrace. "But I should -advise you to delay a few minutes longer. There is every threat of a -concluding downpour to come ere long."</p> - -<p>"Many thanks," I returned; "I'll risk it. I have already trespassed -unwarrantably upon your time, Dr. Greefe. It was good of you to give -me shelter."</p> - -<p>He rose, a tall thin figure, vaguely repellent, upon realizing that I -was set on departure, and conducted me out by way of the front door. -Standing in the porch:</p> - -<p>"At any time that you chance to be again in my neighborhood, Mr. -Addison," he said, "I beg of you to call. I have few visitors."</p> - -<p>By what process, whether of reasoning or intuition, I came to the -conclusion, I know not; but as I turned the bend of the tree-roofed -drive and saw the deserted lodge ahead, I knew beyond any possibility -of doubt that Dr. Damar Greefe had not returned to his studies, but -had swiftly passed along some path through the trees so as to head me -off! His purpose in so doing I knew not, but that he had cherished -this purpose and proposed to act upon it I had divined in some way at -the moment that I had left him in the porch.</p> - -<p>Now, hastening my steps, I began to wonder if his design was to -intercept me or merely to watch which way I should turn on gaining the -main road. That it was the latter I presently learned; for although my -unpleasant imagination pictured the gaunt hawk-like figure lurking -amid the shadows which hemmed me in, I played the part of innocence -and never once looked back.</p> - -<p>Coming out into the highroad, I turned sharply left, retracing the -route by which I had come to the Eurasian doctor's abode. If he had -suspected that I had intended to call at Friar's Park despite his -assurance that such a visit would prove futile, then he was -disappointed. A new and strange theory to account for "the <i>Oritoga</i> -mystery" had presented itself to me—a horrible theory, yet, so far as -my present data went, a feasible one. Above all, I realized that I had -committed a strategical error in openly seeking an interview with Lady -Coverly. But I had not, when I had formed that plan, known of the -existence of Dr. Damar Greefe.</p> - -<p>I uttered a sigh of relief upon emerging upon the highroad. The -certainty that the white-haired Eurasian was dogging me through the -trees was an unpleasant one. And now I perceived that several courses -presented themselves; but first I must obtain more information. I -perceived a mystery within a mystery; for I was not likely to forget -that in Dr. Damar Greefe's collection I had noted a number of -<i>Bubastite cats</i>.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XIV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV <br />THE BLACK DOCTOR</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>My mail, neatly readdressed by Coates, was awaiting me when I returned -to the Abbey Inn. The postal deliveries in Upper Crossleys were -eccentric and unreliable, but having glanced through the cuttings -enclosed, I partook of a hasty lunch and sat down to the task of -preparing a column for the <i>Planet</i> which should not deflect public -interest from the known central figures in the tragedy but which at -the same time should hint at new developments.</p> - -<p>Many times in the intervals of writing I glanced through my open -window across the valley to where the upstanding wing of Friar's Park -jutted above the trees. Strange and terrible ideas flocked to my -mind—ideas which must be carefully excluded from the <i>Planet</i> -article. But at last the manuscript was completed and I determined to -walk into the neighboring town, some miles distant, to post it and at -the same time to despatch a code telegram to Inspector Gatton. The -long walk did me good, helping me to clear my mind of morbid vapors; -therefore, my business finished, and immune from suspicion in my -character of a London pedestrian, I set out to obtain that vital -information which I lacked.</p> - -<p>A natural taciturnity rendered mine host of the Abbey Inn a difficult -subject for interrogation. Moreover that patriarchal outlook which had -been evidenced in his attitude towards the uncouth Edward Hines -clearly enough deterred him from imparting to me any facts detrimental -to the good name of Upper Crossleys. But on the highroad and just -before entering the outskirts of the little country town, I had -observed an inn which had seemed to be well patronized by the local -folks, and since your typical country tap-room is a clearing-house for -the gossip of the neighborhood, to "The Threshers" I made my way.</p> - -<p>The doors had only just been opened; nevertheless as I set my foot -upon the step I met the very gossip that I sought.</p> - -<p>"Hope you wasn't caught in the shower, this morning, sir?" said an old -man seated solitary in an armchair in the corner of the bar-parlor. -"But the country'll be all the better for the rain." He eyed me, and: -"There's many a fine walk hereabouts," he averred. "There's lots -comes down from London, especially of a Sunday."</p> - -<p>"No doubt," said I encouragingly, stepping up to the counter.</p> - -<p>"There's Manton-on-the-Hill," continued the ancient. "You can see the -sea from there in clear weather; and many's the time in the war I've -heard the guns in France from Upper Crowbury of a still night. Then, -four mile away, there's the old Friar's Park; though nobody's allowed -past the gate. Not as nobody wants to be," he added reflectively.</p> - -<p>"How is that? I understood that Friar's Park was of great interest."</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah!" murmured my acquaintance. "Oh, ah! Maybe you was thinkin' of -lookin' over it like?"</p> - -<p>"I was—yes."</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah! Well—there's some likes a bit o' danger."</p> - -<p>"Danger?" I echoed. "To what danger do you refer?"</p> - -<p>He surveyed me with cunning, old rheumy eyes, and:</p> - -<p>"What about man-traps?" he inquired. "Ain't man-traps dangerous? And -what about shot-guns? Shot-guns can make a party feel sick, can't -they? Oh, ah!"</p> - -<p>"But," I exclaimed, "you surely don't mean that there are traps laid -in the grounds of the Park? It isn't legal. And why should any one -shoot at visitors?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe 'cause they're told to," he shouted. "Aye—that's the reason as -like as not; 'cause they're told to."</p> - -<p>"Who are 'they'?"</p> - -<p>"Old Gipsy Hawkins as used to be Sir Burnham's under-keeper. What's he -doin' of up there at Park all day? Layin' traps and such—that's what -he's doin' of. My son Jim knows it, he do. My son Jim found one of -'em—and left best part of a pair of trousers in it, too!"</p> - -<p>These statements if true would seem to cast an unpleasant sidelight -upon the character of my acquaintance of the Abbey Inn. I wondered if -the "Jim" referred to was that "young Jim Corder" whose name seemed -to be a standing joke with the man Hawkins (I learned later that it -was so). And I wondered if Martin's mysterious references to certain -patrons, whose patronage had damaged his business, might not have -referred to the game-keeper. Moreover I now put a new construction -upon Hawkins' sly amusement when I had inquired about the "shooting" -in the neighborhood.</p> - -<p>I began to grow keenly interested, and:</p> - -<p>"Surely you took some steps in the matter?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah. My son Jim did. He lay for days for that there Gipsy -Hawkins—but Hawkins was too wise for him."</p> - -<p>"But," said I, "you could legally have claimed damages."</p> - -<p>"Maybe," was the reply; "but I reckon they'd have asked what my son -Jim was doing in the Park. Oh, ah, I reckon they would."</p> - -<p>This point of view had not hitherto presented itself to me, but that -it was a just one I did not doubt.</p> - -<p>"What is the object of all this?" I asked. "Does Lady Coverly object -to any one entering the grounds?"</p> - -<p>"'Tain't Lady Coverly," confided the old man; "it's that there black -doctor."</p> - -<p>"What black doctor?" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Him they call Doctor Greefe."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said I, "you call him the black doctor. Is he a negro?"</p> - -<p>"He's black," was the reply, "black he is although his hair is white. -Oh, ah, there's black blood in him all right."</p> - -<p>"And what has he to do with the man-traps in the Park?"</p> - -<p>"Has 'em put there—has 'em put there, he does."</p> - -<p>"But what for? Surely the property belongs not to Dr. Greefe but to -Lady Coverly."</p> - -<p>"Belongs to her! Her own soul don't belong to her!"</p> - -<p>I was conscious of a growing excitement. I thought that I was about to -learn the very fact which I was seeking, and accordingly:</p> - -<p>"What is the age of Lady Burnham Coverly?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Lady Burnham? Well, let me see; she were not more'n about -twenty-five, I reckon, when Sir Burnham first brought her to the Park. -Them was the days, them was. These parts 'as changed cruel since I was -a young man. Then it was soon after as Sir Burnham went off to Egypt -for government, and eleven years afore he come back again."</p> - -<p>"Did Lady Burnham accompany him to Egypt?" I asked, interestedly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah, for sure she did. Poor Mr. Roger was born in Egypt. It was -eight years come October they returned home to Park, and six years -come September poor young Mr. Roger died."</p> - -<p>"Then Lady Coverly must be something over forty years of age," said I -musingly.</p> - -<p>One of my theories, a wild one, I must confess, was shattered by this -piece of information. In short I had conceived the idea (and the news -that Lady Coverly had resided for some years in Egypt had strengthened -it) that the woman in the case was none other than the mistress of -Friar's Park! Her antipathy towards the late baronet had seemed to -suggest a motive for the crime. But it was impossible to reconcile the -figure of this lonely and bereaved woman with that of the -supernormally agile visitant to my cottage in London, in short, with -the possessor of those dreadful green eyes. I determined to try a new -tack, and remembering that the real object of my journey to Upper -Crossleys was to learn particulars respecting the early death of Roger -Coverly:</p> - -<p>"Did Mr. Roger Coverly die in England?" I inquired.</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, sir; he died in foreign parts, but they brought him home to -bury him, they did."</p> - -<p>"Do you know of what he died?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah. I have heard tell it was some foreign fever like—took him -off sudden, and him only a lad. It killed poor Sir Burnham, it did."</p> - -<p>"Then Sir Burnham died shortly afterwards?"</p> - -<p>"Two years afterwards, and these parts has never been the same since."</p> - -<p>"But what has Dr. Greefe to do with all this?"</p> - -<p>"Ah, now you're asking. Seven years ago he settled here in the big -house up by the Park; part of the Park estate it is; and there he's -been ever since, him and his black servant."</p> - -<p>"Black servant!" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah, real black he is—not half-and-half like his master, but as -black as a lump o' coal, an' ugly—oh, ah, he's ugly right enough. -Goes up to the Abbey Inn of a night he do, him and that there Gipsy -Hawkins, the prettiest pair o' rascals in Upper Crossleys. Drove all -the decent folk away from the place, and Martin keeps the best beer -about here, too. If I was Martin," continued the ancient, truculently, -"I'd know what to say to them two, I would; aye, and what to do to -'em," he added with great ferocity.</p> - -<p>"Oh," said I; for this unexpected clearing up of so many minor -mysteries had rather taken me aback. "Then Dr. Greefe is not popular?"</p> - -<p>"Popular!" echoed the old man.</p> - -<p>He drained his tankard and set it down on the table with a bang.</p> - -<p>"He's been the ruin o' these parts, he has. He's worse than the -turnip-fly."</p> - -<p>"But in what way is he responsible for these evils of which you -complain?"</p> - -<p>The old man peered into his empty mug with a glance of such eloquence -that I could not mistake its import. Accordingly, I caused it to be -refilled, thus preventing any check in the flow of his eloquence, and:</p> - -<p>"In what way?" he asked, his voice raised in a high quavering note. He -laughed, and his laughter was pitched in the same time-worn key. "That -doctor is a blot on the country. When Sir Burnham was alive—and afore -he went to Egypt—it was different; although, mind you, it's my -belief—oh, ah, it is indeed—that him coming here had as much to do -with Sir Burnham's death as the loss of his son what I told you -about. That's my belief."</p> - -<p>I took a sip from my replenished mug, and:</p> - -<p>"I cannot understand," I said, "why the presence of Dr. Greefe should -have brought about the death of Sir Burnham or the death of anybody -else."</p> - -<p>"No," said the old man, cunningly; "you can't, eh? Well, there be -things none of us can understand and things some of us can. If you -ever clap eyes on that there black doctor, like enough this'll be one -of the things you'll be able to understand."</p> - -<p>With the idea of drawing yet more intimate confidences:</p> - -<p>"You suggest that Dr. Greefe had some hold upon the late Sir Burnham?"</p> - -<p>"I don't suggest nothing."</p> - -<p>"Some hold upon Lady Burnham, then?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, ah, like enough."</p> - -<p>"Don't think," I added solicitously, "that I doubt the truth of your -statements in any way, but what could this black doctor, as you call -him, have to gain by persecuting these people?"</p> - -<p>"There be things," replied my aged friend, "what none of us can -understand, but there be things that all of us do. Oh, ah, there be; -and all of us in these parts knows as Upper Crossleys ain't been the -same since that black doctor settled here. Besides, first Mr. Roger -went, then Sir Burnham went. Now I do read in this 'ere paper as -another of 'em is gone."</p> - -<p>He held up two gnarled and twitching fingers crossed before him.</p> - -<p>"Did you ever hear tell of the evil eye?" he asked, and peered at me -cunningly. He took a long drink from his mug. "But maybe you'll laugh -at <i>that</i>," he added.</p> - -<p>"I am in no way disposed to laugh at anything you have told me," I -assured him; "and as to the evil eye, I have certainly heard of such a -thing, although I must admit, and I am glad to admit, that I have -never met with it."</p> - -<p>"I do trust, sir," responded the ancient, "that such a kind-hearted -gent may never meet with it. Ah, I do trust that you never may, which -is to say, so to speak, as I do trust as you'll never meet that black -doctor. If ever a man, had the evil eye, that black doctor's got it, -and old Mother Shale what lives in the cottage on the heath down -against the windmill, she warned me, she did, three days after he come -here. 'Mr. Corder,' she says, 'that black doctor has the evil eye!' -And never was a truer word spoke. He's been the bane and blight of -this 'ere place, he has."</p> - -<p>He paused from sheer lack of breath, and having allowed him some -little interval of repose:</p> - -<p>"But what has the evil eye to do with the laying of man-traps and the -shooting of visitors who may chance to cross the estate?" I inquired.</p> - -<p>"Ah, that's it! But the evil eye, I'm told, goes with the evil heart, -and that man's heart's as black as his face. Blacker," he added, on -second thoughts.</p> - -<p>"Yet you have no positive evidence that Dr. Greefe is responsible for -the setting of these man-traps and the attitude of Hawkins?"</p> - -<p>"Nobody has," declared my acquaintance earnestly. "If anybody had, -we'd have had the law on him long ago."</p> - -<p>"And is Lady Burnham often seen about?" I inquired.</p> - -<p>"Never!" was the reply. "She ain't passed the gates of the Park this -twelve months and more."</p> - -<p>He looked about him covertly, and:</p> - -<p>"It's my belief," he affirmed, lowering his quavering voice almost to -a whisper, "that she'll never pass them gates again alive."</p> - -<p>"Oh," said I. "This seems to be a very cheerful neighborhood. Yet in -spite of your wishes on my behalf, I must confess I should like a -glimpse of this black doctor. Does he practice about here?"</p> - -<p>"Practice? Is it likely?"</p> - -<p>"Then he has private means?"</p> - -<p>"His house belongs to the estate," was the reply; "and you can't tell -me he ever pays any rent. As to his means I don't know nothing about -that."</p> - -<p>I gathered little more of interest from my acquaintance of "The -Threshers," but indeed I had gathered enough, and as I wended my way -back to the Abbey Inn, I was turning over in my mind the extraordinary -story that he had related to me concerning Dr. Damar Greefe.</p> - -<p>Clearly the man lived the life of a pariah and I knew not whether to -pity him or otherwise. In an ignorant community it is a dreadful thing -to earn such a reputation as that which evidently attached to the -Eurasian doctor; and this talk of the evil eye took me back -automatically to the early days of this quaint spot, where, cut off -from the larger things of life, the simple folk continued to hold the -same beliefs which had stirred their forefathers. In those remote -times when the white brethren from the neighboring Abbey had held -absolute sway in that country-side, the life history of one accused, as -Dr. Damar Greefe was now accused, of possessing the evil eye, would -very probably have terminated upon a pile of faggots, by order of -Mother Church. It was all very strange, and apart from its importance -in the eyes of the ignorant country folk, seemed to contain a nucleus -of something more germane to the object of my mission than the -imaginings of ancient sorcery which still lingered in the minds of the -people of Upper Crossleys.</p> - -<p>I thought how I had looked out of my window and had found in the -moon-bathed landscape something which had translated my ideas to that -strange picture of Wiertz. Then I had known nothing of this nebula of -witchcraft which, according to popular tradition, rested upon the -vicinity; yet I had pictured the night as "a curtain 'broidered with -luminous eyes"—and I could only suppose that my mind had become -impressed by a picture conjured up by this focusing of local thought. -In short, the people of the neighborhood had created this atmosphere -of desolation and of something more sinister, which I had observed in -the very hour of my arrival at the little village.</p> - -<p>So my thoughts ran as I proceeded back to the Abbey Inn; and as I had -collected much new and valuable information, I determined to embody it -in a long report to Gatton. Furthermore, I was doubtful as to my next -step, the bold move which I made later not having yet presented itself -to my mind.</p> - -<p>Twice during the evening, however, I looked into the bar-parlor, but -neither "Gipsy" Hawkins nor the black servant appeared. But when at -last I turned in, I closed my windows and drew the curtains. I desired -no repetition of the dreams which had made hideous my first night at -the Abbey Inn.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XV <br />I RECEIVE VISITORS</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>Over my breakfast, on the following morning, I began to formulate that -plan which was to lead to an extraordinary discovery. I breakfasted in -my own room, and just as I had finished and was about to light my -pipe, Mr. Martin, the landlord, knocked at the door.</p> - -<p>"Come in," I cried.</p> - -<p>He entered, and:</p> - -<p>"A lady has called to see you, sir," he announced.</p> - -<p>The manner in which he made the statement evidenced a curious mixture -of disapproval and respect. For my own part it is perhaps unnecessary -for me to say that my first thought, as always, was Isobel! In the -very moment, however, that this idea visited me (the wish being father -of the thought) I recognized its folly.</p> - -<p>"A lady," I repeated; "but I know no one here. Are you certain that it -was for me she asked?"</p> - -<p>"Quite, sir," replied the landlord, who was evidently flurried out of -his usual calm by what I gathered to be an episode unprecedented in -his memories of the Abbey Inn. "Mr. Addison, she asked for. She is -waiting in the coffee-room, sir."</p> - -<p>Wholly at a loss to understand who my visitor could be, I made my way -to the little apartment at the side of the bar-parlor which Mr. Martin -had dignified with the title of coffee-room. I observed upon the bench -before the door a shabby-looking fellow whom I might have taken to be -some local tradesman except that he appeared to be a chance visitor -and was evidently unacquainted with Martin. He was reading a newspaper -and I saw a cup of coffee set upon the bench beside him.</p> - -<p>This was a hazy morning, which I thought betokened another hot day, -and as I entered the "coffee-room" I found it to be pervaded by a -curious half-light, not unlike that of summer twilight. The glow of -the sun peering redly through the mist added warmth to this soft -illumination, but since the room boasted only one small window it was -badly lighted even at noon.</p> - -<p>From a little horse-hair-covered sofa set before this window my -visitor rose to greet me, and with my hand upon the knob of the door I -paused. For certainly this was a stranger who stood before me!</p> - -<p>She was tall and very slender, attired with great elegance, and in her -whole appearance there was something markedly foreign—or perhaps I -should say exotic. She wore a small hat which I judged to be Parisian -and expensive, and from its brim depended a figured veil which -effectually disguised her features, without being able or perhaps -without being intended to disguise her brilliant, almond-shaped eyes. -For one moment, a dreadful idea presented itself to me; but the most -appalling memory which I retained of those other witch-eyes around -which so much mystery clustered was their brilliant greenness. The -eyes of my visitor, although unusually large and brilliant, were -totally different in shape, being long and narrow, and apparently of a -wonderful amber color.</p> - -<p>When she spoke her voice was very cultured and soft; yet I started and -I know I must have been staring very hard and very rudely. There was a -faint huskiness in its tone, a caress in its accents, which -irresistibly reminded me of the scene in my study which had resulted, -in the loss of the image of Bâst.</p> - -<p>I think I have already indicated that I am one of those who arrive at -a decision somewhat laboriously; and now convinced that my memory of -the luminous eyes was threatening to become an obsession, so that I -looked to find them blazing out at me from the face of every stranger -whom I encountered, I forced myself to believe that a chance -resemblance in my visitor's voice to the voice of that other visitor -had tricked me.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Addison," she said, "I'm afraid you will think this call somewhat -unconventional, but"—she paused almost imperceptibly—"I am staying -at Friar's Park, and Lady Coverly has heard from Dr. Greefe that you -wish to see the house."</p> - -<p>"Really," I murmured, "it was good of you to take so much trouble, -but—"</p> - -<p>"It was no trouble at all," she declared. "I had occasion to come this -way and Lady Coverly asked me to call and tell you that whilst she is -not well enough to receive visitors, you are quite welcome to inspect -the older parts of the house."</p> - -<p>"I am much indebted," I said.</p> - -<p>Having so spoken, I ceased and was aware of a kind of embarrassment. -For whilst I was naturally anxious to avoid unpleasant suspicions -regarding a lady who apparently had gone out of her way to perform an -act of courtesy, yet I could not place this elegant figure in the -household of Friar's Park as that household had been depicted by my -old gossip of "The Threshers."</p> - -<p>I mentally determined there and then to question Martin, and if -possible Hawkins, upon the point, directly an opportunity arose, and -the former immediately my visitor had departed. But she seemed to be -in no hurry to depart.</p> - -<p>"You have never visited this neighborhood before?" she continued, in -the soft, caressing voice which persistently awakened memories of that -evening in my cottage.</p> - -<p>She re-seated herself upon the sofa, leaving me no alternative but to -sit down in the only chair which the coffee-room boasted. I could not -fail to notice, however, that although she addressed me as Mr. -Addison, she did not volunteer her own name. Furthermore, she remained -throughout with her back to the window.</p> - -<p>"Never," I replied; "it is very interesting in many ways, I believe."</p> - -<p>"You will find Friar's Park most fascinating," she assured me. "It -stands upon the site of one of the oldest and largest monasteries in -the south of England. Indeed, some parts of the house, notably the -chapel and the west tower, which is visible from here, I think, are -remains of the original building."</p> - -<p>She was palpably trying to interest me; and conscious that my somewhat -frigid attitude was churlish, if she was really what she professed to -be—namely, a friend of Lady Coverly's—I endeavored in turn to -display an intelligent interest in the history of the old monastic -house.</p> - -<p>I do not regret that I did so. I think that I have never heard the dry -bones of history clothed so fascinatingly. The knowledge displayed by -my unknown visitor of the history of that old monkish corner of -England was truly amazing. The Coverlys, it appeared, had played their -part in that history right back to the misty times of Saxon England. -The scenes conjured up by my first sight of the curiously wild country -which lay between the village and the distant parkland were presented -now with all the color and truth of real life. This woman seemingly -was acquainted with almost every act of importance of every Coverly -since the days of Canute and with the doings of all the abbots who had -ever ruled over Croix-de-Lis.</p> - -<p>Finally, while I listened in ever growing wonder, fascinated by the -extent of this strange woman's knowledge and in part, too, by the -husky music of her voice, she seemed to become conscious of the -passage of time and, rising suddenly, she laughed; and her laughter -again awakened a memory.</p> - -<p>"How perfectly absurd of me, Mr. Addison!" she said. "You will -certainly think I am more than eccentric to sit here fulfilling the -part of a local guide."</p> - -<p>Even as she spoke the words, a sound intruded from the road outside. A -heavy footstep came first, the footstep of one who approached the door -of the inn; then:</p> - -<p>"Martin!" I heard; "a moment, please."</p> - -<p>It was Dr. Damar Greefe!</p> - -<p>If the sound of his voice had startled me, its effect upon my visitor -was truly singular. Taking a swift step towards me, she grasped my arm -with her strangely slender gloved hand. Now that she stood so close to -me, I realized that she was even taller than I had supposed, nearly as -tall as myself, in fact. Her swift, lithe movements possessed an -indescribable grace which, as I thought, and experienced a sudden -revulsion, were oddly uncanny—cat-like.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Mr. Addison," she said, and drew even nearer, so that I could -feel her breath upon my cheek, "I fear that man as one fears a snake. -I am going to ask a favor of you. I see that there is another door to -this room, and I have a particular reason for wishing to avoid him. I -don't know where that doorway leads to, but I can doubtless find my -way out."</p> - -<p>Her grasp upon my arm tightened.</p> - -<p>"Dare I ask you," she added pleadingly, "to conceal from him if -necessary the fact that I have been here?"</p> - -<p>"But Martin knows that you have been here," I protested, my mind in a -whirl at this sudden turn of affairs; "and the man sitting on the -bench outside must have seen you come in also."</p> - -<p>"He did not," she replied rapidly, "and Martin does not know who I -am."</p> - -<p>It was on the tip of my tongue to say, "Neither do I," but:</p> - -<p>"Please," she pleaded; "it is not much to ask, but it means so much to -me."</p> - -<p>Thereupon, without waiting for my answer, she turned and ran out -through the little doorway, which opened as a matter of fact into the -larder of the inn, from which there was an exit into a kitchen-garden.</p> - -<p>I could hear Martin, the landlord, talking to the Eurasian doctor in -the passage outside the coffee-room, and before I had time to open the -door, there came a peremptory rap, the door was opened from the -outside and Dr. Damar Greefe entered.</p> - -<p>In spite of the already great heat of the morning he wore a heavy -black overcoat, and his white hair showed in startling relief beneath -a wide-brimmed black felt hat. If I had been surprised at the tallness -of the woman who had so suddenly departed, the stature of the Eurasian -was curiously illustrated by the fact that he had to lower his head in -order to enter the little doorway.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" he exclaimed, peering towards me where I stood in the badly -lighted room—"Mr. Addison, I believe?"</p> - -<p>"At your service, Dr. Greefe," I replied.</p> - -<p>"I understood that my niece was here?"</p> - -<p>"Your niece!" I exclaimed, and my astonishment was quite unfeigned.</p> - -<p>"Precisely."</p> - -<p>That peremptory manner which I had previously resented in him evinced -itself now; and even had I lacked reasons other than personal for -foiling him I should certainly have returned a reply far from pacific.</p> - -<p>"I was not aware," he continued, his voice high-pitched and harsh, -"that you were acquainted. Inform me."</p> - -<p>All the time he was peering about the room suspiciously, and:</p> - -<p>"I inform you that we are not!" I said. "But if we were, I cannot -conceive that our acquaintance would concern you in any way."</p> - -<p>"You are rude, sir!" he cried, and bent towards me so that I could see -the fierce hawk face set in a vicious scowl.</p> - -<p>"I should be sorry to think so," I said indifferently; for the -Eurasian's behavior transcended the merely annoying and was that of a -lunatic. "I would not willingly provoke a sick man, and the tone and -manner of your address forcibly suggest to me that your temperature is -not normal."</p> - -<p>A moment he stood bending towards me, his pose that of one about to -spring, then:</p> - -<p>"Ah," he exclaimed, "yes, you are right, Mr. Addison. I live much -alone and I fear my manner grows brusk. Overlook it. She has gone, -then?"</p> - -<p>"If you refer to a lady who called upon me half an hour ago—yes, she -is gone."</p> - -<p>He drew himself upright again and stood there, gigantic in the little -room—a great, gaunt figure.</p> - -<p>"Ah! And she was not my niece?"</p> - -<p>"I lack the pleasure of your niece's acquaintance, Dr. Greefe."</p> - -<p>"Yes. You said so. Good day, Mr. Addison."</p> - -<p>He turned, lowered his head, and walked out of the room. When I, in -turn, emerged into the passage, I saw him striding out of the inn. -Martin was standing by the door of the bar-parlor looking very -confused; and as I joined him, intent upon a chat, I observed that the -shabby-looking stranger had departed.</p> - -<p>"Hullo, Martin!" I exclaimed. "I thought I saw a customer here."</p> - -<p>"When you came in there was. He went off with Cassim and Hawkins. They -was goin' to show him the road to Manton."</p> - -<p>"Cassim?"</p> - -<p>"Aye."</p> - -<p>Martin growled and walked behind the bar-counter.</p> - -<p>"You have some curious residents in this neighborhood."</p> - -<p>"Too curious by half."</p> - -<p>"Cassim, for instance, is not an English name."</p> - -<p>Martin indulged in that rumbling sound which was his only form of -laughter.</p> - -<p>"English!" he said. "He's as black as your hat!"</p> - -<p>My hat chanced to be gray, but I followed the idea nevertheless, and:</p> - -<p>"What!" I exclaimed, "a negro?"</p> - -<p>"A blackamoor. That's all I know or care; and dumb!"</p> - -<p>"Dumb! and a friend of Hawkins?"</p> - -<p>"God knows. Things ain't right."</p> - -<p>"Do you know if—a lady—resides with Dr. Greefe?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe—maybe not. There <i>is</i> tales told."</p> - -<p>Substantially this was all I learned from mine host; but, having -lighted my pipe, I sat down on the bench before the door and set my -mind to work in an endeavor to marshal all the facts into some sort of -order.</p> - -<p>The reputation locally enjoyed by Dr. Damar Greefe I could afford to -ignore, I thought, but from my personal observation of the man I had -come to the conclusion that there was much about him which I did not -and could not understand. In the first place, for any man to choose to -live, solitary, in such an abode as the Bell House was remarkable. Why -had the masterful Eurasian retired to that retreat in company with his -black servitor? I thought of my own case, but it did not seem to -afford a strict analogy.</p> - -<p>Then, who was the "niece" so closely guarded by Dr. Greefe? And if she -was none other than my late elegant visitor why had she sought the -interview? Not even my natural modesty, which in such matters I have -sometimes thought to be excessive, could conceal from me the fact that -she had found my society pleasing. But, since I had never seen her -before, did this theory account for her visit? Recalling again that -huskily caressing voice, I asked myself the question: <i>Had</i> I seen her -before?</p> - -<p>Perhaps the apparition of green eyes looking up to my window from the -lane below, which on the night of my arrival I had relegated to the -limbo of dreamland, had been verity and not phantasm. If that were so, -then the uncanny visitant to my cottage had pursued me to Upper -Crossleys!</p> - -<p>Or could it be the fact that she had preceded me? Perhaps Gatton had -not confided the whole of his ideas to me—perhaps, as I had already -suspected, the heart of "the <i>Oritoga</i> mystery" lay here and not in -London.</p> - -<p>The result of my meditations was that I determined, in pursuit of my -original plan, first to call upon Mr. Edward Hines; and having -inquired of Martin the way to Leeways Farm, I took my stick and set -out.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XVI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI <br />THE GOLDEN CAT</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>It was a perfect morning and although the sun had not yet attained to -its full power it had dispersed the early mist and I knew that in -another hour or less the heat would once more have become tropical. -During the first part of my walk, and whilst I remained in the -neighborhood of Upper Crossleys, I met never a wayfarer, and memories -of the green eyes followed me step by step so that I was often tempted -to look back over my shoulder by the idea that I should detect, as I -had detected once before, the presence of some follower. I resented -this impulse, however. I felt that my imagination was adding horrors -to those which already actually existed, so that I should presently -find myself unable to distinguish the real from the imaginary.</p> - -<p>At the end of half an hour's steady tramping I saw before me a place -where a wood dipped down to the wayside so that its trees cast a broad -shadow across the path. I knew that the entrance to the farm lay just -beyond; and, pressing on past the trees, I saw many outbuildings -having none of that deserted appearance which characterized the -neighboring homesteads of Upper Crossleys. Twenty yards beyond the -farm itself appeared in view.</p> - -<p>There was some sign of activity about the yard, and, walking briskly -forward, I presently found myself looking into a stone-paved place -containing numbers of milk-cans. Here a woman was engaged in sweeping -the floor, and:</p> - -<p>"I have called to see Mr. Edward Hines," I said. "Can you tell me -where I shall find him?"</p> - -<p>The woman stared at me in a strange and almost stupefied manner.</p> - -<p>"Is he a friend of yours?" she inquired.</p> - -<p>"He is not exactly a friend of mine," I continued; "but I have very -particular business with him."</p> - -<p>She continued to stare in that curious way and remained silent for so -long that I began to think she was not going to reply, when:</p> - -<p>"If Mr. Edward is not expecting you," she said, "I don't know that I -should advise you to go in. He is not very well just now—and he is -sometimes rather strange."</p> - -<p>"I know," I said. "I quite understand; but he will be willing to see -me when he knows what I have come about. Shall I find him yonder?"</p> - -<p>I pointed towards an open door leading to which was a neat, graveled -path lined by well-kept flower-beds, and which I took to be the main -entrance to the farm.</p> - -<p>"Well, sir," said the woman doubtfully, "they'll tell you there if Mr. -Edward is to be seen; but I don't advise it"</p> - -<p>"That's all right!" I cried, and proceeded in the direction of the -doorway.</p> - -<p>I presently obtained a view of a cozily furnished room, where a -white-haired old lady was bustling about engaged in some domestic -duties. I paused at the threshold.</p> - -<p>"My name is Addison," I said. "Would it be possible for me to have a -few minutes' conversation with Mr. Edward Hines?"</p> - -<p>The old lady (whom I suspected to be the mother of the youth whom I -was seeking) paused in the midst of her task and looked at me in a -troubled way. It was evident enough that the reputation of Mr. Edward -was the same in his home as elsewhere, and it occurred to me that his -upbringing must have been a very bad one.</p> - -<p>"Well," she replied, after this eloquent pause, "he's up in his room -certainly, but he doesn't like to see visitors, I know."</p> - -<p>"He will be perfectly willing to see <i>me</i>," I said, confidently. "I -have news of importance for him"—and as she continued to look at me -in that troubled way: "I know of his present disfigurement," I -explained. "You need not be afraid of any unpleasant scenes."</p> - -<p>"If I were sure of that," she said hesitatingly, and looked me over -with a critical eye. "Does he know you, sir?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes," I answered; "we have met before. I assure you it will be -quite all right if you will just let me walk up and announce myself to -him, Mrs. Hines."</p> - -<p>If I had had any doubt upon the point I was soon to learn that she was -indeed the mother of the notorious Mr. Edwards; for, ere she had time -to reply, a high-pitched, querulous voice which I had heard before -cried out from somewhere above:</p> - -<p>"If that's any one for me, mother, tell him to go away! You know -perfectly well I won't see any one."</p> - -<p>"There you are, sir," said Mrs. Hines, unable to hide her -embarrassment; "I told you he wouldn't see you."</p> - -<p>"Please give me permission to go up," I said; "he will change his mind -when he hears what I have to say."</p> - -<p>"You hear, mother!" came the irritable voice; "I'll break his neck if -he comes up here!"</p> - -<p>Judging from the sound of the voice, I concluded that the excited -young man was located in a room immediately above that at the door of -which I stood.</p> - -<p>"Don't be alarmed, madam," I said, and, stepping into the room, I -placed my hand reassuringly upon the old lady's shoulder.</p> - -<p>Without waiting for any further protest I advanced to an open -staircase which I had already marked as leading to the apartment above -and confidently mounted. The copy-hunting pressman is not readily -excluded, and a few moments later I found myself in an extremely -untidy bedroom, the walls of which were decorated with sporting -prints, Kirchner drawings and photographs of many damsels.</p> - -<p>The scarred young man, his face still a mass of sticking-plaster, -stood with clenched fists facing me, and:</p> - -<p>"Get out!" was his greeting—"before I throw you out."</p> - -<p>"My dear sir," I said, "unless you particularly want to figure in a -very undignified light as a witness in a trial for murder, sit down -and listen to me."</p> - -<p>Edward Hines hesitated, opening and closing his hands and glaring at -me in a preposterous fury.</p> - -<p>"What's the game?" he demanded. "What are you talking about?"</p> - -<p>"I am talking of 'the <i>Oritoga</i> mystery,'" I replied.</p> - -<p>"The <i>Oritoga</i> mystery?"</p> - -<p>His expression changed, and he dropped down into an armchair from -which he had evidently arisen upon hearing my voice below. I observed -a copy of a daily paper lying upon the carpet, and the conspicuous -headline was sufficient to show me that he had actually been reading -the latest reports concerning the case at the time of my arrival. I -had judged my man pretty accurately by this time, and drawing up -another chair which stood near me I sat down facing him, holding out -my open cigar-case.</p> - -<p>"I quite understand your sensitiveness in the circumstances," I said -soothingly; "but there is no occasion to suppose that I have come to -remind you of your misfortune. Have a cigar. I want a chat with you."</p> - -<p>He continued to watch me in a lowering way, but I was gradually -getting him in hand. With very poor grace he accepted a cigar, lighted -it, and threw the match away without offering to light mine. I did -not appear to notice his churlishness, but immediately approached the -matter about which I had come.</p> - -<p>"Although I am not a member of the Criminal Investigation Department," -I continued, "I am nevertheless in a sense an agent of Scotland Yard, -and I must ask you to listen very seriously to what I have to say. You -have in your possession a certain gold amulet—"</p> - -<p>He was on his feet in a moment, the patches of skin visible between -the strapping assuming a purple color. A more choleric young man I had -never met.</p> - -<p>"Damn you!" he cried. "What has it to do with you?"</p> - -<p>"Sit down!" I said sternly. "I have given you one warning; I shall not -give you another. You will either answer my questions civilly here and -now or answer them in court, whichever you please. I shall not give -you another opportunity of choosing. I will repeat my remark: you have -in your possession a certain gold amulet in the form, I believe, of a -cat."</p> - -<p>He was choking and muttering and glaring at me as I spoke, but I -stared at him coolly, and finally he resumed his seat and reached out -one hand towards a chest-of-drawers which stood beside his chair. -Pulling one of the drawers open, he took out a little gold figure of -Bâst, and holding it towards me:</p> - -<p>"Is this the thing you mean?" he jerked uncivilly.</p> - -<p>"It is," I replied; "allow me to examine it."</p> - -<p>He seemed rather reluctant to do so, but nevertheless I took it from -his hand and looked at it closely. Beyond doubt it was of Ancient -Egyptian workmanship and probably a genuine Bubastite votive -offering. Raising my eyes to him again:</p> - -<p>"Without in any way desiring to pry into your affairs," I said, "would -you be good enough to tell me how this came into your possession?"</p> - -<p>The studied coolness of my manner was having its proper effect, and -Edward Hines, although sulkily, replied at once:</p> - -<p>"A woman gave it to me."</p> - -<p>"What was her name?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know."</p> - -<p>"You don't know the name of a woman who gave you a costly trinket of -this kind?"</p> - -<p>A ridiculous look of vanity appeared in his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Is it very valuable?" he inquired.</p> - -<p>"It may be worth as much as £50," I answered quietly.</p> - -<p>"Really!" said he, with something approaching geniality in his tones. -"Well, it's an extraordinary thing, but I assure you I don't know her -name."</p> - -<p>"Of course," I said, with Machiavellian cunning, "I don't expect you -to remember the name of every girl who has loved you, but this is an -unusual present to receive even from an infatuated woman."</p> - -<p>"It's an extraordinary thing, isn't it?" repeated Edward Hines, full -of self-esteem. "I can't make out the women at all; they're always -giving me presents. Look at that picture-frame. I got that from a girl -I had only seen three times—and it's solid silver," he added.</p> - -<p>I glanced at the memento indicated, and observed that it contained a -photograph of Mr. Hines (without the sticking-plaster).</p> - -<p>"An excellent likeness of yourself, too," I remarked.</p> - -<p>"It's not bad," said he disparagingly; "it was done by one of the big -people up in London. The girl paid for it."</p> - -<p>"But even that," I pursued—"even that is not so remarkable a gift as -this valuable piece of jewelry which I hold in my hand."</p> - -<p>"No," said the youth, now restored to the utmost good-humor by my -undisguised admiration of his Don Juan-like qualities. "But the fact -remains that I don't know her name to this day. What did you mean," he -continued, "when you said that I was concerned in some way in 'the -<i>Oritoga</i> mystery'?"</p> - -<p>"I meant," I explained, "that the police are looking for a woman who -answers to the description of your friend."</p> - -<p>"Really!" he cried. "A tall woman, very fine figure, beautifully -dressed?"</p> - -<p>"I think it is probably the same," I said. "Had she any peculiarities -of appearance or manner by which you would recognize her again?"</p> - -<p>"She had several peculiarities by which I should recognize her," he -declared, a note of resentment now proclaiming itself in his voice.</p> - -<p>"And they were?"</p> - -<p>Mr. Hines leaned forward, tapping me on the knee confidentially.</p> - -<p>"I met her by accident, you understand," he confided, "on the London -Road one evening about sunset set. She asked me the way to Friar's -Park and I could see that I had made an impression at once. It was -just an excuse to speak to me of course. I offered to walk that far -with her; she agreed, and to cut a long story short—the usual thing, -of course; she wanted to meet me again.</p> - -<p>"Well," he resumed complacently, "I met her on the following Thursday -and we became very good friends, you understand, except that she -always seemed particularly anxious to return home before dusk. All -this time I never knew who she was, or even where she lived, but of -course I could see how the land lay. She was some lady from London -staying at one of the big houses about here and had to show up for -dinner. That night when we parted she gave me this little gold thing -and arranged to see me again."</p> - -<p>He paused, knocking ash from his cigar and seemingly reflecting as to -how he should word his next communication; but finally:</p> - -<p>"The third time I saw her," he said, "I managed to arrange that she -could not get in quite so early, you understand; and then—I don't -know exactly how to tell you. I am not a chap that gets in a panic -very easily; but (I may mention that the scene took place in a wood) -she gave me the biggest scare I have ever had in my life."</p> - -<p>He bent forward and again tapped me on the knee.</p> - -<p>"My dear—Mr. Addison, I think you said your name was?—her eyes -lighted up in the dark like a cat's!"</p> - -<p>He stared at me with some return of his old truculence as if -anticipating ridicule and prepared to resent it, but I nodded sternly, -watching him as if enthralled by his narrative, whereupon:</p> - -<p>"Yes—like a cat's!" he repeated; "and I'll admit I got in a panic. I -don't know if she thought from the way I yelled that I was going to -attack her or what, but the next thing I knew she was at my throat."</p> - -<p>He uttered a sort of choking sound, tenderly touched the bandages -about his neck and fingered the plaster which ornamented his face.</p> - -<p>"At your throat?" said I. "You mean she tried to throttle you?"</p> - -<p>"Throttle me!" he exclaimed scornfully. "She seized me with her -<i>teeth</i>!"</p> - -<p>"But," I said, and hesitated, for I feared I might wound his curious -susceptibility—"the damage to your face?"</p> - -<p>"Damn her!" he cried. "Damn her! I had never seen her without her -gloves, you understand, but she must have taken them off that night; -for <i>this</i>"—he indicated his plastered countenance—"is what she did -with her nails!"</p> - -<p>He paused, staring at me dully, and then with a hint of the old -ridiculous vanity entering his voice:</p> - -<p>"But I scored after all," he said, tossing the little amulet into the -drawer from which he had taken it. "If that's worth £50 it will more -than pay the doctor's bill, I think!"</p> - -<p>Following a brief interval:</p> - -<p>"Of course," I said, "you would recognize the woman again?"</p> - -<p>"I am not so certain," declared the scarred man. "She always wore some -sort of veil; but you may be sure," he added in a tone of supreme -condescension, "that she was a very pretty woman, or I shouldn't have -been bothering with her."</p> - -<p>"You are quite sure of that?" I ventured to remark.</p> - -<p>"No doubt about it at all. Most extraordinary eyes—too damned -extraordinary by half!"</p> - -<p>"Well," I said, "I am much indebted to you for your statement, and you -may be confident that it will materially assist the investigation now -in progress."</p> - -<p>"Don't mention it," said Hines, airily. "If I can ever do anything -else for you, just let me know; but—I mean to say I rely upon you not -to bring me into it. You understand what I mean?"</p> - -<p>"You may be absolutely certain," I replied, "that no hint of this -occurrence will ever be made public so far as I am concerned."</p> - -<p>I took my departure from Leeways Farm fully satisfied with the result -of the first move in the plan of campaign upon which I had decided. -Returning to my quarters at the Abbey Inn, I spent the greater part of -the afternoon in writing a detailed account of my interview with -Edward Hines. Having completed this, I set out for the town, as by -posting my report there and not in the wayside box at Upper Crossleys -I knew that I could count upon its delivery at New Scotland Yard by -the first mail in the morning.</p> - -<p>In leisurely fashion I performed the journey, for my next move could -not be made until after dusk.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XVII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII <br />THE NUBIAN MUTE</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical -brilliance. The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect -moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the -shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges -showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed -them before. But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the -night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most -extraordinary case.</p> - -<p>Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only -more completely to obscure the issue. Mystery revealed itself within -mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I -sometimes despaired of penetrating. Who was this woman whose elusive -figure appeared at every turn in the case? Was she one and the same -with the visitor to my cottage who had purloined the green enameled -statuette—and could it be that I had actually sat in conversation -with her in the coffee-room of the Abbey Inn and had failed to -recognize her for what she was?</p> - -<p>Beyond doubt she had extraordinary cleverness and was a weaver of -spells, so that in a sense she could temporarily disguise her -personality. Whilst at one moment she was a repellent, half-animal -creature, at another she was a fascinating woman of the world versed -in strange lores and a most entertaining companion. What object -underlay her diverse activities? Assuming that she was concerned in -the murder of Sir Marcus Coverly, the purpose of her visit to my -cottage was not far to seek; she had come to recover incriminating -evidence and had been aided, it seemed, by the hand of fate.</p> - -<p>But why had she come to visit me at the Abbey Inn and what had she -gained by this interview? Perhaps—I reflected, as I plodded along the -deserted country road—she had been interrupted on that occasion by -the inopportune appearance of Dr. Damar Greefe. Again, why had he -appeared there at that moment if not because he had suspected her -presence at the Inn; and what was the relationship existing between -these two singular people?</p> - -<p>That the strange story related to me by the idiotic Edward Hines -simply resolved itself into an idle adventure on the part of the -mysterious woman, which she had been forced to terminate (somewhat -ferociously, I admit) by the uncouth ardor of this rustic swain I -seemed to perceive. But unless her visit to the Abbey Inn portended -that she had selected me as Mr. Edward Hines' successor, I failed to -fit it into the scheme.</p> - -<p>I began to long for the presence of Inspector Gatton, for the -assistance of his trained mind in plumbing these depths which defied -my single efforts. Who this woman could be I failed to imagine; and -assuming that she had been concerned in the death of the late baronet, -in what way she stood to profit by it was utterly beyond my -comprehension, as was the position of Dr. Damar Greefe in the matter.</p> - -<p>On I walked and on, unconsciously increasing my pace as is my way when -I am lost in abstraction; and, perhaps stimulated to greater mental -clarity by the exercise, some of my doubts were dispersed and I became -convinced at last that the shadowy figure which had dogged my -footsteps on the night of the crime—the owner of those blazing eyes -which had watched me from my garden—the woman who had stolen the -amulet from my writing-table, and the woman who had mutilated Edward -Hines, were one and the same as my visitor at the Abbey Inn—and the -unseen speaker who had conversed beneath my window on the night of my -arrival at Upper Crossleys!</p> - -<p>Here then was a definite chain linking the Red House with Friar's -Park, or at least with its vicinity, and now so clearly did my ideas -fit themselves each into its correct place, that I determined upon the -identity of that other speaker who had stood in the shadows opposite -the Inn when I had awakened in the night. Mentally I recaptured the -high, rather coarse tones of his voice, and remembering how, touched -by the spell which had seemed to lie upon the whole country-side, I -had thought of him as Asmodeus, the master of the witches' revels, I -determined that my judgment had been not inexact. For now I identified -the speaker as Dr. Damar Greefe!</p> - -<p>So far my meditations had proceeded and I suppose I was about half-way -on my journey towards the Abbey Inn, when all at once I became aware -again of that uncomfortable feeling of surveillance. As on that night -when returning from the Red House to my cottage I had experienced a -conviction that I was followed, so now a like conviction impressed -itself upon my mind. But whereas on the former occasion I had been -less fearful than curious, now I was aware of a positive dread of this -follower whose presence I had detected, by what sense I know not, and -of a certainty of a very grave menace.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, I determined upon a certain plan which I proceeded to put -into execution without delay. I was traversing a stretch of -moon-bathed road at the moment that I first fell a victim to this -unpleasant suspicion which indeed was more than a suspicion, when -ahead of me I observed a patch, some twenty yards in extent, which was -entirely overshadowed by trees. For at this point the woods, clothing -a slope which ran right down to the road, closely impinged upon the -highway; and I had noticed something at this spot, on my outward -journey, which I now proposed to employ to my advantage.</p> - -<p>Into this patch of darkness I walked then, my steps sounding crisply -along the road. On I went for some twenty yards until I found the -particular spot for which I was seeking. This was a sort of little bay -or inlet where until quite recently a heap of stones used by -roadmenders had lain, and into this I marched, never once altering my -pace. But having gained it I performed an about-turn and continued to -mark time there, whilst surveying the moon-bathed road behind me.</p> - -<p>The object of this trick will be evident enough; for whilst the sound -of my footsteps would lead one in pursuit to suppose that I was -proceeding upon my way through the shadows, actually I was staring -intently back in quest of the pursuer of whose presence I had become -assured.</p> - -<p>Perhaps in spite of the cautious manner in which he had advanced, he -had made some slight sound which, subconsciously detected, had -nevertheless intruded upon my reverie and in this way had acquainted -me with his presence. For now, continuing that steady beat, but -watching intently, I saw him.</p> - -<p>Taking every advantage of the shade cast by the hedge on the right of -the road, a softly-moving figure was coming towards me!</p> - -<p>That the tracker was desirous of avoiding observation the manner of -his approach sufficiently proved; and if I had had any doubts -respecting his purpose they would have been resolved in a manner -painful to myself had I not had the good fortune to detect him in -time.</p> - -<p>A piece of road there was, which because of a gap in the hedge -afforded no shadow, and as the gliding shape reached this point and -passed it, I obtained a momentary but clear view of my pursuer.</p> - -<p>I was being tracked by a Nubian mute!</p> - -<p>That one glance was sufficient to convince me of the horrible truth. -The man was stripped to the waist, in order no doubt that his -movements might not be impeded, and I beheld a torso like that of some -Milo wrought in ebony! The cruel, animal face, the blubber lips, the -partly bared teeth—all spoke of the fate designed for me. I knew the -type and knew what scant mercy I could look for at his hands. -Indubitably this was a mute such as is sometimes attached to the -harêms of great Eastern houses to this day; and even if I had known -nothing of the functions of such a servitor, the fact that he carried -something in his left hand would have enlightened me.</p> - -<p>It was a <i>strangling-cord</i>!</p> - -<p>I smiled grimly. Respecting the identity of my would-be assassin there -was little room for doubt; he was the black servant of Dr. Damar -Greefe. Now, as he passed the bright patch of roadway and began to -glide silently nearer through the shadows, I marked time with a -lighter step, the more deeply to confuse him. Of the strange Nubian -dialect I knew nothing, but taking it for granted that the man was -familiar with Arabic, I raised my voice in a mournful cry, and (in the -Arab tongue):</p> - -<p>"Cassim! Cassim!" I wailed—"Satan is calling for you!"</p> - -<p>I think I have never witnessed such an exhibition of panic fright as I -now beheld. Cassim was less than ten yards away—and I could hear his -teeth chattering!</p> - -<p>"Cassim!" I cried again—"Fly! fly! Satan is here!"</p> - -<p>A horrible tongueless babbling answered the cry. There came a -scuffling—and I saw the Nubian's gleaming body leap out into the -lighted roadway as he fled.</p> - -<p>"Faster! faster! Cassim!" I wailed. "He is behind you! Ah! he is <i>in -front</i>!"</p> - -<p>Cassim staggered, turned and then stood still, looking this way and -that in a perfect delirium of fear. Finally he whirled around to the -right, shrieking wildly (I think some nocturnal insect had brushed -against him), plunged babbling up the bank to the hedge and heedless -of the fact that it contained many thorns which must have cruelly -lacerated his bare body, scrambled half through it and half over it -into the plowed field beyond!</p> - -<p>Against such an enemy there is no more potent weapon than -superstition. Nevertheless I kept my hand upon the pistol in my pocket -and proceeded at an increased pace during the latter half of my -journey; nor am I ashamed to admit that the lights of the Abbey Inn -were a welcome sight, and it was with a feeling of relief that, -leaving the highroad behind me, I found myself again in the village -street of Upper Crossleys.</p> - -<p>What to expect next, I knew not. The other party had made a false -move, for I now had definite evidence of the antagonism of Dr. Damar -Greefe and of his intent to cause my murder through the agency of his -Nubian servant.</p> - -<p>My plan of nocturnal operations, already sufficiently dangerous, now -promised to lead me into extreme peril. I would have given much for -the company of Gatton, but, if I must act alone—alone I would set -out. If I am slow in planning, at least I can state with truth that I -am tenacious in execution. But here, now, was open warfare: and I must -look for an enemy prepared.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII <br />THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>Glancing into the bar-parlor as I entered, I observed that it was -empty. Martin sat behind the counter, and he seemed to be immersed in -the contents of a newspaper which was spread open before him. Going up -to my room, I put on a pair of puttees—which, although useless and -indeed injurious for general wear, are ideal for traversing -bramble-land—took my thick stick, and further looked to the condition -and readiness of my pistol. Finally, slipping an electric torch into -my pocket, I set out.</p> - -<p>The bar was closing when I came downstairs. Martin stared at me dully.</p> - -<p>"I'm going for a moonlight ramble," I explained. "Will any one be up -to let me in or should you prefer to give me the key of the side -door?"</p> - -<p>"Never locked," was the laconic reply; "come in when you like."</p> - -<p>To a town-dweller, such a piece of information must have sounded -alarming, but knowing something of the ways of these country -communities, it did not greatly surprise me; and bidding the landlord -"good night," I set out.</p> - -<p>The false move made by Dr. Damar Greefe had advanced the inquiry -further than any unaided endeavors of mine could well have done. -Clearly enough, the Eurasian regarded my presence as inimical to his -safety. In admitting so much he had admitted guilt of some kind. In -fact I felt assured that he was determined at all costs to prevent my -visiting Friar's Park.</p> - -<p>Having failed in his unmistakable endeavor to remove me entirely—for -so I construed the Nubian's instructions—he would undoubtedly -recognize that the game was up. He was clearly a desperate man and I -recognized that the only hope I had of foiling him lay in acting with -despatch.</p> - -<p>This was a perfect night with never a cloud to mar the blue serenity -of the sky, but in spite of its beauty I was more than ever conscious -of that sense of loneliness and desolateness which seemed to be the -most marked characteristic of the country hereabouts. I met never a -soul upon the highway, nor indeed did I encounter any evidence of life -whatever, until, turning into a narrow lane which would bring me to -that road in the valley upon which stood the deserted lodge belonging -to the Bell House, an owl hooted in the trees above my head.</p> - -<p>Keenly alert to the possibility that my movements might be watched, I -paused, wondering if the sound—which had proceeded from a low bough -directly above me—had really been made by an owl or by a human mimic. -For the hoot of an owl, being easy to imitate, is much favored for -signaling purposes. Taking my electric torch from my pocket, I -directed its ray upward into the close foliage of the oak tree; -whereupon, with a ghostly fluttering of dark wings, an owl flew away.</p> - -<p>I proceeded confidently down the sloping road amid a silence so -intense that my steps seemed to create a positive clamor. Coming to -the corner, I looked along to the left where the lane, alternate -patches of silver and ebony, showed deserted as far as I could see. -This was the direction of the gate of the Bell House, and the road, -which sloped gently downwards on that side rose in a rather sharper -activity on my right. It was at this point that I had mistaken the way -on my first journey to Friar's Park.</p> - -<p>Therefore I proceeded to the right, seeking the entrance, which I was -convinced I should find somewhere within the next two hundred yards. -The lane inclined gently leftward, and presently, as I had -anticipated, I came upon a lodge, overgrown with ivy and but partly -visible beyond the gates which barred the end of the drive.</p> - -<p>That this was the entrance to Friar's Park I felt assured, but I had -no intention of seeking admittance in the usual way. Pursuing a high -wall, evidently of great age, which divided the grounds from the road, -I walked on for fully three hundred yards. Here the wall, which -enclosed what had once been the kitchen garden of the monastery, gave -place to a lofty hedge in which I presently discovered a gap wide -enough to allow of my making my way through.</p> - -<p>Entering, I found myself in a sort of parkland, boasting many majestic -and venerable trees, elms for the most part. Where the parkland ended -and the woods began it was impossible to make out, but away to my -left I could follow the high wall to where, clearly visible in the -moonlight which at this point was unobstructed by trees, a gate -appeared.</p> - -<p>Towards this I made my way, keeping a sharp lookout for those -man-traps of which I had heard, and equally on the alert for any -hidden human presence. Without meeting with any obstacle, however, I -reached the gate—only to find that it was closed and fastened with a -stout padlock.</p> - -<p>There was a dry ditch bordering the wall, and I followed this back -towards the highroad, hoping that somewhere I might chance upon a -means of scaling the wall. I made slow progress, for presently I came -upon a quantity of undergrowth which I distrusted keenly as it would -afford admirable cover for traps. In this way I had come nearly back -to the hedge lining the road before I discovered what I was looking -for.</p> - -<p>Here a fir-tree grew sufficiently close to the ditch to serve my -purpose. Its lower branches were within easy reach whilst further up I -espied one which stretched out across the top of the wall. Looping -over my wrist the thong attached to my stick, I scrambled up into the -tree and soon found myself astride the wall.</p> - -<p>Beneath me was a neglected orchard and beyond to the right a -wilderness which once had been an extensive kitchen-garden. Directly -before me lay the lodge, but the house was invisible from where I sat, -being evidently situated somewhere beyond a dense coppice into which -I perceived the drive to lead, for patched here and there by the -moonlight I could trace it running ribbon-like through the trees.</p> - -<p>A vine grew upon the wall beneath me, its aged tendrils of the -thickness of ropes, and it afforded a natural ladder whereby I made my -descent. Arrived in the miniature jungle which at some period had been -a flower-bed, I set out towards the lodge, prompted to do so by the -presence of a light shining out from one of the windows through a -network of leaves.</p> - -<p>I knew not if I should look for man-traps within the place enclosed by -the wall, but nevertheless I neglected no precaution, picking my way -through the forest of weeds which had supplanted the vegetables and -sweet herbs to which doubtless this land had once been sacred. -Observing even greater precaution as I neared the building, I -presently found myself looking in at the lighted window, and only -concealed from the occupants of the room by the presence of a tangled -bush which formed a sort of natural curtain.</p> - -<p>The room into which I was peering presented a scene of great disorder. -It was a poorly furnished apartment characteristic of the rustic -workman's dwelling, and was evidently the living room of the -lodge-keeper. It was in process of being dismantled; cupboards and -chests stood open and my acquaintance Hawkins was engaged in packing -various belongings into a large wooden box set in the center of the -floor. Upon the bare wooden table stood the oil lamp whose light I had -seen shining out of the window, and bending over a number of papers, -apparently engaged in making up some sort of an account, was a -gipsy-looking woman whom I took to be the wife of the game-keeper.</p> - -<p>She had oily black hair and a very lowering and unpleasant cast of -countenance; whilst the large earrings which she wore added to her -gipsy appearance. An argument of some kind was in progress between the -two, for ever and anon the woman would raise her eyes from her task -and dart venomous glances at the man, who knelt upon the floor packing -the big box. Fragments of the conversation reached me through the -partly open window, and although it was difficult to follow I gathered -that the woman was reproaching her husband with some alleged -indiscretion which had necessitated the departure for which they were -preparing. Hawkins retorted with a savage energy which displayed the -darker side of the man's character and the one which I had suspected -to lie beneath his rather sinister merriment.</p> - -<p>Having satisfied myself that the pair were deeply occupied with their -personal affairs, I crept out upon the drive and began to approach the -house. I had formed a rough idea of the distance at which it lay from -the road and this was proved to have been about correct. The drive -swung round in a wide semi-circle and presently, majestic in the -moonlight, with some of its mediæval charm restored by the magic of -night, I saw Friar's Park before me.</p> - -<p>It was a low, rambling building, bespeaking the monastery in some of -its severe outlines and showing a succession of cloisteresque arches -on the left, terminated by a chapel beyond which rose the ancient -tower visible from the inn-window—a wonderful example of Saxon -architecture, and closely resembling that at Earl's Barton. There was -no light in any of the windows, and indeed as I peered more closely -across the wide space intervening between the end of the drive and the -main entrance of the house, it seemed to me that the place was more of -a ruin than a habitable establishment.</p> - -<p>Unaware of what eyes might be watching me from any one of the numerous -windows, I stepped into the shrubbery beneath the trees bordering the -drive, and set out to make a detour of the house without, if possible, -revealing my presence to any one who might be watching from within.</p> - -<p>In the prosecution of this plan, I met with not a little difficulty; -several times, in fact, I had to show myself in the moonlight upon the -edge of the unkempt lawns, but by this device and that, I finally -achieved my purpose and returned to the spot from whence I had set -out, without having attracted any visible notice. Here I paused to -consider what I had learned.</p> - -<p>The most notable thing was this: only one wing of Friar's Park—that -remote from the tower—exhibited any evidence of occupation, indeed of -being habitable at all. In other words, the greater part of the -building was no more than a majestic ruin. Eyeless windows there were -and crumbling arches, whilst the chapel which had looked so -picturesque from a distance proved on closer inspection to be a mere -shell. A dense shrubbery grew right up to the walls of the east wing, -that which was terminated by the tower, and I had been enabled to peer -right in at the window of the chapel and out at a window at the other -side; for the place was roofless and its floor carpeted with weeds. I -could not help wondering how much of this decay dated from the days of -Sir Burnham, for certainly I could not reconcile it with the character -of the man as depicted by the local people.</p> - -<p>My inquiry then was considerably narrowed down, for of the habitable -apartments of Friar's Park I had only been enabled to count seven or -eight, although two of these appeared to be of great extent, one of -them, I fancy, being the old refectory of the monastery. My next -discovery was this: that the likeliest point of entry to the house was -afforded by either one of two French windows which opened upon a small -lawn some twenty yards beyond the drive. But in order to approach them -I should have to expose myself in the brilliant moonlight which bathed -that side of the house.</p> - -<p>I stood there listening intently, and wondering if I dared attempt the -venture. Not a sound could I detect, however, and the night was so -still that scarce a leaf stirred about me. I determined upon the -plunge; and walking boldly forward, I approached the more easterly of -the two windows.</p> - -<p>Three stone steps led up to it and linen blinds were drawn down -within, but strengthened by the memory of the inn door which was -"never locked," and hoping that the same trustfulness prevailed in -Friar's Park, I turned the handle whose brassy glitter I had -previously perceived from the corner of the shrubbery.</p> - -<p>It operated smoothly, and upon giving a gentle push the window opened -and I found myself standing upon a polished oak floor. I stood -stock-still, listening; but there was never a sound; and partly -reclosing the window, I pressed the button of my electric torch and -looked about me.</p> - -<p>I stood in a long lofty room which I supposed to have been a -drawing-room. It was empty, containing not a single item of furniture. -From my pocket I took two pairs of thick woolen socks and drew them -one over the other on to my boots to deaden my footfalls. The door of -this empty and desolate room was open, and, stepping softly, I walked -out into a wide corridor, my mind filled with terrifying recollections -of the Red House.</p> - -<p>Three other rooms I explored, and although in two of them some items -of massive furniture remained, covered with dust-sheets, no sign of -habitation did I come upon. The whole of the ground floor proved to be -vacant and a broad uncarpeted stair suggested that the floors above -were also deserted by their occupants.</p> - -<p>I mounted softly, but the stairs creaked in a horrible fashion, so -that I became hotly apprehensive before I gained the top. I had -nothing to fear, however, for again empty rooms alone rewarded my -search. My most significant discovery in the upper part of the house -was that of a bedroom which was still almost completely furnished and -in which even the bed-linen yet remained untidily strewn about the -bed. But there were thick spiders' webs stretching from the coverlet -to the canopy, and a coating of dust lay everywhere.</p> - -<p>When I finally returned to the empty drawing-room, I had convinced -myself of that which I had come to seek.</p> - -<p>Friar's Park was uninhabited!</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XIX'></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX <br />THE MAN ON THE TOWER</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>I quitted Friar's Park unobserved—as I had entered it; walking -quickly across to the shrubbery, I began to work my way back to the -point at which I must strike westward in order to reach the weed-grown -kitchen-garden. At the risk of encountering man-traps I gave the lodge -a wide berth and came out in sight of the wall at a point much nearer -the lawns of the house than that from which I had entered.</p> - -<p>What it was that prompted me to turn and take a final look at the -house I cannot say, but before commencing to make my way through the -wilderness of the kitchen-garden, I know that I stood and looked back -towards the ancient Saxon tower which uprose, silvered by the -moonlight, above the trees that obscured from my view all the rest of -the house.</p> - -<p>Right to the embrasured crest it was sharply outlined by the brilliant -moon—and as I looked I felt my heart leap suddenly; and then, almost -holding my breath, I crouched, distrusting the very shadows which -afforded me shelter.</p> - -<p>For leaning out through one of the embrasures at the top of the tower, -I clearly saw the figure of a man!</p> - -<p>At first so whitely was his face lighted up by the moon that I had no -doubt of the figure being that of a man, but he remained so still, -seeming always to look in a fixed way in the same direction, that now, -momentarily I doubted, until a slight movement betrayed the fact that -my first impression had been correct.</p> - -<p>Who he was I could not possibly tell from that distance, but of his -occupation I became assured at the moment that he moved; for the -moonlight glittered brightly on the lenses of the binoculars through -which he had been surveying some point visible only from that -elevation.</p> - -<p>Still I watched, and again I saw the man of the tower raise his -glasses and resume his scrutiny of that distant object which so -closely engaged his attention. Remembering that a patch of light -touched the top of the wall, spearlike, at the point where I must -cross it in order to reach the fir tree, I abandoned my former -precautions and hurried through the tangled weeds towards the fir -which was my sailing mark.</p> - -<p>Hastily I scrambled up the natural ladder formed by the vine, and -without pause climbed down again to the edge of the dry ditch beyond. -To have looked back over the wall would have been useless, since from -that point the tower would have been invisible. Nor indeed had I any -desire to pause in my precarious journey.</p> - -<p>That I had avoided man-traps in that hurried retreat through the -weeds, I knew not whether to ascribe to good luck or to the fact that -none were set there, but now in the more open ground, thickly -bestrewn, however, with clumps of undergrowth, I resumed all my old -vigilance, and carefully retraced the path, so well as I could -remember it, by which I had first arrived at the friendly fir.</p> - -<p>When at last I found myself once more upon the highroad and free of -the ground of Friar's Park, I stood a while and wondered to find -myself bathed in perspiration.</p> - -<p>There was something very eerie in the thought that I had explored -those numerous rooms of the deserted house and had moreover encircled -the entire building habitable and otherwise, whilst that mysterious -watcher all the time had been lurking up there in the tower! I -wondered what his survey portended. If it signified that he had -detected my presence at the moment that I had left the house, why was -his gaze focused upon the distance and not upon the surrounding -grounds? If he had not seen or heard me, then I must compliment myself -upon a very successful burglarious feat.</p> - -<p>But assuming the latter explanation to be the correct one, how much -darker became the mystery of the man's presence and purpose. Who was -he? And what did he do at this hour in deserted Friar's Park?</p> - -<p>Since I had left the game-keeper deeply engaged in his packing -operations at the lodge, I dismissed the idea that the figure on the -tower might have been that of Hawkins, nor was I in any way assisted -in my attempts to solve the mystery by what I had seen of the man, for -the distance had been too great to allow of my perceiving his face -with anything like clearness.</p> - -<p>Presently, then, I set out upon my return journey to the Abbey Inn, -turning over in my mind this added perplexity which had entered the -case. As Gatton had quite recently observed, every new piece of -evidence which came to light in this most bewildering affair seemed -merely to plunge the issue in greater obscurity than ever. My feet -once set upon the slope which led to Upper Crossleys, I allowed this -mood of abstraction to have its way, and the problem with which I -found myself principally engaged was that of the disappearance of Lady -Burnham Coverly.</p> - -<p>As I remembered the suave assurances of Dr. Damar Greefe that the -ill-health of Lady Burnham rendered it impossible for her to receive -visitors, I wondered anew at the complex villainy of this formidable -Eurasian. The state of the rooms in Friar's Park clearly demonstrated -the fact that neither Lady Coverly nor any other had resided there for -many months, perhaps many years. What then did it all mean? What was -the purpose of the watch and ward kept by the gipsy game-keeper over -the grounds and approaches to the house?</p> - -<p>It could only mean that this was a device of Dr. Damar Greefe's to -prevent any of the neighbors from seeking admittance to the house and -thus learning the strange secret which its emptiness revealed.</p> - -<p>Here, in fact, in this old monastic establishment, would seem to -reside the very genius of that spirit of desolation which had touched -me unpleasantly in the hour of my arrival in Crossleys. I determined -to ascertain by inquiries amongst the local tradespeople, none of whom -I had hitherto met, by what means the fact that no one resided at -Friar's Park was concealed from those whose ordinary business -activities would demand their presenting themselves at the house for -orders, etc. But even as the plan suggested itself to me, I thought I -perceived an answer to my question; in all probability, I determined, -Dr. Damar Greefe or the Hawkins's, who were palpably his creatures, -acted as a barrier between the tradespeople and the missing lady of -the Park.</p> - -<p>But what it could all portend was a problem beyond the power of my -imagination or deductive reasoning. If Lady Coverly had changed her -residence for some reason, with what object did the Eurasian continue -to lead every one in the neighborhood to suppose that she still -resided at Friar's Park?</p> - -<p>It was all a hopeless tangle, and the more I thought about it the more -discouraged did I become. I seemed to get further, too, from that link -for which I sought—the link connecting the mystery with that other -which I always associated with the Red House. The luminous eyes -afforded the visible link; this I could not doubt. But what relation -to the death of Sir Marcus did the disappearance of Lady Burnham -Coverly bear? Secondly, what was Dr. Damar Greefe's place in the -scheme? And thirdly (the most appalling mystery of all) who or what -was the woman with the cat's eyes?</p> - -<p>At this point in my meditations I discovered that I had arrived -before the Abbey Inn, now plunged in darkness, and believing that I -detected the sound of footsteps behind me I became eventually the -victim of a sort of panic which perhaps will be forgiven me under the -circumstances. For emerging from these unpleasant reflections and -hearing or believing that I heard sounds of pursuit from the lonely -moon-patched road behind, I know that I hurried forward to the side -door and silently prayed that I should find it unfastened as Martin -had assured me that it would be.</p> - -<p>In this particular I was speedily reassured, for the door opened to my -touch—and I became conscious of a wish that there might be some means -of fastening it from within. However, I could find none, but hurrying -upstairs, I determined to take a precaution which hitherto I had not -adopted and that night to lock my bedroom door.</p> - -<p>Entering the room, I fumbled for a box of matches in my pocket and -presently discovering them struck one and looked about me for the -candle which usually stood upon a little cabinet beside the bed. -To-night, however, it had been moved for some reason, and put over by -the window on the dressing-table. As I made this discovery the match -smoldered out, and at the moment I was about to strike another the -sound of footsteps which I had formerly detected grew louder and -nearer, so that I could no longer doubt that some one was running -along the road towards the Abbey Inn.</p> - -<p>A great curiosity respecting this person seized me, and without -striking a match as I had intended to do, I walked to the window and -looked out into the road. Twenty yards away I saw the figure of a man -who seemed to be come almost to the end of his resources; for I could -hear him panting as he ran. Nor did my wonder decrease when, as he -came nearer and stared up in my direction, I recognized him for the -shabby-looking person whom I had observed that morning sitting on the -bench before the inn door.</p> - -<p>Wondering what his presence might portend—for clearly his business -was with <i>me</i>—I leaned out of the window, and as he came up to the -door of the inn I saw him stagger and clutch at the post which -supported the sign-board, swaying dizzily. He was clearly almost -exhausted, and his voice when he spoke was a husky whisper:</p> - -<p>"Don't light your candle!" he said.</p> - -<p>Now, this remark, coming at such a time and in these circumstances, -struck me as so ludicrous that at first I was tempted to laugh; but -the man's earnest sincerity, as evidenced by his exhausted condition -and the urgency of his manner, did not fail to impress me, and:</p> - -<p>"Why not?" I asked, still leaning out of the window and filled with a -great wonderment.</p> - -<p>"Never mind," he panted. "Don't! Can I come up?"</p> - -<p>Something now in the breathless speech of the man below struck me as -oddly familiar. But yet so dense was I that I failed to recognize the -truth of the matter, and:</p> - -<p>"Certainly," I said. "I will bring a light down to show you the way, -if you have business with me."</p> - -<p>"No light!" he cried hoarsely. "If you value your life, don't strike a -match!"</p> - -<p>By this time so bewildered had I become that I scarce knew whether to -descend to meet this apparent madman or to remain where I was.</p> - -<p>"Don't hesitate, Mr. Addison!" he cried, now beginning to recover his -breath. "Do exactly as I tell you!"</p> - -<p>"Good God!" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>I turned and ran to the door and on downstairs. For at last I had -recognized the voice of this midnight runner. Throwing open the door, -I held out my hand and the shabby-looking man extended his in return.</p> - -<p>"<i>Gatton!"</i> I cried excitedly. "Gatton! What on earth does this mean? -Why have you been masquerading in this fashion? I saw you here this -morning and you never gave me the slightest sign of acknowledgment!"</p> - -<p>"I never intended to!" panted the Inspector, staggering rather than -walking up the stairs. "But I have performed one of the hardest tasks -of my life to-night and have only succeeded by a few seconds!"</p> - -<p>We were now at the door of my room, but:</p> - -<p>"Don't go in!" said Gatton shortly. "Let me think what we must do."</p> - -<p>"But I don't understand at all!"</p> - -<p>"You will understand in a moment!" was the grim reply. "You would have -understood already if you had lighted your candle."</p> - -<p>Words failed me altogether. At that we stood in the passage for some -moments in silence; then:</p> - -<p>"We have got to risk it," said Gatton, "if my theory is to be put to -the test"</p> - -<p>"Risk it?"</p> - -<p>"Oh! I can assure you of the risk," he declared. "It will be -touch-and-go. Are you game?"</p> - -<p>"Well," I said, laughing in a very forced fashion, "this has been a -night of such intense surprises that I think I can survive one more."</p> - -<p>"Very well," replied the Inspector; and there was something strange in -hearing the familiar voice and dimly discerning in the reflected -moonlight, which shone in at a window further along the passage, the -unfamiliar figure before me.</p> - -<p>"What have we to do?"</p> - -<p>"We have to take a chance of sudden death!" he answered, "but we will -minimize it as much as possible."</p> - -<p>Seeing me about to give voice to one of the many questions which -literally burned upon my tongue:</p> - -<p>"Explanations can come later," said he. "Where can I find a candle?"</p> - -<p>"There is one on the dressing-table just to the left of the window. I -will get it—"</p> - -<p>But he grasped my arm roughly, and:</p> - -<p>"This is <i>my</i> business! Wait here for me," he rapped tersely.</p> - -<p>He heard the rasp of the match upon the box, as I struck a light to -guide him in his search. Whereupon:</p> - -<p>"I thought I warned you!" he cried, and struck the match from my hand. -"<i>No light</i>!"</p> - -<p>With that he pushed open the door, and I saw his square figure -outlined against the moon-bright open window as he crossed the room. -Since he had referred to the peril which hung over us, it was with -bated breath that I awaited his return, not in the least knowing what -to expect. A few moments later he returned with the candlestick.</p> - -<p>"Now," said he, carefully reclosing the door, "light the candle."</p> - -<p>Awed by something in his voice and manner, I did as he directed -without demur, noting with amazement, in the light thus created, how -simple yet how effective was the disguise which my friend had adopted.</p> - -<p>He gave me no time for comment, however, but:</p> - -<p>"Listen," said he. "I'm going to put this candle in your room and then -you and I are going to run."</p> - -<p>"Run?" I cried.</p> - -<p>"Exactly. Run for our lives! Preferably upstairs. Is there any vacant -room above from which we can look out in the same direction as from -your window?"</p> - -<p>"The room above is vacant," I replied, "and probably we shall find the -door unlocked."</p> - -<p>"We'll risk that, then," said Gatton. "You might start and lead the -way."</p> - -<p>"Can I use my electric torch?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"On the stairs," replied Gatton; "but you must extinguish it when we -enter the room above."</p> - -<p>With that he thrust open the door of my bedroom, ran in and ran out -again, banging the door behind him as though pursued by devils!</p> - -<p>Then the pair of us were racing up the stairs madly for the room -above, I vaguely wondering if my companion had taken leave of his -senses. Yet of the verity of the peril which he dreaded came speedy -confirmation.</p> - -<p>At the very moment that my hand touched the knob of the door above, -and ere I could open it, the whole fabric of the Abbey Inn was -convulsed—the floor rocked beneath my feet; and there ensued the -sound of a deafening explosion from the room below! An echo, or what -sounded like an echo, sharp and staccato, came from the distant -hills!</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XX'></a><h2>CHAPTER XX <br />GATTON'S STORY</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"It's no good going in now," said Gatton, in a weary voice; "in fact -it might be dangerous. We have to consider the possibility of fire, -however," he added.</p> - -<p>Voices of sleepers awakened and cries of inquiry sounded now from all -over the inn; for naturally the household had been aroused by the -tremendous noise of the explosion. For my own part I was altogether -too dazed to conjecture what had happened. But that Gatton had saved -me from some deadly peril I was well convinced. Stirrings and the -noise of footsteps came from an adjoining room, and presently in his -night attire Martin appeared, very bemused.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Addison," he began, and stared from me to my companion.</p> - -<p>"Let no one leave their rooms," said Gatton decisively, "until I give -them permission."</p> - -<p>"Eh," began Martin heavily.</p> - -<p>"I am a police officer," added Gatton; "and you will all do as I -direct. Does any one sleep on the same floor as Mr. Addison?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir," replied Martin, who was not yet more than half awake, but -who nevertheless had been impressed by the Inspector's authoritative -manner.</p> - -<p>Sounds of footsteps from the floor above now became audible, -whereupon:</p> - -<p>"Order every one to remain in their rooms!" repeated Gatton.</p> - -<p>Martin, raising his voice, obeyed him.</p> - -<p>"What are your arrangements in the case of fire?" continued the -Inspector.</p> - -<p>Several betousled heads were peeping down from the landing above but -no one spoke until Martin collected his ideas sufficiently to reply:</p> - -<p>"There's buckets in the stables—and there's the well. Wilkins sleeps -over the stables—"</p> - -<p>"Can you make him hear without going downstairs?"</p> - -<p>"I can try," was the answer.</p> - -<p>Martin walked to a window which lighted the landing, and threw it -widely open. Leaning out:</p> - -<p>"Wilkins!" he roared—"Wilkins!"</p> - -<p>"Aye, aye, boss!" came faintly from somewhere below.</p> - -<p>"Tell him to stand by with fire-buckets, but not to leave the yard -without orders from me," directed Gatton.</p> - -<p>Martin issued these instructions in a voice which must have been -audible at Leeways, and then stood scratching his head stupidly.</p> - -<p>But indeed of all the bewildered company who gathered that night -beneath the roof of the Abbey Inn, I think I was the most nonplused of -all, and turning to Gatton:</p> - -<p>"For God's sake tell me what it all means!" I said.</p> - -<p>"It means," he answered, and even through his disguise I recognized -the old grim smile, "that only a match stood between you and eternity! -Even now, we cannot afford to sit down, but I am not anxious to pass -your door for a few minutes. As we both have much to say, let us find -a room where we can talk."</p> - -<p>Accordingly we went up to a large empty room at the back of the inn. -Through the open doorway I could hear the excited voices of the entire -staff of the establishment, who had congregated in Martin's room -across the landing. Never in the history of the Abbey Inn had such -doings taken place.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps," continued Gatton, "it will save time if you tell me exactly -what you have done first."</p> - -<p>"Very well," I said; "but before I begin—when did you arrive?"</p> - -<p>"An hour and a half after receiving your code telegram! I came by car. -The car is at Manton now."</p> - -<p>"Why this disguise?"</p> - -<p>"I will explain in a moment. But meanwhile—your own story."</p> - -<p>At that, although consumed with impatience, I quickly outlined my -movements from the time of my arrival at Upper Crossleys, the -Inspector following me closely. The tale concluded:</p> - -<p>"Now, Gatton!" I cried—"for heaven's sake tell me what it all means!"</p> - -<p>"I will tell you all I know," he replied slowly, "In the first place I -had two reasons for suggesting the visit to Friar's Park. I had formed -an opinion that the 'cat-woman' was interested in <i>you</i>. Whether -because she regarded you as dangerous or from some other cause I could -not determine. And I thought of a plan for finding out if she was by -any chance associated with Friar's Park. It was to send you down here -(a) to make straightforward inquiries, and (b) to 'draw the cat'!"</p> - -<p>"Very good of you!" I murmured.</p> - -<p>"I warned you it was dangerous!" said Gatton grimly. "But I am pleased -to say the plan worked to perfection. Your own inquiries have been -highly satisfactory and you have also 'drawn the cat'! Now just to -show you how dramatic your discoveries really were I will explain my -second and more important reason and the one which primarily had -prompted me to turn my attention to Friar's Park. A few hours before -you came to the Yard the other morning—to see the bag dropped in the -water by Eric Coverly—I had been in touch with the solicitors who had -acted for the late Sir Burnham."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" I exclaimed—"what had they to say?"</p> - -<p>"I was seeking information of course respecting the entail; in short, -trying to fathom the mystery of what Eric Coverly would have had to -gain by getting his cousin out of the way. I learned that financially -he gained nothing but a bundle of debts. Friar's Park was mortgaged to -the hilt. Furthermore, Lady Burnham Coverly had a life interest in the -property under the will of her husband.</p> - -<p>"Next, from the senior partner, a solicitor of the old school who -still retained pleasant memories of Sir Burnham's port, I learned a -number of very significant details."</p> - -<p>He paused, staring at me oddly; and the familiar expression beneath -the unfamiliar disguise was very curious. Then:</p> - -<p>"About seven or eight years ago," he resumed, "shortly after his -return from <i>Egypt</i>, according to Mr. Hardacre, the solicitor, -something occurred which made a changed man of his client, Sir -Burnham. You will note, Mr. Addison, shortly after his return from -<i>Egypt</i>. He realized upon quantities of securities, and raised a big -sum of ready money, which he disposed of in some way which has always -remained a mystery to Mr. Hardacre. In short, within a period of three -years or less, from being a wealthy man, he became a poor one.</p> - -<p>"Next, he sent Mr. Roger Coverly, his only child, then a mere lad, -abroad in care of a tutor; Mr. Hardacre never knew for what reason as -there was apparently nothing wrong with the boy's health! He began to -dismiss his servants. The greater part of Friar's Park was shut up and -allowed to fall into decay. Finally, to Mr. Hardacre's surprise and -grief, Sir Burnham mortgaged the property. But it was the terms of the -mortgage—which I was privileged to inspect—which aroused my -curiosity.</p> - -<p>"In brief, the mortgagee agreed, in the event of Sir Burnham's death, -to allow the widow to retain possession of the property for life, -whether payments fell in arrears or otherwise!"</p> - -<p>"But this—" I exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Is, as a friend of yours once remarked, as mad as 'Alice in -Wonderland'! I agree. But to continue. At the time that this -extraordinary agreement was drawn up, Mr. Hardacre went down to -Friar's Park, of course; and he was a witness of several most singular -and significant occurrences. For instance, on the evening of his -arrival, whilst he was dressing for dinner, Sir Burnham came running -to his room and begged of him to lock his door and to remain in his -room until his host gave him permission to come out! He was -particularly warned against admitting any one <i>who might knock</i> in the -interval!"</p> - -<p>"Good heavens!" I cried—"and did any one knock?"</p> - -<p>"No one; but about half an hour later Sir Burnham came and released -him. Mr. Hardacre was unspeakably distressed to observe that Sir -Burnham looked white and ill; in fact, in Mr. Hardacre's own words, -five years older! Again, quite by accident, on the same night, he came -upon his host kneeling in the chapel—in those days it still boasted a -roof—deep in prayer. An atmosphere of indescribable horror, he -declared, had settled upon Friar's Park, and although, as he -confessed, he had no evidence to prove the correctness of his theory, -he nevertheless traced this to the person of the mortgagee. For it -seemed to correspond roughly with the appearance in the neighborhood -of this man—whom he now met for the first time."</p> - -<p>Again Gatton paused, taking out his pipe and pouch, and:</p> - -<p>"Who was this person?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"A certain Dr. Damar Greefe!"</p> - -<p>"Good God!" I cried—"where is all this leading us, Gatton?"</p> - -<p>"It is leading us slowly to the truth, Mr. Addison, and that truth, -when we come to it, is going to be more horrible than we even suspect. -Passing over much of Mr. Hardacre's evidence, I come to the death, in -Switzerland, of Mr. Roger Coverly, under circumstances so obscure that -I fear we shall never know the particulars. Of one thing, however, I -am assured: there was foul play."</p> - -<p>"You mean that Roger Coverly was—murdered?"</p> - -<p>"I really don't doubt it," replied Gatton, who, having filled his -pipe, now lighted it. "I believe he was the first victim."</p> - -<p>"The <i>first</i> victim?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Addison, I agree with the late Sir Burnham's solicitor, that the -spider at the heart of this web is Dr. Damar Greefe. The shock of his -son's premature death led to a collapse from which Sir Burnham never -recovered, and Friar's Park entered upon the final phase during which -it was occupied by Lady Burnham who seems to have been wholly under -the influence of this Eurasian doctor."</p> - -<p>"But, my dear Gatton!" I cried—"where <i>is</i> Lady Burnham?"</p> - -<p>"In my opinion, dead!" he answered solemnly. "Oh, it sounds -preposterous, but in the case of this lonely woman who had apparently -no living relatives and who was estranged from Sir Marcus and the -other members of her husband's family, it was no very difficult -matter to hush up the fact of her death."</p> - -<p>"But, Gatton, you don't mean that she, too, met with foul play?"</p> - -<p>"Most certainly I don't! It is as clear as day that the whole object -of this elaborate secrecy was to <i>hide</i> the fact of her death! She was -infinitely more useful alive than dead, Mr. Addison; and they hoped to -keep up the solemn farce until—"</p> - -<p>"Yes?"</p> - -<p>"Until Sir Eric was hanged for the murder of his cousin!"</p> - -<p>"Gatton! What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"He is the last of the Coverlys!" answered Gatton simply. "There would -be no further danger of any one paying off the mortgage."</p> - -<p>"Danger?"</p> - -<p>"Exactly. There is some secret at Friar's Park—or at the Bell -House—which necessitates the property remaining in the possession of -Dr. Damar Greefe—as it has virtually remained since Sir Burnham's -death! So much is clear, and although Eric Coverly has persisted in -his obstinate silence, one of my assistants who has been at work on -the late Sir Marcus's papers made a discovery yesterday, which -together with what I had learned from Mr. Hardacre and your code -message, brought me down to Crossleys post haste."</p> - -<p>"What was this discovery?"</p> - -<p>"An invitation from Dr. Damar Greefe, dated only a short time after -the death of Sir Burnham, to Sir Marcus, asking him to visit Friar's -Park! The doctor explained that the state of Lady Coverly's health -made it impossible for her to entertain, but he assured Sir Marcus -that she was anxious to see him and to heal any breach which might -exist between them. Most significant of all, the Eurasian proposed -that Sir Marcus should put up <i>here</i>!"</p> - -<p>"At the Abbey Inn?"</p> - -<p>"Exactly. Now the 'best room' of the inn is that which you have been -occupying—and it is that which Sir Marcus would have occupied had he -accepted the doctor's invitation. Listen then: all these clews seemed -to point to Friar's Park, but the receipt of your message mentioning -one Damar Greefe as being a suspicious party, and asking me to look up -his record, quite tipped the scales. I saw, frankly, that you had made -a false move, but nevertheless it served my purpose, and I determined -to look into the Crossleys end of the inquiry personally, without -giving Dr. Damar Greefe reason to suspect that I was in any way -associated with the matter.</p> - -<p>"I picked up one or two hints from the county police as to the -geography as well as the 'notables' of the neighborhood; and the plan -which you put into execution to-night, I had adopted last night!"</p> - -<p>"What! You visited Friar's Park?"</p> - -<p>"I did. But I did not enter through the French window. It never -occurred to me that it would be unfastened! I had come provided with a -neat set of burglars' tools (<i>and</i> a warrant for use if necessary) and -I broke into the kitchen! <i>I</i> found, as you afterwards found, that -the place had obviously been deserted for a long time. I was badly -puzzled. But my search was more detailed than yours. I climbed up to -the top of the tower!"</p> - -<p>"To the top of the tower!"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I'll tell you what I found there in a minute. But, briefly, -beyond learning that the story of the invalid Lady Coverly was a myth, -I discovered nothing likely to help the inquiry. I seriously debated -the idea of putting Dr. Damar Greefe under arrest; but finally I -determined to watch him for a time without showing my hand. I had the -good fortune to meet him this morning here at the Abbey Inn! Also, I -saw your mysterious lady visitor! Lastly, I got into conversation with -the man, Hawkins, who was accompanied by your friend, the mute!</p> - -<p>"Leaving this dangerous pair, I made a rush for the Bell House, -thinking I saw my opportunity to examine it unmolested. I was too -late, though. One of my assistants warned me of the Eurasian's return -just as I was about to enter.</p> - -<p>"I watched the house all day. But it was not until some time after -dusk that the Eurasian came out. He went to Friar's Park—and I -followed him!"</p> - -<p>"What! You were there to-night!"</p> - -<p>"I was! I dogged Dr. Damar Greefe, determined to learn the nature of -the business which brought him to Friar's Park at such an hour. I may -add that it was only by the merest accident or good luck that I -fathomed it after all. I had no idea into what part of the building he -had gone, but, knowing that he was somewhere inside, I watched from -the shrubbery. In fact, I was still in the grounds when <i>you</i> -arrived!"</p> - -<p>"Then it was you I saw on the tower!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, it was not! I had thoroughly examined the tower on my -previous visit, and what I found there had puzzled me badly. In fact -it was not until your admirable withdrawal from Friar's Park to-night -that the horrible explanation dawned upon me ...and I realized that -the object of inviting Sir Marcus to Upper Crossleys was to 'remove' -him! The first plan failed, of course; he never came. He went back -again on duty to Russia, I believe—for a time. But when he -returned—a second was adopted, at the Red House. However—the -murder-machine erected in accordance with the earlier plan was still -there—"</p> - -<p>"Where?" I cried in bewilderment.</p> - -<p>"On the tower of Friar's Park! It was the appearance of <i>Damar Greefe</i> -on the platform of the tower, armed with binoculars, which awakened me -to the ghastly truth. The device, never used in the case of Sir -Marcus, was not to be wasted, but was to be employed to remove a -dangerous obstacle from the conspirator's path! I had left the car -near Crossleys, you see, and never in my life have I run as I ran -after you to-night!"</p> - -<p>"But, Gatton, <i>what</i> did you find on the tower—and what connection -exists between the tower and the explosion which occurred here -to-night?"</p> - -<p>"This: a sort of small howitzer—I think of Krupp's manufacture, but -you would be better able to judge than I—is mounted on the platform -of the tower! I examined it, Mr. Addison, last night, and like a fool -concluded that it had been used at some time for a local celebration -and never dismounted! It was trained—as I remembered nearly too -late—and laid at a certain elevation in such a way that it was -evidently never meant to be moved. Yet at the time the significance of -this did not strike me. How the range was found so exactly we shall -probably never know; but the truth suddenly burst upon me as you made -off through the bushes and as Dr. Damar Greefe came out and began to -peer through his glasses—that it was mechanically set in such a -manner that it could drop a projectile into the window above the porch -of the Abbey Inn!"</p> - -<p>"Good God! It's hardly credible!"</p> - -<p>"It isn't, I admit. But weather conditions favored him; there wasn't a -breath of wind. And that he succeeded is proved by the fact that at -the present moment your room below is probably still full of poison -gas! Of course, it <i>may</i> not have been a gas-shell; he may have -relied, as well he might do, on the burst! But I'm taking no chances. -You can well imagine that failing a knowledge of the arrangement on -the tower, no explanation of the mystery would ever have been found! A -thunder-bolt would be the popular theory, and if any fragments of -shell were found who would ever know from where it had been fired?"</p> - -<p>"Gatton," I said, "I owe you my life. But why did this fiend try to -murder me?"</p> - -<p>Gatton smiled.</p> - -<p>"I have a theory, Mr. Addison," he replied, "and it is this: I believe -he thought that the indiscretion of a certain mysterious lady would -bring about his ruin. If I am not mistaken, she has already gone far -to put his neck in a halter; and he was determined to nip this latest -adventure in the bud by removing the object of her—"</p> - -<p>I felt myself changing color, and:</p> - -<p>"For heaven's sake say no more!" I interrupted. "It is a gruesome and -horrible thought! Yet, perhaps you are right. What must we do, Gatton? -These people have rendered the neighborhood uninhabitable for -themselves, now, and—"</p> - -<p>Dimly to my ears came the sound of a gun-shot.</p> - -<p>"And have fled!" cried Gatton, springing up. "Quick! we must chance -the gas!"</p> - -<p>"Why? What was that shot?"</p> - -<p>"A signal! Dr. Damar Greefe and 'the cat' have escaped!"</p> - -<p>He raced out across the landing, amid a chorus of frightened inquiries -from the inn staff. I followed him into a front room, and:</p> - -<p>"This comes of turning my attention elsewhere for half an hour!" he -cried angrily. "I seem to be cursed with fools for assistants!"</p> - -<p>Throwing up the window, he leaned out. I stood at his elbow; and as I -looked I saw a great red glow rising from the distant woods. The sound -of a car approaching at headlong speed reached my ears, and at the -same moment I saw the headlights.</p> - -<p>"Hullo, there!" cried Gatton. "Blythe! Petersham!"</p> - -<p>The car stopped, and a cry came back:</p> - -<p>"We've lost him, sir!... and the Bell House is in flames!"</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI <br />IN LONDON AGAIN</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"Then the sudden change in the police attitude towards Eric," said -Isobel, "is not due to any discoveries which you or Inspector Gatton -have made at Friar's Park?"</p> - -<p>"That I cannot say," I replied. "We have made certain discoveries as I -have already told you, but whilst they distinctly point to some -criminal whose identity is not yet fully established, unfortunately I -cannot say that in a legal sense they clear Coverly."</p> - -<p>Isobel, as I had thought at the first moment of our meeting, looked -very tired and had that pathetic expression of appeal in her eyes -which had hurt me so much when first it had appeared there on the -morning after the tragedy. She was palpably ill at ease, and I had -small cause to wonder at this. Although a veiled paragraph (in which I -thought I could detect the hand of Gatton) had appeared in the press -on the previous day, briefly stating that evidence had been -volunteered by Sir Eric Coverly which had led to an entirely new line -of police inquiry, the item of news—which had naturally excited -wide-spread interest—had never been amplified. Amid the alarms and -excursions which had terminated my visit to Upper Crossleys, Gatton I -supposed had forgotten to refer to this matter; but I did not doubt -that the paragraph was an inspired one issued from Scotland Yard.</p> - -<p>My friend's object in circulating this statement was not by any means -evident to me, but as I expected to see him later that day I hoped to -be able to obtain from him some explanation of his new tactics.</p> - -<p>Many hours had elapsed since, with the flames of the burning Bell -House reddening the night behind me, and throwing into lurid relief -the fir-groves surrounding Dr. Damar Greefe's mysterious stronghold, I -had been borne along the road towards London. That Gatton had hoped -for much from a detailed search of the Eurasian's establishment, I -knew, for I had not forgotten his anger at the appearance of the -flames above the tree tops which had told of the foiling of his plans.</p> - -<p>Under cover of the conflagration the cunning Eurasian had escaped. -Every possible means had been taken to intercept him, and whilst -Gatton, inspired by I know not what hopes, had hastened to the burning -Bell House, I had set out in the police car in pursuit of Dr. Damar -Greefe accompanied by Detective-Sergeant Blythe—upon whom, -apparently, the onus of the fiasco rested.</p> - -<p>In despite of these measures, the hunted man had made good his -retreat; and Blythe and I had entered the outskirts of London without -once sighting the car in which Dannar Greefe had fled.</p> - -<p>No communication reached me on the following morning, and I found -myself, consumed with impatient curiosity, temporarily out of touch -with Gatton. Then, shortly after mid-day, came a telegram:</p> - -<p>"Endeavor induce Sir Eric come to your house eight to-night. Will meet -him there. Gatton."</p> - -<p>Welcoming any ground for action—since to remain passive at such a -time was torture—I called at once at Coverly's chambers. He was out. -But I left an urgent written message for him, and in the hope of -finding him with Isobel, hurried to her flat. He had not been there -that day, however; and now I could only hope that he would return to -his rooms in time to keep the appointment. For that Gatton had some -good reason for suggesting the meeting I did not doubt.</p> - -<p>Gatton and I were now agreed that Dr. Damar Greefe, if not directly -responsible for the death of Sir Marcus, at least had been an -accessory to his murder. At any rate he had shown his hand; firstly, -in the attempted assault upon myself by his Nubian servant and -secondly, by the devilish device whereby he had propelled some sort of -gas projectile (for this we now knew it to have been) from the tower -of Friar's Park into my room at the Abbey Inn. I had, then, become -obnoxious to him; he evidently regarded my continued existence as a -menace to his own.</p> - -<p>Two explanations of his attitude presented themselves: one, that my -inquiries had led me daily nearer to the heart of the mystery; or, -two, that the doctor's mysterious associate, the possessor of the -green eyes, had adopted an attitude towards myself which the Eurasian -had counted sooner or later as certain to compromise him. In short, -whilst it was sufficiently evident to me that these mysterious people -residing at Upper Crossleys were the criminals for whom New Scotland -Yard was searching, no definite link between their admittedly -dangerous activities and the crime we sought to unravel, had yet been -brought to light.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, whilst it was not feasible to suppose that any -relationship existed between Sir Eric, the new baronet, and the -Eurasian, or the woman associated with the Eurasian, I was quite well -aware that, equally, there was no evidence to show that such an -association did not exist.</p> - -<p>I longed to be able to offer some consolation to Isobel, who at this -time was passing through days and nights of dreadful apprehension; but -beyond imparting to her some of my own personal convictions, I was -unable to say honestly that the complicity of Coverly in the murder -was definitely and legally disproved.</p> - -<p>"If only he would break his absurd silence," she said suddenly. "This -ridiculous suspicion which still seems to be entertained in some -quarters would be removed of course; but his every act since the night -of the tragedy has only intensified it."</p> - -<p>She sat facing me on the settee, her hands locked in her lap, and:</p> - -<p>"Do you refer to any new act of his," I asked, "with which I am not at -present acquainted?"</p> - -<p>She nodded slowly.</p> - -<p>"Yes," she said; "but I can only tell you in confidence, for it is -something which Inspector Gatton does not know."</p> - -<p>"Please tell me," I urged; "for you are aware that I have no other -object but the clearing of Coverly in the eyes of the police and the -public."</p> - -<p>"Well," she continued, with hesitation, "last night he lodged with me -a copy of a <i>declaration</i> which he assured me cleared him entirely. -But he imposed an extraordinary condition."</p> - -<p>"What was that?" I asked with interest.</p> - -<p>"It was only to be used in the event of the worst happening!" she -said.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean? In the event of his being put on trial for murder?"</p> - -<p>Isobel nodded.</p> - -<p>"I suppose so," she said sadly; "it seems madness, doesn't it?"</p> - -<p>"Absolute madness!" I agreed. "If he is in a position to establish an -alibi why not do it now and be done with the whole unsavory business?"</p> - -<p>"That is exactly what I pointed out to him, but he was adamant on the -matter and became dreadfully irritable and excited. I did not dare to -press the point, so of course—" She shrugged her shoulders -resignedly.</p> - -<p>Was it a selfish joy, I wonder, which possessed me as I noted the -restrained impatience with which Isobel spoke of Coverly? I suppose it -was, and perhaps it was even indefensible; yet I record it, desiring -to be perfectly honest with myself and with others. Nevertheless, in -the near future I was to regret the sentiments which at that moment I -entertained towards Coverly. But how was I to know in my poor human -blindness that his innocence would soon be established in the eyes of -the world by other means than the publication of the statement which -he had so strangely placed with Isobel?</p> - -<p>Since, excepting the telegram, no communication had reached me from -Gatton, I could only assume that he had discovered nothing in the -ruins of the Bell House of sufficient importance to justify a report. -Doubtless he had reported to New Scotland Yard, but that his -discoveries, if any, had not resulted in an arrest, was painfully -evident.</p> - -<p>My latest contribution to the <i>Planet</i> had been in the nature of a -discursive essay rather than an informative article, although I had -enlivened it with some account of my experiences at Upper Crossleys. -But at the moment that I had set pen to paper I had realized the -difficulty of expressing, within the scope of a newspaper -contribution, the peculiar conditions which ruled in that oddly -deserted village. And at Gatton's request I had been most guarded in -my treatment of the two abortive attempts made upon my own life by the -Eurasian doctor.</p> - -<p>The appeal in Isobel's eyes, as I have said, was very difficult to -resist, but after all I had little substantial consolation to offer; -and in the circumstances I shall be understood, I think, when I say -that it was with an odd sense of relief that I finally took my -departure from her flat. To long for the right to comfort a woman as -only a lover may do, and to suspect that this sweet privilege might -have been his for the asking, is a torture which no man can suffer -unmoved.</p> - -<p>Anticipating, almost hourly, a further message from Gatton, I went -first to the <i>Planet</i> offices, but although I lunched at the club and -returned later, no news reached me there; whereupon, I proceeded to my -cottage. As I walked down the high-street of the onetime village, -passing that police-box at which (so far as my part in it was -concerned) the first scenes of the drama actually had been laid, I was -seized with wonder on reflecting that all these episodes, strange and -tragic, had been crowded into so short a space of time.</p> - -<p>An officer was on duty there as on the night when I had first made -acquaintance with the green eyes of the woman of mystery; but I did -not know the man and I walked on deep in meditation, until, arriving -at the Red House, other and dreadful reflections were aroused by the -sight of that deserted building.</p> - -<p>There were no spectators to-day, for the first excitement aroused by -the crime had begun to subside, and I did not even notice a constable -posted there. Whereby I concluded that the investigations at the Red -House had been terminated and that no more was hoped for from an -examination of those premises.</p> - -<p>Coates was awaiting me as I entered my cottage with the news that -Inspector Gatton had telephoned an hour before from Crossleys, -confirming his telegram and stating that he would call immediately he -arrived in London. This was stimulating, and I only regretted that I -had not been at home personally to speak to him. Then:</p> - -<p>"Sir Eric Coverly also rang up, sir," continued Coates, "at about -three o'clock and said that he would be calling this evening at eight -in accordance with your request."</p> - -<p>I looked at the military figure standing bolt upright just within the -doorway.</p> - -<p>"Good. Is that all?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"That was all the message, sir," he reported.</p> - -<p>I walked into the study in a very thoughtful mood, and from the open -window contemplated that prospect of tree-lined road, now for ever to -be associated in my mind with the darkest places in the tragedy in -which I had so strangely become involved.</p> - -<p>Gatton, I knew, entertained a theory that the selection of the Red -House for the dreadful purpose for which it had been employed, was not -the result of any mere accident, but was ascribable to the fact that -the place was conveniently situated from the point of view of the -assassin. In short, he had an idea that the London headquarters of the -wanted man, whom we had now definitely invested with the personality -of Dr. Damar Greefe, was somewhere within my immediate neighborhood!</p> - -<p>It was a startling conclusion and one which rested, as I thought, upon -somewhat slender premises; but nevertheless I found it disquieting. -And recognizing how the more sinister manifestations of that singular -green-eyed creature (whom I could never think of as a woman, nor -indeed regard as anything quite human) were associated with -darkness—a significantly feline trait—I confess to a certain -apprehension respecting the coming night. This apprehension was -strengthened no doubt by my memories of Gatton's last words as I had -been on the point of setting out from Upper Crossleys.</p> - -<p>"With their Friar's Park base destroyed, Mr. Addison," he had said, -"they will be forced to fly to that other abode, at present unknown, -from which I believe they conducted the elaborate assassination of Sir -Marcus. The only alternative is flight from the country, and the -mechanism of the C.I.D. having been put into motion, this we may -regard as almost impossible—especially in view of the marked -personality of Dr. Damar Greefe. Of course," he had added, "they may -have some other residence of which we know nothing but I incline to -the idea that they will make for London."</p> - -<p>That the published paragraph relating to Eric Coverly's alleged -evidence was in some way associated with this theory of Gatton's I -knew, but of the soundness of his theory I had yet to learn.</p> - -<p>Since (as Isobel had that day informed me) the document lodged with -her was a profound secret from all, Carton's inspired paragraph could -have been no more than a shot in the dark; and the fact that it had -hit the mark one of those seeming coincidences which sometimes rest -upon mere chance, but which rested, in this case upon a process of -careful reasoning. The Inspector was certain, as I was certain, of -Coverly's innocence, and he had credited him with an alibi because he -knew that if he would but consent to break his inexplicable silence, -he was in a position to establish one. Why he had forestalled Coverly -I knew not.</p> - -<p>I made a poor and hasty dinner, for I was too excited to eat, and -returning to the study, I crossed to the bookcase and took down -Maspero's "Egyptian Art." I idly glanced again through those passages -which Gatton had copied into his note-book—the passages relating to -the attributes of Bâst, the cat-goddess. My mind rested particularly, -I remember, upon the line, "she plays with her victim as with a -mouse."</p> - -<p>Stifling a somewhat weary sigh, I returned the book to its place and -lingered looking out of the open window into the deepening dusk. -Mentally my mood was a restless one, but it did not reflect itself -physically; for I stood there leaning against the window whilst a -procession of all the figures associated with the "<i>Oritoga</i> mystery" -raced through my mind.</p> - -<p>And presently as I stood there contemplating a mental image of the -Eurasian doctor, I heard the telephone bell ring. The sound aroused me -in a moment, and walking out into the little ante-room in which the -instrument was placed, I took it up—anticipating Coates, who had -immediately come in from the garden where he was engaged at the time.</p> - -<p>"Hello!" I said.</p> - -<p>A voice with which I was unfamiliar, a man's voice speaking rather -thickly, replied:</p> - -<p>"Is that Mr. Addison?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"I have just arrived from Crossleys with Inspector Gatton. He requests -me to ask you to meet him by the police-box at the corner of the high -street immediately."</p> - -<p>"Very good," I said. "I will come."</p> - -<p>"And," continued the voice—"could you spare Coates with the car for -an hour?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," I replied. "For what do you want him?"</p> - -<p>"If he will take the car to Denmark Hill Station and be there by a -quarter past eight," continued the voice, "Detective-Sergeant Blythe -will meet him. There is a large box," he added, "which Inspector -Gatton wishes to have taken to your house."</p> - -<p>"Very well," I said. "Coates will start in ten minutes' time, and I -will come along immediately to meet Inspector Gatton."</p> - -<p>I replaced the telephone upon the little table and went out into the -garden, whither my man had returned.</p> - -<p>"Coates," I said, "get out the Rover."</p> - -<p>Coates immediately ceased his gardening operations and stood upright -in an attitude of attention.</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir."</p> - -<p>"You will just have time to get ready at the garage and return here to -admit Sir Eric Coverly at eight o'clock. I am going out, now, to meet -Inspector Gatton. But inform Sir Eric that I shall be back in a few -minutes. Show him into the study and make him comfortable. You will -then proceed in the Rover to Denmark Hill Station. You will meet there -a man with a box—a detective from Scotland Yard who will make -himself known to you. His name is Blythe. You have to bring the box -back here."</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir," repeated Coates.</p> - -<p>And as he entered the house he was already stripping off the old -shooting jacket which he wore in the garden. For my part I slipped a -light top-coat over my somewhat untidy house attire, and taking my hat -and a stick, stepped quickly out along the road in the direction of -the village street. A brisk walk brought me to the little sentry-box -under the trees. But Gatton was not to be seen. Indeed, with the -exception of several ordinary pedestrians who were obviously returning -from the city to their homes (all of whom I scrutinized, thinking that -Coverly might come this way) and the constable on duty at the point, -there was no one about who looked in the least like either of my -expected visitors.</p> - -<p>Having waited for some ten minutes unavailingly, I spoke to the man in -the box.</p> - -<p>"Good evening, constable," I said; "I expected to meet a friend -here—Inspector Gatton, of Scotland Yard—you may know him?"</p> - -<p>"I know of him quite well, sir," answered the constable, "and should -recognize him if I saw him. But he has not been here this evening."</p> - -<p>"You have seen no one hanging about who might have been sent by him?"</p> - -<p>"No one, sir."</p> - -<p>"Strange," I muttered; then: "My name is Addison, constable," I said, -"and if any one should ask for me will you direct him to proceed to -my house?" And I gave the man instructions respecting its whereabouts.</p> - -<p>"I will," answered the constable; and wishing him "good night," I -retraced my steps, curious respecting the matter, but not apprehensive -as I well might have been—and with no glimmering of the ghastly truth -penetrating to my mind.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXII <br />THE GRAY MIST</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>I was about half-way on my return journey when I heard a car racing -along the road behind me, and as it came nearer I detected the fact -that it was slowing down. Ere I could turn:</p> - -<p>"Hi! Mr. Addison!" hailed a voice.</p> - -<p>I stopped, turned round, and there was Gatton leaning out of the car -and staring towards me through the deepening dusk.</p> - -<p>"Why, Gatton!" I said, walking up to him—"I waited more than ten -minutes for you, and then gave it up."</p> - -<p>"Waited for me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, by the police-box."</p> - -<p>He stared in evident wonder at me and then at the police chauffeur who -drove the car.</p> - -<p>"Whatever prompted you to do that?" he said. "Coates must have given -you the wrong message. I said I would come to the house for you, not -meet you in the street."</p> - -<p>Still I remained dense to the truth, and:</p> - -<p>"I know you did," I replied. "I refer to the second message."</p> - -<p>"I sent no second message."</p> - -<p>"What!"</p> - -<p>"Get in," cried Gatton shortly; "this wants explaining."</p> - -<p>I stepped into the car, and as it moved onward again I explained to -the Inspector what had taken place. As I talked I saw his expression -grow darker and darker, until finally:</p> - -<p>"There's something wrong!" he muttered.</p> - -<p>"Then you did not inspire the message?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing whatever about it. At the time you received it I was -on my way from Crossleys. I have been traveling for the last hour and -a half."</p> - -<p>I stared at him very blankly. The object of such a communication was -difficult to imagine, and I knew of nothing incriminating in my -possession, which might have tempted the assassin to lure me from the -house whilst he obtained possession of it.</p> - -<p>In ever-growing excitement I watched the houses slipping behind us as -we swept along. Then we came to the tree-lined expanse of road -immediately leading to the cottage. As the car stopped, I leaped out -quickly, Gatton close upon my heels, and ran up the path to the door.</p> - -<p>From certain indications with which I was familiar, I observed that -Coates was out, whereby I concluded that he had set off to meet the -mythical "man with a box." Not without apprehension I inserted the key -in the lock and opened the door.</p> - -<p>As I did so, I beheld a most singular spectacle.</p> - -<p>The careful Coates had closed all the windows as usual before quitting -the house, so that there was comparatively little draught along the -corridor. But as the door swung open I perceived a sort of gray -fog-like vapor floating over the carpet about a foot in depth and -moving in slightly sinuous spirals upward towards the opened door!</p> - -<p>At this phenomenon I stared in speechless astonishment; for whilst it -resembled steam or the early morning mist which one sometimes sees -upon the grass in hot weather, I was wholly at a loss to account for -its presence inside my cottage!</p> - -<p>"Good heavens!" cried Gatton, and grasped me by the arm with so strong -a grip that I almost cried out. "<i>Look! Look!</i>"</p> - -<p>"What the devil is it?" I muttered; and turning, I stared into his -face. "What <i>can</i> it be?"</p> - -<p>"Stand back," he said strangely, and pulled me out into the porch. "Do -you notice a peculiar smell?"</p> - -<p>"I do—a most foul and abominable smell."</p> - -<p>Gatton nodded grimly.</p> - -<p>"God knows what has happened here since you left," he said; "but of -one thing I am sure—you must certainly bear a charmed life, Mr. -Addison. There has been a third attempt at your removal!"</p> - -<p>This choking smell which now rose to my nostrils had in it something -vaguely familiar, yet something which at that place and that time I -found myself unable to identify; but:</p> - -<p>"We shall have to open the windows!" rapped Gatton.</p> - -<p>Suiting the action to the word, he took out his handkerchief, and -holding it to his nostrils went running along the corridor, his feet -oddly enveloped in that mysterious mist. A moment later I heard the -bang of a swiftly raised window, then another, and:</p> - -<p>"Stand clear of the door!" called a muffled voice.</p> - -<p>A moment later Gatton came racing back again, coughing and choking -because of the fumes which arose from that supernatural fog carpeting -the passages.</p> - -<p>The chauffeur now appeared upon the path leading from the gate to the -porch, but:</p> - -<p>"Stay by the car!" ordered Gatton. "Don't move without instructions."</p> - -<p>I scarcely noted his words. For I was watching the gray fog. In the -dusk I could see it streaming out, that deathly mist, and creeping -away across grass and flower-beds, right and left of the door.</p> - -<p>"Give it a chance to clear," said Gatton; "I fancy one good whiff -would finish any man!"</p> - -<p>Even as he spoke the words the nature of this vapor suddenly occurred -to me, and:</p> - -<p>"The Abbey Inn!" I whispered. "The Abbey Inn!"</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said he—"you've solved the mystery, have you? But can you -explain how this stuff comes to be floating about the floor of your -house?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot," I confessed. "But at all costs we must go in. We must -learn the worst!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, we'll risk it now," said the Inspector.</p> - -<p>Close together we entered and made our way towards the study. As we -passed the door-way of the ante-room in which the telephone was -placed. I glanced, aside, and thereupon:</p> - -<p>"My God, Gatton!" I groaned. "Look!"</p> - -<p>He pulled up and the two of us stood, horror-stricken, rooted to the -spot, looking into the little room.</p> - -<p>I have said that Coates invariably closed the windows before leaving -the house, but here the window was open. Prone upon the floor was -stretched the figure of a man!</p> - -<p>He wore a light overcoat, and his hat lay under the telephone -table—where it had evidently rolled at the moment of his fall. The -poisonous smell was more apparent here than elsewhere; and looking -down at the prone figure, the face of which was indiscernible because -of the man's position:</p> - -<p>"Why, Gatton!" I said in an awed whisper—"look!... he was speaking to -some one!"</p> - -<p>"I'm looking!" replied Gatton grimly.</p> - -<p>Grasped rigidly in his left hand the fallen man held the telephone!</p> - -<p>"We want gas-masks for this job," said the Inspector.</p> - -<p>His words were true enough. I had already recognized the odor of the -foul stuff. It was identical with that which, as we had come down from -the upper floor of the Abbey Inn, had proceeded from the room wherein -the mysterious shell had exploded. In a word my cottage was filled -with some kind of poison-gas!</p> - -<p>"We must risk it, anyway," said Gatton, "and find out who it is."</p> - -<p>I nodded, sick with foreboding. Stooping swiftly, he succeeded in -turning over the prone figure, whereupon I quite failed to restrain a -hoarse cry of horror....</p> - -<p><i>It was Eric Coverly</i>!</p> - -<p>The fume-laden room seemed to swim around me as I looked down at the -dreadfully contorted features over which was creeping that greenish -tint which had characterized the face of Sir Marcus as I had seen it -on the morning of the body's recovery from the hold of the <i>Oritoga</i>.</p> - -<p>"Drag him out," said Gatton huskily; "he may be alive."</p> - -<p>But even as we bent to the attempt, both my companion and I were -seized with violent nausea; for the wisps of gray mist which still -floated in the air were nevertheless sufficiently deadly. However, we -succeeded at last in dragging Eric Coverly into the passage. Here it -became necessary to detach the telephone from the death-grip in which -he held it.</p> - -<p>I turned my head aside whilst Gatton accomplished this task; then -together we bore Coverly out into the porch. At this point we were -both overcome again by the fumes. Gatton was the first to recover -sufficiently to stoop and examine the victim of this fiendish outrage. -I clutched dizzily at an upright of the porch, and:</p> - -<p>"Don't tell me he's dead," I whispered.</p> - -<p>But Gatton stood up and nodded sternly.</p> - -<p>"He was the last!" he said strangely. "They have triumphed after all."</p> - -<p>The man who had driven the car and who now stood in a state of -evident stupefaction looking over the gate, where he had been warned -to remain by the Inspector, came forward on seeing Gatton beckoning to -him.</p> - -<p>"Notify the local officer in charge and bring a doctor," said Gatton. -He turned to me. "Which is the nearest?"</p> - -<p>Rapidly I gave the man the necessary instructions and he went running -out to the car and soon was speeding away towards the house of a local -physician.</p> - -<p>I find it difficult to recapture the peculiar horror of the next few -minutes, during which, half-fearful of entering the cottage, Gatton -and I stood in the little sheltered garden adjoining the porch looking -down at the body of this man who had met his end under my roof, in -circumstances at once dreadful and incomprehensible.</p> - -<p>Tragically, Eric Coverly was vindicated; by his death he was proved -innocent. And by the manner of his death we realized that he had -fallen a victim to the same malign agency as his cousin.</p> - -<p>I have explained that my cottage stood in a strangely secluded spot, -although so near to the sleepless life of London; and I remember that -throughout the period between the departure of the man with the car -and his return with the doctor and two police officers whom he had -brought from the local depot, only one pedestrian passed my door and -he on the opposite side of the road.</p> - -<p>How little that chance traveler suspected what a scene was concealed -from his eyes by the tall hedges which divided the garden from the -highroad! It was as the footsteps of this wayfarer became faint in the -distance, that suddenly:</p> - -<p>"Come along!" said Gatton. "We might chance it now. I want to get to -the bottom of this telephone trick."</p> - -<p>We returned to the door of the ante-room, and side by side stood -looking down at the telephone which had only been extracted from the -grip of the dead man with so much difficulty. The Inspector stooped -and took it up from the floor. The deadly gray mist was all but -dissipated now, and together we stood staring stupidly at the -telephone which Gatton held in his hand.</p> - -<p>To all outward seeming it was an ordinary instrument, and my number -was written upon it in the space provided for the purpose. Then, all -at once, as we stepped into the room, I observed something out of the -ordinary.</p> - -<p>I could see a length of green cable proceeding from the wall-plug -<i>out</i> through the open window. The cable attached to the instrument -which Gatton held did not come from the proper connection at all, but -came <i>in</i> through the window, and was evidently connected with -something outside in the garden!</p> - -<p>"What does this mean, Gatton?" I cried.</p> - -<p>Evidently as deeply mystified as I, Gatton placed the telephone on the -little table and fully opening the window, leaned out.</p> - -<p>"Hullo!" he cried. "The cable leads up to the roof of the tool-shed!"</p> - -<p>"To the roof of the tool-shed!" I echoed incredulously.</p> - -<p>But Gatton did not heed my words, for:</p> - -<p>"What the devil have we here?" he continued.</p> - -<p>He was hauling something up from the flower-bed below the window, and -now, turning to me, he held out ... a second telephone!</p> - -<p>"Why, Gatton!" I cried, and took it from his hand, "<i>this</i> is the -authentic instrument! See! It is connected in the proper way!"</p> - -<p>"I see quite clearly," he replied. "It was simply placed outside, -whilst a duplicate one was substituted for it. I observe a ladder -against the shed. Let us trace the cable attached to the duplicate."</p> - -<p>The ladder was one used by Coates about the garden; and now, climbing -out of the window, Gatton mounted it and surveyed the roof of the -lean-to which I used as a tool-shed.</p> - -<p>"Ha!" he exclaimed. "A gas cylinder!"</p> - -<p>"What!"</p> - -<p>He fingered the green cable.</p> - -<p>"This is not cable at all," he cried; "it's <i>covered tubing</i>! Do you -see?"</p> - -<p>He descended and rejoined me.</p> - -<p>"You see?" he continued. "A call from the exchange would ring the bell -in the ante-room here. This devilish contrivance"—he pointed to the -false telephone—"is really hollow. The weight of the receiver -hermetically closes the end of the tube, no doubt. But any one -answering the call and taking up the duplicate instrument would -receive the full benefit of the contents of the cylinder which lies -up there on the roof!"</p> - -<p>"My God, Gatton!" I muttered. "The fiends! But why was the contrivance -not removed?"</p> - -<p>"They hadn't time," he said grimly. "They had not counted on the -death-grip of the victim!"</p> - -<p>I heard a car come racing up to the gate, followed by the sound of -many excited voices.</p> - -<p>"At last we know where the gray mist came from," I said, as Gatton and -I walked through the cottage to meet the new arrivals.</p> - -<p>"We know more than that," he retorted. "We know how <i>Sir Marcus</i> -died!"</p> - -<p>"Gatton!" I cried excitedly, as we approached a group waiting in the -porch—"do you mean—"</p> - -<p>He looked at me grimly.</p> - -<p>"I mean," he said slowly, "that I have not forgotten the <i>gas-plug</i> in -the wall of that recess in the supper-room at the Red House! The only -thing I was doubtful about (the means by which the victim was induced -to admit the gas into the room) is now as clear as daylight."</p> - -<p>"You are right, Gatton," I agreed. "The same trick has succeeded -twice."</p> - -<p>"The same trick, as you say, Mr. Addison; with one trifling variation, -a device which would only suggest itself to such a brain as that of—"</p> - -<p>"Dr. Damar Greefe!" I cried.</p> - -<p>"I believe you are right."</p> - -<p>And now fell an awesome silence; for whilst Gatton and I stood -bare-headed, the unfortunate Eric Coverly was being carried out to the -waiting car; and even as I turned my eyes away in horror from that -spectacle, I was endeavoring to frame the words in which I should -acquaint Isobel with this second ghastly tragedy.</p> - -<p>Here, indeed, was a new development of "the <i>Oritoga</i> mystery"; and so -queerly does the mind depart from the actualities at such a moment -that I found myself thinking, even whilst Gatton was talking to me, of -the bold head-lines which would greet readers of the press in the -morning—and of the renewed excitement which would sweep throughout -the length and breadth of the land when this dreadful alibi was -proven.</p> - -<p>Over the details of that gruesome tragedy I feel myself compelled to -pass lightly, for even now the horror of it remains with me. The fumes -of the poisonous gray mist lingered for hours in the house; and there -were official visitations, testimonies and attestations, and the -hundred and one formalities which invariably accompany such a tragedy -but which I need not deal with in detail here.</p> - -<p>Coates returned with the Rover, just as the body of the victim was -being removed, and his account of what had occurred was simple enough, -and followed the lines which we had anticipated. He had locked up and -then gone to the garage for the car as I had directed him to do, -returning to the cottage in time to admit Eric Coverly, whom he showed -into the study, having informed him that I should be back in less than -ten minutes. He had then proceeded to Denmark Hill railway station -only to find, as I had found, that the appointment was a hoax and -"the man with a box" a myth.</p> - -<p>"You see," said Gatton, "the scheme of the plotter was simply this: to -get Coates out of the way for a long enough time to allow the -substitution of the telephone to be accomplished. The fact that Coates -had closed the windows before leaving the house didn't interfere very -much with the scheme. It's an old-fashioned catch on the ante-room -window, and I have seen the marks upon the brass-work where it was -forced from the outside with the blade of a knife. For the person who -opened the window to take out the real telephone and put the other in -its place was easy; and all that remained was to lift the gas-cylinder -on to the shed and partly reclose the window as we found it. Coates, -even if he had troubled to look, would not have noticed any difference -in the dusk. It is the next move, however, which <i>I</i> find most -interesting."</p> - -<p>Gatton spoke with repressed excitement, and:</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by 'the next move'?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Well," he replied, "we have good evidence to show that the assassin -possesses an almost Napoleonic capacity for working by the time-table. -Witness the employment of Constable Bolton in the Red House -affair—which showed that our man was perfectly acquainted with the -movements of the officer on that beat and timed his scheme -accordingly. Very well ... having laid the telephone trap in your -ante-room—did our man hurry away and make the call <i>in person</i>, -which brought Coverly to the 'phone?—or did he remain watching the -house and give the signal to <i>some one else</i> to do it?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot imagine, Gatton. Nor does the point strike me as important."</p> - -<p>"No?" said Gatton, smiling triumphantly. "Then I must explain. -Whereas, in the Red House, the scheme worked <i>automatically</i>—for the -time of Sir Marcus's arrival was <i>fixed</i>—in the present instance, -some one had to watch for <i>your</i> return from the mythical -appointment!"</p> - -<p>"For <i>my</i> return?"</p> - -<p>"Unquestionably! This scheme was arranged for your benefit, Mr. -Addison. Unknowingly, poor Coverly saved you from a dreadful fate at -the price of his own life! You see, they did not know that Coverly was -coming here! Now, it will not have escaped your attention that he wore -a soft felt hat, a light overcoat, and carried a black cane. So did -<i>you</i> when you went out to keep the appointment made by the assassin!"</p> - -<p>He paused, staring at me hard, and:</p> - -<p>"Whoever was watching for your return," he said solemnly, "mistook -Coverly for you! The moment that Coates drove away, the signal was -given. It <i>must</i> have been. We were back here a few minutes later, -<i>Now</i> do you see?"</p> - -<p>"I do not, Gatton! What are you driving at?"</p> - -<p>"At this: The telephone call <i>must</i> have been made from somewhere in -the immediate neighborhood! There wasn't time to do it otherwise. And -there is no public call office within a mile <i>which is open after -seven o'clock!"</i></p> - -<p>"Good heavens!" I cried. "At last I understand!"</p> - -<p>Gatton looked at me, smiling in grim triumph; and:</p> - -<p>"Dr. Damar Greefe has a residence somewhere within a quarter-mile -radius of this house!" he declared. "He has betrayed himself! -Then—look here."</p> - -<p>Unscrewing the front of the mouthpiece of the false telephone, he took -out the strip of cardboard upon which my number was written, turned it -over ... and there upon the back was another number!</p> - -<p>"Just look up Dr. Brown-Edwards," he said. "He was the last occupant -of the Red House, and may still be in the book."</p> - -<p>Grasping the purpose of his inquiry, excitedly I did as he directed; -and there sure enough the number appeared!</p> - -<p>"The identical instrument that was used at the Red House!" cried -Gatton. "Note the artistic finish with which even the <i>correct</i> -exchange numbers are looked up!"</p> - -<p>I sank back in my chair, silent, appalled at the perverted genius of -this fiend whom we were pitted against in a life-or-death struggle. -But presently:</p> - -<p>"What was the object of the opening and closing of the garage doors at -the Red House?" I asked, almost mechanically.</p> - -<p>"Simple enough," Gatton replied. "Whereas here the telephone was -installed, so that the bell could be rung by some one merely calling -up your number—and the ringing stopped by the caller telling the -exchange he had made a mistake—in the Red House, as I have -discovered, the 'phone had been disconnected shortly after Dr. -Brown-Edwards left the place."</p> - -<p>"Then the opening and closing of the doors was merely a device for -ringing the bell?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. The opening of the first door set it ringing and the opening of -the second probably stopped it. Mr. Addison," he stood up, resting his -hands upon the table and regarding me fixedly—"we enter upon the -final battle of wits: New Scotland Yard <i>versus</i> Dr. Damar Greefe and -the green-eyed lady of Bâst. Regarding the latter—there is a very -significant point."</p> - -<p>"What is that?"</p> - -<p>"The 'voice' on this last occasion was that, not of a woman, but of a -man."</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIII<br />THE INEVITABLE</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"I very much regret having to trouble you, Miss Merlin, at such a -time," said Inspector Gatton, "but as the paper lodged with you by the -late Sir Eric Coverly may throw some light upon a very dark matter, -perhaps you will read it to us."</p> - -<p>I watched the play of expression upon Isobel's face with a depth of -sympathy which I cannot attempt to describe. The successive trials -which had been imposed upon her in so short a time had robbed her -cheeks of their sweet color and there were dark shadows under her -eyes. The tumult of my own feelings was such that I was scarcely -capable of consistent thought nor had I the moral courage to examine -those emotions which stirred so wildly within me.</p> - -<p>Late on the previous night I had performed the unhappy duty of -breaking to her the news of Coverly's dreadful death. I shall never -forget that black hour. Her courage, however, under all these trials -had been admirable, and although I well knew what it must have cost -her, she replied now with perfect composure:</p> - -<p>"Look—I took it out of my bureau when I heard that you were here, -Inspector."</p> - -<p>She took up from the table a foolscap envelope sealed and having her -name written upon it in large and somewhat unsteady characters.</p> - -<p>"I would suggest," said Gatton, with a delicacy which earned my -gratitude, "that you read it yourself first, Miss Merlin. If there is -anything helpful in it you can then communicate it to me."</p> - -<p>I saw Isobel biting her lip hard, but she resolutely tore open the -envelope; and leaving her to read the contents, I joined Gatton at the -window. We both stood staring out for what seemed a very long time, -then:</p> - -<p>"It is rather long," said Isobel in a low voice.</p> - -<p>Gatton and I turned together, and saw her, looking even more pale than -before, seated by the table holding a sheet of notepaper in her hand. -Without glancing at either of us, she began to read as follows, in an -even and monotonous voice which I knew she had adopted to hide her -emotion:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"This account of my movements on the night of August 6th will only be -read in the event of my being falsely adjudged guilty of the murder of -my cousin, Marcus Coverly, or in the event of my death.</p> - -<p>"On the afternoon of that date I was informed over the telephone that -my fiancée, Isobel Merlin, was meeting Sir Marcus the same night at a -place called the Red House. The address was given me and I was asked, -in case I doubted the word of the speaker, to watch Miss Merlin's -movements that evening.</p> - -<p>"I had already quarreled with my cousin respecting his unwelcome -attentions and although the result did not confirm the promise of the -informant, in part at least the information was accurate. I have no -idea of the speaker's identity except that the voice was the voice of -a woman.</p> - -<p>"Not desiring to trust any one in such a matter I, myself, obtained in -a remote district the dilapidated garments which are now in the -possession of the police and respecting which they have subjected me -to close examination. Attired in these and having my face and hands -artificially dirtied as a further disguise, I left my chambers by a -back entrance about nine o'clock, and not having sufficient confidence -in my make-up to enter a public vehicle, walked the whole of the way -to College Road.</p> - -<p>"I had little difficulty in finding the Red House, but on discovering -that it was vacant, I immediately suspected a hoax. However, I -determined to wait in the neighborhood until the time at which the -voice had warned me the meeting was to take place. There were very few -people about and a tremendous downfall of rain drenched me to the -skin, for the only shelter afforded was that of the trees bordering -the road unless I had been content to abandon my watch.</p> - -<p>"Just before the downpour ceased but after it had abated its first -fury, I came out from my inadequate shelter and began to walk in the -direction of the High Street. I had not gone more than twenty paces -when I saw a cab approaching, and the man, seeing my bedraggled -figure, slowed up, and to my astonishment asked me the way to the Red -House.</p> - -<p>"I immediately peered into the cab—to find that the passenger was -none other than Marcus Coverly. I had begun to doubt, but at this I -doubted no longer. I gave the cabman the necessary directions and, -slowly following on foot, I saw from the shelter of the trees on the -opposite side of the road, Sir Marcus dismiss the cab and walk up the -drive of the empty house.</p> - -<p>"He was alone, and since I knew that Miss Merlin had not preceded him, -I could only conclude that she would be following later. Accordingly I -walked slowly away from the Red House again in the direction of the -High Street, and some five minutes later I passed a constable -accompanied by a man wearing a light Burberry and a soft hat, whom I -knew later (although I failed to recognize him at the time) to have -been Mr. Jack Addison.</p> - -<p>"I stood at the corner by the High Street until long after midnight. -Twice I returned to the Red House and once even penetrated as far as -the porch; but although I thought I could detect a light shining out -through the shutters of the room on the right of the door, I could not -be sure of it and there was no sound of movement within.</p> - -<p>"These were my only discoveries, and very wretched and dissatisfied I -tramped back to my chambers wondering what the visit of Marcus Coverly -to this apparently empty house could mean and why he had remained -there, but particularly wondering why the voice had told me this -part-truth which had turned me into a spy unavailingly.</p> - -<p>"The discovery made at the docks on the following day placed a new and -dreadful construction upon the motives of the speaker, and I awakened -to the fact that although entirely innocent of any complicity I had -laid myself open to a charge of having been concerned in the murder of -my cousin.</p> - -<p>"My ill-advised attempt to conceal the garments which I had used as a -disguise, and of which I had not known how to dispose, was dictated by -panic. I knew the police were watching me and I was fool enough to -think that I could escape their vigilance.</p> - -<p>"This is all I have to say. It explains nothing and it does not -exonerate me, I am aware, but I swear that it is the truth,"</p> - -<p>"(Signed) ERIC COVERLY, Bart."</p> - -<p>Although she retained so brave a composure I recognized the strain -which this new and cruel ordeal had imposed upon Isobel; and Gatton -incurred a further debt of gratitude by his tactful behavior, for:</p> - -<p>"Miss Merlin," he said earnestly—"you are a very brave woman. Thank -you. I only wish I could have spared you this."</p></blockquote> - -<p>Shaking me warmly by the hand, he bowed and departed, leaving me alone -with Isobel.</p> - -<p>As the sound of his footsteps died away Isobel returned again to the -seat from which she had risen; and a silence fell between us. My own -feelings I cannot attempt to depict, but I will confess that I was -afraid of my humanity at that moment. Never had Isobel seemed more -desirable; never had I longed as I longed now to take her in my arms.</p> - -<p>The tension of that silence becoming insupportable:</p> - -<p>"You will not stay here alone?" I asked in an unnatural voice.</p> - -<p>Isobel, without looking up, shook her head.</p> - -<p>"I am going to Mrs. Wentworth—my Aunt Alison," she replied.</p> - -<p>"Good," I said. "I am glad to know that you will be in her cheery -company."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Wentworth was, indeed, a charming old lady, and so far as I knew, -Isobel's only relation in London, if not in England. She occupied a -house which, like herself, was small, scrupulously neat and -old-worldly. One of those tiny residences which, once counted as being -"in the country," had later become enmeshed in the ever-spreading -tentacles of greater London.</p> - -<p>It was situated on the northern outskirts of the county-city, and -although rows of modern "villas" had grown up around it, within the -walls of that quaint little homestead one found oneself far enough -removed from suburbia.</p> - -<p>"When are you going, Isobel?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"I think," she replied, "in the morning."</p> - -<p>"Will you let me drive you in the Rover?—or are you taking too much -baggage?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no," she said, smiling sadly—"I am going to live the simple life -for a week. Going out shopping with Aunt Alison—and perhaps sometimes -to the pictures!"</p> - -<p>"Then I can drive you over?"</p> - -<p>"Yes—if you would like to," she answered simply.</p> - -<p>I took my leave shortly afterwards and proceeded to the <i>Planet</i> -office. I had work to do, but I must admit that I little relished the -idea of returning to my cottage. Diverted, now, from the notorious Red -House, public interest had centered upon my residence, and the -seclusion which I had gone so far to seek was disturbed almost hourly -by impertinent callers who seemed to think that the scene of a -sensational crime was public property.</p> - -<p>Coates had effectually disillusioned several of them on this point, -but, nevertheless, the cottage had become distasteful to me. I -realized that I must seek a new residence without delay. Shall I add -that the primary cause of my reclusion no longer operated so -powerfully? Of my dreams at this time I will speak later; but here I -may say that I knew, and accepted the knowledge with a fearful joy, -that if my new house of hope was doomed to be shattered, no spot in -broad England could offer me rest again.</p> - -<p>It was not then, until late that night, that I returned to my once -peaceful abode. Coates was waiting up for me, but he had nothing of -importance to report, apparently, until, when I had dismissed him, he -turned in the doorway, and:</p> - -<p>"Excuse me, sir," he said—and cleared his throat.</p> - -<p>"Yes, Coates?"</p> - -<p>"About half an hour ago, sir, the dogs all around started howling, -sir. I thought I'd better mention it, as Inspector Gatton asked me -this morning if I had ever heard the dogs howling."</p> - -<p>I looked at him straightly.</p> - -<p>"Inspector Gatton asked you thus?"</p> - -<p>"He did, sir. So I have reported the occurrence, Good night, sir."</p> - -<p>"Good night, Coates," I replied.</p> - -<p>But for long enough after his departure I sat there in the armchair in -my study, thinking over this seemingly trivial occurrence. From where -I sat I could see the light shining upon the gilt-lettered title of -Maspero's "Egyptian Art"—and my thoughts promised to be ill -bedfellows.</p> - -<p>Contrary to custom, I slept that night with closed windows! And -although I awakened twice, once at two o'clock and again at four, -thinking that I had heard the mournful signal of the dogs, nothing but -my own uneasy imagination disturbed my slumbers.</p> - -<p>Breakfast despatched, and my correspondence dealt with, I sent Coates -to the garage for my little car, and since I should have another -companion, left him behind, and myself drove to Isobel's flat. -Woman-like, she was not nearly ready, and there was much bustling on -the part of the repentant Marie—who had been retained in spite of her -share in the tragedy of Sir Marcus's death—before we finally set out -for Mrs. Wentworth's.</p> - -<p>Isobel was very silent on the way, but once I intercepted a sidelong -glance and felt my heart leaping madly when she blushed.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Wentworth made me very welcome as had ever been her way. She was -an eccentric, but embarrassingly straightforward old lady; and if I -had heeded her simple motherly counsel in the past all might have been -different.</p> - -<p>She bore Isobel off to her room, leaving me to my own devices, for she -had never observed any ceremony towards me in all the years that I had -known her, but had taught me to make myself at home beneath her -hospitable roof. I knew, too, because she had never troubled to -disguise the fact, that she regarded Isobel and me as made for one -another. Isobel's engagement to poor Eric Coverly, Mrs. Wentworth had -all along regarded as a ghastly farce, and I can never forget her -reception of me on the occasion of my first visit after returning from -Mesopotamia.</p> - -<p>Half an hour or so elapsed, then, before Isobel returned; and, -although she came into the room confidently enough, the old tension -reasserted itself immediately. I felt that commonplaces would choke -me. And although to this day I cannot condone my behavior, for the -good of my soul I must confess the truth.</p> - -<p>I took her in my arms, held her fast and kissed her.</p> - -<p>An overwhelming consciousness of guilt came to me even as her lips -met mine, and, releasing her, I turned aside, groaning.</p> - -<p>"Isobel!" I said hoarsely—"Isobel, forgive me! I was a cad, a -villain... to <i>him</i>. But—it was inevitable. Try to forget that -I was so weak. But, Isobel—"</p> - -<p>I felt her hand trembling on my arm.</p> - -<p>"We must <i>both</i> try to forget, Jack," she whispered.</p> - -<p>I grasped her hands and looked eagerly—indeed I think wildly—into -her eyes.</p> - -<p>"Because my life is over if I lose you," I said, "I suppose I was mad -for a moment. Tell me that one day—when it is fit and proper that you -should do so—you will give me a hearing, and I will perform any -penance you choose. I acted like a blackguard."</p> - -<p>"Stop!" she commanded softly.</p> - -<p>She raised her eyes, and her grave, sweet glance cooled the fever -which consumed me and brought a great and abiding peace to my heart.</p> - -<p>"You were no more to blame than I!" she said. "And because—I -understand, it is not hard to forgive. I don't try to excuse myself, -but even if—<i>he</i>—had lived, I could never have gone on with it, -after his ... suspicions. Oh, Jack! why did you leave me to make that -awful mistake?"</p> - -<p>"My dearest," I replied, "God knows I have suffered for it."</p> - -<p>"Please," she said, and her voice faltered, "help me to be fair to ... -<i>him</i>. Never—never—speak to me again—like that ... until—"</p> - -<p>But the sentence was never completed; for at this moment in bustled -Aunt Alison—in appearance a white-haired, rosy-faced little matron, -very brisk in her movements and very shrewd-eyed. A dear old lady, -dearer than ever to me in that she had tried so hard to bring Isobel -and my laggard self together. She had, as usual, more to say than -could be said in the time at her disposal. As we proceeded to the -dining-room:</p> - -<p>"Now then, you boys and girls, I'm starving, if you're not. What a -time I've had with cook, not knowing when you might be here. Cook's -leaving to be married: I'm afraid she's neglected this sea-kale. Dear, -dear! what love will do for people's minds, to be sure. Put your hair -straight, Isobel, dear, or Mary will think Jack has been kissing you! -I saw her kiss the postman yesterday. Mary, I mean! You're eating like -a pigeon, Jack! Gracious me! Where's the pepper? Mary! Ring the bell, -Isobel. I must speak to that postman; he's made Mary forget to put any -pepper in the cruet, and any one might have seen them. It isn't -respectable!"</p> - -<p>"Dear Aunt Alison!" I said, as the active old lady ran out (Mary not -being promptly enough in attendance). "She loves to keep running in -and out like a waiter! What a friend she has been to me, Isobel! You -could not be in better company at such a time."</p> - -<p>"She's a darling!" agreed Isobel, and when I met her glance across the -table she blushed entrancingly.</p> - -<p>Then, in a moment, tears were in her eyes; and knowing of whom she was -thinking, I sat abashed—guilty and repentant. I had transgressed -against the murdered man; and there and then I made a solemn, silent -vow that no word of love again should pass my lips until the fit and -proper time of mourning was over. Because I faithfully kept this vow, -I dare to hope that my sin is forgiven me.</p> - -<p>Luncheon at that homely house, with Isobel, was an unalloyed delight; -and I regretted every passing minute which brought me nearer to the -time when I must depart. But when at last I said good-by it was a new -world upon which I looked—a new life upon which I entered. I have -said that to-day I venture to hope my poor human transgression is -forgiven me. Yet it did not go unpunished. Little did I dream, in my -strange new happiness, how soon I was to return to that house—how -soon I was to know the deadliest terror of my life.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIV <br />A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>"The case has narrowed down," said Gatton, "from my point of view, -into the quest of one man—"</p> - -<p>"Dr. Damar Greefe!"</p> - -<p>"Precisely. You have asked me what I found at Friar's Park and the -Bell House, and I can answer you very briefly. Nothing! The latter -place, had quite obviously been fired in a systematic and deliberate -way. I suspect that the contents of the rooms had been soaked with -petrol. It burned to a shell and then collapsed. At the present moment -it is merely a mound of smoking ashes.</p> - -<p>"Of course, the local fire-brigade was hopelessly ill-equipped, but -even with the most up-to-date appliances I doubt if the conflagration -could have been extinguished. The men watching the house were thrown -quite off their guard when flames began to leap out of the windows: -hence, the escape of Damar Greefe."</p> - -<p>"You are sure he <i>did</i> escape?"</p> - -<p>Gatton stared at me grimly.</p> - -<p>"To whom do you suppose you are indebted for the telephone trick?" he -asked. "Besides—Blythe, the fool, actually heard the car at the -moment that it came out on to the highroad! Oh, they bungled the -thing villainously. My Marathon feat saved your life, Mr. Addison, but -it looks like losing me the case! We have the Hawkins couple. But, -although a graceless pair, they were more dupes than knaves. I am -convinced, personally, that neither of them suspected that Lady -Burnham Coverly was dead. Damar Greefe had represented to them that -she had lost her reason."</p> - -<p>"Good heavens! what a scheme!"</p> - -<p>"What a scheme, indeed. Hawkins seems to have considered that his -duty—which was merely to keep intruders out of the park—was dictated -by necessity. He thought that if Lady Coverly's real condition became -known she would be removed to a madhouse! He also thought that a -<i>nurse</i> was in attendance."</p> - -<p>"A nurse!"</p> - -<p>"Yes. He assured me that he had heard and seen her! Mrs. Hawkins also -was certain on the point. Neither of them were ever allowed in the -house, by the way. But Damar Greefe paid them well—and they were -satisfied. The identity of the 'nurse' is evident, I think?"</p> - -<p>"Perfectly evident. But how was poor Lady Coverly disposed of—and why -this elaborate secrecy?"</p> - -<p>"Well," replied Gatton slowly—"out of the multitude of notes which I -have compiled upon the case, I have worked out a sort of summary, and -it amounts to this: The whole series of outrages turns upon something -in the financial arrangements of the late Sir Burnham of benefit to -the Eurasian doctor. It may be that Damar Greefe had some secret -locked up in the Bell House which he could not very well remove, and -that the greatest peril he feared was the taking over of the Park -property by an heir. I assume he had complete authority over the late -Lady Burnham; and his object in concealing her death (for our -investigations at Friar's Park have definitely established the fact -that no one had resided there for twelve months at least) was clearly -this: he hoped to carry on the pretense of attending upon the invalid -until—"</p> - -<p>"Until there was no heir to the property remaining alive!" I -interrupted excitedly. "Exactly, Gatton! That is my own theory, too!</p> - -<p>"We have now received," continued the Inspector, "some particulars -concerning the circumstances of Roger Coverly's death in Basle. Whilst -there was no direct evidence of foul play (and at that time at any -rate no reason to suspect it) I am convinced that the local physician -who attended him at the hotel and the specialist who was sent for -post-haste from Zurich were by no means agreed as to the cause of -death.</p> - -<p>"The symptoms were apparently not unlike those which would be caused -by a snake-bite, for instance; but naturally one does not look for -poisonous snakes in Switzerland. There was some sort of inflammation -of the skin apparently"—he consulted a page of his note-book—"which -might have been eczema or something similar, of course, but which -according to medical evidence had no apparent connection with the -cause of his death. This was given in the certificate simply as -syncope—although there did not appear to be any hereditary cardiac -trouble or anything of the kind to account for a young fellow of that -age dying suddenly of heart failure. And there had been nothing in his -life during his sojourn at Basle which would help to clear up the -mystery.</p> - -<p>"However, no doubt seems to have arisen at the time, as you can well -understand; nevertheless, I, personally, count the death of Roger -Coverly as the first of the outrages to be laid to the credit of Dr. -Damar Greefe!"</p> - -<p>"The object of the whole thing is still completely dark to me," I -declared.</p> - -<p>"In a sense it is dark to <i>me</i>," replied Gatton; "but considering that -the boy died at a time when the health of his father, Sir Burnham, was -already giving cause for anxiety, I maintain that he was removed -because his inheritance of Friar's Park was feared—by some one. The -invitation from Dr. Damar Greefe to Sir Marcus is a very significant -piece of evidence, of course; and when we consider that it reached Sir -Marcus within a very short time of his return from Russia, the -conclusion is obvious.</p> - -<p>"He inherited the title on the death of Sir Burnham, whilst he was on -service in Archangel. Being in Russia, I conclude that he was not -accessible from the Eurasian doctor's point of view. Directly he -<i>became</i> accessible, this invitation arrived; and it is perfectly -clear that the fate intended for him was that which so nearly befell -yourself! Remember, I have seen the gun mounted on the tower of -Friar's Park and I assure you it was not placed there yesterday. In -short, I have no doubt that it was put there in anticipation of Sir -Marcus's visit and only employed in your case as a sort of -afterthought.</p> - -<p>"The Red House plot was the next move on the part of the Eurasian, and -it succeeded almost faultlessly. The accident at the docks prevented -the scheme being carried out in all its details, but it did not -entirely dislocate the murderer's arrangements, for it left us with no -better clew to his identity than the statuette of the cat."</p> - -<p>"The presence of that statuette calls for some explanation, Gatton," I -said.</p> - -<p>Gatton very carefully lighted his pipe.</p> - -<p>"That is true," he admitted, "but I will come to this side of the case -later; at present I am summing up the evidence against Damar -Greefe—who is certainly the acting partner in this series of outrages -against the members of the house of Coverly. Observe the ingenuity of -the Red House plot.</p> - -<p>"He hoped by this not only to bring about the death of Sir Marcus, but -also, by conviction for his murder, the death of the next heir, Mr. -Eric Coverly! In fact, so well was his plan conducted, that even -now—although we know poor Sir Eric to have been innocent—you will -note that he has been unable to establish an alibi even by a full -confession of his movements on the night of the crime! In other words, -if he had not fallen a victim to the precipitancy of his enemies, -to-day his name would be under as black a cloud as ever. It was with -the idea of clearing him that I caused those paragraphs to be -distributed to the press, in which I anticipated the existence of -such a confession as he had actually made—but, I may add, of one more -convincing than that which we heard Miss Merlin read."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean, Gatton," I said, looking hard at him, "that by -professing to have established the innocence of Eric Coverly, you -hoped to draw down upon him the renewed activities of his enemies?"</p> - -<p>Gatton looked rather guilty, but:</p> - -<p>"I do admit it!" he said. "Nevertheless he did not fall a victim to -this trap which I had laid for him in his own best interests. After -all, you must admit that his death was an accident; for he suffered -the penalty of your misdeeds."</p> - -<p>"My misdeeds!" I cried.</p> - -<p>Gatton smiled grimly.</p> - -<p>"I say misdeeds," he continued—"although they were not conscious on -your part. But it is fairly evident, I think, that whereas the unknown -partner of Dr. Damar Greefe was an active enemy of the Coverlys -(witness the evidence of 'the voice' and of the cat statuette), it is -to Dr. Damar Greefe <i>himself</i> that you are indebted for the three -attempts on your life; the first two at Upper Crossleys and the third -here in your own home by the simple but deadly expedient of -substituting for your own 'phone the duplicate one which previously -had been employed so successfully at the Red House! He hoped to remove -a dangerous obstacle from his path and a menace to this safety."</p> - -<p>"But, my dear Gatton, why should he regard <i>me</i> as a menace more -deadly than you, for instance?"</p> - -<p>"The reason is very plain," answered Gatton. "I don't think he paid -you the compliment of regarding your investigations as likely to prove -more successful than my own, but I do think that he apprehended danger -from the indiscretions of his lady accomplice."</p> - -<p>"Do you refer to the woman who visited me at the Abbey Inn?"</p> - -<p>"I do," said Gatton shortly, "and to the woman who visited you here -and stole the statuette of Bâst! The history of Edward Hines and his -predecessor, which you have so admirably summarized, points to the -presence in the Upper Crossleys neighborhood of such a character as we -have been seeking ever since your experience here (I refer to the -cat-eyes which looked in through the window)."</p> - -<p>"I begin to see, Gatton," I said slowly.</p> - -<p>"With what object this unknown woman visited you at the Abbey Inn I -cannot conjecture, but doubtless this would have been revealed had not -her visit been interrupted and terminated by the appearance of the -Eurasian doctor upon the scene. From your own account she recognized -that she had committed an indiscretion by coming there, and of the -doctor's anger—- which he was quite unable to conceal—you have told -me. Note also that the next episode was your being followed by Cassim, -the Nubian, undoubtedly with murderous intent. Then, recognizing that -he had hopelessly compromised himself, the Eurasian took desperate -means to silence you for ever."</p> - -<p>"He did," I said, "and came very near to succeeding. But to return, -Gatton, to this problem of the image of Bâst. You see, the figure of -a cat was painted upon the case in which Sir Marcus's body was found -and the image of a cat was discovered inside the case. Then, you will -not have overlooked the significance of the fact that Edward Hines was -the recipient of a present from his unknown friend which also took the -form of a gold figure of a cat, and which I found, when I examined it, -to be of ancient Egyptian workmanship."</p> - -<p>"Right!" said Gatton, and emphatically bringing his open hand down -upon the table: "I said at the very beginning of the case, Mr. -Addison, that it turned upon the history of this Egyptian goddess, and -I think my theory has been substantiated at every point."</p> - -<p>"It has, Inspector," I agreed; "but I don't know that the fact -enlightens us very much; for it merely indicates that the man whom you -declare to be the central figure of the conspiracy is only a secondary -figure, and that all we know about the person whom we may regard as -the prime mover is that she is a woman—apparently possessing -supernormal eyes which glitter in the dark. She is also associated in -some way with the figure of Bâst. What is her relation to Dr. Damar -Greefe and in what way is she interested in the destruction of the -Coverly family?"</p> - -<p>Gatton smoked in silence for a while, staring at me reflectively, -then:</p> - -<p>"If we knew that, Mr. Addison," he said, "we should know all there is -to know about 'the <i>Oritoga</i> mystery.' But I think we should have -advanced a long step towards this information if we could apprehend -the Eurasian. Of course we have gathered up all the ragged details of -the Red House incident: I refer to the carter who delivered the crate -and collected it in the morning, of the caterer who supplied the -supper and so forth. As I had fully expected, none of the evidence -helped us at all."</p> - -<p>"'The voice,'" I began.</p> - -<p>"Exactly! The same 'voice' beyond a doubt, and the whole thing worked -through the means of district messengers and others, telephonically -instructed. No one appeared throughout, Mr. Addison."</p> - -<p>"Yet," I said deliberately, "there was one point at which some one -<i>must</i> have appeared—"</p> - -<p>"Yes," he interrupted, "some one dragged the body out of that -supper-room, down to the garage, and packed it in the crate."</p> - -<p>"You have definitely convinced yourself that the telephone device was -practiced there?"</p> - -<p>"Beyond question. Haven't you seen the exchange number? That plug -where at some time a gas-fitting had been fixed up in the wall—you -remember?—proved on investigation to communicate with an empty room -adjoining. The gas cylinder was placed there of course, and the -telephone in the recess of the supper-room, where, fastened in by the -velvet curtain, any one using the poison installation would be -suffocated almost immediately."</p> - -<p>"Good God, Gatton!" I cried. "It's a horrible business, and for my own -part I have no idea what the next step should be."</p> - -<p>"I'm a bit doubtful, myself," admitted Gatton; "but you know the line -of reasoning which has led me to the conclusion that these people -possess a base of operations somewhere in this district. I am having -the neighborhood scoured pretty thoroughly, and I think it is merely a -question of time, now, for us to hem in the wanted man—"</p> - -<p>"And the wanted woman!" I added.</p> - -<p>We were interrupted by a knock at the study door, and Coates came in -with the evening mail.</p> - -<p>"Excuse me, Gatton," I said—for I had observed that one of the -letters was from Isobel.</p> - -<p>Eagerly I tore open the envelope ... and what I read struck a sudden -chill to my heart. Looking up:</p> - -<p>"Gatton!" I cried—"Miss Merlin has received, by post, a small -statuette of Bâst!"</p> - -<p>"What!"</p> - -<p>"From her brief description I am almost tempted to believe that it is -the one which was stolen from here! She is dreadfully frightened, -naturally."</p> - -<p>The Inspector stood up.</p> - -<p>"We must see it," he said rapidly, "at once; and we must see the -wrapping it came in and the postmark. It is maddening," he burst out -angrily, "to think that Dr. Damar Greefe may be somewhere within less -than half a mile of us as we sit here now, that we could ring him up -if we knew his number; but that even with all the resources of the -Criminal Investigation Department at work we may yet be unable to find -him! Even an outside suburb like this is a very big place to search -and the job is something like looking for a needle in a haystack!"</p> - -<p>My own frame of mind was one of horrible doubt and indecision. I knew -not what to do for the best; and Gatton had begun to pace up and down -like a caged wild beast. Therefore:</p> - -<p>"Fill your pipe," I said wearily. "A lot may depend upon our next -move. To make a false one would perhaps be fatal."</p> - -<p>Gatton stared at me almost savagely, then threw himself back into the -armchair from which he had arisen, and was just reaching out for the -tobacco-jar which I had pushed before him, when a bell rang. I heard -Coates opening the front door, and wondering whom this late visitor -could be, I stared questioningly at the Inspector.</p> - -<p>Came a tap upon the door.</p> - -<p>"Come in," I cried.</p> - -<p>Coates entered, and standing stiffly in the doorway:</p> - -<p>"<i>Dr. Damar Greefe</i>!" he announced.</p> - -<p>Unmoved, he stood aside; and whilst Gatton and I slowly rose from our -chairs in a state of utter stupefaction, the Eurasian doctor entered, -and stood, a tall, gaunt figure, towering over the burly form of -Coates in the doorway!</p> - -<p>His hawk eyes blazed feverishly and his face was drawn and haggard, -whilst I observed with a sort of horrified wonder that he seemed to be -almost too weak to stand. For, as Gatton and I came finally to our -feet, he clutched at the edge of a bookcase, but recovered himself, -bowed in that stately fashion which immediately translated me in -spirit to the strange library in the Bell House, and:</p> - -<p>"Gentlemen," he said, and his harsh voice rose scarcely above a -whisper—"pray resume your seats. I shall not detain you long."</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXV <br />STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D.</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>The speaker reeled and seemed about to fall. Whereupon Gatton sprang -forward and placed an armchair, which he himself had occupied, for Dr. -Damar Greefe. The latter inclined his head in acknowledgment and sank -down weakly, clutching at both arms of the chair.</p> - -<p>For my own part, I had not yet recovered power of speech; but:</p> - -<p>"Dr. Damar Greefe," said the Inspector, closely watching the man who -sat there collapsed in the chair, "I arrest you on a charge of murder. -I have to warn you that anything you now say will be used in evidence -against you."</p> - -<p>The Eurasian exerted a supreme effort, straightening his gaunt body, -and fixing the gaze of those hawk eyes upon Inspector Gatton. When he -spoke his harsh voice had gained strength and his manner was -imperious.</p> - -<p>"Detective-Inspector Gatton," he replied, "you do no more than your -duty. I have come here only with the utmost difficulty in my weak -state. Therefore, you need apprehend no attempt at escape on my part. -I have come with a purpose. This purpose I shall fulfill; after -which"—he shrugged his square shoulders—"I shall be at your -service."</p> - -<p>"Very good," said Gatton shortly, but I noted that his face was -flushed in a way which betokened repressed excitement.</p> - -<p>Giving me a significant glance, he went out to the ante-room, and:</p> - -<p>"Sydenham 1448," I heard him call.</p> - -<p>Damar Greefe closed his eyes and lay back in the chair; and a moment -later:</p> - -<p>"Hullo!" said Gatton. "Detective-Inspector Gatton, C.I.D., speaking -from Willow Cottage, College Road. Send two men in a cab here at once -to remove a prisoner.... Right! Good-by."</p> - -<p>He came in again, and closing the door behind him, stood staring at -Damar Greefe in a sort of wonderment. The Eurasian wearily opened his -eyes and looked slowly from side to side. Then:</p> - -<p>"Pray be seated, Inspector Gatton," he said. "I have a communication -to make."</p> - -<p>Gatton, with never a word, drew up a chair and sat down.</p> - -<p>"I do not desire to be interrupted," continued Damar Greefe, "until my -communication is finished. You understand? It will not be repeated."</p> - -<p>"I am afraid," murmured Gatton dryly, "it will have to be."</p> - -<p>The Eurasian fully opened his glittering black eyes, and fixing them -upon the speaker:</p> - -<p>"It will not be repeated," he said harshly. "If I am misunderstood, -inform me."</p> - -<p>His peremptory manner in the circumstances was extraordinary—uncanny. -As I had perceived in the first hour of our meeting, Dr. Damar Greefe -was a man possessing tremendous force of character and a pride of -intellect which clearly rendered him indifferent even of retribution.</p> - -<p>"This point being settled," he continued, "be good enough, Inspector -Gatton, and"—he turned his eyes in my direction—"Mr. Addison, to -give me your undivided attention."</p> - -<p>His manner was that of a lecturer—of a lecturer who takes it for -granted that his discourse is above the heads of his audience; but -when I say that the statement now made by this strange and terrible -man held Gatton and me spellbound I say no more than the truth. -Wearily, and more often than not having his eyes closed, Dr. Damar -Greefe commenced to unfold a story of nameless horrors—and save that -his harsh voice grew ever weaker and weaker, he displayed not the -slightest trace of emotion throughout his appalling revelations.</p> - -<p>"I am informing you," he said, "of these facts concerning my inquiries -in the realm of teratology and the subjoined province of animism -because I know that my life-work upon this subject can never now be -completed. It having been necessary for me to destroy my papers and -those specimens which, at hideous cost, I had accumulated during -twenty years of travel through some of the most barbaric as well as -the most civilized parts of the world, this present brief verbal -account of the most important inquiry of all shall alone survive me. -You are privileged. Therefore listen:</p> - -<p>"Two important facts contributed to my choice of a special study: the -social ostracism which very early in my professional career I found to -be my lot; and the fact that in myself I afforded a living example of -the <i>hybrid</i>. It has been said and not untruly that the Eurasian hates -his father and scorns his mother. Certainly, this unnatural passion is -reciprocated by the parent stock; for the Eurasian is barely -acknowledged by his dark brethren and hardly tolerated by the white.</p> - -<p>"In spite of my qualifications—I am a Doctor of Medicine, a Master of -Arts, and hold other degrees of Leipzig, the Sorbonne, and -elsewhere—I recognized very early in my career that ordinary practice -was impossible for me. I therefore turned my attention to the special -study of embryology, as I fortunately possessed sufficient private -means to enable me—by careful living—to dispense with the usual -proceeds of my profession.</p> - -<p>"In short, I hoped to triumph over my hereditary handicap and to build -for myself a reputation which should rise above the petty disabilities -of caste and place my name upon a level with those of Haeckel, -Weismann, Wallace, Focke and the other great students who have helped -to advance our knowledge of the science of evolution.</p> - -<p>"I early turned my attention to the traditions associated with the -<i>Cynocephalus hamadryas</i>, or Sacred Baboon of Abyssinia. I took up my -quarters on the banks of the Hawash and succeeded in ingratiating -myself with the Amharûn. The result of my sojourn amongst these -strange people is embodied in my work 'The Ape-Men of Shoa.'</p> - -<p>"This work is unpublished and may never see the light, but briefly I -may state that the Amharûn are a Semitic tribe allied to the Falashas -and have been settled for many generations in this southern province -of Abyssinia. Claiming descent from Menelek, son of Suleiman and the -Queen of Sheba, they have always been regarded as unclean pariahs. In -part this is due to their bestial custom of eating meat cut from -living animals, but it is more particularly attributable to the -periodical appearance among them of these <i>cynocephalytes</i>, or -man-apes, which form the subject of my work.</p> - -<p>"My close inquiries into the physiological history of these -monstrosities were only conducted with the utmost difficulty. In the -first place I found that it was customary among the Amharûn to slay -the creatures at birth, but in those rare cases of survival the -<i>cynocephalytes</i> were banished from the community and were compelled -to lead a wild life, subsisting as best they might in the foothills of -the desolate mountain region.</p> - -<p>"Thus, in the first place these creatures were difficult of access; in -the second place, they readily contracted tuberculosis, even in that -warm, dry climate; and in the third place their ferocity rendered them -more formidable to approach than any tiger in its lair. I may add here -that this predisposition to pulmonary disease is (and this I have -definitely established) a characteristic of all mammalian hybrids.</p> - -<p>"Nevertheless, my studies were by no means unfruitful, since they -resulted in a triumphant vindication of my theory, which, contrary to -that universally received and more closely allied to the 'exploded' -Mendel's Law, ascribed the appearance of such monsters not to any -strict physiological process but to a hitherto unclassified law of -embryology which I had hoped would one day take its place in science -under my name.</p> - -<p>"Armed with the results of my Abyssinian inquiry, I next proceeded to -Syria; for among certain desert tribes I hoped to find further -evidence to support my theory. In short, in the Arabic tradition of -the jackal-man (which is allied to the medieval and universal belief -in the were-wolf or <i>loup-garou</i>) and in the Indian myth of the woman -who, possessing an ordinary human form by day, assumes that of a -tigress by night, I thought I detected a profound truth.</p> - -<p>"Since my life-work is destroyed, I am egotist enough to desire that -credit for it should not accrue to another. I do not propose, -therefore, more than lightly to touch upon the Damar Greefe Law, but I -may say that in its essentials it is this:</p> - -<p>"Such strange hybrids do actually occur periodically and in rare cases -survive; but their animal proclivities which are physically -demonstrable, and the possession of certain animal attributes (as the -furry body of the <i>cynocephalyte</i>, the claws and teeth of the -jackal-man, etc.), are <i>physical</i> reflections of a <i>mental</i> process -taking place in the female parent."</p> - -<p>He glared at me wildly, as if anticipating contradiction, but Gatton -and I remaining silent:</p> - -<p>"There is no physical association," he continued, "between the hybrid -and that creature whose qualities and peculiarities he seemingly -inherits. I have proved by a long series of elaborate experiments that -a <i>true</i> hybrid of this description is a physiological impossibility. -But that a <i>false</i> hybrid such as I have indicated may appear is a -fact which does not rest solely upon my studies amongst the Amharûn, -nor upon my subsequent inquiries throughout Assyria, Somaliland and -the middle valleys of the Yellow River."</p> - -<p>He paused, and suddenly turning a glance of the hawk-like eyes upon -me:</p> - -<p>"As an explorer of the Dark Continent, Mr. Addison," he said, "and -also, if I mistake not, something of an Orientalist, the significance -of this itinerary may possibly be apparent to you. But I waste time:</p> - -<p>"The discovery which triumphantly crowned my life's work by what some -may deem poetic justice was destined also to destroy it. This brings -me to the matter which has led to my presence here to-night. My -preceding remarks were a necessary foreword. I come to the year 1902, -when I was established in Cairo, whither I had conveyed the results of -the labor of many years and where I had taken up my quarters in a -large native house not twenty yards from the Bâb-es-Zuwêla."</p> - -<p>Gatton stirred restlessly in his chair and my own curiosity knew no -bounds.</p> - -<p>"My inquiries at this time had nearly exhausted my always slender -financial resources, and the proceeds of a small practice which I -succeeded in establishing (exclusively amongst the extensive -half-caste colony resident in this neighborhood) proved a welcome -addition to my income. It was due to the fact that at this time I was -an active practitioner that I came in touch with the most perfect and -notable example of a <i>psycho-hybrid</i> which I had ever encountered, -indeed which, so far as I am aware, has ever appeared."</p> - -<p>He paused again, as if overcome with faintness, and in anticipation of -what was to come I could scarcely contain myself, when:</p> - -<p>"At this time," he resumed, in a yet lower voice, "and indeed until -quite recently, there were but few reliable European medical men in -Cairo, and during the summer of 1902 an outbreak of cholera -temporarily depleted their already scanty ranks. It happened then that -one night, whilst I sat in the huge, lofty room, once the principal -harem apartment of the house, which I had appropriated as a study, -Cassim, my Nubian servant, communicated to me (by means of a -sign-language which I had taught him) some startling news. My -immediate presence was desired at the residence of Sir Burnham -Coverly, then newly appointed to a government office, and who with his -wife had only arrived in the country some few months earlier.</p> - -<p>"I thought I knew the nature of the services required of me, but my -employment by this typical English aristocrat, hide-bound with caste -traditions as he could not fail to be, since he had spent five years -of his official life in India, surprised me very greatly. I was later -to learn that the services of no other medical man (or of no medical -man so highly qualified as myself) were available; but even had I -known this at the time I should have put my pride in my pocket, and -for this reason:</p> - -<p>"I had learned from a native acquaintance of a certain occurrence -which had taken place on the very day of the baronet's arrival in -Egypt; and it led me to look for a particular manifestation, in fact, -I will boldly declare, since science is admittedly a callous mistress, -that it had led me to <i>hope</i> for this manifestation, however -unpleasant it might prove for those intimately concerned. Accordingly, -having made suitable preparation I accompanied Sir Burnham's servant -back to the residence of the baronet...."</p> - -<p>I heard the door-bell ring, and I heard Coates's regular tread as he -proceeded along the passage. There was a brief, muttered colloquy, a -rap on the study-door, and Coates entered.</p> - -<p>"A sergeant of police and a constable, sir, to see Inspector Gatton!"</p> - -<p>Damar Greefe raised his thin, yellow hand. His voice, when next he -spoke, exhibited no trace of emotion.</p> - -<p>"Let them be told to wait," he said. "I have not finished."</p> - -<p>It was wildly bizarre, that scene in my study, with the dignified -white-haired Eurasian doctor, palpably laboring against some deathly -sickness, sitting there unperturbed, his brilliant, perverted -intellect holding him aloof from the ordinary things of life—whilst -those who came to hale him to a felon's cell waited in the ante-room!</p> - -<p>I glanced swiftly at Gatton, and he nodded impatiently.</p> - -<p>"Let them stay in the dining-room, Coates," I said. "Make them -comfortable."</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir."</p> - -<p>Unmoved, Coates withdrew—and I saw Gatton glance at his watch. -Throughout the latter part of his strange narrative, neither Gatton -nor I interrupted the narrator, therefore I give his story, so far as -I remember it, in his own words. He no longer addressed either of us -directly; he seemed, indeed, to be thinking aloud.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXVI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXVI <br />STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED)</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>As I walked along through the deserted native streets, for the hour -was late, I reviewed mentally the circumstances of that affair, -already several months old, to which I have referred. Since it proved -to have a very important bearing upon my own life and unfortunately -the lives of many others, I will briefly recount it here.</p> - -<p>Sir Burnham and Lady Coverly, having arrived at Port Said, were -proceeding by rail to Cairo when an accident farther up the line -necessitated their breaking their journey at Zagazig.</p> - -<p>Now, for a time in the spring of the previous year, I had devoted much -labor to an inquiry in this place, which stands of course roughly upon -the site of the ancient Egyptian city of <i>Bubastis</i>. In those myths, -or so-called myths, of the Ancient Egyptian religion which represented -the various attributes of man in the guises of animals, I had -perceived a nucleus of wisdom pointing to the possibility that the law -which I had so laboriously established might have been known to the -early Egyptian priesthood. Indeed I was partly induced to inquire into -the myths of Bâst, the cat-headed goddess to whom of old this town was -dedicated, by the following two things: first, a chance reference in -the pages of Herodotus; and, second, a persistent superstition that -during a certain season of the year, <i>psycho-hybrids</i> occurred in this -town.</p> - -<p>By dint of close research I discovered that the date favored by the -inhabitants of Zagazig, as that upon which such creatures were born -there, corresponded very closely with the Sacred Sothic month, -formerly sacred to Bâst, the titulary goddess of the place, -corresponded in short with the ancient Feast of Bâst.</p> - -<p>My inquiries at the time, however, proved futile, and beyond the fact -that the town was remarkable for a singular number of semi-wild cats, -I discovered nothing to support my theory. However, as I have already -stated, a native acquaintance there, a very learned Moslem, to whom I -had imparted during my residence some idea of the nature of my -studies, sent me a long communication containing particulars of the -event which had befallen Lady Coverly during her one-night's sojourn -in Zagazig.</p> - -<p>Briefly, she had learned from a native attached to the one possible -hotel which the town boasted, of the tradition associated with the -place. Some other member of the party (for quite a large company had -been detained in Zagazig by the mishap) unwisely pointed out to her -that the favored date was that upon which they had arrived in the -town.</p> - -<p>Nothing might have resulted from this; but by a strange fatality (or -because of the operation of some unsuspected law understood by the -ancients but misapprehended to-day) the matter was sealed in a very -extraordinary fashion.</p> - -<p>Lady Coverly's room opened upon a balcony, and during the night one of -those huge cats of the kind which I had observed myself to infest the -neighborhood, gained access to this balcony. Since the appearance of -the creature produced so singular and disastrous an effect, it must -certainly have been an unusually large specimen of its kind. I may add -that according to my Moslem friend—who, although a man of great -culture, was soaked in the traditions of his religion—it was none -other than a member of the <i>ginn</i>, an <i>efreet</i> or evil spirit, and not -a cat of flesh and blood which appeared to Lady Coverly. I leave each -to choose his own explanation, but let it suffice that Lady Coverly -was awakened some time during the night by the appearance at her -bedside of this gaunt and hungry-eyed creature. The result was an -illness of a kind very dangerous to one in her delicate state of -health.</p> - -<p>Reflecting, then, upon these matters, I presently came to the official -residence of Sir Burnham Coverly, and my expectations regarding the -nature of the case were realized....<a name='FNanchor_1_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_1_1'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> - -<a name='Footnote_1_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_1_1'>[1]</a><div class='note'><p> Part of the statement which immediately followed, being -of a purely technical nature, is omitted here.</p></div> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<p>My house in the narrow street so near to the Bâb-es-Zuwêla and the -minarets of Muayyâd was admirably adapted for my new purpose. For here -in the very heart of native Cairo, with my great house (which had been -built, as are all Oriental houses, to guard secrets) I was as safe -from unwelcome intrusion as one upon a desert island, whilst at the -same time I was denied none of the conveniences and facilities of -civilization.</p> - -<p>Lady Coverly, then, never set eyes upon her firstborn, and Sir -Burnham, who did, readily reconciled himself to the loss of such a -daughter. The announcement which should have appeared joyfully under -the press-heading "Births" was unobtrusively inserted under "Deaths," -and Sir Burnham being fortunately far from the haunts of the social -paragraph writers, this unfortunate event aroused comparatively little -comment in the English journals; beyond one or two formal condolences -it passed unnoticed.</p> - -<p>The fever of research at last had led me into my first definite crime -against society—if so it can be called. I had rescued alive the most -perfect example of a <i>psycho-hybrid</i> with which throughout my -extensive special inquiries, I had ever come in contact. Lady Coverly -never knew her unnatural child, and Sir Burnham—as well as the old -family nurse who had accompanied them out from England—never doubted -that it had died in the hour of birth.</p> - -<p>I set to work with enthusiasm upon my last and greatest experiment.</p> - -<p>To a half-caste woman upon whom I knew I could rely—for she was -deeply indebted to me—I entrusted the fostering of the infant hybrid. -I personally supervised every detail of the secret nursery, Cassim -procuring for me everything necessary for the rearing of this delicate -and fragile creature.</p> - -<p>Over the early years of her life I will hasten. On three occasions I -despaired of preserving her existence, which, from the beginning, had -hung by a thread. The first crisis came when she was only four months -old, the second on the occasion of her fourth birthday, and the third -(most serious of all) when she was eleven, at which age she had become -a woman in the Oriental sense and was physically and mentally -comparable with an ordinary European girl of nineteen or twenty.</p> - -<p>With what scientific ardor did I study her development, noting how the -<i>cat</i> traits at certain periods (corresponding to the Feast of Bâst) -proclaimed themselves above the human traits, whilst at other times -the psychic-felinism sank into a sort of sub-conscious quietude, -leaving the subject almost a normal woman. Of the physical reflections -which were the visible evidence of her hybrid mentality I have already -spoken at length (<i>this refers to a portion of the statement which has -been deleted</i>). She invariably wore gloves out of doors and a veil to -conceal the chatoyant eyes. She could, as I have explained, see as -well in the dark as in daylight, and her agility was phenomenal as was -her power of climbing. Having her hands and feet bare I have -repeatedly seen her climb to the top platform of the ivy-clad tower of -Friar's Park.</p> - -<p>At the age of eleven, then, I recognized that the balance of character -was definitely established, and that the two outstanding -characteristics of the subject were—firstly (a hereditary trait of -the Coverlys) an intense pride of race and a fierce jealousy of any -infringement upon what she regarded as prerogatives of birth; -secondly, a susceptibility to sudden infatuations which invariably -terminated in a mood of ferocious cruelty.</p> - -<p>To one unacquainted with the Orient, thus to speak of this girl—in -years a mere child—as one speaks of a mature woman, would seem -strange, if not unnatural. But in the East, of course, at the age of -ten a girl is counted marriageable; at the age of fourteen she is not -infrequently the devoted mother of a family.</p> - -<p>Significantly—from the point of view of the Damar Greefe Law—my ward -had grown up, not as English girls grow, but, like the Easterners, as -the hot-house flower grows. The point has intense interest for the -scientist. At the age of twelve she was a tall, slender woman, -beautifully formed and with a natural elegance and taste which came -from the Coverly stock, or possibly from her mother's side.</p> - -<p>During eleven months of every year it would have been possible—- -although I considered it undesirable—for her to have appeared in -public unveiled. She possessed features of perfect <i>Ancient Egyptian -regularity</i>. I emphasize the point. Her eyes, during the day, were -those of a handsome native woman—almond-shaped and of a wonderful -amber color. At night they appeared green.</p> - -<p>Of her fingers, toes, and the peculiar formation of certain teeth I -have spoken at length (<i>another reference to a deleted passage</i>). I -will deal, now, with those manifestations which proclaimed themselves -during the Sothic month of each year formerly associated with the -Feast of Bâst.</p> - -<p>At such times, which I always dreaded, and with good cause, her innate -love of admiration became so excessive as to approach nearly to mania. -She hungered for homage, for praise—I had almost said for adoration.</p> - -<p>What I may term, for convenience, the <i>psychic</i> side of her hybrid -mentality at these periods undoubtedly bordered closely upon true -insanity; and learning from the Eurasian nurse to whom I have referred -the whole history of her birth, my charge, to whom I had given the -name of Nahémah (students will recognize its significance), began to -display even more marked evidence of a sort of monomania. Bâst, the -cat-goddess, became an obsession with her, and she finally conceived -the idea that the attributes of that mystical and partly-understood -deity were active within her; that she was Bâst, re-born. And, -certainly, during one month of every year, her condition closely -resembled that which was termed in the Middle Ages "possession."</p> - -<p>At such times, moreover (a phenomenon with which I have dealt at -length in my work on the subject), she evinced an antipathy towards -the whole of the <i>canine</i> species which was reciprocated in a singular -way. Thus, when, contrary to my express orders, she has wandered -abroad during the Sothic period, I have been enabled to trace her -movements by the progressive howling of dogs.</p> - -<p>Since I had enjoined the nurse to be silent upon all things bearing -upon Nahémah's birth, I was enraged at this breach of faith and sent -the woman away. But a new situation had been created which I found -myself called upon immediately to face.</p> - -<p>Nahémah demanded news of her family. As I have made sufficiently -evident, it was often difficult, if not impossible, to thwart the -desires of my protegée. To condense into a few words a matter which -occasioned me long and anxious thought, I may say that I made the -necessary arrangements for quitting the house near to the Mosque of -Muayyâd which had been my home for fifteen years.</p> - -<p>I recognized the danger of Nahémah's traveling in the ordinary way, -and she performed the journey to England in the character of an -invalid under my professional care. Equally, residence at any public -establishment was out of the question, and although I found myself -compelled for a time to court discovery by lodging Nahémah in a -private suite in an obscure hotel, I hastened to seek a house in some -quiet suburb which should reproduce as nearly as possible the -advantages of my abode in Cairo.</p> - -<p>Such a house I discovered after about a week of feverish questing (for -apart from the ordinary dangers of discovery to which my protegée was -subject, her proclivity for adventures at the most unseasonable times -greatly enhanced the danger which I apprehended). Judge, then, of my -satisfaction when I succeeded in obtaining the lease of a small -villa—indeed I might almost term it a bungalow—in one of those odd -survivals of less crowded days which are yet counted suburbs or parts -of greater London.</p> - -<p>This house stood alone in some two acres of ground, and because of its -lack of modern conveniences and the comparative inaccessibility of its -position, my application was eagerly entertained by the agent -interested in the leasing of the property. One week later I entered -into possession, Cassim, Nahémah and myself comprising the entire -household. Much of my valuable—indeed I may say unique—collection, I -had been compelled to store; for my new quarters lacked the necessary -space for the purpose. But although I was unaware of the fact at the -time, I was not destined to be long deprived of a suitable home for -the records of my life's work.</p> - -<p>Nahémah's demand for some understanding between herself and her family -grew daily more insistent; but I might have continued to oppose her -wishes had it not been for the fact that by this time my slender -resources were almost exhausted.</p> - -<p>It suddenly became evident to me that I held in my hand an instrument -whereby I might force Sir Burnham Coverly to finance the new -experiments upon which I had entered at this time with all the -enthusiasm that a love for science inspires in the student! You may -judge me unscrupulous, but the wheel of progress is at least as -unrelenting. It was not, however, without much searching self-analysis -that one day I presented myself before Sir Burnham Coverly at Friar's -Park.</p> - -<p>If I had had any scruples prior to that visit they were instantly -dispelled by the manner of my reception. Forgetful of the service -which (as he believed) I had done him in the past, Sir Burnham allowed -all the prejudice of the Anglo-Indian to reveal itself in his first -greeting.</p> - -<p>Because I am an Eurasian, the worst traits which attach to such a -parentage—and of which I am only too painfully conscious—revealed -themselves in me. My heart hardened towards this man whose treatment -of an intellectual superior was so icily, so offensively -condescending. Knowing that I had it in my power to deal him a blow -from which he might never recover, I toyed with him for a time; and, -his manner growing momentarily more objectionable, I rejoiced to know -that his very life and career were in my keeping.</p> - -<p>His son, Roger Coverly, at that time a boy only about nine years old, -as the prospective heir to Friar's Park was cherished as an only child -is always cherished in these circumstances. I pictured to myself the -meeting of brother and sister! Yes! because of the refined and -deliberate cruelty which Sir Burnham displayed towards myself, I -retaliated with a poisoned blade. Having led the conversation in the -direction of the heir, I threw away the scabbard of pretense—I -launched my challenge.</p> - -<p>Never shall I forget Sir Burnham's change of countenance. He tottered, -a stricken man. With a sentence of ten words I had won my battle. Upon -the details of the arrangement which presently was come to between us, -I need not linger. For this statement is intended not as a -defense—for what I have done I pay the price—but as a résumé of -this crowning inquiry of my scientific career.</p> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<p>At this point the speaker was seized with an alarming spasm of pain. -His black eyes opened widely and his face became contorted with agony.</p> - -<p>I sprang to his assistance. For, villain self-confessed though he was, -humanity would not allow of any man's witnessing unmoved such -paroxysms in a fellow creature.</p> - -<p>But, ere I could reach his side, Damar Greefe, clenching his teeth and -clutching at the chair-arms so that his knuckles gleamed in the -lamp-light like white marbles, turned his glance upon me, and:</p> - -<p>"Be seated, sir," he whispered. "I desire you to be seated."</p> - -<p>Something repellent, yet something powerful, there was in word and -glance. Gatton, who also had sprung forward, hesitated. Damar Greefe -raised one hand from the chair-arm and waved to us to return to our -chairs. Exchanging wondering glances, we both obeyed.</p> - -<p>Thereupon, the Eurasian doctor, whose high, bony forehead was dewed -with a deathly perspiration and whose hawk-face had assumed an -indescribable leaden hue, drew from his pocket a heavy gold watch (his -every movement intently followed by the alert Inspector) and consulted -it. His hand shook wildly as he returned the timepiece to its place. -Then:</p> - -<p>"I must hasten," he said hoarsely. "I have—only nineteen -minutes...." Gatton looked at me questioningly, but I could only -shake my head. The significance of the Eurasian's words escaped me -entirely; but as Damar Greefe begun, slowly and with palpable effort, -to speak again, I saw a queer expression stealing over the face of the -watchful Gatton.</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXVII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXVII <br />STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED)</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>A month later I found myself installed at the Bell House, a property -belonging to the Friar's Park estate, and in the commodious apartments -of this establishment I had ample room for the accommodation of my -library and my priceless specimens. Nahémah was likewise an inmate of -the Bell House; but recognizing the precarious nature of my tenure, I -had taken the precaution of retaining the suburban villa to which I -have already referred; its modest rental proving no tax upon my -greatly increased resources.</p> - -<p>Blackmail, I hear you exclaim! And, so, if you wish, you may construe -my behavior, since I reply—"Science first, science last!" To have -been deprived of the means to pursue my experiments at this time would -have been, I believed, to impoverish the world. For not even science -could reveal to me that my life's work was destined to perish amid the -ashes of the Bell House.</p> - -<p>My studies had temporarily led me into a by-path, and apprehending -that a great international struggle was imminent, I had turned my -investigations in a new direction. My great work, whose publication -would have shattered so many scientific idols, was complete. The life -history of Nahémah had crowned my inquiries into the embryology, -physiology and psychology of <i>psycho-hybrids</i>. In fact, the presence -of my strange protegée promised to become something of an incubus. -Later, I was to realize that she was an ever-present means of renewing -those funds which the costly character of my new studies absorbed at -rather an alarming rate. Perhaps I neglected my self-imposed task of -studying the mental and physical development of Nahémah; for, I must -admit that lost in my new work I presently awakened to the fact that -she had outgrown the control which I had formerly exercised over her.</p> - -<p>There were unpleasant episodes. For example, in spite of those -precautions which I adopted, and of the ceaseless vigilance of Cassim, -the existence of a female inmate of the Bell House was soon a popular -scandal throughout Upper Crossleys. For this I cared nothing; but far -more perturbing was Nahémah's behavior on the occasion of a certain -visit of Sir Burnham's legal adviser to Friar's Park.</p> - -<p>In some way she secretly gained admission to the house (the episode -occurred during that Sothic month whose annual coming I had learned to -dread). Sir Burnham actually saw her in the chapel. He sent a -messenger post-haste to the Bell-House, and I finally discovered -Nahémah in hiding and insisted upon her immediate return. This was -only one of several instances of her perverse behavior, which truly -seemed to be inspired by some demon bent upon the destruction of both -of us.</p> - -<p>Her mental activity was extraordinary, and unknown to me she had -followed my new researches with that intellectual ardor which she -directly inherited from the Coverlys. Her ferocious jealousy of any -infringement upon those family rights denied her by her father had -also developed, it seemed; and one night, shortly after the scene to -which I have referred, entering my study she placed before me a -proposal to which I listened with absolute horror.</p> - -<p>I should explain that Sir Burnham, placing the repute of his house and -that of his heir above all other considerations (with one possible -exception: the necessity for concealing the appalling truth from his -wife) had consented to make arrangements for the support of Nahémah on -the understanding that her existence was to remain a profound secret -from the world. It was upon this understanding that I leased the Bell -House. And although, in certain wild indiscretions, I had recognized -in Nahémah the symptoms of revolt against such a monastic existence, -because of absorption in my new studies I had not realized how deep -was her resentment of this enforced anonymity. Certainly I had never -grasped the power and the depth of her hatred of her brother, Roger -Coverly.</p> - -<p>Now, on this fateful night, in one of the semi-insane outbursts which -I had learned to dread, she poured out her loathing and detestation of -her brother. She was a Coverly (such was the gist of her plaint) and -the doors of Friar's Park were closed to her; the world knew nothing -of her existence. In the event of the death of Sir Burnham, then Roger -would inherit the property, and complete disaster would be our lot.</p> - -<p>To condense the purport of her demand, it was this: that I should test -the efficacy of my new discovery by removing this objectionable -obstacle from her path!</p> - -<p>Of my subsequent behavior I offer no defense. I am not prepared to -admit that I was forced into action by the forceful personality of my -protegée; in fact, I state emphatically that a chance interview with -the heir during one of his visits to Friar's Park led me to regard the -matter in a new light and from a standpoint almost identical with that -of Nahémah.</p> - -<p>How warning was conveyed to Sir Burnham I know not, unless by some -indiscretion of Nahémah, but, instead of returning to the public -school from which he had come to Friar's Park, Roger Coverly was sent -abroad in haste, accompanied by a private tutor. The date of his -departure corresponded with that which I associate with the beginning -of my downfall.</p> - -<p>Nahémah threatened to present herself to her mother, and painfully -aware that such a course (which, nevertheless, I recognized her to be -quite capable of adopting) would spell disaster, I fell in with her -wishes. Two months later we were established, Nahémah, Cassim and I, -within two miles of the new residence of Roger Coverly and his tutor -in Basle.</p> - -<p>The circumstances attendant upon the death of Roger Coverly have -hitherto been veiled in obscurity, and although Sir Burnham suspected -the truth, in the first place he had no evidence, and in the second -place, because of the existence of Nahémah, I knew that he dared not -attempt to prove it.</p> - -<p>Briefly, I had perfected that Chinese poison called in the northern -provinces <i>hlangkûna</i>. By a series of dangerous experiments I had -convinced myself that it was almost identical with <i>contarella</i>, the -preparation made notorious by the Borgia family. Therefore I concluded -that <i>contarella</i> came to Rome from the East, possibly via Palestine. -Inoculating with <i>hlangkûna</i>, I found, produced death in two hours -(<i>contarella</i>—one hour and forty-five minutes) leaving no trace by -which the means employed could be discovered. Self-inoculation by the -subject was the method which I adopted—and which Cæsar Borgia had -adopted before me; so that no chain of evidence existed.</p> - -<p>All that was necessary was for a scarf, a collar or other article of -apparel coming in direct contact with the skin of the subject, to be -placed in my possession. (A glove was the Borgia's favorite medium.) -It was painted with <i>hlangkûna</i> and replaced. When worn, an intense -irritation was produced and a cutaneous eruption which, if scratched -even very lightly, resulted in a puncture of the skin sufficient to -allow the inimical elements of the poison to obtain access to the -system of the subject.</p> - -<p>I do not propose to enter into details, but so it was that Roger -Coverly died. Following a brief sojourn abroad, we presently returned -again to the Bell House. This gratification of her bloodthirsty -desires had done no more than to whet the feline appetite of Nahémah, -and she forced me to impose new and almost insupportable conditions -upon Sir Burnham, with the result, as is known, that from being a very -wealthy man he became an impoverished one.</p> - -<p>I even held a mortgage on Friar's Park on behalf of Nahémah; for by -this time I had fully recognized the fact that like a second -Frankenstein, I had raised up a monster which sooner or later must -devour me.</p> - -<p>Her indiscretions threatened daily to result in exposure; and after -the death of Sir Burnham, which occurred a short time later, these -increased in number and audacity. The dying baronet had impressed upon -his wife the necessity of following my guidance in all things. -Undoubtedly he died hoping that Lady Coverly might live out her days -in ignorance of the grim secret of the Bell House. This dying wish of -his was gratified. The loss of her son, so closely followed by that of -her husband, prostrated Lady Coverly in a mental illness from which -she never recovered, although I exercised all my skill in an endeavor -to restore her reason. She spent the remainder of her days in a -semi-comatose state which so closely resembled death that to this -present moment I do not know the exact hour at which dissolution took -place.</p> - -<p>In the man Hawkins, once a game-keeper of Sir Burnham's, I found an -instrument ready to my hand. I closed the Park to the public and took -all those precautions for preserving my secret which prudence -dictated: this at the cost of a reputation in Upper Crossleys which -few men would have survived, but which troubled me not at all, since -it left me undisturbed to those studies which to me were everything.</p> - -<p>The death of Sir Burnham, however, had raised a new danger; for in the -person of Sir Marcus Coverly, the heir, I perceived a formidable -enemy, who because of his wealth might redeem Friar's Park, and, -because of the fact that he belonged to a cadet line, might care -nothing for the skeleton in Sir Burnham's cupboard.</p> - -<p>I have said that science is callous, and I admit that it needed little -prompting from Nahémah to urge me to take the next step. It is worthy -of note, however, from a scientific point of view, that whilst I was -prompted by motives of expediency, she was actuated solely by a lust -to destroy everything that bore the name of Coverly.</p> - -<p>My experiments for some time past had been directed to the discovery -of new instruments of warfare. Particularly I had addressed myself to -the preparation of a <i>gas</i> which should possess the peculiar -properties of <i>hlangkûna</i>, and by inhalation affect the lung tissues, -thus producing instantaneous results. In this I had succeeded a short -time prior to Sir Burnham's death, and one of the future belligerents -had approached me.</p> - -<p>For the purpose of carrying out experiments, a specially designed gun -was brought from Essen and installed in a secluded part of the Park. -Artillery specialists carried out a number of tests with shells of -various patterns; but because I bluntly declined to divulge the -formula for the making of "L.K. Vapor" (so I had named it) until -substantial guarantees were given, negotiations were broken off. I -retained, however, the model howitzer as well as a number of special -light shells. The gun was one of extraordinary accuracy, and it was -possible, given suitable weather conditions, mechanically to train it -upon a given target and without any preliminary "searching" to score a -certain hit.</p> - -<p>I caused the piece to be mounted on the top platform of the tower at -Friar's Park, and having completed those mathematical calculations -with the result of which Mr. Addison has since become familiar, I -awaited the return of the new baronet from Russia. Shortly after his -arrival, I invited him to visit Upper Crossleys.</p> - -<p>He refused—in terms which provoked an outburst on Nahémah's part more -violent than I had ever witnessed. But on his final return to England, -she made it her business closely to study his habits and movements. -She sought, feverishly, for some pregnable point of attack. -<i>Hlangkûna</i> was tried three times—and three times failed. It was the -distorted genius of Nahémah, however, which finally dictated a new -line of action. She learned that Sir Marcus was paying attention to -Isobel Merlin, the fiancée of Eric Coverly (who in the event of Sir -Marcus's death would inherit the title).</p> - -<p>Nahémah propounded to me a theory so strange and so novel that I was -lost in admiration of that brilliant intellect which, partly inherited -from her forebears, was stimulated and brightened by a cat-like -cunning which belonged to the other side of her hybrid personality.</p> - -<p>In that district where my suburban villa was situated there were -several other isolated establishments which their owners experienced -some difficulty in leasing; and one of these—namely the Red -House—particularly suited the purpose which Nahémah had in view. The -extensive resources now at my disposal enabled me to dispense with the -usual formalities which beset the lessee and to obtain possession of -the Red House without even appearing in person.</p> - -<p>The deeper to complicate the issue, Nahémah carried out the whole of -the negotiations over the telephone, and hers was the "voice" -afterwards rendered notorious by the press, which issued the -directions culminating in the death of Marcus Coverly.</p> - -<p>I recognize that the inquiries of the police have placed in your -possession many particulars respecting this matter, so that I will not -repeat them here but will content myself with explaining the nature of -the device employed. In this case, for the removal of the subject, I -had obtained possession of an old telephone and had adjusted it to -meet my requirements.</p> - -<p>In a recess of the room which I caused Sir Marcus Coverly to visit at -the Red House, I placed this duplicate telephone; the false cable -communicating with the instrument was attached to a plug in the wall -above, but communicated with a gas cylinder in the adjoining room. In -short, what appeared to be cable was in reality tubing and the act of -taking the receiver from the hook released through the mouthpiece a -sufficient quantity of L.K. Vapor to have asphyxiated a dozen men.</p> - -<p>In order to insure the subject's receiving the benefit of the whole -discharge, I had caused a very heavy curtain to be draped in this -recess, which thus became a rough gas-chamber. Following the first -discharge, the subject would fall to the floor and the gas being a -heavy one he would there receive his <i>quietus</i>.</p> - -<p>The only detail which occasioned much thought was that of the bell by -which Sir Marcus should be summoned to this prepared telephone; for it -formed no part of the plan for myself to appear anywhere in the -neighborhood at the time of the experiment. I was of course compelled -to pay a secret visit to the Red House for the purpose of installing -the telephone device, and at the same time I installed the bell. This -was worked from a small storage battery and I arranged that by the -opening of the garage door the bell would be put in motion and by the -closing of the door at the end of the same building the ringing would -cease.</p> - -<p>A simple contrivance screwed to both doors made this possible, but I -know not by whose hand the ringing would have been accomplished if it -had not been for one of those brilliant suggestions of Nahémah's, -which hovered between the domain of genius and that of fiendishness.</p> - -<p>She proposed that she should ring up the local police depot and ask -the constable on that beat to lock the garage, thus making him the -direct instrument for the removal of Sir Marcus!</p> - -<p>I knew, since I myself had been a resident in this district, that a -constable patrolled College Road at an hour roughly corresponding with -that at which it was proposed to cause Sir Marcus to visit the Red -House; and because all strategy is based upon the clock, a brief -survey of the facts convinced me that Nahémah's plan was feasible.</p> - -<p>Thus, it was Police-Constable Bolton, whose evidence has appeared in -the press, who actually killed Sir Marcus Coverly! I come now to the -dangerous attitude adopted by Nahémah immediately after the event.</p> - -<p>We had had a case of suitable dimensions made for containing the body, -and had had it delivered at the Red House garage, where it was -received by a district messenger instructed for the purpose. Upon me -devolved the task of carrying the body from the supper-room to the -garage—a task which I performed shortly after the departure of -Police-Constable Bolton. I packed the body, removed the telephone and -also all traces of the bell-device.</p> - -<p>The same carter had instructions to call for the case in the morning, -and the garage door was left open to enable him to collect it. In -short, except for these two essential visits, one before and one after -the experiment, there was no occasion for myself or Nahémah to appear -in the neighborhood of the Red House.</p> - -<p>But that cat-like spirit of impish mischief which possessed her at -this season (and especially at night) together with an almost insane -joy which she took in gloating over the destruction of her cousin, -had led her, contrary to my special injunctions, to haunt the -vicinity on the evening of the experiment. Thus, she not only -witnessed the arrival of the doomed man, but also saw the constable -perform the duty imposed upon him. This might have mattered little, -had it not been for the presence of Mr. Addison, whom an unkind fate -at this juncture involved in the matter.</p> - -<p>For Mr. Addison Nahémah conceived one of those sudden and violent -infatuations which characterized the feline element of her complex -mentality. Unknown to me, Nahémah followed Mr. Addison to his home in -the neighborhood and indeed was actually seen by him, I believe, on -two occasions. Thus far all might yet have been well; but when later I -entered the Red House to carry out the only dangerous part of the -scheme, to my consternation Nahémah insisted upon accompanying me.</p> - -<p>Prompted by that destructive devil which sometimes possessed her she -not only (unknown to me) painted a figure of a cat upon the crate, but -also she placed an image of Bâst in the box with the dead man!</p> - -<p>The premature discovery of Sir Marcus, owing to the accident at the -docks, prevented the plan being carried out in all its details, but -when, through certain rumors which began to creep into the press, I -learned of the presence of the statuette, I began to realize the -dangerous position in which I was placed and the handicap of such an -accomplice.</p> - -<p>As a result of the scene which ensued, Nahémah, still under the worst -influences of her hybrid disposition, openly visited Mr. Addison and -recovered the image of Bâst! This she did in circumstances which -hopelessly compromised both of us, since they revealed in a hitherto -faultless plan the presence of an unsuspected party and directed the -police inquiries into an entirely new channel.</p> - -<p>I thought it expedient to retire immediately to the Bell House, which -during my brief absence in London had been in charge of Cassim, all -approaches to Friar's Park being carefully guarded by the man Hawkins.</p> - -<p>At this point I may touch upon a previous danger which had been met -and overcome. Provision had been made in the will of Sir Burnham for -the retention by his widow of Friar's Park and the revenues thereof; -but since in the event of her death I should have been compelled to -appear in the character of the mortgagee, it was contrary to our -interests that Lady Coverly should die whilst any heir to the estate -remained alive.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, despite all my care, this stricken woman had died six -months prior to the first return of Sir Marcus from Russia. Since she -had been a helpless invalid during the last years of her life I -experienced little difficulty in concealing the fact of her death. -Cassim and I interred her by night in the family mausoleum where she -lies beside her husband.</p> - -<p>In these circumstances, judge of my feelings when, shortly after the -premature discovery termed in the press "the <i>Oritoga</i> mystery," Mr. -Addison one day presented himself at the Bell House! His avowed -intention of calling upon Lady Coverly left me no alternative. Never -in all his days, not even when he miraculously escaped the L.K. Vapor -at the Abbey Inn, did Mr. Addison stand so near to death as there—in -my study!</p> - -<p>Let me explain the situation more fully. The fatal Sothic month which -I have learned to regard with horror, commenced on the twenty-third -ultimo and does not terminate for another five days. Nahémah was—and -still remains—"possessed." You will understand my employment of the -term.</p> - -<p>On the night preceding this visit of Mr. Addison's, I had traced her -nocturnal movements by the howling of many dogs, and fearful of some -indiscretion which might place my neck in a noose, I had followed her. -I found her in a narrow footpath which leads to the Abbey Inn!</p> - -<p>Despite entreaties, threats, she declined to give any explanation of -her behavior. But finally I prevailed upon her to return to the Bell -House. The appearance of Mr. Addison on the following morning opened -my eyes to the truth. With the scandal still attaching to the names of -Edward Hines and another man, called, I believe, Adams, a subject for -gossip throughout the neighborhood, I could not at so perilous a time -risk the consequences of a third intrigue. I determined that Mr. -Addison could better be spared by the community than I. Nahémah's next -insanity—an open visit to the Abbey Inn—confirmed my opinion.</p> - -<p>Thereupon I committed my first mistake. Cassim, the Nubian mute, who -had been in my service for many years, was formerly attached to a -great household in Stambûl. I shall probably be understood. I -instructed him; and Mr. Addison very cleverly playing upon his -superstitious nature, Cassim failed.</p> - -<p>My time grows short. I will touch upon my second folly of that night. -Long before, the possibility of firing a projectile from the tower of -Friar's Park into the upper front of the Abbey Inn had presented -itself to me in the light of a feasible experiment.</p> - -<p>Unaware that Inspector Gatton was watching me—unaware that in my -absence he had actually detected the presence of the gun upon the -tower—I played my last card ... and lost.</p> - -<p>Cassim it was who detected the fact that police were watching the Bell -House! Cassim had failed me once. I instructed him a second time.</p> - -<p>I near the end of my statement. Destruction of all my effects, of all -evidence of my work, and, crowning tragedy, of every trace of a life's -research, was unavoidable. Knowing that every railway station and port -would be watched and that my marked personality could not hope to -escape the vigilance of the authorities, I determined to make a bid -for freedom by seeking the shelter of my villa in London.</p> - -<p>Cassim systematically fired the Bell House ... and perished in the -flames! Under cover of the confusion which the conflagration -occasioned, Nahémah and I succeeded in making our retirement by the -gate opening on the Hainingham road.</p> - -<p>But, in my attempts upon the life of Mr. Addison, I had not counted -with Nahémah. I had raised up a monster ... that monster ... has -destroyed me....</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXVIII <br />THE CLAWS OF THE CAT</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>The hoarse voice ceased. Neither Gatton nor I moved or spoke. Then:</p> - -<p>"I have three minutes—or less," whispered Damar Greefe. "Question me. -I am at your service."</p> - -<p>"Where is your villa?" asked Gatton suddenly.</p> - -<p>"It is called The Laurels—"</p> - -<p>"The Laurels!" I cried incredulously.</p> - -<p>"It is called so," whispered the Eurasian. "It is the last house but -one in College Road! From there I conducted my last experiment with -L.K. Vapor, which resulted not in the death of Mr. Addison, but in -that of Eric Coverly—"</p> - -<p>Gatton sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p>"Come along, Mr. Addison!" he cried. But:</p> - -<p>"The Laurels is empty," came, ever more faintly. "In her Sothic fury, -Nahémah fled. The bloodlust is upon her. I warn you. She is more -dangerous ... than ... any rabid dog.... Tuberculosis will end her -life ... before the snows ... come. But there is time for her to ... -Ah, God's mercy!"</p> - -<p>He writhed. He was contorted. Foam appeared Upon his lips.</p> - -<p>"<i>Hlangkûna!"</i> he moaned, "<i>hlangkûna! She</i> ... touched me with a -poisoned needle ... <i>two hours</i>—ago...."</p> - -<p>He rose to his full height, uttered a stifled scream, and crashed down -upon the floor—dead!</p> - -<p>In a species of consternation, Gatton and I stood looking at one -another—standing rigidly like men of stone one on either side of that -long, thin body stretched upon my study floor. The hawk face in -profile was startlingly like that of Anubis as it lay against the red -carpet.</p> - -<p>Neither of us, I think, was capable of grasping the fact that the -inquiry was all but ended and that the mysteries which had seemed so -dark and insoluble were cleared up and the inner workings of this -strange conspiracy laid bare before us. One thought, I believe, was -uppermost in both our minds: that the man who now lay dead upon the -floor, a victim of one of his own devilish inventions, was no more -than a brilliant madman.</p> - -<p>If his great work on the ape-men of Abyssinia and that greater one -dealing with what he called "the <i>psycho-hybrids</i>" had ever had -existence outside his own strange imagination no one was ever likely -to know. But that Dr. Damar Greefe was a genius whom much learning had -made mad, neither of us doubted.</p> - -<p>The whole thing seemed the wildest phantasy, and, for a time, in -doubting the reality of the Eurasian's work, I found myself doubting -the evidence of my own senses and seriously wondering if this -possessed witch-cat whose green eyes had moved like Satanic lanterns -throughout the whole phantasmagoria, had any more palpable existence -than the other strange things spoken of by the unscrupulous scientist.</p> - -<p>That Gatton's thoughts had been running parallel with my own was -presently made manifest, for:</p> - -<p>"Without a moment's delay, Mr. Addison," he said, speaking like a man -newly awakened from slumber, "we must proceed to The Laurels and test -the truth of what we have heard."</p> - -<p>He crossed to the door, threw it open, and:</p> - -<p>"Sergeant!" he cried. "Come in! The prisoner is dead!"</p> - -<p>As the sergeant and the constable who were waiting came into the study -and stood looking in stupefaction at the body stretched on the floor, -I heard the telephone bell ring. I started nervously. That sound -awakened ghastly memories, and I thought of the man who only a few -hours before had met his death in the room where now the bell was -ringing its summons.</p> - -<p>I doubted if I could ever spend another night beneath that roof, for -here Dr. Damar Greefe, the arch-assassin, and one of his victims both -had met their ends. I heard the voice of Coates speaking in the -adjoining room, and presently, as Gatton went to the door:</p> - -<p>"Miss Merlin wishes to speak to you, sir," said Coates.</p> - -<p>I ran eagerly to the 'phone, and:</p> - -<p>"Hello!" I cried. "Is that you, Isobel?"</p> - -<p>"Yes!" came her reply, and I noted the agitation in her voice. "I am -more dreadfully frightened than I have ever been in my life. If only -you were here! Is it possible for you to come at once?"</p> - -<p>"What has alarmed you?" I asked anxiously.</p> - -<p>"I can't explain," she replied. "It is a dreadful sense of -foreboding—and all the dogs in the neighborhood seem to have gone -mad!"</p> - -<p>"Dogs!" I cried, a numbing fear creeping over me. "You mean that they -are howling?"</p> - -<p>"Howling!" she answered. "I have never heard such a pandemonium at any -time. In my present state of nerves, Jack, I did the wrong thing in -coming to this funny lonely little house. I feel deserted and hopeless -and, for some reason, in terrible danger."</p> - -<p>"Are you <i>alone</i>, then?" I asked, in ever growing anxiety.</p> - -<p>To my utter consternation:</p> - -<p>"Yes!" she replied. "Aunt Alison was called away half an hour ago—to -identify some one at a hospital who had asked for her—"</p> - -<p>"What! an accident?"</p> - -<p>"I suppose so."</p> - -<p>"But the servants?"</p> - -<p>"Cook left this morning. You remember Aunt told you she was leaving."</p> - -<p>"There is the girl, Mary?"</p> - -<p>"Aunt 'phoned for her to join her at the hospital!"</p> - -<p>"What! I don't understand! <i>'Phoned</i>, you say? Was it Mrs. Wentworth -<i>herself</i> who 'phoned?"</p> - -<p>"No; I think not. One of the nurses, Mary said. But at any rate, she -has gone, Jack, and I'm frightened to death! There's something else," -she added.</p> - -<p>"Yes?" I said eagerly.</p> - -<p>She laughed in a way that sounded almost hysterical.</p> - -<p>"Since Mary went I have thought once or twice that I have seen some -one or something creeping around outside the house in the shadows -amongst the trees! And just a while ago something happened which -really prompted me to 'phone you."</p> - -<p>"What was it?"</p> - -<p>"I heard a sort of scratching at an upper window. It was just like—"</p> - -<p>"Yes! Yes!"</p> - -<p>"Like a great <i>cat</i> trying to gain admittance!"</p> - -<p>"See that all the doors and windows are fastened!" I cried. "Whatever -happens or whoever knocks don't open to any one, you understand? We -will be with you in less than half an hour!"</p> - -<p>Still in that frightened voice:</p> - -<p>"For heaven's sake," she begged, "don't be long, Jack!..."</p> - -<p>I became aware of a singular rasping sound on the wires, which -rendered Isobel's words almost unintelligible. Then:</p> - -<p>"Jack," I heard, in a faint whisper, "there is a strange noise ... -just outside the room...."</p> - -<p>Silence came. But, vaguely, above that rasping sound, I had detected -the words: "Cutting ... telephone ... wires...."</p> - -<p>I replaced the receiver. My hand was shaking wildly.</p> - -<p>"Gatton!" I said, "do you understand? <i>It</i> has turned its attention -to Miss Merlin!" Then, raising my voice: "Coates!" I cried, "Coates! -run for the car! Hurry, man! Some one's life depends on your speed!"</p> - -<p>Inspector Gatton grabbed the telephone directory.</p> - -<p>"I will instruct the local police," he muttered. "Give me the exact -address, Mr. Addison, and go and see the cab that's outside. If it's a -good one we'll take it instead of waiting."</p> - -<p>Out I dashed, spurred by a sickly terror, crying Mrs. Wentworth's -address as I ran. And of the ensuing five minutes I retain nothing but -chaotic memories: the bewildered cabman; the police bending over the -gaunt form on my study floor; Gatton's voice shouting orders. Then, we -had jumped into the cab and enjoining the man to drive like fury, were -speeding off through the busy London streets. Leaving the quietude of -one suburb for the maelstrom of central London, we presently emerged -into an equally quiet backwater upon the Northerly outskirts.</p> - -<p>It was a nightmare journey, but when at last we approached the house -for which we were bound my apprehension and excitement grew even -keener. It was infinitely more isolated and lonely than I had ever -realized, behind its high brick walls.</p> - -<p>Of the local police there was no sign. And without hesitation we ran -in at the open gate and up the path towards the porch. Every window in -the house was brightly illuminated, testifying to the greatness of the -occupant's fear. Gaining the porch, we stopped, as if prompted by some -mutual thought, and listened.</p> - -<p>There was the remote murmuring of busy London, but here surrounding us -was a stillness as great as that which prevailed in my own -neighborhood; and as we stood there, keenly alert—distinctly we both -heard the howling of dogs!</p> - -<p>"You hear it?" rapped Gatton.</p> - -<p>"I do!" I replied.</p> - -<p>Grasping the bell-knob, I executed a vigorous peal upon the bell. -There was a light in the hallway but my ringing elicited no response, -until:</p> - -<p>"My God, look!" cried Gatton.</p> - -<p>He pulled me backward out of the porch, looking upward to the window -of a room on the first floor.</p> - -<p>A silhouette appeared there—undoubtedly that of Isobel. She seemed to -be endeavoring to pull the curtain aside ... when the shadow of a long -arm reached out to her, and she was plucked irresistibly back. The -sound of a muffled scream reached my ears, and:</p> - -<p>"Great heavens! <i>It</i> has got in!" whispered Gatton.</p> - -<p>He raised his hand and the shrill note of a police whistle split the -silence.</p> - -<p>The closed door was obviously too strong to be forced without the aid -of implements for the purpose, and we began to run around the house, -looking for some means of entrance. Suddenly:</p> - -<p>"There's the way!" said Gatton, and pointed up to where the branches -of an old elm tree stretched out before a window. The glass of the -window was entirely shattered except for some few points which -glittered like daggers around the edges of the frame.</p> - -<p>"Can you do it?"</p> - -<p>"In the circumstances—yes!" I said.</p> - -<p>Without more ado I began to climb the elm, stimulated by memories of -how I had entered Friar's Park. It afforded little foothold for the -first six feet and proved an even tougher job than I had anticipated, -but at last I reached a projecting limb, the bulk of which had been -sawn off. Gatton's agility was not so great as mine, but at the moment -that I half staggered and half fell into the room, I heard him -swinging himself onto the limb behind me so that as I leaped to the -open door he came tumbling in through the window, and the pair of us -raced side by side along the corridor towards an apartment facing -front from which horrifying cries and sounds of conflict now arose.</p> - -<p>Gaining the closed door of this room, I literally hurled myself upon -it. It crashed open ... and I beheld a dreadful spectacle.</p> - -<p>Isobel lay forced back upon a settee which occupied the window -recess—and bending over her, having her back turned towards me, was a -tall, lithe, black-clad woman who, so far as I could see, was -clutching Isobel's throat and forcing her further backward—backward -upon the cushions strewn upon the settee!</p> - -<p>But instant upon the door's opening this horrible scene changed. With -never a backward glance (so that neither Gatton nor I had even a -momentary glimpse of her face) the black-robed woman sprang to the -window, opened it in a moment, and to my dismay and astonishment -sprang out into the darkness!</p> - -<p>My first thought was for Isobel—but Gatton leaped across the room and -craned out, peering on to the path below. Indeed, even as I dropped on -my knees beside the swooning girl, I found myself listening for the -thud of the falling body upon the gravel path. But no sound reached -me. That uncanny creature must have alighted truly in the manner of a -cat. Through the stillness of the house rang the flat note of a -police-whistle. From some distant spot I heard a faint reply.</p> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<p>For long I failed to persuade myself that Isobel had not sustained -some ghastly injury from the attack of the cat-woman. Memories uprose -starkly before me of that <i>hlangkûna</i> and the other dreadful -death-instruments of the mad Eurasian doctor. Not even the assurances -of the local medical man who had been summoned in haste could convince -me. For I recognized how petty was his knowledge in comparison with -that of Dr. Damar Greefe. But although I trembled to think what her -fate might have been if we had arrived a few minutes later, the fact -remained (and I returned thanks to Heaven) that she had escaped -serious physical injury at the hands of her assailant.</p> - -<p>But, alas, to this very hour she sometimes awakes shrieking in the -night. And her terrified cry is always the same: "The green eyes of -Bâst!... the green-eyes of Bâst!"</p> - - - -<hr style='width: 65%;' /> -<a name='CHAPTER_XXIX'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIX <br />AN AFTERWORD</h2> - -<br /> - -<p>I wish it lay in my power to satisfy the curiosity in all quarters -expressed respecting the identity of "Nahémah"—the cat-woman, or -<i>psycho-hybrid</i>, who figured in Dr. Damar Greefe's statement. But it -is my duty, as chronicler of the strange and awful occurrences which -at this period disturbed the even tenor of my existence, to state that -from the moment in which she leaped from the window of Mrs. -Wentworth's house to the path below, neither I nor any other witness -who ever came forward <i>beheld her again</i>.</p> - -<p>At the end of a quest which exercised the intricate machinery of New -Scotland Yard throughout the length and breadth of the land, Inspector -Gatton was compelled to admit himself defeated in this particular. And -his explanation of the failure to apprehend the central figure of the -tragedies which had exterminated the house of Coverly was a curious -one.</p> - -<p>"You know, Mr. Addison," he said to me one evening, "the more I think -of this Nahémah the more I wonder if such a person ever really -existed!"</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, Gatton?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Well," he replied, "I mean that although you and I and others are -prepared to testify to the existence of a woman in the case, what do -we really know about her (leaving Damar Greefe's statement out of the -question) except that she possessed very remarkable eyes?"</p> - -<p>"And very remarkable agility," I interrupted.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I'll grant you that," he said; "her agility was certainly -phenomenal. But, still, as I was saying, except for this definite -information we have no <i>proof</i> outside the statement of Dr. Damar -Greefe that such a person as Nahémah ever existed or at any rate that -there ever was a creature possessing the attributes which he ascribed -to her. The Laurels is an ordinary suburban house, which has been -leased for a number of years by a 'Mr. and Miss da Costa'—Damar -Greefe, no doubt, and a female companion. But of his 'great work' and -so forth there's not a trace. There are a lot of Egyptian antiquities, -I'll admit, but not a scrap of evidence; and the rooms evidently used -by the female inmate of the household are those of an ordinary -cultured Englishwoman."</p> - -<p>"But, good heavens, Gatton," I cried, "whatever explanation can you -offer of a series of crimes which were palpably directed against the -members of the Coverly family?"</p> - -<p>"I don't say," continued Gatton, "that there wasn't a sort of feud or -vendetta at the bottom of the business. I merely mention that we have -no <i>evidence</i> to show that the person responsible for it was any other -than this Eurasian doctor."</p> - -<p>"But what could have been his object?"</p> - -<p>"I could suggest several; but my point at the moment is this: although -I am prepared to grant that he had a woman associate of some kind, I -can't see that there is any evidence to prove that she was otherwise -than an ordinary human being, except that I am disposed to think she -was demented."</p> - -<p>"You are probably right there, Gatton," I agreed; "and Dr. Damar -Greefe was by no means normal; in fact I think he was a dangerous and -very brilliant maniac."</p> - -<p>"At any rate," added Gatton, "no trace of this Nahémah has been -found—which, at the least, is very significant."</p> - -<p>"Significant, if you like," I replied; "but for my own part I have no -ambition whatever to see again those dreadful green eyes."</p> - -<p>"I never did see them," said Gatton musingly; "therefore I can't speak -upon the matter; but when we got Dr. Damar Greefe I think we had the -head of the conspiracy. How much of his 'statement' is true and how -much the product of a diseased mind is something we are never likely -to know."</p> - -<p>"Nor am I curious to know it," I assured him. "I only desire to forget -the tragedies associated with the green eyes of Bâst and to leave the -darkness of the past behind—"</p> - -<p>"And," said Gatton, with a smile less grim than usual, "you have my -best wishes for the future."</p> - -<br /> - -<h3>THE END</h3> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - - -<center> -<p><i>The greatest pleasure in life is <br /> -that of reading. Why not then <br /> -own the books of great novelists <br /> -when the price is so small</i></p> -</center> -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<center><p><i>Of all the amusements which can possibly <br /> -be imagined for a hard-working man, after <br /> -his daily toil, or in its intervals, there is <br /> -nothing like reading an entertaining book. <br /> -It calls for no bodily exertion. It transports <br /> -him into a livelier, and gayer, and more diversified <br /> -and interesting scene, and while he <br /> -enjoys himself there he may forget the evils <br /> -of the present moment. Nay, it accompanies <br /> -him to his next day's work, and gives him <br /> -something to think of besides the mere <br /> -mechanical drudgery of his every-day occupation— <br /> -something he can enjoy while absent, <br /> -and look forward with pleasure to return to</i>.</p></center> - -<center><p><i>Ask your dealer for a list of the titles<br /> -in Burt's Popular Priced Fiction</i></p></center> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<center><p><i>In buying the looks bearing the<br /> -A.L. Burt Company imprint<br /> -you are assured of wholesome, entertaining<br /> -and instructive reading</i><br /> -<i>THE BEST OF RECENT FICTION</i></p></center> - -<hr style='width: 45%;' /> - -<p>Adventures of Jimmie Dale, The. Frank L. Packard.<br /> -Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. A. 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Margaret Deland.</p> - -<p>Bab: a Sub-Deb. Mary Roberts Rinehart<br /> -Bar 20. Clarence E. Mulford.<br /> -Bar 20 Days. Clarence E. Mulford.<br /> -Bar 20 Three. Clarence E. Mulford.<br /> -Barrier, The. Rex Beach.<br /> -Bars of Iron, The. Ethel M. Dell.<br /> -Bat Wing. Sax Rohmer.<br /> -Beasts of Tarzan, The. Edgar Rice Burroughs.<br /> -Beautiful and Damned, The. F. Scott Fitzgerald.<br /> -Beauty. Rupert Hughes.<br /> -Behind Locked Doors. Ernest M. Poate.<br /> -Bella Donna. Robert Hichens. (Photoplay Ed.).<br /> -Beloved Traitor, The. Frank L. Packard.<br /> -Beloved Vagabond, The. Wm. J. Locke.<br /> -Beloved Woman, The. Kathleen Norris.<br /> -Beltane the Smith. Jeffery Farnol.<br /> -Betrayal, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim.<br /> -Beyond the Frontier. Randall Parrish.<br /> -Big Timber. Bertrand W. Sinclair.<br /> -Black Bartlemy's Treasure. Jeffery Farnol.<br /> -Black Buttes. Clarence E. Mulford.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Eyes of Bâst, by Sax Rohmer - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN EYES OF BÂST *** - -***** This file should be named 15323-h.htm or 15323-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/2/15323/ - -Produced by Alicia Williams, Bethanne M. Simms-Troester and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Green Eyes of Bast - -Author: Sax Rohmer - -Release Date: March 11, 2005 [EBook #15323] -[Date last updated: October 9, 2005] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN EYES OF BAST *** - - - - -Produced by Alicia Williams, Bethanne M. Simms-Troester and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team - - - - - - - - - -THE GREEN EYES -OF BAST - -BY SAX ROHMER - -AUTHOR OF - -"_The Golden Scorpion_," "_Dope_," "_The Hand of Fu-Manchu_," -"_The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu_," "_The Return of Fu-Manchu_," -"_Tales of Secret Egypt_," "_The Yellow Claw_," -"_The Quest of the Sacred Slipper_," _etc._ - - -A.L. BURT COMPANY -Publishers New York - -Published by arrangement with Robert M. McBride & Co. -Copyright, 1920, by - -ROBERT M. MCBRIDE & Co. - - * * * * * - -_Printed in the -United States of America_ - - - - -CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER PAGE - - I. I SEE THE EYES 1 - II. THE SIGN OF THE CAT 12 - III. THE GREEN IMAGE 22 - IV. ISOBEL 32 - V. THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER 41 - VI. THE VOICE 52 - VII. THE CAT OF BUBASTIS 63 - VIII. MY VISITOR 73 - IX. THE VELVET CURTAIN 84 - X. "HANGING EVIDENCE" 95 - XI. THE SCARRED MAN 105 - XII. I DREAM OF GREEN EYES 117 - XIII. DR. DAMAR GREEFE 125 - XIV. THE BLACK DOCTOR 135 - XV. I RECEIVE VISITORS 147 - XVI. THE GOLDEN CAT 158 - XVII. THE NUBIAN MUTE 169 - XVIII. THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK 177 - XIX. THE MAN ON THE TOWER 187 - XX. GATTON'S STORY 198 - XXI. IN LONDON AGAIN 212 - XXII. THE GRAY MIST 225 - XXIII. THE INEVITABLE 240 - XXIV. A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED 251 - XXV. STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D. 263 - XXVI. STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED) 273 - XXVII. STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED) 285 -XXVIII. THE CLAWS OF THE CAT 300 - XXIX. AN AFTERWORD 309 - - - -THE GREEN EYES OF BAST - - - - -CHAPTER I - -I SEE THE EYES - - -"Good evening, sir. A bit gusty?" - -"Very much so, sergeant," I replied. "I think I will step into your -hut for a moment and light my pipe if I may." - -"Certainly, sir. Matches are too scarce nowadays to take risks with -'em. But it looks as if the storm had blown over." - -"I'm not sorry," said I, entering the little hut like a sentry-box -which stands at the entrance to this old village high street for -accommodation of the officer on point duty at that spot. "I have a -longish walk before me." - -"Yes. Your place is right off the beat, isn't it?" mused my -acquaintance, as sheltered from the keen wind I began to load my -briar. "Very inconvenient I've always thought it for a gentleman who -gets about as much as you do." - -"That's why I like it," I explained. "If I lived anywhere accessible I -should never get a moment's peace, you see. At the same time I have to -be within an hour's journey of Fleet Street." - -I often stopped for a chat at this point and I was acquainted with -most of the men of P. division on whom the duty devolved from time to -time. It was a lonely spot at night when the residents in the -neighborhood had retired, so that the darkened houses seemed to -withdraw yet farther into the gardens separating them from the -highroad. A relic of the days when trains and motor-buses were not, -dusk restored something of an old-world atmosphere to the village -street, disguising the red brick and stucco which in many cases had -displaced the half-timbered houses of the past. Yet it was possible in -still weather to hear the muted bombilation of the sleepless city and -when the wind was in the north to count the hammer-strokes of the -great bell of St. Paul's. - -Standing in the shelter of the little hut, I listened to the rain -dripping from over-reaching branches and to the gurgling of a turgid -little stream which flowed along the gutter near my feet whilst now -and again swift gusts of the expiring tempest would set tossing the -branches of the trees which lined the way. - -"It's much cooler to-night," said the sergeant. - -I nodded, being in the act of lighting my pipe. The storm had -interrupted a spell of that tropical weather which sometimes in July -and August brings the breath of Africa to London, and this coolness -resulting from the storm was very welcome. Then: - -"Well, good night," I said, and was about to pursue my way when the -telephone bell in the police-hut rang sharply. - -"Hullo," called the sergeant. - -I paused, idly curious concerning the message, and: - -"The Red House," continued the sergeant, "in College Road? Yes, I know -it. It's on Bolton's beat, and he is due here now. Very good; I'll -tell him." - -He hung up the receiver and, turning to me, smiled and nodded his head -resignedly. - -"The police get some funny jobs, sir," he confided. "Only last night a -gentleman rang up the station and asked them to tell me to stop a -short, stout lady with yellow hair and a big blue hat (that was the -only description) as she passed this point and to inform her that her -husband had had to go out but that he had left the door-key just -inside the dog-kennel!" - -He laughed good-humoredly. - -"Now to-night," he resumed, "here's somebody just rung up to say that -he thinks, only _thinks_, mind you, that he has forgotten to lock his -garage and will the constable on that beat see if the keys have been -left behind. If so, will he lock the door from the inside, go out -through the back, lock that door and leave the keys at the station on -coming off duty!" - -"Yes," I said. "There are some absent-minded people in the world. But -do you mean the Red House in College Road?" - -"That's it," replied the sergeant, stepping out of the hut and looking -intently to the left. - -"Ah, here comes Bolton." - -He referred to a stolid, red-faced constable who at that moment came -plodding across the muddy road, and: - -"A job for you, Bolton," he cried. "Listen. You know the Red House in -College Road?" - -Bolton removed his helmet and scratched his closely-cropped head. - -"Let me see," he mused; "it's on the right--" - -"No, no," I interrupted. "It is a house about half-way down on the -left; very secluded, with a high brick wall in front." - -"Oh! You mean the _empty_ house?" inquired the constable. - -"Just what I was about to remark, sergeant," said I, turning to my -acquaintance. "To the best of my knowledge the Red House has been -vacant for twelve months or more." - -"Has it?" exclaimed the sergeant. "That's funny. Still, it's none of -my business; besides it may have been let within the last few days. -Anyway, listen, Bolton. You are to see if the garage is unlocked. If -it is and the keys are there, go in and lock the door behind you. -There's another door at the other end; go out and lock that too. Leave -the keys at the depot when you go off. Got that fixed?" - -"Yes," replied Bolton, and he stood helmet in hand, half inaudibly -muttering the sergeant's instructions, evidently with the idea of -impressing them upon his memory. - -"I have to pass the Red House, constable," I interrupted, "and as you -seem doubtful respecting its whereabouts, I will point the place out -to you." - -"Thank you, sir," said Bolton, replacing his helmet and ceasing to -mutter. - -"Once more--good night, sergeant," I cried, and met by a keen gust of -wind which came sweeping down the village street, showering cascades -of water from the leaves above, I set out in step with my stolid -companion. - -It is supposed poetically that unusual events cast their shadows -before them, and I am prepared to maintain the correctness of such a -belief. But unless the silence of the constable who walked beside me -was due to the unseen presence of such a shadow, and not to a habitual -taciturnity, there was nothing in that march through the deserted -streets calculated to arouse me to the fact that I was entering upon -the first phase of an experience more strange and infinitely more -horrible than any of which I had ever known or even read. - -The shadow had not yet reached me. - -We talked little enough on the way, for the breeze when it came was -keen and troublesome, so that I was often engaged in clutching my hat. -Except for a dejected-looking object, obviously a member of the tramp -fraternity, who passed us near the gate of the old chapel, we met -never a soul from the time that we left the police-box until the -moment when the high brick wall guarding the Red House came into view -beyond a line of glistening wet hedgerow. - -"This is the house, constable," I said. "The garage is beyond the main -entrance." - -We proceeded as far as the closed gates, whereupon: - -"There you are, sir," said Bolton triumphantly. "I told you it was -empty." - -An estate agent's bill faced us, setting forth the desirable features -of the residence, the number of bedrooms and reception rooms, modern -conveniences, garage, etc., together with the extent of the garden, -lawn and orchard. - -A faint creaking sound drew my glance upward, and stepping back a pace -I stared at a hatchet-board projecting above the wall which bore two -duplicates of the bill posted upon the gate. - -"That seems to confirm it," I declared, peering through the trees in -the direction of the house. "The place has all the appearance of being -deserted." - -"There's some mistake," muttered Bolton. - -"Then the mistake is not ours," I replied. "See, the bills are headed -'To be let or sold. The Red House, etc.'" - -"H'm," growled Bolton. "It's a funny go, this is. Suppose we have a -look at the garage." - -We walked along together to where, set back in a recess, I had often -observed the doors of a garage evidently added to the building by some -recent occupier. Dangling from a key placed in the lock was a ring to -which another key was attached! - -"Well, I'm blowed," said Bolton, "this _is_ a funny go, this is." - -He unlocked the door and swept the interior of the place with a ray of -light cast by his lantern. There were one or two petrol cans and some -odd lumber suggesting that the garage had been recently used, but no -car, and indeed nothing of sufficient value to have interested even -such a derelict as the man whom we had passed some ten minutes before. -That is if I except a large and stoutly-made packing-case which -rested only a foot or so from the entrance so as partly to block it, -and which from its appearance might possibly have contained spare -parts. I noticed, with vague curiosity, a device crudely representing -a seated cat which was painted in green upon the case. - -"If there ever was anything here," said Bolton, "it's been pinched and -we're locking the stable door after the horse has gone. You'll bear me -out, sir, if there's any complaint?" - -"Certainly," I replied. "Technically I shall be trespassing if I come -in with you, so I shall say good night." - -"Good night, sir," cried the constable, and entering the empty garage, -he closed the door behind him. - -I set off briskly alone towards the cottage which I had made my home. -I have since thought that the motives which had induced me to choose -this secluded residence were of a peculiarly selfish order. Whilst I -liked sometimes to be among my fellowmen and whilst I rarely missed an -important first night in London, my inherent weakness for obscure -studies and another motive to which I may refer later had caused me to -abandon my chambers in the Temple and to retire with my library to -this odd little backwater where my only link with Fleet Street, with -the land of theaters and clubs and noise and glitter, was the -telephone. I scarcely need add that I had sufficient private means to -enable me to indulge these whims, otherwise as a working journalist I -must have been content to remain nearer to the heart of things. As it -was I followed the careless existence of the independent free-lance, -and since my work was accounted above the average I was enabled to -pick and choose the subjects with which I should deal. Mine was not an -ambitious nature--or it may have been that stimulus was lacking--and -all I wrote I wrote for the mere joy of writing, whilst my studies, of -which I shall have occasion to speak presently, were not of a nature -calculated to swell my coffers in this commercial-minded age. - -Little did I know how abruptly this chosen calm of my life was to be -broken nor how these same studies were to be turned in a new and -strange direction. But if on this night which was to witness the -overture of a horrible drama, I had not hitherto experienced any -premonition of the coming of those dark forces which were to change -the whole tenor of my existence, suddenly, now, in sight of the elm -tree which stood before my cottage the _shadow_ reached me. - -Only thus can I describe a feeling otherwise unaccountable which -prompted me to check my steps and to listen. A gust of wind had just -died away, leaving the night silent save for the dripping of rain from -the leaves and the vague and remote roar of the town. Once, faintly, I -thought I detected the howling of a dog. I had heard nothing in the -nature of following footsteps, yet, turning swiftly, I did not doubt -that I should detect the presence of a follower of some kind. This -conviction seized me suddenly and, as I have said, unaccountably. Nor -was I wrong in my surmise. - -Fifty yards behind me a vaguely defined figure showed for an instant -outlined against the light of a distant lamp--ere melting into the -dense shadow cast by a clump of trees near the roadside. - -Standing quite still, I stared in the direction of the patch of shadow -for several moments. It may be said that there was nothing to occasion -alarm or even curiosity in the appearance of a stray pedestrian at -that hour; for it was little after midnight. Indeed thus I argued with -myself, whereby I admit that at sight of that figure I had experienced -a sensation which was compounded not only of alarm and curiosity but -also of some other emotion which even now I find it hard to define. -Instantly I knew that the lithe shape, glimpsed but instantaneously, -was that of no chance pedestrian--was indeed that of no ordinary -being. At the same moment I heard again, unmistakably, the howling of -a dog. - -Having said so much, why should I not admit that, turning again very -quickly, I hurried on to the gate of my cottage and heaved a great -sigh of relief when I heard the reassuring bang of the door as I -closed it behind me? Coates, my batman, had turned in, having placed a -cold repast upon the table in the little dining-room; but although I -required nothing to eat I partook of a stiff whisky and soda, idly -glancing at two or three letters which lay upon the table. - -They proved to contain nothing of very great importance, and having -smoked a final cigarette, I turned out the light in the dining-room -and walked into the bedroom--for the cottage was of bungalow -pattern--and, crossing the darkened room, stood looking out of the -window. - -It commanded a view of a little kitchen-garden and beyond of a high -hedge, with glimpses of sentinel trees lining the main road. The wind -had dropped entirely, but clouds were racing across the sky at a -tremendous speed so that the nearly full moon alternately appeared and -disappeared, producing an ever-changing effect of light and shadow. At -one moment a moon-bathed prospect stretched before me as far as the -eye could reach, in the next I might have been looking into a cavern -as some angry cloud swept across the face of the moon to plunge the -scene into utter darkness. - -And it was during such a dark spell and at the very moment that I -turned aside to light the lamp that I saw _the eyes_. - -From a spot ten yards removed, low down under the hedges bordering the -garden, they looked up at me--those great, glittering cat's eyes, so -that I stifled an exclamation, drawing back instinctively from the -window. A tiger, I thought, or some kindred wild beast, must have -escaped from captivity. And so rapidly does the mind work at such -times that instinctively I had reviewed the several sporting pieces in -my possession and had selected a rifle which had proved serviceable in -India ere I had taken one step towards the door. - -Before that step could be taken the light of the moon again flooded -the garden; and although there was no opening in the hedge by which -even a small animal could have retired, no living thing was in sight! -But, near and remote, dogs were howling mournfully. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE SIGN OF THE CAT - - -When Coates brought in my tea, newspapers and letters in the morning, -I awakened with a start, and: - -"Has there been any rain during the night, Coates?" I asked. - -Coates, whose unruffled calm at all times provided an excellent -sedative, replied: - -"Not since a little before midnight, sir." - -"Ah!" said I, "and have you been in the garden this morning, Coates?" - -"Yes, sir," he replied, "for raspberries for breakfast, sir." - -"But not on this side of the cottage?" - -"Not on this side." - -"Then will you step out, Coates, keeping carefully to the paths, and -proceed as far as the tool-shed? Particularly note if the beds have -been disturbed between the hedge and the path, but don't make any -marks yourself. You are looking for _spoor_, you understand?" - -"Spoor? Very good, sir. Of big game?" - -"Of big game, yes, Coates." - -Unmoved by the strangeness of his instructions, Coates, an -object-lesson for those who decry the excellence of British Army -disciplinary methods, departed. - -It was with not a little curiosity and interest that I awaited his -report. As I sat sipping my tea I could hear his regular tread as he -passed along the garden path outside the window. Then it ceased and -was followed by a vague muttering. He had found something. All traces -of the storm had disappeared and there was every indication of a -renewal of the heat-wave; but I knew that the wet soil would have -preserved a perfect impression of any imprint made upon it on the -previous night. Nevertheless, with the early morning sun streaming -into my window out of a sky as near to turquoise as I had ever seen it -in England, I found it impossible to recapture that uncanny thrill -which had come to me in the dark hours when out of the shadows under -the hedge the great cat's eyes had looked up at me. - -And now, becoming more fully awake, I remembered something else which -hitherto I had not associated with the latter phenomenon. I remembered -that lithe and evasive pursuing shape which I had detected behind me -on the road. Even now, however, it was difficult to associate one with -the other; for whereas the dimly-seen figure had resembled that of a -man (or, more closely, that of a woman) the eyes had looked out upon -me from a point low down near the ground, like those of some crouching -feline. - -Coates' footsteps sounded again upon the path and I heard him walking -round the cottage and through the kitchen. Finally he reentered the -bedroom and stood just within the doorway in that attitude of -attention which was part and parcel of the man. His appearance would -doubtless have violated the proprieties of the Albany, for in my rural -retreat he was called upon to perform other and more important -services than those of a valet. His neatly shaved chin, stolid red -countenance and perfectly brushed hair were unexceptionable of course, -but because his duties would presently take him into the garden he -wore, not the regulation black, but an ancient shooting-jacket, khaki -breeches and brown gaiters, looking every inch of him the old soldier -that he was. - -"Well, Coates?" said I. - -He cleared his throat. - -"There are footprints in the radish-beds, sir," he reported. - -"Footprints?" - -"Yes, sir. Very deep. As though some one had jumped over the hedge and -landed there." - -"Jumped over the hedge!" I exclaimed. "That would be a considerable -jump, Coates, from the road." - -"It would, sir. Maybe she scrambled up." - -"She?" - -Coates cleared his throat again. - -"There are three sets of prints in all. First a very deep one where -the party had landed, then another broken up like, where she had -turned round, and the third set with the heel-marks very deep where -she had sprung back over the hedge." - -_"She?"_ I shouted. - -"The prints, sir," resumed Coates, unmoved, "are those of a lady's -high-heeled shoes." - -I sat bolt upright in bed, staring at the man and scarcely able to -credit my senses. Words failed me. Whereupon: - -"Will you have tea or coffee for breakfast?" inquired Coates. - -"Tea or coffee be damned, Coates!" I cried. "I'm going out to look at -those footprints! If you had seen what I saw last night, even your old -mahogany countenance would relax for once, I assure you." - -"Indeed, sir," said Coates; "did you see the lady, then?" - -"Lady!" I exclaimed, tumbling out of bed. "If the eyes that looked at -me last night belonged to a 'lady' either I am mad or the 'lady' is of -another world." - -I pulled on a bath-robe and hurried out into the garden, Coates -showing me the spot where he had found the mysterious foot-prints. A -very brief examination sufficed to convince me that his account had -been correct. Some one wearing high-heeled shoes clearly enough had -stood there at some time whilst the soil was quite wet; and as no -track led to or from the marks, Coates' conclusion that the person who -had made them must have come over the hedge was the only feasible one. -I turned to him in amazement, but recognizing in time the wildly -fantastic nature of the sight which I had seen in the night, I -refrained from speaking of the blazing eyes and made my way to the -bathroom wondering if some chance reflection might not have deceived -me and the presence of a woman's footmarks at the same spot be no -more than a singular coincidence. Even so the mystery of their -presence there remained unexplained. - -My thoughts were diverted from a trend of profitless conjecture when -shortly after breakfast time my 'phone bell rang. It was the editor of -the _Planet_, to whom I had been indebted for a number of special -commissions--including my fascinating quest of the Giant Gnu, which, -generally supposed to be extinct, was reported by certain natives and -others to survive in a remote corner of the Dark Continent. - -Readers of the _Planet_ will remember that although I failed to -discover the Gnu I came upon a number of notable things on my journey -through the almost unexplored country about the head-waters of the -Niger. - -"A most extraordinary case has cropped up," he said, "quite in your -line, I think, Addison. Evidently a murder, and the circumstances seem -to be most dramatic and unusual. I should be glad if you would take it -up." - -I inquired without much enthusiasm for details. Criminology was one of -my hobbies, and in several instances I had traced cases of alleged -haunting and other supposedly supernatural happenings to a criminal -source; but the ordinary sordid murder did not interest me. - -"The body of Sir Marcus Coverly has been found in a crate!" explained -my friend. "The crate was being lowered into the hold of the S.S. -_Oritoga_ at the West India Docks. It had been delivered by a -conveyance specially hired for the purpose apparently, as the -_Oritoga_ is due to sail in an hour. There are all sorts of curious -details but these you can learn for yourself. Don't trouble to call at -the office; proceed straight to the dock." - -"Right!" I said shortly. "I'll start immediately." - -And this sudden decision had been brought about by the mention of the -victim's name. Indeed, as I replaced the receiver on the hook I -observed that my hand was shaking and I have little doubt that I had -grown pale. - -In the first place, then, let me confess that my retirement to the odd -little retreat which at this time was my home, and my absorption in -the obscure studies to which I have referred were not so much due to -any natural liking for the life of a recluse as to the shattering of -certain matrimonial designs. I had learned of the wreck of my hopes -upon reading a press paragraph which announced the engagement of -Isobel Merlin to Eric Coverly. And it was as much to conceal my -disappointment from the world as for any better reason that I had -slunk into retirement; for if I am slow to come to a decision in such -a matter, once come to, it is of no light moment. - -Yet although I had breathed no word of my lost dreams to Isobel but -had congratulated her with the rest, often and bitterly I had cursed -myself for a sluggard. Too late I had learned that she had but awaited -a word from me; and I had gone off to Mesopotamia, leaving that word -unspoken. During my absence Coverly had won the prize which I had -thrown away. He was heir to the title, for his cousin, Sir Marcus, -was unmarried. Now here, a bolt from the blue, came the news of his -cousin's death! - -It can well be imagined with what intense excitement I hurried to the -docks. All other plans abandoned, Coates, arrayed in his neat blue -uniform, ran the Rover round from the garage, and ere long we were -jolting along the hideously uneven Commercial Road, East, dodging -traction-engines drawing strings of lorries, and continually meeting -delay in the form of those breakdowns which are of hourly occurrence -in this congested but rugged highway. - -In the West India Dock Road the way became slightly more open, but -when at last I alighted and entered the dock gates I recognized that -every newspaper and news agency in the kingdom was apparently -represented. Jones, of the _Gleaner_, was coming out as I went in, -and: - -"Hello, Addison!" he cried, "this is quite in your line! It's as mad -as 'Alice in Wonderland.'" - -I did not delay, however, but hurried on in the direction of a dock -building, at the door of which was gathered a heterogeneous group -comprising newspaper men, dock officials, police and others who were -unclassifiable. Half a dozen acquaintances greeted me as I came up, -and I saw that the door was closed and that a constable stood on duty -before it. - -"I call it damned impudence, Addison!" exclaimed one pressman. "The -dock people are refusing everybody information until Inspector -Somebody-or-Other arrives from New Scotland Yard. I should think he -has stopped on the way to get his lunch." - -The speaker glanced impatiently at his watch and I went to speak to -the man on duty. - -"You have orders to admit no one, constable?" I asked. - -"That's so, sir," he replied. "We're waiting for Detective-Inspector -Gatton, who has been put in charge of the case." - -"Ah! Gatton," I muttered, and, stepping aside from the expectant -group, I filled and lighted my pipe, convinced that anything to be -learned I should learn from Inspector Gatton, for he and I were old -friends, having been mutually concerned in several interesting cases. - -A few minutes later the Inspector arrived--a thick-set, clean-shaven, -very bronzed man, his dark hair streaked with gray, and with all the -appearance of a retired naval officer, in his well-cut blue serge suit -and soft felt hat; a very reserved man whose innocent-looking blue -eyes gave him that frank and open expression which is more often -associated with a seaman than with a detective. He nodded to several -acquaintances in the group, and then, observing me where I stood, came -over and shook hands. - -"Open the door, constable," he ordered quietly. - -The constable produced a key and unlocked the door of the small stone -building. Immediately there was a forward movement of the whole -waiting group, but: - -"If you please, gentlemen," said Gatton, raising his hand. "I must -make my examination first; and Mr. Addison," he added, seeing the -resentment written upon the faces of my disappointed confreres, "has -special information which I am going to ask him to place at my -disposal." - -The constable stood aside and I followed Inspector Gatton into the -stone shed. - -"Lock the door again, constable," he ordered; "no one is to be -admitted." - -Thereupon I looked about me, and the scene which I beheld was so -strange and gruesome that its every detail remains imprinted upon my -memory. - -The building then was lighted by four barred windows set so high in -the walls that no one could look in from the outside. Blazing sunlight -poured in at the two southerly windows and drew a sharp black pattern -of the bars across the paved floor. Kneeling beside a stretcher, fully -in this path of light, so that he presented a curious striped -appearance, was a man who presently proved to be the divisional -surgeon, and two paces beyond stood a police inspector who was engaged -at the moment of our entrance in making entries in his note-book. - -On the stretcher, so covered up that only his face was visible, lay -one whom at first I failed to recognize, for the horribly contorted -features presented a kind of mottled green appearance utterly -indescribable. - -Stifling an exclamation of horror, I stared and stared at that ghastly -face, then: - -"My God!" I muttered. "Yes! it _is_ Sir Marcus!" - -The surgeon stood up and the inspector advanced to meet Gatton, but my -horrified gaze had strayed from the stretcher to a badly damaged and -splintered packing-case, which was the only other object in the -otherwise empty shed. At this I stared as much aghast as I had stared -at the dead man. - -The iron bands were broken and twisted and the whole of one side lay -in fragments on the floor; but upon a board which had formed part of -the top I perceived the figure of a cat roughly traced in green paint. - -Beyond any shadow of doubt this crate was the same which on the night -before had lain in the garage of the Red House! - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE GREEN IMAGE - - -"Yes," said Gatton, "I was speaking no more than the truth when I told -them that you had special information which I hoped you would place at -my disposal. Some of the particulars were given to me over the 'phone, -you see, and I was glad to find you here when I arrived. I should have -consulted you in any event, and principally about--that." - -He pointed to an object which I held in my hand. It was a little green -enamel image; the crouching figure of a woman having a cat's head, a -piece of Egyptian workmanship probably of the fourth century B.C. -Considered in conjunction with the figure painted upon the crate, the -presence of this little image was so amazing a circumstance that from -the moment when it had been placed in my hand I had stood staring at -it almost dazedly. - -The divisional surgeon had gone, and only the local officer remained -with Gatton and myself in the building. Sir Marcus Coverly presented -all the frightful appearance of one who has died by asphyxia, and -although of course there would be an autopsy, little doubt existed -respecting the mode of his death. The marks of violence found upon the -body could be accounted for by the fact that the crate had fallen a -distance of thirty feet into the hold, and the surgeon was convinced -that the injuries to the body had all been received after death, death -having taken place in his opinion fully twelve hours before. - -"You see," said Gatton, "when the crate broke several things which -presumably were in Sir Marcus' pockets were found lying loose amongst -the wreckage. That cat-woman was one of them." - -"Yet it may not have been in any of his pockets at all," said I. - -"It _may_ not," agreed Gatton. "But that it was somewhere in the crate -is beyond dispute, I think. Besides this is more than a coincidence." - -And he pointed to the painted cat upon the lid of the packing-case. I -had already told him of the episode at the Red House on the previous -night, and now: - -"The fates are on our side," I said, "for at least we know where the -crate was despatched from." - -"Quite so," agreed Gatton. "We should have got that from the carter -later, of course, but every minute saved in an affair such as this is -worth considering. As a pressman you will probably disagree with me, -but I propose to suppress these two pieces of evidence. Premature -publication of clews too often handicaps us. Now, what _is_ that -figure exactly?" - -"It is a votive offering of a kind used in Ancient Egypt by pilgrims -to Bubastis. It is a genuine antique, and if you think the history of -such relics is likely to assist the investigation I can give you some -further particulars this evening if you have time to call at my -place." - -"I think," said Gatton, taking the figure from me and looking at it -with a singular expression on his face, "that the history of the thing -is very important. The fact that a rough reproduction of a somewhat -similar figure is painted upon the case cannot possibly be a -coincidence." - -I stared at him silently for a moment, then: - -"You mean that the crate was specially designed to contain the body?" -I asked. - -"I am certainly of that opinion," declared Inspector Heath, the local -officer. "It is of just the right size and shape for the purpose." - -Once more I began to examine the fragments stacked upon the floor, and -then I looked again at the several objects which lay beside the crate. -They were the personal belongings of the dead baronet and the police -had carefully noted in which of his pockets each object had been -found. He was in evening dress and a light top-coat had been packed -into the crate beside him. In this had been found a cigar-case and a -pair of gloves; a wallet containing L20 in Treasury notes and a number -of cards and personal papers had fallen out of the crate together with -the cat statuette. The face of his watch was broken. It had been in -his waistcoat pocket but it still ticked steadily on where it lay -there beside its dead owner. A gold-mounted malacca cane also figured -amongst the relics of the gruesome crime; so that whatever had been -the object of the murderer, that of robbery was out of the question. - -"The next thing to do," said Gatton, "is to trace Sir Marcus's -movements from the time that he left home last night to the time that -he met his death. I am going out now to 'phone to the Yard. We ought -to have succeeded in tracing the carter who brought the crate here -before the evening. I personally shall proceed to Sir Marcus's rooms -and then to this Red House around which it seems to me that the -mystery centers." - -He put the enamel figure into his pocket and taking up the broken -board which bore the painted cat: - -"You are carrying a top-coat," he said. "Hide this under it!" - -He turned to Inspector Heath, nodding shortly. - -"All right," he said, with a grim smile, "go out now and talk to the -crowd!" - -Having issued certain telephonic instructions touching the carter who -had delivered the crate to the docks, and then imparting to the -representatives of the press a guarded statement for publication, -Inspector Gatton succeeded in wedging himself into my little -two-seater and ere long we were lurching and bumping along the -ill-paved East-end streets. - -The late Sir Marcus's London address, which had been unknown to me, we -had learned from his cards, and it was with the keenest anticipation -of a notable discovery that I presently found myself with Gatton -mounting the stairs to the chambers of the murdered baronet. - -At the very moment of our arrival the door was opened and a man--quite -obviously a constable in plain clothes--came out. Behind him I -observed one whom I took to be the late Sir Marcus's servant, a -pathetic and somewhat disheveled figure. - -"Hello, Blythe!" said Gatton, "who instructed you to come here?" - -"Sir Marcus's man--Morris--telephoned the Yard," was the reply, "as he -couldn't understand what had become of his master and I was sent along -to see him." - -"Oh," said Gatton, "very good. Report to me in due course." - -Blythe departed, and Gatton and I entered the hall. The man, Morris, -closed the door, and led us into a small library. Beside the telephone -stood a tray bearing decanter and glasses, and there was evidence that -Morris had partaken of a hurried breakfast consisting only of biscuits -and whisky and soda. - -"I haven't been to bed all night, gentlemen," he began the moment that -we entered the room. "Sir Marcus was a good master and if he was -sleeping away from home he never failed to advise me, so that I knew -even before the dreadful news reached me that something was amiss." - -He was quite unstrung and his voice was unsteady. The reputation of -the late baronet had been one which I personally did not envy him, but -whatever his faults, and I knew they had been many, he had evidently -possessed the redeeming virtue of being a good employer. - -"A couple of hours' sleep would make a new man of you," said Gatton -kindly. "I understand your feelings, but no amount of sorrow can mend -matters, unfortunately. Now, I don't want to worry you, but there are -one or two points which I must ask you to clear up. In the first place -did you ever see this before?" - -From his pocket he took out the little figure of Bast, the -cat-goddess, and held it up before Morris. - -The man stared at it with lack-luster eyes, scratching his unshaven -chin; then he shook his head slowly. - -"Never," he declared. "No, I am positive I never saw a figure like -that before." - -"Then, secondly," continued Gatton, "was your master ever in Egypt?" - -"Not that I am aware of; certainly not since I have been with him--six -years on the thirty-first of this month." - -"Ah," said Gatton. "Now, when did you last see Sir Marcus?" - -"At half-past six last night, sir. He was dining at his club and then -going to the New Avenue Theater. I booked a seat for him myself." - -"He was going alone, then?" - -"Yes." - -Gatton glanced at me significantly and I experienced an uncomfortable -thrill. In the inspector's glance I had read that he suspected the -presence of a woman in the case and at the mention of the New Avenue -Theater it had instantly occurred to me that Isobel Merlin was -appearing there! Gatton turned again to Morris. - -"Sir Marcus had not led you to suppose that there was any likelihood -of his _not_ returning last night?" - -"No, sir; that was why, knowing his regular custom, I became so -alarmed when he failed to come back or to 'phone." - -Gatton stared hard at the speaker and: - -"It will be no breach of confidence on your part," he said, speaking -slowly and deliberately, "for you to answer my next question. The best -service you can do your late master now will be to help us to -apprehend his murderer." - -He paused a moment, then: - -"Was Sir Marcus interested in some one engaged at the New Avenue -Theater?" he asked. - -Morris glanced from face to face in a pathetic, troubled fashion. He -rubbed the stubble on his chin again and hesitated. Finally: - -"I believe," he replied, "that there was a lady there who--" - -He paused, swallowing, and: - -"Yes," Gatton prompted, "who--?" - -"Who--interested Sir Marcus; but I don't know her name nor anything -about her," he declared. "I knew about--some of the others, but Sir -Marcus was--very reserved about this lady, which made me think--" - -"Yes?" - -"That he perhaps hadn't been so successful." - -Morris ceased speaking and sat staring at a bookcase vacantly. - -"Ah," murmured Gatton. Then, abruptly: "Did Sir Marcus ever visit any -one who lived in College Road?" he demanded. - -Morris looked up wearily. - -"College Road?" he repeated. "Where is that, sir?" - -"It doesn't matter," said Gatton shortly, "if the name is unfamiliar -to you. Had Sir Marcus a car?" - -"Not latterly, sir." - -"Any other servants?" - -"No. As a bachelor he had no use for a large establishment, and -Friars' Park remains in the possession of the late Sir Burnham's -widow." - -"Sir Burnham? Sir Marcus's uncle?" - -"Yes." - -"What living relatives had Sir Marcus?" - -"His aunt--Lady Burnham Coverly--with whom I believe he was on bad -terms. Her own son, who ought to have inherited the title, was dead, -you see. I think she felt bitterly towards my master. The only other -relative I ever heard of was Mr. Eric--Sir Marcus's second cousin--now -_Sir_ Eric, of course." - -I turned aside, glancing at some books which lay scattered on the -table. The wound was a new one and I suppose I was not man enough to -hide the pain which mention of Eric Coverly still occasioned me. - -"Were the cousins good friends?" continued the even, remorseless voice -of the inquisitor. - -Morris looked up quickly. - -"They were not, sir," he answered. "They never had been. But some few -months back a fresh quarrel arose and one night in this very room it -almost came to blows." - -"Indeed? What was the quarrel about?" - -The old hesitancy claimed Morris again, but at last: - -"Of course," he said, with visible embarrassment, "it was--a woman." - -I felt my heart leaping wildly, but I managed to preserve an outward -show of composure. - -"What woman?" demanded Gatton. - -"I don't know, sir." - -"Do you mean it?" - -A fierce note of challenge had come into the quiet voice, but Morris -looked up and met Gatton's searching stare unflinchingly. - -"I swear it," he said. "I never was an eavesdropper." - -"I suggest it was the same woman that Sir Marcus went to see last -night?" Gatton continued. - -The examination of Morris had reached a point at which I found myself -hard put to it to retain even a seeming of composure. All Gatton's -questions had been leading up to this suggestion, as I now perceived -clearly enough; and from the cousins' quarrel to Isobel, Eric's -_fiancee_, who was engaged at the New Avenue Theater, was an -inevitable step. But: - -"Possibly, sir," was Morris's only answer. - -Inspector Gatton stared hard at the man for a moment or so, then: - -"Very well," he said. "Take my advice and turn in. There will be much -for you to do presently, I am afraid. Who was Sir Marcus's solicitor?" - -Morris gave the desired information in a tired, toneless voice, and we -departed. Little did Gatton realize that his words were barbed, when, -as we descended to the street, he said: - -"I have a call to make at Scotland Yard next, after which my first -visit will be to the stage-doorkeeper of the New Avenue Theater." - -"Can I be of further assistance to you at the moment?" I asked, -endeavoring to speak casually. - -"Thanks, no. But I should welcome your company this afternoon at my -examination of the Red House. I understand that it is in your -neighborhood, so perhaps as you are also professionally interested in -the case, you might arrange to meet me there. Are you returning home -now or going to the _Planet_ office?" - -"I think to the office," I replied. "In any event 'phone there making -an appointment and I will meet you at the Red House." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -ISOBEL - - -Ten minutes later I was standing in a charming little boudoir which -too often figured in my daydreams. My own photograph was upon the -mantelpiece, and in Isobel's dark eyes when she greeted me there was a -light which I lacked the courage to try to understand. I had not at -that time learned what I learned later, and have already indicated, -that my own foolish silence had wounded Isobel as deeply as her -subsequent engagement to Eric Coverly had wounded me. - -The psychology of a woman is intriguing in its very naivete, and now -as she stood before me, slim and graceful in her well-cut walking -costume, a quick flicker of red flaming in her cheeks and her eyes -alight with that sweet tantalizing look in which expectation and a hot -pride were mingled, I wondered and felt sick at heart. Desirable she -was beyond any other woman I had known, and I called myself witling -coward, to have avoided putting my fortune to the test on that fatal -day of my departure for Mesopotamia. For just as she looked at me now -she had looked at me then. But to-day she was evidently on the point -of setting out--I did not doubt with the purpose of meeting Eric -Coverly; on that day of the irrevocable past she had been free and I -had been silent. - -"You nearly missed me, Jack," she said gayly. "I was just going out." - -By the very good-fellowship of her greeting she restored me to myself -and enabled me to stamp down--at least temporarily--the monster -through whose greedy eyes I had found myself considering the happiness -of Eric Coverly. - -"I am afraid, Isobel," I replied, "that what I have to tell you is not -by any means pleasant--although--" - -"Yes?" she prompted, noting how I hesitated. - -"Although it means that you are now the future Lady Coverly." - -The bright color left her cheeks. That some black tragedy underlay my -words she had intuitively perceived, but I could see that she failed -to grasp the whole meaning of my bald statement. She sank down slowly -into a cushioned chair, so that a beam of golden light pouring in -through the opened window set aglowing the russet tints in her dark -brown hair. - -"Did you know Sir Marcus?" I asked, speaking as gently as I could. - -With what intense, if hidden, emotion I awaited her answer it were -impossible to describe. - -"Do you mean--" - -She met my glance, and I nodded gravely. - -"Oh, Jack! When did it happen?" - -"Last night. But you have not told me if you knew him?" I persisted. - -Isobel shook her head. - -"Not in any way--intimately," she replied. "Eric"--she hesitated, -glancing up quickly and as quickly down again--"and he were not on -good terms." - -"But you had met him?" I persisted; for I had detected in her manner a -reluctance to discuss Sir Marcus which I failed to understand. - -"I used to meet him, Jack, when--when you were away. He came once or -twice with Eric. They were not good friends, even then. But I never -liked him. I quite lost sight of him from the time that he came into -the title--about four years ago, was it not?--until quite recently. He -had been in Russia, I think. Then he--" Again she hesitated. It was -odd how often people hesitated, as if seeking for words, when speaking -of the late baronet. "He called at the theater. Considering that he -knew of my engagement to Eric, his manner was not quite nice. But I -was anxious to prevent trouble, and did not mention the visit to Eric. -Sir Marcus was very persistent, however. One night Eric saw him -leaving the stage-door and I believe there was a dreadful scene at -Eric's rooms." - -"And that is all you know of him, Isobel?" - -"Practically all, except what I have heard, of course. I might add -that I instructed Marie to tell Sir Marcus I was engaged whenever he -might call in future." - -"And did he call again?" - -"Marie said that he sent his card up on several occasions, but she -knew how the affair worried me and did not tell me at the time. I saw -him in the stalls occasionally, and--oh!--" - -The last word was a mere murmur. Isobel's expression grew more than -ever troubled. - -"He was there last night," she whispered, and raising her eyes to me: -"Tell me how it happened, and where--" - -But ere I had time to begin there was an interruption. Dimly, a -telephone bell rang. I could hear the voice of Marie, Isobel's maid, -answering the call then: - -"Mr. Coverly to speak to you, madam," said Marie, entering the room. - -"He must have only just heard the news!" cried Isobel, rising swiftly -and going out. - -Consumed by impatience, I walked up and down the dainty apartment -listening to Isobel's muffled voice speaking in the lobby. Twice I -went to the window and peered down into the street, expecting to see -the thick-set figure of Inspector Gatton approaching. My frame of mind -was peculiar and troubled. Gatton's inquiries pointed unmistakably to -a suspicion that Sir Marcus's last hours had been spent, if not -actually with, at any rate near to Isobel. And since the man who would -most directly profit by the baronet's death happened also to be -Isobel's _fiance_, I foresaw a dreadful ordeal for both if Eric -Coverly was not in a position to establish an alibi. - -I had been about to ask her if Coverly had been in her company on the -previous night when the interruption had occurred. Now if Gatton -should arrive and find me in Isobel's flat, what construction would he -put upon my presence? - -Yet again I went to the window and peered anxiously up and down the -street. Every cab that approached I expected to contain the inspector, -and I heaved a sigh of relief as one after another passed the door. -Pedestrians who turned the distant corner I scrutinized closely and -was so employed when Isobel came running back to the room. - -All her color had fled and her eyes were wide and fear-stricken. - -"Oh, Jack, Jack!" she cried, "it is horrible, horrible! Eric is at his -solicitors' and they tell him that suspicion is bound to fall on -_him_! It's preposterous--unthinkable. It must have been some fiend -who committed such a crime, not a human being--" - -"Then," I interrupted excitedly, "Coverly was not with you last -night?" - -"No! That is the crowning tragedy of it all. He 'phoned me early in -the evening saying that he had an unavoidable business appointment to -keep. From the tone of his voice--" - -She ceased speaking abruptly, and stared at me rather wildly. - -"Isobel," I said, "you should surely know that you can trust your life -to me--and the life of any one dear to you." - -She quickly laid her hand on my arm and her face flushed sweetly. I -fear I had infused my words with an ardor which exhibited at an -earlier and more opportune moment might have changed the course of -both our lives. - -"Of course I know, Jack," she said. "But I am so frightened that I -distrust my very self. Well, then, I thought that I noticed a change -in Eric's manner last night--in the tone of his voice. In fact I asked -him if I had done anything of which he had disapproved." She gave me a -quick little embarrassed glance. "He is somewhat exacting, you know. -He laughed at the idea, but in rather a forced way, it seemed. Then he -arranged to meet me for lunch at the Carlton to-day." - -"But surely he can satisfactorily account for his movements? He must -have been seen by those who know him." - -Isobel frowned in a troubled manner that awakened strange, wild -longings. - -"I cannot make it out," she replied. "He appears to be keeping -something back." - -"He is very ill-advised. He will certainly have to make up his mind to -speak out when Inspector Gatton examines him. I cannot disguise from -you, Isobel, that the police know that Sir Marcus was at the New -Avenue last night, and since his death occurred some hours later the -nature of their suspicion is obvious enough. Are you joining him at -the solicitors', Isobel?" - -"Yes, he asked me to do so." - -"Then come along at once. I expect a Scotland Yard man to arrive at -any moment and it would be advisable to see Coverly and to take a -legal opinion before you give your testimony." - -"But, Jack!" Isobel confronted me. "You don't think that I or Eric -have anything to hide?" - -"Certainly not. You must know that I do not think so. But on the other -hand, the legal mind being used to considering problems of evidence, a -solicitor will be able to advise you of the best course to adopt, and -that most likely to result in your being spared all association with -the inquiry. Meanwhile--let us hurry. I prefer to give Inspector -Gatton my own account of this visit rather than to be discovered here -by him. He will learn from Marie that I have called, of course, but -that doesn't matter." - -We had now quitted the flat and were descending the stairs. On -reaching the street I glanced sharply to right and left. But Gatton -was not in sight. - -I secured a taxi at the corner and Isobel set out for the office of -Coverly's solicitor. I stood looking after the cab until it was out of -sight and then I set out to walk to the _Planet_ office. By the time -that I had reached Fleet Street I had my ideas in some sort of order -and I sat down to write the first of my articles on the "_Oritoga_ -mystery"--for under that title the murder of Sir Marcus Coverly was -destined to figure as the _cause celebre_ of the moment. I had more -than one reason for reticence and indeed I experienced no little -difficulty in preparing the requisite amount of copy without involving -Isobel and Eric Coverly. Half-way through my task I paused, laid down -my pen, and was on the point of tearing up the pages already written -and declining the commission at the eleventh hour. - -A few minutes' reflection, however, enabled me to see that the best -service I could offer to the suspected man (always assuming that he -had no alibi to offer) was that of representing the facts as I saw -them to the vast public reached by this influential journal. In my own -mind I had never entertained a shadow of suspicion that Coverly was -the culprit. Underlying the horrible case I thought I could perceive -even darker things--a mystery within a mystery; a horror overtopping -horror. - -I had just resumed work, then, when a boy came in to inform me that -Gatton had rung up and wished to speak to me. - -Half fearful of what I should hear, I went to the adjoining room and -took up the receiver. Presently: - -"Hullo! Is that Mr. Addison?" came Gatton's voice. - -"Yes, speaking. What developments, Gatton?" - -"Several. I've got the report of the estate-agent and I've seen the -stage-doorkeeper of the New Avenue! You mustn't write anything until I -see you, but in order to regularize things a bit I've spoken to the -Chief and formally asked his permission to consult you on the -case--about the Egyptian figures, you know. He remembered you at once, -so it's all square. But I've got a bone to pick with you." - -"What is that?" - -"Never mind now. Can you meet me at the Red House at five o'clock?" - -"Yes. I will be there." - -"Good. I don't hope for much. It's the strangest case I ever touched. -We are dealing with unusual people, not ordinary criminals." - -"I agree." - -"If there is any man in London who can see daylight through the -mystery I believe you are the man. Do you know on what I think the -whole thing turns?" - -"On some undiscovered incident in Sir Marcus's past, beyond a doubt. -Probably an amorous adventure." - -"You're wrong," said Gatton grimly. "It turns on the figure of the -green cat. Good-by. Five o'clock." - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER - - -I arrived at the Red House before Inspector Gatton. A constable was on -duty at the gate and as I came up and paused he regarded me rather -doubtfully until I told him that I had an appointment with Gatton. I -stared up the drive towards the house. It was not, apparently, a very -old building, presenting some of the worst features of the -mid-Victorian period, and from whence it derived its name I could not -conjecture unless from the fact that the greater part of the facade -was overgrown with some kind of red creeper. - -The half-moon formed by the crescent-shaped carriage-way and the wall -bordering the road was filled with rather unkempt shrubbery, laurels -and rhododendrons for the most part, from amid which arose several big -trees. In the blaze of the afternoon sun the place looked commonplace -enough with estate agents' bills pasted in the dirty windows, and it -was difficult to conceive that it had been the scene of the mysterious -crime of which at that hour all London was talking and which later was -to form a subject of debate throughout the civilized world. - -Gatton joined me within a few minutes of my arrival. He was -accompanied by Constable Bolton with whom I had first visited the Red -House. Bolton was now in plain clothes, and he had that -fish-out-of-water appearance which characterizes the constable in -mufti. Indeed he looked rather dazed, and on arriving before the house -he removed his bowler and mopped his red face with a large -handkerchief, nodding to me as he did so. - -"Good afternoon, sir; it was lucky you came along with me last night. -I thought it was a funny go and I was right, it seems." - -"Quite right," said Gatton shortly, "and now here are the keys which -you returned to the depot this morning." - -From his pocket the Inspector produced a steel ring bearing a large -and a small key which I recognized as that which had hung from the -lock of the garage door on the previous night. - -We walked along to the garage and Inspector Gatton placed the key in -the lock; then turning to Bolton: - -"Now," he directed, "show us exactly what you did." - -Bolton replaced his bowler, which hitherto he had carried in his hand, -hesitated for a moment, and then unlocked the door. - -"Of course I had my lantern with me last night," he explained, "and -this gentleman and myself stood looking in for a moment." - -"Mr. Addison has already described to me exactly what he saw," said -Gatton. "Show us what you did after Mr. Addison left you." - -Bolton, with a far-away look in his eyes betokening an effort of -retrospection, withdrew the key from the lock and entered the garage, -Gatton and I following. There was a sky window to light the place, so -that when Bolton reclosed the door we could see well enough. His -movements were as follows: Relocking the door from the inside, he -walked slowly along to a smaller door at the opposite end and with the -other key attached to the ring unfastened it. - -"Wait a moment," said Gatton. "Did you look about you at all before -opening this door?" - -"Only long enough to find where it was, sir. Just about as long as I -showed you." - -"All right. Go on, then." - -We followed Bolton out into a very narrow hedge-bordered path, -evidently a tradesman's entrance, and he turned and locked the door -behind him. Slipping the keys into his pocket, he tramped stolidly out -to the main road whereon we emerged immediately beside the garage. - -"Ah," murmured Gatton. "Now give me the keys," and as the man did so: -"Throughout all this time did you see or hear anything of an unusual -nature?" - -Bolton removed his bowler once more. I had gathered by this time that -he regarded fresh air as an aid to reflection. - -"Well, sir," he replied in a puzzled way, "that first door--" - -"Well," said Gatton, as the man hesitated. - -"It seemed to open more easily just now than it did last night. There -seemed to be a sort of hitch before when it was about half-way open." - -"Perhaps the crate was in the way?" suggested Gatton. "Except for the -absence of the crate do you notice anything different, anything -missing, or anything there now that was not there before?" - -Bolton shook his head. - -"No," he answered; "it looks just the same to me--except, as I say, -that the door seemed to open more easily." - -"H'm," muttered Gatton; "and you carried the keys in your pocket until -you went off duty?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"All right. You can go now." - -Bolton touched his bowler and departed, and Gatton turned to me with a -grim smile. - -"We'll just step inside again," he said, "so as not to attract any -undue attention." - -He again unlocked the garage door and closed it as we entered. - -"Now," said he, "before we go any further what was your idea in -keeping back the fact that one of the missing links in the chain of -evidence was already in your possession?" - -"No doubt," I said rather guiltily, "you refer to the fact of my -acquaintance with Miss Isobel Merlin?" - -"I do!" said Gatton, "and to the fact that you nipped in ahead of me -and interviewed this important witness before I had even heard of her -existence." He continued to smile, but the thoroughness and -unflinching pursuit of duty which were the outstanding features of -the man, underlay his tone of badinage. "I want to say," he continued, -"that for your cooperation, which has been very useful to me on many -occasions, I am always grateful, but if in return I give you -facilities which no other pressman has, I don't expect you to abuse -them." - -"Really, Inspector," I replied, "you go almost too far. I have done -nothing to prejudice your case nor could I possibly have known until -my interview this morning with Miss Merlin, that it was she in whom -the late Sir Marcus was interested." - -"H'm," said Gatton, but still rather dubiously, his frank, wide-open -eyes regarding me in that naive manner which was so deceptive. - -"All that I learned," I continued, "is unequivocally at your disposal. -Finally I may tell you--and I would confess it to few men--that Miss -Merlin is a very old friend and might have been something more if I -had not been a fool." - -"Oh!" said Gatton, and his expression underwent a subtle change--"Oh! -That's rather awkward; in fact"--he frowned perplexedly--"it's damned -awkward!" - -"What do you mean?" I demanded. - -"Well," said he, "I don't know what account Miss Merlin gave to you of -her relations with Sir Marcus--" - -"Relations!" I said hotly, "the man was a mere acquaintance; she -hadn't even seen him, except from the stage, for some months past." - -"Oh," replied Gatton, "is that so?" He looked at me very queerly. "It -doesn't seem to dovetail with the evidence of the stage-doorkeeper." - -I felt myself changing color, and: - -"What, then, does the stage-doorkeeper assert?" I asked. - -Gatton continued to look at me in that perplexed way, and believing -that I detected the trend of his reflections: - -"Look here, Inspector," I said, "let us understand one another. -Whatever may be the evidence of stage-doorkeepers and others, upon one -point you can be assured. Miss Merlin had nothing whatever to do with -this horrible crime. The idea is unthinkable. So confident am I of -this, that you can be perfectly open with me and I give you my word of -honor that I shall be equally frank with you. The truth of the matter -cannot possibly injure her in the end and I am as anxious to discover -it as you are." - -Gatton suddenly extended his hand, and: - -"Good!" he said. "We understand one another, but how is Miss Merlin -going to explain this?" - -He drew a note-book from his pocket, turned over several leaves, and -then: - -"On no fewer than six occasions," he said, "I have approximate dates -here, Sir Marcus sent his card to Miss Merlin's dressing-room." - -"I know," I interrupted him; "he persecuted her, but she never saw -him." - -"Wait a minute. Last night"--Gatton glanced at me sharply--"Marie, -the maid, came down after Sir Marcus's card had been sent to the -dressing-room and talked for several minutes to the late baronet, just -by the doorkeeper's box, but out of earshot. That was at ten o'clock. -At eleven, that is after the performance, Sir Marcus returned, and -again Marie came down to see him. They went out into the street -together and Sir Marcus entered a cab which was waiting and drove off. -Miss Merlin left a quarter of an hour later." - -Our glances met and a silence of some moments' duration fell between -us; then: - -"You suggest," I said, "that Miss Merlin had arranged a rendezvous -with him and to save appearances had joined him there later?" - -"Well"--Gatton raised his eyebrows--"what do _you_ suggest?" - -I found myself temporarily at a loss for words, but: - -"Knowing nothing of this," I explained, "naturally I was not in a -position to tax Miss Merlin with it. Possibly you have done so. What -is her explanation?" - -"I have not seen her," confessed Gatton; "I arrived at her flat ten -minutes after she had gone out--with you." - -"You saw Marie?" - -"Unfortunately Marie was also out, but I saw an old charwoman who -attends daily, I understand, and it was from her that I learned of -your visit." - -"Marie," I said, "may be able to throw some light on the matter." - -"I don't doubt it!" replied Gatton grimly. "Meanwhile we have -sufficient evidence to show that Sir Marcus drove from the New Avenue -Theater to this house." - -"He may not have driven here at all," I interrupted; "he may have -driven somewhere else and performed the latter part of his journey -here--" - -"In the crate!" cried Gatton. "Yes, you are right; his body may -actually have been inside the crate at the time that you and Bolton -arrived here last night; for that would be fully an hour after Sir -Marcus left the stage-door." - -"But who can have rung up the police station last night?" I cried, -"and what can have been the object of this unknown person?" - -"That we have to find out," said Gatton quietly; "undoubtedly it -formed part of a scheme planned with extraordinary cunning; it was not -an accident or an oversight, I mean. The men who are assisting me -haven't been idle, for we have already learned some most amazing facts -about the case. I haven't yet visited the house myself, but I have -here the report of one of my assistants who has done so; also I have -the keys. The garage I will inspect more carefully later on." - -He glanced quickly about the place before we left it, then, leaving -the door locked behind us, we walked along to the gate before which -the constable stood on duty, and from thence proceeded up the drive to -the front entrance. There was a deep porch supported by pillars and -densely overgrown with creeper. I noted, too, a heavy and unhealthy -odor as of decaying leaves, and observed that a perfect carpet of -these lay on the path. In the shade of the big trees it was -comparatively cool, but the heavy malarious smell did not please me -and I imagined that it must have repelled more than one would-be -lessee. - -As we approached the porch I saw that the windows of the rooms -immediately left and right of it had been stripped of the agent's -bills, for I could see where fragments of paper still adhered to the -glass. There were no bills in the porch either; but when Gatton opened -the front door I uttered an exclamation of surprise. - -We stood in a small lounge-hall. There was a staircase on the left and -three doors opened on to the hall. But although the Red House was -palpably unoccupied, the hall was furnished! There were some rugs upon -the polished floor, a heavy bronze club-fender in front of the grate, -several chairs against the walls and a large palm in a Chinese pot. - -"Why," I exclaimed, "the place is furnished and the stairs are -carpeted too!" - -"Yes," said Gatton, looking keenly about him, "but according to report -if you will step upstairs you will get a surprise." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Well, suppose we go and see." - -Gatton led the way and I followed up the stairs as far as the first -landing. Here I paused in amazement. For at this point all attempts at -furnishing ceased. The landing was quite bare and so were the stairs -above it! Seeing my expression of incredulous surprise: - -"Yes," said Gatton, smiling, "it's a strange arrangement, isn't it?" - -We descended again to the furnished hall. - -"Look here," continued my companion. - -He unlocked a door on the left, having tried several keys from the -bunch which he carried without success, but finally discovering the -right one. - -A long rectangular room was revealed, evidently intended for a -dining-room. It was empty and unfurnished, odds and ends of newspaper -and other rubbish lying here and there upon the floor. My astonishment -was momentarily increasing. A second door, that in the center, Gatton -opened, revealing another empty room, but: - -"I have reserved this one for the last," he said: "you will find that -it is unlocked." - -He pointed to the third door, that on the right, and as he evidently -intended me to open it, I stepped forward, turned the handle and -entered a small square room, exquisitely furnished. - -A heavy Persian carpet was spread upon the floor and the windows were -draped with some kind of brightly colored Madras. Tastefully-framed -water-colors hung upon the wall. There was a quaint cabinet in the -room, too; a low cushioned settee and two armchairs. In the center was -a table upon which stood a lamp with a large mosaic shade. Two -high-backed chairs were set to the table--and the table was laid for -supper! A bottle of wine stood in an ice-pail, in which the ice had -long since melted, and a tempting cold repast was spread. The table -was decorated with a bowl of perfect white roses. The silver was good; -the napery was snowy. - -Like a fool I stood gaping at the spectacle, until, noting the -direction of Gatton's glance, I turned my attention to the mantelpiece -upon which a clock was ticking with a dull and solemn note. - -Standing beside the clock, in a curious carved frame, was a large -photograph of Isobel! - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE VOICE - - -"This is where the mystery centers," said Gatton. - -I made no reply, for I had not yet recovered from the shock of that -discovery in the deserted supper room. It was so wholly unexpected and -yet it so cruelly confirmed the Inspector's undisguised suspicions -that it seemed to me to have created a sort of impalpable barrier -between us. Of this Gatton was evidently conscious. He endeavored to -arouse my interest in the inquiries which he was conducting in the -garage, but for long enough I saw nothing of the place in which we -stood; I could only see that photograph smiling at me inquiringly -through a haze of doubt, and my companion's words reached me in a -muffled fashion. Finally, however, I succeeded in rousing myself from -this dazed condition, and confident as ever that Isobel was innocent -of all complicity in the matter: - -"The presence of the photograph," I said, "takes us a step further. -Don't you see, Inspector, that this is a deeply and cunningly laid -trap? What I had taken for a series of unfortunate coincidences I -perceive now to be the workings of an elaborate scheme involving -perfectly innocent people in the crime." - -"H'm," said Gatton doubtfully; "it may be as you suggest; at any rate -it is a new point of view and one which I confess had not occurred to -me. There is one witness who can clear up any doubt on the subject." - -"You mean Marie?" - -"Exactly. She will lie, beyond doubt, but we shall find means to reach -the truth." - -"Would it not be advisable, Inspector," I asked excitedly, "to make -sure of her at once?" - -Gatton smiled grimly, and: - -"Marie would have to make herself invisible to evade Scotland Yard -now," he replied. "She is being watched closely. But," he continued, -"what do you make of these marks on the door?" - -We had reclosed the garage door and now were standing immediately -inside. The marks to which my companion had drawn my attention were -situated high up near the roof. - -"This may account for the statement of Bolton that the door seemed -more difficult to open last night than to-day," he said. "Unless I am -greatly mistaken, some sort of attachment existed here until quite -recently." - -"Possibly a contrivance for reclosing the door?" I suggested. - -The marks in fact roughly corresponded to those which would be made by -the presence of such a contrivance and there seemed to have been some -attempt where it had been removed to disguise the holes left by the -screws. - -"But the purpose of it?" muttered Gatton helplessly. - -"God knows," I said; "the purpose of the whole thing is a mystery -beyond me entirely." - -"Assuming that such a piece of mechanism as you suggest had been -attached to the door," mused Gatton, "you would have noticed its -operation last night, unless one of you held the door open." - -"Neither of us held the door!" I interrupted excitedly. "I remember -that we stood just outside looking in. I was behind the constable and -he was directing the rays of his lantern into the place." - -"H'm," muttered Gatton. "Then it wasn't a contrivance for closing the -door; it was something else. Suppose we investigate the other door?" - -We proceeded to the other door and I became aware of an intense -curiosity respecting what we should find, and of a conviction too that -there would be evidence here of another attachment. In this I was -quite correct. Some piece of mechanism had evidently been fastened to -this door also. Together we stood staring up at these tell-tale -screw-holes and then rather blankly we stared at one another. - -"We only lack one thing," said Gatton; "the scheme upon which all -these contrivances and apparently isolated episodes were hung -together. Nothing, as we have already assumed, was accident, and -nothing coincidence. It was with some deliberate purpose that the -constable was instructed to walk through this garage, opening and -shutting the doors behind him." - -"From whom did these instructions come?" - -"That is one of the minor points which I have already cleared up," he -replied. "On my way here I called at the house agent's, as you know, -since I have the keys; I also called at the station. The sergeant who -was on duty last night I could not see, unfortunately, but I -learned--that it was a woman who rang up." - -My heart sank lower and lower. It seemed to me as we stood in that -empty garage that an invisible hand was drawing a net closer and -closer about Isobel and my ideas became increasingly chaotic, for the -purpose of it all eluded me, try how I would to conceive of a scheme -by which any one could profit which necessitated the imprisonment, or -worse, of Isobel. - -"And the agent?" I asked in a rather toneless voice. - -Gatton shook his head. - -"I have no reason to doubt the word of this man of business," he -replied, "because at the time when I saw him he could not possibly -have learned of the crime, but nevertheless his account is almost -unbelievable. It appears then, he, too, received his instructions -throughout by telephone." - -"What?" I exclaimed. - -"By telephone," repeated Gatton. "He was rung up about ten days ago by -some one who made a verbal offer to lease the Red House for a period -of twelve months. A foreigner, who in lieu of the usual references, -was prepared to pay the annual rent in advance. As the Red House, to -use an Irishism, was regarded as something of a white elephant, the -agent was interested, apparently; and when on the following day the -sum agreed upon arrived by post, he did not demur about delivering the -keys to the prospective lessee, who desired to take certain -measurements in regard to carpets and so forth." - -"Wait a moment," I interrupted; "to whom did he deliver these keys?" - -"To a district messenger who called for them, as the agent had been -advised that one would do." - -"Very well. What then?" - -"That is all that the agent had to say." - -"What, that is all?" - -"Substantially there is nothing more. It is quite evident that the -sole intention of this unknown lessee was to secure possession of the -house for the purpose of the crime only." - -"Do you mean that from first to last no one but the district messenger -appeared in the matter?" - -"No one," Gatton assured me, "and the rent, payment of which quite -disarmed the agent of course, was sent in the form of Treasury notes -and not by check." - -"But surely some name, some address, must have been given?" - -"A name was given," replied Gatton, "and a hotel address, but -confirmation of their accuracy was never sought, after the receipt of -the money." - -"And the voice on the telephone?" - -Again I saw that odd expression creep over Gatton's face, and: - -"It was a woman's voice," he answered. - -"Great heavens!" I muttered--"what does it all mean?" - -That the evidence of the cabman when he was discovered and of the -carter who had taken the box from the garage to the docks, and (for it -was possibly the same man) who had first delivered it at the Red -House, would but tighten the net about Isobel, whom I knew to be -innocent, I felt assured. - -"Gatton," I said, "this case appears to me to resolve itself into a -deliberate conspiracy of which the end was not the assassination of -Sir Marcus, but the conviction of Miss Merlin!" - -Gatton looked at me with evident complexity written all over him. - -"I begin to think the same," he confessed. "This business was never -planned and carried out by a woman, I'll swear to that. There is a -woman concerned in it, for at every point we come upon evidence of her -voice issuing the mysterious instructions; but she is not alone in the -matter. Already the intricacy of the thing points to a criminal of -genius. When we know the whole truth, if we ever do, that the crime -was planned by a man of amazing, if perverted, intellect, will be put -beyond dispute, I think." - -"What is puzzling me, Gatton," I said, "is the connection existing -between the incidents which took place in this garage and those, -unknown at present, which took place in the furnished room in the Red -House." - -"Obviously," replied Gatton, "a supper for two had been prepared, and -that one of those two was the late Sir Marcus is perfectly obvious. -That he expected the other to be Miss Merlin is at least suggested by -the presence of her photograph in the room; for you will have noticed -that it is the _only_ photograph there." - -"Nevertheless," I said firmly, "I am positive that no one would be -more surprised than herself to learn of its presence." - -"And as I have already said," replied Gatton, "I am rapidly coming -round to your way of thinking. But even if I were quite sure of it the -evidence at the moment is all the other way, you will admit. As to the -connection between this garage and the interrupted supper party (for -obviously it was interrupted) this it must be my business to find -out." - -"Don't you think," I said, "that we are attaching perhaps undue -importance to the fact that some kind of fittings have been removed -from the doors? They may have been removed by the late occupier, and -the call to the police depot may have been made with the idea of -securing a witness, and a credible one, to the presence of the crate -here on the night of the murder." - -"At the moment," replied Gatton, musingly, "I cannot see that this -would have served any useful purpose; but nevertheless you may be -right. I am going to assume, however, that you are wrong, and that the -object of sending Bolton here last night was to open and shut these -doors. I propose now to return again to the scene of the interrupted -supper." - -Leaving the garage not very much wiser than when we had entered it, -we paced once more up the drive in the shade of the big trees and -were greeted again by the malarious smell of rotting leaves. Entering -the Red House, Gatton and I proceeded first to that incredible oasis -in the desert of empty rooms and my companion made a detailed -examination of everything in the place, even sounding the walls, -examining the fittings of the door, and finally proceeding through the -hall in the direction of the south wing of the house--that nearest to -the garage. - -What he expected to find I had no idea, but his attention seemed to be -more particularly directed towards the wainscot and the picture-rails -of the empty and uncarpeted rooms which we entered. Whatever he had -sought he failed to find, and at last we stood in a desolate apartment -looking out into the tangled shrubbery before the windows. The back of -the garage was visible from there and I viewed it dully, wondering -what evil secret it held, and marveling at the trick of fate which had -made me witness of an act in this gruesome drama. - -"Of course, Gatton," I said, "we are all along assuming that Sir -Marcus actually met his death in this house. We must remember that he -may merely have been brought here after the crime." - -"Such a short period elapsed," replied the Inspector, "between his -leaving the New Avenue Theater and the approximate time of his death -that it seems unlikely that he visited any intermediate spot." - -"But he may not have been in the crate when Bolton and I saw it." - -"I don't believe he was in the crate then," replied Gatton, "but I -think he was at the Red House nevertheless." - -I stared at him with curiosity. - -"You mean that he was in the house at the time that the constable and -I opened the garage?" - -"I do. I think he was in that room where supper was laid for two." - -"Good God!" I exclaimed; for there was something horrible in the idea -of the man who now lay murdered having been in the house presumably -alive, whilst Bolton and I had stood within forty yards of him; in the -idea that it had lain in our power, except for those human limitations -which rendered us ignorant of his presence, to have averted his fate, -perhaps to have checked the remorseless movement of this elaborate -murder machine which seemingly had been set up in the Red House. - -"Some one was here last night," declared Gatton suddenly, as we turned -to leave the deserted room, "after you and Bolton had gone. Everything -incriminating the assassin has been removed. Looking at the matter -judicially, it becomes quite evident that any one clever enough to -have planned this crime could not possibly have been guilty of an act -of such glaring stupidity as that of accidentally leaving a photograph -planted upon the mantelpiece." - -That this fact had presented itself to the Inspector with such a force -of conviction raised a great load from my mind. It had all along been -evident to me, but I had feared that to the official outlook of my -companion, and the official outlook is always peculiar, it might have -seemed otherwise. - -"The clever and cunning villain who planned this thing," I said, "has -overstepped himself, as you say, Gatton. If the murder was planned -artistically, in his attempt to throw the onus of the crime upon -innocent shoulders he has been guilty of a piece of very mediocre -work. It would not deceive a child." - -"No, I agree with you there. The discovery of that photograph has done -more to convince me of the innocence of Miss Merlin than any amount of -testimonials to her good character could ever have done. You see," he -added, smiling whimsically, "all sorts of people hitherto unsuspected -by their closest friends of criminal tendency, develop that taint, so -that I am never surprised to find a convicted thief or assassin -possessed of credentials which would do justice to an Archbishop. But -when I see an obviously artificial clew I recognize it a mile off. -Real clews never stare you in the face like that." - -Coming out of the front door, we walked down the leaf-strewn drive to -find that the constable on duty at the gate had been joined by a -plain-clothes man who was evidently waiting to speak to the Inspector. - -"Yes?" said Gatton eagerly, at sight of the newcomer. - -"We have her, sir," he reported tersely. - -"Does he refer to Marie?" I asked. - -Gatton nodded. - -"I think, Mr. Addison," he said, "I will proceed immediately to Bow -Street, where she has been taken to be interrogated. Will you come -with me or are you otherwise engaged?" - -I hesitated ere I replied: - -"I do not particularly want to confront this woman, but I should be -much indebted if you could let me know the result of your -examination." - -"I shall do that without fail," said Gatton, "and some time to-day I -should be obliged if you could provide me with the facts concerning -the little cat-images which you said you had in your possession." - -"Certainly," I agreed. "You are still of the opinion that the mark -upon the crate and the image of the cat-woman have an important -bearing upon the crime?" - -"I don't doubt it," was the reply. "If the photograph clew is a false -one, the cat clew is a true one and one to be followed up. Perhaps," -he added, "it would be as well if you returned now and looked out the -points which you think would be of interest, as when I come I may not -have long to stay." - -"I will do so," I said, "although I think I can lay my hands upon the -material almost immediately." - -Accordingly Gatton set off with the detective who had brought the news -of Marie's arrest and I, turning in the opposite direction, proceeded -towards my cottage in such a state of mental tumult respecting what -the end of all this would be and what it might mean for Isobel, that I -found myself unable to think connectedly; and needless to say I failed -to conjure up by any stretch of the imagination a theory which could -cover this amazing and terrible sequence of events. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE CAT OF BUBASTIS - - -"She belongs to the innumerable family of cats which suddenly came -forth from the ruins of Tell Bastah in 1878," I wrote, Sir Gaston -Maspero's "Egyptian Art" lying before me on the table, "and were in a -few years scattered over the whole world." - -"She is Bast, a goddess of good family, the worship of whom flourished -especially in the east of the delta, and she is very often drawn or -named on the monuments, although they do not tell us enough of her -myths or her origin. She was allied or related to the Sun, and was now -said to be his sister or wife, now his daughter. She sometimes filled -a gracious and beneficent role, protecting men against contagious -diseases or evil spirits, keeping them off by the music of her -sistrum: she had also her hours of treacherous perversity, during -which she played with her victim as with a mouse, before finishing him -off with a blow of her claws. She dwelt by preference in the city that -bore her name, Poubastit, the Bubastis of classical writers. Her -temple, at which Cheops and Chephren had worked while building their -pyramids, was rebuilt by the Pharaohs of the 22nd Dynasty, enlarged by -those of the 26th; when Herodotus visited it in the middle of the -fifth century B.C. he considered it one of the most remarkable he had -seen in the parts of Egypt through which he had traveled. - -"The fetes of Bast attracted pilgrims from all parts of Egypt, as at -the present day those of Sidi Ahmed el-Bedawee draw people to the -modern fair of Tantah. The people of each village crowded into large -boats to get there, men and women pell-mell, with the fixed intention -of enjoying themselves on the journey, a thing they never failed to -do. They accompanied the slow progress of navigation with endless -songs, love songs rather than sacred hymns, and there were also to be -found among them flute-players and castanet-players to support or keep -time to the voices. Whenever they passed by a town they approached the -bank as near as they could without landing, and then, while the -orchestra redoubled its noise, the passengers threw volleys of insults -and coarse remarks at the women standing on the banks; they retorted, -and when they had exhausted words ..." - -I finished my notes at this point; the improper behavior of the -Ancient Egyptians mentioned by the great Egyptologist having no -possible bearing upon the matter in hand, I thought. I then proceeded -to add some facts directly relating to the votive offerings laid at -the feet of the goddess. - -"The greater number of pilgrims, before returning home, left a -souvenir of their visit at the feet of Bast. It was a votive stele -with a fine inscription, and a picture showing the donor worshiping -his goddess; or a statuette in blue or green pottery, or if they were -wealthy, in bronze, silver, or sometimes gold: the goddess would be -standing, seated, crouching, with a woman's body and a cat's head, a -sistrum or an aegis in her hand. During the Greek period the figures -were in bronze or in painted or gilded wood surmounted by a cat's head -in bronze, many were life-size and modeled with elaborate art; they -had eyes of enamel and amulets on the forehead." - -The learned authority went on to explain that these accumulated -offerings were after a time stored by the priests in cellars or in -pits dug expressly for them, "veritable _favissae_ similar to those of -classical times." They accumulated in thousands, large and small, some -intact and fresh as when just made, others already out of shape and of -no value. The places of concealment were soon forgotten, and the -stores hidden therein reposed beyond the reach of men until the day -when the chances of excavation brought them to light. - -My notes completed, I turned my attention to the little image of green -enamel ware which Gatton had left with me for examination. It was not -possible to determine the period at which it was buried, but judging -from the contours and general forms, together with the aspect of the -enamel, I thought I recognized the style of the second Saite Period, -and attributed the piece to the early Ptolemies, or the fourth century -B.C. It was the time when the worship of Bast and her subordinate -forms, Pakh, Mait, was most popular, the period when the most -extensive cemetery of cats was established in Egypt. The execution of -the little figure was pure Egyptian, and in no way betrayed Greek -influence. - -So far had my studies proceeded when I heard the door-bell ring, and -Coates entered the room. - -"Detective-Inspector Gatton to see you, sir." - -Gatton came in looking if anything more puzzled than when I had left -him at the Red House; also I thought he looked tired, and: - -"Mix yourself a drink, Inspector," I said, pointing to a side-table -upon which refreshments were placed. - -"Thanks," replied Gatton. "I have not had time to stop for a drink or -even a smoke since I left you; but evidence is coming in quickly -enough now." - -He helped himself to a whisky and soda, being an old visitor and one -used to the Bohemian ways of my household; then setting his glass upon -a corner of my writing-table, he dropped into the armchair and began -in leisurely fashion to fill his pipe. - -Although the hour was growing late, sunset was still a long way off -and the prospect visible through the window was bathed in golden -light. From where I sat I could catch a glimpse of the tree-lined -road, and for the first time since that strange experience had -befallen me, I found myself wondering if the vaguely-perceived -follower whom I had detected on the previous night and those blazing -feline eyes which had looked out at me from beneath the shadow of the -hedge could have had any possible connection with the tragedy which at -about the same hour was being enacted in the Red House. I determined -presently to confide the strange particulars to my friend, but first I -was all anxiety to learn what evidence Marie had given; and that this -evidence, to which he had referred had done little more than to -increase Gatton's perplexity was clear enough from his expression. -Therefore: - -"Tell me about Marie," I said. - -Gatton smiled grimly, took a drink from his glass, and then: - -"She began of course as I had anticipated, by denying all knowledge of -the matter, but recognizing that she was in a tight corner, she -presently changed her tactics, and although every available plan was -tried to induce her to change her ground, she afterwards stuck to the -extraordinary story which we first extracted from her. Briefly it was -this: - -"The late Sir Marcus had been paying unwelcome attention to Miss -Merlin for a long time, and Marie had instructions that he was to be -discouraged as much as possible. In fact I am pleased to say that your -theory of Miss Merlin's ignorance respecting the murder plot is borne -out by the testimony of her maid. On several occasions, it appears, -when he sent his card to the dressing-room, Marie returned equivocal -messages and did not even inform her mistress of Sir Marcus's visit. -This had been going on for some time when one night whilst Miss Merlin -was on the stage a telephone call came for Marie and a certain -proposal was made to her. - -"It was this: if on the following night Sir Marcus should present -himself she was to tell him that Miss Merlin would take supper in his -company after the performance, but that he was to observe every -possible precaution. Marie, according to her account, at first -declined to entertain the proposal, but being informed that it was -merely intended to play a practical joke upon the baronet, she -ultimately consented. I may add that the promise of a ten-pound note -undoubtedly hastened her decision and it was on her receipt of the -amount by post on the following morning that she determined to carry -out her part of the bargain. - -"Her instructions had been explicit. She was to tell Sir Marcus that -Miss Merlin would see him after the performance, then when he -presented himself, to inform him that her mistress had decided it -would be more prudent for him to proceed to the rendezvous alone, -where she would join him in a quarter of an hour. She was to give him -the door key (which had arrived with the money) and to direct him to -enter and wait in the room on the right of the hall. A cabman who knew -the address would be waiting at the stage door." - -Gatton paused, puffing slowly at his pipe, then: "Unknown to Miss -Merlin," he continued, "this scheme was carried out. Sir Marcus -presented himself at ten o'clock and received Marie's message; he -returned about eleven and she told him, as she had been instructed, -that her mistress would join him in a quarter of an hour. Curiosity -respecting the joke which she believed was being played upon the -baronet prompted her to go outside the stage-door to see if there was -actually a cab waiting. There was, and she heard Sir Marcus ask the -man if he knew the address to which he was to drive. - -"The cabman replied that he did, and Marie claims to know no more -about the matter, except that Sir Marcus drove off in the cab, and -that her mistress returned to her flat alone about a quarter of an -hour later. Next point. Inquiries for the cabman have been made at all -the ranks since early this morning, and he turned up at the Yard about -a couple of hours ago. His story is simple enough; some one called up -the rank where he chanced to be standing that evening, instructing him -to call for Sir Marcus at the stage-door of the New Avenue Theater and -to drive him to--" - -He paused: - -"Yes?" - -"To the Red House!" - -"At last we have it!" I cried excitedly. - -"There is no doubt of it," answered Gatton; "the cabman drove him -there, and it was certainly at the Red House that he met his death. -Indeed the cabby appears to be the last witness who spoke to the -murdered man. He inquired his way to the Red House from a chance -pedestrian, a tramp, whom he met at the corner of College Road. He has -even described this person to us, but I don't think his evidence of -sufficient importance to justify our searching for him. On reaching -the Red House the cabman and his fare found it to be vacant. Sir -Marcus, however, who had a very brusk manner with his inferiors, -having paid the cabman, curtly dismissed him, and the man, who admits -having bargained for a double fare for the journey, because it was -such an out-of-the-way spot, drove away vaguely curious, but not so -curious as another might have been, since London cabmen are used to -strange jobs." - -"We are getting near the heart of the mystery." - -"H'm," said Gatton, "I'm not so sure. The deeper we go the darker it -gets. A man has been scouring the neighborhood all day in quest of the -carter who delivered the crate to the docks, but so far without -results. I consider it a very important point that we should learn not -only how and when the crate was collected, but when and by whom it was -delivered at the garage." - -"Another question," I said: "although I believe I know the answer. Was -it a man or a woman who ordered the cab?" - -"Both in the case of Marie and in the case of the cab-rank," replied -Gatton, "it was a woman's voice that spoke." - -"Thank God, one doubt is resolved!" I said. "It cannot possibly have -been Isobel in either of these cases!" - -"Right!" agreed Gatton, promptly. "I am as glad as you are. There is -clearly a second woman in the case; yet I can't bring myself to -believe that this elaborate scheme was the work of a woman." - -"Not of a _jealous_ woman?" I suggested. - -"Not of any woman," he replied. "Besides--who put the body into the -crate? What kind of a woman would it be who could do a deed like -that?" - -"In other words," said I, "you are still without a ghost of a clew to -the identity of the person who committed the murder, and to the means -employed?" - -Resting his pipe upon an ash-tray, the Inspector took up from my -writing-table the little image of Bast and held it up between finger -and thumb. - -"We always come back to the green cat," he said slowly. "I will -trouble you now, Mr. Addison, for the history of such a little image -as this." - -"Yes," I replied abstractedly. "But there is a matter about which I -have not spoken to you hitherto because quite frankly I had doubted if -it had any existence outside my imagination; but every new development -of the case is so utterly fantastic that I no longer regard my -experience as being in the least degree outside the province of -possibility. Before we go further, therefore, into the purely -archaeological side of the inquiry (and I have still serious doubt -respecting the usefulness of such a quest) let me relate a peculiar -experience which I had last night after I had left Bolton." - -Gatton listened in silence whilst I gave him an account of that -evasive shadow which I had perceived behind me, and then of the great -cat's eyes which had looked in through the window. - -His expression of naive wonderment was almost funny; and when I had -concluded: - -"Well, Mr. Addison," said he, "if you had told me this story before I -had taken up 'the _Oritoga_ mystery,' for so I observe--" drawing an -evening paper from his pocket--"the press has agreed to entitle the -case, I should have suggested that your peculiar studies had begun to -tell upon your nerves; but this voice on the 'phone and this empty -house in which only one room was furnished, finally the green cat -painted on the packing-case and the green cat which stands there upon -the table have prepared me for even stranger things than your -adventure of last night." - -"Yet," I urged, "there is no visible connection between the episodes -of the case and this strange apparition which I saw in the garden last -night." - -"There was no visible connection between Sir Marcus's body in a -packing-case in the hold of the _Oritoga_ and the garage of the house -in College Road until we found one," retorted Gatton. "Anyway I am -glad you mentioned the matter to me; I will take a note of it, for it -may prove to provide a link in the chain. And now"--taking out a -note-book and pencil--"for the history of these cat things." - -I sighed rather wearily as I crossed the room to my bookcase and took -down the volume of Gaston Maspero, the same which I had been reading -but had returned to its shelf as Gatton had been admitted. - -"We have it here in a nutshell," I said. - -Gatton methodically noted the passages which I read to him. The task -concluded: - -"H'm," he muttered, scanning his notes, "very strange, very strange -indeed. 'She had also her hours of treacherous perversity, during -which she played with her victim as with a mouse, before finishing him -off with a blow of her claws.'" - -He raised his eyes and stared at me strangely. - -"She played with her victim as with a mouse," he murmured, "before -finishing him off with a blow--" - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -MY VISITOR - - -For long enough after Gatton's departure I sat thinking over our -conversation. Despite the lateness of the hour at which he had -departed, he had had no thought of rest and was setting out in quest -of further evidence to point to the author of Sir Marcus's death. The -room was laden with tobacco smoke, for our conference had lasted more -than two hours, but dusk was very fully established and when presently -as I sat there in the dark contemplating the horrible labyrinth into -which my steps had drifted, Coates entered. - -"Ah, Coates," I said, "light up." - -He switched on the electric light and I saw layers of smoke--clouds -drifting from the open window towards the newly opened door. - -"Shall you be going out again to-night, sir?" asked Coates, standing -rigidly to attention as was his custom when addressing me. - -"I think not, Coates," I replied. "I have done enough for one day, but -I should be glad if you would ring up the New Avenue Theater and -inquire if Miss Merlin will speak to me. It will be about time now for -the performance to have finished." - -"Very good, sir," said Coates, and proceeded to make the call, whilst -I sat listlessly smoking and listening to his voice. Presently: - -"Miss Merlin did not appear to-night, sir," he announced: "she is -indisposed." - -"I thought as much," I muttered. "I could hardly have expected after -such a day of horror and excitement that she would have been capable -of appearing to-night. Ring up her flat, Coates," I added. "I should -like to speak to her, for I know she is in great trouble." - -"Indeed, sir," Coates permitted himself to remark. "Is it something to -do with the discovery at the docks this morning, sir?" - -"It is, Coates," I replied. "It is an utterly damnable business." - -"Indeed, sir," said Coates again, and went to the telephone. - -Three minutes later I was talking to Isobel. - -"I find it utterly impossible to tell you what has happened," she -declared, "since I saw you last. I feel incapable of thinking, and of -course it was quite out of the question for me to go to the theater -to-night. But it is not so bad as it might have been." She hesitated, -then: "I was only able to give them very short notice unfortunately, -but from a selfish point of view, as you know--I was leaving the -stage--very shortly--" - -"Yes," I answered dully, "I know; but have you seen the police?" - -"I have seen Inspector Gatton," she replied; "but as he told me that -he was coming along to you, no doubt you know what took place." - -"No," I replied; "he did not mention the visit, but you quite -recognize the fact, Isobel, that he does not regard you as being in -any way concerned in this ghastly affair." - -"He was awfully kind," she admitted; "in fact I quite changed my -opinion regarding the methods of the police authorities after my -interview with Inspector Gatton; but although he was so extremely -tactful with me, I really cannot forgive him his suspicions, which he -was at scarcely any pains to disguise, regarding Eric." - -"Regarding Eric!" I exclaimed. - -"Oh," continued Isobel, "he may have concealed his views from you, as -he knows that you are--a friend of Eric's; but he was less careful -about concealing them from me. To all intents and purposes Eric is -under police surveillance!" - -"But this is utterly incredible!" said I. "You don't mean to tell me, -Isobel, that Coverly has persisted in his silence respecting his -movements last night? If he has done so, in the circumstances he has -only himself to thank. Social position and everything else counts for -nothing when an inquiry concerning a murder is concerned. He knows -that perfectly well." - -I think I spoke hotly, and certainly I spoke with a certain -indignation, for I very strongly resented Coverly's attitude in the -case, which could only add to the difficulties and sorrows of Isobel's -position. - -Yet a moment afterwards I regretted that I had done so, for: - -"Are _you_ going to quarrel with me, too?" she asked pathetically. - -"What do you mean? Who has been quarreling with you?" - -"Eric quarreled with me fiercely at the solicitors' to-day, and when I -begged of him to be frank respecting his movements last night, his -attitude became"--she hesitated--"almost unbearable. He did not seem -to realize that I was only thinking of him, nor did he seem to realize -the construction which I might have placed upon his silence. I mean, -Jack, what can he possibly have to conceal?" - -Temporarily I felt myself to have become tongue-tied. What _could_ it -be that Coverly was concealing? The idea of complicity in the crime I -scouted; nothing could have induced me to believe it. Only one -explanation presented itself to my mind, as evidently it had presented -itself to Isobel's--another woman. However: - -"You may depend," I said, endeavoring to speak soothingly, "that he -has some good and sufficient reason for this silence, and one which is -not in any way discreditable. Nevertheless he will have to reconsider -his attitude in the near future. Of course there are times when almost -every one of us would be hard put to it to establish an alibi if we -were called upon to do so--as regards witnesses of our movements, I -mean; but at least we can state roughly where we were during any hour -of the day, even if we have to trust to luck to find witnesses to -prove the truth of words. His attitude of silence, Isobel, is -ridiculous." - -"Have you seen the evening papers?" she asked pathetically. - -"Some of them," I replied. - -"They have got my name in already," she continued, "and my photograph -appears in one. It is outrageous how they leap at an opportunity for -scandal." - -"It will all be cleared up," I said, speaking with as much confidence -as I had at my command. "You know and I know that Coverly is innocent -and I don't believe that Gatton thinks him guilty." - -A while longer we talked and then I returned rather wearily to my -chair in the room where the air was still laden with tobacco fumes. - -Without believing it to contain any very special significance as I had -supposed, but merely attracted by the strangeness of the passage, I -remembered how Gatton had harped upon Maspero's description of the -attributes of Bast. "Sometimes she plays with her victim as with a -mouse," etc. The big book with its fine plates, several of them -representing cats similar to that which Gatton had left behind for my -more particular examination, still lay open upon the table, and I -reread those passages appertaining to the character of the -cat-goddess, which I had marked for Gatton's information. Scarce -noting what I read--for all the time I was turning over in my mind the -manifold problems of the case--I sat there for an hour perhaps, in -fact until I was interrupted by the entrance of Coates. - -"Shall you require me again to-night, sir?" he inquired. - -"No," I replied; "you had better turn in now, as in all probability we -shall be early afoot to-morrow, Coates. Inspector Gatton will probably -be calling for me." - -"Very good. Good-night, sir," said Coates; and performing a smart -about-turn, he walked out of the room. - -I went on reading, not in quest of any particular information, but in -that idle mood when one reads anything, interesting or otherwise. For -a time I heard my conscientious batman fastening doors and windows as -was his nightly custom; then the door of his own room closed and I -heard him no more. - -When I first became aware of the howling of distant dogs I know not; -but it was with a great start that I was aroused from my semi-reverie -by the ringing of the door-bell. I realized that I had sat much longer -than I had supposed. It was a quarter to one. - -Gatton was my first thought; there must be an unexpected development -in the case calling in some way for my services. Coates was a sound -sleeper and evidently had not been awakened by the ringing of the -bell; therefore, arrayed as I was in pajamas, slippers and bath-robe -(for this, during the hot weather was my indoor costume) I walked out -along the little corridor, unbolted the front door and opened it. - -A woman stood there. - -For a moment I thought foolishly that it was Isobel, and my heart gave -a great leap. But the delusion was instantly dispelled when my visitor -spoke. - -Her voice had a totally different tone from that of Isobel--it was a -low, almost caressing voice, with a vaguely husky note in it, -fascinating in a way, yet although I found myself unable to account -for the fact, vaguely uncanny--queer. - -"Please excuse me," she said. "You will naturally wonder what has -brought a visitor to your door at this hour of the night, and indeed -my explanation is a strange one." - -She glanced apprehensively over her shoulder as she spoke, out into -the darkness of the roadway. I observed that she was apparently in -evening dress and wore a very handsome cloak, having a thick silk -scarf so draped about her head and shoulders that her face was quite -concealed. Very clearly, now, I could hear the howling of dogs. - -Instinct is a curious thing, and that which it prompted me to do at -the moment when I found myself confronting this strange woman was -promptly to awaken Coates! Honestly I was afraid of her and wished for -nothing better than to have the closed door between us. This was all -the more unaccountable as she had the appearance and manners of a -cultured woman, presenting indeed a figure of great elegance as she -stood there with her tall slender form outlined by the moonlight which -slanted down through the trees to form a scimitar of light upon the -path behind her. - -Of course I could never have acted upon this singular instinct, but -the decision was taken out of my hands; for suddenly my visitor -uttered a low cry of fear, swayed dizzily and seemed about to fall. - -Perforce I stepped forward to support her and before I knew what had -happened, she had tottered into the passage, resting heavily upon my -shoulder. - -"Close the door!" she said in that low husky voice. "Quick! Quick! I -have seen them again!" - -An unpleasant chill communicated itself to me. - -"The eyes!" she whispered. "Two great eyes have followed me! That was -why I knocked at your door. I was afraid." - -It was enough, the mention of two great eyes. Leaving my visitor -temporarily to take care of herself, I sprang to the door and closed -it hurriedly. As I turned, in the light from the partly open study -door I saw the woman walking slowly ahead of me. I overtook her, -holding the door fully open for her to pass in. - -"Please sit down a while," I said. "You have evidently been seriously -alarmed." - -Still there was no sign from Coates, whose voice would have been -welcome music to my ears, for I could not reconcile myself to this -woman's presence, strive how I might, nor could I understand how she -had come to be wandering alone in such a place at that hour. One bond -of sympathy there was between us. I could forgive any one fearing -those awful eyes, for I had feared them myself; and I could no longer -doubt that some strange apparition was haunting the vicinity. - -"Believe me, I quite understand," I said, turning to my visitor. "It -is most extraordinary, but I believe there is some unusually large cat -frequenting the neighborhood at present." - -I stood by the side table and was on the point of pouring out a glass -of water when the woman raised her white-gloved hand in a gesture of -refusal. - -"Thank you," she said, "thank you, but I am quite recovered, and -indeed if the cause of my alarm is no more than a cat, as you say, I -will proceed." - -She laughed, and her laughter was low-pitched, but very musical. In -the light of the shaded table-lamp I could see the gleam of white -teeth through her veil, but I could not imagine why she swathed -herself in that manner. Yet in spite of this enwrapping she could not -disguise the fact that she possessed remarkably large and beautiful -eyes. She seemed now to have recovered her composure, but I noted that -she made no attempt to remove her veil. - -"Are you quite sure that you will not be nervous on your way?" I -asked. - -"Oh, no. I am staying with some friends quite near," she explained, -detecting my curiosity; "and I was indiscreet enough to wander out at -this hour to post a letter." - -Possibly this explanation might have satisfied me; it is even possible -that I should have thought little more about the incident at that time -when I lived in a constant turmoil of episodes even stranger, but by -one of those accidents which sometimes seem to be directed by the hand -of an impish fate, I was to learn who or what my visitor was. When I -say I was to learn what she was, perhaps I err; more correctly I was -to learn what she was not, namely, an ordinary human being. - -It was as she rose to depart that the hand of fate intervened. I had -only one lamp burning in the room, a table-lamp; and at this moment, -preceded by a sudden accession of light due to some flaw of the -generating plant, the filament expired, plunging the room into -darkness! I stood up with a startled cry. I do not deny that I felt -ill at ease in the gloom with my strange visitor; but worse was to -come. Looking across the darkened room to the chair upon which she was -seated, I saw a pair of blazing eyes regarding me fixedly! - -Something in their horrid, luminous watchfulness told me that my -slightest movement was perceptible to my uncanny visitor of whom I -could see nothing but those two fiery eyes. - -What I did or what occurred within the next few seconds I am not -prepared to state in detail. I know I uttered a hoarse cry and threw -myself back from those dreadful eyes which seemed to be advancing upon -me. The cry awakened Coates. I heard the pad of his bare feet upon the -floor as he leaped out of bed, and an instant later his door was -opened and he came blundering out into the darkened passage. - -"Hello, sir!" he cried, in a half-dazed voice. "Here, Coates!" I -replied, and my tones were far from normal. - -Falling over a chair on his way, Coates came running into the study. -An impression I had of a flying shape, and the dimly seen square of -the open window (for that side of the cottage lay in shadow) seemed -momentarily to become blackened. - -"Bring a light, Coates!" I cried. "The lamp has gone out." - -"Matches on the table, sir," said Coates. - -Instantly I remembered that this was the case, that they lay in fact -near to my hand. I struck one, and in its flickering light looked -about the room. My visitor had gone--palpably through the window, for -certainly the front door had not been opened. - -"She has gone, Coates!" I exclaimed. - -And on this occasion it was Coates who repeated in an amazed voice: - -"_She_?" - -But even as he spoke, my attention had become diverted. - -I was staring at that portion of the table upon which Maspero's book -lay. Beside it had stood the little Bubastis statuette ... but the -statuette was there no longer! - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE VELVET CURTAIN - - -"This gets me well out of my depth, Mr. Addison," said Inspector -Gatton. - -We were standing in the garden at a point near to my open study -window. A small flower-bed intervened between the path and the high -privet hedge. It lay much in shade, and Coates had set tobacco plants -there. But the soil was softer here than elsewhere. - -Clearly marked upon it were the imprints of little high-heeled shoes. - -"It seems to take us back to the days of 'Spring-heeled Jack,'" my -friend continued; "which was before my time! I don't think _that_ -mystery was ever cleared up?" - -"No," I replied, meeting his questioning glance; "it never was, -satisfactorily. Therefore the analogy is an unfortunate one. But as -you say, it certainly looks as though my visitor had sprung across a -six-foot hedge!" - -"It's absolutely mad," said Gatton gloomily. "Far from helping us, it -only plunges us deeper in the mire." - -We returned to the study, and: - -"You will have seen the daily papers?" asked the Inspector. - -I nodded. - -"Practically all of them. They give a hateful prominence to the name -of Miss Merlin." - -"And to that of the new baronet--Sir Eric," said Gatton significantly. - -I stared at him straightly. - -"Do you seriously believe," said I, "that Eric Coverly had anything -whatever to do with the death of his cousin?" - -Gatton stirred uneasily in his chair. - -"Well," he answered, "ignoring everything else for the moment, who -else benefits by Sir Marcus Coverly's death?" - -It was a poser--a question which I had dreaded because I had known it -to be unanswerable. - -"He inherits the title," continued Gatton, "and on the death of Lady -Burnham Coverly he inherits Friars' Park. There is some clause or -entail, or legal hotchpotch whereby the estate and revenue remain hers -during her lifetime." - -"But I understand the estate is mortgaged?" - -"That I have to confirm, Mr. Addison," replied Gatton. "Sir Eric's -solicitor has no information on the point and that of Sir Marcus's man -of business is inexact. But even supposing that only the title is -concerned, many a man has lost his life for less. Then you have to -consider--Miss Merlin." - -"In what way?" I demanded - -"In relation to the attitude of Sir Marcus. Jealousy makes men (and -women) do strange and desperate things. The character of Eric Coverly, -the new baronet, is a very odd one." - -"He is headstrong and in some respects weak," I admitted. "But -otherwise he is an ordinary English gentleman, with the traditions of -an old name and a public school to back him up. I tell you, Gatton, -it's nonsense. His army career alone shows him to be a sound man." - -"Yes," murmured Gatton; "he was awarded a decoration for distinguished -service in Egypt." - -That seemingly simple remark struck me with all the force of a -physical blow. Gatton began quietly to load his pipe, without even -glancing in my direction; but the covert significance of his words was -all too apparent: - -"Gatton," I said--"what the devil are you driving at?" - -He slightly shrugged his shoulders. - -"What you may term the hocus-pocus side of the case," he replied, -"turns on matters Egyptian, doesn't it? Very well. Who else, that we -know about, is associated, or ever has been associated with Egypt?" - -"But--the woman?" - -"Ah!" said Gatton. "Now you are getting down to the depths. But -assuming that the extraordinary characteristics of this visitor of -yours can be explained in some way, by deliberate trickery, for -example, might she not be a woman whom Eric Coverly met in Egypt?" - -I stared silently a while, and then: - -"In short, a rival of Miss Merlin's?" I suggested. - -"Precisely. The trick with the photograph was just of the kind one -would expect from a madly jealous woman. Everything planned with -supreme cunning, but the scene at which the hated rival enters the -scheme badly overdone." - -"And you believe Coverly's silence to be due to the fact that he is -shielding some one?" - -"Well, that or shielding himself. What else can it mean? A man -suspected of murder doesn't hesitate to establish an alibi unless he -is in a desperately tight corner. The exact position of your -strange-eyed acquaintance in the case is not apparent to me at the -moment, I'll admit, but I seem to have heard that there have been rare -instances of human beings with luminous eyes." - -"Quite right, Inspector," I agreed; "I hope very shortly to have some -further particulars for you bearing upon this point. I am endeavoring -to obtain a work by Saint-Hilaire dealing with teratology." - -"As to her extraordinary activity and agility," Gatton continued, "we -must remember that a privet hedge is not like a stone wall. I mean she -may not have actually cleared the whole six feet, and after all, this -is the age of the athletic girl. There are women athletes who can -perform some extraordinary feats of high-jumping. Of course, there are -still a number of witnesses to be discovered and examined, but I know -by now exactly what to expect. It's an ingenious idea, although not -entirely new to me. - -"The whole thing has been managed by means of the telephone--a -powerful ally of the modern criminal. Briefly what happened was this: -The Red House--selected because of its lonely position, but also -because it was fairly accessible--was leased by our missing assassin -without any personal interview taking place. We have to look then in -the first instance for some one possessing considerable financial -resources. It was by the effective substitution of a year's rent--in -cash--for the more usual references, that our man--or woman--whom I -will call 'A' secured possession of the keys and right of entry to the -premises. A limited amount of furniture was obtained in the same -manner. We haven't found the firm who supplied it, but I don't doubt -that the business was done over the telephone, cash being paid as -before. Duplicate keys must have been made for some of the doors, I -think--a simple matter. We shall find that the furnishing people as -well as the caterer who later on supplied the supper were admitted to -the Red House by a district messenger or else had the keys posted to -them for the purpose. - -"The whole business was built up around a central idea, simple in -itself: that of inveigling Sir Marcus into the prepared supper-room. -His attendance at the New Avenue Theater last night was doubtless -assured--although we may never prove it--by another of these -mysterious telephone messages, probably purporting to come from Miss -Merlin. The cold-blooded thoroughness with which 'A' arranged for a -crate to be delivered at the garage and for the body of the murdered -man to be taken to the docks and shipped to the West Indies, -illuminates the character of the person we have to seek. - -"Discovery sooner or later was inevitable, of course. It came sooner -because of the accident at the docks. Had it come later I don't doubt -that 'A' would have dismantled the Red House again so that the -investigation would have been severely handicapped. As it is, the only -dismantling done was the most important of all." - -"You mean?" I said with keen interest. - -"The death-machine," answered Gatton. "The cunning device around which -all these trappings were erected. We don't have to wait for the -coroner's inquest nor the pathologists' report to know that Sir Marcus -was asphyxiated." - -"In that room where supper was laid for two?" I muttered. - -"Can you doubt it?" - -"No," I said, "and I don't." - -"I have allowed nothing to be touched," continued Gatton, "and I am -going around there now to make a final attempt to unravel the mystery -of how Sir Marcus met his death." - -"There is one detail," said I, "which it seems impossible to fit into -its proper place in the scheme. The figure of Bast painted upon the -crate--you have that at Scotland Yard--and the little image of the -goddess which was stolen from my table last night." - -Gatton stood up, uttering a sigh. - -"I have always found, Mr. Addison," he replied, "that it is these -outstanding features of a case, these pieces which don't seem to fit, -that are the most valuable clews. It's the apparently simple cases in -which there is no outstanding point that are the most baffling." - -I laughed shortly. - -"One could not very well complain of the lack of such features in 'the -_Oritoga_ mystery,'" I said. "As a confrere of mine remarked when the -body of Sir Marcus was discovered in the crate, the whole thing is as -mad as 'Alice in Wonderland'!" - -Gatton presently departed for the Red House and I accompanied him, for -I was intensely curious to learn by what means the murder of Sir -Marcus had been accomplished. As I proposed later in the morning to -call on Isobel, Coates drove Gatton and myself as far as the Red House -and I instructed the man to wait for me. - -Although the morning was still young, the prominence given by the -press to this sensational crime had resulted in the presence of quite -a considerable group of pilgrims who even thus early had arrived to -look upon the scene of the mysterious tragedy. London is a city of -onlookers. The most trivial street accident never lacks its interested -audience, and a house in which a murder is reputed to have taken place -becomes a center upon which the idly curious focus from the four -points of the compass. - -Our arrival created a subdued excitement amongst the nondescript group -gathered upon the pavement. Despite the efforts of a constable on -duty, men, women and children persistently gathered before the gates -of the drive peering up at the empty house as if they anticipated -seeing the face of the murderer or an apparition of the victim appear -behind one of the windows. A considerable group, too, was gathered -before the garage, but as Gatton and I descended and began to walk up -the drive there was a general movement in our direction. - -"I wonder," said I, "if 'A,' the wanted man, is among the crowd? One -reads that murderers are irresistibly drawn back to the scene of their -crimes." - -"He may be," replied Gatton; "anyway there are two C.I.D. men there -for certain, so that 'A' will do well to be upon his guard." - -A few moments later I found myself again in the lounge-hall of the Red -House; and the place now seemed to me to have taken on an air of -oppressive mystery. In the very deserted silence of the house I -detected something sinister. Of course, no doubt this was merely an -effect created upon my mind by the ghastly associations of the place; -but I know that whereas on the previous day surprise and curiosity had -been the most characteristic emotions aroused by our discoveries -there, this morning something darker seemed to have taken their place; -and I found myself listening for a sound that never came and wondering -vaguely and vainly, what secret was hidden in this desolate mansion. - -By Gatton's orders the room in which that gruesome supper was laid had -been left undisturbed and once more we stood surveying the spotless -napery and sparkling silver. I listened to the ticking of the clock -upon the mantelpiece and stared dully at the wine resting in the -ice-pail which now contained nothing but dirty water. A big dish of -fruit stood upon the table, peaches and apricots and nectarines; and -several large wasps had entered through one of the windows which some -one had opened, and were buzzing sleepily around the dish. -Lastly--there beside the clock stood Isobel's photograph. - -For any evidence of a struggle I looked in vain, but the nature of my -companion's investigation was more obscure. Again the whole of his -attention seemed to be directed upon the wall, the window-ledges and -the door-frame. Suddenly: - -"Ah," I said, "I know what you are looking for! Some connection -between this room and the garage?" - -Gatton, who was kneeling examining a lower panel of the door, looked -up with a grim smile. - -"Perhaps I am," he replied. - -By the tone of his voice I knew that whatever he had sought he had -failed once more to find. Presently, desisting from this quest of his, -he stood and stared curiously for some time at a recess immediately -behind one of the high-backed chairs drawn up to the supper table. We -had already explored this recess and had found it to be vacant. Gatton -advanced towards it and drew aside the curtain which was draped in the -opening. - -It was a recess about four feet wide by three deep and it contained -nothing in the nature of furniture or ornament. - -"Does anything strike you as curious about this arrangement?" said my -companion. - -I looked for a long time, but failed to detect anything of a notable -nature. - -"Nothing," I said, "except that it seems a peculiar idea to drape a -curtain before a recess in that way." - -"And such a curtain!" said Gatton, fingering the texture. - -I in turn touched the material with my fingers and found it to be an -extremely heavy velvet. Looking upward, I noticed that it was attached -to a rod set so high in the wall on either side that the top of the -drapery actually touched the ceiling. - -"Well," said Gatton, looking at me oddly, "in addition to the texture -of the curtain do you notice anything else?" - -"No," I confessed. - -"Well," he continued, "you may remember that yesterday when I examined -this place, I had to drape the curtain over a chair, which I moved -here for the purpose, in order to see the recess." - -"So you did," I said; "I remember." - -"Well, doesn't it strike you as odd? If you'll notice the way it is -fastened above, you will see that it is not upon rings. In other words -it is not intended to be opened. You see that it is in one piece so -that anybody having occasion to enter the recess would have to lift it -aside and let it fall to behind him." - -I studied the arrangement of the drapings more closely and saw that -his statement was correct; also I saw something else, and: - -"This room has been lighted by gas at some time!" I cried. "Here, up -under the picture-rail, is a plug." - -"Most houses are provided both with gas and electric light about -here," replied Gatton abstractedly. - -But even before he had finished speaking I saw his expression change, -and in a moment he had dragged a chair into the recess. - -"Hold the curtain back," he directed sharply. - -Standing on the chair, he began to examine the little brass plug to -which I had drawn his attention. For some time I watched him in -silence, and then: - -"What do you think you have found?" I inquired. - -He glanced down over his shoulder. - -"I think I have found a _clew_!" he replied. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -"HANGING EVIDENCE" - - -Isobel came into the room and approached the chair from which I had -arisen. In her plain morning frock, with the sun bringing out those -wonderful russet tints in her hair, but having that frightened look -still in her eyes, she had never seemed more beautiful. Yet I saw as I -rose to greet her that she was laboring under the influence of -dangerous nervous excitement. - -"You are worried about Eric?" I said, when we had exchanged those -rather formal greetings in which I think we took mutual shelter. -Certainly I did, and later I was to know that Isobel did so, too. - -"Every day seems to make the case grow blacker against him," she -replied, sinking down upon the settee beside me. - -And indeed the shadow which had fallen upon all of us seemed at that -moment almost palpable--a thing to be felt like the darkness of Egypt -and not to be dispelled even by the brightness of the morning. - -"When did you last see Coverly?" - -Isobel raised her head wearily. - -"Last night, and he seemed to think that some one was following him--a -detective." - -I noticed that Isobel spoke of Eric Coverly with a certain manner of -restraint for which I could not account. Yet perhaps it was only -natural that she should do so, but at the time I was foolishly blind -to the opposing emotions which fought and conflicted within her. - -"He still refused to explain his movements on the night of the -murder?" I asked. - -"Yes, he persisted in his extraordinary silence," said Isobel. - -The look of trouble in her eyes grew more acute. - -"What I cannot understand is a sort of attitude of resentment which he -has lately adopted." - -"Of resentment? Towards whom?" - -"Towards _me_." - -"But--" - -"Oh, it's quite incomprehensible, Jack, and it is making me horribly -unhappy. He complained so bitterly too about this police surveillance -to which he is subjected. He realizes that the coroner is almost -certain to put a wrong construction on his silence, but instead of -being frank about it he adopts, even when alone with me, this -incomprehensible attitude of resentment. In fact his behavior almost -suggests that _I_ am responsible for his present misfortunes." - -"He must be mad," I said, and I expect I spoke bitterly, for Isobel -lowered her eyes and her face flushed with embarrassment. - -"Don't think that I condemn him," I added hastily, "but really in -justice to you, if not in order to clear his own good name, he should -speak out at once. Are you expecting to see him to-day?" - -Isobel nodded. - -"I am expecting him at almost any moment," she replied; then glancing -aside at a number of daily papers which lay littered upon the floor -beside the settee: "Of course you have seen what the press has to say -about it?" she added. - -I nodded. - -"What can you expect?" said I. "It is one of those cases in which -practically all the evidence, although it is of a purely -circumstantial nature, points to an innocent man as the culprit. I -feel very keenly annoyed with Coverly, for not only is he involving -both of you in a most unsavory case but he is also hindering the work -of justice. In fact by his inexplicable silence he is, although no -doubt unconsciously, affording the murderer time to elude the law." - -Even as I spoke the words I heard a cab draw up in the street below, -and glancing out of the window, I saw Coverly alight from the cab, pay -the man and enter the doorway. His bearing was oddly furtive, that, as -I thought with a sudden pang, of a fugitive. A few moments later he -came into the room and his expression when he found me there was one -of marked hostility. - -Eric Coverly bore no resemblance whatever to the deceased baronet from -whom he inherited the title, belonging as he did to quite another -branch of the family. Whereas Sir Marcus had been of a dark and sallow -type, Eric Coverly was one of those fair, fresh-colored, open-air -English types, handsome in an undistinguished way, and as a rule of a -light and careless disposition. There had never been any very close -sympathy between us, for the studies to which I devoted so much time -were by him regarded as frankly laughable absurdities. Although well -enough informed, he was typical of his class, and no one could justly -have catalogued him as an intellectual. - -"Good morning, Addison," he said, having greeted Isobel in a -perfunctory fashion which I assumed to be accounted for by my -unwelcome presence. "The men of your Fleet Street tribe have conspired -to hang me, I see." - -"Don't talk nonsense, Coverly," I said bruskly; "this misapprehension -is bound to arise if you decline to give any account of your -movements." - -"But it is an outrage!" cried Coverly hotly. "What the devil do _I_ -know about Marcus's death?" - -"I am perfectly convinced that you know nothing whatever; but then I -have known you for many years. The 'Fleet Street tribe' to whom you -refer merely regard you as a unit of our rather large population. In a -case of this kind, Coverly, all men are equal." - -Whilst I had been delivering myself of this somewhat priggish -speech--designed, I may add, in self-defense, to spur Coverly to a -rejoinder which might throw some light upon the mystery--he had -regarded me with an expression of ever increasing dislike. I noted -that there were shadows under his eyes, and that he was in a highly -nervous and excited condition. He had slept but little I judged during -the last forty-eight hours and had possibly had recourse to stimulants -to enable him to face the new trials which arose with every day. - -"I don't feel called upon," he said angrily, "to give an account of my -movements to every policeman who cares to inquire. I know nothing -whatever about the matter. I have said so, and I am not accustomed to -have my word doubted." - -"My dear Coverly," said I, "you must be perfectly well aware that -sooner or later you will have to relinquish this heroic pose. Will you -allow no one to advise you? You will have to answer the coroner, and -if you persist in this extraordinary refusal to give a simple answer -to a simple question, surely you realize that the matter will be -transferred to a higher tribunal?" - -"Oh, I told you that they had hanged me in Fleet Street already, -Isobel!" cried Coverly, with a burst of unmirthful laughter. - -But (and no man could have construed the thing favorably to Coverly) -to my anger and amazement he added: - -"Let them do it! I'll speak if I choose, but not otherwise!" - -That I was annoyed with the young fool already, my remarks to him, -which had transgressed every code of good taste, must sufficiently -have shown. But I had hoped to provoke him to a declaration which -would clear his name from the shadow which was settling darkly upon -it, and which would raise that shadow from the girl who stood beside -him, watching me with a sort of reproachful look in her dark eyes. - -Now I recognized that I could remain no longer and keep the peace, -therefore: - -"Perhaps it is time that I went about my own business," I said, -conjuring up a smile, although it must have been a dreary one, "and -ceased to interfere with the affairs of other people. Good-by, Isobel. -Anything I can do, you know you may command. Good-by, Coverly. I am -deeply sorry about this business." - -He barely touched my extended hand, but instantly turned and walked to -the bay window. Descending to the street, I had immediate confirmation -of Coverly's statement that his movements were watched. - -In the porch below a man stood talking to the hall-porter. As I -appeared he immediately averted his face and began to light a -cigarette. Nevertheless I had had time to recognize him as the man who -had brought Gatton news of Marie's detention. - -It was in a truly perturbed frame of mind that I proceeded on my way -to the _Planet_ offices. I would have sacrificed much to have been -afforded means to comfort Isobel; a furious anger towards the man who -thus deliberately had brought doubt and unhappiness upon her had taken -up permanent quarters in my mind. I counted Coverly's declination to -clear himself little better than the attitude of a cad. - -I read religiously through a pile of cuttings bearing upon the case, -and found the unmistakable trend of opinion to be directed towards -Coverly as the culprit. The use made of Isobel's name enraged me to -boiling point and I presently took up the entire bundle of cuttings -and crammed them into a waste-paper basket. I was engaged in stamping -them down with my foot when I was called to the telephone. - -Inspector Gatton was speaking from New Scotland Yard; and his voice -was very grave. - -"Can you possibly come along at once?" he asked. "There is a new -development; a most unpleasant one." - -He would say no more over the telephone. Therefore I hurried out to -where Coates was waiting, and in ten minutes found myself in one of -those bare, comfortless apartments which characterize the headquarters -of the Metropolitan Police Force. - -With his hat off Gatton looked more like a seaman than ever, for he -had short, crisply curly hair and that kind of bull-dog line of -cranium which one associates with members of the senior service. Upon -a chair set in a recess formed by one of the lofty windows a leather -grip rested. It was wet and stained, and had palpably been recovered -but recently from the water. Seeing my glance straying towards this -object at the moment of my entrance, the Inspector nodded. - -"Yes," said he, "it has just come in." - -"What is it?" - -"Well," replied Gatton, sitting upon a corner of the table and folding -his arms, "it is a piece of evidence sufficient to hang the most -innocent man breathing." - -He eyed me in a significant manner and I felt my heart beginning to -beat more rapidly. - -"May I know the particulars?" - -"Certainly. I asked you to come along for the purpose of telling you. -Sir Eric Coverly's refusal to answer the questions put to him had -necessitated his being watched, as you know. I mean to say, it's -sheerly automatic; the Commissioner himself couldn't make an -exception. Well, last night he left his chambers and started for Miss -Merlin's flat. He came out of a back door and went along a narrow -passage, instead of going out at the front. He evidently thought he -had got away unobserved. He was carrying--that." - -"Good heavens!" I said. "The young fool seems determined to put a rope -around his own neck." - -"As a matter of fact," continued Gatton, "he was _not_ unobserved. He -was followed right across St. James's Park. By the lake he lingered -for some time; and the man tracking him kept carefully out of sight, -of course. There was nobody else about at the moment, and presently, -thinking himself safe, Coverly dropped his bag in the water! -Immediately he set off walking rapidly again, and he was followed -right to Miss Merlin's door. But the spot where he had dropped the bag -had been marked, of course, and when I came in here to-day it had been -fished, up--and placed there for my inspection." - -With ever-growing misgivings: - -"What does it contain?" I asked. - -Inspector Gatton walked across to the chair and threw the bag open. -First he took out several lumps of wet coal. - -"To weight it, of course," he said. - -Then one by one he withdrew from the clammy interior a series of -ragged garments, the garments of a tramp. A pair of heavy boots there -were, a pair of patched trousers and an old shabby coat, a greasy cap, -and finally a threadbare red muffler! - -Gatton looked hard at me. - -"He will have to break his obstinate silence now," he said. "Failing -our discovery of new clews pointing in another direction, this is -hanging evidence!" - -"It is maddening!" I cried. "Can nothing be done, Gatton? Is there no -possible line of inquiry hitherto neglected which might lead to the -discovery of the truth? For whatever your own ideas may be, personally -I am certain that Coverly is innocent." - -Gatton replaced the sodden garments one by one in the bag, frowning as -he did so, and: - -"It occurred to me this morning," he replied, "that there _is_ one -inquiry which in justice to the suspected man and in order to round -off the investigation, should be instituted. I'm afraid Coverly will -have a bad time in the Coroner's court, but it is even possible that -something might be done before the inquest. Now--" - -He looked at me quizzically, and: - -"Knowing your keen personal interest in the case, I am going to make a -suggestion. It is probably going outside the intentions of the chief -in regard to your share of the inquiry, but I'll risk that. I -stipulate, however, that anything you learn is to be communicated -direct to me, not to the _Planet_. Is this arrangement consistent with -your journalistic conscience?" - -"Quite," I said eagerly; "my contributions to the _Planet_ are always -subject, of course, to your censorship. What is it that you propose I -should do?" - -"This," said Gatton tersely; "I should like to know under what -circumstances Mr. Roger Coverly died." - -"Roger Coverly?" I echoed. - -"The son of Sir Burnham Coverly," continued Gatton, "and therefore the -direct heir to the title. He died somewhere abroad about five or six -years ago, and as a result the late Sir Marcus inherited the baronetcy -on the death of his uncle, Sir Burnham. You will remember that the -man, Morris, spoke of the ill-feeling existing between Lady Burnham -Coverly and Sir Marcus, because of the premature death of her own son, -of course." - -"I follow you," I said eagerly. "You suggest that I should go down to -Friar's Park and interview Lady Burnham Coverly?" - -"Exactly," replied Gatton. "It's very irregular, of course, but I know -you well enough to take my chance of a carpeting. I may send a C.I.D. -man down as well. I've too much to do in town to think of going -myself; but I will advise you of any such step." - -The motive underlying Inspector Gatton's suggestion was perfectly -evident to me and I experienced a feeling of gratitude for the -humanity which directed it. I held out my hand, and: - -"Thanks, Gatton," I said; "you can leave the matter in my care with -every confidence. I will start for Friar's Park to-day." - -"Good," replied Gatton. "Let me give you a hint. Take a good pistol -with you!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE SCARRED MAN - - -It was towards the hour of seven in the evening that I reached the -Abbey Inn at Upper Crossleys, itself among the most hoary buildings of -the ancient village. It belonged to the days when white-clad brethren -from the once great monastery of Croix-de-lis had labored in the abbey -meadows and fished in the little stream which ran slowly through a -neighboring valley. Time had scarred it deeply and the balcony -overhanging the coachyard sagged in a rather alarming fashion as -though about to drop down from sheer old age. - -The surrounding country had impressed me at first sight. There were -long billowing hills and vales, much of their surface densely wooded, -but with wide spaces under cultivation and even greater tracts of a -sort of heath-land very wild in aspect and conjuring up pictures of -outlaws' camps and the clash of battling feudal days. Hard by had -resided of old a warden of the marches, and the ruins of his stronghold -might still be seen on the crest of a near-by hill. - -From the room allotted to me I could look out over a varied prospect -of farmland and heath, terminated by the woody slopes which everywhere -hemmed in the valley. Peeping above the outer fringe of trees showed -a tower of some old house whereof the rest was hidden by verdure. - -Having partaken of a typical country dinner, the small number of -courses being amply compensated by their quantity, I lighted my pipe -and went down to the bar-parlor, being minded to learn something of -the neighborhood at first hand from any chance visitor who might serve -my purpose. - -The landlord, a somewhat taciturn member of his class, sat behind the -bar, pipe in mouth, as I entered, and only one other man was in the -room. This was a gipsy-looking fellow, with a very wild eye, attired -in the manner of a game-keeper, and wearing leggings and a fur cap. A -sporting rifle stood in the corner beside him. The landlord nodded, -and the other gave me a "Good evening" as I entered, whereupon I -determined to try the game-keeper as the more likely source of -information, and: - -"Is the shooting good hereabouts?" I asked, by way of opening a -conversation. - -My inquiry seemed hugely to amuse the man. - -"None better," was the reply; "it's thick with game, sir, it is for -sure--and nobody to profit, only"--he winked at the landlord--"young -Jim Corder!" - -The landlord emitted a deep grunt which was evidently recognized by -the other as a laugh; for he himself laughed in a wild and not wholly -pleasant manner, whereby I concluded that "young Jim Corder" was a -standing joke in the neighborhood. - -"You look as though you knew a hare from a partridge," said I, "so -I'll take your word for it." - -This remark provoked a second and deeper growl from the landlord and a -further burst of outlandish laughter from my acquaintance, the -game-keeper. Presently: - -"Why, sir, if I tell you," declared the latter, "them birds all know -me like I was their father, they do. I says, 'Good morning' regular -and them birds all bows to me, they does." - -When the laughter had subsided, scenting possible information: - -"I gather," said I, "that you get few shooting-parties nowadays?" - -Gloom descended upon both my gossips. - -"You're right, you are, sir," replied the game-keeper. "He's right, -ain't he, Martin?" - -Martin, the landlord, growled. It occurred to me that he regarded the -other with a certain disfavor. - -"This 'ere country," continued the game-keeper, vaguely waving his arm -around, "is a blighted spot. A blighted spot, ain't it, Martin?" - -Martin growled, whilst the game-keeper studied him covertly. - -"Since Sir Burnham went to his long rest these 'ere parts ain't knowed -themselves. I'm tellin' you, sir. Ain't knowed 'emselves. It's all -that quiet, winter and summer alike. The Park all shut up; and the -Park _was_ the Park in them days--warn't it, Martin?" - -Martin achieved speech; he removed his pipe, and: - -"It were, Hawkins," he concurred. - -Silence fell for a minute or two. My new acquaintance, Hawkins, and -Martin both seemed to be pondering upon the degeneracy of Upper -Crossleys, and I could mot help thinking that Hawkins took a secret -delight in it. Then: - -"Surely the Park is still occupied by Lady Coverly?" I asked. - -"Aye," Hawkins nodded. "She's kep' me on, me and the missus, she has, -like the real lady she is. But things is different; things is wrong. -Ain't they, Martin?" he asked, with a mischievous glance at the stolid -host. - -"Things is," agreed Martin. - -"Best part of Park be shut up," declared Hawkins. "Horses gone, -carriages gone, everybody gone; only me and my old woman." - -"There must be house servants," I interjected. - -"My old woman!" cried Hawkins triumphantly; "same as I'm tellin' you!" - -"You mean that Lady Coverly lives alone in the place with only--er, -Mrs. Hawkins to look after her?" - -It was Martin the landlord who answered my question. - -"Things ain't right," he observed, and returned to his mouth the pipe -which he had removed for the purpose of addressing me. - -"You don't know half of it," declared Hawkins. "What's _my_ job, for -instance? I ask you--what is it?" - -Having thus spoken, he exchanged a significant look with the landlord -and relapsed into silence. Even my offer to replenish his tankard, -although it was accepted, did not result in any further confidences. -Prospects of crops and fruit were briefly touched upon, but that -exchange of glances between mine host and Hawkins seemed to have been -mutually understood to mean that the conversation touching Friar's -Park had proceeded far enough. - -It was very mystifying, and naturally it served only to pique my -curiosity. A certain quality of loneliness which had seemed to belong -to the village, even in the brightness of the summer evening, now -asserted itself potently. Seated there in the quiet little inn parlor, -I recalled that many of the old-world cottages to right and left of -the Abbey Inn had exhibited every indication of being deserted, and -the lack of patrons instanced by the emptiness of the bar-parlor was -certainly not ascribable to the quality of the ale, which was -excellent. A sort of blight it would seem had descended upon humanity -in Upper Crossleys. It was all very curious. - -Reflecting upon the matter, and sometimes interjecting a word or two -into the purely technical and very desultory conversation proceeding -between the landlord and Hawkins, I sat looking from one to the other, -more than ever convinced that no friendship was lost between them. My -position in the room was such that any one entering would not detect -my presence until he was right up to the bar, and to this sheltered -seat I was undoubtedly indebted for a very strange experience. - -During a lull in the patently forced conversation I heard footsteps -upon the cobbles outside. Hawkins and the landlord exchanged a swift -glance, and then to my surprise they both stared at me questioningly. -Before a word could be exchanged, however, and before I had time even -to surmise what this covert uneasiness might portend, a young fellow -entered whose carriage and dress immediately attracted my attention. - -He was attired, then, in a sort of burlesque "fashionable" lounge suit -and wore a straw hat set rakishly backward on his well-oiled dark -hair. He carried gloves and a malacca cane, and his gait was one of -assured superiority. He was a stoutly-built, muscular young fellow and -might ordinarily have been good-looking after a rustic fashion, but -what principally rendered him noticeable was the fact that he wore -surgical bandages around his neck in lieu of a collar and that his -face was literally a mosaic of sticking-plaster! - -"Evening, Martin--evening, Hawkins," he said jauntily; and advancing -to the bar, "The usual, Martin." - -As he gave the order and as the landlord turned to execute it, -exhibiting a sort of half-amused deference, the embarrassed glance of -Hawkins, who was watching me uncomfortably, drew the newcomer's -attention to my presence. He turned in a flash and I saw those parts -of his face which were visible between the pieces of strapping to turn -fierily red. His brown eyes glared at me, and: - -"Martin!" he cried, throwing out his hand in the landlord's direction, -"Martin, damn you! There is a stranger here! Why the devil didn't you -tell me?" - -"Sorry, Mr. Edward," said the landlord, setting a glass of whisky -before the excited man. "No time." - -"It's a lie!" cried the other, with a wild fury which so trivial a -matter did not seem to warrant, "a deliberate damned lie! You want to -make me the laughing-stock of the place!" - -Taking up the newly-filled glass, he dashed it violently to the sanded -floor, so that it was shattered to bits. Then, snatching off his hat, -he held it as a shield between my inquiring gaze and his plastered -face, and ran out of the room. At the door: - -"Damn you all!" he shouted back at us. - -I heard his quick footsteps receding. Then, as he turned the corner -the sound died away. I looked across at Hawkins. He was staring into -his tankard with which he was describing slow circles as if to stir -the contents. Martin, having raised the bar-flap was phlegmatically -engaged in sweeping up the fragments of glass into a dustpan. It came -to me all at once that these simple folk regarded the other's outburst -as a personal matter; their attitude was that of the grieved elders of -a family, some member of which has misbehaved himself. But assuredly I -was not prepared to concur in this shielding silence; the pressman -within me demanded an explanation. - -"A strange young man," I said tentatively. "Very touchy, I should -think?" - -"Touchy?" repeated Hawkins, glancing up quickly. "I seen him take Tom -Pike by the scruff of his neck and the seat of his pants and pitch him -in the horse-trough for askin' of him who his tailor was, I have." - -"Indeed," said I, "a local Carpentier, no doubt?" - -"Ah," said Martin, glancing at me as he turned to his seat behind the -bar. "Very 'andy with 'is 'ands." - -"He is evidently acutely sensitive of his present disfigurement. Might -I suggest that his most recent encounter was with a barbed-wire -entanglement?" - -But to my acute disappointment, Martin merely growled, shaking his -head gloomily; and in this significant gesture he was closely imitated -by Hawkins. Therefore: - -"Is he badly disfigured?" I persisted. - -"Only one is deep," replied Hawkins, glancing almost apologetically at -the landlord. The unfortunate incident seemed to have drawn them more -closely together. "The one on his neck. But he prides himself on his -looks, don't he, Martin?" - -"He do," agreed Martin. - -I took the bull by the horns. I never neglect an opportunity of this -nature, for however irrelevant to the matter in hand an episode may -seem to be, not infrequently I have found that it is by the pursuit of -such chance clews that one is led to the very piece of news that is -sought. - -"Drink up, gentlemen," I said, "and as the night draws on, we shall -just have time for a peg of whisky before ten o'clock." - -My effort proved successful, for whilst Martin prepared the ordered -drinks, almost with alacrity, Hawkins became quite confidential. - -"Young Mr. Edward Hines that was, sir," he confided, in a church -whisper. "His father is the biggest farmer round these parts and young -Mr. Edward is a terror with the gals, he is. Mind you, he's straight -out about it. Comes in here, he do, and says straight out who he's -after. And it's woe betide the one who takes him up on it. I'm glad my -gal is up to London, with that Mr. Edward about, I am." - -The drinks being placed upon the counter, he ceased, and: - -"Good health!" said I; then: "Yes--about our mutilated young friend?" -I prompted. - -"Well," continued Hawkins--"it's kind o' funny, ain't it, Martin?" - -The landlord growled. - -"Mr. Edward he come in here three weeks back all puffed up with -himself. Said he'd got an appointment with a lady down from London -what was coming all the way from West Wingham to see him. Didn't he, -Martin?" - -Martin corroborated. - -"He see her, too," declared Hawkins with a sort of schoolboy naivete. -"And he see her again four nights after. She give him a present--a -keepsake. He showed us. Then he seen her a third time, and--" - -Hawkins ceased speaking and looked at the landlord as if mutely -appealing for his aid in making clear to me what occurred at this -third tryst with the mysterious "lady from London." - -"Go on," prompted Martin. "Tell him. He's stopping here; he's all -right." - -I keenly appreciated the compliment conveyed by this, the landlord's -longest speech of the evening, and raised my glass to him. "Well, -then," Hawkins resumed, "we didn't see him for a night or two, but on -the Wednesday--" - -"The Thursday," corrected Martin. - -"Right you are, Martin," agreed Hawkins--"the Thursday it were. I met -Farmer Hines comin' back from Wingham market as I came here mid-day. -It were the Thursday. Well, then, on the Thursday young Mr. Edward he -turns up after dark. Sort of slinked in he did. There was three or -four of us here, there was that night, wasn't there, Martin? 'Course -it were market day. Slinked in he did, and his face was like you see -it to-night only worse. He never said a word to nobody and nobody -never said nothin' to him, not likely. Just gulped down a double -Scotch and slinked out. What do you think about that for a story, eh, -sir?" - -He looked at me triumphantly. For my own part I must confess I was -disappointed. A cat-and-dog squabble between a rustic Lothario and -some local virago did not excite me so intensely as it seemed to -excite my companions. - -"Is that all you know of the matter?" I asked. - -"No," answered Martin, "it ain't. Tell him, Hawkins." - -"Aye," resumed Hawkins, "he might as well know, as he's livin' here. -Well, sir, young Mr. Edward he's very quiet about what happened to -him. Maybe we shouldn't have thought so much about it like if it -hadn't been that in this very bar, six months ago, he'd plagued the -life out of young Harry Adams." - -"For what reason?" I asked idly; the conversation was beginning to -bore me. But: - -"Young Harry Adams," explained Hawkins with gusto, and his former -wicked look returning to his eyes, "at one time was Mr. Edward's only -rival with the gals, he was. A good-lookin' young fellow; got a -commission in the war he did. He's up to London now. Well, six months -ago young Harry Adams come staggerin' in here one night with blood -runnin' from his face and neck. He fell down in that seat where you're -sitting now and fainted right off, didn't he, Martin? We had to send -young Jim Corder (what used to come here in them days) off runnin' all -the way past Leeways for the doctor. Ah, that were a night." - -"It were," agreed Martin. - -"Same as Mr. Edward," continued the narrator, "young Harry Adams -wouldn't say a word about what happened to him. But when Mr. Edward -first see him, all over sticking-plaster, he laughed till the pots -nearly fell off the hooks, he did. Little did he guess his own turn -was to come!" - -My interest revived. - -"Then in the case of, er--Mr. Adams," I said, "you never had any -particulars whatever?" - -"Never," replied Martin. "Time, please, gentlemen." - -"Aye," said Hawkins, rising. "Time it be. Well, good night, sir. Good -night, Martin." - -"Good night." - -Hawkins moved towards the door, and indeed was on the point of going -out when I remembered something which I had meant to ask earlier, but -which, owing to lack of opportunity, I had postponed asking. - -"You spoke of a gift or keepsake, which the lady from London gave to -Mr. Hines," I said. "I think you mentioned that he had shown it to -you. I am rather curious about this story. Might I ask the nature of -the gift?" - -"Aye, to be sure," answered Hawkins, standing half in shadow on the -step of the bar-parlor, rifle on shoulder, where I thought he made a -very wild figure. "Brought it here, he did. All of us see it. That -stuck up about it, he was. Not as I should have thought much of it if -a party had give it to me, I do say." - -"Then what was it?" - -"Why--it were a little figure like--gold _he_ said it were, but brass -I reckon. Ugly it were, but he says he's goin' to wear it on his -watch-chain. Good night, sir." - -He turned and departed, but: - -"What kind of figure?" I called after him. - -Out of the darkness his voice came back: - -"A sort of a _cat_, sir." - -And I heard his outlandish laughter dying away in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -I DREAM OF GREEN EYES - - -It was long enough before sleep visited me that night. For nearly half -an hour I stood at my open window looking across a moon-bathed slope -to where a tower projected, ghostly, above the fringe of the woods. -The landlord had informed me that it was Friar's Park which could thus -be seen peeping out from the trees, and as I stood watching that -sentinel tower a thousand strange ideas visited me. - -The curious air of loneliness of which I had become conscious at the -moment of my arrival, was emphasized now that the residents in the -district had retired to their scattered habitations. No sound of bird -or beast disturbed the silence. From the time that the footsteps of -Martin the landlord had passed my door as he mounted heavily to his -bed-chamber, no sound had reached me but the muffled ticking of a -grandfather's clock upon the landing outside my room. And even this -sound, the only one intruding upon the stillness, I weaved into my -imaginings, so that presently it began to resemble the ticking of the -clock on the mantelpiece in that gruesome room at the Red House. - -The view which I commanded was an extensive one and although in the -clear country air I could quite easily discern the upstanding wing of -Friar's Park, actually the house and the park were some two miles -distant. Where the park ended and the woods began it was impossible to -determine, yet such was my curious mood that I lingered there -endeavoring to puzzle out those details which were veiled from me by -distance. - -To-morrow, I thought, I should be seeking admittance to that house -among the trees. In fact so great was my anxiety to plumb the depths -of the mystery in the hope of recovering some new fact which should -exculpate Coverly, that nothing but the unseemly lateness of the hour -had deterred me from presenting myself that very evening. - -Yet, my night of idleness had not been altogether unfruitful. I had -met the scarred man, and from Hawkins I had heard something of his -singular story. Now as I stood there drinking in, as it were, the -loneliness of the prospect, my thoughts turned for the hundredth time -to the game-keeper's account of what had befallen the two rustic -rake-hells. I admit that the concluding part of Hawkins' story, quite -evidently regarded by him as a detail of no importance, had -re-awakened hope which had been at lowest ebb in the hour of my -arrival. - -Although it was possible that the gift of a "sort of cat" to young -Edward Hines might prove on investigation to be not a clew but a -will-o'-the-wisp, I preferred to think that fate or the acute -reasoning of Inspector Gatton had sent me down to this quiet country -for a good purpose; and I built great hopes around the figure of the -"lady down from London." Indeed it appeared to me that there were more -lines of investigation demanding attention than alone I could hope to -deal with in the short time at my disposal. Except that I was -determined to visit Friar's Park early on the following day, I -scarcely knew in which direction next to prosecute my inquiries. - -Determining that I should be well-advised to sleep on the problem, I -presently turned in. And when I blew out the candle with which the -chambermaid had provided me, I remember thinking that the moonlight -was so bright that it would have been possible to read moderately -large type without inconvenience. - -I slept perhaps for two hours or more, an unrefreshing sleep disturbed -by dreams of a wildly grotesque nature. Figures increasingly horrible -and menacing crowded upon me; but that which proved the culminating -horror and which finally awakened me, bathed in cold perspiration, was -a dream of two huge green eyes regarding me with a fixed stare, -fascinating and hypnotic, against which evil power I fought in my -dream with all the strength of my will. - -Vaguely defined as if in smoke I could perceive the body of the -creature to which these incredible eyes belonged. It was slender and -sinuous and sometimes I thought it to be that of a human being and -sometimes that of an animal. For at one moment it possessed all the -lines of a woman's form and in the next, with those terrible eyes -regarding me from low down upon the ground, it had assumed the shape -of a crouching beast of prey. This fearsome apparition seemed to be -creeping towards me--nearer and nearer, and was about to spring, I -thought, when I awakened as I have said and sat suddenly upright. - -One thing I immediately perceived which may have accounted for my bad -dreams; I had been sleeping with the moonlight shining directly upon -my face. Another thing I thought I perceived, but endeavored to assure -myself that it represented the aftermath of an unpleasant nightmare. -This was a lithe shape streaking through my open window--a figment of -the imagination, as I concluded at the time, the tail-end of a dream -visibly retreating in the moment of awakening. - -So self-assured of this did I become, that I did not get up to -investigate the matter, nor was there any sound from the road below to -suggest that the figure had been otherwise than imaginary, yet I found -it difficult to woo slumber again, and for nearly an hour I lay -tossing from side to side, listening to the ticking of the -grandfather's clock and constantly seeing in my mind's eye that -deserted supper-room at the Red House. - -And presently as I lay thus, I became aware of two things: first of -the howling of dogs, and, second, of a sort of muttered conversation -which seemed to be taking place somewhere near me. Listening intently, -I thought I could distinguish the voice of a man and that of a woman. -Possibly I was not the only wakeful inhabitant of the Abbey Inn was my -first and most natural idea; but it presently became apparent to me -that the speakers were not in the inn, but outside in the road. - -Curiosity at last overcame inclination. Of the exact time I was not -aware, but I think dawn could not have been far off, and I naturally -wondered who these might be that conversed beneath my window at such -an hour. I rose quietly and crept across the room, endeavoring to -avoid showing my head in the moonlight. By the exercise of a little -ingenuity I obtained a view of the road before the inn doors. - -At first I was unable to make out from whence this muttered -conversation arose, until fixing my attention upon a patch of shadow -underlying a tall tree which stood almost immediately opposite the -window, I presently made out two figures there. Somewhere, a dog was -howling mournfully. - -For a long time I failed to distinguish any more than indefinite -outlines, nor, throughout the murmured colloquy, did I once detect -even so much as a phrase. The night remained perfect and the moon -possessed a tropical brilliance, casting deep and sharply defined -shadows, and lending to the whole visible landscape a quality of -hardness which for some obscure reason set me thinking of a painting -by Wiertz. - -The low-pitched voices continued in what I thought was a dispute. -Something in the voice of the woman, although I could only hear her -occasionally, piqued yet eluded my memory. But it was the voice of a -young woman, whilst that of the man suggested a foreigner of some sort -and one past youth. Subconsciously pursuing the Wiertz idea, I know -not why, I invested the dimly-visible speakers with distinct -personalities. The man became Asmodeus, master of the revels at the -Black Sabbath, and the young woman I cast for that "young witch" -depicted in one of the canvasses of the weird Belgian genius. - -Everything in the black and silver scene seemed to fit the picture. -Here was the unholy tryst, and I pictured the distant woods "peopled -with gray things, the branches burdened with winged creatures arisen -from the pit; the darkness a curtain 'broidered with luminous eyes...." - -And it was my recollection of that phrase, from a work on sorcery, -which now set every nerve tingling. Closely I peered into the masking -shadow, telling myself that I was the victim of a subjective -hallucination. If this was indeed the case or if what I saw was -actual, I must leave each who reads to determine for himself; and the -episodes which follow and which I must presently relate will doubtless -aid the decision. - -But it seemed to me that for one fleeting moment "luminous eyes" -indeed "'broidered the darkness!'" From out of the shade below the big -tree they regarded me greenly--and I saw them no more. - -A while longer I watched, but could not detect any evidence of -movement in the shadow patch. The voices, too, had ceased; so that -presently it occurred to me that the speakers must have withdrawn -along a narrow lane which I had observed during the evening and which -communicated with a footpath across the meadows. - -I realized that my heart was beating with extraordinary rapidity. So -powerful and so unpleasant was the impression made upon my mind by -this possibly trivial incident and by the extraordinary dream which -had preceded it, that on returning to bed (and despite the warmth of -the night) I closed both lattices and drew the curtains. - -Whether as a result of thus excluding the moonlight or because of some -other reason I know not, but I soon fell into a sound sleep from which -I did not awaken until the chambermaid knocked at the door at eight -o'clock. Neither did I experience any return of those terrifying -nightmares which had disturbed my slumbers earlier in the night. - -My breakfast despatched, I smoked a pipe on the bench in the porch, -and Mr. Martin, who evidently had few visitors, became almost -communicative. Undesirable patrons, he gave me to understand, had done -his business much harm. By dint of growls and several winks he sought -to enlighten me respecting the identity of these tradekillers. But I -was no wiser on the point at the end of his exposition than I had been -at the beginning. - -"Things ain't right in these parts," he concluded, and thereupon -retired within doors. - -Certainly, whatever the reason might be, the village even in broad -daylight retained that indefinable aspect of neglect, of loneliness. -Many of the cottages were of very early date--and many were empty. A -deserted mill stood at one end of the village street, having something -very mournful and depressing about it, with its black, motionless -wings outspread against the blue sky like those of a great bat -transfixed. - -There were rich-looking meadows no great way from the village, but -these, I learned, formed part of the property of Farmer Hines, and -Farmer Hines was counted an inhabitant of the next parish. It was, -then, this particular country about Upper Crossleys over which the -cloud hung; and I wondered if the district had been one of -those--growing rare nowadays--which had flourished under the -protection of the "big house" and had decayed with the decay of the -latter. It had been a common enough happening in the old days, and I -felt disposed to adopt this explanation. - -My brief survey completed, then, I returned to the Abbey Inn for my -stick and camera, and set out forthwith for Friar's Park. - -From certain atmospherical indications which I had observed, I had -anticipated a return of the electrical storm which a few days before -had interrupted the extraordinary heat-wave. And now as I left the -village behind and came out on the dusty highroad a faint breeze -greeted me--and afar off I discerned a black cloud low down upon the -distant hills. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -DR. DAMAR GREEFE - - -As the crow flies Friar's Park was less than two miles from the Abbey -Inn; but the road, which according to a sign-board led "to -Hainingham," followed a tortuous course through the valley, and when -at last I came to what I assumed to be the gate-lodge, a thunderous -ebony cloud crested the hill-top above, and its edge, catching the -burning rays of the sun, glowed fiercely like the pall of Avalon in -the torchlight. Through the dense ranks of firs cloaking the slopes a -breeze presaging the coming storm whispered evilly, and here in the -hollow the birds were still. - -I stared rather blankly at the ivy-covered lodge, which, if -appearances were to be trusted, was unoccupied. But I pushed open the -iron gate and tugged at a ring which was suspended from the wall. A -discordant clangor rewarded my efforts, the cracked note of a bell -which spoke from somewhere high up in the building, that seemed to be -buffeted to and fro from fir to fir, until it died away, mournfully, -in some place of shadows far up the slope. - -In the voice of the bell there was something lonesome, something akin -to the atmosphere of desertion which seemed to lie upon the whole -neighborhood--something fearful, too, as though the bell would -whisper: "Return! Beware of disturbing the dwellers in this place." - -The house, one wing of which I have said was visible from the inn -window, could not be seen at all from the gate. Indeed I had lost -sight of it at the moment that I had set out and had never obtained a -glimpse of it since. - -Ten minutes before, I had inquired the way from a farm-laborer whom I -had met on the road, and he had answered me with a curiosity but -thinly veiled. His directions had been characterized by that rustic -vagueness which assumes in the inquirer an intimate knowledge of local -landmarks. But nevertheless I believed I had come aright. I gathered -from its name that Friar's Park was in part at least a former monastic -building, and certainly the cracked bell spoke with the voice of -ancient monasteries, and had in it the hush of cloisters and the sigh -of renunciation. - -Although I had mentioned nothing of the purpose of my journey to mine -host of the Abbey Inn or to any of his cronies--and these were few in -number--I had hoped to find Hawkins at the lodge; and a second time I -awoke the ghostly bell-voice. But nothing responded to its call; man, -bird and beast had seemingly deserted Friar's Park. - -Faintly I detected the lowing of cattle in some distant pasture; the -ranks of firs whispered secretly one to another; and the pall above -the hills grew blacker and began to stretch out over the valley. - -Amid this ominous stillness of nature I began to ascend the -cone-strewn path. Evidently enough the extensive grounds had been -neglected for years, and that few pedestrians and fewer vehicles ever -sought Friar's Park was demonstrated by the presence of luxurious -weeds in the carriage-way. Having proceeded for some distance, until -the sheer hillside seemed to loom over me like the wall of a tower, I -paused, peering about in the ever growing darkness. I was aware of a -physical chill; certainly no ray of sunlight ever penetrated to this -tunnel through the firs. Could I have mistaken the path and be -proceeding, not towards the house, but away from it, and into the -gloom of the woods? Or perhaps the deserted lodge was that of some -other, empty establishment. - -There was something uncomfortable in this reflection; momentarily I -knew a childish fear of the dim groves. I thought of the "darkness -'broidered with luminous eyes," and I walked forward rapidly, -self-assertively. Ten paces brought me to one of the many bends in the -winding road--and there, far ahead, as though out of some cavern in -the very hillside, a yellow light shone. - -I pressed on with greater assurance, until the house became visible. -Now I perceived that I had indeed strayed from the carriage sweep in -some way, for the path that I was following terminated at the foot of -a short flight of moss-covered steps. I mounted the steps and found -myself at the bottom of a terrace. The main entrance was far to my -left and separated from the terrace by a neglected lawn. That portion -of the place was Hanoverian and ugly, whilst the wing nearest to me -was Tudor and picturesque. Excepting the yellow light shining out from -a window on the right of the porch, no illuminations were visible -about the house, although the brewing storm had already plunged the -hollow into premature night. - -My conception of Friar's Park had been wide of the reality--and there -was no sign of occupancy about this strange-looking mansion, which -might have hidden forgotten for centuries in the horse-shoe of the -hills. The stillness of the place was of that sort which almost seems -to be palpable; that can be seen and felt. A humid chill arose -apparently from the terrace, with its stone pavings outlined in moss, -and crept up from the wilderness below and down from the fir woods -above. - -I had crossed the terrace and the lawn, and now stood looking through -the open French window from which light had proceeded into a room that -evidently adjoined the hall. A great still darkness had come, and on a -littered table in this room a reading-lamp was burning. - -The room was furnished as a library. Every available foot of wall -space was occupied by laden bookcases. The volumes were nearly all old -and many of them were in strange, evidently foreign, bindings. Items -of chemical apparatus and cases of specimens were visible also as well -as an amazing collection of Egyptian relics strewn about the place in -the utmost disorder. - -At the table a man was seated, deep in study of a huge leather-bound -volume. He was strangely gaunt, and apparently very tall. His -clean-shaven face resembled that of Anubis, the hawk-headed god of -Ancient Egypt, and his hair, which was growing white, he wore long and -brushed back from his bony brow. His skin was of a dull, even yellow -color, and his long thin brown hands betrayed to me the fact that the -man was a Eurasian. The crunching of a piece of gravel under foot -revealed my presence. The man looked up swiftly. - -I started. Those widely-opened black eyes were truly hawk-like in -their dark intensity of gaze, and the uncanny resemblance to Anubis -was heightened by them. More than ever convinced that I had made a -mistake: - -"Forgive me for so rudely disturbing you," I said, "but I was under -the impression that this was Friar's Park, whereas I fear I have -trespassed." - -The intense gaze never left my face for a moment, but: - -"There is no trespass," answered the man at the table, speaking in a -high harsh voice and with a marked but evasive accent. "All visitors -are welcome--chance ones, or otherwise. But you have certainly lost -your way; this is the Bell House." - -"And am I far from Friar's Park?" - -"No great distance. May I ask if Lady Coverly knew of your proposed -visit?" - -"She did not," I said with surprise. - -"Then I fear your journey has been fruitless. She is an invalid and -can receive no one." - -There was something peremptory and imperious in his manner which I -resented, and evidently perceiving this resentment: - -"I am Lady Coverly's medical adviser," added the Eurasian. "Possibly I -can afford you some assistance. In any event I fear you will have to -accept my poor hospitality for the nonce. The alternative is a -drenching." - -Even as he spoke, the hollow was illuminated by a blinding flash of -lightning, and indeed his last words were drowned in the thunder that -boomed and crashed in deepening peals over the hills. - -In a sudden tropical torrent the rain descended, and I stepped forward -into the room. Its occupant rose to his great height to greet me. - -"I am Dr. Damar Greefe," he said, and bowed formally. - -I made myself known to him in turn, and with a sort of stately -courtesy he set a high-backed chair for me and himself resumed his -former seat. - -"You are a stranger to this neighborhood, I gather?" he continued. - -Now, in spite of his polished courtesy, there was that about Dr. Damar -Greefe which I did not and could not like. The voice was the voice of -a gentleman, but the face was a mask--a mask of Anubis; and seated -there in that strange untidy apartment, amid varied relics of the past -and obscure experiments possibly designed to pry into the future, -whilst thunder boomed high over the Bell House, I determined to -withhold from Dr. Damar Greefe the true nature of my mission. In fact -already I regretted having told him my name--although to have given a -fictitious one would have been a gross violation of hospitality -unhesitatingly offered. - -Even now I find it hard to explain the mingled sentiments which -claimed me on the occasion of this my first meeting with a very -singular man. - -"I am taking a brief rest cure," I replied; "and as I am given to -understand that Friar's Park is of much historical interest, I had -purposed seeking permission to look over the place and if possible to -take a few photographs." - -Dr. Damar Greefe inclined his head gravely. - -"A former monastic house, Mr. Addison," he replied. "And as you say, -of great archaeological interest. But the regrettably poor health of -Lady Coverly makes it impossible for her to entertain visitors." - -Something in the tone of his voice, which now he had lowered so that -some of its natural harshness was disguised, set me wondering where I -had heard it before. It needed no further scrutiny of the hawk face to -convince me that I had never hitherto met Dr. Damar Greefe; but I -certainly believed that I had previously heard his voice, although I -quite failed to recall where and under what circumstances. - -"Sir Burnham has been dead for several years, I believe?" I asked -tentatively. - -"For several years, yes." - -Without returning to the peremptory tone which had distinguished his -earlier manner, Dr. Damar Greefe coldly but courteously blocked my -path to discussion of the Coverly family; and after several abortive -attempts to draw him out upon the point, I recognized this deliberate -design and abandoned the matter. - -The storm was moving westward, and although brilliant flashes of -lightning several times lighted up the queer room, gleaming upon the -gayly-painted lid of an Egyptian sarcophagus or throwing into horrid -relief some anatomical specimen in one of the cases, the thunder -crashed no more over the house. But its booming reached my ears from -away upon a remote spur of the hills. I became aware of a growing -uneasiness in the company of my chance host, who sat by the oddly -littered table, watching me with those birdlike eyes. - -"Surely," I said, "the rain has ceased?" - -"Temporarily," he replied, glancing toward the terrace. "But I should -advise you to delay a few minutes longer. There is every threat of a -concluding downpour to come ere long." - -"Many thanks," I returned; "I'll risk it. I have already trespassed -unwarrantably upon your time, Dr. Greefe. It was good of you to give -me shelter." - -He rose, a tall thin figure, vaguely repellent, upon realizing that I -was set on departure, and conducted me out by way of the front door. -Standing in the porch: - -"At any time that you chance to be again in my neighborhood, Mr. -Addison," he said, "I beg of you to call. I have few visitors." - -By what process, whether of reasoning or intuition, I came to the -conclusion, I know not; but as I turned the bend of the tree-roofed -drive and saw the deserted lodge ahead, I knew beyond any possibility -of doubt that Dr. Damar Greefe had not returned to his studies, but -had swiftly passed along some path through the trees so as to head me -off! His purpose in so doing I knew not, but that he had cherished -this purpose and proposed to act upon it I had divined in some way at -the moment that I had left him in the porch. - -Now, hastening my steps, I began to wonder if his design was to -intercept me or merely to watch which way I should turn on gaining the -main road. That it was the latter I presently learned; for although my -unpleasant imagination pictured the gaunt hawk-like figure lurking -amid the shadows which hemmed me in, I played the part of innocence -and never once looked back. - -Coming out into the highroad, I turned sharply left, retracing the -route by which I had come to the Eurasian doctor's abode. If he had -suspected that I had intended to call at Friar's Park despite his -assurance that such a visit would prove futile, then he was -disappointed. A new and strange theory to account for "the _Oritoga_ -mystery" had presented itself to me--a horrible theory, yet, so far as -my present data went, a feasible one. Above all, I realized that I had -committed a strategical error in openly seeking an interview with Lady -Coverly. But I had not, when I had formed that plan, known of the -existence of Dr. Damar Greefe. - -I uttered a sigh of relief upon emerging upon the highroad. The -certainty that the white-haired Eurasian was dogging me through the -trees was an unpleasant one. And now I perceived that several courses -presented themselves; but first I must obtain more information. I -perceived a mystery within a mystery; for I was not likely to forget -that in Dr. Damar Greefe's collection I had noted a number of -_Bubastite cats_. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE BLACK DOCTOR - - -My mail, neatly readdressed by Coates, was awaiting me when I returned -to the Abbey Inn. The postal deliveries in Upper Crossleys were -eccentric and unreliable, but having glanced through the cuttings -enclosed, I partook of a hasty lunch and sat down to the task of -preparing a column for the _Planet_ which should not deflect public -interest from the known central figures in the tragedy but which at -the same time should hint at new developments. - -Many times in the intervals of writing I glanced through my open -window across the valley to where the upstanding wing of Friar's Park -jutted above the trees. Strange and terrible ideas flocked to my -mind--ideas which must be carefully excluded from the _Planet_ -article. But at last the manuscript was completed and I determined to -walk into the neighboring town, some miles distant, to post it and at -the same time to despatch a code telegram to Inspector Gatton. The -long walk did me good, helping me to clear my mind of morbid vapors; -therefore, my business finished, and immune from suspicion in my -character of a London pedestrian, I set out to obtain that vital -information which I lacked. - -A natural taciturnity rendered mine host of the Abbey Inn a difficult -subject for interrogation. Moreover that patriarchal outlook which had -been evidenced in his attitude towards the uncouth Edward Hines -clearly enough deterred him from imparting to me any facts detrimental -to the good name of Upper Crossleys. But on the highroad and just -before entering the outskirts of the little country town, I had -observed an inn which had seemed to be well patronized by the local -folks, and since your typical country tap-room is a clearing-house for -the gossip of the neighborhood, to "The Threshers" I made my way. - -The doors had only just been opened; nevertheless as I set my foot -upon the step I met the very gossip that I sought. - -"Hope you wasn't caught in the shower, this morning, sir?" said an old -man seated solitary in an armchair in the corner of the bar-parlor. -"But the country'll be all the better for the rain." He eyed me, and: -"There's many a fine walk hereabouts," he averred. "There's lots -comes down from London, especially of a Sunday." - -"No doubt," said I encouragingly, stepping up to the counter. - -"There's Manton-on-the-Hill," continued the ancient. "You can see the -sea from there in clear weather; and many's the time in the war I've -heard the guns in France from Upper Crowbury of a still night. Then, -four mile away, there's the old Friar's Park; though nobody's allowed -past the gate. Not as nobody wants to be," he added reflectively. - -"How is that? I understood that Friar's Park was of great interest." - -"Oh, ah!" murmured my acquaintance. "Oh, ah! Maybe you was thinkin' of -lookin' over it like?" - -"I was--yes." - -"Oh, ah! Well--there's some likes a bit o' danger." - -"Danger?" I echoed. "To what danger do you refer?" - -He surveyed me with cunning, old rheumy eyes, and: - -"What about man-traps?" he inquired. "Ain't man-traps dangerous? And -what about shot-guns? Shot-guns can make a party feel sick, can't -they? Oh, ah!" - -"But," I exclaimed, "you surely don't mean that there are traps laid -in the grounds of the Park? It isn't legal. And why should any one -shoot at visitors?" - -"Maybe 'cause they're told to," he shouted. "Aye--that's the reason as -like as not; 'cause they're told to." - -"Who are 'they'?" - -"Old Gipsy Hawkins as used to be Sir Burnham's under-keeper. What's he -doin' of up there at Park all day? Layin' traps and such--that's what -he's doin' of. My son Jim knows it, he do. My son Jim found one of -'em--and left best part of a pair of trousers in it, too!" - -These statements if true would seem to cast an unpleasant sidelight -upon the character of my acquaintance of the Abbey Inn. I wondered if -the "Jim" referred to was that "young Jim Corder" whose name seemed -to be a standing joke with the man Hawkins (I learned later that it -was so). And I wondered if Martin's mysterious references to certain -patrons, whose patronage had damaged his business, might not have -referred to the game-keeper. Moreover I now put a new construction -upon Hawkins' sly amusement when I had inquired about the "shooting" -in the neighborhood. - -I began to grow keenly interested, and: - -"Surely you took some steps in the matter?" I asked. - -"Oh, ah. My son Jim did. He lay for days for that there Gipsy -Hawkins--but Hawkins was too wise for him." - -"But," said I, "you could legally have claimed damages." - -"Maybe," was the reply; "but I reckon they'd have asked what my son -Jim was doing in the Park. Oh, ah, I reckon they would." - -This point of view had not hitherto presented itself to me, but that -it was a just one I did not doubt. - -"What is the object of all this?" I asked. "Does Lady Coverly object -to any one entering the grounds?" - -"'Tain't Lady Coverly," confided the old man; "it's that there black -doctor." - -"What black doctor?" I exclaimed. - -"Him they call Doctor Greefe." - -"Oh," said I, "you call him the black doctor. Is he a negro?" - -"He's black," was the reply, "black he is although his hair is white. -Oh, ah, there's black blood in him all right." - -"And what has he to do with the man-traps in the Park?" - -"Has 'em put there--has 'em put there, he does." - -"But what for? Surely the property belongs not to Dr. Greefe but to -Lady Coverly." - -"Belongs to her! Her own soul don't belong to her!" - -I was conscious of a growing excitement. I thought that I was about to -learn the very fact which I was seeking, and accordingly: - -"What is the age of Lady Burnham Coverly?" I asked. - -"Lady Burnham? Well, let me see; she were not more'n about -twenty-five, I reckon, when Sir Burnham first brought her to the Park. -Them was the days, them was. These parts 'as changed cruel since I was -a young man. Then it was soon after as Sir Burnham went off to Egypt -for government, and eleven years afore he come back again." - -"Did Lady Burnham accompany him to Egypt?" I asked, interestedly. - -"Oh, ah, for sure she did. Poor Mr. Roger was born in Egypt. It was -eight years come October they returned home to Park, and six years -come September poor young Mr. Roger died." - -"Then Lady Coverly must be something over forty years of age," said I -musingly. - -One of my theories, a wild one, I must confess, was shattered by this -piece of information. In short I had conceived the idea (and the news -that Lady Coverly had resided for some years in Egypt had strengthened -it) that the woman in the case was none other than the mistress of -Friar's Park! Her antipathy towards the late baronet had seemed to -suggest a motive for the crime. But it was impossible to reconcile the -figure of this lonely and bereaved woman with that of the -supernormally agile visitant to my cottage in London, in short, with -the possessor of those dreadful green eyes. I determined to try a new -tack, and remembering that the real object of my journey to Upper -Crossleys was to learn particulars respecting the early death of Roger -Coverly: - -"Did Mr. Roger Coverly die in England?" I inquired. - -"Oh, no, sir; he died in foreign parts, but they brought him home to -bury him, they did." - -"Do you know of what he died?" - -"Oh, ah. I have heard tell it was some foreign fever like--took him -off sudden, and him only a lad. It killed poor Sir Burnham, it did." - -"Then Sir Burnham died shortly afterwards?" - -"Two years afterwards, and these parts has never been the same since." - -"But what has Dr. Greefe to do with all this?" - -"Ah, now you're asking. Seven years ago he settled here in the big -house up by the Park; part of the Park estate it is; and there he's -been ever since, him and his black servant." - -"Black servant!" I exclaimed. - -"Oh, ah, real black he is--not half-and-half like his master, but as -black as a lump o' coal, an' ugly--oh, ah, he's ugly right enough. -Goes up to the Abbey Inn of a night he do, him and that there Gipsy -Hawkins, the prettiest pair o' rascals in Upper Crossleys. Drove all -the decent folk away from the place, and Martin keeps the best beer -about here, too. If I was Martin," continued the ancient, truculently, -"I'd know what to say to them two, I would; aye, and what to do to -'em," he added with great ferocity. - -"Oh," said I; for this unexpected clearing up of so many minor -mysteries had rather taken me aback. "Then Dr. Greefe is not popular?" - -"Popular!" echoed the old man. - -He drained his tankard and set it down on the table with a bang. - -"He's been the ruin o' these parts, he has. He's worse than the -turnip-fly." - -"But in what way is he responsible for these evils of which you -complain?" - -The old man peered into his empty mug with a glance of such eloquence -that I could not mistake its import. Accordingly, I caused it to be -refilled, thus preventing any check in the flow of his eloquence, and: - -"In what way?" he asked, his voice raised in a high quavering note. He -laughed, and his laughter was pitched in the same time-worn key. "That -doctor is a blot on the country. When Sir Burnham was alive--and afore -he went to Egypt--it was different; although, mind you, it's my -belief--oh, ah, it is indeed--that him coming here had as much to do -with Sir Burnham's death as the loss of his son what I told you -about. That's my belief." - -I took a sip from my replenished mug, and: - -"I cannot understand," I said, "why the presence of Dr. Greefe should -have brought about the death of Sir Burnham or the death of anybody -else." - -"No," said the old man, cunningly; "you can't, eh? Well, there be -things none of us can understand and things some of us can. If you -ever clap eyes on that there black doctor, like enough this'll be one -of the things you'll be able to understand." - -With the idea of drawing yet more intimate confidences: - -"You suggest that Dr. Greefe had some hold upon the late Sir Burnham?" - -"I don't suggest nothing." - -"Some hold upon Lady Burnham, then?" - -"Oh, ah, like enough." - -"Don't think," I added solicitously, "that I doubt the truth of your -statements in any way, but what could this black doctor, as you call -him, have to gain by persecuting these people?" - -"There be things," replied my aged friend, "what none of us can -understand, but there be things that all of us do. Oh, ah, there be; -and all of us in these parts knows as Upper Crossleys ain't been the -same since that black doctor settled here. Besides, first Mr. Roger -went, then Sir Burnham went. Now I do read in this 'ere paper as -another of 'em is gone." - -He held up two gnarled and twitching fingers crossed before him. - -"Did you ever hear tell of the evil eye?" he asked, and peered at me -cunningly. He took a long drink from his mug. "But maybe you'll laugh -at _that_," he added. - -"I am in no way disposed to laugh at anything you have told me," I -assured him; "and as to the evil eye, I have certainly heard of such a -thing, although I must admit, and I am glad to admit, that I have -never met with it." - -"I do trust, sir," responded the ancient, "that such a kind-hearted -gent may never meet with it. Ah, I do trust that you never may, which -is to say, so to speak, as I do trust as you'll never meet that black -doctor. If ever a man, had the evil eye, that black doctor's got it, -and old Mother Shale what lives in the cottage on the heath down -against the windmill, she warned me, she did, three days after he come -here. 'Mr. Corder,' she says, 'that black doctor has the evil eye!' -And never was a truer word spoke. He's been the bane and blight of -this 'ere place, he has." - -He paused from sheer lack of breath, and having allowed him some -little interval of repose: - -"But what has the evil eye to do with the laying of man-traps and the -shooting of visitors who may chance to cross the estate?" I inquired. - -"Ah, that's it! But the evil eye, I'm told, goes with the evil heart, -and that man's heart's as black as his face. Blacker," he added, on -second thoughts. - -"Yet you have no positive evidence that Dr. Greefe is responsible for -the setting of these man-traps and the attitude of Hawkins?" - -"Nobody has," declared my acquaintance earnestly. "If anybody had, -we'd have had the law on him long ago." - -"And is Lady Burnham often seen about?" I inquired. - -"Never!" was the reply. "She ain't passed the gates of the Park this -twelve months and more." - -He looked about him covertly, and: - -"It's my belief," he affirmed, lowering his quavering voice almost to -a whisper, "that she'll never pass them gates again alive." - -"Oh," said I. "This seems to be a very cheerful neighborhood. Yet in -spite of your wishes on my behalf, I must confess I should like a -glimpse of this black doctor. Does he practice about here?" - -"Practice? Is it likely?" - -"Then he has private means?" - -"His house belongs to the estate," was the reply; "and you can't tell -me he ever pays any rent. As to his means I don't know nothing about -that." - -I gathered little more of interest from my acquaintance of "The -Threshers," but indeed I had gathered enough, and as I wended my way -back to the Abbey Inn, I was turning over in my mind the extraordinary -story that he had related to me concerning Dr. Damar Greefe. - -Clearly the man lived the life of a pariah and I knew not whether to -pity him or otherwise. In an ignorant community it is a dreadful thing -to earn such a reputation as that which evidently attached to the -Eurasian doctor; and this talk of the evil eye took me back -automatically to the early days of this quaint spot, where, cut off -from the larger things of life, the simple folk continued to hold the -same beliefs which had stirred their forefathers. In those remote -times when the white brethren from the neighboring Abbey had held -absolute sway in that country-side, the life history of one accused, as -Dr. Damar Greefe was now accused, of possessing the evil eye, would -very probably have terminated upon a pile of faggots, by order of -Mother Church. It was all very strange, and apart from its importance -in the eyes of the ignorant country folk, seemed to contain a nucleus -of something more germane to the object of my mission than the -imaginings of ancient sorcery which still lingered in the minds of the -people of Upper Crossleys. - -I thought how I had looked out of my window and had found in the -moon-bathed landscape something which had translated my ideas to that -strange picture of Wiertz. Then I had known nothing of this nebula of -witchcraft which, according to popular tradition, rested upon the -vicinity; yet I had pictured the night as "a curtain 'broidered with -luminous eyes"--and I could only suppose that my mind had become -impressed by a picture conjured up by this focusing of local thought. -In short, the people of the neighborhood had created this atmosphere -of desolation and of something more sinister, which I had observed in -the very hour of my arrival at the little village. - -So my thoughts ran as I proceeded back to the Abbey Inn; and as I had -collected much new and valuable information, I determined to embody it -in a long report to Gatton. Furthermore, I was doubtful as to my next -step, the bold move which I made later not having yet presented itself -to my mind. - -Twice during the evening, however, I looked into the bar-parlor, but -neither "Gipsy" Hawkins nor the black servant appeared. But when at -last I turned in, I closed my windows and drew the curtains. I desired -no repetition of the dreams which had made hideous my first night at -the Abbey Inn. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -I RECEIVE VISITORS - - -Over my breakfast, on the following morning, I began to formulate that -plan which was to lead to an extraordinary discovery. I breakfasted in -my own room, and just as I had finished and was about to light my -pipe, Mr. Martin, the landlord, knocked at the door. - -"Come in," I cried. - -He entered, and: - -"A lady has called to see you, sir," he announced. - -The manner in which he made the statement evidenced a curious mixture -of disapproval and respect. For my own part it is perhaps unnecessary -for me to say that my first thought, as always, was Isobel! In the -very moment, however, that this idea visited me (the wish being father -of the thought) I recognized its folly. - -"A lady," I repeated; "but I know no one here. Are you certain that it -was for me she asked?" - -"Quite, sir," replied the landlord, who was evidently flurried out of -his usual calm by what I gathered to be an episode unprecedented in -his memories of the Abbey Inn. "Mr. Addison, she asked for. She is -waiting in the coffee-room, sir." - -Wholly at a loss to understand who my visitor could be, I made my way -to the little apartment at the side of the bar-parlor which Mr. Martin -had dignified with the title of coffee-room. I observed upon the bench -before the door a shabby-looking fellow whom I might have taken to be -some local tradesman except that he appeared to be a chance visitor -and was evidently unacquainted with Martin. He was reading a newspaper -and I saw a cup of coffee set upon the bench beside him. - -This was a hazy morning, which I thought betokened another hot day, -and as I entered the "coffee-room" I found it to be pervaded by a -curious half-light, not unlike that of summer twilight. The glow of -the sun peering redly through the mist added warmth to this soft -illumination, but since the room boasted only one small window it was -badly lighted even at noon. - -From a little horse-hair-covered sofa set before this window my -visitor rose to greet me, and with my hand upon the knob of the door I -paused. For certainly this was a stranger who stood before me! - -She was tall and very slender, attired with great elegance, and in her -whole appearance there was something markedly foreign--or perhaps I -should say exotic. She wore a small hat which I judged to be Parisian -and expensive, and from its brim depended a figured veil which -effectually disguised her features, without being able or perhaps -without being intended to disguise her brilliant, almond-shaped eyes. -For one moment, a dreadful idea presented itself to me; but the most -appalling memory which I retained of those other witch-eyes around -which so much mystery clustered was their brilliant greenness. The -eyes of my visitor, although unusually large and brilliant, were -totally different in shape, being long and narrow, and apparently of a -wonderful amber color. - -When she spoke her voice was very cultured and soft; yet I started and -I know I must have been staring very hard and very rudely. There was a -faint huskiness in its tone, a caress in its accents, which -irresistibly reminded me of the scene in my study which had resulted, -in the loss of the image of Bast. - -I think I have already indicated that I am one of those who arrive at -a decision somewhat laboriously; and now convinced that my memory of -the luminous eyes was threatening to become an obsession, so that I -looked to find them blazing out at me from the face of every stranger -whom I encountered, I forced myself to believe that a chance -resemblance in my visitor's voice to the voice of that other visitor -had tricked me. - -"Mr. Addison," she said, "I'm afraid you will think this call somewhat -unconventional, but"--she paused almost imperceptibly--"I am staying -at Friar's Park, and Lady Coverly has heard from Dr. Greefe that you -wish to see the house." - -"Really," I murmured, "it was good of you to take so much trouble, -but--" - -"It was no trouble at all," she declared. "I had occasion to come this -way and Lady Coverly asked me to call and tell you that whilst she is -not well enough to receive visitors, you are quite welcome to inspect -the older parts of the house." - -"I am much indebted," I said. - -Having so spoken, I ceased and was aware of a kind of embarrassment. -For whilst I was naturally anxious to avoid unpleasant suspicions -regarding a lady who apparently had gone out of her way to perform an -act of courtesy, yet I could not place this elegant figure in the -household of Friar's Park as that household had been depicted by my -old gossip of "The Threshers." - -I mentally determined there and then to question Martin, and if -possible Hawkins, upon the point, directly an opportunity arose, and -the former immediately my visitor had departed. But she seemed to be -in no hurry to depart. - -"You have never visited this neighborhood before?" she continued, in -the soft, caressing voice which persistently awakened memories of that -evening in my cottage. - -She re-seated herself upon the sofa, leaving me no alternative but to -sit down in the only chair which the coffee-room boasted. I could not -fail to notice, however, that although she addressed me as Mr. -Addison, she did not volunteer her own name. Furthermore, she remained -throughout with her back to the window. - -"Never," I replied; "it is very interesting in many ways, I believe." - -"You will find Friar's Park most fascinating," she assured me. "It -stands upon the site of one of the oldest and largest monasteries in -the south of England. Indeed, some parts of the house, notably the -chapel and the west tower, which is visible from here, I think, are -remains of the original building." - -She was palpably trying to interest me; and conscious that my somewhat -frigid attitude was churlish, if she was really what she professed to -be--namely, a friend of Lady Coverly's--I endeavored in turn to -display an intelligent interest in the history of the old monastic -house. - -I do not regret that I did so. I think that I have never heard the dry -bones of history clothed so fascinatingly. The knowledge displayed by -my unknown visitor of the history of that old monkish corner of -England was truly amazing. The Coverlys, it appeared, had played their -part in that history right back to the misty times of Saxon England. -The scenes conjured up by my first sight of the curiously wild country -which lay between the village and the distant parkland were presented -now with all the color and truth of real life. This woman seemingly -was acquainted with almost every act of importance of every Coverly -since the days of Canute and with the doings of all the abbots who had -ever ruled over Croix-de-Lis. - -Finally, while I listened in ever growing wonder, fascinated by the -extent of this strange woman's knowledge and in part, too, by the -husky music of her voice, she seemed to become conscious of the -passage of time and, rising suddenly, she laughed; and her laughter -again awakened a memory. - -"How perfectly absurd of me, Mr. Addison!" she said. "You will -certainly think I am more than eccentric to sit here fulfilling the -part of a local guide." - -Even as she spoke the words, a sound intruded from the road outside. A -heavy footstep came first, the footstep of one who approached the door -of the inn; then: - -"Martin!" I heard; "a moment, please." - -It was Dr. Damar Greefe! - -If the sound of his voice had startled me, its effect upon my visitor -was truly singular. Taking a swift step towards me, she grasped my arm -with her strangely slender gloved hand. Now that she stood so close to -me, I realized that she was even taller than I had supposed, nearly as -tall as myself, in fact. Her swift, lithe movements possessed an -indescribable grace which, as I thought, and experienced a sudden -revulsion, were oddly uncanny--cat-like. - -"Oh, Mr. Addison," she said, and drew even nearer, so that I could -feel her breath upon my cheek, "I fear that man as one fears a snake. -I am going to ask a favor of you. I see that there is another door to -this room, and I have a particular reason for wishing to avoid him. I -don't know where that doorway leads to, but I can doubtless find my -way out." - -Her grasp upon my arm tightened. - -"Dare I ask you," she added pleadingly, "to conceal from him if -necessary the fact that I have been here?" - -"But Martin knows that you have been here," I protested, my mind in a -whirl at this sudden turn of affairs; "and the man sitting on the -bench outside must have seen you come in also." - -"He did not," she replied rapidly, "and Martin does not know who I -am." - -It was on the tip of my tongue to say, "Neither do I," but: - -"Please," she pleaded; "it is not much to ask, but it means so much to -me." - -Thereupon, without waiting for my answer, she turned and ran out -through the little doorway, which opened as a matter of fact into the -larder of the inn, from which there was an exit into a kitchen-garden. - -I could hear Martin, the landlord, talking to the Eurasian doctor in -the passage outside the coffee-room, and before I had time to open the -door, there came a peremptory rap, the door was opened from the -outside and Dr. Damar Greefe entered. - -In spite of the already great heat of the morning he wore a heavy -black overcoat, and his white hair showed in startling relief beneath -a wide-brimmed black felt hat. If I had been surprised at the tallness -of the woman who had so suddenly departed, the stature of the Eurasian -was curiously illustrated by the fact that he had to lower his head in -order to enter the little doorway. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, peering towards me where I stood in the badly -lighted room--"Mr. Addison, I believe?" - -"At your service, Dr. Greefe," I replied. - -"I understood that my niece was here?" - -"Your niece!" I exclaimed, and my astonishment was quite unfeigned. - -"Precisely." - -That peremptory manner which I had previously resented in him evinced -itself now; and even had I lacked reasons other than personal for -foiling him I should certainly have returned a reply far from pacific. - -"I was not aware," he continued, his voice high-pitched and harsh, -"that you were acquainted. Inform me." - -All the time he was peering about the room suspiciously, and: - -"I inform you that we are not!" I said. "But if we were, I cannot -conceive that our acquaintance would concern you in any way." - -"You are rude, sir!" he cried, and bent towards me so that I could see -the fierce hawk face set in a vicious scowl. - -"I should be sorry to think so," I said indifferently; for the -Eurasian's behavior transcended the merely annoying and was that of a -lunatic. "I would not willingly provoke a sick man, and the tone and -manner of your address forcibly suggest to me that your temperature is -not normal." - -A moment he stood bending towards me, his pose that of one about to -spring, then: - -"Ah," he exclaimed, "yes, you are right, Mr. Addison. I live much -alone and I fear my manner grows brusk. Overlook it. She has gone, -then?" - -"If you refer to a lady who called upon me half an hour ago--yes, she -is gone." - -He drew himself upright again and stood there, gigantic in the little -room--a great, gaunt figure. - -"Ah! And she was not my niece?" - -"I lack the pleasure of your niece's acquaintance, Dr. Greefe." - -"Yes. You said so. Good day, Mr. Addison." - -He turned, lowered his head, and walked out of the room. When I, in -turn, emerged into the passage, I saw him striding out of the inn. -Martin was standing by the door of the bar-parlor looking very -confused; and as I joined him, intent upon a chat, I observed that the -shabby-looking stranger had departed. - -"Hullo, Martin!" I exclaimed. "I thought I saw a customer here." - -"When you came in there was. He went off with Cassim and Hawkins. They -was goin' to show him the road to Manton." - -"Cassim?" - -"Aye." - -Martin growled and walked behind the bar-counter. - -"You have some curious residents in this neighborhood." - -"Too curious by half." - -"Cassim, for instance, is not an English name." - -Martin indulged in that rumbling sound which was his only form of -laughter. - -"English!" he said. "He's as black as your hat!" - -My hat chanced to be gray, but I followed the idea nevertheless, and: - -"What!" I exclaimed, "a negro?" - -"A blackamoor. That's all I know or care; and dumb!" - -"Dumb! and a friend of Hawkins?" - -"God knows. Things ain't right." - -"Do you know if--a lady--resides with Dr. Greefe?" - -"Maybe--maybe not. There _is_ tales told." - -Substantially this was all I learned from mine host; but, having -lighted my pipe, I sat down on the bench before the door and set my -mind to work in an endeavor to marshal all the facts into some sort of -order. - -The reputation locally enjoyed by Dr. Damar Greefe I could afford to -ignore, I thought, but from my personal observation of the man I had -come to the conclusion that there was much about him which I did not -and could not understand. In the first place, for any man to choose to -live, solitary, in such an abode as the Bell House was remarkable. Why -had the masterful Eurasian retired to that retreat in company with his -black servitor? I thought of my own case, but it did not seem to -afford a strict analogy. - -Then, who was the "niece" so closely guarded by Dr. Greefe? And if she -was none other than my late elegant visitor why had she sought the -interview? Not even my natural modesty, which in such matters I have -sometimes thought to be excessive, could conceal from me the fact that -she had found my society pleasing. But, since I had never seen her -before, did this theory account for her visit? Recalling again that -huskily caressing voice, I asked myself the question: _Had_ I seen her -before? - -Perhaps the apparition of green eyes looking up to my window from the -lane below, which on the night of my arrival I had relegated to the -limbo of dreamland, had been verity and not phantasm. If that were so, -then the uncanny visitant to my cottage had pursued me to Upper -Crossleys! - -Or could it be the fact that she had preceded me? Perhaps Gatton had -not confided the whole of his ideas to me--perhaps, as I had already -suspected, the heart of "the _Oritoga_ mystery" lay here and not in -London. - -The result of my meditations was that I determined, in pursuit of my -original plan, first to call upon Mr. Edward Hines; and having -inquired of Martin the way to Leeways Farm, I took my stick and set -out. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE GOLDEN CAT - - -It was a perfect morning and although the sun had not yet attained to -its full power it had dispersed the early mist and I knew that in -another hour or less the heat would once more have become tropical. -During the first part of my walk, and whilst I remained in the -neighborhood of Upper Crossleys, I met never a wayfarer, and memories -of the green eyes followed me step by step so that I was often tempted -to look back over my shoulder by the idea that I should detect, as I -had detected once before, the presence of some follower. I resented -this impulse, however. I felt that my imagination was adding horrors -to those which already actually existed, so that I should presently -find myself unable to distinguish the real from the imaginary. - -At the end of half an hour's steady tramping I saw before me a place -where a wood dipped down to the wayside so that its trees cast a broad -shadow across the path. I knew that the entrance to the farm lay just -beyond; and, pressing on past the trees, I saw many outbuildings -having none of that deserted appearance which characterized the -neighboring homesteads of Upper Crossleys. Twenty yards beyond the -farm itself appeared in view. - -There was some sign of activity about the yard, and, walking briskly -forward, I presently found myself looking into a stone-paved place -containing numbers of milk-cans. Here a woman was engaged in sweeping -the floor, and: - -"I have called to see Mr. Edward Hines," I said. "Can you tell me -where I shall find him?" - -The woman stared at me in a strange and almost stupefied manner. - -"Is he a friend of yours?" she inquired. - -"He is not exactly a friend of mine," I continued; "but I have very -particular business with him." - -She continued to stare in that curious way and remained silent for so -long that I began to think she was not going to reply, when: - -"If Mr. Edward is not expecting you," she said, "I don't know that I -should advise you to go in. He is not very well just now--and he is -sometimes rather strange." - -"I know," I said. "I quite understand; but he will be willing to see -me when he knows what I have come about. Shall I find him yonder?" - -I pointed towards an open door leading to which was a neat, graveled -path lined by well-kept flower-beds, and which I took to be the main -entrance to the farm. - -"Well, sir," said the woman doubtfully, "they'll tell you there if Mr. -Edward is to be seen; but I don't advise it" - -"That's all right!" I cried, and proceeded in the direction of the -doorway. - -I presently obtained a view of a cozily furnished room, where a -white-haired old lady was bustling about engaged in some domestic -duties. I paused at the threshold. - -"My name is Addison," I said. "Would it be possible for me to have a -few minutes' conversation with Mr. Edward Hines?" - -The old lady (whom I suspected to be the mother of the youth whom I -was seeking) paused in the midst of her task and looked at me in a -troubled way. It was evident enough that the reputation of Mr. Edward -was the same in his home as elsewhere, and it occurred to me that his -upbringing must have been a very bad one. - -"Well," she replied, after this eloquent pause, "he's up in his room -certainly, but he doesn't like to see visitors, I know." - -"He will be perfectly willing to see _me_," I said, confidently. "I -have news of importance for him"--and as she continued to look at me -in that troubled way: "I know of his present disfigurement," I -explained. "You need not be afraid of any unpleasant scenes." - -"If I were sure of that," she said hesitatingly, and looked me over -with a critical eye. "Does he know you, sir?" - -"Oh, yes," I answered; "we have met before. I assure you it will be -quite all right if you will just let me walk up and announce myself to -him, Mrs. Hines." - -If I had had any doubt upon the point I was soon to learn that she was -indeed the mother of the notorious Mr. Edwards; for, ere she had time -to reply, a high-pitched, querulous voice which I had heard before -cried out from somewhere above: - -"If that's any one for me, mother, tell him to go away! You know -perfectly well I won't see any one." - -"There you are, sir," said Mrs. Hines, unable to hide her -embarrassment; "I told you he wouldn't see you." - -"Please give me permission to go up," I said; "he will change his mind -when he hears what I have to say." - -"You hear, mother!" came the irritable voice; "I'll break his neck if -he comes up here!" - -Judging from the sound of the voice, I concluded that the excited -young man was located in a room immediately above that at the door of -which I stood. - -"Don't be alarmed, madam," I said, and, stepping into the room, I -placed my hand reassuringly upon the old lady's shoulder. - -Without waiting for any further protest I advanced to an open -staircase which I had already marked as leading to the apartment above -and confidently mounted. The copy-hunting pressman is not readily -excluded, and a few moments later I found myself in an extremely -untidy bedroom, the walls of which were decorated with sporting -prints, Kirchner drawings and photographs of many damsels. - -The scarred young man, his face still a mass of sticking-plaster, -stood with clenched fists facing me, and: - -"Get out!" was his greeting--"before I throw you out." - -"My dear sir," I said, "unless you particularly want to figure in a -very undignified light as a witness in a trial for murder, sit down -and listen to me." - -Edward Hines hesitated, opening and closing his hands and glaring at -me in a preposterous fury. - -"What's the game?" he demanded. "What are you talking about?" - -"I am talking of 'the _Oritoga_ mystery,'" I replied. - -"The _Oritoga_ mystery?" - -His expression changed, and he dropped down into an armchair from -which he had evidently arisen upon hearing my voice below. I observed -a copy of a daily paper lying upon the carpet, and the conspicuous -headline was sufficient to show me that he had actually been reading -the latest reports concerning the case at the time of my arrival. I -had judged my man pretty accurately by this time, and drawing up -another chair which stood near me I sat down facing him, holding out -my open cigar-case. - -"I quite understand your sensitiveness in the circumstances," I said -soothingly; "but there is no occasion to suppose that I have come to -remind you of your misfortune. Have a cigar. I want a chat with you." - -He continued to watch me in a lowering way, but I was gradually -getting him in hand. With very poor grace he accepted a cigar, lighted -it, and threw the match away without offering to light mine. I did -not appear to notice his churlishness, but immediately approached the -matter about which I had come. - -"Although I am not a member of the Criminal Investigation Department," -I continued, "I am nevertheless in a sense an agent of Scotland Yard, -and I must ask you to listen very seriously to what I have to say. You -have in your possession a certain gold amulet--" - -He was on his feet in a moment, the patches of skin visible between -the strapping assuming a purple color. A more choleric young man I had -never met. - -"Damn you!" he cried. "What has it to do with you?" - -"Sit down!" I said sternly. "I have given you one warning; I shall not -give you another. You will either answer my questions civilly here and -now or answer them in court, whichever you please. I shall not give -you another opportunity of choosing. I will repeat my remark: you have -in your possession a certain gold amulet in the form, I believe, of a -cat." - -He was choking and muttering and glaring at me as I spoke, but I -stared at him coolly, and finally he resumed his seat and reached out -one hand towards a chest-of-drawers which stood beside his chair. -Pulling one of the drawers open, he took out a little gold figure of -Bast, and holding it towards me: - -"Is this the thing you mean?" he jerked uncivilly. - -"It is," I replied; "allow me to examine it." - -He seemed rather reluctant to do so, but nevertheless I took it from -his hand and looked at it closely. Beyond doubt it was of Ancient -Egyptian workmanship and probably a genuine Bubastite votive -offering. Raising my eyes to him again: - -"Without in any way desiring to pry into your affairs," I said, "would -you be good enough to tell me how this came into your possession?" - -The studied coolness of my manner was having its proper effect, and -Edward Hines, although sulkily, replied at once: - -"A woman gave it to me." - -"What was her name?" - -"I don't know." - -"You don't know the name of a woman who gave you a costly trinket of -this kind?" - -A ridiculous look of vanity appeared in his eyes. - -"Is it very valuable?" he inquired. - -"It may be worth as much as L50," I answered quietly. - -"Really!" said he, with something approaching geniality in his tones. -"Well, it's an extraordinary thing, but I assure you I don't know her -name." - -"Of course," I said, with Machiavellian cunning, "I don't expect you -to remember the name of every girl who has loved you, but this is an -unusual present to receive even from an infatuated woman." - -"It's an extraordinary thing, isn't it?" repeated Edward Hines, full -of self-esteem. "I can't make out the women at all; they're always -giving me presents. Look at that picture-frame. I got that from a girl -I had only seen three times--and it's solid silver," he added. - -I glanced at the memento indicated, and observed that it contained a -photograph of Mr. Hines (without the sticking-plaster). - -"An excellent likeness of yourself, too," I remarked. - -"It's not bad," said he disparagingly; "it was done by one of the big -people up in London. The girl paid for it." - -"But even that," I pursued--"even that is not so remarkable a gift as -this valuable piece of jewelry which I hold in my hand." - -"No," said the youth, now restored to the utmost good-humor by my -undisguised admiration of his Don Juan-like qualities. "But the fact -remains that I don't know her name to this day. What did you mean," he -continued, "when you said that I was concerned in some way in 'the -_Oritoga_ mystery'?" - -"I meant," I explained, "that the police are looking for a woman who -answers to the description of your friend." - -"Really!" he cried. "A tall woman, very fine figure, beautifully -dressed?" - -"I think it is probably the same," I said. "Had she any peculiarities -of appearance or manner by which you would recognize her again?" - -"She had several peculiarities by which I should recognize her," he -declared, a note of resentment now proclaiming itself in his voice. - -"And they were?" - -Mr. Hines leaned forward, tapping me on the knee confidentially. - -"I met her by accident, you understand," he confided, "on the London -Road one evening about sunset set. She asked me the way to Friar's -Park and I could see that I had made an impression at once. It was -just an excuse to speak to me of course. I offered to walk that far -with her; she agreed, and to cut a long story short--the usual thing, -of course; she wanted to meet me again. - -"Well," he resumed complacently, "I met her on the following Thursday -and we became very good friends, you understand, except that she -always seemed particularly anxious to return home before dusk. All -this time I never knew who she was, or even where she lived, but of -course I could see how the land lay. She was some lady from London -staying at one of the big houses about here and had to show up for -dinner. That night when we parted she gave me this little gold thing -and arranged to see me again." - -He paused, knocking ash from his cigar and seemingly reflecting as to -how he should word his next communication; but finally: - -"The third time I saw her," he said, "I managed to arrange that she -could not get in quite so early, you understand; and then--I don't -know exactly how to tell you. I am not a chap that gets in a panic -very easily; but (I may mention that the scene took place in a wood) -she gave me the biggest scare I have ever had in my life." - -He bent forward and again tapped me on the knee. - -"My dear--Mr. Addison, I think you said your name was?--her eyes -lighted up in the dark like a cat's!" - -He stared at me with some return of his old truculence as if -anticipating ridicule and prepared to resent it, but I nodded sternly, -watching him as if enthralled by his narrative, whereupon: - -"Yes--like a cat's!" he repeated; "and I'll admit I got in a panic. I -don't know if she thought from the way I yelled that I was going to -attack her or what, but the next thing I knew she was at my throat." - -He uttered a sort of choking sound, tenderly touched the bandages -about his neck and fingered the plaster which ornamented his face. - -"At your throat?" said I. "You mean she tried to throttle you?" - -"Throttle me!" he exclaimed scornfully. "She seized me with her -_teeth_!" - -"But," I said, and hesitated, for I feared I might wound his curious -susceptibility--"the damage to your face?" - -"Damn her!" he cried. "Damn her! I had never seen her without her -gloves, you understand, but she must have taken them off that night; -for _this_"--he indicated his plastered countenance--"is what she did -with her nails!" - -He paused, staring at me dully, and then with a hint of the old -ridiculous vanity entering his voice: - -"But I scored after all," he said, tossing the little amulet into the -drawer from which he had taken it. "If that's worth L50 it will more -than pay the doctor's bill, I think!" - -Following a brief interval: - -"Of course," I said, "you would recognize the woman again?" - -"I am not so certain," declared the scarred man. "She always wore some -sort of veil; but you may be sure," he added in a tone of supreme -condescension, "that she was a very pretty woman, or I shouldn't have -been bothering with her." - -"You are quite sure of that?" I ventured to remark. - -"No doubt about it at all. Most extraordinary eyes--too damned -extraordinary by half!" - -"Well," I said, "I am much indebted to you for your statement, and you -may be confident that it will materially assist the investigation now -in progress." - -"Don't mention it," said Hines, airily. "If I can ever do anything -else for you, just let me know; but--I mean to say I rely upon you not -to bring me into it. You understand what I mean?" - -"You may be absolutely certain," I replied, "that no hint of this -occurrence will ever be made public so far as I am concerned." - -I took my departure from Leeways Farm fully satisfied with the result -of the first move in the plan of campaign upon which I had decided. -Returning to my quarters at the Abbey Inn, I spent the greater part of -the afternoon in writing a detailed account of my interview with -Edward Hines. Having completed this, I set out for the town, as by -posting my report there and not in the wayside box at Upper Crossleys -I knew that I could count upon its delivery at New Scotland Yard by -the first mail in the morning. - -In leisurely fashion I performed the journey, for my next move could -not be made until after dusk. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE NUBIAN MUTE - - -I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical -brilliance. The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect -moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the -shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges -showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed -them before. But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the -night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most -extraordinary case. - -Every new datum acquired, instead of serving to elucidate, seemed only -more completely to obscure the issue. Mystery revealed itself within -mystery, and this was indeed a labyrinth, to the heart of which I -sometimes despaired of penetrating. Who was this woman whose elusive -figure appeared at every turn in the case? Was she one and the same -with the visitor to my cottage who had purloined the green enameled -statuette--and could it be that I had actually sat in conversation -with her in the coffee-room of the Abbey Inn and had failed to -recognize her for what she was? - -Beyond doubt she had extraordinary cleverness and was a weaver of -spells, so that in a sense she could temporarily disguise her -personality. Whilst at one moment she was a repellent, half-animal -creature, at another she was a fascinating woman of the world versed -in strange lores and a most entertaining companion. What object -underlay her diverse activities? Assuming that she was concerned in -the murder of Sir Marcus Coverly, the purpose of her visit to my -cottage was not far to seek; she had come to recover incriminating -evidence and had been aided, it seemed, by the hand of fate. - -But why had she come to visit me at the Abbey Inn and what had she -gained by this interview? Perhaps--I reflected, as I plodded along the -deserted country road--she had been interrupted on that occasion by -the inopportune appearance of Dr. Damar Greefe. Again, why had he -appeared there at that moment if not because he had suspected her -presence at the Inn; and what was the relationship existing between -these two singular people? - -That the strange story related to me by the idiotic Edward Hines -simply resolved itself into an idle adventure on the part of the -mysterious woman, which she had been forced to terminate (somewhat -ferociously, I admit) by the uncouth ardor of this rustic swain I -seemed to perceive. But unless her visit to the Abbey Inn portended -that she had selected me as Mr. Edward Hines' successor, I failed to -fit it into the scheme. - -I began to long for the presence of Inspector Gatton, for the -assistance of his trained mind in plumbing these depths which defied -my single efforts. Who this woman could be I failed to imagine; and -assuming that she had been concerned in the death of the late baronet, -in what way she stood to profit by it was utterly beyond my -comprehension, as was the position of Dr. Damar Greefe in the matter. - -On I walked and on, unconsciously increasing my pace as is my way when -I am lost in abstraction; and, perhaps stimulated to greater mental -clarity by the exercise, some of my doubts were dispersed and I became -convinced at last that the shadowy figure which had dogged my -footsteps on the night of the crime--the owner of those blazing eyes -which had watched me from my garden--the woman who had stolen the -amulet from my writing-table, and the woman who had mutilated Edward -Hines, were one and the same as my visitor at the Abbey Inn--and the -unseen speaker who had conversed beneath my window on the night of my -arrival at Upper Crossleys! - -Here then was a definite chain linking the Red House with Friar's -Park, or at least with its vicinity, and now so clearly did my ideas -fit themselves each into its correct place, that I determined upon the -identity of that other speaker who had stood in the shadows opposite -the Inn when I had awakened in the night. Mentally I recaptured the -high, rather coarse tones of his voice, and remembering how, touched -by the spell which had seemed to lie upon the whole country-side, I -had thought of him as Asmodeus, the master of the witches' revels, I -determined that my judgment had been not inexact. For now I identified -the speaker as Dr. Damar Greefe! - -So far my meditations had proceeded and I suppose I was about half-way -on my journey towards the Abbey Inn, when all at once I became aware -again of that uncomfortable feeling of surveillance. As on that night -when returning from the Red House to my cottage I had experienced a -conviction that I was followed, so now a like conviction impressed -itself upon my mind. But whereas on the former occasion I had been -less fearful than curious, now I was aware of a positive dread of this -follower whose presence I had detected, by what sense I know not, and -of a certainty of a very grave menace. - -Accordingly, I determined upon a certain plan which I proceeded to put -into execution without delay. I was traversing a stretch of -moon-bathed road at the moment that I first fell a victim to this -unpleasant suspicion which indeed was more than a suspicion, when -ahead of me I observed a patch, some twenty yards in extent, which was -entirely overshadowed by trees. For at this point the woods, clothing -a slope which ran right down to the road, closely impinged upon the -highway; and I had noticed something at this spot, on my outward -journey, which I now proposed to employ to my advantage. - -Into this patch of darkness I walked then, my steps sounding crisply -along the road. On I went for some twenty yards until I found the -particular spot for which I was seeking. This was a sort of little bay -or inlet where until quite recently a heap of stones used by -roadmenders had lain, and into this I marched, never once altering my -pace. But having gained it I performed an about-turn and continued to -mark time there, whilst surveying the moon-bathed road behind me. - -The object of this trick will be evident enough; for whilst the sound -of my footsteps would lead one in pursuit to suppose that I was -proceeding upon my way through the shadows, actually I was staring -intently back in quest of the pursuer of whose presence I had become -assured. - -Perhaps in spite of the cautious manner in which he had advanced, he -had made some slight sound which, subconsciously detected, had -nevertheless intruded upon my reverie and in this way had acquainted -me with his presence. For now, continuing that steady beat, but -watching intently, I saw him. - -Taking every advantage of the shade cast by the hedge on the right of -the road, a softly-moving figure was coming towards me! - -That the tracker was desirous of avoiding observation the manner of -his approach sufficiently proved; and if I had had any doubts -respecting his purpose they would have been resolved in a manner -painful to myself had I not had the good fortune to detect him in -time. - -A piece of road there was, which because of a gap in the hedge -afforded no shadow, and as the gliding shape reached this point and -passed it, I obtained a momentary but clear view of my pursuer. - -I was being tracked by a Nubian mute! - -That one glance was sufficient to convince me of the horrible truth. -The man was stripped to the waist, in order no doubt that his -movements might not be impeded, and I beheld a torso like that of some -Milo wrought in ebony! The cruel, animal face, the blubber lips, the -partly bared teeth--all spoke of the fate designed for me. I knew the -type and knew what scant mercy I could look for at his hands. -Indubitably this was a mute such as is sometimes attached to the -harems of great Eastern houses to this day; and even if I had known -nothing of the functions of such a servitor, the fact that he carried -something in his left hand would have enlightened me. - -It was a _strangling-cord_! - -I smiled grimly. Respecting the identity of my would-be assassin there -was little room for doubt; he was the black servant of Dr. Damar -Greefe. Now, as he passed the bright patch of roadway and began to -glide silently nearer through the shadows, I marked time with a -lighter step, the more deeply to confuse him. Of the strange Nubian -dialect I knew nothing, but taking it for granted that the man was -familiar with Arabic, I raised my voice in a mournful cry, and (in the -Arab tongue): - -"Cassim! Cassim!" I wailed--"Satan is calling for you!" - -I think I have never witnessed such an exhibition of panic fright as I -now beheld. Cassim was less than ten yards away--and I could hear his -teeth chattering! - -"Cassim!" I cried again--"Fly! fly! Satan is here!" - -A horrible tongueless babbling answered the cry. There came a -scuffling--and I saw the Nubian's gleaming body leap out into the -lighted roadway as he fled. - -"Faster! faster! Cassim!" I wailed. "He is behind you! Ah! he is _in -front_!" - -Cassim staggered, turned and then stood still, looking this way and -that in a perfect delirium of fear. Finally he whirled around to the -right, shrieking wildly (I think some nocturnal insect had brushed -against him), plunged babbling up the bank to the hedge and heedless -of the fact that it contained many thorns which must have cruelly -lacerated his bare body, scrambled half through it and half over it -into the plowed field beyond! - -Against such an enemy there is no more potent weapon than -superstition. Nevertheless I kept my hand upon the pistol in my pocket -and proceeded at an increased pace during the latter half of my -journey; nor am I ashamed to admit that the lights of the Abbey Inn -were a welcome sight, and it was with a feeling of relief that, -leaving the highroad behind me, I found myself again in the village -street of Upper Crossleys. - -What to expect next, I knew not. The other party had made a false -move, for I now had definite evidence of the antagonism of Dr. Damar -Greefe and of his intent to cause my murder through the agency of his -Nubian servant. - -My plan of nocturnal operations, already sufficiently dangerous, now -promised to lead me into extreme peril. I would have given much for -the company of Gatton, but, if I must act alone--alone I would set -out. If I am slow in planning, at least I can state with truth that I -am tenacious in execution. But here, now, was open warfare: and I must -look for an enemy prepared. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK - - -Glancing into the bar-parlor as I entered, I observed that it was -empty. Martin sat behind the counter, and he seemed to be immersed in -the contents of a newspaper which was spread open before him. Going up -to my room, I put on a pair of puttees--which, although useless and -indeed injurious for general wear, are ideal for traversing -bramble-land--took my thick stick, and further looked to the condition -and readiness of my pistol. Finally, slipping an electric torch into -my pocket, I set out. - -The bar was closing when I came downstairs. Martin stared at me dully. - -"I'm going for a moonlight ramble," I explained. "Will any one be up -to let me in or should you prefer to give me the key of the side -door?" - -"Never locked," was the laconic reply; "come in when you like." - -To a town-dweller, such a piece of information must have sounded -alarming, but knowing something of the ways of these country -communities, it did not greatly surprise me; and bidding the landlord -"good night," I set out. - -The false move made by Dr. Damar Greefe had advanced the inquiry -further than any unaided endeavors of mine could well have done. -Clearly enough, the Eurasian regarded my presence as inimical to his -safety. In admitting so much he had admitted guilt of some kind. In -fact I felt assured that he was determined at all costs to prevent my -visiting Friar's Park. - -Having failed in his unmistakable endeavor to remove me entirely--for -so I construed the Nubian's instructions--he would undoubtedly -recognize that the game was up. He was clearly a desperate man and I -recognized that the only hope I had of foiling him lay in acting with -despatch. - -This was a perfect night with never a cloud to mar the blue serenity -of the sky, but in spite of its beauty I was more than ever conscious -of that sense of loneliness and desolateness which seemed to be the -most marked characteristic of the country hereabouts. I met never a -soul upon the highway, nor indeed did I encounter any evidence of life -whatever, until, turning into a narrow lane which would bring me to -that road in the valley upon which stood the deserted lodge belonging -to the Bell House, an owl hooted in the trees above my head. - -Keenly alert to the possibility that my movements might be watched, I -paused, wondering if the sound--which had proceeded from a low bough -directly above me--had really been made by an owl or by a human mimic. -For the hoot of an owl, being easy to imitate, is much favored for -signaling purposes. Taking my electric torch from my pocket, I -directed its ray upward into the close foliage of the oak tree; -whereupon, with a ghostly fluttering of dark wings, an owl flew away. - -I proceeded confidently down the sloping road amid a silence so -intense that my steps seemed to create a positive clamor. Coming to -the corner, I looked along to the left where the lane, alternate -patches of silver and ebony, showed deserted as far as I could see. -This was the direction of the gate of the Bell House, and the road, -which sloped gently downwards on that side rose in a rather sharper -activity on my right. It was at this point that I had mistaken the way -on my first journey to Friar's Park. - -Therefore I proceeded to the right, seeking the entrance, which I was -convinced I should find somewhere within the next two hundred yards. -The lane inclined gently leftward, and presently, as I had -anticipated, I came upon a lodge, overgrown with ivy and but partly -visible beyond the gates which barred the end of the drive. - -That this was the entrance to Friar's Park I felt assured, but I had -no intention of seeking admittance in the usual way. Pursuing a high -wall, evidently of great age, which divided the grounds from the road, -I walked on for fully three hundred yards. Here the wall, which -enclosed what had once been the kitchen garden of the monastery, gave -place to a lofty hedge in which I presently discovered a gap wide -enough to allow of my making my way through. - -Entering, I found myself in a sort of parkland, boasting many majestic -and venerable trees, elms for the most part. Where the parkland ended -and the woods began it was impossible to make out, but away to my -left I could follow the high wall to where, clearly visible in the -moonlight which at this point was unobstructed by trees, a gate -appeared. - -Towards this I made my way, keeping a sharp lookout for those -man-traps of which I had heard, and equally on the alert for any -hidden human presence. Without meeting with any obstacle, however, I -reached the gate--only to find that it was closed and fastened with a -stout padlock. - -There was a dry ditch bordering the wall, and I followed this back -towards the highroad, hoping that somewhere I might chance upon a -means of scaling the wall. I made slow progress, for presently I came -upon a quantity of undergrowth which I distrusted keenly as it would -afford admirable cover for traps. In this way I had come nearly back -to the hedge lining the road before I discovered what I was looking -for. - -Here a fir-tree grew sufficiently close to the ditch to serve my -purpose. Its lower branches were within easy reach whilst further up I -espied one which stretched out across the top of the wall. Looping -over my wrist the thong attached to my stick, I scrambled up into the -tree and soon found myself astride the wall. - -Beneath me was a neglected orchard and beyond to the right a -wilderness which once had been an extensive kitchen-garden. Directly -before me lay the lodge, but the house was invisible from where I sat, -being evidently situated somewhere beyond a dense coppice into which -I perceived the drive to lead, for patched here and there by the -moonlight I could trace it running ribbon-like through the trees. - -A vine grew upon the wall beneath me, its aged tendrils of the -thickness of ropes, and it afforded a natural ladder whereby I made my -descent. Arrived in the miniature jungle which at some period had been -a flower-bed, I set out towards the lodge, prompted to do so by the -presence of a light shining out from one of the windows through a -network of leaves. - -I knew not if I should look for man-traps within the place enclosed by -the wall, but nevertheless I neglected no precaution, picking my way -through the forest of weeds which had supplanted the vegetables and -sweet herbs to which doubtless this land had once been sacred. -Observing even greater precaution as I neared the building, I -presently found myself looking in at the lighted window, and only -concealed from the occupants of the room by the presence of a tangled -bush which formed a sort of natural curtain. - -The room into which I was peering presented a scene of great disorder. -It was a poorly furnished apartment characteristic of the rustic -workman's dwelling, and was evidently the living room of the -lodge-keeper. It was in process of being dismantled; cupboards and -chests stood open and my acquaintance Hawkins was engaged in packing -various belongings into a large wooden box set in the center of the -floor. Upon the bare wooden table stood the oil lamp whose light I had -seen shining out of the window, and bending over a number of papers, -apparently engaged in making up some sort of an account, was a -gipsy-looking woman whom I took to be the wife of the game-keeper. - -She had oily black hair and a very lowering and unpleasant cast of -countenance; whilst the large earrings which she wore added to her -gipsy appearance. An argument of some kind was in progress between the -two, for ever and anon the woman would raise her eyes from her task -and dart venomous glances at the man, who knelt upon the floor packing -the big box. Fragments of the conversation reached me through the -partly open window, and although it was difficult to follow I gathered -that the woman was reproaching her husband with some alleged -indiscretion which had necessitated the departure for which they were -preparing. Hawkins retorted with a savage energy which displayed the -darker side of the man's character and the one which I had suspected -to lie beneath his rather sinister merriment. - -Having satisfied myself that the pair were deeply occupied with their -personal affairs, I crept out upon the drive and began to approach the -house. I had formed a rough idea of the distance at which it lay from -the road and this was proved to have been about correct. The drive -swung round in a wide semi-circle and presently, majestic in the -moonlight, with some of its mediaeval charm restored by the magic of -night, I saw Friar's Park before me. - -It was a low, rambling building, bespeaking the monastery in some of -its severe outlines and showing a succession of cloisteresque arches -on the left, terminated by a chapel beyond which rose the ancient -tower visible from the inn-window--a wonderful example of Saxon -architecture, and closely resembling that at Earl's Barton. There was -no light in any of the windows, and indeed as I peered more closely -across the wide space intervening between the end of the drive and the -main entrance of the house, it seemed to me that the place was more of -a ruin than a habitable establishment. - -Unaware of what eyes might be watching me from any one of the numerous -windows, I stepped into the shrubbery beneath the trees bordering the -drive, and set out to make a detour of the house without, if possible, -revealing my presence to any one who might be watching from within. - -In the prosecution of this plan, I met with not a little difficulty; -several times, in fact, I had to show myself in the moonlight upon the -edge of the unkempt lawns, but by this device and that, I finally -achieved my purpose and returned to the spot from whence I had set -out, without having attracted any visible notice. Here I paused to -consider what I had learned. - -The most notable thing was this: only one wing of Friar's Park--that -remote from the tower--exhibited any evidence of occupation, indeed of -being habitable at all. In other words, the greater part of the -building was no more than a majestic ruin. Eyeless windows there were -and crumbling arches, whilst the chapel which had looked so -picturesque from a distance proved on closer inspection to be a mere -shell. A dense shrubbery grew right up to the walls of the east wing, -that which was terminated by the tower, and I had been enabled to peer -right in at the window of the chapel and out at a window at the other -side; for the place was roofless and its floor carpeted with weeds. I -could not help wondering how much of this decay dated from the days of -Sir Burnham, for certainly I could not reconcile it with the character -of the man as depicted by the local people. - -My inquiry then was considerably narrowed down, for of the habitable -apartments of Friar's Park I had only been enabled to count seven or -eight, although two of these appeared to be of great extent, one of -them, I fancy, being the old refectory of the monastery. My next -discovery was this: that the likeliest point of entry to the house was -afforded by either one of two French windows which opened upon a small -lawn some twenty yards beyond the drive. But in order to approach them -I should have to expose myself in the brilliant moonlight which bathed -that side of the house. - -I stood there listening intently, and wondering if I dared attempt the -venture. Not a sound could I detect, however, and the night was so -still that scarce a leaf stirred about me. I determined upon the -plunge; and walking boldly forward, I approached the more easterly of -the two windows. - -Three stone steps led up to it and linen blinds were drawn down -within, but strengthened by the memory of the inn door which was -"never locked," and hoping that the same trustfulness prevailed in -Friar's Park, I turned the handle whose brassy glitter I had -previously perceived from the corner of the shrubbery. - -It operated smoothly, and upon giving a gentle push the window opened -and I found myself standing upon a polished oak floor. I stood -stock-still, listening; but there was never a sound; and partly -reclosing the window, I pressed the button of my electric torch and -looked about me. - -I stood in a long lofty room which I supposed to have been a -drawing-room. It was empty, containing not a single item of furniture. -From my pocket I took two pairs of thick woolen socks and drew them -one over the other on to my boots to deaden my footfalls. The door of -this empty and desolate room was open, and, stepping softly, I walked -out into a wide corridor, my mind filled with terrifying recollections -of the Red House. - -Three other rooms I explored, and although in two of them some items -of massive furniture remained, covered with dust-sheets, no sign of -habitation did I come upon. The whole of the ground floor proved to be -vacant and a broad uncarpeted stair suggested that the floors above -were also deserted by their occupants. - -I mounted softly, but the stairs creaked in a horrible fashion, so -that I became hotly apprehensive before I gained the top. I had -nothing to fear, however, for again empty rooms alone rewarded my -search. My most significant discovery in the upper part of the house -was that of a bedroom which was still almost completely furnished and -in which even the bed-linen yet remained untidily strewn about the -bed. But there were thick spiders' webs stretching from the coverlet -to the canopy, and a coating of dust lay everywhere. - -When I finally returned to the empty drawing-room, I had convinced -myself of that which I had come to seek. - -Friar's Park was uninhabited! - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE MAN ON THE TOWER - - -I quitted Friar's Park unobserved--as I had entered it; walking -quickly across to the shrubbery, I began to work my way back to the -point at which I must strike westward in order to reach the weed-grown -kitchen-garden. At the risk of encountering man-traps I gave the lodge -a wide berth and came out in sight of the wall at a point much nearer -the lawns of the house than that from which I had entered. - -What it was that prompted me to turn and take a final look at the -house I cannot say, but before commencing to make my way through the -wilderness of the kitchen-garden, I know that I stood and looked back -towards the ancient Saxon tower which uprose, silvered by the -moonlight, above the trees that obscured from my view all the rest of -the house. - -Right to the embrasured crest it was sharply outlined by the brilliant -moon--and as I looked I felt my heart leap suddenly; and then, almost -holding my breath, I crouched, distrusting the very shadows which -afforded me shelter. - -For leaning out through one of the embrasures at the top of the tower, -I clearly saw the figure of a man! - -At first so whitely was his face lighted up by the moon that I had no -doubt of the figure being that of a man, but he remained so still, -seeming always to look in a fixed way in the same direction, that now, -momentarily I doubted, until a slight movement betrayed the fact that -my first impression had been correct. - -Who he was I could not possibly tell from that distance, but of his -occupation I became assured at the moment that he moved; for the -moonlight glittered brightly on the lenses of the binoculars through -which he had been surveying some point visible only from that -elevation. - -Still I watched, and again I saw the man of the tower raise his -glasses and resume his scrutiny of that distant object which so -closely engaged his attention. Remembering that a patch of light -touched the top of the wall, spearlike, at the point where I must -cross it in order to reach the fir tree, I abandoned my former -precautions and hurried through the tangled weeds towards the fir -which was my sailing mark. - -Hastily I scrambled up the natural ladder formed by the vine, and -without pause climbed down again to the edge of the dry ditch beyond. -To have looked back over the wall would have been useless, since from -that point the tower would have been invisible. Nor indeed had I any -desire to pause in my precarious journey. - -That I had avoided man-traps in that hurried retreat through the -weeds, I knew not whether to ascribe to good luck or to the fact that -none were set there, but now in the more open ground, thickly -bestrewn, however, with clumps of undergrowth, I resumed all my old -vigilance, and carefully retraced the path, so well as I could -remember it, by which I had first arrived at the friendly fir. - -When at last I found myself once more upon the highroad and free of -the ground of Friar's Park, I stood a while and wondered to find -myself bathed in perspiration. - -There was something very eerie in the thought that I had explored -those numerous rooms of the deserted house and had moreover encircled -the entire building habitable and otherwise, whilst that mysterious -watcher all the time had been lurking up there in the tower! I -wondered what his survey portended. If it signified that he had -detected my presence at the moment that I had left the house, why was -his gaze focused upon the distance and not upon the surrounding -grounds? If he had not seen or heard me, then I must compliment myself -upon a very successful burglarious feat. - -But assuming the latter explanation to be the correct one, how much -darker became the mystery of the man's presence and purpose. Who was -he? And what did he do at this hour in deserted Friar's Park? - -Since I had left the game-keeper deeply engaged in his packing -operations at the lodge, I dismissed the idea that the figure on the -tower might have been that of Hawkins, nor was I in any way assisted -in my attempts to solve the mystery by what I had seen of the man, for -the distance had been too great to allow of my perceiving his face -with anything like clearness. - -Presently, then, I set out upon my return journey to the Abbey Inn, -turning over in my mind this added perplexity which had entered the -case. As Gatton had quite recently observed, every new piece of -evidence which came to light in this most bewildering affair seemed -merely to plunge the issue in greater obscurity than ever. My feet -once set upon the slope which led to Upper Crossleys, I allowed this -mood of abstraction to have its way, and the problem with which I -found myself principally engaged was that of the disappearance of Lady -Burnham Coverly. - -As I remembered the suave assurances of Dr. Damar Greefe that the -ill-health of Lady Burnham rendered it impossible for her to receive -visitors, I wondered anew at the complex villainy of this formidable -Eurasian. The state of the rooms in Friar's Park clearly demonstrated -the fact that neither Lady Coverly nor any other had resided there for -many months, perhaps many years. What then did it all mean? What was -the purpose of the watch and ward kept by the gipsy game-keeper over -the grounds and approaches to the house? - -It could only mean that this was a device of Dr. Damar Greefe's to -prevent any of the neighbors from seeking admittance to the house and -thus learning the strange secret which its emptiness revealed. - -Here, in fact, in this old monastic establishment, would seem to -reside the very genius of that spirit of desolation which had touched -me unpleasantly in the hour of my arrival in Crossleys. I determined -to ascertain by inquiries amongst the local tradespeople, none of whom -I had hitherto met, by what means the fact that no one resided at -Friar's Park was concealed from those whose ordinary business -activities would demand their presenting themselves at the house for -orders, etc. But even as the plan suggested itself to me, I thought I -perceived an answer to my question; in all probability, I determined, -Dr. Damar Greefe or the Hawkins's, who were palpably his creatures, -acted as a barrier between the tradespeople and the missing lady of -the Park. - -But what it could all portend was a problem beyond the power of my -imagination or deductive reasoning. If Lady Coverly had changed her -residence for some reason, with what object did the Eurasian continue -to lead every one in the neighborhood to suppose that she still -resided at Friar's Park? - -It was all a hopeless tangle, and the more I thought about it the more -discouraged did I become. I seemed to get further, too, from that link -for which I sought--the link connecting the mystery with that other -which I always associated with the Red House. The luminous eyes -afforded the visible link; this I could not doubt. But what relation -to the death of Sir Marcus did the disappearance of Lady Burnham -Coverly bear? Secondly, what was Dr. Damar Greefe's place in the -scheme? And thirdly (the most appalling mystery of all) who or what -was the woman with the cat's eyes? - -At this point in my meditations I discovered that I had arrived -before the Abbey Inn, now plunged in darkness, and believing that I -detected the sound of footsteps behind me I became eventually the -victim of a sort of panic which perhaps will be forgiven me under the -circumstances. For emerging from these unpleasant reflections and -hearing or believing that I heard sounds of pursuit from the lonely -moon-patched road behind, I know that I hurried forward to the side -door and silently prayed that I should find it unfastened as Martin -had assured me that it would be. - -In this particular I was speedily reassured, for the door opened to my -touch--and I became conscious of a wish that there might be some means -of fastening it from within. However, I could find none, but hurrying -upstairs, I determined to take a precaution which hitherto I had not -adopted and that night to lock my bedroom door. - -Entering the room, I fumbled for a box of matches in my pocket and -presently discovering them struck one and looked about me for the -candle which usually stood upon a little cabinet beside the bed. -To-night, however, it had been moved for some reason, and put over by -the window on the dressing-table. As I made this discovery the match -smoldered out, and at the moment I was about to strike another the -sound of footsteps which I had formerly detected grew louder and -nearer, so that I could no longer doubt that some one was running -along the road towards the Abbey Inn. - -A great curiosity respecting this person seized me, and without -striking a match as I had intended to do, I walked to the window and -looked out into the road. Twenty yards away I saw the figure of a man -who seemed to be come almost to the end of his resources; for I could -hear him panting as he ran. Nor did my wonder decrease when, as he -came nearer and stared up in my direction, I recognized him for the -shabby-looking person whom I had observed that morning sitting on the -bench before the inn door. - -Wondering what his presence might portend--for clearly his business -was with _me_--I leaned out of the window, and as he came up to the -door of the inn I saw him stagger and clutch at the post which -supported the sign-board, swaying dizzily. He was clearly almost -exhausted, and his voice when he spoke was a husky whisper: - -"Don't light your candle!" he said. - -Now, this remark, coming at such a time and in these circumstances, -struck me as so ludicrous that at first I was tempted to laugh; but -the man's earnest sincerity, as evidenced by his exhausted condition -and the urgency of his manner, did not fail to impress me, and: - -"Why not?" I asked, still leaning out of the window and filled with a -great wonderment. - -"Never mind," he panted. "Don't! Can I come up?" - -Something now in the breathless speech of the man below struck me as -oddly familiar. But yet so dense was I that I failed to recognize the -truth of the matter, and: - -"Certainly," I said. "I will bring a light down to show you the way, -if you have business with me." - -"No light!" he cried hoarsely. "If you value your life, don't strike a -match!" - -By this time so bewildered had I become that I scarce knew whether to -descend to meet this apparent madman or to remain where I was. - -"Don't hesitate, Mr. Addison!" he cried, now beginning to recover his -breath. "Do exactly as I tell you!" - -"Good God!" I exclaimed. - -I turned and ran to the door and on downstairs. For at last I had -recognized the voice of this midnight runner. Throwing open the door, -I held out my hand and the shabby-looking man extended his in return. - -"_Gatton!"_ I cried excitedly. "Gatton! What on earth does this mean? -Why have you been masquerading in this fashion? I saw you here this -morning and you never gave me the slightest sign of acknowledgment!" - -"I never intended to!" panted the Inspector, staggering rather than -walking up the stairs. "But I have performed one of the hardest tasks -of my life to-night and have only succeeded by a few seconds!" - -We were now at the door of my room, but: - -"Don't go in!" said Gatton shortly. "Let me think what we must do." - -"But I don't understand at all!" - -"You will understand in a moment!" was the grim reply. "You would have -understood already if you had lighted your candle." - -Words failed me altogether. At that we stood in the passage for some -moments in silence; then: - -"We have got to risk it," said Gatton, "if my theory is to be put to -the test" - -"Risk it?" - -"Oh! I can assure you of the risk," he declared. "It will be -touch-and-go. Are you game?" - -"Well," I said, laughing in a very forced fashion, "this has been a -night of such intense surprises that I think I can survive one more." - -"Very well," replied the Inspector; and there was something strange in -hearing the familiar voice and dimly discerning in the reflected -moonlight, which shone in at a window further along the passage, the -unfamiliar figure before me. - -"What have we to do?" - -"We have to take a chance of sudden death!" he answered, "but we will -minimize it as much as possible." - -Seeing me about to give voice to one of the many questions which -literally burned upon my tongue: - -"Explanations can come later," said he. "Where can I find a candle?" - -"There is one on the dressing-table just to the left of the window. I -will get it--" - -But he grasped my arm roughly, and: - -"This is _my_ business! Wait here for me," he rapped tersely. - -He heard the rasp of the match upon the box, as I struck a light to -guide him in his search. Whereupon: - -"I thought I warned you!" he cried, and struck the match from my hand. -"_No light_!" - -With that he pushed open the door, and I saw his square figure -outlined against the moon-bright open window as he crossed the room. -Since he had referred to the peril which hung over us, it was with -bated breath that I awaited his return, not in the least knowing what -to expect. A few moments later he returned with the candlestick. - -"Now," said he, carefully reclosing the door, "light the candle." - -Awed by something in his voice and manner, I did as he directed -without demur, noting with amazement, in the light thus created, how -simple yet how effective was the disguise which my friend had adopted. - -He gave me no time for comment, however, but: - -"Listen," said he. "I'm going to put this candle in your room and then -you and I are going to run." - -"Run?" I cried. - -"Exactly. Run for our lives! Preferably upstairs. Is there any vacant -room above from which we can look out in the same direction as from -your window?" - -"The room above is vacant," I replied, "and probably we shall find the -door unlocked." - -"We'll risk that, then," said Gatton. "You might start and lead the -way." - -"Can I use my electric torch?" I asked. - -"On the stairs," replied Gatton; "but you must extinguish it when we -enter the room above." - -With that he thrust open the door of my bedroom, ran in and ran out -again, banging the door behind him as though pursued by devils! - -Then the pair of us were racing up the stairs madly for the room -above, I vaguely wondering if my companion had taken leave of his -senses. Yet of the verity of the peril which he dreaded came speedy -confirmation. - -At the very moment that my hand touched the knob of the door above, -and ere I could open it, the whole fabric of the Abbey Inn was -convulsed--the floor rocked beneath my feet; and there ensued the -sound of a deafening explosion from the room below! An echo, or what -sounded like an echo, sharp and staccato, came from the distant -hills! - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -GATTON'S STORY - - -"It's no good going in now," said Gatton, in a weary voice; "in fact -it might be dangerous. We have to consider the possibility of fire, -however," he added. - -Voices of sleepers awakened and cries of inquiry sounded now from all -over the inn; for naturally the household had been aroused by the -tremendous noise of the explosion. For my own part I was altogether -too dazed to conjecture what had happened. But that Gatton had saved -me from some deadly peril I was well convinced. Stirrings and the -noise of footsteps came from an adjoining room, and presently in his -night attire Martin appeared, very bemused. - -"Mr. Addison," he began, and stared from me to my companion. - -"Let no one leave their rooms," said Gatton decisively, "until I give -them permission." - -"Eh," began Martin heavily. - -"I am a police officer," added Gatton; "and you will all do as I -direct. Does any one sleep on the same floor as Mr. Addison?" - -"No, sir," replied Martin, who was not yet more than half awake, but -who nevertheless had been impressed by the Inspector's authoritative -manner. - -Sounds of footsteps from the floor above now became audible, -whereupon: - -"Order every one to remain in their rooms!" repeated Gatton. - -Martin, raising his voice, obeyed him. - -"What are your arrangements in the case of fire?" continued the -Inspector. - -Several betousled heads were peeping down from the landing above but -no one spoke until Martin collected his ideas sufficiently to reply: - -"There's buckets in the stables--and there's the well. Wilkins sleeps -over the stables--" - -"Can you make him hear without going downstairs?" - -"I can try," was the answer. - -Martin walked to a window which lighted the landing, and threw it -widely open. Leaning out: - -"Wilkins!" he roared--"Wilkins!" - -"Aye, aye, boss!" came faintly from somewhere below. - -"Tell him to stand by with fire-buckets, but not to leave the yard -without orders from me," directed Gatton. - -Martin issued these instructions in a voice which must have been -audible at Leeways, and then stood scratching his head stupidly. - -But indeed of all the bewildered company who gathered that night -beneath the roof of the Abbey Inn, I think I was the most nonplused of -all, and turning to Gatton: - -"For God's sake tell me what it all means!" I said. - -"It means," he answered, and even through his disguise I recognized -the old grim smile, "that only a match stood between you and eternity! -Even now, we cannot afford to sit down, but I am not anxious to pass -your door for a few minutes. As we both have much to say, let us find -a room where we can talk." - -Accordingly we went up to a large empty room at the back of the inn. -Through the open doorway I could hear the excited voices of the entire -staff of the establishment, who had congregated in Martin's room -across the landing. Never in the history of the Abbey Inn had such -doings taken place. - -"Perhaps," continued Gatton, "it will save time if you tell me exactly -what you have done first." - -"Very well," I said; "but before I begin--when did you arrive?" - -"An hour and a half after receiving your code telegram! I came by car. -The car is at Manton now." - -"Why this disguise?" - -"I will explain in a moment. But meanwhile--your own story." - -At that, although consumed with impatience, I quickly outlined my -movements from the time of my arrival at Upper Crossleys, the -Inspector following me closely. The tale concluded: - -"Now, Gatton!" I cried--"for heaven's sake tell me what it all means!" - -"I will tell you all I know," he replied slowly. "In the first place I -had two reasons for suggesting the visit to Friar's Park. I had formed -an opinion that the 'cat-woman' was interested in _you_. Whether -because she regarded you as dangerous or from some other cause I could -not determine. And I thought of a plan for finding out if she was by -any chance associated with Friar's Park. It was to send you down here -(a) to make straightforward inquiries, and (b) to 'draw the cat'!" - -"Very good of you!" I murmured. - -"I warned you it was dangerous!" said Gatton grimly. "But I am pleased -to say the plan worked to perfection. Your own inquiries have been -highly satisfactory and you have also 'drawn the cat'! Now just to -show you how dramatic your discoveries really were I will explain my -second and more important reason and the one which primarily had -prompted me to turn my attention to Friar's Park. A few hours before -you came to the Yard the other morning--to see the bag dropped in the -water by Eric Coverly--I had been in touch with the solicitors who had -acted for the late Sir Burnham." - -"Ah!" I exclaimed--"what had they to say?" - -"I was seeking information of course respecting the entail; in short, -trying to fathom the mystery of what Eric Coverly would have had to -gain by getting his cousin out of the way. I learned that financially -he gained nothing but a bundle of debts. Friar's Park was mortgaged to -the hilt. Furthermore, Lady Burnham Coverly had a life interest in the -property under the will of her husband. - -"Next, from the senior partner, a solicitor of the old school who -still retained pleasant memories of Sir Burnham's port, I learned a -number of very significant details." - -He paused, staring at me oddly; and the familiar expression beneath -the unfamiliar disguise was very curious. Then: - -"About seven or eight years ago," he resumed, "shortly after his -return from _Egypt_, according to Mr. Hardacre, the solicitor, -something occurred which made a changed man of his client, Sir -Burnham. You will note, Mr. Addison, shortly after his return from -_Egypt_. He realized upon quantities of securities, and raised a big -sum of ready money, which he disposed of in some way which has always -remained a mystery to Mr. Hardacre. In short, within a period of three -years or less, from being a wealthy man, he became a poor one. - -"Next, he sent Mr. Roger Coverly, his only child, then a mere lad, -abroad in care of a tutor; Mr. Hardacre never knew for what reason as -there was apparently nothing wrong with the boy's health! He began to -dismiss his servants. The greater part of Friar's Park was shut up and -allowed to fall into decay. Finally, to Mr. Hardacre's surprise and -grief, Sir Burnham mortgaged the property. But it was the terms of the -mortgage--which I was privileged to inspect--which aroused my -curiosity. - -"In brief, the mortgagee agreed, in the event of Sir Burnham's death, -to allow the widow to retain possession of the property for life, -whether payments fell in arrears or otherwise!" - -"But this--" I exclaimed. - -"Is, as a friend of yours once remarked, as mad as 'Alice in -Wonderland'! I agree. But to continue. At the time that this -extraordinary agreement was drawn up, Mr. Hardacre went down to -Friar's Park, of course; and he was a witness of several most singular -and significant occurrences. For instance, on the evening of his -arrival, whilst he was dressing for dinner, Sir Burnham came running -to his room and begged of him to lock his door and to remain in his -room until his host gave him permission to come out! He was -particularly warned against admitting any one _who might knock_ in the -interval!" - -"Good heavens!" I cried--"and did any one knock?" - -"No one; but about half an hour later Sir Burnham came and released -him. Mr. Hardacre was unspeakably distressed to observe that Sir -Burnham looked white and ill; in fact, in Mr. Hardacre's own words, -five years older! Again, quite by accident, on the same night, he came -upon his host kneeling in the chapel--in those days it still boasted a -roof--deep in prayer. An atmosphere of indescribable horror, he -declared, had settled upon Friar's Park, and although, as he -confessed, he had no evidence to prove the correctness of his theory, -he nevertheless traced this to the person of the mortgagee. For it -seemed to correspond roughly with the appearance in the neighborhood -of this man--whom he now met for the first time." - -Again Gatton paused, taking out his pipe and pouch, and: - -"Who was this person?" I asked. - -"A certain Dr. Damar Greefe!" - -"Good God!" I cried--"where is all this leading us, Gatton?" - -"It is leading us slowly to the truth, Mr. Addison, and that truth, -when we come to it, is going to be more horrible than we even suspect. -Passing over much of Mr. Hardacre's evidence, I come to the death, in -Switzerland, of Mr. Roger Coverly, under circumstances so obscure that -I fear we shall never know the particulars. Of one thing, however, I -am assured: there was foul play." - -"You mean that Roger Coverly was--murdered?" - -"I really don't doubt it," replied Gatton, who, having filled his -pipe, now lighted it. "I believe he was the first victim." - -"The _first_ victim?" - -"Mr. Addison, I agree with the late Sir Burnham's solicitor, that the -spider at the heart of this web is Dr. Damar Greefe. The shock of his -son's premature death led to a collapse from which Sir Burnham never -recovered, and Friar's Park entered upon the final phase during which -it was occupied by Lady Burnham who seems to have been wholly under -the influence of this Eurasian doctor." - -"But, my dear Gatton!" I cried--"where _is_ Lady Burnham?" - -"In my opinion, dead!" he answered solemnly. "Oh, it sounds -preposterous, but in the case of this lonely woman who had apparently -no living relatives and who was estranged from Sir Marcus and the -other members of her husband's family, it was no very difficult -matter to hush up the fact of her death." - -"But, Gatton, you don't mean that she, too, met with foul play?" - -"Most certainly I don't! It is as clear as day that the whole object -of this elaborate secrecy was to _hide_ the fact of her death! She was -infinitely more useful alive than dead, Mr. Addison; and they hoped to -keep up the solemn farce until--" - -"Yes?" - -"Until Sir Eric was hanged for the murder of his cousin!" - -"Gatton! What do you mean?" - -"He is the last of the Coverlys!" answered Gatton simply. "There would -be no further danger of any one paying off the mortgage." - -"Danger?" - -"Exactly. There is some secret at Friar's Park--or at the Bell -House--which necessitates the property remaining in the possession of -Dr. Damar Greefe--as it has virtually remained since Sir Burnham's -death! So much is clear, and although Eric Coverly has persisted in -his obstinate silence, one of my assistants who has been at work on -the late Sir Marcus's papers made a discovery yesterday, which -together with what I had learned from Mr. Hardacre and your code -message, brought me down to Crossleys post haste." - -"What was this discovery?" - -"An invitation from Dr. Damar Greefe, dated only a short time after -the death of Sir Burnham, to Sir Marcus, asking him to visit Friar's -Park! The doctor explained that the state of Lady Coverly's health -made it impossible for her to entertain, but he assured Sir Marcus -that she was anxious to see him and to heal any breach which might -exist between them. Most significant of all, the Eurasian proposed -that Sir Marcus should put up _here_!" - -"At the Abbey Inn?" - -"Exactly. Now the 'best room' of the inn is that which you have been -occupying--and it is that which Sir Marcus would have occupied had he -accepted the doctor's invitation. Listen then: all these clews seemed -to point to Friar's Park, but the receipt of your message mentioning -one Damar Greefe as being a suspicious party, and asking me to look up -his record, quite tipped the scales. I saw, frankly, that you had made -a false move, but nevertheless it served my purpose, and I determined -to look into the Crossleys end of the inquiry personally, without -giving Dr. Damar Greefe reason to suspect that I was in any way -associated with the matter. - -"I picked up one or two hints from the county police as to the -geography as well as the 'notables' of the neighborhood; and the plan -which you put into execution to-night, I had adopted last night!" - -"What! You visited Friar's Park?" - -"I did. But I did not enter through the French window. It never -occurred to me that it would be unfastened! I had come provided with a -neat set of burglars' tools (_and_ a warrant for use if necessary) and -I broke into the kitchen! _I_ found, as you afterwards found, that -the place had obviously been deserted for a long time. I was badly -puzzled. But my search was more detailed than yours. I climbed up to -the top of the tower!" - -"To the top of the tower!" - -"Yes. I'll tell you what I found there in a minute. But, briefly, -beyond learning that the story of the invalid Lady Coverly was a myth, -I discovered nothing likely to help the inquiry. I seriously debated -the idea of putting Dr. Damar Greefe under arrest; but finally I -determined to watch him for a time without showing my hand. I had the -good fortune to meet him this morning here at the Abbey Inn! Also, I -saw your mysterious lady visitor! Lastly, I got into conversation with -the man, Hawkins, who was accompanied by your friend, the mute! - -"Leaving this dangerous pair, I made a rush for the Bell House, -thinking I saw my opportunity to examine it unmolested. I was too -late, though. One of my assistants warned me of the Eurasian's return -just as I was about to enter. - -"I watched the house all day. But it was not until some time after -dusk that the Eurasian came out. He went to Friar's Park--and I -followed him!" - -"What! You were there to-night!" - -"I was! I dogged Dr. Damar Greefe, determined to learn the nature of -the business which brought him to Friar's Park at such an hour. I may -add that it was only by the merest accident or good luck that I -fathomed it after all. I had no idea into what part of the building he -had gone, but, knowing that he was somewhere inside, I watched from -the shrubbery. In fact, I was still in the grounds when _you_ -arrived!" - -"Then it was you I saw on the tower!" - -"Oh, no, it was not! I had thoroughly examined the tower on my -previous visit, and what I found there had puzzled me badly. In fact -it was not until your admirable withdrawal from Friar's Park to-night -that the horrible explanation dawned upon me ...and I realized that -the object of inviting Sir Marcus to Upper Crossleys was to 'remove' -him! The first plan failed, of course; he never came. He went back -again on duty to Russia, I believe--for a time. But when he -returned--a second was adopted, at the Red House. However--the -murder-machine erected in accordance with the earlier plan was still -there--" - -"Where?" I cried in bewilderment. - -"On the tower of Friar's Park! It was the appearance of _Damar Greefe_ -on the platform of the tower, armed with binoculars, which awakened me -to the ghastly truth. The device, never used in the case of Sir -Marcus, was not to be wasted, but was to be employed to remove a -dangerous obstacle from the conspirator's path! I had left the car -near Crossleys, you see, and never in my life have I run as I ran -after you to-night!" - -"But, Gatton, _what_ did you find on the tower--and what connection -exists between the tower and the explosion which occurred here -to-night?" - -"This: a sort of small howitzer--I think of Krupp's manufacture, but -you would be better able to judge than I--is mounted on the platform -of the tower! I examined it, Mr. Addison, last night, and like a fool -concluded that it had been used at some time for a local celebration -and never dismounted! It was trained--as I remembered nearly too -late--and laid at a certain elevation in such a way that it was -evidently never meant to be moved. Yet at the time the significance of -this did not strike me. How the range was found so exactly we shall -probably never know; but the truth suddenly burst upon me as you made -off through the bushes and as Dr. Damar Greefe came out and began to -peer through his glasses--that it was mechanically set in such a -manner that it could drop a projectile into the window above the porch -of the Abbey Inn!" - -"Good God! It's hardly credible!" - -"It isn't, I admit. But weather conditions favored him; there wasn't a -breath of wind. And that he succeeded is proved by the fact that at -the present moment your room below is probably still full of poison -gas! Of course, it _may_ not have been a gas-shell; he may have -relied, as well he might do, on the burst! But I'm taking no chances. -You can well imagine that failing a knowledge of the arrangement on -the tower, no explanation of the mystery would ever have been found! A -thunder-bolt would be the popular theory, and if any fragments of -shell were found who would ever know from where it had been fired?" - -"Gatton," I said, "I owe you my life. But why did this fiend try to -murder me?" - -Gatton smiled. - -"I have a theory, Mr. Addison," he replied, "and it is this: I believe -he thought that the indiscretion of a certain mysterious lady would -bring about his ruin. If I am not mistaken, she has already gone far -to put his neck in a halter; and he was determined to nip this latest -adventure in the bud by removing the object of her--" - -I felt myself changing color, and: - -"For heaven's sake say no more!" I interrupted. "It is a gruesome and -horrible thought! Yet, perhaps you are right. What must we do, Gatton? -These people have rendered the neighborhood uninhabitable for -themselves, now, and--" - -Dimly to my ears came the sound of a gun-shot. - -"And have fled!" cried Gatton, springing up. "Quick! we must chance -the gas!" - -"Why? What was that shot?" - -"A signal! Dr. Damar Greefe and 'the cat' have escaped!" - -He raced out across the landing, amid a chorus of frightened inquiries -from the inn staff. I followed him into a front room, and: - -"This comes of turning my attention elsewhere for half an hour!" he -cried angrily. "I seem to be cursed with fools for assistants!" - -Throwing up the window, he leaned out. I stood at his elbow; and as I -looked I saw a great red glow rising from the distant woods. The sound -of a car approaching at headlong speed reached my ears, and at the -same moment I saw the headlights. - -"Hullo, there!" cried Gatton. "Blythe! Petersham!" - -The car stopped, and a cry came back: - -"We've lost him, sir!... and the Bell House is in flames!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -IN LONDON AGAIN - - -"Then the sudden change in the police attitude towards Eric," said -Isobel, "is not due to any discoveries which you or Inspector Gatton -have made at Friar's Park?" - -"That I cannot say," I replied. "We have made certain discoveries as I -have already told you, but whilst they distinctly point to some -criminal whose identity is not yet fully established, unfortunately I -cannot say that in a legal sense they clear Coverly." - -Isobel, as I had thought at the first moment of our meeting, looked -very tired and had that pathetic expression of appeal in her eyes -which had hurt me so much when first it had appeared there on the -morning after the tragedy. She was palpably ill at ease, and I had -small cause to wonder at this. Although a veiled paragraph (in which I -thought I could detect the hand of Gatton) had appeared in the press -on the previous day, briefly stating that evidence had been -volunteered by Sir Eric Coverly which had led to an entirely new line -of police inquiry, the item of news--which had naturally excited -wide-spread interest--had never been amplified. Amid the alarms and -excursions which had terminated my visit to Upper Crossleys, Gatton I -supposed had forgotten to refer to this matter; but I did not doubt -that the paragraph was an inspired one issued from Scotland Yard. - -My friend's object in circulating this statement was not by any means -evident to me, but as I expected to see him later that day I hoped to -be able to obtain from him some explanation of his new tactics. - -Many hours had elapsed since, with the flames of the burning Bell -House reddening the night behind me, and throwing into lurid relief -the fir-groves surrounding Dr. Damar Greefe's mysterious stronghold, I -had been borne along the road towards London. That Gatton had hoped -for much from a detailed search of the Eurasian's establishment, I -knew, for I had not forgotten his anger at the appearance of the -flames above the tree tops which had told of the foiling of his plans. - -Under cover of the conflagration the cunning Eurasian had escaped. -Every possible means had been taken to intercept him, and whilst -Gatton, inspired by I know not what hopes, had hastened to the burning -Bell House, I had set out in the police car in pursuit of Dr. Damar -Greefe accompanied by Detective-Sergeant Blythe--upon whom, -apparently, the onus of the fiasco rested. - -In despite of these measures, the hunted man had made good his -retreat; and Blythe and I had entered the outskirts of London without -once sighting the car in which Dannar Greefe had fled. - -No communication reached me on the following morning, and I found -myself, consumed with impatient curiosity, temporarily out of touch -with Gatton. Then, shortly after mid-day, came a telegram: - -"Endeavor induce Sir Eric come to your house eight to-night. Will meet -him there. Gatton." - -Welcoming any ground for action--since to remain passive at such a -time was torture--I called at once at Coverly's chambers. He was out. -But I left an urgent written message for him, and in the hope of -finding him with Isobel, hurried to her flat. He had not been there -that day, however; and now I could only hope that he would return to -his rooms in time to keep the appointment. For that Gatton had some -good reason for suggesting the meeting I did not doubt. - -Gatton and I were now agreed that Dr. Damar Greefe, if not directly -responsible for the death of Sir Marcus, at least had been an -accessory to his murder. At any rate he had shown his hand; firstly, -in the attempted assault upon myself by his Nubian servant and -secondly, by the devilish device whereby he had propelled some sort of -gas projectile (for this we now knew it to have been) from the tower -of Friar's Park into my room at the Abbey Inn. I had, then, become -obnoxious to him; he evidently regarded my continued existence as a -menace to his own. - -Two explanations of his attitude presented themselves: one, that my -inquiries had led me daily nearer to the heart of the mystery; or, -two, that the doctor's mysterious associate, the possessor of the -green eyes, had adopted an attitude towards myself which the Eurasian -had counted sooner or later as certain to compromise him. In short, -whilst it was sufficiently evident to me that these mysterious people -residing at Upper Crossleys were the criminals for whom New Scotland -Yard was searching, no definite link between their admittedly -dangerous activities and the crime we sought to unravel, had yet been -brought to light. - -On the other hand, whilst it was not feasible to suppose that any -relationship existed between Sir Eric, the new baronet, and the -Eurasian, or the woman associated with the Eurasian, I was quite well -aware that, equally, there was no evidence to show that such an -association did not exist. - -I longed to be able to offer some consolation to Isobel, who at this -time was passing through days and nights of dreadful apprehension; but -beyond imparting to her some of my own personal convictions, I was -unable to say honestly that the complicity of Coverly in the murder -was definitely and legally disproved. - -"If only he would break his absurd silence," she said suddenly. "This -ridiculous suspicion which still seems to be entertained in some -quarters would be removed of course; but his every act since the night -of the tragedy has only intensified it." - -She sat facing me on the settee, her hands locked in her lap, and: - -"Do you refer to any new act of his," I asked, "with which I am not at -present acquainted?" - -She nodded slowly. - -"Yes," she said; "but I can only tell you in confidence, for it is -something which Inspector Gatton does not know." - -"Please tell me," I urged; "for you are aware that I have no other -object but the clearing of Coverly in the eyes of the police and the -public." - -"Well," she continued, with hesitation, "last night he lodged with me -a copy of a _declaration_ which he assured me cleared him entirely. -But he imposed an extraordinary condition." - -"What was that?" I asked with interest. - -"It was only to be used in the event of the worst happening!" she -said. - -"What do you mean? In the event of his being put on trial for murder?" - -Isobel nodded. - -"I suppose so," she said sadly; "it seems madness, doesn't it?" - -"Absolute madness!" I agreed. "If he is in a position to establish an -alibi why not do it now and be done with the whole unsavory business?" - -"That is exactly what I pointed out to him, but he was adamant on the -matter and became dreadfully irritable and excited. I did not dare to -press the point, so of course--" She shrugged her shoulders -resignedly. - -Was it a selfish joy, I wonder, which possessed me as I noted the -restrained impatience with which Isobel spoke of Coverly? I suppose it -was, and perhaps it was even indefensible; yet I record it, desiring -to be perfectly honest with myself and with others. Nevertheless, in -the near future I was to regret the sentiments which at that moment I -entertained towards Coverly. But how was I to know in my poor human -blindness that his innocence would soon be established in the eyes of -the world by other means than the publication of the statement which -he had so strangely placed with Isobel? - -Since, excepting the telegram, no communication had reached me from -Gatton, I could only assume that he had discovered nothing in the -ruins of the Bell House of sufficient importance to justify a report. -Doubtless he had reported to New Scotland Yard, but that his -discoveries, if any, had not resulted in an arrest, was painfully -evident. - -My latest contribution to the _Planet_ had been in the nature of a -discursive essay rather than an informative article, although I had -enlivened it with some account of my experiences at Upper Crossleys. -But at the moment that I had set pen to paper I had realized the -difficulty of expressing, within the scope of a newspaper -contribution, the peculiar conditions which ruled in that oddly -deserted village. And at Gatton's request I had been most guarded in -my treatment of the two abortive attempts made upon my own life by the -Eurasian doctor. - -The appeal in Isobel's eyes, as I have said, was very difficult to -resist, but after all I had little substantial consolation to offer; -and in the circumstances I shall be understood, I think, when I say -that it was with an odd sense of relief that I finally took my -departure from her flat. To long for the right to comfort a woman as -only a lover may do, and to suspect that this sweet privilege might -have been his for the asking, is a torture which no man can suffer -unmoved. - -Anticipating, almost hourly, a further message from Gatton, I went -first to the _Planet_ offices, but although I lunched at the club and -returned later, no news reached me there; whereupon, I proceeded to my -cottage. As I walked down the high-street of the onetime village, -passing that police-box at which (so far as my part in it was -concerned) the first scenes of the drama actually had been laid, I was -seized with wonder on reflecting that all these episodes, strange and -tragic, had been crowded into so short a space of time. - -An officer was on duty there as on the night when I had first made -acquaintance with the green eyes of the woman of mystery; but I did -not know the man and I walked on deep in meditation, until, arriving -at the Red House, other and dreadful reflections were aroused by the -sight of that deserted building. - -There were no spectators to-day, for the first excitement aroused by -the crime had begun to subside, and I did not even notice a constable -posted there. Whereby I concluded that the investigations at the Red -House had been terminated and that no more was hoped for from an -examination of those premises. - -Coates was awaiting me as I entered my cottage with the news that -Inspector Gatton had telephoned an hour before from Crossleys, -confirming his telegram and stating that he would call immediately he -arrived in London. This was stimulating, and I only regretted that I -had not been at home personally to speak to him. Then: - -"Sir Eric Coverly also rang up, sir," continued Coates, "at about -three o'clock and said that he would be calling this evening at eight -in accordance with your request." - -I looked at the military figure standing bolt upright just within the -doorway. - -"Good. Is that all?" I asked. - -"That was all the message, sir," he reported. - -I walked into the study in a very thoughtful mood, and from the open -window contemplated that prospect of tree-lined road, now for ever to -be associated in my mind with the darkest places in the tragedy in -which I had so strangely become involved. - -Gatton, I knew, entertained a theory that the selection of the Red -House for the dreadful purpose for which it had been employed, was not -the result of any mere accident, but was ascribable to the fact that -the place was conveniently situated from the point of view of the -assassin. In short, he had an idea that the London headquarters of the -wanted man, whom we had now definitely invested with the personality -of Dr. Damar Greefe, was somewhere within my immediate neighborhood! - -It was a startling conclusion and one which rested, as I thought, upon -somewhat slender premises; but nevertheless I found it disquieting. -And recognizing how the more sinister manifestations of that singular -green-eyed creature (whom I could never think of as a woman, nor -indeed regard as anything quite human) were associated with -darkness--a significantly feline trait--I confess to a certain -apprehension respecting the coming night. This apprehension was -strengthened no doubt by my memories of Gatton's last words as I had -been on the point of setting out from Upper Crossleys. - -"With their Friar's Park base destroyed, Mr. Addison," he had said, -"they will be forced to fly to that other abode, at present unknown, -from which I believe they conducted the elaborate assassination of Sir -Marcus. The only alternative is flight from the country, and the -mechanism of the C.I.D. having been put into motion, this we may -regard as almost impossible--especially in view of the marked -personality of Dr. Damar Greefe. Of course," he had added, "they may -have some other residence of which we know nothing but I incline to -the idea that they will make for London." - -That the published paragraph relating to Eric Coverly's alleged -evidence was in some way associated with this theory of Gatton's I -knew, but of the soundness of his theory I had yet to learn. - -Since (as Isobel had that day informed me) the document lodged with -her was a profound secret from all, Carton's inspired paragraph could -have been no more than a shot in the dark; and the fact that it had -hit the mark one of those seeming coincidences which sometimes rest -upon mere chance, but which rested, in this case upon a process of -careful reasoning. The Inspector was certain, as I was certain, of -Coverly's innocence, and he had credited him with an alibi because he -knew that if he would but consent to break his inexplicable silence, -he was in a position to establish one. Why he had forestalled Coverly -I knew not. - -I made a poor and hasty dinner, for I was too excited to eat, and -returning to the study, I crossed to the bookcase and took down -Maspero's "Egyptian Art." I idly glanced again through those passages -which Gatton had copied into his note-book--the passages relating to -the attributes of Bast, the cat-goddess. My mind rested particularly, -I remember, upon the line, "she plays with her victim as with a -mouse." - -Stifling a somewhat weary sigh, I returned the book to its place and -lingered looking out of the open window into the deepening dusk. -Mentally my mood was a restless one, but it did not reflect itself -physically; for I stood there leaning against the window whilst a -procession of all the figures associated with the "_Oritoga_ mystery" -raced through my mind. - -And presently as I stood there contemplating a mental image of the -Eurasian doctor, I heard the telephone bell ring. The sound aroused me -in a moment, and walking out into the little ante-room in which the -instrument was placed, I took it up--anticipating Coates, who had -immediately come in from the garden where he was engaged at the time. - -"Hello!" I said. - -A voice with which I was unfamiliar, a man's voice speaking rather -thickly, replied: - -"Is that Mr. Addison?" - -"Yes." - -"I have just arrived from Crossleys with Inspector Gatton. He requests -me to ask you to meet him by the police-box at the corner of the high -street immediately." - -"Very good," I said. "I will come." - -"And," continued the voice--"could you spare Coates with the car for -an hour?" - -"Certainly," I replied. "For what do you want him?" - -"If he will take the car to Denmark Hill Station and be there by a -quarter past eight," continued the voice, "Detective-Sergeant Blythe -will meet him. There is a large box," he added, "which Inspector -Gatton wishes to have taken to your house." - -"Very well," I said. "Coates will start in ten minutes' time, and I -will come along immediately to meet Inspector Gatton." - -I replaced the telephone upon the little table and went out into the -garden, whither my man had returned. - -"Coates," I said, "get out the Rover." - -Coates immediately ceased his gardening operations and stood upright -in an attitude of attention. - -"Very good, sir." - -"You will just have time to get ready at the garage and return here to -admit Sir Eric Coverly at eight o'clock. I am going out, now, to meet -Inspector Gatton. But inform Sir Eric that I shall be back in a few -minutes. Show him into the study and make him comfortable. You will -then proceed in the Rover to Denmark Hill Station. You will meet there -a man with a box--a detective from Scotland Yard who will make -himself known to you. His name is Blythe. You have to bring the box -back here." - -"Very good, sir," repeated Coates. - -And as he entered the house he was already stripping off the old -shooting jacket which he wore in the garden. For my part I slipped a -light top-coat over my somewhat untidy house attire, and taking my hat -and a stick, stepped quickly out along the road in the direction of -the village street. A brisk walk brought me to the little sentry-box -under the trees. But Gatton was not to be seen. Indeed, with the -exception of several ordinary pedestrians who were obviously returning -from the city to their homes (all of whom I scrutinized, thinking that -Coverly might come this way) and the constable on duty at the point, -there was no one about who looked in the least like either of my -expected visitors. - -Having waited for some ten minutes unavailingly, I spoke to the man in -the box. - -"Good evening, constable," I said; "I expected to meet a friend -here--Inspector Gatton, of Scotland Yard--you may know him?" - -"I know of him quite well, sir," answered the constable, "and should -recognize him if I saw him. But he has not been here this evening." - -"You have seen no one hanging about who might have been sent by him?" - -"No one, sir." - -"Strange," I muttered; then: "My name is Addison, constable," I said, -"and if any one should ask for me will you direct him to proceed to -my house?" And I gave the man instructions respecting its whereabouts. - -"I will," answered the constable; and wishing him "good night," I -retraced my steps, curious respecting the matter, but not apprehensive -as I well might have been--and with no glimmering of the ghastly truth -penetrating to my mind. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE GRAY MIST - - -I was about half-way on my return journey when I heard a car racing -along the road behind me, and as it came nearer I detected the fact -that it was slowing down. Ere I could turn: - -"Hi! Mr. Addison!" hailed a voice. - -I stopped, turned round, and there was Gatton leaning out of the car -and staring towards me through the deepening dusk. - -"Why, Gatton!" I said, walking up to him--"I waited more than ten -minutes for you, and then gave it up." - -"Waited for me?" - -"Yes, by the police-box." - -He stared in evident wonder at me and then at the police chauffeur who -drove the car. - -"Whatever prompted you to do that?" he said. "Coates must have given -you the wrong message. I said I would come to the house for you, not -meet you in the street." - -Still I remained dense to the truth, and: - -"I know you did," I replied. "I refer to the second message." - -"I sent no second message." - -"What!" - -"Get in," cried Gatton shortly; "this wants explaining." - -I stepped into the car, and as it moved onward again I explained to -the Inspector what had taken place. As I talked I saw his expression -grow darker and darker, until finally: - -"There's something wrong!" he muttered. - -"Then you did not inspire the message?" - -"I know nothing whatever about it. At the time you received it I was -on my way from Crossleys. I have been traveling for the last hour and -a half." - -I stared at him very blankly. The object of such a communication was -difficult to imagine, and I knew of nothing incriminating in my -possession, which might have tempted the assassin to lure me from the -house whilst he obtained possession of it. - -In ever-growing excitement I watched the houses slipping behind us as -we swept along. Then we came to the tree-lined expanse of road -immediately leading to the cottage. As the car stopped, I leaped out -quickly, Gatton close upon my heels, and ran up the path to the door. - -From certain indications with which I was familiar, I observed that -Coates was out, whereby I concluded that he had set off to meet the -mythical "man with a box." Not without apprehension I inserted the key -in the lock and opened the door. - -As I did so, I beheld a most singular spectacle. - -The careful Coates had closed all the windows as usual before quitting -the house, so that there was comparatively little draught along the -corridor. But as the door swung open I perceived a sort of gray -fog-like vapor floating over the carpet about a foot in depth and -moving in slightly sinuous spirals upward towards the opened door! - -At this phenomenon I stared in speechless astonishment; for whilst it -resembled steam or the early morning mist which one sometimes sees -upon the grass in hot weather, I was wholly at a loss to account for -its presence inside my cottage! - -"Good heavens!" cried Gatton, and grasped me by the arm with so strong -a grip that I almost cried out. "_Look! Look!_" - -"What the devil is it?" I muttered; and turning, I stared into his -face. "What _can_ it be?" - -"Stand back," he said strangely, and pulled me out into the porch. "Do -you notice a peculiar smell?" - -"I do--a most foul and abominable smell." - -Gatton nodded grimly. - -"God knows what has happened here since you left," he said; "but of -one thing I am sure--you must certainly bear a charmed life, Mr. -Addison. There has been a third attempt at your removal!" - -This choking smell which now rose to my nostrils had in it something -vaguely familiar, yet something which at that place and that time I -found myself unable to identify; but: - -"We shall have to open the windows!" rapped Gatton. - -Suiting the action to the word, he took out his handkerchief, and -holding it to his nostrils went running along the corridor, his feet -oddly enveloped in that mysterious mist. A moment later I heard the -bang of a swiftly raised window, then another, and: - -"Stand clear of the door!" called a muffled voice. - -A moment later Gatton came racing back again, coughing and choking -because of the fumes which arose from that supernatural fog carpeting -the passages. - -The chauffeur now appeared upon the path leading from the gate to the -porch, but: - -"Stay by the car!" ordered Gatton. "Don't move without instructions." - -I scarcely noted his words. For I was watching the gray fog. In the -dusk I could see it streaming out, that deathly mist, and creeping -away across grass and flower-beds, right and left of the door. - -"Give it a chance to clear," said Gatton; "I fancy one good whiff -would finish any man!" - -Even as he spoke the words the nature of this vapor suddenly occurred -to me, and: - -"The Abbey Inn!" I whispered. "The Abbey Inn!" - -"Ah!" said he--"you've solved the mystery, have you? But can you -explain how this stuff comes to be floating about the floor of your -house?" - -"I cannot," I confessed. "But at all costs we must go in. We must -learn the worst!" - -"Yes, we'll risk it now," said the Inspector. - -Close together we entered and made our way towards the study. As we -passed the door-way of the ante-room in which the telephone was -placed. I glanced, aside, and thereupon: - -"My God, Gatton!" I groaned. "Look!" - -He pulled up and the two of us stood, horror-stricken, rooted to the -spot, looking into the little room. - -I have said that Coates invariably closed the windows before leaving -the house, but here the window was open. Prone upon the floor was -stretched the figure of a man! - -He wore a light overcoat, and his hat lay under the telephone -table--where it had evidently rolled at the moment of his fall. The -poisonous smell was more apparent here than elsewhere; and looking -down at the prone figure, the face of which was indiscernible because -of the man's position: - -"Why, Gatton!" I said in an awed whisper--"look!... he was speaking to -some one!" - -"I'm looking!" replied Gatton grimly. - -Grasped rigidly in his left hand the fallen man held the telephone! - -"We want gas-masks for this job," said the Inspector. - -His words were true enough. I had already recognized the odor of the -foul stuff. It was identical with that which, as we had come down from -the upper floor of the Abbey Inn, had proceeded from the room wherein -the mysterious shell had exploded. In a word my cottage was filled -with some kind of poison-gas! - -"We must risk it, anyway," said Gatton, "and find out who it is." - -I nodded, sick with foreboding. Stooping swiftly, he succeeded in -turning over the prone figure, whereupon I quite failed to restrain a -hoarse cry of horror.... - -_It was Eric Coverly_! - -The fume-laden room seemed to swim around me as I looked down at the -dreadfully contorted features over which was creeping that greenish -tint which had characterized the face of Sir Marcus as I had seen it -on the morning of the body's recovery from the hold of the _Oritoga_. - -"Drag him out," said Gatton huskily; "he may be alive." - -But even as we bent to the attempt, both my companion and I were -seized with violent nausea; for the wisps of gray mist which still -floated in the air were nevertheless sufficiently deadly. However, we -succeeded at last in dragging Eric Coverly into the passage. Here it -became necessary to detach the telephone from the death-grip in which -he held it. - -I turned my head aside whilst Gatton accomplished this task; then -together we bore Coverly out into the porch. At this point we were -both overcome again by the fumes. Gatton was the first to recover -sufficiently to stoop and examine the victim of this fiendish outrage. -I clutched dizzily at an upright of the porch, and: - -"Don't tell me he's dead," I whispered. - -But Gatton stood up and nodded sternly. - -"He was the last!" he said strangely. "They have triumphed after all." - -The man who had driven the car and who now stood in a state of -evident stupefaction looking over the gate, where he had been warned -to remain by the Inspector, came forward on seeing Gatton beckoning to -him. - -"Notify the local officer in charge and bring a doctor," said Gatton. -He turned to me. "Which is the nearest?" - -Rapidly I gave the man the necessary instructions and he went running -out to the car and soon was speeding away towards the house of a local -physician. - -I find it difficult to recapture the peculiar horror of the next few -minutes, during which, half-fearful of entering the cottage, Gatton -and I stood in the little sheltered garden adjoining the porch looking -down at the body of this man who had met his end under my roof, in -circumstances at once dreadful and incomprehensible. - -Tragically, Eric Coverly was vindicated; by his death he was proved -innocent. And by the manner of his death we realized that he had -fallen a victim to the same malign agency as his cousin. - -I have explained that my cottage stood in a strangely secluded spot, -although so near to the sleepless life of London; and I remember that -throughout the period between the departure of the man with the car -and his return with the doctor and two police officers whom he had -brought from the local depot, only one pedestrian passed my door and -he on the opposite side of the road. - -How little that chance traveler suspected what a scene was concealed -from his eyes by the tall hedges which divided the garden from the -highroad! It was as the footsteps of this wayfarer became faint in the -distance, that suddenly: - -"Come along!" said Gatton. "We might chance it now. I want to get to -the bottom of this telephone trick." - -We returned to the door of the ante-room, and side by side stood -looking down at the telephone which had only been extracted from the -grip of the dead man with so much difficulty. The Inspector stooped -and took it up from the floor. The deadly gray mist was all but -dissipated now, and together we stood staring stupidly at the -telephone which Gatton held in his hand. - -To all outward seeming it was an ordinary instrument, and my number -was written upon it in the space provided for the purpose. Then, all -at once, as we stepped into the room, I observed something out of the -ordinary. - -I could see a length of green cable proceeding from the wall-plug -_out_ through the open window. The cable attached to the instrument -which Gatton held did not come from the proper connection at all, but -came _in_ through the window, and was evidently connected with -something outside in the garden! - -"What does this mean, Gatton?" I cried. - -Evidently as deeply mystified as I, Gatton placed the telephone on the -little table and fully opening the window, leaned out. - -"Hullo!" he cried. "The cable leads up to the roof of the tool-shed!" - -"To the roof of the tool-shed!" I echoed incredulously. - -But Gatton did not heed my words, for: - -"What the devil have we here?" he continued. - -He was hauling something up from the flower-bed below the window, and -now, turning to me, he held out ... a second telephone! - -"Why, Gatton!" I cried, and took it from his hand, "_this_ is the -authentic instrument! See! It is connected in the proper way!" - -"I see quite clearly," he replied. "It was simply placed outside, -whilst a duplicate one was substituted for it. I observe a ladder -against the shed. Let us trace the cable attached to the duplicate." - -The ladder was one used by Coates about the garden; and now, climbing -out of the window, Gatton mounted it and surveyed the roof of the -lean-to which I used as a tool-shed. - -"Ha!" he exclaimed. "A gas cylinder!" - -"What!" - -He fingered the green cable. - -"This is not cable at all," he cried; "it's _covered tubing_! Do you -see?" - -He descended and rejoined me. - -"You see?" he continued. "A call from the exchange would ring the bell -in the ante-room here. This devilish contrivance"--he pointed to the -false telephone--"is really hollow. The weight of the receiver -hermetically closes the end of the tube, no doubt. But any one -answering the call and taking up the duplicate instrument would -receive the full benefit of the contents of the cylinder which lies -up there on the roof!" - -"My God, Gatton!" I muttered. "The fiends! But why was the contrivance -not removed?" - -"They hadn't time," he said grimly. "They had not counted on the -death-grip of the victim!" - -I heard a car come racing up to the gate, followed by the sound of -many excited voices. - -"At last we know where the gray mist came from," I said, as Gatton and -I walked through the cottage to meet the new arrivals. - -"We know more than that," he retorted. "We know how _Sir Marcus_ -died!" - -"Gatton!" I cried excitedly, as we approached a group waiting in the -porch--"do you mean--" - -He looked at me grimly. - -"I mean," he said slowly, "that I have not forgotten the _gas-plug_ in -the wall of that recess in the supper-room at the Red House! The only -thing I was doubtful about (the means by which the victim was induced -to admit the gas into the room) is now as clear as daylight." - -"You are right, Gatton," I agreed. "The same trick has succeeded -twice." - -"The same trick, as you say, Mr. Addison; with one trifling variation, -a device which would only suggest itself to such a brain as that of--" - -"Dr. Damar Greefe!" I cried. - -"I believe you are right." - -And now fell an awesome silence; for whilst Gatton and I stood -bare-headed, the unfortunate Eric Coverly was being carried out to the -waiting car; and even as I turned my eyes away in horror from that -spectacle, I was endeavoring to frame the words in which I should -acquaint Isobel with this second ghastly tragedy. - -Here, indeed, was a new development of "the _Oritoga_ mystery"; and so -queerly does the mind depart from the actualities at such a moment -that I found myself thinking, even whilst Gatton was talking to me, of -the bold head-lines which would greet readers of the press in the -morning--and of the renewed excitement which would sweep throughout -the length and breadth of the land when this dreadful alibi was -proven. - -Over the details of that gruesome tragedy I feel myself compelled to -pass lightly, for even now the horror of it remains with me. The fumes -of the poisonous gray mist lingered for hours in the house; and there -were official visitations, testimonies and attestations, and the -hundred and one formalities which invariably accompany such a tragedy -but which I need not deal with in detail here. - -Coates returned with the Rover, just as the body of the victim was -being removed, and his account of what had occurred was simple enough, -and followed the lines which we had anticipated. He had locked up and -then gone to the garage for the car as I had directed him to do, -returning to the cottage in time to admit Eric Coverly, whom he showed -into the study, having informed him that I should be back in less than -ten minutes. He had then proceeded to Denmark Hill railway station -only to find, as I had found, that the appointment was a hoax and -"the man with a box" a myth. - -"You see," said Gatton, "the scheme of the plotter was simply this: to -get Coates out of the way for a long enough time to allow the -substitution of the telephone to be accomplished. The fact that Coates -had closed the windows before leaving the house didn't interfere very -much with the scheme. It's an old-fashioned catch on the ante-room -window, and I have seen the marks upon the brass-work where it was -forced from the outside with the blade of a knife. For the person who -opened the window to take out the real telephone and put the other in -its place was easy; and all that remained was to lift the gas-cylinder -on to the shed and partly reclose the window as we found it. Coates, -even if he had troubled to look, would not have noticed any difference -in the dusk. It is the next move, however, which _I_ find most -interesting." - -Gatton spoke with repressed excitement, and: - -"What do you mean by 'the next move'?" I asked. - -"Well," he replied, "we have good evidence to show that the assassin -possesses an almost Napoleonic capacity for working by the time-table. -Witness the employment of Constable Bolton in the Red House -affair--which showed that our man was perfectly acquainted with the -movements of the officer on that beat and timed his scheme -accordingly. Very well ... having laid the telephone trap in your -ante-room--did our man hurry away and make the call _in person_, -which brought Coverly to the 'phone?--or did he remain watching the -house and give the signal to _some one else_ to do it?" - -"I cannot imagine, Gatton. Nor does the point strike me as important." - -"No?" said Gatton, smiling triumphantly. "Then I must explain. -Whereas, in the Red House, the scheme worked _automatically_--for the -time of Sir Marcus's arrival was _fixed_--in the present instance, -some one had to watch for _your_ return from the mythical -appointment!" - -"For _my_ return?" - -"Unquestionably! This scheme was arranged for your benefit, Mr. -Addison. Unknowingly, poor Coverly saved you from a dreadful fate at -the price of his own life! You see, they did not know that Coverly was -coming here! Now, it will not have escaped your attention that he wore -a soft felt hat, a light overcoat, and carried a black cane. So did -_you_ when you went out to keep the appointment made by the assassin!" - -He paused, staring at me hard, and: - -"Whoever was watching for your return," he said solemnly, "mistook -Coverly for you! The moment that Coates drove away, the signal was -given. It _must_ have been. We were back here a few minutes later, -_Now_ do you see?" - -"I do not, Gatton! What are you driving at?" - -"At this: The telephone call _must_ have been made from somewhere in -the immediate neighborhood! There wasn't time to do it otherwise. And -there is no public call office within a mile _which is open after -seven o'clock!"_ - -"Good heavens!" I cried. "At last I understand!" - -Gatton looked at me, smiling in grim triumph; and: - -"Dr. Damar Greefe has a residence somewhere within a quarter-mile -radius of this house!" he declared. "He has betrayed himself! -Then--look here." - -Unscrewing the front of the mouthpiece of the false telephone, he took -out the strip of cardboard upon which my number was written, turned it -over ... and there upon the back was another number! - -"Just look up Dr. Brown-Edwards," he said. "He was the last occupant -of the Red House, and may still be in the book." - -Grasping the purpose of his inquiry, excitedly I did as he directed; -and there sure enough the number appeared! - -"The identical instrument that was used at the Red House!" cried -Gatton. "Note the artistic finish with which even the _correct_ -exchange numbers are looked up!" - -I sank back in my chair, silent, appalled at the perverted genius of -this fiend whom we were pitted against in a life-or-death struggle. -But presently: - -"What was the object of the opening and closing of the garage doors at -the Red House?" I asked, almost mechanically. - -"Simple enough," Gatton replied. "Whereas here the telephone was -installed, so that the bell could be rung by some one merely calling -up your number--and the ringing stopped by the caller telling the -exchange he had made a mistake--in the Red House, as I have -discovered, the 'phone had been disconnected shortly after Dr. -Brown-Edwards left the place." - -"Then the opening and closing of the doors was merely a device for -ringing the bell?" - -"Yes. The opening of the first door set it ringing and the opening of -the second probably stopped it. Mr. Addison," he stood up, resting his -hands upon the table and regarding me fixedly--"we enter upon the -final battle of wits: New Scotland Yard _versus_ Dr. Damar Greefe and -the green-eyed lady of Bast. Regarding the latter--there is a very -significant point." - -"What is that?" - -"The 'voice' on this last occasion was that, not of a woman, but of a -man." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -THE INEVITABLE - - -"I very much regret having to trouble you, Miss Merlin, at such a -time," said Inspector Gatton, "but as the paper lodged with you by the -late Sir Eric Coverly may throw some light upon a very dark matter, -perhaps you will read it to us." - -I watched the play of expression upon Isobel's face with a depth of -sympathy which I cannot attempt to describe. The successive trials -which had been imposed upon her in so short a time had robbed her -cheeks of their sweet color and there were dark shadows under her -eyes. The tumult of my own feelings was such that I was scarcely -capable of consistent thought nor had I the moral courage to examine -those emotions which stirred so wildly within me. - -Late on the previous night I had performed the unhappy duty of -breaking to her the news of Coverly's dreadful death. I shall never -forget that black hour. Her courage, however, under all these trials -had been admirable, and although I well knew what it must have cost -her, she replied now with perfect composure: - -"Look--I took it out of my bureau when I heard that you were here, -Inspector." - -She took up from the table a foolscap envelope sealed and having her -name written upon it in large and somewhat unsteady characters. - -"I would suggest," said Gatton, with a delicacy which earned my -gratitude, "that you read it yourself first, Miss Merlin. If there is -anything helpful in it you can then communicate it to me." - -I saw Isobel biting her lip hard, but she resolutely tore open the -envelope; and leaving her to read the contents, I joined Gatton at the -window. We both stood staring out for what seemed a very long time, -then: - -"It is rather long," said Isobel in a low voice. - -Gatton and I turned together, and saw her, looking even more pale than -before, seated by the table holding a sheet of notepaper in her hand. -Without glancing at either of us, she began to read as follows, in an -even and monotonous voice which I knew she had adopted to hide her -emotion: - - "This account of my movements on the night of August 6th will only - be read in the event of my being falsely adjudged guilty of the - murder of my cousin, Marcus Coverly, or in the event of my death. - - "On the afternoon of that date I was informed over the telephone - that my fiancee, Isobel Merlin, was meeting Sir Marcus the same - night at a place called the Red House. The address was given me and - I was asked, in case I doubted the word of the speaker, to watch - Miss Merlin's movements that evening. - - "I had already quarreled with my cousin respecting his unwelcome - attentions and although the result did not confirm the promise of - the informant, in part at least the information was accurate. I - have no idea of the speaker's identity except that the voice was - the voice of a woman. - - "Not desiring to trust any one in such a matter I, myself, obtained - in a remote district the dilapidated garments which are now in the - possession of the police and respecting which they have subjected - me to close examination. Attired in these and having my face and - hands artificially dirtied as a further disguise, I left my - chambers by a back entrance about nine o'clock, and not having - sufficient confidence in my make-up to enter a public vehicle, - walked the whole of the way to College Road. - - "I had little difficulty in finding the Red House, but on - discovering that it was vacant, I immediately suspected a hoax. - However, I determined to wait in the neighborhood until the time at - which the voice had warned me the meeting was to take place. There - were very few people about and a tremendous downfall of rain - drenched me to the skin, for the only shelter afforded was that of - the trees bordering the road unless I had been content to abandon - my watch. - - "Just before the downpour ceased but after it had abated its first - fury, I came out from my inadequate shelter and began to walk in - the direction of the High Street. I had not gone more than twenty - paces when I saw a cab approaching, and the man, seeing my - bedraggled figure, slowed up, and to my astonishment asked me the - way to the Red House. - - "I immediately peered into the cab--to find that the passenger was - none other than Marcus Coverly. I had begun to doubt, but at this I - doubted no longer. I gave the cabman the necessary directions and, - slowly following on foot, I saw from the shelter of the trees on - the opposite side of the road, Sir Marcus dismiss the cab and walk - up the drive of the empty house. - - "He was alone, and since I knew that Miss Merlin had not preceded - him, I could only conclude that she would be following later. - Accordingly I walked slowly away from the Red House again in the - direction of the High Street, and some five minutes later I passed - a constable accompanied by a man wearing a light Burberry and a - soft hat, whom I knew later (although I failed to recognize him at - the time) to have been Mr. Jack Addison. - - "I stood at the corner by the High Street until long after - midnight. Twice I returned to the Red House and once even - penetrated as far as the porch; but although I thought I could - detect a light shining out through the shutters of the room on the - right of the door, I could not be sure of it and there was no sound - of movement within. - - "These were my only discoveries, and very wretched and dissatisfied - I tramped back to my chambers wondering what the visit of Marcus - Coverly to this apparently empty house could mean and why he had - remained there, but particularly wondering why the voice had told - me this part-truth which had turned me into a spy unavailingly. - - "The discovery made at the docks on the following day placed a new - and dreadful construction upon the motives of the speaker, and I - awakened to the fact that although entirely innocent of any - complicity I had laid myself open to a charge of having been - concerned in the murder of my cousin. - - "My ill-advised attempt to conceal the garments which I had used as - a disguise, and of which I had not known how to dispose, was - dictated by panic. I knew the police were watching me and I was - fool enough to think that I could escape their vigilance. - - "This is all I have to say. It explains nothing and it does not - exonerate me, I am aware, but I swear that it is the truth," - - "(Signed) ERIC COVERLY, Bart." - -Although she retained so brave a composure I recognized the strain -which this new and cruel ordeal had imposed upon Isobel; and Gatton -incurred a further debt of gratitude by his tactful behavior, for: - -"Miss Merlin," he said earnestly--"you are a very brave woman. Thank -you. I only wish I could have spared you this." - -Shaking me warmly by the hand, he bowed and departed, leaving me alone -with Isobel. - -As the sound of his footsteps died away Isobel returned again to the -seat from which she had risen; and a silence fell between us. My own -feelings I cannot attempt to depict, but I will confess that I was -afraid of my humanity at that moment. Never had Isobel seemed more -desirable; never had I longed as I longed now to take her in my arms. - -The tension of that silence becoming insupportable: - -"You will not stay here alone?" I asked in an unnatural voice. - -Isobel, without looking up, shook her head. - -"I am going to Mrs. Wentworth--my Aunt Alison," she replied. - -"Good," I said. "I am glad to know that you will be in her cheery -company." - -Mrs. Wentworth was, indeed, a charming old lady, and so far as I knew, -Isobel's only relation in London, if not in England. She occupied a -house which, like herself, was small, scrupulously neat and -old-worldly. One of those tiny residences which, once counted as being -"in the country," had later become enmeshed in the ever-spreading -tentacles of greater London. - -It was situated on the northern outskirts of the county-city, and -although rows of modern "villas" had grown up around it, within the -walls of that quaint little homestead one found oneself far enough -removed from suburbia. - -"When are you going, Isobel?" I asked. - -"I think," she replied, "in the morning." - -"Will you let me drive you in the Rover?--or are you taking too much -baggage?" - -"Oh, no," she said, smiling sadly--"I am going to live the simple life -for a week. Going out shopping with Aunt Alison--and perhaps sometimes -to the pictures!" - -"Then I can drive you over?" - -"Yes--if you would like to," she answered simply. - -I took my leave shortly afterwards and proceeded to the _Planet_ -office. I had work to do, but I must admit that I little relished the -idea of returning to my cottage. Diverted, now, from the notorious Red -House, public interest had centered upon my residence, and the -seclusion which I had gone so far to seek was disturbed almost hourly -by impertinent callers who seemed to think that the scene of a -sensational crime was public property. - -Coates had effectually disillusioned several of them on this point, -but, nevertheless, the cottage had become distasteful to me. I -realized that I must seek a new residence without delay. Shall I add -that the primary cause of my reclusion no longer operated so -powerfully? Of my dreams at this time I will speak later; but here I -may say that I knew, and accepted the knowledge with a fearful joy, -that if my new house of hope was doomed to be shattered, no spot in -broad England could offer me rest again. - -It was not then, until late that night, that I returned to my once -peaceful abode. Coates was waiting up for me, but he had nothing of -importance to report, apparently, until, when I had dismissed him, he -turned in the doorway, and: - -"Excuse me, sir," he said--and cleared his throat. - -"Yes, Coates?" - -"About half an hour ago, sir, the dogs all around started howling, -sir. I thought I'd better mention it, as Inspector Gatton asked me -this morning if I had ever heard the dogs howling." - -I looked at him straightly. - -"Inspector Gatton asked you thus?" - -"He did, sir. So I have reported the occurrence. Good night, sir." - -"Good night, Coates," I replied. - -But for long enough after his departure I sat there in the armchair in -my study, thinking over this seemingly trivial occurrence. From where -I sat I could see the light shining upon the gilt-lettered title of -Maspero's "Egyptian Art"--and my thoughts promised to be ill -bedfellows. - -Contrary to custom, I slept that night with closed windows! And -although I awakened twice, once at two o'clock and again at four, -thinking that I had heard the mournful signal of the dogs, nothing but -my own uneasy imagination disturbed my slumbers. - -Breakfast despatched, and my correspondence dealt with, I sent Coates -to the garage for my little car, and since I should have another -companion, left him behind, and myself drove to Isobel's flat. -Woman-like, she was not nearly ready, and there was much bustling on -the part of the repentant Marie--who had been retained in spite of her -share in the tragedy of Sir Marcus's death--before we finally set out -for Mrs. Wentworth's. - -Isobel was very silent on the way, but once I intercepted a sidelong -glance and felt my heart leaping madly when she blushed. - -Mrs. Wentworth made me very welcome as had ever been her way. She was -an eccentric, but embarrassingly straightforward old lady; and if I -had heeded her simple motherly counsel in the past all might have been -different. - -She bore Isobel off to her room, leaving me to my own devices, for she -had never observed any ceremony towards me in all the years that I had -known her, but had taught me to make myself at home beneath her -hospitable roof. I knew, too, because she had never troubled to -disguise the fact, that she regarded Isobel and me as made for one -another. Isobel's engagement to poor Eric Coverly, Mrs. Wentworth had -all along regarded as a ghastly farce, and I can never forget her -reception of me on the occasion of my first visit after returning from -Mesopotamia. - -Half an hour or so elapsed, then, before Isobel returned; and, -although she came into the room confidently enough, the old tension -reasserted itself immediately. I felt that commonplaces would choke -me. And although to this day I cannot condone my behavior, for the -good of my soul I must confess the truth. - -I took her in my arms, held her fast and kissed her. - -An overwhelming consciousness of guilt came to me even as her lips -met mine, and, releasing her, I turned aside, groaning. - -"Isobel!" I said hoarsely--"Isobel, forgive me! I was a cad, a -villain ... to _him_. But--it was inevitable. Try to forget that -I was so weak. But, Isobel--" - -I felt her hand trembling on my arm. - -"We must _both_ try to forget, Jack," she whispered. - -I grasped her hands and looked eagerly--indeed I think wildly--into -her eyes. - -"Because my life is over if I lose you," I said, "I suppose I was mad -for a moment. Tell me that one day--when it is fit and proper that you -should do so--you will give me a hearing, and I will perform any -penance you choose. I acted like a blackguard." - -"Stop!" she commanded softly. - -She raised her eyes, and her grave, sweet glance cooled the fever -which consumed me and brought a great and abiding peace to my heart. - -"You were no more to blame than I!" she said. "And because--I -understand, it is not hard to forgive. I don't try to excuse myself, -but even if--_he_--had lived, I could never have gone on with it, -after his ... suspicions. Oh, Jack! why did you leave me to make that -awful mistake?" - -"My dearest," I replied, "God knows I have suffered for it." - -"Please," she said, and her voice faltered, "help me to be fair to ... -_him_. Never--never--speak to me again--like that ... until--" - -But the sentence was never completed; for at this moment in bustled -Aunt Alison--in appearance a white-haired, rosy-faced little matron, -very brisk in her movements and very shrewd-eyed. A dear old lady, -dearer than ever to me in that she had tried so hard to bring Isobel -and my laggard self together. She had, as usual, more to say than -could be said in the time at her disposal. As we proceeded to the -dining-room: - -"Now then, you boys and girls, I'm starving, if you're not. What a -time I've had with cook, not knowing when you might be here. Cook's -leaving to be married: I'm afraid she's neglected this sea-kale. Dear, -dear! what love will do for people's minds, to be sure. Put your hair -straight, Isobel, dear, or Mary will think Jack has been kissing you! -I saw her kiss the postman yesterday. Mary, I mean! You're eating like -a pigeon, Jack! Gracious me! Where's the pepper? Mary! Ring the bell, -Isobel. I must speak to that postman; he's made Mary forget to put any -pepper in the cruet, and any one might have seen them. It isn't -respectable!" - -"Dear Aunt Alison!" I said, as the active old lady ran out (Mary not -being promptly enough in attendance). "She loves to keep running in -and out like a waiter! What a friend she has been to me, Isobel! You -could not be in better company at such a time." - -"She's a darling!" agreed Isobel, and when I met her glance across the -table she blushed entrancingly. - -Then, in a moment, tears were in her eyes; and knowing of whom she was -thinking, I sat abashed--guilty and repentant. I had transgressed -against the murdered man; and there and then I made a solemn, silent -vow that no word of love again should pass my lips until the fit and -proper time of mourning was over. Because I faithfully kept this vow, -I dare to hope that my sin is forgiven me. - -Luncheon at that homely house, with Isobel, was an unalloyed delight; -and I regretted every passing minute which brought me nearer to the -time when I must depart. But when at last I said good-by it was a new -world upon which I looked--a new life upon which I entered. I have -said that to-day I venture to hope my poor human transgression is -forgiven me. Yet it did not go unpunished. Little did I dream, in my -strange new happiness, how soon I was to return to that house--how -soon I was to know the deadliest terror of my life. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED - - -"The case has narrowed down," said Gatton, "from my point of view, -into the quest of one man--" - -"Dr. Damar Greefe!" - -"Precisely. You have asked me what I found at Friar's Park and the -Bell House, and I can answer you very briefly. Nothing! The latter -place, had quite obviously been fired in a systematic and deliberate -way. I suspect that the contents of the rooms had been soaked with -petrol. It burned to a shell and then collapsed. At the present moment -it is merely a mound of smoking ashes. - -"Of course, the local fire-brigade was hopelessly ill-equipped, but -even with the most up-to-date appliances I doubt if the conflagration -could have been extinguished. The men watching the house were thrown -quite off their guard when flames began to leap out of the windows: -hence, the escape of Damar Greefe." - -"You are sure he _did_ escape?" - -Gatton stared at me grimly. - -"To whom do you suppose you are indebted for the telephone trick?" he -asked. "Besides--Blythe, the fool, actually heard the car at the -moment that it came out on to the highroad! Oh, they bungled the -thing villainously. My Marathon feat saved your life, Mr. Addison, but -it looks like losing me the case! We have the Hawkins couple. But, -although a graceless pair, they were more dupes than knaves. I am -convinced, personally, that neither of them suspected that Lady -Burnham Coverly was dead. Damar Greefe had represented to them that -she had lost her reason." - -"Good heavens! what a scheme!" - -"What a scheme, indeed. Hawkins seems to have considered that his -duty--which was merely to keep intruders out of the park--was dictated -by necessity. He thought that if Lady Coverly's real condition became -known she would be removed to a madhouse! He also thought that a -_nurse_ was in attendance." - -"A nurse!" - -"Yes. He assured me that he had heard and seen her! Mrs. Hawkins also -was certain on the point. Neither of them were ever allowed in the -house, by the way. But Damar Greefe paid them well--and they were -satisfied. The identity of the 'nurse' is evident, I think?" - -"Perfectly evident. But how was poor Lady Coverly disposed of--and why -this elaborate secrecy?" - -"Well," replied Gatton slowly--"out of the multitude of notes which I -have compiled upon the case, I have worked out a sort of summary, and -it amounts to this: The whole series of outrages turns upon something -in the financial arrangements of the late Sir Burnham of benefit to -the Eurasian doctor. It may be that Damar Greefe had some secret -locked up in the Bell House which he could not very well remove, and -that the greatest peril he feared was the taking over of the Park -property by an heir. I assume he had complete authority over the late -Lady Burnham; and his object in concealing her death (for our -investigations at Friar's Park have definitely established the fact -that no one had resided there for twelve months at least) was clearly -this: he hoped to carry on the pretense of attending upon the invalid -until--" - -"Until there was no heir to the property remaining alive!" I -interrupted excitedly. "Exactly, Gatton! That is my own theory, too! - -"We have now received," continued the Inspector, "some particulars -concerning the circumstances of Roger Coverly's death in Basle. Whilst -there was no direct evidence of foul play (and at that time at any -rate no reason to suspect it) I am convinced that the local physician -who attended him at the hotel and the specialist who was sent for -post-haste from Zurich were by no means agreed as to the cause of -death. - -"The symptoms were apparently not unlike those which would be caused -by a snake-bite, for instance; but naturally one does not look for -poisonous snakes in Switzerland. There was some sort of inflammation -of the skin apparently"--he consulted a page of his note-book--"which -might have been eczema or something similar, of course, but which -according to medical evidence had no apparent connection with the -cause of his death. This was given in the certificate simply as -syncope--although there did not appear to be any hereditary cardiac -trouble or anything of the kind to account for a young fellow of that -age dying suddenly of heart failure. And there had been nothing in his -life during his sojourn at Basle which would help to clear up the -mystery. - -"However, no doubt seems to have arisen at the time, as you can well -understand; nevertheless, I, personally, count the death of Roger -Coverly as the first of the outrages to be laid to the credit of Dr. -Damar Greefe!" - -"The object of the whole thing is still completely dark to me," I -declared. - -"In a sense it is dark to _me_," replied Gatton; "but considering that -the boy died at a time when the health of his father, Sir Burnham, was -already giving cause for anxiety, I maintain that he was removed -because his inheritance of Friar's Park was feared--by some one. The -invitation from Dr. Damar Greefe to Sir Marcus is a very significant -piece of evidence, of course; and when we consider that it reached Sir -Marcus within a very short time of his return from Russia, the -conclusion is obvious. - -"He inherited the title on the death of Sir Burnham, whilst he was on -service in Archangel. Being in Russia, I conclude that he was not -accessible from the Eurasian doctor's point of view. Directly he -_became_ accessible, this invitation arrived; and it is perfectly -clear that the fate intended for him was that which so nearly befell -yourself! Remember, I have seen the gun mounted on the tower of -Friar's Park and I assure you it was not placed there yesterday. In -short, I have no doubt that it was put there in anticipation of Sir -Marcus's visit and only employed in your case as a sort of -afterthought. - -"The Red House plot was the next move on the part of the Eurasian, and -it succeeded almost faultlessly. The accident at the docks prevented -the scheme being carried out in all its details, but it did not -entirely dislocate the murderer's arrangements, for it left us with no -better clew to his identity than the statuette of the cat." - -"The presence of that statuette calls for some explanation, Gatton," I -said. - -Gatton very carefully lighted his pipe. - -"That is true," he admitted, "but I will come to this side of the case -later; at present I am summing up the evidence against Damar -Greefe--who is certainly the acting partner in this series of outrages -against the members of the house of Coverly. Observe the ingenuity of -the Red House plot. - -"He hoped by this not only to bring about the death of Sir Marcus, but -also, by conviction for his murder, the death of the next heir, Mr. -Eric Coverly! In fact, so well was his plan conducted, that even -now--although we know poor Sir Eric to have been innocent--you will -note that he has been unable to establish an alibi even by a full -confession of his movements on the night of the crime! In other words, -if he had not fallen a victim to the precipitancy of his enemies, -to-day his name would be under as black a cloud as ever. It was with -the idea of clearing him that I caused those paragraphs to be -distributed to the press, in which I anticipated the existence of -such a confession as he had actually made--but, I may add, of one more -convincing than that which we heard Miss Merlin read." - -"Do you mean, Gatton," I said, looking hard at him, "that by -professing to have established the innocence of Eric Coverly, you -hoped to draw down upon him the renewed activities of his enemies?" - -Gatton looked rather guilty, but: - -"I do admit it!" he said. "Nevertheless he did not fall a victim to -this trap which I had laid for him in his own best interests. After -all, you must admit that his death was an accident; for he suffered -the penalty of your misdeeds." - -"My misdeeds!" I cried. - -Gatton smiled grimly. - -"I say misdeeds," he continued--"although they were not conscious on -your part. But it is fairly evident, I think, that whereas the unknown -partner of Dr. Damar Greefe was an active enemy of the Coverlys -(witness the evidence of 'the voice' and of the cat statuette), it is -to Dr. Damar Greefe _himself_ that you are indebted for the three -attempts on your life; the first two at Upper Crossleys and the third -here in your own home by the simple but deadly expedient of -substituting for your own 'phone the duplicate one which previously -had been employed so successfully at the Red House! He hoped to remove -a dangerous obstacle from his path and a menace to this safety." - -"But, my dear Gatton, why should he regard _me_ as a menace more -deadly than you, for instance?" - -"The reason is very plain," answered Gatton. "I don't think he paid -you the compliment of regarding your investigations as likely to prove -more successful than my own, but I do think that he apprehended danger -from the indiscretions of his lady accomplice." - -"Do you refer to the woman who visited me at the Abbey Inn?" - -"I do," said Gatton shortly, "and to the woman who visited you here -and stole the statuette of Bast! The history of Edward Hines and his -predecessor, which you have so admirably summarized, points to the -presence in the Upper Crossleys neighborhood of such a character as we -have been seeking ever since your experience here (I refer to the -cat-eyes which looked in through the window)." - -"I begin to see, Gatton," I said slowly. - -"With what object this unknown woman visited you at the Abbey Inn I -cannot conjecture, but doubtless this would have been revealed had not -her visit been interrupted and terminated by the appearance of the -Eurasian doctor upon the scene. From your own account she recognized -that she had committed an indiscretion by coming there, and of the -doctor's anger--- which he was quite unable to conceal--you have told -me. Note also that the next episode was your being followed by Cassim, -the Nubian, undoubtedly with murderous intent. Then, recognizing that -he had hopelessly compromised himself, the Eurasian took desperate -means to silence you for ever." - -"He did," I said, "and came very near to succeeding. But to return, -Gatton, to this problem of the image of Bast. You see, the figure of -a cat was painted upon the case in which Sir Marcus's body was found -and the image of a cat was discovered inside the case. Then, you will -not have overlooked the significance of the fact that Edward Hines was -the recipient of a present from his unknown friend which also took the -form of a gold figure of a cat, and which I found, when I examined it, -to be of ancient Egyptian workmanship." - -"Right!" said Gatton, and emphatically bringing his open hand down -upon the table: "I said at the very beginning of the case, Mr. -Addison, that it turned upon the history of this Egyptian goddess, and -I think my theory has been substantiated at every point." - -"It has, Inspector," I agreed; "but I don't know that the fact -enlightens us very much; for it merely indicates that the man whom you -declare to be the central figure of the conspiracy is only a secondary -figure, and that all we know about the person whom we may regard as -the prime mover is that she is a woman--apparently possessing -supernormal eyes which glitter in the dark. She is also associated in -some way with the figure of Bast. What is her relation to Dr. Damar -Greefe and in what way is she interested in the destruction of the -Coverly family?" - -Gatton smoked in silence for a while, staring at me reflectively, -then: - -"If we knew that, Mr. Addison," he said, "we should know all there is -to know about 'the _Oritoga_ mystery.' But I think we should have -advanced a long step towards this information if we could apprehend -the Eurasian. Of course we have gathered up all the ragged details of -the Red House incident: I refer to the carter who delivered the crate -and collected it in the morning, of the caterer who supplied the -supper and so forth. As I had fully expected, none of the evidence -helped us at all." - -"'The voice,'" I began. - -"Exactly! The same 'voice' beyond a doubt, and the whole thing worked -through the means of district messengers and others, telephonically -instructed. No one appeared throughout, Mr. Addison." - -"Yet," I said deliberately, "there was one point at which some one -_must_ have appeared--" - -"Yes," he interrupted, "some one dragged the body out of that -supper-room, down to the garage, and packed it in the crate." - -"You have definitely convinced yourself that the telephone device was -practiced there?" - -"Beyond question. Haven't you seen the exchange number? That plug -where at some time a gas-fitting had been fixed up in the wall--you -remember?--proved on investigation to communicate with an empty room -adjoining. The gas cylinder was placed there of course, and the -telephone in the recess of the supper-room, where, fastened in by the -velvet curtain, any one using the poison installation would be -suffocated almost immediately." - -"Good God, Gatton!" I cried. "It's a horrible business, and for my own -part I have no idea what the next step should be." - -"I'm a bit doubtful, myself," admitted Gatton; "but you know the line -of reasoning which has led me to the conclusion that these people -possess a base of operations somewhere in this district. I am having -the neighborhood scoured pretty thoroughly, and I think it is merely a -question of time, now, for us to hem in the wanted man--" - -"And the wanted woman!" I added. - -We were interrupted by a knock at the study door, and Coates came in -with the evening mail. - -"Excuse me, Gatton," I said--for I had observed that one of the -letters was from Isobel. - -Eagerly I tore open the envelope ... and what I read struck a sudden -chill to my heart. Looking up: - -"Gatton!" I cried--"Miss Merlin has received, by post, a small -statuette of Bast!" - -"What!" - -"From her brief description I am almost tempted to believe that it is -the one which was stolen from here! She is dreadfully frightened, -naturally." - -The Inspector stood up. - -"We must see it," he said rapidly, "at once; and we must see the -wrapping it came in and the postmark. It is maddening," he burst out -angrily, "to think that Dr. Damar Greefe may be somewhere within less -than half a mile of us as we sit here now, that we could ring him up -if we knew his number; but that even with all the resources of the -Criminal Investigation Department at work we may yet be unable to find -him! Even an outside suburb like this is a very big place to search -and the job is something like looking for a needle in a haystack!" - -My own frame of mind was one of horrible doubt and indecision. I knew -not what to do for the best; and Gatton had begun to pace up and down -like a caged wild beast. Therefore: - -"Fill your pipe," I said wearily. "A lot may depend upon our next -move. To make a false one would perhaps be fatal." - -Gatton stared at me almost savagely, then threw himself back into the -armchair from which he had arisen, and was just reaching out for the -tobacco-jar which I had pushed before him, when a bell rang. I heard -Coates opening the front door, and wondering whom this late visitor -could be, I stared questioningly at the Inspector. - -Came a tap upon the door. - -"Come in," I cried. - -Coates entered, and standing stiffly in the doorway: - -"_Dr. Damar Greefe_!" he announced. - -Unmoved, he stood aside; and whilst Gatton and I slowly rose from our -chairs in a state of utter stupefaction, the Eurasian doctor entered, -and stood, a tall, gaunt figure, towering over the burly form of -Coates in the doorway! - -His hawk eyes blazed feverishly and his face was drawn and haggard, -whilst I observed with a sort of horrified wonder that he seemed to be -almost too weak to stand. For, as Gatton and I came finally to our -feet, he clutched at the edge of a bookcase, but recovered himself, -bowed in that stately fashion which immediately translated me in -spirit to the strange library in the Bell House, and: - -"Gentlemen," he said, and his harsh voice rose scarcely above a -whisper--"pray resume your seats. I shall not detain you long." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D. - - -The speaker reeled and seemed about to fall. Whereupon Gatton sprang -forward and placed an armchair, which he himself had occupied, for Dr. -Damar Greefe. The latter inclined his head in acknowledgment and sank -down weakly, clutching at both arms of the chair. - -For my own part, I had not yet recovered power of speech; but: - -"Dr. Damar Greefe," said the Inspector, closely watching the man who -sat there collapsed in the chair, "I arrest you on a charge of murder. -I have to warn you that anything you now say will be used in evidence -against you." - -The Eurasian exerted a supreme effort, straightening his gaunt body, -and fixing the gaze of those hawk eyes upon Inspector Gatton. When he -spoke his harsh voice had gained strength and his manner was -imperious. - -"Detective-Inspector Gatton," he replied, "you do no more than your -duty. I have come here only with the utmost difficulty in my weak -state. Therefore, you need apprehend no attempt at escape on my part. -I have come with a purpose. This purpose I shall fulfill; after -which"--he shrugged his square shoulders--"I shall be at your -service." - -"Very good," said Gatton shortly, but I noted that his face was -flushed in a way which betokened repressed excitement. - -Giving me a significant glance, he went out to the ante-room, and: - -"Sydenham 1448," I heard him call. - -Damar Greefe closed his eyes and lay back in the chair; and a moment -later: - -"Hullo!" said Gatton. "Detective-Inspector Gatton, C.I.D., speaking -from Willow Cottage, College Road. Send two men in a cab here at once -to remove a prisoner.... Right! Good-by." - -He came in again, and closing the door behind him, stood staring at -Damar Greefe in a sort of wonderment. The Eurasian wearily opened his -eyes and looked slowly from side to side. Then: - -"Pray be seated, Inspector Gatton," he said. "I have a communication -to make." - -Gatton, with never a word, drew up a chair and sat down. - -"I do not desire to be interrupted," continued Damar Greefe, "until my -communication is finished. You understand? It will not be repeated." - -"I am afraid," murmured Gatton dryly, "it will have to be." - -The Eurasian fully opened his glittering black eyes, and fixing them -upon the speaker: - -"It will not be repeated," he said harshly. "If I am misunderstood, -inform me." - -His peremptory manner in the circumstances was extraordinary--uncanny. -As I had perceived in the first hour of our meeting, Dr. Damar Greefe -was a man possessing tremendous force of character and a pride of -intellect which clearly rendered him indifferent even of retribution. - -"This point being settled," he continued, "be good enough, Inspector -Gatton, and"--he turned his eyes in my direction--"Mr. Addison, to -give me your undivided attention." - -His manner was that of a lecturer--of a lecturer who takes it for -granted that his discourse is above the heads of his audience; but -when I say that the statement now made by this strange and terrible -man held Gatton and me spellbound I say no more than the truth. -Wearily, and more often than not having his eyes closed, Dr. Damar -Greefe commenced to unfold a story of nameless horrors--and save that -his harsh voice grew ever weaker and weaker, he displayed not the -slightest trace of emotion throughout his appalling revelations. - -"I am informing you," he said, "of these facts concerning my inquiries -in the realm of teratology and the subjoined province of animism -because I know that my life-work upon this subject can never now be -completed. It having been necessary for me to destroy my papers and -those specimens which, at hideous cost, I had accumulated during -twenty years of travel through some of the most barbaric as well as -the most civilized parts of the world, this present brief verbal -account of the most important inquiry of all shall alone survive me. -You are privileged. Therefore listen: - -"Two important facts contributed to my choice of a special study: the -social ostracism which very early in my professional career I found to -be my lot; and the fact that in myself I afforded a living example of -the _hybrid_. It has been said and not untruly that the Eurasian hates -his father and scorns his mother. Certainly, this unnatural passion is -reciprocated by the parent stock; for the Eurasian is barely -acknowledged by his dark brethren and hardly tolerated by the white. - -"In spite of my qualifications--I am a Doctor of Medicine, a Master of -Arts, and hold other degrees of Leipzig, the Sorbonne, and -elsewhere--I recognized very early in my career that ordinary practice -was impossible for me. I therefore turned my attention to the special -study of embryology, as I fortunately possessed sufficient private -means to enable me--by careful living--to dispense with the usual -proceeds of my profession. - -"In short, I hoped to triumph over my hereditary handicap and to build -for myself a reputation which should rise above the petty disabilities -of caste and place my name upon a level with those of Haeckel, -Weismann, Wallace, Focke and the other great students who have helped -to advance our knowledge of the science of evolution. - -"I early turned my attention to the traditions associated with the -_Cynocephalus hamadryas_, or Sacred Baboon of Abyssinia. I took up my -quarters on the banks of the Hawash and succeeded in ingratiating -myself with the Amharun. The result of my sojourn amongst these -strange people is embodied in my work 'The Ape-Men of Shoa.' - -"This work is unpublished and may never see the light, but briefly I -may state that the Amharun are a Semitic tribe allied to the Falashas -and have been settled for many generations in this southern province -of Abyssinia. Claiming descent from Menelek, son of Suleiman and the -Queen of Sheba, they have always been regarded as unclean pariahs. In -part this is due to their bestial custom of eating meat cut from -living animals, but it is more particularly attributable to the -periodical appearance among them of these _cynocephalytes_, or -man-apes, which form the subject of my work. - -"My close inquiries into the physiological history of these -monstrosities were only conducted with the utmost difficulty. In the -first place I found that it was customary among the Amharun to slay -the creatures at birth, but in those rare cases of survival the -_cynocephalytes_ were banished from the community and were compelled -to lead a wild life, subsisting as best they might in the foothills of -the desolate mountain region. - -"Thus, in the first place these creatures were difficult of access; in -the second place, they readily contracted tuberculosis, even in that -warm, dry climate; and in the third place their ferocity rendered them -more formidable to approach than any tiger in its lair. I may add here -that this predisposition to pulmonary disease is (and this I have -definitely established) a characteristic of all mammalian hybrids. - -"Nevertheless, my studies were by no means unfruitful, since they -resulted in a triumphant vindication of my theory, which, contrary to -that universally received and more closely allied to the 'exploded' -Mendel's Law, ascribed the appearance of such monsters not to any -strict physiological process but to a hitherto unclassified law of -embryology which I had hoped would one day take its place in science -under my name. - -"Armed with the results of my Abyssinian inquiry, I next proceeded to -Syria; for among certain desert tribes I hoped to find further -evidence to support my theory. In short, in the Arabic tradition of -the jackal-man (which is allied to the medieval and universal belief -in the were-wolf or _loup-garou_) and in the Indian myth of the woman -who, possessing an ordinary human form by day, assumes that of a -tigress by night, I thought I detected a profound truth. - -"Since my life-work is destroyed, I am egotist enough to desire that -credit for it should not accrue to another. I do not propose, -therefore, more than lightly to touch upon the Damar Greefe Law, but I -may say that in its essentials it is this: - -"Such strange hybrids do actually occur periodically and in rare cases -survive; but their animal proclivities which are physically -demonstrable, and the possession of certain animal attributes (as the -furry body of the _cynocephalyte_, the claws and teeth of the -jackal-man, etc.), are _physical_ reflections of a _mental_ process -taking place in the female parent." - -He glared at me wildly, as if anticipating contradiction, but Gatton -and I remaining silent: - -"There is no physical association," he continued, "between the hybrid -and that creature whose qualities and peculiarities he seemingly -inherits. I have proved by a long series of elaborate experiments that -a _true_ hybrid of this description is a physiological impossibility. -But that a _false_ hybrid such as I have indicated may appear is a -fact which does not rest solely upon my studies amongst the Amharun, -nor upon my subsequent inquiries throughout Assyria, Somaliland and -the middle valleys of the Yellow River." - -He paused, and suddenly turning a glance of the hawk-like eyes upon -me: - -"As an explorer of the Dark Continent, Mr. Addison," he said, "and -also, if I mistake not, something of an Orientalist, the significance -of this itinerary may possibly be apparent to you. But I waste time: - -"The discovery which triumphantly crowned my life's work by what some -may deem poetic justice was destined also to destroy it. This brings -me to the matter which has led to my presence here to-night. My -preceding remarks were a necessary foreword. I come to the year 1902, -when I was established in Cairo, whither I had conveyed the results of -the labor of many years and where I had taken up my quarters in a -large native house not twenty yards from the Bab-es-Zuwela." - -Gatton stirred restlessly in his chair and my own curiosity knew no -bounds. - -"My inquiries at this time had nearly exhausted my always slender -financial resources, and the proceeds of a small practice which I -succeeded in establishing (exclusively amongst the extensive -half-caste colony resident in this neighborhood) proved a welcome -addition to my income. It was due to the fact that at this time I was -an active practitioner that I came in touch with the most perfect and -notable example of a _psycho-hybrid_ which I had ever encountered, -indeed which, so far as I am aware, has ever appeared." - -He paused again, as if overcome with faintness, and in anticipation of -what was to come I could scarcely contain myself, when: - -"At this time," he resumed, in a yet lower voice, "and indeed until -quite recently, there were but few reliable European medical men in -Cairo, and during the summer of 1902 an outbreak of cholera -temporarily depleted their already scanty ranks. It happened then that -one night, whilst I sat in the huge, lofty room, once the principal -harem apartment of the house, which I had appropriated as a study, -Cassim, my Nubian servant, communicated to me (by means of a -sign-language which I had taught him) some startling news. My -immediate presence was desired at the residence of Sir Burnham -Coverly, then newly appointed to a government office, and who with his -wife had only arrived in the country some few months earlier. - -"I thought I knew the nature of the services required of me, but my -employment by this typical English aristocrat, hide-bound with caste -traditions as he could not fail to be, since he had spent five years -of his official life in India, surprised me very greatly. I was later -to learn that the services of no other medical man (or of no medical -man so highly qualified as myself) were available; but even had I -known this at the time I should have put my pride in my pocket, and -for this reason: - -"I had learned from a native acquaintance of a certain occurrence -which had taken place on the very day of the baronet's arrival in -Egypt; and it led me to look for a particular manifestation, in fact, -I will boldly declare, since science is admittedly a callous mistress, -that it had led me to _hope_ for this manifestation, however -unpleasant it might prove for those intimately concerned. Accordingly, -having made suitable preparation I accompanied Sir Burnham's servant -back to the residence of the baronet...." - -I heard the door-bell ring, and I heard Coates's regular tread as he -proceeded along the passage. There was a brief, muttered colloquy, a -rap on the study-door, and Coates entered. - -"A sergeant of police and a constable, sir, to see Inspector Gatton!" - -Damar Greefe raised his thin, yellow hand. His voice, when next he -spoke, exhibited no trace of emotion. - -"Let them be told to wait," he said. "I have not finished." - -It was wildly bizarre, that scene in my study, with the dignified -white-haired Eurasian doctor, palpably laboring against some deathly -sickness, sitting there unperturbed, his brilliant, perverted -intellect holding him aloof from the ordinary things of life--whilst -those who came to hale him to a felon's cell waited in the ante-room! - -I glanced swiftly at Gatton, and he nodded impatiently. - -"Let them stay in the dining-room, Coates," I said. "Make them -comfortable." - -"Very good, sir." - -Unmoved, Coates withdrew--and I saw Gatton glance at his watch. -Throughout the latter part of his strange narrative, neither Gatton -nor I interrupted the narrator, therefore I give his story, so far as -I remember it, in his own words. He no longer addressed either of us -directly; he seemed, indeed, to be thinking aloud. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED) - - -As I walked along through the deserted native streets, for the hour -was late, I reviewed mentally the circumstances of that affair, -already several months old, to which I have referred. Since it proved -to have a very important bearing upon my own life and unfortunately -the lives of many others, I will briefly recount it here. - -Sir Burnham and Lady Coverly, having arrived at Port Said, were -proceeding by rail to Cairo when an accident farther up the line -necessitated their breaking their journey at Zagazig. - -Now, for a time in the spring of the previous year, I had devoted much -labor to an inquiry in this place, which stands of course roughly upon -the site of the ancient Egyptian city of _Bubastis_. In those myths, -or so-called myths, of the Ancient Egyptian religion which represented -the various attributes of man in the guises of animals, I had -perceived a nucleus of wisdom pointing to the possibility that the law -which I had so laboriously established might have been known to the -early Egyptian priesthood. Indeed I was partly induced to inquire into -the myths of Bast, the cat-headed goddess to whom of old this town was -dedicated, by the following two things: first, a chance reference in -the pages of Herodotus; and, second, a persistent superstition that -during a certain season of the year, _psycho-hybrids_ occurred in this -town. - -By dint of close research I discovered that the date favored by the -inhabitants of Zagazig, as that upon which such creatures were born -there, corresponded very closely with the Sacred Sothic month, -formerly sacred to Bast, the titulary goddess of the place, -corresponded in short with the ancient Feast of Bast. - -My inquiries at the time, however, proved futile, and beyond the fact -that the town was remarkable for a singular number of semi-wild cats, -I discovered nothing to support my theory. However, as I have already -stated, a native acquaintance there, a very learned Moslem, to whom I -had imparted during my residence some idea of the nature of my -studies, sent me a long communication containing particulars of the -event which had befallen Lady Coverly during her one-night's sojourn -in Zagazig. - -Briefly, she had learned from a native attached to the one possible -hotel which the town boasted, of the tradition associated with the -place. Some other member of the party (for quite a large company had -been detained in Zagazig by the mishap) unwisely pointed out to her -that the favored date was that upon which they had arrived in the -town. - -Nothing might have resulted from this; but by a strange fatality (or -because of the operation of some unsuspected law understood by the -ancients but misapprehended to-day) the matter was sealed in a very -extraordinary fashion. - -Lady Coverly's room opened upon a balcony, and during the night one of -those huge cats of the kind which I had observed myself to infest the -neighborhood, gained access to this balcony. Since the appearance of -the creature produced so singular and disastrous an effect, it must -certainly have been an unusually large specimen of its kind. I may add -that according to my Moslem friend--who, although a man of great -culture, was soaked in the traditions of his religion--it was none -other than a member of the _ginn_, an _efreet_ or evil spirit, and not -a cat of flesh and blood which appeared to Lady Coverly. I leave each -to choose his own explanation, but let it suffice that Lady Coverly -was awakened some time during the night by the appearance at her -bedside of this gaunt and hungry-eyed creature. The result was an -illness of a kind very dangerous to one in her delicate state of -health. - -Reflecting, then, upon these matters, I presently came to the official -residence of Sir Burnham Coverly, and my expectations regarding the -nature of the case were realized....[1] - -[Footnote 1: Part of the statement which immediately followed, being -of a purely technical nature, is omitted here.] - - * * * * * - -My house in the narrow street so near to the Bab-es-Zuwela and the -minarets of Muayyad was admirably adapted for my new purpose. For here -in the very heart of native Cairo, with my great house (which had been -built, as are all Oriental houses, to guard secrets) I was as safe -from unwelcome intrusion as one upon a desert island, whilst at the -same time I was denied none of the conveniences and facilities of -civilization. - -Lady Coverly, then, never set eyes upon her firstborn, and Sir -Burnham, who did, readily reconciled himself to the loss of such a -daughter. The announcement which should have appeared joyfully under -the press-heading "Births" was unobtrusively inserted under "Deaths," -and Sir Burnham being fortunately far from the haunts of the social -paragraph writers, this unfortunate event aroused comparatively little -comment in the English journals; beyond one or two formal condolences -it passed unnoticed. - -The fever of research at last had led me into my first definite crime -against society--if so it can be called. I had rescued alive the most -perfect example of a _psycho-hybrid_ with which throughout my -extensive special inquiries, I had ever come in contact. Lady Coverly -never knew her unnatural child, and Sir Burnham--as well as the old -family nurse who had accompanied them out from England--never doubted -that it had died in the hour of birth. - -I set to work with enthusiasm upon my last and greatest experiment. - -To a half-caste woman upon whom I knew I could rely--for she was -deeply indebted to me--I entrusted the fostering of the infant hybrid. -I personally supervised every detail of the secret nursery, Cassim -procuring for me everything necessary for the rearing of this delicate -and fragile creature. - -Over the early years of her life I will hasten. On three occasions I -despaired of preserving her existence, which, from the beginning, had -hung by a thread. The first crisis came when she was only four months -old, the second on the occasion of her fourth birthday, and the third -(most serious of all) when she was eleven, at which age she had become -a woman in the Oriental sense and was physically and mentally -comparable with an ordinary European girl of nineteen or twenty. - -With what scientific ardor did I study her development, noting how the -_cat_ traits at certain periods (corresponding to the Feast of Bast) -proclaimed themselves above the human traits, whilst at other times -the psychic-felinism sank into a sort of sub-conscious quietude, -leaving the subject almost a normal woman. Of the physical reflections -which were the visible evidence of her hybrid mentality I have already -spoken at length (_this refers to a portion of the statement which has -been deleted_). She invariably wore gloves out of doors and a veil to -conceal the chatoyant eyes. She could, as I have explained, see as -well in the dark as in daylight, and her agility was phenomenal as was -her power of climbing. Having her hands and feet bare I have -repeatedly seen her climb to the top platform of the ivy-clad tower of -Friar's Park. - -At the age of eleven, then, I recognized that the balance of character -was definitely established, and that the two outstanding -characteristics of the subject were--firstly (a hereditary trait of -the Coverlys) an intense pride of race and a fierce jealousy of any -infringement upon what she regarded as prerogatives of birth; -secondly, a susceptibility to sudden infatuations which invariably -terminated in a mood of ferocious cruelty. - -To one unacquainted with the Orient, thus to speak of this girl--in -years a mere child--as one speaks of a mature woman, would seem -strange, if not unnatural. But in the East, of course, at the age of -ten a girl is counted marriageable; at the age of fourteen she is not -infrequently the devoted mother of a family. - -Significantly--from the point of view of the Damar Greefe Law--my ward -had grown up, not as English girls grow, but, like the Easterners, as -the hot-house flower grows. The point has intense interest for the -scientist. At the age of twelve she was a tall, slender woman, -beautifully formed and with a natural elegance and taste which came -from the Coverly stock, or possibly from her mother's side. - -During eleven months of every year it would have been possible--- -although I considered it undesirable--for her to have appeared in -public unveiled. She possessed features of perfect _Ancient Egyptian -regularity_. I emphasize the point. Her eyes, during the day, were -those of a handsome native woman--almond-shaped and of a wonderful -amber color. At night they appeared green. - -Of her fingers, toes, and the peculiar formation of certain teeth I -have spoken at length (_another reference to a deleted passage_). I -will deal, now, with those manifestations which proclaimed themselves -during the Sothic month of each year formerly associated with the -Feast of Bast. - -At such times, which I always dreaded, and with good cause, her innate -love of admiration became so excessive as to approach nearly to mania. -She hungered for homage, for praise--I had almost said for adoration. - -What I may term, for convenience, the _psychic_ side of her hybrid -mentality at these periods undoubtedly bordered closely upon true -insanity; and learning from the Eurasian nurse to whom I have referred -the whole history of her birth, my charge, to whom I had given the -name of Nahemah (students will recognize its significance), began to -display even more marked evidence of a sort of monomania. Bast, the -cat-goddess, became an obsession with her, and she finally conceived -the idea that the attributes of that mystical and partly-understood -deity were active within her; that she was Bast, re-born. And, -certainly, during one month of every year, her condition closely -resembled that which was termed in the Middle Ages "possession." - -At such times, moreover (a phenomenon with which I have dealt at -length in my work on the subject), she evinced an antipathy towards -the whole of the _canine_ species which was reciprocated in a singular -way. Thus, when, contrary to my express orders, she has wandered -abroad during the Sothic period, I have been enabled to trace her -movements by the progressive howling of dogs. - -Since I had enjoined the nurse to be silent upon all things bearing -upon Nahemah's birth, I was enraged at this breach of faith and sent -the woman away. But a new situation had been created which I found -myself called upon immediately to face. - -Nahemah demanded news of her family. As I have made sufficiently -evident, it was often difficult, if not impossible, to thwart the -desires of my protegee. To condense into a few words a matter which -occasioned me long and anxious thought, I may say that I made the -necessary arrangements for quitting the house near to the Mosque of -Muayyad which had been my home for fifteen years. - -I recognized the danger of Nahemah's traveling in the ordinary way, -and she performed the journey to England in the character of an -invalid under my professional care. Equally, residence at any public -establishment was out of the question, and although I found myself -compelled for a time to court discovery by lodging Nahemah in a -private suite in an obscure hotel, I hastened to seek a house in some -quiet suburb which should reproduce as nearly as possible the -advantages of my abode in Cairo. - -Such a house I discovered after about a week of feverish questing (for -apart from the ordinary dangers of discovery to which my protegee was -subject, her proclivity for adventures at the most unseasonable times -greatly enhanced the danger which I apprehended). Judge, then, of my -satisfaction when I succeeded in obtaining the lease of a small -villa--indeed I might almost term it a bungalow--in one of those odd -survivals of less crowded days which are yet counted suburbs or parts -of greater London. - -This house stood alone in some two acres of ground, and because of its -lack of modern conveniences and the comparative inaccessibility of its -position, my application was eagerly entertained by the agent -interested in the leasing of the property. One week later I entered -into possession, Cassim, Nahemah and myself comprising the entire -household. Much of my valuable--indeed I may say unique--collection, I -had been compelled to store; for my new quarters lacked the necessary -space for the purpose. But although I was unaware of the fact at the -time, I was not destined to be long deprived of a suitable home for -the records of my life's work. - -Nahemah's demand for some understanding between herself and her family -grew daily more insistent; but I might have continued to oppose her -wishes had it not been for the fact that by this time my slender -resources were almost exhausted. - -It suddenly became evident to me that I held in my hand an instrument -whereby I might force Sir Burnham Coverly to finance the new -experiments upon which I had entered at this time with all the -enthusiasm that a love for science inspires in the student! You may -judge me unscrupulous, but the wheel of progress is at least as -unrelenting. It was not, however, without much searching self-analysis -that one day I presented myself before Sir Burnham Coverly at Friar's -Park. - -If I had had any scruples prior to that visit they were instantly -dispelled by the manner of my reception. Forgetful of the service -which (as he believed) I had done him in the past, Sir Burnham allowed -all the prejudice of the Anglo-Indian to reveal itself in his first -greeting. - -Because I am an Eurasian, the worst traits which attach to such a -parentage--and of which I am only too painfully conscious--revealed -themselves in me. My heart hardened towards this man whose treatment -of an intellectual superior was so icily, so offensively -condescending. Knowing that I had it in my power to deal him a blow -from which he might never recover, I toyed with him for a time; and, -his manner growing momentarily more objectionable, I rejoiced to know -that his very life and career were in my keeping. - -His son, Roger Coverly, at that time a boy only about nine years old, -as the prospective heir to Friar's Park was cherished as an only child -is always cherished in these circumstances. I pictured to myself the -meeting of brother and sister! Yes! because of the refined and -deliberate cruelty which Sir Burnham displayed towards myself, I -retaliated with a poisoned blade. Having led the conversation in the -direction of the heir, I threw away the scabbard of pretense--I -launched my challenge. - -Never shall I forget Sir Burnham's change of countenance. He tottered, -a stricken man. With a sentence of ten words I had won my battle. Upon -the details of the arrangement which presently was come to between us, -I need not linger. For this statement is intended not as a -defense--for what I have done I pay the price--but as a resume of -this crowning inquiry of my scientific career. - - * * * * * - -At this point the speaker was seized with an alarming spasm of pain. -His black eyes opened widely and his face became contorted with agony. - -I sprang to his assistance. For, villain self-confessed though he was, -humanity would not allow of any man's witnessing unmoved such -paroxysms in a fellow creature. - -But, ere I could reach his side, Damar Greefe, clenching his teeth and -clutching at the chair-arms so that his knuckles gleamed in the -lamp-light like white marbles, turned his glance upon me, and: - -"Be seated, sir," he whispered. "I desire you to be seated." - -Something repellent, yet something powerful, there was in word and -glance. Gatton, who also had sprung forward, hesitated. Damar Greefe -raised one hand from the chair-arm and waved to us to return to our -chairs. Exchanging wondering glances, we both obeyed. - -Thereupon, the Eurasian doctor, whose high, bony forehead was dewed -with a deathly perspiration and whose hawk-face had assumed an -indescribable leaden hue, drew from his pocket a heavy gold watch (his -every movement intently followed by the alert Inspector) and consulted -it. His hand shook wildly as he returned the timepiece to its place. -Then: - -"I must hasten," he said hoarsely. "I have--only nineteen -minutes...." Gatton looked at me questioningly, but I could only -shake my head. The significance of the Eurasian's words escaped me -entirely; but as Damar Greefe begun, slowly and with palpable effort, -to speak again, I saw a queer expression stealing over the face of the -watchful Gatton. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED) - - -A month later I found myself installed at the Bell House, a property -belonging to the Friar's Park estate, and in the commodious apartments -of this establishment I had ample room for the accommodation of my -library and my priceless specimens. Nahemah was likewise an inmate of -the Bell House; but recognizing the precarious nature of my tenure, I -had taken the precaution of retaining the suburban villa to which I -have already referred; its modest rental proving no tax upon my -greatly increased resources. - -Blackmail, I hear you exclaim! And, so, if you wish, you may construe -my behavior, since I reply--"Science first, science last!" To have -been deprived of the means to pursue my experiments at this time would -have been, I believed, to impoverish the world. For not even science -could reveal to me that my life's work was destined to perish amid the -ashes of the Bell House. - -My studies had temporarily led me into a by-path, and apprehending -that a great international struggle was imminent, I had turned my -investigations in a new direction. My great work, whose publication -would have shattered so many scientific idols, was complete. The life -history of Nahemah had crowned my inquiries into the embryology, -physiology and psychology of _psycho-hybrids_. In fact, the presence -of my strange protegee promised to become something of an incubus. -Later, I was to realize that she was an ever-present means of renewing -those funds which the costly character of my new studies absorbed at -rather an alarming rate. Perhaps I neglected my self-imposed task of -studying the mental and physical development of Nahemah; for, I must -admit that lost in my new work I presently awakened to the fact that -she had outgrown the control which I had formerly exercised over her. - -There were unpleasant episodes. For example, in spite of those -precautions which I adopted, and of the ceaseless vigilance of Cassim, -the existence of a female inmate of the Bell House was soon a popular -scandal throughout Upper Crossleys. For this I cared nothing; but far -more perturbing was Nahemah's behavior on the occasion of a certain -visit of Sir Burnham's legal adviser to Friar's Park. - -In some way she secretly gained admission to the house (the episode -occurred during that Sothic month whose annual coming I had learned to -dread). Sir Burnham actually saw her in the chapel. He sent a -messenger post-haste to the Bell-House, and I finally discovered -Nahemah in hiding and insisted upon her immediate return. This was -only one of several instances of her perverse behavior, which truly -seemed to be inspired by some demon bent upon the destruction of both -of us. - -Her mental activity was extraordinary, and unknown to me she had -followed my new researches with that intellectual ardor which she -directly inherited from the Coverlys. Her ferocious jealousy of any -infringement upon those family rights denied her by her father had -also developed, it seemed; and one night, shortly after the scene to -which I have referred, entering my study she placed before me a -proposal to which I listened with absolute horror. - -I should explain that Sir Burnham, placing the repute of his house and -that of his heir above all other considerations (with one possible -exception: the necessity for concealing the appalling truth from his -wife) had consented to make arrangements for the support of Nahemah on -the understanding that her existence was to remain a profound secret -from the world. It was upon this understanding that I leased the Bell -House. And although, in certain wild indiscretions, I had recognized -in Nahemah the symptoms of revolt against such a monastic existence, -because of absorption in my new studies I had not realized how deep -was her resentment of this enforced anonymity. Certainly I had never -grasped the power and the depth of her hatred of her brother, Roger -Coverly. - -Now, on this fateful night, in one of the semi-insane outbursts which -I had learned to dread, she poured out her loathing and detestation of -her brother. She was a Coverly (such was the gist of her plaint) and -the doors of Friar's Park were closed to her; the world knew nothing -of her existence. In the event of the death of Sir Burnham, then Roger -would inherit the property, and complete disaster would be our lot. - -To condense the purport of her demand, it was this: that I should test -the efficacy of my new discovery by removing this objectionable -obstacle from her path! - -Of my subsequent behavior I offer no defense. I am not prepared to -admit that I was forced into action by the forceful personality of my -protegee; in fact, I state emphatically that a chance interview with -the heir during one of his visits to Friar's Park led me to regard the -matter in a new light and from a standpoint almost identical with that -of Nahemah. - -How warning was conveyed to Sir Burnham I know not, unless by some -indiscretion of Nahemah, but, instead of returning to the public -school from which he had come to Friar's Park, Roger Coverly was sent -abroad in haste, accompanied by a private tutor. The date of his -departure corresponded with that which I associate with the beginning -of my downfall. - -Nahemah threatened to present herself to her mother, and painfully -aware that such a course (which, nevertheless, I recognized her to be -quite capable of adopting) would spell disaster, I fell in with her -wishes. Two months later we were established, Nahemah, Cassim and I, -within two miles of the new residence of Roger Coverly and his tutor -in Basle. - -The circumstances attendant upon the death of Roger Coverly have -hitherto been veiled in obscurity, and although Sir Burnham suspected -the truth, in the first place he had no evidence, and in the second -place, because of the existence of Nahemah, I knew that he dared not -attempt to prove it. - -Briefly, I had perfected that Chinese poison called in the northern -provinces _hlangkuna_. By a series of dangerous experiments I had -convinced myself that it was almost identical with _contarella_, the -preparation made notorious by the Borgia family. Therefore I concluded -that _contarella_ came to Rome from the East, possibly via Palestine. -Inoculating with _hlangkuna_, I found, produced death in two hours -(_contarella_--one hour and forty-five minutes) leaving no trace by -which the means employed could be discovered. Self-inoculation by the -subject was the method which I adopted--and which Caesar Borgia had -adopted before me; so that no chain of evidence existed. - -All that was necessary was for a scarf, a collar or other article of -apparel coming in direct contact with the skin of the subject, to be -placed in my possession. (A glove was the Borgia's favorite medium.) -It was painted with _hlangkuna_ and replaced. When worn, an intense -irritation was produced and a cutaneous eruption which, if scratched -even very lightly, resulted in a puncture of the skin sufficient to -allow the inimical elements of the poison to obtain access to the -system of the subject. - -I do not propose to enter into details, but so it was that Roger -Coverly died. Following a brief sojourn abroad, we presently returned -again to the Bell House. This gratification of her bloodthirsty -desires had done no more than to whet the feline appetite of Nahemah, -and she forced me to impose new and almost insupportable conditions -upon Sir Burnham, with the result, as is known, that from being a very -wealthy man he became an impoverished one. - -I even held a mortgage on Friar's Park on behalf of Nahemah; for by -this time I had fully recognized the fact that like a second -Frankenstein, I had raised up a monster which sooner or later must -devour me. - -Her indiscretions threatened daily to result in exposure; and after -the death of Sir Burnham, which occurred a short time later, these -increased in number and audacity. The dying baronet had impressed upon -his wife the necessity of following my guidance in all things. -Undoubtedly he died hoping that Lady Coverly might live out her days -in ignorance of the grim secret of the Bell House. This dying wish of -his was gratified. The loss of her son, so closely followed by that of -her husband, prostrated Lady Coverly in a mental illness from which -she never recovered, although I exercised all my skill in an endeavor -to restore her reason. She spent the remainder of her days in a -semi-comatose state which so closely resembled death that to this -present moment I do not know the exact hour at which dissolution took -place. - -In the man Hawkins, once a game-keeper of Sir Burnham's, I found an -instrument ready to my hand. I closed the Park to the public and took -all those precautions for preserving my secret which prudence -dictated: this at the cost of a reputation in Upper Crossleys which -few men would have survived, but which troubled me not at all, since -it left me undisturbed to those studies which to me were everything. - -The death of Sir Burnham, however, had raised a new danger; for in the -person of Sir Marcus Coverly, the heir, I perceived a formidable -enemy, who because of his wealth might redeem Friar's Park, and, -because of the fact that he belonged to a cadet line, might care -nothing for the skeleton in Sir Burnham's cupboard. - -I have said that science is callous, and I admit that it needed little -prompting from Nahemah to urge me to take the next step. It is worthy -of note, however, from a scientific point of view, that whilst I was -prompted by motives of expediency, she was actuated solely by a lust -to destroy everything that bore the name of Coverly. - -My experiments for some time past had been directed to the discovery -of new instruments of warfare. Particularly I had addressed myself to -the preparation of a _gas_ which should possess the peculiar -properties of _hlangkuna_, and by inhalation affect the lung tissues, -thus producing instantaneous results. In this I had succeeded a short -time prior to Sir Burnham's death, and one of the future belligerents -had approached me. - -For the purpose of carrying out experiments, a specially designed gun -was brought from Essen and installed in a secluded part of the Park. -Artillery specialists carried out a number of tests with shells of -various patterns; but because I bluntly declined to divulge the -formula for the making of "L.K. Vapor" (so I had named it) until -substantial guarantees were given, negotiations were broken off. I -retained, however, the model howitzer as well as a number of special -light shells. The gun was one of extraordinary accuracy, and it was -possible, given suitable weather conditions, mechanically to train it -upon a given target and without any preliminary "searching" to score a -certain hit. - -I caused the piece to be mounted on the top platform of the tower at -Friar's Park, and having completed those mathematical calculations -with the result of which Mr. Addison has since become familiar, I -awaited the return of the new baronet from Russia. Shortly after his -arrival, I invited him to visit Upper Crossleys. - -He refused--in terms which provoked an outburst on Nahemah's part more -violent than I had ever witnessed. But on his final return to England, -she made it her business closely to study his habits and movements. -She sought, feverishly, for some pregnable point of attack. -_Hlangkuna_ was tried three times--and three times failed. It was the -distorted genius of Nahemah, however, which finally dictated a new -line of action. She learned that Sir Marcus was paying attention to -Isobel Merlin, the fiancee of Eric Coverly (who in the event of Sir -Marcus's death would inherit the title). - -Nahemah propounded to me a theory so strange and so novel that I was -lost in admiration of that brilliant intellect which, partly inherited -from her forebears, was stimulated and brightened by a cat-like -cunning which belonged to the other side of her hybrid personality. - -In that district where my suburban villa was situated there were -several other isolated establishments which their owners experienced -some difficulty in leasing; and one of these--namely the Red -House--particularly suited the purpose which Nahemah had in view. The -extensive resources now at my disposal enabled me to dispense with the -usual formalities which beset the lessee and to obtain possession of -the Red House without even appearing in person. - -The deeper to complicate the issue, Nahemah carried out the whole of -the negotiations over the telephone, and hers was the "voice" -afterwards rendered notorious by the press, which issued the -directions culminating in the death of Marcus Coverly. - -I recognize that the inquiries of the police have placed in your -possession many particulars respecting this matter, so that I will not -repeat them here but will content myself with explaining the nature of -the device employed. In this case, for the removal of the subject, I -had obtained possession of an old telephone and had adjusted it to -meet my requirements. - -In a recess of the room which I caused Sir Marcus Coverly to visit at -the Red House, I placed this duplicate telephone; the false cable -communicating with the instrument was attached to a plug in the wall -above, but communicated with a gas cylinder in the adjoining room. In -short, what appeared to be cable was in reality tubing and the act of -taking the receiver from the hook released through the mouthpiece a -sufficient quantity of L.K. Vapor to have asphyxiated a dozen men. - -In order to insure the subject's receiving the benefit of the whole -discharge, I had caused a very heavy curtain to be draped in this -recess, which thus became a rough gas-chamber. Following the first -discharge, the subject would fall to the floor and the gas being a -heavy one he would there receive his _quietus_. - -The only detail which occasioned much thought was that of the bell by -which Sir Marcus should be summoned to this prepared telephone; for it -formed no part of the plan for myself to appear anywhere in the -neighborhood at the time of the experiment. I was of course compelled -to pay a secret visit to the Red House for the purpose of installing -the telephone device, and at the same time I installed the bell. This -was worked from a small storage battery and I arranged that by the -opening of the garage door the bell would be put in motion and by the -closing of the door at the end of the same building the ringing would -cease. - -A simple contrivance screwed to both doors made this possible, but I -know not by whose hand the ringing would have been accomplished if it -had not been for one of those brilliant suggestions of Nahemah's, -which hovered between the domain of genius and that of fiendishness. - -She proposed that she should ring up the local police depot and ask -the constable on that beat to lock the garage, thus making him the -direct instrument for the removal of Sir Marcus! - -I knew, since I myself had been a resident in this district, that a -constable patrolled College Road at an hour roughly corresponding with -that at which it was proposed to cause Sir Marcus to visit the Red -House; and because all strategy is based upon the clock, a brief -survey of the facts convinced me that Nahemah's plan was feasible. - -Thus, it was Police-Constable Bolton, whose evidence has appeared in -the press, who actually killed Sir Marcus Coverly! I come now to the -dangerous attitude adopted by Nahemah immediately after the event. - -We had had a case of suitable dimensions made for containing the body, -and had had it delivered at the Red House garage, where it was -received by a district messenger instructed for the purpose. Upon me -devolved the task of carrying the body from the supper-room to the -garage--a task which I performed shortly after the departure of -Police-Constable Bolton. I packed the body, removed the telephone and -also all traces of the bell-device. - -The same carter had instructions to call for the case in the morning, -and the garage door was left open to enable him to collect it. In -short, except for these two essential visits, one before and one after -the experiment, there was no occasion for myself or Nahemah to appear -in the neighborhood of the Red House. - -But that cat-like spirit of impish mischief which possessed her at -this season (and especially at night) together with an almost insane -joy which she took in gloating over the destruction of her cousin, -had led her, contrary to my special injunctions, to haunt the -vicinity on the evening of the experiment. Thus, she not only -witnessed the arrival of the doomed man, but also saw the constable -perform the duty imposed upon him. This might have mattered little, -had it not been for the presence of Mr. Addison, whom an unkind fate -at this juncture involved in the matter. - -For Mr. Addison Nahemah conceived one of those sudden and violent -infatuations which characterized the feline element of her complex -mentality. Unknown to me, Nahemah followed Mr. Addison to his home in -the neighborhood and indeed was actually seen by him, I believe, on -two occasions. Thus far all might yet have been well; but when later I -entered the Red House to carry out the only dangerous part of the -scheme, to my consternation Nahemah insisted upon accompanying me. - -Prompted by that destructive devil which sometimes possessed her she -not only (unknown to me) painted a figure of a cat upon the crate, but -also she placed an image of Bast in the box with the dead man! - -The premature discovery of Sir Marcus, owing to the accident at the -docks, prevented the plan being carried out in all its details, but -when, through certain rumors which began to creep into the press, I -learned of the presence of the statuette, I began to realize the -dangerous position in which I was placed and the handicap of such an -accomplice. - -As a result of the scene which ensued, Nahemah, still under the worst -influences of her hybrid disposition, openly visited Mr. Addison and -recovered the image of Bast! This she did in circumstances which -hopelessly compromised both of us, since they revealed in a hitherto -faultless plan the presence of an unsuspected party and directed the -police inquiries into an entirely new channel. - -I thought it expedient to retire immediately to the Bell House, which -during my brief absence in London had been in charge of Cassim, all -approaches to Friar's Park being carefully guarded by the man Hawkins. - -At this point I may touch upon a previous danger which had been met -and overcome. Provision had been made in the will of Sir Burnham for -the retention by his widow of Friar's Park and the revenues thereof; -but since in the event of her death I should have been compelled to -appear in the character of the mortgagee, it was contrary to our -interests that Lady Coverly should die whilst any heir to the estate -remained alive. - -Nevertheless, despite all my care, this stricken woman had died six -months prior to the first return of Sir Marcus from Russia. Since she -had been a helpless invalid during the last years of her life I -experienced little difficulty in concealing the fact of her death. -Cassim and I interred her by night in the family mausoleum where she -lies beside her husband. - -In these circumstances, judge of my feelings when, shortly after the -premature discovery termed in the press "the _Oritoga_ mystery," Mr. -Addison one day presented himself at the Bell House! His avowed -intention of calling upon Lady Coverly left me no alternative. Never -in all his days, not even when he miraculously escaped the L.K. Vapor -at the Abbey Inn, did Mr. Addison stand so near to death as there--in -my study! - -Let me explain the situation more fully. The fatal Sothic month which -I have learned to regard with horror, commenced on the twenty-third -ultimo and does not terminate for another five days. Nahemah was--and -still remains--"possessed." You will understand my employment of the -term. - -On the night preceding this visit of Mr. Addison's, I had traced her -nocturnal movements by the howling of many dogs, and fearful of some -indiscretion which might place my neck in a noose, I had followed her. -I found her in a narrow footpath which leads to the Abbey Inn! - -Despite entreaties, threats, she declined to give any explanation of -her behavior. But finally I prevailed upon her to return to the Bell -House. The appearance of Mr. Addison on the following morning opened -my eyes to the truth. With the scandal still attaching to the names of -Edward Hines and another man, called, I believe, Adams, a subject for -gossip throughout the neighborhood, I could not at so perilous a time -risk the consequences of a third intrigue. I determined that Mr. -Addison could better be spared by the community than I. Nahemah's next -insanity--an open visit to the Abbey Inn--confirmed my opinion. - -Thereupon I committed my first mistake. Cassim, the Nubian mute, who -had been in my service for many years, was formerly attached to a -great household in Stambul. I shall probably be understood. I -instructed him; and Mr. Addison very cleverly playing upon his -superstitious nature, Cassim failed. - -My time grows short. I will touch upon my second folly of that night. -Long before, the possibility of firing a projectile from the tower of -Friar's Park into the upper front of the Abbey Inn had presented -itself to me in the light of a feasible experiment. - -Unaware that Inspector Gatton was watching me--unaware that in my -absence he had actually detected the presence of the gun upon the -tower--I played my last card ... and lost. - -Cassim it was who detected the fact that police were watching the Bell -House! Cassim had failed me once. I instructed him a second time. - -I near the end of my statement. Destruction of all my effects, of all -evidence of my work, and, crowning tragedy, of every trace of a life's -research, was unavoidable. Knowing that every railway station and port -would be watched and that my marked personality could not hope to -escape the vigilance of the authorities, I determined to make a bid -for freedom by seeking the shelter of my villa in London. - -Cassim systematically fired the Bell House ... and perished in the -flames! Under cover of the confusion which the conflagration -occasioned, Nahemah and I succeeded in making our retirement by the -gate opening on the Hainingham road. - -But, in my attempts upon the life of Mr. Addison, I had not counted -with Nahemah. I had raised up a monster ... that monster ... has -destroyed me.... - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE CLAWS OF THE CAT - - -The hoarse voice ceased. Neither Gatton nor I moved or spoke. Then: - -"I have three minutes--or less," whispered Damar Greefe. "Question me. -I am at your service." - -"Where is your villa?" asked Gatton suddenly. - -"It is called The Laurels--" - -"The Laurels!" I cried incredulously. - -"It is called so," whispered the Eurasian. "It is the last house but -one in College Road! From there I conducted my last experiment with -L.K. Vapor, which resulted not in the death of Mr. Addison, but in -that of Eric Coverly--" - -Gatton sprang to his feet. - -"Come along, Mr. Addison!" he cried. But: - -"The Laurels is empty," came, ever more faintly. "In her Sothic fury, -Nahemah fled. The bloodlust is upon her. I warn you. She is more -dangerous ... than ... any rabid dog.... Tuberculosis will end her -life ... before the snows ... come. But there is time for her to ... -Ah, God's mercy!" - -He writhed. He was contorted. Foam appeared Upon his lips. - -"_Hlangkuna!"_ he moaned, "_hlangkuna! She_ ... touched me with a -poisoned needle ... _two hours_--ago...." - -He rose to his full height, uttered a stifled scream, and crashed down -upon the floor--dead! - -In a species of consternation, Gatton and I stood looking at one -another--standing rigidly like men of stone one on either side of that -long, thin body stretched upon my study floor. The hawk face in -profile was startlingly like that of Anubis as it lay against the red -carpet. - -Neither of us, I think, was capable of grasping the fact that the -inquiry was all but ended and that the mysteries which had seemed so -dark and insoluble were cleared up and the inner workings of this -strange conspiracy laid bare before us. One thought, I believe, was -uppermost in both our minds: that the man who now lay dead upon the -floor, a victim of one of his own devilish inventions, was no more -than a brilliant madman. - -If his great work on the ape-men of Abyssinia and that greater one -dealing with what he called "the _psycho-hybrids_" had ever had -existence outside his own strange imagination no one was ever likely -to know. But that Dr. Damar Greefe was a genius whom much learning had -made mad, neither of us doubted. - -The whole thing seemed the wildest phantasy, and, for a time, in -doubting the reality of the Eurasian's work, I found myself doubting -the evidence of my own senses and seriously wondering if this -possessed witch-cat whose green eyes had moved like Satanic lanterns -throughout the whole phantasmagoria, had any more palpable existence -than the other strange things spoken of by the unscrupulous scientist. - -That Gatton's thoughts had been running parallel with my own was -presently made manifest, for: - -"Without a moment's delay, Mr. Addison," he said, speaking like a man -newly awakened from slumber, "we must proceed to The Laurels and test -the truth of what we have heard." - -He crossed to the door, threw it open, and: - -"Sergeant!" he cried. "Come in! The prisoner is dead!" - -As the sergeant and the constable who were waiting came into the study -and stood looking in stupefaction at the body stretched on the floor, -I heard the telephone bell ring. I started nervously. That sound -awakened ghastly memories, and I thought of the man who only a few -hours before had met his death in the room where now the bell was -ringing its summons. - -I doubted if I could ever spend another night beneath that roof, for -here Dr. Damar Greefe, the arch-assassin, and one of his victims both -had met their ends. I heard the voice of Coates speaking in the -adjoining room, and presently, as Gatton went to the door: - -"Miss Merlin wishes to speak to you, sir," said Coates. - -I ran eagerly to the 'phone, and: - -"Hello!" I cried. "Is that you, Isobel?" - -"Yes!" came her reply, and I noted the agitation in her voice. "I am -more dreadfully frightened than I have ever been in my life. If only -you were here! Is it possible for you to come at once?" - -"What has alarmed you?" I asked anxiously. - -"I can't explain," she replied. "It is a dreadful sense of -foreboding--and all the dogs in the neighborhood seem to have gone -mad!" - -"Dogs!" I cried, a numbing fear creeping over me. "You mean that they -are howling?" - -"Howling!" she answered. "I have never heard such a pandemonium at any -time. In my present state of nerves, Jack, I did the wrong thing in -coming to this funny lonely little house. I feel deserted and hopeless -and, for some reason, in terrible danger." - -"Are you _alone_, then?" I asked, in ever growing anxiety. - -To my utter consternation: - -"Yes!" she replied. "Aunt Alison was called away half an hour ago--to -identify some one at a hospital who had asked for her--" - -"What! an accident?" - -"I suppose so." - -"But the servants?" - -"Cook left this morning. You remember Aunt told you she was leaving." - -"There is the girl, Mary?" - -"Aunt 'phoned for her to join her at the hospital!" - -"What! I don't understand! _'Phoned_, you say? Was it Mrs. Wentworth -_herself_ who 'phoned?" - -"No; I think not. One of the nurses, Mary said. But at any rate, she -has gone, Jack, and I'm frightened to death! There's something else," -she added. - -"Yes?" I said eagerly. - -She laughed in a way that sounded almost hysterical. - -"Since Mary went I have thought once or twice that I have seen some -one or something creeping around outside the house in the shadows -amongst the trees! And just a while ago something happened which -really prompted me to 'phone you." - -"What was it?" - -"I heard a sort of scratching at an upper window. It was just like--" - -"Yes! Yes!" - -"Like a great _cat_ trying to gain admittance!" - -"See that all the doors and windows are fastened!" I cried. "Whatever -happens or whoever knocks don't open to any one, you understand? We -will be with you in less than half an hour!" - -Still in that frightened voice: - -"For heaven's sake," she begged, "don't be long, Jack!..." - -I became aware of a singular rasping sound on the wires, which -rendered Isobel's words almost unintelligible. Then: - -"Jack," I heard, in a faint whisper, "there is a strange noise ... -just outside the room...." - -Silence came. But, vaguely, above that rasping sound, I had detected -the words: "Cutting ... telephone ... wires...." - -I replaced the receiver. My hand was shaking wildly. - -"Gatton!" I said, "do you understand? _It_ has turned its attention -to Miss Merlin!" Then, raising my voice: "Coates!" I cried, "Coates! -run for the car! Hurry, man! Some one's life depends on your speed!" - -Inspector Gatton grabbed the telephone directory. - -"I will instruct the local police," he muttered. "Give me the exact -address, Mr. Addison, and go and see the cab that's outside. If it's a -good one we'll take it instead of waiting." - -Out I dashed, spurred by a sickly terror, crying Mrs. Wentworth's -address as I ran. And of the ensuing five minutes I retain nothing but -chaotic memories: the bewildered cabman; the police bending over the -gaunt form on my study floor; Gatton's voice shouting orders. Then, we -had jumped into the cab and enjoining the man to drive like fury, were -speeding off through the busy London streets. Leaving the quietude of -one suburb for the maelstrom of central London, we presently emerged -into an equally quiet backwater upon the Northerly outskirts. - -It was a nightmare journey, but when at last we approached the house -for which we were bound my apprehension and excitement grew even -keener. It was infinitely more isolated and lonely than I had ever -realized, behind its high brick walls. - -Of the local police there was no sign. And without hesitation we ran -in at the open gate and up the path towards the porch. Every window in -the house was brightly illuminated, testifying to the greatness of the -occupant's fear. Gaining the porch, we stopped, as if prompted by some -mutual thought, and listened. - -There was the remote murmuring of busy London, but here surrounding us -was a stillness as great as that which prevailed in my own -neighborhood; and as we stood there, keenly alert--distinctly we both -heard the howling of dogs! - -"You hear it?" rapped Gatton. - -"I do!" I replied. - -Grasping the bell-knob, I executed a vigorous peal upon the bell. -There was a light in the hallway but my ringing elicited no response, -until: - -"My God, look!" cried Gatton. - -He pulled me backward out of the porch, looking upward to the window -of a room on the first floor. - -A silhouette appeared there--undoubtedly that of Isobel. She seemed to -be endeavoring to pull the curtain aside ... when the shadow of a long -arm reached out to her, and she was plucked irresistibly back. The -sound of a muffled scream reached my ears, and: - -"Great heavens! _It_ has got in!" whispered Gatton. - -He raised his hand and the shrill note of a police whistle split the -silence. - -The closed door was obviously too strong to be forced without the aid -of implements for the purpose, and we began to run around the house, -looking for some means of entrance. Suddenly: - -"There's the way!" said Gatton, and pointed up to where the branches -of an old elm tree stretched out before a window. The glass of the -window was entirely shattered except for some few points which -glittered like daggers around the edges of the frame. - -"Can you do it?" - -"In the circumstances--yes!" I said. - -Without more ado I began to climb the elm, stimulated by memories of -how I had entered Friar's Park. It afforded little foothold for the -first six feet and proved an even tougher job than I had anticipated, -but at last I reached a projecting limb, the bulk of which had been -sawn off. Gatton's agility was not so great as mine, but at the moment -that I half staggered and half fell into the room, I heard him -swinging himself onto the limb behind me so that as I leaped to the -open door he came tumbling in through the window, and the pair of us -raced side by side along the corridor towards an apartment facing -front from which horrifying cries and sounds of conflict now arose. - -Gaining the closed door of this room, I literally hurled myself upon -it. It crashed open ... and I beheld a dreadful spectacle. - -Isobel lay forced back upon a settee which occupied the window -recess--and bending over her, having her back turned towards me, was a -tall, lithe, black-clad woman who, so far as I could see, was -clutching Isobel's throat and forcing her further backward--backward -upon the cushions strewn upon the settee! - -But instant upon the door's opening this horrible scene changed. With -never a backward glance (so that neither Gatton nor I had even a -momentary glimpse of her face) the black-robed woman sprang to the -window, opened it in a moment, and to my dismay and astonishment -sprang out into the darkness! - -My first thought was for Isobel--but Gatton leaped across the room and -craned out, peering on to the path below. Indeed, even as I dropped on -my knees beside the swooning girl, I found myself listening for the -thud of the falling body upon the gravel path. But no sound reached -me. That uncanny creature must have alighted truly in the manner of a -cat. Through the stillness of the house rang the flat note of a -police-whistle. From some distant spot I heard a faint reply. - - * * * * * - -For long I failed to persuade myself that Isobel had not sustained -some ghastly injury from the attack of the cat-woman. Memories uprose -starkly before me of that _hlangkuna_ and the other dreadful -death-instruments of the mad Eurasian doctor. Not even the assurances -of the local medical man who had been summoned in haste could convince -me. For I recognized how petty was his knowledge in comparison with -that of Dr. Damar Greefe. But although I trembled to think what her -fate might have been if we had arrived a few minutes later, the fact -remained (and I returned thanks to Heaven) that she had escaped -serious physical injury at the hands of her assailant. - -But, alas, to this very hour she sometimes awakes shrieking in the -night. And her terrified cry is always the same: "The green eyes of -Bast!... the green-eyes of Bast!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -AN AFTERWORD - - -I wish it lay in my power to satisfy the curiosity in all quarters -expressed respecting the identity of "Nahemah"--the cat-woman, or -_psycho-hybrid_, who figured in Dr. Damar Greefe's statement. But it -is my duty, as chronicler of the strange and awful occurrences which -at this period disturbed the even tenor of my existence, to state that -from the moment in which she leaped from the window of Mrs. -Wentworth's house to the path below, neither I nor any other witness -who ever came forward _beheld her again_. - -At the end of a quest which exercised the intricate machinery of New -Scotland Yard throughout the length and breadth of the land, Inspector -Gatton was compelled to admit himself defeated in this particular. And -his explanation of the failure to apprehend the central figure of the -tragedies which had exterminated the house of Coverly was a curious -one. - -"You know, Mr. Addison," he said to me one evening, "the more I think -of this Nahemah the more I wonder if such a person ever really -existed!" - -"What do you mean, Gatton?" I asked. - -"Well," he replied, "I mean that although you and I and others are -prepared to testify to the existence of a woman in the case, what do -we really know about her (leaving Damar Greefe's statement out of the -question) except that she possessed very remarkable eyes?" - -"And very remarkable agility," I interrupted. - -"Yes, I'll grant you that," he said; "her agility was certainly -phenomenal. But, still, as I was saying, except for this definite -information we have no _proof_ outside the statement of Dr. Damar -Greefe that such a person as Nahemah ever existed or at any rate that -there ever was a creature possessing the attributes which he ascribed -to her. The Laurels is an ordinary suburban house, which has been -leased for a number of years by a 'Mr. and Miss da Costa'--Damar -Greefe, no doubt, and a female companion. But of his 'great work' and -so forth there's not a trace. There are a lot of Egyptian antiquities, -I'll admit, but not a scrap of evidence; and the rooms evidently used -by the female inmate of the household are those of an ordinary -cultured Englishwoman." - -"But, good heavens, Gatton," I cried, "whatever explanation can you -offer of a series of crimes which were palpably directed against the -members of the Coverly family?" - -"I don't say," continued Gatton, "that there wasn't a sort of feud or -vendetta at the bottom of the business. I merely mention that we have -no _evidence_ to show that the person responsible for it was any other -than this Eurasian doctor." - -"But what could have been his object?" - -"I could suggest several; but my point at the moment is this: although -I am prepared to grant that he had a woman associate of some kind, I -can't see that there is any evidence to prove that she was otherwise -than an ordinary human being, except that I am disposed to think she -was demented." - -"You are probably right there, Gatton," I agreed; "and Dr. Damar -Greefe was by no means normal; in fact I think he was a dangerous and -very brilliant maniac." - -"At any rate," added Gatton, "no trace of this Nahemah has been -found--which, at the least, is very significant." - -"Significant, if you like," I replied; "but for my own part I have no -ambition whatever to see again those dreadful green eyes." - -"I never did see them," said Gatton musingly; "therefore I can't speak -upon the matter; but when we got Dr. Damar Greefe I think we had the -head of the conspiracy. How much of his 'statement' is true and how -much the product of a diseased mind is something we are never likely -to know." - -"Nor am I curious to know it," I assured him. "I only desire to forget -the tragedies associated with the green eyes of Bast and to leave the -darkness of the past behind--" - -"And," said Gatton, with a smile less grim than usual, "you have my -best wishes for the future." - - - -THE END - - - - -_The greatest pleasure in life is -that of reading. Why not then -own the books of great novelists -when the price is so small_ - - - * * * * * - - -_Of all the amusements which can possibly -be imagined for a hard-working man, after -his daily toil, or in its intervals, there is -nothing like reading an entertaining book. -It calls for no bodily exertion. It transports -him into a livelier, and gayer, and more diversified -and interesting scene, and while he -enjoys himself there he may forget the evils -of the present moment. 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Kathleen Norris. -Beltane the Smith. Jeffery Farnol. -Betrayal, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. -Beyond the Frontier. Randall Parrish. -Big Timber. Bertrand W. Sinclair. -Black Bartlemy's Treasure. Jeffery Farnol. -Black Buttes. Clarence E. Mulford. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Green Eyes of Bast, by Sax Rohmer - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREEN EYES OF BAST *** - -***** This file should be named 15323.txt or 15323.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/2/15323/ - -Produced by Alicia Williams, Bethanne M. 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