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Storer Clouston + +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: Simon + +Author: J. Storer Clouston + +Release Date: August 14, 2008 [EBook #26306] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIMON *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bbox centerbox"> +<div class="bt"></div> +<div class="bb"></div> +<h1>SIMON</h1> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>J. STORER CLOUSTON</h2> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF "THE MAN FROM THE CLOUDS," "THE SPY<br /> +IN BLACK," "THE LUNATIC AT LARGE," ETC.</p> + +<p class="gap"> </p> + +<h2>NEW +<img src="images/i001.jpg" class="bottom" width="98" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +YORK</h2> + +<h2>GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY</h2> + +<div class="bb2"> </div> +<div class="bt"> </div></div> + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT, 1919,<br /> +BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY</p> + +<p class="center">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" summary="CONTENTS"> + +<tr> +<td align="right">CHAPTER</td> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">The Solitary Passenger</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#SIMON">9</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">The Procurator Fiscal</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#II">16</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">The Heir</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#III">23</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">The Man from the West</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#IV">31</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">The Third Visitor</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#V">40</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left">At Night</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#VI">48</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left">The Drive Home</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#VII">56</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left">Sir Reginald</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#VIII">67</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IX.</td> +<td align="left">A Philosopher</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#IX">74</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">X.</td> +<td align="left">The Letter</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#X">80</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XI.</td> +<td align="left">News</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XI">89</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XII.</td> +<td align="left">Cicely</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XII">100</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIII.</td> +<td align="left">The Deductive Process</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XIII">106</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIV.</td> +<td align="left">The Question of Motive</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XIV">114</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XV.</td> +<td align="left">Two Women</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XV">123</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVI.</td> +<td align="left">Rumour</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XVI">128</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVII.</td> +<td align="left">A Suggestion</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XVII">135</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVIII.</td> +<td align="left">£1200</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XVIII">143</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIX.</td> +<td align="left">The Empty Compartment</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XIX">148</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XX.</td> +<td align="left">The Sporting Visitor</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XX">154</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXI.</td> +<td align="left">Mr. Carrington's Walk</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXI">161</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXII.</td> +<td align="left">Mr. Carrington and the Fiscal</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXII">168</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXIII.</td> +<td align="left">Simon's Views</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXIII">176</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXIV.</td> +<td align="left">Mr. Bisset's Assistant</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXIV">185</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXV.</td> +<td align="left">A Telegram</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXV">196</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXVI.</td> +<td align="left">At Stanesland</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXVI">201</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXVII.</td> +<td align="left">Flight</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXVII">209</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXVIII.</td> +<td align="left">The Return</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXVIII">216</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXIX.</td> +<td align="left">Brother and Sister</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXIX">224</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXX.</td> +<td align="left">A Marked Man</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXX">229</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXI.</td> +<td align="left">The Letter Again</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXI">240</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXII.</td> +<td align="left">The Sympathetic Stranger</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXII">247</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXIII.</td> +<td align="left">The House of Mysteries</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXIII">253</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXIV.</td> +<td align="left">A Confidential Conversation</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXIV">261</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXV.</td> +<td align="left">In the Garden</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXV">271</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXVI.</td> +<td align="left">The Walking Stick</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXVI">278</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXVII.</td> +<td align="left">Bisset's Advice</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXVII">285</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXVIII.</td> +<td align="left">Trapped</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXVIII">291</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XXXIX.</td> +<td align="left">The Yarn</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XXXIX">301</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XL.</td> +<td align="left">The Last Chapter</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#XL">312</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="SIMON" id="SIMON"></a>SIMON</h2> + +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>THE SOLITARY PASSENGER</h3> + +<p>The train had come a long journey and the afternoon was wearing on. The +passenger in the last third class compartment but one, looking out of +the window sombrely and intently, saw nothing now but desolate brown +hills and a winding lonely river, very northern looking under the +autumnal sky.</p> + +<p>He was alone in the carriage, and if any one had happened to study his +movements during the interminable journey, they would have concluded +that for some reason he seemed to have a singularly strong inclination +for solitude. In fact this was at least the third compartment he had +occupied, for whenever a fellow traveller entered, he unostentatiously +descended, and in a moment had slipped, also unostentatiously, into an +empty carriage. Finally he had selected one at the extreme end of the +train, a judicious choice which had ensured privacy for the last couple +of hours.</p> + +<p>When the train at length paused in the midst of the moorlands and for +some obscure reason <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>this spot was selected for the examination of +tickets, another feature of this traveller's character became apparent. +He had no ticket, he confessed, but named the last station as his place +of departure and the next as his destination. Being an entirely +respectable looking person, his statement was accepted and he slipped +the change for half a crown into his pocket; just as he had done a +number of times previously in the course of his journey. Evidently the +passenger was of an economical as well as of a secretive disposition.</p> + +<p>As the light began to fade and the grey sky to change into a deeper +grey, and the lighted train to glitter through the darkening moors, and +he could see by his watch that their distant goal was now within an +hour's journey, the man showed for the first time signs of a livelier +interest. He peered out keenly into the dusk as though recognising old +landmarks, and now and then he shifted in his seat restlessly and a +little nervously.</p> + +<p>He was a man of middle age or upwards, of middle height, and thickset. +Round his neck he wore a muffler, so drawn up as partially to conceal +the lower part of his face, and a black felt hat was drawn down over his +eyes. Between them could be seen only the gleam of his eyes, the tip of +his nose, and the stiff hairs of a grizzled moustache.</p> + +<p>Out of his overcoat pocket he pulled a pipe and for a moment looked at +it doubtfully, and then, as if the temptation were irresistible, he took +out a tobacco pouch too. It was almost flat and he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>jealously picked up +a shred that fell on the floor, and checked himself at last when the +bowl was half filled. And then for a while he smoked very slowly, +savouring each whiff.</p> + +<p>When they stopped at the last station or two, the reserved and exclusive +disposition of this traveller became still more apparent. Not only was +he so muffled up as to make recognition by an unwelcome acquaintance +exceedingly difficult, but so long as they paused at the stations he sat +with his face resting on his hand, and when they moved on again, an air +of some relief was apparent.</p> + +<p>But a still more remarkable instance of this sensitive passion for +privacy appeared when the train stopped at the ticket platform just +outside its final destination. Even as they were slowing down, he fell +on his knees and then stretched himself at full length on the floor, and +when the door was flung open for an instant, the compartment was to all +appearances empty. Only when they were well under way again did this +retiring traveller emerge from beneath the seat.</p> + +<p>And when he did emerge, his conduct continued to be of a piece with this +curious performance. He glanced out of the window for an instant at the +lights of the platform ahead, and the groups under them, and the arch of +the station roof against the night sky, and then swiftly stepped across +the carriage and gently opened the door on the wrong side. By the time +the train was fairly at rest, the door had been as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>quietly closed again +and the man was picking his way over the sleepers in the darkness, past +the guard's van and away from the station and publicity. Certainly he +had succeeded in achieving a singularly economical and private journey.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes he continued to walk back along the line, and then +after a wary look all round him, he sprang up the low bank at the side, +threw his leg over a wire fence, and with infinite care began to make +his way across a stubble field. As he approached the wall on the further +side of the field his precautions increased. He listened intently, +crouched down once or twice, and when at last he reached the wall, he +peered over it very carefully before he mounted and dropped on the other +side.</p> + +<p>"Well," he murmured, "I'm here, by God, at last!"</p> + +<p>He was standing now in a road on the outskirts of the town. On the one +hand it led into a dim expanse of darkened country; on the other the +lights of the town twinkled. Across the road, a few villas stood back +amidst trees, with gates opening on to a footpath, the outlying houses +of the town; and the first lamp-post stood a little way down this path. +The man crossed the road and turned townwards, walking slowly and +apparently at his ease. What seemed to interest him now was not his own +need for privacy but the houses and gates he was passing. At one open +gate in particular he half paused and then seemed to spy something ahead +that altered his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>plans. Under a lamp-post a figure appeared to be +lingering, and at the sight of this, the man drew his hat still more +closely over his face and moved on.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the lamp the forms of two youths became manifest, +apparently loitering there idly. The man kept his eyes on the ground, +passed them at a brisk walk and went on his way into the town.</p> + +<p>"Damn them!" he muttered.</p> + +<p>This incident seemed to have deranged his plans a little for his +movements during the next half hour were so purposeless as to suggest +that he was merely putting in time. Down one street and up another he +walked, increasing his pace when he had to pass any fellow walkers, and +then again falling slow at certain corners and looking round him +curiously as though those dark lanes and half-lit streets were +reminiscent.</p> + +<p>Even seen in the light of the infrequent lamps and the rays from thinly +blinded windows, it was evidently but a small country town of a hard, +grey stone, northern type. The ends of certain lanes seemed to open into +the empty country itself, and one could hear the regular cadence of +waves hard by upon a shore.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem to have changed much," said the man to himself.</p> + +<p>He worked his way round, like one quite familiar with the route he +followed, till at length he drew near the same quiet country road whence +he had started. This time he stopped for a few <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>minutes in the thickest +shadow and scanned each dim circle of radiance ahead. Nobody seemed now +to be within the rays of the lamps or to be moving in the darkness +between. He went on warily till he had come nearly to the same open gate +where he had paused before, and then there fell upon his ears the sound +of steps behind him and he stopped again and looked sharply over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>Somebody was following, but at a little distance off, and after +hesitating for an instant, he seemed to make up his mind to risk it, and +turned swiftly and stealthily through the gates. A short drive of some +pretentions ran between trees and then curved round towards the house, +but there was no lodge or any sign of a possible watcher, and the man +advanced for a few yards swiftly and confidently enough. And then he +stopped abruptly. Under the shade of the trees the drive ahead was pitch +dark, but footsteps and voices were certainly coming from the house. In +an instant he had vanished into the belt of plantation along one side of +the drive.</p> + +<p>The footsteps and voices ceased, and then the steps began again, timidly +at first and then hurriedly. The belt of shrubs and trees was just thick +enough to hide a man perfectly on a moonless cloudy night like this. Yet +on either side the watcher could see enough of what was beyond to note +that he stood between the dark drive on one hand and a lighter space of +open garden on the other, and he could even catch a glimpse of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>house against the sky. Light shone brightly from the fanlight over the +front door, and less distinctly from one window upstairs and through the +slats of a blind in a downstairs room. For a moment he looked in that +direction and then intently watched the drive.</p> + +<p>The footsteps by this time were almost on the run. The vague forms of +two women passed swiftly and he could see their faces dimly turned +towards him as they hurried by. They passed through the gates and were +gone, and then a minute later men's voices in the road cried out a +greeting. And after that the silence fell profound.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>THE PROCURATOR FISCAL</h3> + +<p>The procurator fiscal breakfasted at 8.30, punctually, and at 8.30 as +usual he entered his severely upholstered dining-room and shut the door +behind him. The windows looked into a spacious garden with a belt of +trees leading up to the house from the gate, and this morning Mr. +Rattar, who was a machine for habit, departed in one trifling particular +from his invariable routine. Instead of sitting straight down to the +business of breakfasting, he stood for a minute or two at the window +gazing into the garden, and then he came to the table very thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>No man in that northern county was better known or more widely respected +than Mr. Simon Rattar. In person, he was a thickset man of middle height +and elderly middle age, with cold steady eyes and grizzled hair. His +clean shaved face was chiefly remarkable for the hardness of his +tight-shut mouth, and the obstinacy of the chin beneath it. +Professionally, he was lawyer to several of the larger landowners and +factor on their estates, and lawyer and adviser also to many other +people in various stations in life. Officially, he was procurator fiscal +for the county, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>the setter in motion of all criminal processes, and +generalissimo, so to speak, of the police; and one way and another, he +had the reputation of being a very comfortably well off gentleman +indeed.</p> + +<p>As for his abilities, they were undeniably considerable, of the hard, +cautious, never-caught-asleep order; and his taciturn manner and way of +drinking in everything said to him while he looked at you out of his +steady eyes, and then merely nodded and gave a significant little grunt +at the end, added immensely to his reputation for profound wisdom. +People were able to quote few definite opinions uttered by "Silent +Simon," but any that could be quoted were shrewdness itself.</p> + +<p>He was a bachelor, and indeed, it was difficult for the most fanciful to +imagine Silent Simon married. Even in his youth he had not been +attracted by the other sex, and his own qualities certainly did not +attract them. Not that there was a word to be said seriously against +him. Hard and shrewd though he was, his respectability was extreme and +his observance of the conventions scrupulous to a fault. He was an elder +of the Kirk, a non-smoker, an abstemious drinker (to be an out and out +teetotaler would have been a little too remarkable in those regions for +a man of Mr. Rattar's conventional tastes), and indeed in all respects +he trod that sober path that leads to a semi-public funeral and a vast +block of granite in the parish kirkyard.</p> + +<p>He had acquired his substantial villa and large <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>garden by a very shrewd +bargain a number of years ago, and he lived there with just the decency +that his condition in life enjoined, but with not a suspicion of display +beyond it. He kept a staff of two competent and respectable girls, just +enough to run a house of that size, but only just; and when he wanted to +drive abroad he hired a conveyance exactly suitable to the occasion from +the most respectable hotel. His life, in short, was ordered to the very +best advantage possible.</p> + +<p>Enthusiastic devotion to such an extremely exemplary gentleman was a +little difficult, but in his present housemaid, Mary MacLean, he had a +girl with a strong Highland strain of fidelity to a master, and an +instinctive devotion to his interests, even if his person was hardly the +chieftain her heart demanded. She was a soft voiced, anxious looking +young woman, almost pretty despite her nervous high strung air, and of a +quiet and modest demeanour.</p> + +<p>Soon after her master had begun breakfast, Mary entered the dining-room +with an apologetic air, but a conscientious eye.</p> + +<p>"Begging your pardon, sir," she began, "but I thought I ought to tell +you that when cook and me was going out to the concert last night we +thought we saw <i>something</i> in the drive."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar looked up at her sharply and fixed his cold eyes on her +steadily for a moment, never saying a word. It was exactly his ordinary +habit, and she had thought she was used to it by now, yet this morning +she felt oddly disconcerted. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>Then it struck her that perhaps it was the +red cut on his chin that gave her this curious feeling. Silent Simon's +hand was as steady as a rock and she never remembered his having cut +himself shaving before; certainly not as badly as this.</p> + +<p>"Saw 'something'?" he repeated gruffly. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"It looked like a man, sir, and it seemed to move into the trees almost +as quick as we saw it!"</p> + +<p>"Tuts!" muttered Simon.</p> + +<p>"But there was two friends of ours meeting us in the road," she hurried +on, "and they thought they saw a man going in at the gate!"</p> + +<p>Her master seemed a little more impressed.</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" said he.</p> + +<p>"So I thought it was my duty to tell you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Quite right," said he.</p> + +<p>"For I felt sure it couldn't just be a gentleman coming to see you, sir, +or he wouldn't have gone into the trees."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," he agreed briefly. "Nobody came to see me."</p> + +<p>Mary looked at him doubtfully and hesitated for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you even hear anything, sir?" she asked in a lowered voice.</p> + +<p>Her master's quick glance made her jump.</p> + +<p>"Why?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Because, sir, I found footsteps in the gravel this morning—where it's +soft with the rain, sir, just under the library window."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar looked first hard at her and then <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>at his plate. For several +seconds he answered nothing, and then he said:</p> + +<p>"I did hear some one."</p> + +<p>There was something both in his voice and in his eye as he said this +that was not quite like the usual Simon Rattar. Mary began to feel a +sympathetic thrill.</p> + +<p>"Did you look out of the window, sir?" she asked in a hushed voice.</p> + +<p>Her master nodded and pursed his lips.</p> + +<p>"But you didn't see him, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No," said he.</p> + +<p>"Who could it have been, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I have been wondering," he said, and then he threw a sudden glance at +her that made her hurry for the door. It was not that it was an angry +look, but that it was what she called so "queer-like."</p> + +<p>Just as she went out she noted another queer-like circumstance. Mr. +Rattar had stretched out his hand towards the toast rack while he spoke. +The toast stuck between the bars, and she caught a glimpse of an angry +twitch that upset the rack with a clatter. Never before had she seen the +master do a thing of that kind.</p> + +<p>A little later the library bell called her. Mr. Rattar had finished +breakfast and was seated beside the fire with a bundle of legal papers +on a small table beside him, just as he always sat, absorbed in work, +before he started for his office. The master's library impressed Mary +vastly. The furniture was so substantial, new-looking, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>conspicuous +for the shininess of the wood and the brightness of the red morocco +seats to the chairs. And it was such a tidy room—no litter of papers or +books, nothing ever out of place, no sign even of pipe, tobacco jar, +cigarette or cigar. The only concession to the vices were the ornate ash +tray and the massive globular glass match box on the square table in the +middle of the room, and they were manifestly placed there for the +benefit of visitors merely. Even they, Mary thought, were admirable as +ornaments, and she was concerned to note that there was no nice +red-headed bundle of matches in the glass match box this morning. What +had become of them she could not imagine, but she resolved to repair +this blemish as soon as the master had left the house.</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to go gossiping about this fellow who came into the +garden, last night," he began.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" said she.</p> + +<p>Simon shot her a glance that seemed compounded of doubt and warning.</p> + +<p>"As procurator fiscal, it is my business to inquire into such affairs. +I'll see to it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir; I know," said she. "It seemed so impudent like of the man +coming into the fiscal's garden of all places!"</p> + +<p>Simon grunted. It was his characteristic reply when no words were +absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>"That's all," said he, "don't gossip! Remember, if we want to catch the +man, the quieter we keep the better."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p><p>Mary went out, impressed with the warning, but still more deeply +impressed with something else. Gossip with cook of course was not to be +counted as gossip in the prohibited sense, and when she returned to the +kitchen, she unburdened her Highland heart.</p> + +<p>"The master's no himsel'!" she said. "I tell you, Janet, never have I +seen Mr. Rattar look the way he looked at breakfast, nor yet the way he +looked in the library!"</p> + +<p>Cook was a practical person and apt to be a trifle unsympathetic.</p> + +<p>"He couldna be bothered with your blethering most likely!" said she.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it wasna that!" said Mary very seriously. "Just think yoursel' how +would you like to be watched through the window at the dead of night as +you were sitting in your chair? The master's feared of yon man, Janet!"</p> + +<p>Even Janet was a little impressed by her solemnity.</p> + +<p>"It must have taken something to make silent Simon feared!" said she.</p> + +<p>Mary's voice fell.</p> + +<p>"It's my opinion, the master knows more than he let on to me. The +thought that came into my mind when he was talking to me was just—'The +man feels he's being <i>watched</i>!'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, get along wi' you and your Hieland fancies!" said cook, but she +said it a little uncomfortably.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>THE HEIR</h3> + +<p>At 9.45 precisely Mr. Rattar arrived at his office, just as he had +arrived every morning since his clerks could remember. He nodded curtly +as usual to his head clerk, Mr. Ison, and went into his room. His +letters were always laid out on his desk and from twenty minutes to half +an hour were generally spent by him in running through them. Then he +would ring for Mr. Ison and begin to deal with the business of the day. +But on this morning the bell went within twelve minutes, as Mr. Ison (a +most precise person) noted on the clock.</p> + +<p>"Bring the letter book," said Mr. Rattar. "And the business ledger."</p> + +<p>"Letter book and business ledger?" repeated Mr. Ison, looking a little +surprised.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar nodded.</p> + +<p>The head clerk turned away and then paused and glanced at the bundle of +papers Mr. Rattar had brought back with him. He had expected these to be +dealt with first thing.</p> + +<p>"About this Thomson business—" he began.</p> + +<p>"It can wait."</p> + +<p>The lawyer's manner was peremptory and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>clerk fetched the letter +book and ledger. These contained, between them, a record of all the +recent business of the firm, apart from public business and the affairs +of one large estate. What could be the reason for such a comprehensive +examination, Mr. Ison could not divine, but Mr. Rattar never gave +reasons unless he chose, and the clerk who would venture to ask him was +not to be found on the staff of Silent Simon.</p> + +<p>In a minute or two the head clerk returned with the books. This time he +was wearing his spectacles and his first glance through them at Mr. +Rattar gave him an odd sensation. The lawyer's mouth was as hard set and +his eyes were as steady as ever. Yet something about his expression +seemed a little unusual. Some unexpected business had turned up to +disturb him, Mr. Ison felt sure; and indeed, this seemed certain from +his request for the letter book and ledger. He now noticed also the cut +on his chin, a sure sign that something had interrupted the orderly +tenor of Simon Rattar's life, if ever there was one. Mr. Ison tried to +guess whose business could have taken such a turn as to make Silent +Simon cut himself with his razor, but though he had many virtues, +imagination was not among them and he had to confess that it was fairly +beyond James Ison.</p> + +<p>And yet, curiously enough, his one remark to a fellow clerk was not +unlike the comment of the imaginative Mary MacLean.</p> + +<p>"The boss has a kin' of unusual look to-day. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>There was something kin' +of suspicious in that eye of his—rather as though he thought someone +was watching him."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar had been busy with the books for some twenty minutes when his +head clerk returned.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Malcolm Cromarty to see you, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>Silent Simon looked at him hard, and it was evident to his clerk that +his mind had been extraordinarily absorbed, for he simply repeated in a +curious way:</p> + +<p>"Mr. <i>Malcolm</i> Cromarty?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Mr. Ison, and then as even this seemed scarcely to be +comprehended, he added, "Sir Reginald's cousin."</p> + +<p>"Ah, of course!" said Mr. Rattar. "Well, show him in."</p> + +<p>The young man who entered was evidently conscious of being a superior +person. From the waviness of his hair and the studied negligence of his +tie (heliotrope with a design in old gold), it seemed probable that he +had literary or artistic claims to be superior to the herd. And from the +deference with which Mr. Ison had pronounced his name and his own +slightly condescending manner, it appeared that he felt himself in other +respects superior to Mr. Rattar. He was of medium height, slender, and +dark-haired. His features were remarkably regular, and though his face +was somewhat small, there could be no doubt that he was extremely good +looking, especially <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>to a woman's eye, who would be more apt than a +fellow man to condone something a little supercilious in his smile.</p> + +<p>The attire of Mr. Malcolm Cromarty was that of the man of fashion +dressed for the country, with the single exception of the tie which +intimated to the discerning that here was no young man of fashion +merely, but likewise a young man of ideas. That he had written, or at +least was going to write, or else that he painted or was about to paint, +was quite manifest. The indications, however, were not sufficiently +pronounced to permit one to suspect him of fiddling, or even of being +about to fiddle.</p> + +<p>This young gentleman's manner as he shook hands with the lawyer and then +took a chair was on the surface cheerful and politely condescending. Yet +after his first greeting, and when he was seated under Simon's +inscrutable eye, there stole into his own a hint of quite another +emotion. If ever an eye revealed apprehension it was Malcolm Cromarty's +at that instant.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Rattar, here I am again, you see," said he with a little +laugh; but it was not quite a spontaneous laugh.</p> + +<p>"I see, Mr. Cromarty," said Simon laconically.</p> + +<p>"You have been expecting to hear from me before, I suppose," the young +man went on, "but the fact is I've had an idea for a story and I've been +devilish busy sketching it out."</p> + +<p>Simon grunted and gave a little nod. One <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>would say that he was studying +his visitor with exceptional attention.</p> + +<p>"Ideas come to one at the most inconvenient times," the young author +explained with a smile, and yet with a certain hurried utterance not +usually associated with smiles, "one just has to shoot the bird when he +happens to come over your head, don't you know, you can't send in +beaters after that kind of fowl, Mr. Rattar. And when he does come out, +there you are! You have to make hay while the sun shines."</p> + +<p>Again the lawyer nodded, and again he made no remark. The apprehension +in his visitor's eye increased, his smile died away, and suddenly he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, Mr. Rattar, say something! I meant honestly to pay you +back—I felt sure I could sell that last thing of mine before now, but +not a word yet from the editor I sent it to!"</p> + +<p>Still there came only a guarded grunt from Simon and the young man went +on with increasing agitation.</p> + +<p>"You won't give me away to Sir Reginald, will you? He's been damned +crusty with me lately about money matters, as it is. If you make me +desperate——!" He broke off and gazed dramatically into space for a +moment, and then less dramatically at his lawyer.</p> + +<p>Silent Simon was proverbially cautious, but it seemed to his visitor +that his demeanour this morning exceeded all reasonable limits. For +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>nearly a minute he answered absolutely nothing, and then he said very +slowly and deliberately:</p> + +<p>"I think it would be better, Mr. Cromarty, if you gave me a brief, +explicit statement of how you got into this mess."</p> + +<p>"Dash it, you know too well—" began Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"It would make you realise your own position more clearly," interrupted +the lawyer. "You want me to assist you, I take it?"</p> + +<p>"Rather—if you will!"</p> + +<p>"Well then, please do as I ask you. You had better start at the +beginning of your relations with Sir Reginald."</p> + +<p>Malcolm Cromarty's face expressed surprise, but the lawyer's was +distinctly less severe, and he began readily enough:</p> + +<p>"Well, of course, as you know, my cousin Charles Cromarty died about 18 +months ago and I became the heir to the baronetcy—" he broke off and +asked, "Do you mean you want me to go over all that?"</p> + +<p>Simon nodded, and he went on:</p> + +<p>"Sir Reginald was devilish good at first—in his own patronising way, +let me stay at Keldale as often and as long as I liked, made me an +allowance and so on; but there was always this fuss about my taking up +something a little more conventional than literature. Ha, ha!" The young +man laughed in a superior way and then looked apprehensively at the +other. "But I suppose you agree with Sir Reginald?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p><p>Simon pursed his lips and made a non-committal sound.</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow, he wanted me to be called to the Bar or something of that +kind, and then there was a fuss about money—his ideas of an allowance +are rather old fashioned, as you know. And then you were good enough to +help me with that loan, and—well, that's all, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar had been listening with extreme attention. He now nodded, and +a smile for a moment seemed to light his chilly eyes.</p> + +<p>"I see that you quite realise your position, Mr. Cromarty," he said.</p> + +<p>"Realise it!" cried the young man. "My God, I'm in a worse hole——" he +broke off abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Worse than you have admitted to me?" said Simon quickly and again with +a smile in his eye.</p> + +<p>Malcolm Cromarty hesitated, "Sir Reginald is so damned narrow! If he +wants to drive me to the devil—well, let him! But I say, Mr. Rattar, +what are you going to do?"</p> + +<p>For some moments Simon said nothing. At length he answered:</p> + +<p>"I shall not press for repayment at present."</p> + +<p>His visitor rose with a sigh of relief and as he said good-bye his +condescending manner returned as readily as it had gone.</p> + +<p>"Good morning and many thanks," said he, and then hesitated for an +instant. "You couldn't let me have a very small cheque, just to be going +on with, could you?"</p> + +<p>"Not this morning, Mr. Cromarty."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p><p>Mr. Cromarty's look of despair returned.</p> + +<p>"Well," he cried darkly as he strode to the door, "people who treat a +man in my position like this are responsible for—er——!" The banging +of the door left their precise responsibility in doubt.</p> + +<p>Simon Rattar gazed after him with an odd expression. It seemed to +contain a considerable infusion of complacency. And then he rang for his +clerk.</p> + +<p>"Get me the Cromarty estate letter book," he commanded.</p> + +<p>The book was brought and this time he had about ten minutes to himself +before the clerk entered again.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland to see you, sir," he announced.</p> + +<p>This announcement seemed to set the lawyer thinking hard. Then in his +abrupt way he said:</p> + +<p>"Show him in."</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>THE MAN FROM THE WEST</h3> + +<p>Mr. Rattar's second visitor was of a different type. Mr. Cromarty of +Stanesland stood about 6 feet two and had nothing artistic in his +appearance, being a lean strapping man in the neighbourhood of forty, +with a keen, thin, weather-beaten face chiefly remarkable for its +straight sharp nose, compressed lips, reddish eye-brows, puckered into a +slight habitual frown, and the fact that the keen look of the whole was +expressed by only one of his eyes, the other being a good imitation but +unmistakeably glass. The whole effect of the face, however, was +singularly pleasing to the discerning critic. An out of door, reckless, +humorous, honest personality was stamped on every line of it and every +movement of the man. When he spoke his voice had a marked tinge of the +twang of the wild west that sounded a little oddly on the lips of a +country gentleman in these northern parts. He wore an open flannel +collar, a shooting coat, well cut riding breeches and immaculate leather +leggings, finished off by a most substantial pair of shooting boots. +Unlike Mr. Malcolm Cromarty, he evidently looked upon his visit as +expected.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p><p>"Good morning, Mr. Rattar," said he, throwing his long form into the +clients' chair as he spoke. "Well, I guess you've got some good advice +for me this morning."</p> + +<p>Simon Rattar was proverbially cautious, but to-day his caution struck +his visitor as quite remarkable.</p> + +<p>"Um," he grunted. "Advice, Mr. Cromarty? Umph!"</p> + +<p>"Don't trouble beating about the bush," said the tall man. "I've been +figuring things out myself and so far as I can see, it comes to +this:—that loan from Sir Reginald put me straight in the meantime, but +I've got to cut down expense all round to keep straight, and I've got to +pay him back. Of course you know his way when it's one of the clan he's +dealing with. 'My dear Ned, no hurry whatever. If you send my heir a +cheque some day after I'm gone it will have the added charm of +surprise!' Well, that's damned decent, but hardly business. I want to +get the whole thing off my chest. Got the statement made up?"</p> + +<p>Simon shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Very sorry, Mr. Cromarty. Haven't had time yet."</p> + +<p>"Hell!" said Mr. Cromarty, though in a cheerful voice, and then added +with an engaging smile, "Pardon me, Mr. Rattar. I'm trying to get +educated out of strong language, but, Lord, at my time of life it's not +so damned—I mean dashed easy!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><p>Even Simon Rattar's features relaxed for an instant into a smile.</p> + +<p>"And who is educating you?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cromarty looked a little surprised.</p> + +<p>"Who but the usual lady? Gad, I've told you before of my sister's well +meant efforts. It's a stiff job making a retired cow puncher into a high +grade laird. However, I can smoke without spitting now, which is a step +on the road towards being a Lord Chesterfield."</p> + +<p>He smiled humorously, stretched out his long legs and added:</p> + +<p>"It's a nuisance, your not having that statement ready. When I've got to +do business I like pushing it through quick. That's an American habit I +don't mean to get rid of, Mr. Rattar."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar nodded his approval.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said he.</p> + +<p>"I've put down my car," his visitor continued. "Drive a buggy now—beg its pardon, a trap, and a devilish nice little +mare I've got in her too. In fact, there are plenty of consolations for +whatever you have to do in this world. I'm only sorry for my sister's +sake that I have to draw in my horns a bit. Women like a bit of a +splash—at least judging from the comparatively little I know of 'em."</p> + +<p>"Miss Cromarty doesn't complain, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think she's beginning to see the necessity for reform. You see, +when both my civilised elder brothers died——" he broke off, and then +added: "But you know the whole story."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p><p>"I would—er—like to refresh my memory," said Simon; and there seemed +to be a note of interest and almost of eagerness in his voice that +appeared to surprise his visitor afresh.</p> + +<p>"First time I ever heard of your memory needing refreshing!" laughed his +visitor. "Well, you know how I came back from the wild and woolly west +and tried to make a comfortable home for Lilian. We were neither of us +likely to marry at our time of life, and there were just the two of us +left, and we'd both of us knocked about quite long enough on our own, +and so why not settle down together in the old place and be comfortable? +At least that's how it struck me. Of course, as you know, we hadn't met +for so long that we were practically strangers and she knew the ways of +civilisation better than me, and I gave her a pretty free hand in +setting up the establishment. I don't blame her, mind you, for setting +the pace a bit too fast to last. My own blamed fault entirely. However, +we aren't in a very deep hole, thank the Lord. In fact if I hadn't got +to pay Sir Reginald back the £1,200 it would be all right, so far I can +figure out. But I want your exact statement, Mr. Rattar, and as quick as +you can let me have it."</p> + +<p>Simon nodded and grunted.</p> + +<p>"You'll get it." And then he added: "I think I can assure you there is +nothing to be concerned about."</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty smiled and a reckless light danced for a moment in his one +efficient eye.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p><p>"I guess I almost wish there were something to be concerned about! Sir +Reginald is always telling me I'm the head of the oldest branch of the +whole Cromarty family and it's my duty to live in the house of my +ancestors and be an ornament to the county, and all the rest of it. But +I tell you it's a damned quiet life for a man who's had his eye put out +with a broken whisky bottle and hanged the man who did it with his own +hands!"</p> + +<p>"Hanged him!" exclaimed the lawyer sharply.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it wasn't merely for the eye. That gave the performance a kind of +relish it would otherwise have lacked, being a cold-blooded ceremony and +a little awkward with the apparatus we had. We hanged him for murder, as +a matter of fact. Now, between ourselves, Mr. Rattar, we don't want to +crab our own county, but you must confess that real good serious crime +is devilish scarce here, eh?"</p> + +<p>Cromarty's eye was gleaming humorously, and Simon Rattar might have been +thought the kind of tough customer who would have been amused by the +joke. He seemed, however, to be affected unpleasantly and even a little +startled.</p> + +<p>"I—I trust we don't," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well," his visitor agreed, "as it means that something or somebody has +got to be sacrificed to start the sport of man-hunting, I suppose +there's something to be said for the quiet life. But personally I'd +sooner be after men than grouse, from the point of view of getting +thorough <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>satisfaction while it lasts. My sister says it means I haven't +settled down properly yet—calls me the bold bad bachelor!"</p> + +<p>Through this speech Simon seemed to be looking at his visitor with an +attention that bordered on fascination, and it was apparently with a +slight effort that he asked at the end:</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you marry?"</p> + +<p>"Marry!" exclaimed Ned Cromarty. "And where will you find the lady +that's to succumb to my fascinations? I'm within a month of forty, Mr. +Rattar, I've the mind, habits, and appearance of a backwoodsman, and +I've one working eye left. A female collector of antique curiosities, or +something in the nature of a retired wardress might take on the job, but +I can't think of any one else!"</p> + +<p>He laughed as he spoke, and yet something remarkably like a sigh +followed the laugh, and for a moment after he had ceased speaking his +eye looked abstractedly into space.</p> + +<p>Before either spoke again, the door opened and the clerk, seeing Mr. +Rattar was still engaged, murmured a "beg pardon" and was about to +retire again.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Miss Farmond is waiting to see you, sir."</p> + +<p>"I'll let you know when I'm free," said Simon.</p> + +<p>Had his eye been on his visitor as his clerk spoke, he might have +noticed a curious commentary on Mr. Cromarty's professed lack of +interest in womankind. His single eye lit up for an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>instant and he +moved sharply in his chair, and then as suddenly repressed all sign of +interest.</p> + +<p>A minute or two later the visitor jumped up.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I guess you're pretty busy and I've been talking too +long as it is. Let me have that statement as quick as you like. Good +morning!"</p> + +<p>He strode to the door, shut it behind him, and then when he was on the +landing, his movements became suddenly more leisurely. Instead of +striding downstairs he stood looking curiously in turn at each closed +door. It was an old fashioned house and rather a rabbit warren of an +office, and it would seem as though for some reason he wished to leave +no door unwatched. In a moment he heard the lawyer's bell ring and very +slowly he moved down a step or two while a clerk answered the call and +withdrew. And then he took a cigar from his case, bit off the end, and +felt for matches; all this being very deliberately done, and his eye +following the clerk. Thus when a girl emerged from the room along a +passage, she met, apparently quite accidentally, Mr. Cromarty of +Stanesland.</p> + +<p>At the first glance it was quite evident that the meeting gave more +pleasure to the gentleman than to the lady. Indeed, the girl seemed too +disconcerted to hide the fact.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Miss Farmond," said he with what seemed intended for an +air of surprise; as though he had no idea she had been within a mile of +him. "You coming to see Simon on business <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>too?" And then taking the cue +from her constrained manner, he added hurriedly, and with a note of +dejection he could not quite hide, "Well, good-bye."</p> + +<p>The girl's expression suddenly changed, and with that change the laird +of Stanesland's curious movements became very explicable, for her face +was singularly charming when she smiled. It was a rather pale but fresh +and clear-skinned face, wide at the forehead and narrowing to a firm +little chin, with long-lashed expressive eyes, and a serious expression +in repose. Her smile was candid, a little coy and irresistibly engaging, +and her voice was very pleasant, rather low, and most engaging too. She +was of middle height and dressed in mourning. Her age seemed rather +under than over twenty.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she said, with a touch of hesitation at first, "I didn't mean——" +She broke off, glanced at the clerk, who being a discreet young man was +now in the background, and then with lowered voice confessed, "The fact +is, Mr. Cromarty, I'm not really supposed to be here at all. That's to +say nobody knows I am."</p> + +<p>Mr. Cromarty looked infinitely relieved.</p> + +<p>"And you don't want anybody to know?" he said in his outspoken way. +"Right you are. I can lie low and say nothing, or lie hard and say what +you like; whichever you choose."</p> + +<p>"Lying low will do," she smiled. "But please don't think I'm doing +anything very wrong."</p> + +<p>"I'll think what you tell me," he said gallantly. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>"I <i>was</i> thinking +Silent Simon was in luck's way—but perhaps you're going to wig him?"</p> + +<p>She laughed and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Can you imagine me daring to wig Mr. Simon Rattar?"</p> + +<p>"I guess he needs waking up now and then like other people. He's been +slacking over my business. In fact, I can't quite make him out this +morning. He's not quite his usual self for some reason. Don't be afraid +to wig him if he needs it!"</p> + +<p>The clerk in the background coughed and Miss Cicely Farmond moved +towards the door of the lawyer's room, but Ned Cromarty seemed reluctant +to end the meeting so quickly.</p> + +<p>"How did you come?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Walked," she smiled.</p> + +<p>"Walked! And how are you going back?"</p> + +<p>"Walk again."</p> + +<p>"I say," he suggested eagerly, "I've got my trap in. Let me drive you!"</p> + +<p>She hesitated a moment.</p> + +<p>"It's awfully good of you to think of it——"</p> + +<p>"That's settled then. I'll be on the look out when you leave old Simon's +den."</p> + +<p>He raised his cap and went downstairs this time without any hesitation. +He had forgotten to light his cigar, and it was probably as a substitute +for smoking that he found himself whistling.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<h3>THE THIRD VISITOR</h3> + +<p>Miss Cicely Farmond's air as she entered Simon Rattar's room seemed +compounded of a little shyness, considerable trepidation, and yet more +determination. In her low voice and with a fleeting smile she wished him +good morning, like an acquaintance with whom she was quite familiar, and +then with a serious little frown, and fixing her engaging eyes very +straight upon him, she made the surprising demand:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rattar, I want you to tell me honestly who I am."</p> + +<p>For an instant Simon's cold eyes opened very wide, and then he was +gazing at her after his usual silent and steadfast manner.</p> + +<p>"Who you are?" he repeated after a few seconds' pause.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Indeed, Mr. Rattar, I <i>insist</i> on knowing!"</p> + +<p>Simon smiled slightly.</p> + +<p>"And what makes you think I can assist you to—er—recover your +identity, Miss Farmond?"</p> + +<p>"To discover it, not recover it," she corrected.</p> + +<p>"Don't you really know that I am honestly quite ignorant?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p><p>Mr. Rattar shook his head cautiously.</p> + +<p>"It is not for me to hazard an opinion," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Oh please, Mr. Rattar," she exclaimed, "don't be so dreadfully +cautious! Surely you can't have thought that I knew all the time!"</p> + +<p>Again he was silent for a moment, and then enquired:</p> + +<p>"Why do you come to me now?"</p> + +<p>"Because I <i>must</i> know! Because—well, because it is so unsatisfactory +not knowing—for various reasons."</p> + +<p>"And why are you so positive that I can tell you?"</p> + +<p>"Because all my affairs and arrangements went through your hands, and of +course you know!"</p> + +<p>Again he seemed to reflect for a moment.</p> + +<p>"May I ask, Miss Farmond," he enquired, "why, in that case, you think I +shouldn't have told you before, and why—also in that case—I should +tell you now?"</p> + +<p>This enquiry seemed to disconcert Miss Farmond a little.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course I presume Sir Reginald and you had some reasons," she +admitted.</p> + +<p>"And don't you think then we have them still?"</p> + +<p>"I can't honestly see why you should make such a mystery of +it—especially as I can guess the truth perfectly easily!"</p> + +<p>"If you can guess it——" he began.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p><p>"Oh please don't answer me like that! Why won't you tell me?"</p> + +<p>He seemed to consider the point for a moment, and then he said:</p> + +<p>"I am not at all sure that I am at liberty to tell you, Miss Farmond, +without further consultation."</p> + +<p>"Has Sir Reginald really any good reasons for not telling me?"</p> + +<p>"Have you asked him that question?"</p> + +<p>"No," she confessed. "He and Lady Cromarty have been so frightfully +kind, and yet so—so reserved on that subject, that I have never liked +to ask them direct. But they know that I have guessed, and they haven't +done anything to prevent me finding out more for myself, which means +that they really are quite willing to let me find out if I can."</p> + +<p>He shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I shall require more authority than that."</p> + +<p>She pursed her lips and looked at the floor in silence, and then she +rose.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you absolutely refuse to tell me <i>anything</i>, Mr. Rattar, I +suppose——"</p> + +<p>A dejected little shrug completed her sentence, and as she turned +towards the door her eloquent eyes looked at him for a moment beneath +their long lashes with an expression in them that might have moved a +statue. Although Simon Rattar had the reputation of being impervious to +woman's wiles, he may have been moved by this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>unspoken appeal. He +certainly seemed struck by something, for even as her back was turning +towards him, he said suddenly, and in a distinctly different voice:</p> + +<p>"You say you can guess yourself?"</p> + +<p>She nodded, and added with a pathetic coaxing note in her low voice:</p> + +<p>"But I want to <i>know</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Supposing," he suggested, "you were to tell me precisely how much you +do know already, and then I could judge whether the rest might or might +not be divulged."</p> + +<p>Her face brightened and she returned to her chair with a promptitude +that suggested she was not unaccustomed to win a lost battle with these +weapons.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "it was only six months ago—when mother died—that I +first had the least suspicion there was any mystery about me—anything +to hide. I knew she hadn't always been happy and that her trouble had +something to do with my father, simply because she hardly ever mentioned +him. But she lived at Eastbourne just like plenty of other widows and we +had a few friends, though never very many, and I was very happy at +school, and so I never troubled much about things."</p> + +<p>"And knew nothing up till six months ago?" asked Simon, who was +following her story very attentively.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all. Then, about a month after mother's death, I got a note +from you asking me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>to go up to London and meet Sir Reginald Cromarty. I +had never even heard of him before! Well, I went and he was simply as +kind as—well, as he always is to everybody, and said he was a kind of +connection of my family and asked me to pay them a long visit to +Keldale."</p> + +<p>"How long ago precisely was that?"</p> + +<p>She looked a little surprised.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know exactly. Almost just four months ago, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>He nodded, but said nothing, and she went on:</p> + +<p>"From the very first it had seemed very strange that I had never heard a +word about the Cromartys from mother, and as soon as I got to Keldale +and met Lady Cromarty, I felt sure there was something wrong. I mean +that I wasn't an ordinary distant relation. For one thing they never +spoke of our relationship and exactly what sort of cousins we were, and +considering how keen Sir Reginald is on his pedigree and all his +relations and everybody, that alone made me certain I wasn't the +ordinary kind. That was obvious, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"It seems so," the lawyer admitted cautiously.</p> + +<p>"Of course it was! Well, one day I happened to be looking over an old +photograph album and suddenly I saw my father's photograph! Mother had a +miniature of him—I have it still, and I was certain it was the same +man. I pulled myself together and asked Sir Reginald in a very ordinary +voice who that was, and I could see that both he and Lady Cromarty +jumped a little. He <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>had to tell me it was his brother Alfred and I +discovered he had long been dead, but I didn't try to get any more +information from them. I applied to Bisset."</p> + +<p>She gave a little laugh and looked at him with a touch of defiance. His +inscrutable countenance appeared to annoy her.</p> + +<p>"Well?" he remarked.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you think I oughtn't to have gone to a butler about such a +thing, but Bisset is practically one of the family and I didn't give him +the least idea of what I was after. I simply drew him on the subject of +the Cromarty family history and among other things—that didn't so much +interest me—I found that Mr. Alfred Cromarty was never married and +seemed to have had rather a gay reputation."</p> + +<p>She looked at him with an expression that would have immediately +converted any susceptible man into a fellow conspirator, and asked in +her most enticing voice:</p> + +<p>"Need you ask what I guessed? What is the use in not telling me simply +whether I have guessed right!"</p> + +<p>Silent Simon's face remained a mask.</p> + +<p>"What precisely did you guess?"</p> + +<p>"That my mother wasn't married," she said, her voice falling very low, +"and I am really Sir Reginald's niece though he never can acknowledge +it—and I don't want him to! But I do want to be sure. Dear Mr. Rattar, +won't you tell me?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p><p>Dear Mr. Rattar never relaxed a muscle.</p> + +<p>"Your guess seems very probable," he admitted.</p> + +<p>"But tell me definitely."</p> + +<p>"Why?" he enquired coldly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, have you no <i>curiosity</i> yourself—especially about who your parents +were; supposing you didn't know?"</p> + +<p>"Then it's only out of curiosity that you enquired?"</p> + +<p>"Only!" she repeated with a world of woman's scorn. "But what sort of +motives did you expect? I have walked in the whole way this morning just +to end the suspense of wondering! Of course, I'll never tell a soul you +told me."</p> + +<p>She threw on him a moving smile.</p> + +<p>"You needn't actually tell me outright. Just use some legal +word—'Alibi' if I am right and 'forgery' if I'm wrong!"</p> + +<p>Silent Simon's sudden glance chilled her smile. She evidently felt she +had been taking the law in vain.</p> + +<p>"I only meant——" she began anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I must consult Sir Reginald," he interrupted brusquely.</p> + +<p>She made no further effort. That glance seemed to have subdued her +spirit.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry I have bothered you," she said as she went.</p> + +<p>As the door closed behind her, Mr. Rattar took out his handkerchief and +wiped his brow and his neck. And then he fell to work again upon the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>recent records of the firm. Yet, absorbed though he seemed, whenever a +door opened or shut sharply or a step sounded distinctly outside his +room, he would look up quickly and listen, or that expression would come +into his eye which both Mary MacLean and Mr. Ison had described as the +look of one who was watched.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<h3>AT NIGHT</h3> + +<p>When Simon Rattar came to his present villa, he brought from his old +house in the middle of the town (which had been his father's before him) +a vast accumulation of old books and old papers. Being a man who never +threw away an opportunity or anything else, and also a person of the +utmost tidyness, he compromised by keeping this litter in the spare +rooms at the top of the house. In fact Simon was rather pleased at +discovering this use for his superfluous apartments, for he hated +wasting anything.</p> + +<p>On this same morning, just before he started for his office, he had +again called his housemaid and given her particular injunctions that +these rooms were not to be disturbed during the day. He added that this +was essential because he expected a gentleman that evening who would be +going through some of the old papers with him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was the vague feeling of disquiet which possessed Mary +MacLean this morning that made his injunction seem a little curious. She +had been with the master three years and never presumed or dreamt of +presuming to touch his papers. He might have known that, thought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>she, +without having to tell her not to. Indeed, she felt a little aggrieved +at the command, and in the course of the morning she made a discovery +that seemed to her a further reflection on her discretion.</p> + +<p>When she came to dust the passage in which these rooms opened her eye +was at once caught by a sheet of white paper pinned to each of the three +doors. On each of these sheets was written in her master's hand the +words "This room not to be entered. Papers to be undisturbed." The +result was a warning to those who take superfluous precautions. Under +ordinary circumstances Mary would never have thought of touching the +handles of those doors. Now, she looked at them for a few moments and +then tried the handle nearest to her. The door was locked. She tried the +second and the third, and they stood locked too. And the three keys had +all been removed.</p> + +<p>"To think of the master locking the doors!" said she to herself after +failing at each in turn. "As if I'd have tried to open them!"</p> + +<p>That top storey was of the semi-attic kind, with roofs that sloped and +a sky-light in one of them and the slates close overhead. It was a grey +windy morning, and as she stood there, alone in that large house save +for the cook far away in the kitchen, with a loose slate rattling in +the gusts, and a glimpse of clouds driving over the sky-light, she began +all at once to feel uncomfortable. Those locked doors were +uncanny—something <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>was not as it should be; there was a sinister moan +in the wind; the slate did not rattle quite like an ordinary slate. +Tales of her childhood, tales from the superstitious western islands, +rushed into her mind. And then, all at once, she heard another sound. +She heard it but for one instant, and then with a pale face she fled +downstairs and stood for a space in the hall trembling and wondering.</p> + +<p>She wondered first whether the sound had really come from behind the +locked doors, and whether it actually was some one stealthily moving. +She wondered next whether she could bring herself to confide in cook and +stand Janet's cheerful scorn. She ended by saying not a word, and +waiting to see what happened when the master came home.</p> + +<p>He returned as usual in time for a cup of tea. It was pretty dark by +then and Mary was upstairs lighting the gas (but she did not venture up +to the top floor). She heard Mr. Rattar come into the hall, and then, +quite distinctly this time, she heard overhead a dull sound, a kind of +gentle thud. The next moment she heard the master running upstairs, and +when he was safely past she ran even more swiftly down and burst into +the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"There's something in yon top rooms!" she panted.</p> + +<p>"There's something in your top storey!" snapped cook; and poor Mary said +no more.</p> + +<p>When she brought his tea in to Mr. Rattar, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>she seemed to read in his +first glance at her the same expression that had disturbed her in the +morning, and yet the next moment he was speaking in his ordinary grumpy, +laconic way.</p> + +<p>"Have you noticed rats in the house?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Rats, sir!" she exclaimed. "Oh, no, sir, I don't think there are any +rats."</p> + +<p>"I saw one just now," he said. "If we see it again we must get some rat +poison."</p> + +<p>So it had only been a rat! Mary felt vastly relieved; and yet not +altogether easy. One could not venture to doubt the master, but it was a +queer-like sound for a rat to make.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar had brought back a great many papers to-day, and sat +engrossed in them till dinner. After dinner he fell to work again, and +then about nine o'clock he rang for her and said:</p> + +<p>"The gentleman I expect this evening will probably be late in coming. +Don't sit up. I'll hear him and let him in myself. We shall be working +late and I shall be going upstairs about those papers. If you hear +anybody moving about, it will only be this gentleman and myself."</p> + +<p>This was rather a long speech for silent Simon, and Mary thought it +considerate of him to explain any nocturnal sounds beforehand; unusually +considerate, in fact, for he seldom went out of his way to explain +things. And yet those few minutes in his presence made her uncomfortable +afresh. She could not keep her eyes away from that red cut on his chin. +It made him seem odd-like, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>she thought. And then as she passed through +the hall she heard faintly from the upper regions that slate rattling +again. At least it was either the slate or—she recalled a story of her +childhood, and hurried on to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>She and the cook shared the same bedroom. It was fairly large with two +beds in it, and along with the kitchen and other back premises it was +shut off from the front part of the house by a door at the end of the +hall. Cook was asleep within ten minutes. Mary could hear her heavy +breathing above the incessant droning and whistling of the wind, and she +envied her with all her Highland heart. In her own glen people would +have understood how she felt, but here she dared not confess lest she +were laughed at. It was such a vague and nameless feeling, a sixth sense +warning her that all was not well; that <i>something</i> was in the air. The +longer she lay awake the more certain she grew that evil was afoot; and +yet what could be its shape? Everything in that quiet and respectable +household was going on exactly as usual; everything that any one else +would have considered material. The little things she had noticed would +be considered absurd trifles by the sensible. She knew that as well as +they.</p> + +<p>She thought she had been in bed about an hour, though the time passed so +slowly that it might have been less, when she heard, faintly and gently, +but quite distinctly, the door from the hall into the back premises +being opened. It seemed to be held open for nearly a minute, as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>though +some one were standing there listening. She moved a little and the bed +creaked; and then, as gently as it had been opened, the door was closed +again.</p> + +<p>Had the intruder come through or gone away? And could it only be the +master, doing this curious thing, or was it some one—or +something—else? Dreadful minutes passed, but there was not a sound of +any one moving in the back passage, or the kitchen, and then in the +distance she could hear the grating noise of the front door being opened +and the rush of wind that accompanied it. It was closed sharply in a +moment and she could catch the sound of steps in the hall and the +master's voice making some remark. Another voice replied, gruff and +muffled and indistinct, and then again the master spoke. Evidently the +late caller had arrived, and a moment later she heard the library door +shut, and it was plain that he and Mr. Rattar were closeted there.</p> + +<p>They seemed to remain in the library about a quarter of an hour before +the door opened again, and in a moment the stairs were creaking faintly. +Evidently one or both were going up for the old papers.</p> + +<p>All this was exactly what she had been led to expect, and ought to have +reassured her, yet, for no reason at all, the conviction remained as +intense and disturbing as ever, that something unspeakable was happening +in this respectable house. The minutes dragged by till quite half an +hour must have passed, and then she heard the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>steps descending. They +came down very slowly this time, and very heavily. The obvious +explanation was that they were bringing down one of those boxes filled +with dusty papers which she had often seen in the closed rooms; yet +though Mary knew perfectly that this was the common sense of the matter, +a feeling of horror increased till she could scarcely refrain from +crying out. If cook had not such a quick temper and such a healthy +contempt for this kind of fancy, she would have rushed across to her +bed; but as it was, she simply lay and trembled.</p> + +<p>The steps sounded still heavy but more muffled on the hall carpet, +though whether they were the steps of one man or two she could not feel +sure. And then she heard the front door open again and then close; so +that it seemed plain that the visitor had taken the box with him and +gone away. And with this departure came a sense of relief, as devoid of +rational foundation as the sense of horror before. She felt at last that +if she could only hear the master going upstairs to bed, she might go to +sleep.</p> + +<p>But though she listened hard as she lay there in the oppressive dark, +she heard not another sound so long as she kept awake, and that was for +some time, she thought. She did get off at last and had been asleep she +knew not how long when she awoke drowsily with a confused impression +that the front door had been shut again. How late it was she could but +guess—about three or four in the morning her instinct told her. But +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>then came sleep again and in the morning the last part of her +recollections was a little uncertain.</p> + +<p>At breakfast the master was as silently formidable as ever and he never +said a word about his visitor. When Mary went to the top floor later the +papers were off the doors and the keys replaced.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<h3>THE DRIVE HOME</h3> + +<p>Under the grey autumnal sky Miss Cicely Farmond drove out of the town +wrapped in Ned Cromarty's overcoat. He assured her he never felt cold, +and as she glanced a little shyly up at the strapping figure by her +side, she said to herself that he certainly was the toughest looking man +of her acquaintance, and she felt a little less contrition for the loan. +She was an independent young lady and from no one else would she have +accepted such a favour, but the laird of Stanesland had such an off-hand +authoritative way with him that, somewhat to her own surprise, she had +protested—and submitted.</p> + +<p>The trap was a high dog cart and the mare a flier.</p> + +<p>"What a splendid horse!" she exclaimed as they spun up the first hill.</p> + +<p>"Isn't she?" said Ned. "And she can go all the way like this, too."</p> + +<p>Cicely was therefore a little surprised when at the next hill this flier +was brought to a walk.</p> + +<p>"I thought we were going all the way like that!" she laughed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p><p>Ned glanced down at her.</p> + +<p>"Are you in a hurry?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Not particularly," she admitted.</p> + +<p>"No more am I," said he, and this time he smiled down at her in a very +friendly way.</p> + +<p>So far they had talked casually on any indifferent subject that came to +hand, but now his manner grew a little more intimate.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to stay on with the Cromartys long?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am wondering myself," she confessed.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will," he said bluntly.</p> + +<p>"It is very kind of you to say so," she said smiling at him a little +shyly.</p> + +<p>"I mean it. The fact is, Miss Farmond, you are a bit of a treat."</p> + +<p>The quaintness of the phrase was irresistible and she laughed outright.</p> + +<p>"Am I?"</p> + +<p>"It's a fact," said he, "you see I live an odd lonely kind of life here, +and for most of my career I've lived an odd lonely kind of life too, so +far as girls were concerned. It may sound rum to you to hear a backwood +hunks of my time of life confessing to finding a girl of your age a bit +of a treat, but it's a fact."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said. "I should have thought I must seem rather young and +foolish."</p> + +<p>"Lord, I don't mean that!" he exclaimed. "I mean that <i>I</i> must seem a +pretty uninteresting bit of elderly shoe-leather."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><p>"Uninteresting? Oh no!" she cried in protest, and then checked herself +and her colour rose a little.</p> + +<p>He smiled humorously.</p> + +<p>"I can't see you out of this glass eye unless I turn round, so whether +you're pulling my leg or not I don't know, but I was just saying to old +Simon that the only kind of lady likely to take an interest in me was a +female collector of antique curiosities, and you don't seem that sort, +Miss Farmond."</p> + +<p>She said nothing for a moment, and then asked:</p> + +<p>"Were you discussing ladies then with Mr. Rattar?"</p> + +<p>He also paused for a moment before replying.</p> + +<p>"Incidentally in the course of a gossip, as the old chap hadn't got my +business ready for me. By the way, did you get much change out of him?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head a little mournfully.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all. He just asked questions instead of answering them."</p> + +<p>"So he did with me! Confound the man. I fancy he has made too much money +and is beginning to take it easy. That's one advantage of not being too +rich, Miss Farmond; it keeps you from waxing fat."</p> + +<p>"I'm not likely to wax fat then!" she laughed, and yet it was not quite +a cheerful laugh.</p> + +<p>He turned quickly and looked at her sympathetically.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p><p>"That your trouble?" he enquired in his outspoken way.</p> + +<p>Cicely was not by way of giving her confidences easily, but this +straight-forward, friendly attack penetrated her reserve.</p> + +<p>"It makes one so dependent," she said, her voice even lower than usual.</p> + +<p>"That must be the devil," he admitted.</p> + +<p>"It is!" said she.</p> + +<p>He whipped up the mare and ruminated in silence. Then he remarked:</p> + +<p>"I'm just wondering."</p> + +<p>Cicely began to smile.</p> + +<p>"Wondering what?"</p> + +<p>"What the devil there can be that isn't utterly uninteresting about +me—assuming you weren't pulling my leg."</p> + +<p>"Oh," she said, "no man can be uninteresting who has seen as much and +done as much as you have."</p> + +<p>"The Lord keep you of that opinion!" he said, half humorously, but only +half, it seemed. "It's true I've knocked about and been knocked about, +but I'd have thought you'd have judged more by results."</p> + +<p>She laughed a little low laugh.</p> + +<p>"Do you think yourself the results are very bad?"</p> + +<p>"Judging by the mirror, beastly! Judging by other standards—well, one +can't see one's self in one's full naked horror, thank Heaven for it +too! But I'm not well read, and I'm not—but what's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>the good in telling +you? You're clever enough to see for yourself."</p> + +<p>For a man who had no intention of paying compliments, Ned Cromarty had a +singular gift for administering the pleasantest—because it was so +evidently the most genuine—form of flattery. In fact, had he but known +it, he was a universal favourite with women, whenever he happened to +meet them; only he had not the least suspicion of the fact—which made +him all the more favoured.</p> + +<p>"I don't know very many men," said Cicely, with her serious expression +and a conscientious air, "and so perhaps I am not a good judge, but +certainly you seem to me quite unlike all the others."</p> + +<p>"I told you," he laughed, "that the female would have to be a bit of a +collector."</p> + +<p>"Oh," she cried, quite serious still, "I don't mean that in the least. I +don't like freaks a bit myself. I only mean—well, people do differ in +character and experience, don't they?"</p> + +<p>"I guess you're pretty wise," said he simply. "And I'm sized up right +enough. However, the trouble at present is this blamed mare goes too +fast!"</p> + +<p>On their left, the chimneys and roof of a large mansion showed through +the surrounding trees. In this wind-swept seaboard country, its acres of +plantation were a conspicuous landmark and marked it as the seat of some +outstanding local magnate. These trees were carried down to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>road in +a narrow belt enclosing an avenue that ended in a lodge and gates. At +the same time that the lodge came into view round a bend in the road, a +man on a bicycle appeared ahead of them, going in the same direction, +and bent over his handle-bars against the wind.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, that's surely Malcolm Cromarty!" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"So it is!" she exclaimed, and there was a note of surprise in her +voice. "I wonder where he has been."</p> + +<p>The cyclist dismounted at the lodge gates a few moments before the trap +pulled up there too, and the young man turned and greeted them. Or +rather he greeted Miss Farmond, for his smile was clearly aimed at her +alone.</p> + +<p>"Hullo! Where have you been?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Where have you?" she retorted as she jumped out and let him help her +off with the driving coat.</p> + +<p>They made a remarkably good-looking young couple standing together there +on the road and their manner to one another was evidently that of two +people who knew each other well. Sitting on his high driving seat, Ned +Cromarty turned his head well round so as to bring his sound eye to bear +and looked at them in silence. When she handed him his coat and thanked +him afresh, he merely laughed, told her, in his outspoken way, that all +the fun had been his, and whipped up his mare.</p> + +<p>"That's more the sort of fellow!" he said to himself gloomily, and for a +little the thought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>seemed to keep him depressed. And then as he let the +recollections of their drive have their own way undisturbed, he began to +smile again, and kept smiling most of the way home.</p> + +<p>The road drew ever nearer to the sea, trees and hedgerows grew even +rarer and more stunted, and then he was driving through a patch of +planting hardly higher than a shrubbery up to an ancient building on the +very brink of the cliffs. The sea crashed white below and stretched grey +and cold to the horizon, the wind whistled round the battlements and +sighed through the stunted trees, and Ned (who had been too absorbed to +remember his coat) slapped his arms and stamped his feet as he descended +before a nail-studded front door with a battered coat of arms above it.</p> + +<p>"Lord, what a place!" he said to himself, half critically, half +affectionately.</p> + +<p>The old castle of Stanesland was but a small house as castles, or even +mansions, go, almost devoid of architectural ornament and evidently +built in a sterner age simply for security, and but little embellished +by the taste of more degenerate times. As a specimen of a small early +15th Century castle it was excellent; as a home it was inconvenience +incarnate. How so many draughts found their way through such thick walls +was a perennial mystery, and how to convey dishes from the kitchen to +the dining room without their getting cold an almost insoluble problem.</p> + +<p>The laird and his sister sat down to lunch and in about ten minutes Miss +Cromarty remarked,</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p><p>"So you drove Cicely Farmond home?"</p> + +<p>Her brother nodded. He had mentioned the fact as soon as he came in, and +rather wondered why she referred to it again.</p> + +<p>Miss Cromarty smiled her own peculiar shrewd worldly little smile, and +said:</p> + +<p>"You are very silent, Ned."</p> + +<p>Lilian Cromarty was a few years older than her brother; though one would +hardly have guessed it. Her trim figure, bright eyes, vivacity of +expression when she chose to be vivacious, and quick movements might +have belonged to a woman twenty years younger. She had never been +pretty, but she was always perfectly dressed and her smile could be +anything she chose to make it. Until her youngest brother came into the +property, the place had been let and she had lived with her friends and +relations. She had had a good time, she always frankly confessed, but as +frankly admitted that it was a relief to settle down at last.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking," said her brother.</p> + +<p>"About Cicely?" she asked in her frankly audacious way.</p> + +<p>He opened his eyes for a moment and then laughed.</p> + +<p>"You needn't guess again, Lilian," he admitted.</p> + +<p>"Funny little thing," she observed.</p> + +<p>"Funny?" he repeated, and his tone brought an almost imperceptible +change of expression into his sister's eye.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p><p>"Oh," she said as though throwing the subject aside, "she is nice and +quite pretty, but very young, and not very sophisticated; is she? +However, I should think she would be a great success as a man's girl. +That low voice and those eyes of hers are very effective. Pass me the +salt, Ned."</p> + +<p>Ned looked at her in silence, and then over her shoulder out through the +square window set in the vast thickness of the wall, to the grey horizon +line.</p> + +<p>"I guess you've recommended me to marry once or twice, Lilian," he +observed.</p> + +<p>"Don't 'guess' please!" she laughed, "or I'll stick my bowie knife or +gun or something into you! Yes, I've always advised you to marry—if you +found the right kind of wife."</p> + +<p>She took some credit to herself for this disinterested advice, since, if +he took it, the consequences would be decidedly disconcerting to +herself; but she had never pointed out any specific lady yet, or made +any conspicuous effort to find one for him.</p> + +<p>"Well——" he began, and then broke off.</p> + +<p>"You're not thinking of Cicely, are you?" she asked, still in the same +bright light way, but with a quick searching look at him.</p> + +<p>"It seems a bit absurd. I don't imagine for an instant she'd look at +me."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't look——!" she began derisively, and then pulled herself up +very sharply, and altered her tactics on the instant. "She might <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>think +you a little too old for her," she said in a tone of entire agreement +with him.</p> + +<p>"And also that I've got one too few eyes, and in fact several other +criticisms."</p> + +<p>His sister shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"A girl of that age might think those things," she admitted, "but it +seems to me that the criticism ought to be on the other side. Who is +she?"</p> + +<p>Ned looked at her and she broke into a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "I suppose we both have a pretty good idea. She's +somebody's something—Alfred Cromarty's, I believe; though of course her +mother may have fibbed, for she doesn't look much like the Cromartys. +Anyhow that pretty well puts her out of the question."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"If you were a mere nobody, it mightn't make so much difference, but +your wife must have some sort of a family behind her. One needn't be a +snob to think that one mother and a guess at the father is hardly +enough!"</p> + +<p>"After all, that's up to me. I wouldn't be wanting to marry her +great-mothers, even if she had any."</p> + +<p>She shrugged her shoulders again.</p> + +<p>"My dear Ned, I'm no prude, but there's always some devilment in the +blood in these cases."</p> + +<p>"Rot!" said he.</p> + +<p>"Well, rot if you like, but I know more than one instance."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p><p>He said nothing for a moment and as he sat in silence, a look of keen +anxiety came into her eye. She hid it instantly and compressed her lips, +and then abruptly her brother said:</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether she's at all taken up with Malcolm Cromarty!"</p> + +<p>She ceased to meet his eye, and her own became expressionless.</p> + +<p>"They have spent some months in the same house. At their age the +consequences seem pretty inevitable."</p> + +<p>She had contrived to suggest a little more than she said, and he started +in his chair.</p> + +<p>"What do you know?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course, there would be a dreadful row if anything was actually +known abroad. Sir Reginald has probably other ideas for his heir."</p> + +<p>"Then there <i>is</i> something between them?"</p> + +<p>She nodded, and though she still did not meet his eye, he accepted the +nod with a grim look that passed in a moment into a melancholy laugh.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, rising, "it was a pretty absurd idea anyhow. I'll go +and have a look at myself in the glass and try to see the funny side of +it!"</p> + +<p>His sister sat very still after he had left the room.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + +<h3>SIR REGINALD</h3> + +<p>Cicely Farmond and Malcolm Cromarty walked up the avenue together, he +pushing his bicycle, she walking by his side with a more than usually +serious expression.</p> + +<p>"Then you won't tell me where you've been?" said he.</p> + +<p>"You won't tell me where you've been!"</p> + +<p>He was silent for a moment and then said confidentially:</p> + +<p>"We might as well say we've been somewhere together. I mean, if any one +asks."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, I don't need to fib," said she.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean I need to. Only——" he seemed to find it difficult to +explain.</p> + +<p>"I shall merely say I have been for a walk, and you need only say you +have been for a ride—if you don't want to say where you have really +been."</p> + +<p>"And if you don't want to mention that you were driving with Ned +Cromarty," he retorted.</p> + +<p>"He only very kindly offered me a lift!"</p> + +<p>She looked quickly at him as she spoke and as quickly away again. The +glint in her eye seemed to displease him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p><p>"You needn't always be so sharp with me, Cicely," he complained.</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't say stupid things."</p> + +<p>Both were silent for a space and then in a low mournful voice he said:</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew how to win your sympathy, Cicely. You don't absolutely +hate me, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't hate you. But the way to get a girl's sympathy is not +always to keep asking for it."</p> + +<p>He looked displeased again.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you know what I mean!"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you do either."</p> + +<p>He grew tender.</p> + +<p>"<i>Your</i> sympathy, Cicely, would make all the difference to my life!"</p> + +<p>"Now, Malcolm——" she began in a warning voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am not asking you to love me again," he assured her quickly. "It +is only sympathy I demand!"</p> + +<p>"But you mix them up so easily. It isn't safe to give you anything."</p> + +<p>"I won't again!" he assured her.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, though not very sympathetically, "what do you want to +be sympathised with about now?"</p> + +<p>"When you offer me sympathy in that tone, I can't give you my +confidence!" he said unhappily.</p> + +<p>"Really, Malcolm, how can I possibly tell what your confidence is going +to be beforehand? Perhaps it won't deserve sympathy."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p><p>"If you knew the state of my affairs!" he said darkly.</p> + +<p>"A few days ago you told me they were very promising," she said with a +little smile.</p> + +<p>"So they would be—so they are—if—if only you would care for me, +Cicely!"</p> + +<p>"You tell me they are promising when you want me to marry you, and +desperate when you want me to sympathise with you," she said a little +cruelly. "Which am I to believe?"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Here's Sir Reginald," he said.</p> + +<p>The gentleman who came through a door in the walled garden beside the +house was a fresh-coloured, white-haired man of sixty; slender and not +above middle height, but very erect, and with the carriage of a person a +little conscious of being of some importance. Sir Reginald Cromarty was, +in fact, extremely conscious of his position in life, and the rather +superior and condescending air he was wont to assume in general society +made it a little difficult for a stranger to believe that he could +actually be the most popular person in the county; especially as it was +not hard to discover that his temper could easily become peppery upon +provocation. If, however, the stranger chanced to provide the worthy +baronet with even the smallest opening of exhibiting his extraordinary +kindness of heart—were it only by getting wet in a shower or mislaying +a walking stick, he would quickly comprehend. And the baronet's sympathy +never waited to be summoned; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>it seemed to hover constantly over all men +and women he met, spying for its chance.</p> + +<p>He himself was totally unconscious of this attribute and imagined the +respect in which he was held to be due to his lineage, rank, and +superior breeding and understanding. Indeed, few people in this world +can have cut a more dissimilar figure as seen from his own and from +other men's eyes; though as both parties were equally pleased with Sir +Reginald Cromarty, it mattered little.</p> + +<p>At the sight of Cicely his smile revealed the warmth of his feelings in +that direction.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear girl," said he, "we've been looking for you. Where have you +been?"</p> + +<p>"I've been having a walk."</p> + +<p>She smiled at him as she answered, and on his side it was easy to see +that the good gentleman was enraptured, and that Miss Farmond was not +likely to be severely cross-examined as to her movements. Towards +Malcolm, on the other hand, though his greeting was kindly enough, his +eye was critical. The young author's tie seemed to be regarded with +particular displeasure.</p> + +<p>"My God, Margaret, imagine being found dead in such a thing!" he had +exclaimed to his wife, after his first sight of it; and time had done +nothing to diminish his distaste for this indication of a foreign way of +life.</p> + +<p>Lady Cromarty came out of the garden a moment later; a dark thin-faced +lady with a gracious manner when she spoke, but with lips <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>that were +usually kept very tight shut and an eye that could easily be hard.</p> + +<p>"Nearly time for lunch," she said. "You two had better hurry up!"</p> + +<p>The young people hurried on to the house and the baronet and his lady +walked slowly behind.</p> + +<p>"So they have been away all morning together, Reginald," she remarked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think so," said he. "He had his bicycle and she has been +walking."</p> + +<p>"You are really too unsuspicious, Reggie!"</p> + +<p>"A woman, my dear, is perhaps a little too much the reverse where a +young couple is concerned. I have told you before, and I repeat it now +emphatically, that neither Cicely nor Malcolm is in a position to +contemplate matrimony for an instant."</p> + +<p>"He is your heir—and Cicely is quite aware of it."</p> + +<p>"I assure you, Margaret," he said with great conviction, "that Cicely is +not a girl with mercenary motives. She is quite charming——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know your opinion of her, Reggie," Lady Cromarty broke in a +trifle impatiently, "and I am fond of her too, as you know. Still, I +don't believe a girl who can use her eyes so effectively is quite as +simple as you think."</p> + +<p>Sir Reginald laughed indulgently.</p> + +<p>"Really, my love, even the best of women are sometimes a trifle +uncharitable! But in any case Malcolm has quite enough sense of his +future position to realise that his wife must be somebody <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>without the +blemish on her birth, which is no fault of dear Cicely's, but—er—makes +her ineligible for this particular position."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could think that Malcolm is the kind of young man who would +consult anything but his own wishes. I have told you often enough, +Reggie, that I don't think it is wise to keep these two young people +living here in the same house for months on end."</p> + +<p>"But what can one do?" asked the benevolent baronet. "Neither of them +has any home of their own. Hang it, I'm the head of their family and I'm +bound to show them a little hospitality."</p> + +<p>"But Malcolm has rooms in town. He needn't spend months on end at +Keldale."</p> + +<p>The baronet was silent for a moment. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth, my dear, I'm afraid Malcolm is not turning out quite +so well as I had hoped. He certainly ought to be away doing something. +At the same time, hang it, you wouldn't have me turn my own kinsman and +heir out of my house, Margaret; would you?"</p> + +<p>Lady Cromarty sighed, and then her thin lips tightened.</p> + +<p>"You are hopeless, Reggie. I sometimes feel as though I were here merely +as matron of a home for lost Cromartys! Well, I hope your confidence +won't be abused. I confess I don't feel very comfortable about it +myself."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said Sir Reginald. "My own eyes are open too, I assure +you. I shall watch <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>them very carefully at lunch, in the light of what +you have been saying."</p> + +<p>The baronet was an old Etonian, and as his life had been somewhat +uneventful since, he was in the habit of drawing very largely on his +recollections of that nursery of learning. Lunch had hardly begun before +a question from Cicely set him going, and for the rest of the meal he +regaled her with these reminiscences.</p> + +<p>After luncheon he said to his wife:</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, I noticed nothing whatever amiss. Cicely is a very +sensible as well as a deuced pretty girl."</p> + +<p>"I happened to look at Malcolm occasionally," said she.</p> + +<p>Sir Reginald thought that she seemed to imply more than she said, but +then women were like that, he had noticed, and if one took all their +implications into account, life would be a troublesome affair.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + +<h3>A PHILOSOPHER</h3> + +<p>During luncheon an exceedingly efficient person had been moving briskly +behind the chairs. His face was so expressionless, his mouth so tightly +closed, and his air of concentration on the business in hand so intense, +that he seemed the perfect type of the silent butler. But as soon as +lunch was over, and while Cicely still stood in the hall listening with +a dubious eye to Malcolm's suggestion of a game of billiards, Mr. James +Bisset revealed the other side of his personality. He came up to the +young couple with just sufficient deference, but no more, and in an +accent which experts would have recognised as the hall mark of the +western part of North Britain, said:</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, miss, but I've mended your bicycle and I'll show it you if +ye like, and just explain the principle of the thing."</p> + +<p>There was at least as much command as invitation in his tones. The +billiard invitation was refused, and with a hidden smile Cicely followed +him to the bicycle house.</p> + +<p>Expert knowledge was James Bisset's foible. Of some subjects, such as +buttling, carpentry, and mending bicycles, it was practical; of others, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>such as shooting, gardening, and motoring, it was more theoretical. To +Sir Reginald and my lady he was quite indispensable, for he could repair +almost anything, knew his own more particular business from A to Z, and +was ready at any moment to shoulder any responsibility. Sir Reginald's +keeper, gardener, and chauffeur were apt however to be a trifle less +enthusiastic, Mr. Bisset's passion for expounding the principles of +their professions sometimes exceeding his tact.</p> + +<p>In person, he was an active, stoutly built man (though far too energetic +to be fat), with blunt rounded features, eyes a little protruding, and +sandy hair and a reddish complexion which made his age an unguessable +secret. He might have been in the thirties or he might have been in the +fifties.</p> + +<p>"With regard to these ladies' bicycles, miss—" he began with a +lecturer's air.</p> + +<p>But by this time Cicely was also an expert in side-tracking her friend's +theoretical essays.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how clever of you!" she exclaimed rapturously. "It looks as good as +ever!"</p> + +<p>The interruption was too gratifying to offend.</p> + +<p>"Better in some ways," he said complacently. "The principle of these +things is——"</p> + +<p>"I did miss it this morning," she hurried on. "In fact I had to have +quite a long walk. Luckily Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland gave me a lift +coming home."</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed, miss? Stanesland gave ye a lift, did he? An interesting +gentleman yon."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p><p>This time she made no effort to divert Mr. Bisset's train of thought.</p> + +<p>"You think Mr. Cromarty interesting, then?" said she.</p> + +<p>"They say he's hanged a man with his ain hands," said Bisset +impressively.</p> + +<p>"What!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"For good and sufficient reason, we'll hope, miss. But whatever the way +of it, it makes a gentleman more interesting in a kin' of way than the +usual run. And then looking at the thing on general principles, the +theory of hanging is——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but surely," she interrupted, "that isn't the only reason why Mr. +Cromarty—I mean why you think he is interesting?"</p> + +<p>"There's that glass eye, too. That's very interesting, miss."</p> + +<p>She still seemed unsatisfied.</p> + +<p>"His glass eye! Oh—you mean it has a story?"</p> + +<p>"Vera possibly. He says himself it was done wi' a whisky bottle, but +possibly that's making the best of it. But what interests me, miss, +about yon eye is this——"</p> + +<p>He paused dramatically and she enquired in an encouraging voice:</p> + +<p>"Yes, Bisset?"</p> + +<p>"It's the principle of introducing a foreign substance so near the man's +brain. What's glass? What's it consist of?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," confessed Cicely weakly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p><p>"Silica! And what's silica? Practically the same as sand! Well now if ye +put a handful of sand into a man's brain—or anyhow next door to it, +it's bound to have some effect, bound to have some effect!"</p> + +<p>Bisset's voice fell to a very serious note, and as he was famous for the +range of his reading and was generally said to know practically by heart +"The People's Self-Educator in Science and Art," Cicely asked a little +apprehensively:</p> + +<p>"But what effect can it possibly have?"</p> + +<p>"It might take him different ways," said the philosopher cautiously +though sombrely. "But it's a good thing, anyway, Miss Farmond, that the +laird of Stanesland is no likely to get married."</p> + +<p>"Isn't he?" she asked, again with that encouraging note.</p> + +<p>Bisset replied with another question, asked in an ominous voice:</p> + +<p>"Have ye seen yon castle o' his, miss?"</p> + +<p>Cicely nodded.</p> + +<p>"I called there once with Lady Cromarty."</p> + +<p>"A most interesting place, miss, illustrating the principle of thae +castles very instructively."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bisset had evidently been studying architecture as well as science, +and no doubt would have given Miss Farmond some valuable information on +the subject. But she seemed to lack enthusiasm for it to-day.</p> + +<p>"But will the castle prevent him marrying?" she enquired with a smile.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p><p>"The lady in it will," said the philosopher with a sudden descent into +worldly shrewdness.</p> + +<p>"Miss Cromarty! Why?"</p> + +<p>"She's mair comfortable there than setting off on her travels again. +That's a fac', miss."</p> + +<p>"But—but supposing he——" Cicely began and then paused.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the laird's no the marrying sort anyhow. He says to me himself one +day when I'd taken the liberty of suggesting that a lady would suit the +castle fine—we was shooting and I was carrying his cartridges, which I +do for amusement, miss, whiles—'Bisset,' says he, 'the lady will have +to be a damned keen shot to think me worth a cartridge. I'm too tough +for the table,' says he, 'and not ornamental enough to stuff. They've +let me off so far, and why the he—' begging your pardon, miss, but +Stanesland uses strong expressions sometimes. 'Why the something,' says +he, 'should they want to put me in the bag now? I'm happier free—and +so's the lady.' But he's a grand shot and a vera friendly gentleman, +vera friendly indeed. It's a pity, though, he's that ugly."</p> + +<p>"Ugly!" she exclaimed. "Oh, I don't think him ugly at all. He's very +striking looking. I think he is rather handsome."</p> + +<p>Bisset looked at her with a benevolently reproving eye.</p> + +<p>"Weel, miss, it's all a matter of taste, but to my mind Stanesland is a +fine gentleman, but the vera opposite extreme from a Venus." He broke +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>off and glanced towards the house. "Oh, help us! There's one of thae +helpless women crying on me. How this house would get on wanting +me——!"</p> + +<p>He left Miss Farmond to paint the gloomy picture for herself.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> + +<h3>THE LETTER</h3> + +<p>It was a few days later that Cicely looked up from the local paper she +was reading and asked:</p> + +<p>"Who was George Rattar?"</p> + +<p>Sir Reginald laid down his book and looked at her in some surprise.</p> + +<p>"George Rattar? What do you know about him?"</p> + +<p>"I see the announcement of his death. 'Son of the late John Simon +Rattar' he's called."</p> + +<p>"That's Silent Simon's brother!" exclaimed Sir Reginald. "Where did he +die?"</p> + +<p>"In New York, it says."</p> + +<p>Sir Reginald turned to his wife.</p> + +<p>"We can hardly send our sympathies to Simon on this bereavement!"</p> + +<p>"No," she said significantly. "I suppose congratulations would be more +appropriate."</p> + +<p>The baronet took the paper from Cicely and studied it himself.</p> + +<p>"Died about a fortnight ago, I see," he observed. "I wonder whether +Simon put this announcement in himself, or whether brother George +arranged it in his will? It would be quite like the fellow to have this +posthumous wipe at Simon. George had a certain sense of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>humour—which +Simon lacks. And there was certainly no love lost between them!"</p> + +<p>"Why should it annoy Mr. Rattar?" asked Cicely.</p> + +<p>"Because brother George was not a member of his family he would care to +be reminded of. Though on the other hand, Simon is as hard as whinstone +and has as much sentiment as this teapot, and he may have put the notice +in himself simply to show the world he was rid of the fellow."</p> + +<p>"What was George Rattar then?" enquired Cicely.</p> + +<p>"He was once Simon Rattar's partner, wasn't he, Reginald?" said Lady +Cromarty. "And then he swindled him, didn't he?"</p> + +<p>"Swindled several other people as well," said Sir Reginald, "myself +included. However, the thing was hushed up, and brother George +disappeared. Then he took to forgery on his own account and among other +people's signatures he imitated with remarkable success was Simon's. +This let old Simon in for it again and there was no hushing it up a +second time. Simon gave evidence against him without mercy, and since +then George has been his Majesty's guest for a number of years. So if +you meet Mr. Simon Rattar, Cicely, you'd better not tell him how sorry +you are to hear of poor George's decease!"</p> + +<p>"I wish I could remember him more distinctly," said Lady Cromarty. "I'm +afraid I always mix him up with our friend Mr. Simon."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p><p>"It's little wonder," her husband replied. "They were twins. George was +the one with a moustache; one knew them apart by that. Extraordinary +thing, it has always seemed to me, that their natures should have been +so different."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," suggested Cicely compassionately, with her serious air, "it +was only that George was tempted."</p> + +<p>Sir Reginald laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"You little cynic!" he cried. "You mean to insinuate that if you tempted +Simon, he'd be as bad a hat as his brother?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" cried Cicely. "I meant——"</p> + +<p>"Tempt him and see!" chuckled the baronet. "And we'll have a little bet +on the result!" He was glancing at the paper as he laughed, and now he +suddenly stopped laughing and exclaimed, "Hullo! Here's a much more +serious loss for our friend. Would you like to earn £1, Cicely?"</p> + +<p>"Very much," said she.</p> + +<p>"Well then if you search the road very carefully between Mr. Simon +Rattar's residence and his office you may find his signet ring and +obtain the advertised, and I may say princely, reward of one pound."</p> + +<p>"Only a pound!" exclaimed Lady Cromarty, "for that handsome old ring of +his?"</p> + +<p>"If he had offered a penny more, I should have taken my business out of +his hands!" laughed Sir Reginald. "It would have meant that Silent Simon +wasn't himself any longer. A <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>pound is exactly his figure; a respectable +sum, but not extravagant."</p> + +<p>"What day did he lose it?" asked Cicely.</p> + +<p>"The advertisement doesn't say."</p> + +<p>"He wasn't wearing it——" Cicely pulled herself up sharply.</p> + +<p>"When?" asked Lady Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"Where can I have seen him last?" wondered Cicely with an innocent air.</p> + +<p>"Not for two or three weeks certainly," said Lady Cromarty decisively. +"And he can't have lost it then if this advertisement is only just put +in."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not," Cicely agreed.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Sir Reginald, "he'll miss his ring more than his brother! +And remember, Cicely, you get a pound for finding the ring, and you win +a pair of gloves if you can tempt Simon to stray from the paths of +honesty and virtue! By Jingo, I'll give you the gloves if you can even +make him tell a good sporting lie!"</p> + +<p>When the good baronet was in this humour no man could excel him in +geniality, and, to do him justice, a kindly temper and hearty spirits +were the rule with him six days out of seven. On the other hand, he was +easily ruffled and his tempers were hot while they lasted. Upon the very +next morning there arose on the horizon a little cloud, a cloud that +seemed at the moment the merest fleck of vapour, which upset him, his +family thought, quite unduly.</p> + +<p>It took the form of a business letter from Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>Simon Rattar, a letter +on the surface perfectly innocuous and formally polite. Yet Sir Reginald +seemed considerably disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Damn the man!" he exclaimed as he cast it on the breakfast table.</p> + +<p>"Reggie!" expostulated his wife gently. "What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Matter?" snapped her husband. "Simon Rattar has the impudence to tell +me he is letting the farm of Castleknowe to that fellow Shearer after +all!"</p> + +<p>"But why not? You meant to some time ago, I know."</p> + +<p>"Some time ago, certainly. But I had a long talk with Simon ten days ago +and told him what I'd heard about Shearer and said I wouldn't have the +fellow on my property at any price. I don't believe the man is solvent, +in the first place; and in the second place he's a socialistic, +quarrelsome, mischievous fellow!"</p> + +<p>"And what did Mr. Rattar think?"</p> + +<p>"He tried to make some allowances for the man, but in the end when he +saw I had made up my mind, he professed to agree with me and said he +would look out for another tenant. Now he tells me that the matter is +settled as per my instructions of the 8th. That's weeks ago, and not a +word does he say about our conversation cancelling the whole +instructions!"</p> + +<p>"Then Shearer gets the farm?"</p> + +<p>"No, he doesn't! I'm dashed if he does! I shall send Mr. Simon a letter +that will make him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>sit up! He's got to alter the arrangement somehow."</p> + +<p>He turned to Malcolm and added:</p> + +<p>"When your time comes, Malcolm, beware of having a factor who has run +the place so long that he thinks it's his own property! By Gad, I'm +going to tell him a bit of my mind!"</p> + +<p>During the rest of breakfast he glanced at the letter once or twice, and +each time his brows contracted, but he said nothing more in presence of +Cicely and Malcolm. After he had left the dining room, however, Lady +Cromarty followed him and said:</p> + +<p>"Don't be too hasty with Mr. Rattar, Reggie! After all, the talk may +have slipped his memory."</p> + +<p>"Slipped his memory? If you had heard it, Margaret, you'd know better. I +was a bit cross with him for a minute or two then, which I hardly ever +am, and that alone would make him remember it, one would think. We +talked for over an hour on the business and the upshot was clear and +final. No, no, he has got a bit above himself and wants a touch of the +curb."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to send in a note by car and tell him to come out and see me +about the business at once."</p> + +<p>"Let me see the letter before you send it, Reggie."</p> + +<p>He seemed to growl assent, but when she next saw him the letter had +gone; and from the baronet's somewhat crusty explanation, she suspected +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>that it was a little sharper than he knew she would have approved.</p> + +<p>When the car returned his annoyance was increased again for a space. Mr. +Rattar had sent a brief reply that he was too busy to come out that +afternoon, but he would call on Sir Reginald in the morning. For a time +this answer kept Sir Reginald in a state of renewed irritation, and then +his natural good humour began to prevail, till by dinner time he was +quite calm again, and after dinner in as genial humour as he had been in +the day before.</p> + +<p>He played a game of pyramids with Cicely and Malcolm in the billiard +room, and then he and Cicely joined Lady Cromarty in the drawing room +while the young author went up to his room to work, he declared. He had +a large bedroom furnished half as a sitting room where he retired each +night to compose his masterpieces as soon as it became impossible to +enjoy Miss Farmond's company without having to share it in the drawing +room with his host and hostess. At least, that was the explanation of +his procedure given by Lady Cromarty, whose eye was never more critical +than when it studied her husband's kinsman and heir.</p> + +<p>Lady Cromarty's eye was not uncritical also of Cicely at times, but +to-night she was so relieved to see how Sir Reginald's temper improved +under her smiles and half shy glances, that she let her stay up later +than usual. Then when she and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>girl went up to bed, she asked her +husband if he would be late.</p> + +<p>"The magazines came this morning," said he. "I'd better sleep in my +dressing room."</p> + +<p>The baronet was apt to sit up late when he had anything to read that +held his fancy, and the procedure of sleeping in his dressing room was +commonly followed then.</p> + +<p>He bade them good-night and went off towards the library, and a few +minutes later, as they were going upstairs, they heard the library door +shut.</p> + +<p>When they came to Lady Cromarty's room, Cicely said good-night to her +hostess and turned down the passage that led to her own bedroom. A door +opened quietly as she passed and a voice whispered:</p> + +<p>"Cicely!"</p> + +<p>She stopped and regarded the young author with a reproving eye.</p> + +<p>"Is anything the matter?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I just wanted to speak to you!" he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Now, Malcolm," she said severely, "you know quite well that Lady +Cromarty trusts us <i>not</i> to do this sort of thing!"</p> + +<p>"She's in her room, isn't she?"</p> + +<p>"What does that matter?"</p> + +<p>"And where's Sir Reginald?"</p> + +<p>"Still in the library."</p> + +<p>"Sitting up late?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that doesn't matter either. Good night!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p><p>"Wait just one minute, Cicely! Come into my room—I won't shut the +door!"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" she said emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Well then, don't speak so loudly! I must confide in you, Cicely; I'm +getting desperate. My position is really serious. Something's got to +happen! If you would only give me your sympathy——"</p> + +<p>"I thought you were writing," she interrupted.</p> + +<p>"I've been trying to, but——"</p> + +<p>"Well, write all this down and read it to me to-morrow," she smiled. +"Good night!"</p> + +<p>"The blame be on your head!" began the author dramatically, but the slim +figure was already moving away, throwing him a parting smile that seemed +to wound his sensitive soul afresh.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + +<h3>NEWS</h3> + +<p>Even in that scattered countryside of long distances by windy roads, +with scarcely ever a village as a focus for gossip, news flew fast. The +next morning Ned Cromarty had set out with his gun towards a certain +snipe marsh, but while he was still on the high road he met a man on a +bicycle. The man had heard strange news and stopped to pass it on, and +the next moment Ned was hurrying as fast as his long legs could take him +back to the castle.</p> + +<p>He saw his sister only for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Lilian!" he cried, and the sound of his voice made her start and stare +at him. "There's a story that Sir Reginald was murdered last night."</p> + +<p>"Murdered!" she repeated in a low incredulous voice. "Ridiculous, Ned! +Who told you?"</p> + +<p>"I only know the man by sight, but he seemed to believe it right +enough."</p> + +<p>"But how—who did it?"</p> + +<p>Her brother shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Don't know. He couldn't tell me. My God, I hope it's not true! I'm off +to see."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later he was driving his mare headlong for his kinsman's +house. It had begun <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>to rain by this time, and the mournful wreaths of +vapour that swept over the bare, late autumnal country and drove in fine +drops against his face sent his spirits down ever lower as the mare +splashed her way along the empty miles of road. The melancholy thrumming +of the telegraph wires droned by his side all the while, and as this +dirge waxed for the moment as they passed each post, his eye would +glance grimly at those gaunt poles. Very suitable and handy for a +certain purpose, they struck him—if by any possibility this tale were +true.</p> + +<p>He knew the worst when he saw Bisset at the door.</p> + +<p>"Thank God, you've come, sir," said the butler devoutly. "The master +would have expected it of you."</p> + +<p>"How did it happen? What does it mean? Do you mean to say it's actually +<i>true</i>?"</p> + +<p>Bisset shook his head sombrely.</p> + +<p>"Ower true," said he. "But as to how it happened, come in to the +library, sir. It was in his ain library he was killed! The Fiscal and +Superintendent is there now and we've been going into the circumstantial +evidence. Most extraordinary mystery, sir—most extraordinary!"</p> + +<p>In the library they found Simon Rattar and Superintendent Sutherland. +The Superintendent was a big burly red-moustached man; his face a +certificate of honesty, but hardly of the intellectual type. Ned looked +round him apprehensively for something else, but Bisset said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>"We've taken him upstairs, sir."</p> + +<p>For a moment as he looked round that spacious comfortable room with its +long bookcases and easy chairs, and on the tables and mantel-piece a +hundred little mementoes of its late owner, the laird of Stanesland was +unable to speak a word, and the others respected his silence. Then he +pulled himself together sharply and asked:</p> + +<p>"How did it happen? Tell me all about it!"</p> + +<p>Perhaps there might have been for a moment in Simon's eye a hint that +this demand was irregular, but the superintendent evidently took no +exception to the intrusion. Besides being a considerable local magnate +and a kinsman of the dead baronet, Stanesland had a forcible personality +that stood no gainsaying.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said the superintendent, "Mr. Rattar could perhaps explain +best——"</p> + +<p>"Explain yourself, Sutherland," said Simon briefly.</p> + +<p>The superintendent pointed to a spot on the carpet a few paces from the +door.</p> + +<p>"We found Sir Reginald lying there," he said. "His skull had been fairly +cracked, just over the right eye, sir. The blow would have been enough +to kill him I'd think myself, but there were marks in his neck too, +seeming to show that the murderer had strangled him afterwards to make +sure. However, we'll be having the medical evidence soon. But there's no +doubt that was the way of it, and Mr. Rattar agrees with me."</p> + +<p>The lawyer merely nodded.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p><p>"What was it done with?"</p> + +<p>The superintendent pursed his lips and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"That's one of the mysterious things in the case, sir. There's no sign +of any weapon in the room. The fire irons are far too light. But it was +an unco' heavy blow. There was little bleeding, but the skull was fair +cracked."</p> + +<p>"Was anything stolen?"</p> + +<p>"That's another mystery, sir. Nothing was stolen anywhere in the house +and there was no papers in a mess like, or anything."</p> + +<p>"When was he found?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Seven-fifty this morning, sir," said Bisset. "The housemaid finding the +door lockit came to me. I knew the dining-room key fitted this door too, +so I opened it—and there he lay."</p> + +<p>"All night, without any one knowing he hadn't gone to bed?"</p> + +<p>"That's the unfortunate thing, sir," said the superintendent. "It seems +that Sir Reginald had arranged to sleep in his dressing room as he was +going to be sitting up late reading."</p> + +<p>"Murderer must have known that," put in Simon.</p> + +<p>"Almost looks like it," agreed the superintendent.</p> + +<p>"And nobody in the house heard or saw anything?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody, sir," said the superintendent.</p> + +<p>"That's their statement," added the lawyer in his driest voice.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p><p>"Was anybody sitting up late?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody admits it," said the lawyer, again very drily.</p> + +<p>"Thirteen," said Bisset softly.</p> + +<p>They turned towards him, but it seemed that he was talking to himself. +He was, in fact, quietly taking measurements with a tape.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said Cromarty briefly.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said the superintendent. "The body was found near the door +as I was pointing out, but it's a funny thing that a small table had +been upset apparently, and Bisset tells us that that table stood near +the window."</p> + +<p>"Humph," grunted Simon sceptically.</p> + +<p>"I'm quite sure of it, Mr. Rattar," said Bisset confidently, looking +round from his work of measurement.</p> + +<p>"No positive proof it was upset," said the lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Did you find it upset?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>The lawyer shook his head emphatically and significantly, and the +superintendent agreed.</p> + +<p>"No, it was standing just where it is now near the wall."</p> + +<p>"Then why do you think it was upset?"</p> + +<p>"I picked up yon bits of sealing wax and yon piece of India rubber," +said Bisset, looking round again. "I know they were on the wee table +yesterday and I found them under the curtain in the morning and the +table moved over to the wall. It follows that the table has been cowpit +and then set up again in another place, and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>other things on it put +back. Is that not a fair deduction, sir?"</p> + +<p>Ned nodded thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me so," he said.</p> + +<p>"It seems likely enough," the superintendent also agreed. "And if that's +the case there would seem to have been some kind of ongoings near the +window."</p> + +<p>The Procurator Fiscal still seemed unconvinced.</p> + +<p>"Nothing to go on. No proper evidence. It leads nowhere definitely," he +said.</p> + +<p>"Well now," continued the superintendent, "the question is—how did the +murderer get into the room? The door was found locked and the key had +been taken away, so whether he had locked it from the inside or the +outside we can't tell. There's small chance of finding the key, I doubt, +for a key's a thing easy hidden away."</p> + +<p>"So he might have come in by the door and then left by the door and +locked it after him," said Ned. "Or he might have come in by the window, +locked the door and gone out by the window. Or he might have come in by +the window and gone out by the door, locking it after him. Those are all +the chances, aren't they?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, that seems to be them all," said the superintendent with a note +of admiration for this clear exposition that seemed to indicate he was +better himself at details than deductions.</p> + +<p>"And now what about the window? Was that open or shut or what?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p><p>"Shut but not snibbed, sir."</p> + +<p>Ned turned to Bisset.</p> + +<p>"Did Sir Reginald ever forget to snib the windows, supposing one +happened to be open?"</p> + +<p>"Practically never, sir."</p> + +<p>"Last thing before he left the room, I suppose?" said the lawyer.</p> + +<p>The butler hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I suppose so, sir," he admitted, "but of course I was never here to +see."</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" said Simon. "Therefore one can draw no conclusions as to +whether the window had been standing all the time just as it is now, or +whether it had been opened and shut again from the outside; seeing that +Sir Reginald was presumably killed before his usual time for looking to +the windows."</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit!" said Ned. "I was assuming a window had been open. But were +the windows fastened before Sir Reginald came in to sit here last +thing?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly they were that," said the butler emphatically.</p> + +<p>"It was a mild night, he might have opened one himself," replied the +Procurator Fiscal. "Or supposing the man had come in and left again by +the door, what's more likely than that he unsnibbed the window to make +people think he had come that way?"</p> + +<p>"He would surely have left it wide open," objected Ned.</p> + +<p>"Might have thought that too obvious," replied <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>the lawyer, "or might +have been afraid of the noise. Unsnibbing would be quite enough to +suggest entry that way."</p> + +<p>Ned turned his keen eye hard on him.</p> + +<p>"What's your own theory then?"</p> + +<p>"I've none," grunted Simon. "No definite evidence one way or the other. +Mere guesses are no use."</p> + +<p>Ned walked to the window and looked at it carefully. Then he threw it up +and looked out into the garden.</p> + +<p>"Of course you've looked for footsteps underneath?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Naturally," said Simon. "But it's a hard gravel path and grass beyond. +One could fancy one saw traces, but no definite evidence."</p> + +<p>The window was one of three together, with stone mullions between. They +were long windows reaching down nearly to the level of the floor, so +that entrance that way was extremely easy if one of them were open. +Cromarty got out and stood on the sill examining the middle sash.</p> + +<p>Simon regarded him with a curious caustic look for a moment in his eye.</p> + +<p>"Looking for finger marks?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Ned. "Did you look for them?"</p> + +<p>For a single instant the Procurator Fiscal seemed a little taken aback. +Then he grunted with a half laugh:</p> + +<p>"Don't believe much in them."</p> + +<p>"Experienced criminals, that's been convicted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>before, frequently wears +gloves for to prevent their finger prints being spotted," said the +learned Bisset.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar shot him a quick ambiguous glance, and then his eyes assumed +their ordinary cold look and he said:</p> + +<p>"No evidence anybody ever opened that window from the outside. If they +had, Sir Reginald would have heard them."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ned, getting back into the room, "there are no finger marks +anyhow."</p> + +<p>"The body being found near the door certainly seems to be in favour of +Mr. Rattar's opinion," observed the superintendent.</p> + +<p>"I thought Mr. Rattar had formed no opinion yet," said Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"No more I have," grunted the lawyer.</p> + +<p>The superintendent looked a trifle perplexed.</p> + +<p>"Before Mr. Cromarty had come in, sir, I understood you for to say +everything pointed to the man having come in by the door and hit Sir +Reginald on the head as he came to see who it was when he heard him +outside."</p> + +<p>"I merely suggested that," said Simon Rattar sharply. "It fits the +facts, but there's no definite evidence yet."</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty had turned and was frowning out of the window. Now he +wheeled quickly and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"If the murderer came in through the window while Sir Reginald was in +the room, either the window was standing open or Sir Reginald <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>opened it +for him! Did Sir Reginald ever sit with his window open late at night at +this time of year?"</p> + +<p>"Never once, sir," said Bisset confidently. "He likit fresh air outside +fine but never kept his windies open much unless the weather was vera +propitious."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Ned, "why should Sir Reginald have opened the window of his +own accord to a stranger at the dead of night?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" said Mr. Rattar. "Thing seems absurd. He'd never do it."</p> + +<p>"That's my own opinion likewise, sir," put in Bisset.</p> + +<p>"It's only common sense," added the superintendent.</p> + +<p>"Then how came the window to be unfastened?" demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>"I've suggested a reason," said Simon.</p> + +<p>"As a blind? Sounds to me damned thin."</p> + +<p>Simon Rattar turned away from him with an air that suggested that he +thought it time to indicate distinctly that he was in charge of the case +and not the laird of Stanesland.</p> + +<p>"That's all we can do just now, Sutherland," he said. "No use disturbing +the household any longer at present."</p> + +<p>Cromarty stepped up to him suddenly and asked:</p> + +<p>"Tell me honestly! Do you suspect anybody?"</p> + +<p>Simon shook his head decidedly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p><p>"No sufficient evidence yet. Good morning, Mr. Cromarty."</p> + +<p>Ned was following him to the door, his lips compressed and his eyes on +the floor, when Bisset touched his arm and beckoned him back.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, sir," said he, "but could you not manage just to stop on for +a wee bit yet?"</p> + +<p>Ned hesitated.</p> + +<p>"They won't be wanting visitors, Bisset."</p> + +<p>"They needn't know if you don't want them to, sir. Lady Cromarty is shut +up in her room, and the others are keeping out of the way. If you +wouldn't mind my giving you a little cold luncheon in my sitting room, +sir, I'd like to have your help. I'm making a few sma' bits of +investigation on my own. You're one of the family, sir, and I know +you'll be wanting to find out who killed the master."</p> + +<p>Ned's eye flashed suddenly.</p> + +<p>"By God, I'll never rest in this world or the next till I do! All right, +I'll wait for a bit."</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + +<h3>CICELY</h3> + +<p>Ned Cromarty waited in the hall while Bisset went to the door with the +Procurator Fiscal and Superintendent of Police. As he stood there in the +darkened silence of the house, there came to his ears for an instant the +faint sound of a voice, and it seemed to be a woman's. With that the +current of his thoughts seemed to change, and when Bisset returned he +asked, though with marked hesitation:</p> + +<p>"Do you think, Bisset, I could do anything for any of them, Mr. Malcolm +Cromarty, or—er—Miss Farmond?"</p> + +<p>Bisset considered the point judicially. It was clear he felt that the +management of the household was in his hands now.</p> + +<p>"I am sure Miss Farmond would be pleased, sir—poor young lady!"</p> + +<p>"Do you really think so?" said Ned, and his manner brightened visibly. +"Well, if she won't mind——"</p> + +<p>"I think if you come this way, sir, you will find her with Sir Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"<i>Sir</i> Malcolm!" exclaimed Ned. "My God, so he is!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p><p>To himself he added:</p> + +<p>"And she will soon be Lady Cromarty!"</p> + +<p>But the thought did not seem to exhilarate him.</p> + +<p>He was led towards the billiard room, an addition to the house which lay +rather apart. The door was half open and through it he could see that +the blinds had been drawn down, and he could hear a murmur of voices.</p> + +<p>"They are in there, sir," said Bisset, and he left him.</p> + +<p>As Ned Cromarty entered he caught the words, spoken by the new baronet:</p> + +<p>"My dear Cicely, I depend on your sympathy——"</p> + +<p>He broke off as he heard a footstep, and seemed to move a little apart +from the chair where Cicely was sitting.</p> + +<p>The two young people greeted their visitor, Cicely in a voice so low +that it was scarcely audible, but with a smile that seemed, he thought, +to welcome him; Sir Malcolm with a tragic solemnity which no doubt was +quite appropriate to a bereaved baronet. The appearance of a third party +seemed, however, to afford him no particular gratification, and after +exchanging a sentence or two, he begged, in a very serious tone, to be +excused, and retired, walking softly and mournfully. Ned noticed then +that his face was extraordinarily pale and his eye disturbed.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid of disturbing you," said Ned. He was embarrassed, a rare +condition with him, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>which, when it did afflict him, resulted in an +impression of intimidating truculence.</p> + +<p>Cicely seemed to shrink a little, and he resolved to leave instantly.</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" she said shyly.</p> + +<p>"I only wanted to say that if I could do anything for you—well, you've +only to let me know."</p> + +<p>"It's awfully kind of you," she murmured.</p> + +<p>There was something so evidently sincere in this murmur that his +embarrassment forthwith left him.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" he said after his outspoken habit. "I was afraid I was +putting my foot in it. But if you really don't mind my seeing you for a +minute or two, I'd just like to say——"</p> + +<p>He broke off abruptly, and she looked up at him questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Dash it, I can't say it, Miss Farmond! But you know, don't you?"</p> + +<p>She murmured something again, and though he could not quite hear what it +was, he knew she understood and appreciated.</p> + +<p>Leaning against the corner of the shrouded billiard table, with the +blinds down and this pale slip of a girl in deep mourning sitting in a +basket chair in the dim light, he began suddenly to realise the tragedy.</p> + +<p>"I've been too stunned till now to grasp what's happened," he said in a +moment. "Our best friend gone, Miss Farmond!"</p> + +<p>He had said exactly the right thing now.</p> + +<p>"He certainly was mine!" she said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p><p>"And mine too. We may live to be a brace of Methuselahs, but I guess +we'll never see his like again!"</p> + +<p>His odd phrase made her smile for a moment despite herself. It passed +swiftly and she said:</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> can't believe it yet."</p> + +<p>Again there was silence, and then he said abruptly:</p> + +<p>"It's little wonder you can't believe it. The thing is so extraordinary. +It's incredible. A man without an enemy in the world—no robbery +attempted—sitting in his own library—in just about the most peaceful +and out of the way county in Scotland—not a sound heard by anybody—not +a reason that one can possibly imagine—and yet murdered!"</p> + +<p>"But it must have been a robber surely!"</p> + +<p>"Why didn't he rob something then?"</p> + +<p>"But how else——?"</p> + +<p>"How indeed! You've not a suspicion of any one yourself, Miss Farmond? +Say it right out if you have. We don't lynch here. At least," he +corrected himself as he recalled the telegraph posts, "it hasn't been +done yet."</p> + +<p>"I <i>can't</i> suspect any one!" she said earnestly. "I never met any one in +my life that I could possibly imagine doing such a thing!"</p> + +<p>"No," he said. "I guess our experiences have been pretty different. I've +met lots, but then there are none of those boys here. Who is there in +this place?"</p> + +<p>He paused and stared into space.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><p>"It must have been a tramp—some one who doesn't belong here!"</p> + +<p>"I was trying to think whether there are any lunatics about," he said in +a moment. "But there aren't any."</p> + +<p>There was silence for some minutes. He was thinking; she never moved. +Then he heard a sound, and looking down saw that she had her +handkerchief in her hand. He had nearly bent over her before he +remembered Sir Malcolm, and at the recollection he said abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Well, I've disturbed you too long. If I can do anything—anything +whatever, you'll let me know, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"You are very, very kind," she murmured, and a note in her voice nearly +made him forget the new baronet. In fact, he had to retire rather +quickly to be sure of himself.</p> + +<p>The efficiency of James Bisset was manifest at every conjuncture. +Businesslike and brisk he appeared from somewhere as Cromarty reached +the hall, and led him from the front regions to the butler's sitting +room.</p> + +<p>"I will bring your lunch in a moment, sir," he murmured, and vanished +briskly.</p> + +<p>The room looked out on a courtyard at the back, and through the window +Ned could see against the opposite buildings the rain driving in clouds. +In the court the wind was eddying, and beneath some door he could hear +it drone insistently. Though the toughest of men, he shivered a little +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>and drew up a wicker chair close in front of the fire.</p> + +<p>"It's incredible!" he murmured, and as he stared at the flames this +thought seemed to haunt him all the time.</p> + +<p>Bisset laid the table and another hour passed. Ned ate a little lunch +and then smoked and stared at the fire while the wind droned and +blustered without ceasing, and occasionally a cross gust sent the rain +drops softly pattering on the panes.</p> + +<p>"I'm damned if I see a thing!" he suddenly exclaimed half aloud, and +jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>Before he had time to start for the door, Bisset's mysterious efficiency +was made manifest again. Precisely as he was wanted, he appeared, and +this time it was clear that his own efforts had not been altogether +fruitless. He had in fact an air of even greater complacency than usual.</p> + +<p>"I have arrived at certain conclusions, sir," he announced.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE DEDUCTIVE PROCESS</h3> + +<p>Bisset laid on the table a sheet of note paper.</p> + +<p>"Here," said he, "is a kin' of bit sketch plan of the library. Observing +this plan attentively, you will notice two crosses, marked A and B. A is +where yon wee table was standing—no the place against the wall where it +was standing this morning, but where it was standing before it was +knocked over last night. B is where the corp was found. You follow that, +sir?"</p> + +<p>Ned nodded.</p> + +<p>"I follow," said he.</p> + +<p>"Now, the principle in a' these cases of crime and detection," resumed +the philosopher, assuming his lecturer's air, "is noticing such sma' +points of detail as escape the eye of the ordinar' observer, taking full +and accurate measurements, making a plan with the principal sites +carefully markit, and drawing, as it were, logical conclusions. Applying +this method now to the present instance, Mr. Cromarty, the first point +to observe is that the room is twenty-six feet long, measured from the +windie, which is a bit recessed or set back, as it were, to the other +end of the apartment. Half of 26 is 13, and if you take the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>half way +line and draw approximate perpendiculars to about where the table was +standing and to as near as one can remember where the middle of the corp +roughly was lying, you get exactly six feet ten and five-eighths inches, +in both cases."</p> + +<p>"An approximate perpendicular to roughly about these places gives this +exact measurement?" repeated Cromarty gravely. "Well, what next?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I'll not insist too much on the coincidence, but it seems to +me vera remarkable. But the two significant features of this case seem +to me yon table being upset over by the windie and the corp being found +over by the door."</p> + +<p>"You're talking horse sense now," murmured Ned.</p> + +<p>"Now, yon table was upset by Sir Reginald falling on it!"</p> + +<p>Ned looked at him keenly.</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Because one of the legs was broken clean off!"</p> + +<p>"What, when we saw it this morning?"</p> + +<p>"We had none of us noticed it then, sir; but I've had a look at it +since, and there's one leg broken fair off at the top. The break was +half in the socket, as it were, leaving a kind of spike, and if you +stick that into the socket you can make the table look as good as new. +It's all right, in fac', until you try to move it, and then of course +the leg just drops out."</p> + +<p>"And it wasn't like that yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"I happened to move it myself not so long <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>before Sir Reginald came into +the room, and that's how I know for certain where it was standing and +that it wasn't broken. And yon wee light tables dinna lose their legs +just with being cowped, supposing there was nothing else than that to +smash them. No, sir, it was poor Sir Reginald falling on top of it that +smashed yon leg."</p> + +<p>"Then he was certainly struck down near the window!"</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll see that in a minute. It's no in reason, Mr. Cromarty, to +suppose he deliberately opened the windie to let his ain murderer in. +And it's a' just stuff and nonsense to suggest Sir Reginald was sitting +on a winter's night—or next door to winter onyhow, with his windie wide +open. I'm too well acquaint with his habits to believe that for a +minute. And it's impossible the man can have opened a snibbed windie and +got in, with some one sitting in the room, and no alarm given. So it's +perfectly certain the man must have come in at the door. That's a fair +deduction, is it not, sir?"</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty frowned into space in silence. When he spoke it seemed to +be as much to himself as to Bisset.</p> + +<p>"How did the window get unsnibbed? Everything beats me, but that beats +me fairly."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, Mr. Rattar may no be just exac'ly as intellectual as me and +you, but I think there's maybe something in his idea it was done to put +us off the scent."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p><p>"Possibly—but it strikes me as a derned feeble dodge. However, what's +your next conclusion?"</p> + +<p>"My next conclusion is, sir, that Simon Rattar may not be so vera far +wrong either about Sir Reginald hearing some one at the door and +starting to see who it was. Then—bang!—the door would suddenly open, +and afore he'd time to speak, the man had given him a bat on the heid +that finished him."</p> + +<p>"And where does the table come in?"</p> + +<p>"Well, my explanation is just this, that Sir Reginald suspected +something and took the wee table as a kind of weapon."</p> + +<p>"Rot!" said Ned ruthlessly. "You think he left the fireplace and went +round by the window to fetch such a useless weapon as that?"</p> + +<p>James Bisset was not easily damped.</p> + +<p>"That's only a possibility, sir. Excluding that, what must have +happened? For that's the way, Mr. Cromarty, to get at the fac's; you +just exclude what's not possible and what remains is the truth. If you'd +read——"</p> + +<p>"Well, come on. What's your theory now?"</p> + +<p>"Just that Sir Reginald backed away from the door with the man after +him, till he got to the table. And then down went him and the table +together."</p> + +<p>"And why didn't he cry out or raise the alarm in some way while he was +backing away?"</p> + +<p>"God, but that fits into my other deductions fine!" cried Bisset. "I +hadna thought of that. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>Just wait, sir, till you see how the case is +going to hang together in a minute."</p> + +<p>"But how did Sir Reginald's body come to be lying near the door?"</p> + +<p>The philosopher seemed to be inspired afresh.</p> + +<p>"The man clearly meant to take it away and hide it somewhere—that'll be +just it! And then he found it ower heavy and decided to leave it after +all."</p> + +<p>"And who was this man?"</p> + +<p>"That's precisely where proper principles, Mr. Cromarty, lead to a +number of vera interesting and instructive discoveries, and I think +ye'll see, sir, that the noose is on the road to his neck already. I've +not got the actual man, mind! In fac' I've no idea who he is, but I can +tell you a good few things about him—enough, in fac', to make escape +practically impossible. In the first place, he was one well acquaint +with the ways of the house. Is that not a fair deduction, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said Ned. "I've put my bottom dollar on that already."</p> + +<p>"He came from inside this house and not outside it. How long he'd been +in the house, that I cannot say, but my own deductions are he'd been in +the house waiting for his chance for a good while before the master +heard him at yon door. Is that not a fair deduction too, sir?"</p> + +<p>"It's possible," said Ned, though not with great conviction.</p> + +<p>"And now here's a point that accounts for Sir Reginald giving no +alarm—Sir Reginald knew <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>the man and couldna believe he meant +mischief!"</p> + +<p>Ned looked at him quickly and curiously.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Is that not a fair deduction, Mr. Cromarty?"</p> + +<p>"Seems to fill the bill."</p> + +<p>"And now, here's a few personal details. Yon man was a fair active +strong man to have dealt with the master the way he did. But he was not +strong enough to carry off the corp like a sack of potatoes; he was no a +great muckle big giant, that's to say. And finally, calculating from the +distance the body was from the door and the number of steps he would be +likely to take to the door, and sae arriving at his stride and deducing +his height accordingly, he'd be as near as may be five feet nine inches +tall. Now, sir, me and you ought to get him with a' that known!"</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty looked at him with a curious gleam in his eye.</p> + +<p>"What's your own height, Bisset?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Five feet nine inches," said the reasoner promptly, and then suddenly +his mouth fell open but his voice ceased.</p> + +<p>"And now," pursued Ned with a grimly humorous look, "can you not think +of a man just that height, pretty hefty but not a giant, who was +certainly in the house last night, who knew all the ways of it, and who +would never have been suspected by Sir Reginald of meaning mischief?"</p> + +<p>"God!" exclaimed the unfortunate reasoner. "I've proved it was mysel'!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p><p>"Well, and what shall I do—string you up now or hand you over to the +police?"</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Cromarty—you don't believe that's right surely?"</p> + +<p>Tragic though the occasion was, Ned could not refrain from one brief +laugh. And then his face set hard again and he said:</p> + +<p>"No, Bisset, I do not believe it was you. In fact, I wouldn't believe it +was you if you confessed to it. But I'd advise you not to go spreading +your deductions abroad! Deduction's a game that wants a bit more +practice than you or I have had."</p> + +<p>It is possible that James Bisset had never looked quite so crestfallen +in his life.</p> + +<p>"Then that's all nonsense I've been talking, sir?" he said lugubriously.</p> + +<p>"No," said Ned emphatically. "I'll not say that either. You've brought +out some good points—that broken table, the place the body was found, +the possible reason why Sir Reginald gave no alarm; seems to me those +have something to them. But what they mean—what to conclude; we're as +far off that, Bisset, as ever!"</p> + +<p>The philosopher's self esteem was evidently returning as fast as it had +gone.</p> + +<p>"Then you wouldn't think there would be any harm, sir, in my continuing +my investigations?"</p> + +<p>"On your present lines, the only harm is likely to be to yourself. Keep +at it—but don't hang yourself accidentally. And let me know if you +discover anything else—mind that."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p><p>"I'll mind on it, no fears, Mr. Cromarty!"</p> + +<p>Ned left him with an expression on his countenance which indicated that +the deductive process had already been resumed.</p> + +<p>Till he arrived at his own door, the laird of Stanesland was unconscious +of a single incident of his drive home. All the way his eye stared +straight into space. Sometimes a gleam would light it for an instant, +and then he would shake his head and the gleam would fade away.</p> + +<p>"I can see neither a damned head nor a damned tail to it!" he said to +himself as he alighted.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE QUESTION OF MOTIVE</h3> + +<p>Two days later Mr. Ison entered Mr. Simon Rattar's room and informed him +that Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland wished to see him on particular +business. The lawyer was busy and this interruption seemed for the +moment distinctly unwelcome. Then he grunted:</p> + +<p>"Show him in."</p> + +<p>In the minute or two that passed before the laird's entrance, Simon +seemed to be thinking intently and finally to come to a decision, which, +to judge from his reception of his client, was on rather different lines +from his first thoughts when Mr. Cromarty's name was announced. To +describe Simon Rattar at any time as genial would be an exaggeration, +but he showed his nearest approach to geniality as he bade his client +good-morning.</p> + +<p>"Sorry to interrupt you," said Ned, "but I can't get this business out +of my head, night or day. Whether you want me or not, I've got to play a +hand in this game; but it's on your side, Mr. Rattar, and maybe I might +be able to help a little if I could get something to go on."</p> + +<p>The lawyer nodded.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p><p>"I quite understand. Glad to have your help, Mr. Cromarty. Dreadful +affair. We're all trying to get to the bottom of it, I can assure you."</p> + +<p>"I believe you," said Ned. "There never was a man better worth avenging +than Sir Reginald."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," said Simon briefly, his eyes fixed on the other's face.</p> + +<p>"Any fresh facts?"</p> + +<p>Simon drew a sheet of paper from his desk.</p> + +<p>"Superintendent Sutherland has given me a note of three—for what they +are worth, discovered by the butler. The first is about that table. It +seems a leg has been broken."</p> + +<p>"Bisset told me that before I left the house."</p> + +<p>"And thought it was an important fact, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"What its importance is, it's hard to say, but it's a fact, and seems to +me well worth noting."</p> + +<p>"It is noted," said the Procurator Fiscal drily. "But I can't see that +it leads anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Bisset maintains it implies Sir Reginald fell over it when he was +struck down; and that seems to me pretty likely."</p> + +<p>Simon shook his head.</p> + +<p>"How do we know Sir Reginald hadn't broken it himself previously and +then set it up against the wall—assuming it ever stood anywhere else, +which seems to want confirmation?"</p> + +<p>"A dashed thin suggestion!" said Ned. "However, what are the other +discoveries?"</p> + +<p>"The second is that one or two small fragments of dried mud were found +under the edge <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>of the curtain, and the third is that the hearth brush +was placed in an unusual position—according to Bisset."</p> + +<p>"And what are Bisset's conclusions?"</p> + +<p>"That the man, whoever he was, had brought mud into the room and then +swept it up with the hearth brush; these fragments being pieces that he +had swept accidentally under the curtain and so overlooked."</p> + +<p>"Good for Bisset!" exclaimed Ned. "He has got there this time, I do +believe."</p> + +<p>Simon smiled sceptically.</p> + +<p>"Sir Reginald was in the library in his walking boots that afternoon. +Naturally he would leave mud, and quite likely he swept it up himself +then, though the only evidence of sweeping is Bisset's statement about +the brush. And what proof is that of anything? Does your hearth brush +always stay in the same position?"</p> + +<p>"Never noticed," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"And I don't believe anybody notices sufficiently closely to make their +evidence on such a point worth a rap!" said Simon.</p> + +<p>"A servant would."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Cromarty, make the most of the hearth brush then."</p> + +<p>There seemed for an instant to be a defiant note in the Procurator +Fiscal's voice that made Ned glance at him sharply. But he saw nothing +in his face but the same set and steady look.</p> + +<p>"We're on the same side in this racket, Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>Rattar," said Ned. "I'm +only trying to help—same as you."</p> + +<p>Simon's voice seemed now to have exactly the opposite note. For him, his +tone of acquiescence was even eager.</p> + +<p>"Quite so; quite so, Mr. Cromarty. We are acting together; exactly."</p> + +<p>"That's all the new evidence then?"</p> + +<p>Simon nodded, and a few moments of silence followed.</p> + +<p>"Tell me honestly," demanded Ned at last, "have you actually no clue at +all? No suspicion of any kind? Haven't you got on the track of any +possible reason for the deed?"</p> + +<p>"Reason?" repeated Simon. "Now we come to business, Mr. Cromarty. What's +the motive? That's the point."</p> + +<p>"Have you found one?"</p> + +<p>Simon looked judicially discreet.</p> + +<p>"At this moment all I can tell you is to answer the question: 'Who +benefits by Sir Reginald Cromarty's death?'"</p> + +<p>"Well—who did? Seems to me every one who knew him suffered."</p> + +<p>"Sentimentally perhaps—but not financially."</p> + +<p>Ned looked at him in silence, as if an entirely new point of view were +dawning on his mind. But he compressed his lips and merely asked:</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"To begin with, nothing was stolen from the house. Therefore no outside +thief or burglar gained anything. I may add also that the police <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>have +made enquiries throughout the whole county, and no bad characters are +known to be in the place. Therefore there is no ground for supposing the +deed was the work of a robber, and to my mind, no evidence worth +considering to support that view. The only people that gained anything, +Mr. Cromarty, are those who will benefit under Sir Reginald's will."</p> + +<p>Cromarty's expression did not change again. This was evidently the new +point of view.</p> + +<p>Simon opened a drawer and took from it a document.</p> + +<p>"In the ordinary course of events Sir Reginald's will would not be known +till after his funeral to-morrow, but if I may regard this conversation +as confidential, I can tell you the principal facts so far as they +affect this case."</p> + +<p>"I don't want you to do anything you shouldn't," said Ned quickly. "If +it's not the proper game to read the will now, don't."</p> + +<p>But Silent Simon seemed determined to oblige this morning.</p> + +<p>"It is a mere matter of form delaying till to-morrow, and I shall not +read it now; merely tell you the pertinent facts briefly."</p> + +<p>"Fire away then. The Lord knows I want to learn every derned pertinent +fact—want to badly!"</p> + +<p>"In the first place," the lawyer began, "Lady Cromarty is life rented in +the mansion and property, less certain sums to be paid to other people, +which I am coming to. She therefore lost her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>husband and a certain +amount of income, and gained nothing that we know of."</p> + +<p>"That's a cold-blooded way of putting it," said Ned with something like +a shiver. "However, what next?"</p> + +<p>"Sir Malcolm gets £1,000 a year to support him during the life time of +Lady Cromarty, and afterwards falls heir to the whole estate. He +therefore gains a baronetcy and £1,000 a year immediately, and the +estate is brought a stage nearer him. Miss Farmond gets a legacy of +£2,000. She therefore gained £2,000."</p> + +<p>"Not that she'll need it," said Ned quickly. "That item doesn't count."</p> + +<p>Simon looked at him curiously.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>Ned hesitated a moment.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I oughtn't to have said anything," he said, "but this +conversation is confidential, and anyhow the fact will be known soon +enough now, I guess. She is engaged to Sir Malcolm."</p> + +<p>For a moment Simon continued to look at him very hard. Then he merely +said:</p> + +<p>"Indeed?"</p> + +<p>"Of course you won't repeat this till they care to make it known +themselves. I told you so that you'd see a legacy of two thousand pounds +wouldn't count much. It only means an income of—what?"</p> + +<p>"One hundred pounds at five per cent; eighty pounds at four."</p> + +<p>"Well, that will be neither here nor there now."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p><p>Again Simon stared in silence for a moment, but rather through than at +his visitor, it seemed. Then he glanced down at the document again.</p> + +<p>"James Bisset gets a legacy of three hundred pounds. There are a few +smaller legacies to servants, but the only two that might have affected +this case do not actually do so. One is John Robertson, Sir Reginald's +chauffeur, but on the night of the crime he was away from home and an +alibi can be established till two in the morning. The other is Donald +Mackay, the gardener, but he is an old man and was in bed with +rheumatism that night."</p> + +<p>"I see," observed Ned, "you are giving everybody mentioned in the will +credit for perhaps having committed the murder, supposing it was +physically possible?"</p> + +<p>"I am answering the question—who that could conceivably have committed +it, had a motive for doing so? And also, what was that motive?"</p> + +<p>"Is that the whole list of them?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar glanced at the will again.</p> + +<p>"Sir Reginald has cancelled your own debt of twelve hundred pounds, Mr. +Cromarty."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Ned, and for a moment could say no more. Then he said +in a low voice: "It's up to me more than ever!"</p> + +<p>"That is the full list of persons within the vicinity two nights ago who +gained by Sir Reginald's death," said Simon in a dry voice, as he put +away the will.</p> + +<p>"Including me?" said Ned. "Well, all I've got <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>to say is this, Mr. +Rattar, that my plain common sense tells me that those are no motives at +all. For who knew what they stood to gain by this will? Or that they +stood to gain any blessed thing at all? I hadn't the foggiest notion Sir +Reginald meant to cancel that debt!"</p> + +<p>"You may not have known," said Simon still very drily, "and it is quite +possible that Bisset may not have known of his legacy. Though, on the +other hand, it is likely enough that Sir Reginald mentioned the fact +that he would be remembered. But Lady Cromarty presumably knew his +arrangements. And it is most unlikely that he should have said nothing +to his heir about his intention to make him an adequate allowance if he +came into the title and Lady Cromarty was still alive and life rented in +the place. Also, it is highly probable that either Sir Reginald or Lady +Cromarty told Miss Farmond that some provision would be made for her."</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty said nothing for a few moments, but he seemed to be +thinking very hard. Then he rose from his chair and remarked:</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess this has all got to be thought over."</p> + +<p>He moved slowly to the door, while Simon gazed silently into space. His +hand was on the handle when the lawyer turned in his chair and asked:</p> + +<p>"Why was nothing said about Sir Malcolm's engagement to Miss Farmond?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ned, "the whole thing is no business <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>of mine, but Sir +Reginald had pretty big ideas in some ways and probably one of them was +connected with his heir's marriage."</p> + +<p>"A clandestine engagement then?"</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty seemed to dislike the term.</p> + +<p>"It's none of my business," he said shortly. "There was no blame on +anyone, anyhow; and mind you, this is absolutely confidential."</p> + +<p>The door closed behind him and Simon was left still apparently thinking.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + +<h3>TWO WOMEN</h3> + +<p>On the day after the funeral Lady Cromarty for the first time felt able +to see the family lawyer. Simon Rattar came out in the morning in a +hired car and spent more than a couple of hours with her. Then for a +short time he was closeted with Sir Malcolm, who, referring to the +interview afterwards, described him as "infernally close and +unsatisfactory"; and finally, in company with the young baronet and +Cicely Farmond, he ate a hurried lunch and departed.</p> + +<p>Ever since the fatal evening, Lady Cromarty had been shut up in her own +apartments and the two young people had taken their meals together. Sir +Malcolm at his brightest and best had been capricious company. He was +now moody beyond all Cicely's experience of him. His newborn solemnity +was the most marked feature of his demeanour, but sometimes it dissolved +into pathetic demands for sympathy, and then again froze into profound +and lugubrious silence. He said that he was sleeping badly, and the +pallor of his face and the darkness beneath his eyes seemed to confirm +this. Several times he appeared to be on the point of some peculiarly +solemn disclosure of his feelings <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>or his symptoms, but always ended by +upbraiding his fellow guest for her lack of sympathy, and then relapsing +into silence.</p> + +<p>Every now and then on such occasions Cicely caught him staring at her +with an expression she had never seen before, and then looking hurriedly +away; a disconcerting habit that made her own lot none the easier. So +far as the observant Bisset could judge, the baronet seemed, indeed, to +be having so depressing an effect upon the young lady that as her friend +and counsellor he took the liberty of advising a change of air.</p> + +<p>"We'll miss you vera much, Miss Farmond," he was good enough to say, +"but I'm thinking that what you want is a seaside resort."</p> + +<p>She smiled a little sadly.</p> + +<p>"I shall have to make a change very soon, Bisset," she said. "Indeed, +perhaps I ought to have let Lady Cromarty know already that I was ready +to go the moment I was sure I could do nothing more for her."</p> + +<p>She began her packing on the morning of Simon's visit. At lunch her air +was a little livelier at first, as if even Simon Rattar were a welcome +variety in a régime of undiluted baronet. Sir Malcolm, too, endeavoured +to do the honours with some degree of cheerfulness; but short though the +meal was, both were silent before the end and vaguely depressed +afterwards.</p> + +<p>"I can't stand the old fellow's fishy eye!" declared Sir Malcolm. "I'd +as soon lunch with a cod-fish, dash it! Didn't you feel it too, Cicely?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p><p>"He seemed to look at one so uncomfortably," she agreed. "I couldn't +help feeling he had something on his mind against me, though I suppose +he really doesn't trouble his head about my existence."</p> + +<p>"I'm hanged if I like the way he looks at me!" muttered the baronet, and +once again Cicely caught that odd expression in his eye.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Bisset informed Miss Farmond that her ladyship desired to +see her. Lady Cromarty's face looked thinner than ever and her lips more +tightly compressed. In her deep mourning and with her grave air, she +seemed to Cicely a monumental figure of tragedy. Her thinness and pallor +and tight lips, she thought only natural, but there was one note that +seemed discordant with pure desolation. The note was sounded by Lady +Cromarty's eyes. At all times they had been ready to harden upon an +occasion, but Cicely thought she had never seen them as hard as they +were now.</p> + +<p>"What are your plans, Cicely?" she asked in a low, even voice that +showed no feeling one way or the other.</p> + +<p>"I have begun to pack already," said the girl. "I don't want to leave so +long as I can be of any use here, but I am ready to go at any time."</p> + +<p>She had expected to be asked where she was going, but Lady Cromarty +instead of putting any question, looked at her for a few moments in +silence. And it was then that a curious uncomfortable feeling began to +possess the girl. It had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>no definite form and was founded on no reason, +beyond the steady regard of those hard dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"I had rather you stayed."</p> + +<p>Cicely's own eyes showed her extreme surprise.</p> + +<p>"Stayed—here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"But are you sure? Wouldn't you really rather be alone? It isn't for my +sake, is it? because—"</p> + +<p>"It is for mine. I want you to remain here and keep me company."</p> + +<p>She spoke without a trace of smile or any softening of her face, and +Cicely still hesitated.</p> + +<p>"But would it really be convenient? You have been very kind to me, and +if you really want me here—"</p> + +<p>"I do," interrupted Lady Cromarty in the same even voice. "I want you +particularly to remain."</p> + +<p>"Very well then, I shall. Thank you very much—"</p> + +<p>Again she was cut short.</p> + +<p>"That is settled then. Perhaps you will excuse me now, Cicely."</p> + +<p>The girl went downstairs very thoughtfully. At the foot the young +baronet met her.</p> + +<p>"Have you settled where to go?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Lady Cromarty has asked me to stay on with her."</p> + +<p>His face fell.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p><p>"Stay on in this house of mourning? Oh, no, Cicely!"</p> + +<p>"I have promised," she said.</p> + +<p>The young man grew curiously agitated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't stay here!" he besought her. "It keeps me in such dreadful +suspense!"</p> + +<p>"In suspense!" she exclaimed. "Whatever do you mean, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>Again she saw that look in his eye, and again he raised a +sympathy-beseeching wail. Cicely's patience began to give way.</p> + +<p>"Really, Malcolm!" she cried tartly, "if you have anything to say, say +it, but don't go on like a baby!"</p> + +<p>"Like a baby!" repeated the deeply affronted baronet. "Heavens, would +you liken me to <i>that</i>, of all things! I had meant to confide in you, +Cicely, but you have made it impossible. Impossible!" he repeated +sombrely, and stalked to the door.</p> + +<p>Next morning, Sir Malcolm left for London, his confidence still locked +in his breast, and Cicely was alone with Lady Cromarty.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + +<h3>RUMOUR</h3> + +<p>One windy afternoon a man on a bicycle struggled up to the door of +Stanesland Castle and while waiting for an answer to his ring, studied +the front of that ancient building with an expression which would at +once have informed his intimates that he was meditating on the +principles of Scottish baronial architecture. A few minutes later Mr. +Bisset was shown into the laird of Stanesland's smoking room and +addressed Mr. Cromarty with a happy blend of consciousness of his own +importance and respect for the laird's.</p> + +<p>"I have taken the liberty of calling, sir, for to lay before you a few +fresh datas."</p> + +<p>"Fire away," said the laird.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, sir, I understand that you have been making +enquiries through the county yourself, sir; is that not so?"</p> + +<p>"I've been through this blessed county, Bisset, from end to end to see +whether I could get on the track of any suspicious stranger. I've been +working both with the police and independent of the police, and I've +drawn blank."</p> + +<p>Bisset looked distinctly disappointed.</p> + +<p>"I've heard, sir, one or two stories which I was hoping might have +something in them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p><p>"I've heard about half a dozen and gone into them all, and there's +nothing in one of them."</p> + +<p>"Half a dozen stories?" Bisset's eye began to look hopeful again. "Well, +sir, perhaps if I was to go into some of them again in the light of my +fresh datas, they might wear, as it were, a different aspect."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ned. "What have you found? Have a cigar and let's hear what +you've been at."</p> + +<p>The expert crackled the cigar approvingly between his fingers, lit it +with increased approval, and began:</p> + +<p>"Yon man was behind the curtains all the time."</p> + +<p>"The devil he was! How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, it's a matter of deduction. Ye see supposing he came in by +the door, there are objections, and supposing he came in by the windie +there are objections. Either way there are objections which make it +difficult for to accept those theories. And then it struck me—the man +must have been behind the curtains all the while!"</p> + +<p>"He must have come either by the door or window to get there."</p> + +<p>"That's true, Mr. Cromarty. But such minor points we can consider in a +wee while, when we have seen how everything is otherwise explained. Now +supposing we have the murderer behind the curtains; that brings him +within six feet of where the wee table was standing. How did he get Sir +Reginald to come to the table? He made some kind of sound. What kind of +sound? Some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>imitation of an animal; probably of a cat. How did Sir +Reginald not cry out when he saw the man? Because he never did see the +man! How did he not see him?"</p> + +<p>"Man was a ventriloquist and made a sound in the other direction," +suggested Ned with extreme gravity.</p> + +<p>"God, but that's possible, Mr. Cromarty! I hadna thought of that! Well, +it'll fit into the facts all right, you'll see. My theory was that +either the man threw something at the master and knocked him down that +way, or he was able to reach out and give him a bat on the heid without +moving from the curtains."</p> + +<p>"He must have been an awkward customer."</p> + +<p>"He was that! A great tall man with long arms. And what had he at the +end of them? Either a club such as savages use or something to throw +like a boomerang. And he could imitate animals, and as you say, he was +probably a ventriloquist. And he was that active and strong he could get +into the house through one of the windies, just like a great monkey. Now +what's the history of that man?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty wild, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but one can say more than that, sir. He was not an ordinary +Englishman or Scotchman. He was from the Colonies or America or one of +thae wild places! Is that not a fair deduction, sir?"</p> + +<p>"It all points to that," said Ned, with a curious look.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p><p>"It points to that indeed, sir. Now where's he hidden himself? It should +not be difficult to find him with all that to go on."</p> + +<p>"A tall active strong man who has lived in the Colonies or America; one +ought to get him. Has he only one eye, by any chance?"</p> + +<p>The reasoner gazed petrified at his counsellor.</p> + +<p>"God, but I've just described yoursel', sir!" he cried in an unhappy +voice.</p> + +<p>"You're determined to hang one of us, Bisset."</p> + +<p>For a moment Bisset seemed to find conversation difficult. Then he said +miserably:</p> + +<p>"So it's no good, and all the alternatives just fa' to pieces."</p> + +<p>The extreme dejection of his voice struck the other sharply.</p> + +<p>"Alternatives to what?" he asked.</p> + +<p>For a few seconds Bisset did not answer.</p> + +<p>"What's on your mind, man?" demanded Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"The reason, sir, I've got that badly off the rails with my deductions +is just that I <i>had</i> to find some other theory than the story that's +going about."</p> + +<p>"What story?"</p> + +<p>"You've no heard it, sir?"</p> + +<p>Ned shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I hardly like to repeat it, sir; it's that cruel and untrue. They're +saying Sir Malcolm and Miss Farmond had got engaged to be married."</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Ned sharply, and he seemed to control his feelings with an +effort.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p><p>"A secret engagement, like, that Sir Reginald would never have allowed. +But there I think they're right, sir. Sir Reginald was unco' taken up +with Miss Farmond, but he'd have looked higher for his heir. And so as +they couldn't get married while he was alive—neither of them having any +money, well, sir, this story says—"</p> + +<p>He broke off and neither spoke for an instant.</p> + +<p>"Good God!" murmured Cromarty. "They actually accuse Malcolm Cromarty +and Miss Cicely of—?"</p> + +<p>He paused too, and Bisset nodded.</p> + +<p>"Who is saying this?"</p> + +<p>"It seems to be the clash of the haill country by this time, sir."</p> + +<p>He seemed a little frightened at the effect of his own words; and it was +small wonder. Ned Cromarty was a nasty looking customer at that moment.</p> + +<p>"Who started the lie?"</p> + +<p>"It's just ignorance and want of education of the people, I'm thinking, +Mr. Cromarty. They're no able to grasp the proper principles—"</p> + +<p>"Lady Cromarty must be told! She could put a stop to it—"</p> + +<p>Something in Bisset's look pulled him up sharply.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid her ladyship believes it herself, sir. Maybe you have heard +she has keepit Miss Farmond to stay on with her."</p> + +<p>"I have."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Bisset very slowly and deliberately, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>"I'm +thinking—it's just to watch her."</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty had been smoking a pipe. There was a crack now as his teeth +went through the mouthpiece. He flung the pipe into the fire, jumped up, +and began pacing the room without a word or a glance at the other. At +last he stopped as abruptly as he had started.</p> + +<p>"This slander has got to be stopped!"</p> + +<p>And then he paced on.</p> + +<p>"Just what I was saying to myself, sir. It was likely a wee thing of +over anxiety to stop it that made me think o' the possibility of a wild +man from America, which was perhaps a bit beyond the limits of what ye +might call, as it were, scientific deduction."</p> + +<p>"When did Lady Cromarty begin to take up this attitude?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the plain truth is, sir, that her ladyship has been keeping sae +much to herself that it's not rightly possible to tell what's been in +her mind. But it was the afternoon when Mr. Rattar had been at the house +that she sent for Miss Farmond and tellt her then she was wanting her to +stop on."</p> + +<p>"That would be after she knew the contents of the will! I wonder if the +idea had entered her head before, or if the will alone started it? Old +Simon would never start such a scandal himself about his best client. He +knows too well which side his bread is buttered for that! But he might +have talked his infernal jargon about the motive and the people who +stood to gain by the death. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>That might have been enough to set her +suspicions off."</p> + +<p>"Or I was thinking maybe, sir, it was when her ladyship heard of the +engagement."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed Ned, stopping suddenly again, "that's possible. When did +she hear?"</p> + +<p>Bisset shook his head.</p> + +<p>"That beats me again, sir. Her own maid likely has been telling her +things the time we've not been seeing her."</p> + +<p>"Did the maid—or did you know about the engagement?"</p> + +<p>"Servants are uneducated creatures," said Bisset contemptuously. "And +women at the best have just the ae' thought—who's gaun to be fool +enough to marry next? They were always gossiping about Mr. Malcolm and +Miss Cicely, but there was never what I should call a data to found a +deduction on; not for a sensible person. I never believed it myself, but +it's like enough her ladyship may have suspected it for a while back."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Lady Cromarty has been nearly distracted?"</p> + +<p>"Very near, sir."</p> + +<p>"That's her only excuse. But the story is such obvious nonsense, Bisset, +that surely no one in their proper senses really believes it?"</p> + +<p>The philosopher shook a wise head.</p> + +<p>"I have yet to learn, Mr. Cromarty, what folks will not believe."</p> + +<p>"They've got to stop believing this!" said Ned emphatically.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + +<h3>A SUGGESTION</h3> + +<p>Next morning Simon Rattar was again informed that Mr. Cromarty of +Stanesland wished to see him, and again the announcement seemed to be +unwelcome. He was silent for several seconds before answering, and when +he allowed Mr. Cromarty to be shown in, it was with an air which +suggested the getting over a distasteful business as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Cromarty?" he grunted brusquely.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cromarty never beat about the bush.</p> + +<p>"I've come to see you about this scandalous story that's going round."</p> + +<p>The lawyer glanced at the papers he had been busy with, as if to +indicate that they were of more importance than scandals.</p> + +<p>"What story?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"That Sir Malcolm and Miss Farmond were concerned in Sir Reginald's +murder."</p> + +<p>There was something compelling in Ned's directness. Simon pushed aside +the papers and looked at him fixedly.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he said. "They say that, do they?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't you heard?"</p> + +<p>Simon's grunt was non-committal.</p> + +<p>"Well anyway, this derned story is going <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>about, and something's got to +be done to stop it."</p> + +<p>"What do you suggest?"</p> + +<p>"Are you still working the case for all you know how?"</p> + +<p>Simon seemed to resent this enquiry a little.</p> + +<p>"I am the Procurator Fiscal. The police make the actual enquiries. They +have done everything they could."</p> + +<p>"'They have done'? Do you mean that they have stopped looking for the +murderer?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. They are still enquiring; not that it is likely to be +much further use."</p> + +<p>There seemed to be a sardonic note in his last words that deepened +Cromarty's frown and kindled his eye.</p> + +<p>"You mean to suggest that any conclusion has been reached?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing is absolutely certain," said Simon.</p> + +<p>Again the accent on the "absolutely" seemed to rouse his visitor's ire.</p> + +<p>"You believe this story, do you?"</p> + +<p>"If I <i>believed</i> it, I should order an arrest. I have just told you +nothing is absolutely certain."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Cromarty, "I don't want to crab Superintendent +Sutherland or his men, but you want to get somebody better than them on +to this job."</p> + +<p>Though the Procurator Fiscal kept his feelings well in hand, it was +evident that this suggestion struck him more unfavourably than anything +his visitor had said yet. He even seemed for one instant to be a little +startled by its audacity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p><p>"I disagree," he muttered.</p> + +<p>"Now don't you take offence, Mr. Rattar," said Ned with a sudden smile. +"I'm not aiming this at you, but, hang it, you know as well as I do that +Sutherland is no great shakes at detection. They are all just country +bobbies. What we want is a London detective."</p> + +<p>Simon seemed to have recovered his equanimity during this speech. He +shook his head emphatically, but his voice was as dispassionately +brusque as ever.</p> + +<p>"London detective? Much over-rated people, I assure you. No use in a +case of this kind."</p> + +<p>"The very kind of case a real copper-bottomed expert would be some use +in!"</p> + +<p>"You are thinking of detectives in stories, Mr. Cromarty. The real men +are no better than Sutherland—not a bit. I believe in Sutherland. +Better man than he looks. Very shrewd, most painstaking. Couldn't have a +better man. Useless expense getting a man from London."</p> + +<p>"Don't you trouble about the expense, Mr. Rattar. That can be arranged +all right. I want a first class man engaged."</p> + +<p>The sudden glance which the lawyer shot at him, struck Ned as unusual in +his experience of Simon Rattar. He appeared to be startled again, and +yet it was not mere annoyance that seemed to show for the fraction of a +second in his eye. And then the next instant the man's gaze was as cold +and steady as ever. He pursed his lips and considered his answer in +silence before he spoke.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p><p>"You are a member of the family, Mr. Cromarty; the actual head of it, in +fact, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Going by pedigrees, I believe I am, but being a member is reason enough +for my wanting to get daylight through this business—and seeing +somebody swing for it!"</p> + +<p>"What if you made things worse?"</p> + +<p>"Worse! How could they be?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cromarty, I am the Procurator Fiscal in charge of this case. But I +am also lawyer and factor to the Cromarty family, and my father was +before me. If there was evidence enough—clear and proper evidence—to +convict any person of this crime, it would be my duty as Procurator +Fiscal to convict them. But there is no definite evidence, as you know +yourself. All we can do, if we push this matter too far, is to make a +family scandal public. Are you as the head of the Cromarty family, and I +as their factor, to do this?"</p> + +<p>It was difficult to judge with what feelings Ned Cromarty heard this +deliberate statement and appeal. His mouth was as hard as the lawyer's +and his eye revealed nothing.</p> + +<p>"Then you propose to hush the thing up?"</p> + +<p>"I said nothing about hushing up. I propose to wait till I get some +<i>evidence</i>, Mr. Cromarty. It is a little difficult perhaps for a layman +to realise what evidence means, but I can tell you—and any lawyer, or +any detective, would tell you—we have nothing that can be called +evidence yet."</p> + +<p>"And you won't get any till you call in somebody a cut above +Sutherland."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p><p>"The scent is too cold by this time—"</p> + +<p>"Who let it cool?" interrupted Ned.</p> + +<p>For a moment the lawyer's eyes looked unpleasant.</p> + +<p>"Every effort was made to find a clue; by yourself as well as by the +police. And let me tell you, Mr. Cromarty, that our efforts have not +been as fruitless as you seem to think."</p> + +<p>"What have we discovered?"</p> + +<p>"In the first place that there was no robbery committed and no sign of +anybody having entered the house from the outside."</p> + +<p>Ned shook his head.</p> + +<p>"That's a lot too strong. I believe the man <i>did</i> come in by the +window."</p> + +<p>"You admit there is no proof?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Ned candidly. "I quite admit there is no proof of +anything—yet."</p> + +<p>"No robbery, no evidence of anyone having come in by the window—"</p> + +<p>"No proof," corrected Ned. "I maintain that the window being unsnibbed +and that mud on the floor and the table near the window being upset is +evidence; but not proof positive."</p> + +<p>Simon's patience had by this time become exemplary. His only wish seemed +to be to convince by irresistible argument this obstinate objector. It +struck the visitor, moreover, that in this effort the lawyer was +displaying a fluency not at all characteristic of silent Simon.</p> + +<p>"Well, let us leave it at that. Suppose there be a possibility that +entry was actually made by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>the window. It is a bare possibility against +the obvious and easy entrance by the door,—near which, remember, the +body was found. Then, as I have pointed out, there was no robbery, and +not a trace has been found of anybody outside that house with a motive +for the crime."</p> + +<p>"Except me."</p> + +<p>"Unless you care to except yourself. But neither you nor the police have +found any bad characters in the place."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough," Ned admitted reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, there were within the house two people with a very +strong motive for committing the crime."</p> + +<p>"I deny that!" cried Ned with a sudden gleam of ferocity in his eye that +seemed to disconcert the lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Deny it? You can scarcely deny that two young people, in love with one +another and secretly engaged, with no money, and no chance of getting +married, stood to gain everything they wanted by a death that gave them +freedom to marry, a baronetcy, a thousand a year, and two thousand in +cash besides?"</p> + +<p>"Damn it, Mr. Rattar, is the fact that a farmer benefits by a shower any +evidence that he has turned on the rain?"</p> + +<p>"I have repeatedly said, Mr. Cromarty, that there is no definite +evidence to convict anybody. But nothing would have been easier than +making an end of Sir Reginald Cromarty, to anybody <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>inside that house +whom he would never suspect till they struck the blow. All the necessary +conditions are fulfilled by this view of the case, whereas every other +view—every other view, mind you, Mr. Cromarty—is confronted with these +difficulties:—no robbery, no definite evidence of entry, no explanation +of Sir Reginald's extraordinary silence when the man appeared, no bad +characters in the neighbourhood, and, above all, no motive."</p> + +<p>At the end of this speech Simon shut his mouth tight and leaned back in +his chair. For a moment it seemed as though Ned Cromarty was impressed +by the lawyer's view of the case. But when he replied, his voice, though +deliberate had a fighting ring in it, and his single eye, a fighting +light.</p> + +<p>"Then you propose to leave this young couple under the most damnable +cloud of suspicion that a man and a woman could lie under—simply leave +'em there, and let that be the end of it?"</p> + +<p>Simon seemed to be divided between distaste for this way of putting the +case, and anxiety still to convince his visitor.</p> + +<p>"I propose to avoid the painful family scandal which further disclosures +and more publicity would almost certainly bring about; so long as I am +justified as Procurator Fiscal in taking this course. And until I get +more evidence, I am not only justified but forced to take this course."</p> + +<p>Ned suddenly jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"I'm no lawyer," said he, "but to me you seem to be arguing in the +damnedest circle I ever met. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>You won't do anything because you can't +get more evidence. And you won't look for more evidence because you +don't want to do anything."</p> + +<p>There was more than a hint of temper in Simon's eye and his answer was +rapped out sharply.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do not <i>want</i> to cause a family scandal. I haven't said all +I could say about Sir Malcolm if I were pressed."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"I've told you. Suspicion is not evidence, but if I do get evidence, +those who will suffer by it had better beware!"</p> + +<p>Ned turned at the door and surveyed him with a cool and caustic eye.</p> + +<p>"That's talk," he said, "and something has got to be <i>done</i>."</p> + +<p>He was gone, and Simon Rattar was left frowning at the closed door +behind him. The frown remained, but became now rather thoughtful than +indignant. Then he sprang up and began to pace the floor, deliberately +at first, and then more rapidly and with increasing agitation.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> + +<h3>£1200</h3> + +<p>Ned Cromarty had returned home and was going upstairs, when he heard a +voice cry:</p> + +<p>"Ned!"</p> + +<p>The ancient stone stair, spiralling up round the time-worn pillar that +seemed to have no beginning or end, gave at intervals on to doors which +looked like apertures in a cliff. Through one of these he turned and at +the end of a brief passage came to his sister's sitting room. In that +mediæval setting of ponderous stone, it looked almost fantastic in its +daintiness. It was a small room of many cushions and many colours, its +floor covered with the softest rugs and its walls with innumerable +photographs, largely of country houses where Miss Cromarty had visited.</p> + +<p>Evidently she was a lady accustomed to a comfortable life in her roving +days, and her sitting room seemed to indicate very distinctly that she +proposed to live up to this high standard permanently.</p> + +<p>"Oh Neddy dear, I want to talk to you about something," she began in her +brisk way and with her brightest smile.</p> + +<p>Her brother, though of a simple nature, was by this time aware that when +he was termed "Neddy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>dear" the conversation was apt to turn on Miss +Cromarty's requirements.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "how much is the cheque to be this time?"</p> + +<p>"How clever you're getting!" she laughed. "But it isn't a cheque I want +this time. It's only a motor car."</p> + +<p>He looked at her doubtfully for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Pulling my leg; or a real car?"</p> + +<p>"Real car of course—nice one too!"</p> + +<p>"But, my dear girl, we've just put down our car. You agreed it was +necessary."</p> + +<p>"I agreed then; but it isn't necessary now."</p> + +<p>"Have you come into a fortune? I haven't!"</p> + +<p>"You've come into £1200."</p> + +<p>Again he looked at her, and this time his expression changed.</p> + +<p>"That's only a debt wiped out."</p> + +<p>"Well, and your great argument for economy was that you had to pay back +that debt. Now you haven't. See, Neddy dear?"</p> + +<p>Her brother began to shake his head, and her smile became a little less +bright.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to get my affairs into a tangle again just yet."</p> + +<p>"But they weren't in a bad tangle. Cancelling that debt makes us +absolutely all right again. It's absurd for people like us not to have a +car! Look at the distances from our neighbours! One can't go anywhere. +I'll undertake to keep down the household expenses if you get the car."</p> + +<p>Her brother frowned out of the window.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p><p>"No," he said, "it's too soon to get a car again."</p> + +<p>"But you told me you had got part of that £1200 in hand and hoped to +make up the rest very soon. What are you going to do with the money +now?"</p> + +<p>He glanced at her over his shoulder for an instant and then his mouth +assumed a grim and obstinate look she knew too well.</p> + +<p>"I may need the money," he said briefly. "And I'm not much in the mood +at this moment for buying things."</p> + +<p>Behind his back Lilian made a little grimace. Then in a tone of sisterly +expostulation she said:</p> + +<p>"You are worrying too much over this affair, Ned. You've done all you +can——"</p> + +<p>He interrupted her brusquely:</p> + +<p>"And it's dashed little! What have I actually done? Nothing! One needs a +better man than me."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's your friend Silent Simon, and all the police—"</p> + +<p>"A fat lot of good they are!" said Ned.</p> + +<p>His sister looked a little surprised at his unusual shortness of temper. +To her he was very rarely like this.</p> + +<p>"You need a good day's shooting to take your mind off it for a little," +she suggested.</p> + +<p>He turned upon her hotly.</p> + +<p>"Do you know the story that's going about, Lilian?"</p> + +<p>"Sir Malcolm and the Farmond girl? Oh, rather," she nodded.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p><p>"Is that how it strikes you?"</p> + +<p>Lilian Cromarty jumped. There was something very formidable in her +brother's voice.</p> + +<p>"My dear Ned, don't frighten me! Eat me if you like, but eat me quietly. +I didn't say I believed the story."</p> + +<p>"I hope not," he said in the same grim tone, "but do you mean to say it +doesn't strike you as the damnedest slander ever spread?"</p> + +<p>"Between myself I hadn't called it the 'damnedest' anything. But how do +I know whether it's a slander?"</p> + +<p>"You actually think it might conceivably be true?"</p> + +<p>She shrugged her well-gowned shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I never could stand Malcolm Cromarty—a conceited little jackanapes. He +hasn't a penny and he was head over ears in debt."</p> + +<p>It was his turn to start.</p> + +<p>"Was he?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, rather! Didn't you know? Owed money everywhere."</p> + +<p>"But such a crime as that!"</p> + +<p>"A man with ties and hair like his is capable of anything. You know +quite well yourself he is a rotter."</p> + +<p>"Anyhow you can't believe Cicely Farmond had anything to do with it?"</p> + +<p>Again she shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"My dear Ned, I'm not a detective. A pretty face is no proof a woman is +a saint. I told you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>before that there was generally something in the +blood in those cases."</p> + +<p>As he stared at her, it seemed as though her words had indeed rushed +back to his memory, and that they hit him hard.</p> + +<p>"People don't say that, do they?" he asked in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Really, Ned, I don't know everything people say: but they are not +likely to overlook much in such a case."</p> + +<p>He stood for a moment in silence.</p> + +<p>"She—I mean they've both got to be cleared!" he said, and strode out of +the room.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE EMPTY COMPARTMENT</h3> + +<p>It was on this same evening that Superintendent Sutherland was almost +rewarded for his vigilance by having something distinctly suspicious to +report. As it happened, it proved a disappointing incident, but it gave +the superintendent something to think about.</p> + +<p>He was going a few stations down the line to investigate a rumour of a +suspicious person seen in that neighbourhood. It was a vague and +improbable rumour and the superintendent was setting out merely as a +matter of form, and to demonstrate his vigilance and almost abnormal +sense of duty. Darkness had already fallen for an hour or two when he +strode with dignified gait down the platform, exchanging a greeting with +an acquaintance or two, till he came to the front carriage of the train. +He threw open the door of the rear compartment, saw that it was empty, +and was just going to enter when glancing over his shoulder he perceived +his own cousin Mr. MacAlister upon the platform. Closing the door, he +stepped down again and greeted him.</p> + +<p>Mr. MacAlister hailed him with even more than usual friendliness, and +after a few polite preliminaries drew him insidiously towards the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>far +side of the platform. An intelligent, inveterate and persevering +curiosity was Mr. MacAlister's dominating characteristic, and as soon as +he had got his distinguished kinsman out of earshot of the herd, he +inquired in a hushed voice:</p> + +<p>"And what's doing aboot the murder noo, George?"</p> + +<p>The superintendent pursed his lips and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Aye, man, yon's a proper puzzle," said he.</p> + +<p>"But you'll have gotten a guid idea whae's din it by noo, George?" said +Mr. MacAlister persuasively.</p> + +<p>"Weel," admitted the superintendent, "we maybe have our notions, but +there's no evidence yet, Robbie; that's the fair truth. As the fiscal +says, there's no evidence."</p> + +<p>"I'd like fine to hae a crack wi' you aboot it, George," sighed Mr. +MacAlister. "I may tell you I've notions of ma own; no bad notions +either."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the superintendent, moving off, "I'd have enjoyed a crack +myself if it wasna that I've got to be off by this train—"</p> + +<p>"Man!" cried his kinsman, "I'm for off by her mysel'! Come on, we'll hae +our crack yet."</p> + +<p>The tickets had already been taken and the doors were closed as the two +recrossed the platform.</p> + +<p>"This carriage is empty," said the superintendent, and threw open the +door of the same compartment he had almost entered before.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p><p>But it was not empty now. In one of the further corners sat a man +wrapped in a dark coloured ulster. A black felt hat was drawn down over +his eyes, and his muffled face was resting on his hand. So much the +superintendent saw in the brief moment during which he stood at the open +door, and it struck him at once that the man must be suffering from +toothache. And then his cousin caught him by the arm and drew him back.</p> + +<p>"Here, man, the carriage next door is empty!" cried he, and the +superintendent closed the door and followed him.</p> + +<p>It was scarcely more than a minute later when the whistle blew and they +were off, and Mr. MacAlister took out his pipe and prepared himself to +receive official confidences. But the miles went by, and though he plied +his questions incessantly and skilfully, no confidences were +forthcoming. The superintendent, in fact, had something else to think +about. All at once he asked abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Robbie, did ye see yon man next door sitting with his face in his +hands?"</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Mr. MacAlister, "I noticed the man."</p> + +<p>"Did ye ken who he was?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. MacAlister, "I did not."</p> + +<p>"Had ye seen him on the platform?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. MacAlister, "I had not."</p> + +<p>"I didna see him myself," said the superintendent musingly. "It seems +funny-like a man dressed like yon and with his face wrapped up too—and +a man forbye that's a stranger to us <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>both, coming along the platform +and getting into that carriage, and me not noticing him. I'm not used +not to notice people, Robbie."</p> + +<p>"It's your business, George," said Mr. MacAlister, and then as he gazed +at his cousin's thoughtful face, his own grew suddenly animated.</p> + +<p>"You're not thinking he's to dae wi' the murder, are you!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure what to think till I've had another look into yon +carriage," said the superintendent cautiously.</p> + +<p>"We're slowing doon the noo!" cried Mr. MacAlister, "God, George, I'll +come and hae a look wi' you!"</p> + +<p>The train was hardly in the platform before the superintendent was out, +with Mr. MacAlister after him, and the door of the next compartment was +open almost as soon as the train was at rest. Never had the +superintendent been more vigilant; and never had his honest face looked +blanker.</p> + +<p>"God! It's empty!" he murmured.</p> + +<p>"God save us!" murmured Mr. MacAlister, and then he was visited by an +inspiration which struck his relative afterwards as one of the +unhappiest he had ever suffered from. "This canna be the richt +carriage!" he cried. "Come on, Geordie, let's hae a look in the ithers!"</p> + +<p>By the time they had looked into all the compartments of the carriage, +the guard was waving his flag and the two men climbed hurriedly in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>again. The brooding silence of the superintendent infected even Mr. +MacAlister, and neither spoke for several minutes. Then the +superintendent said bitterly:</p> + +<p>"It was you hurrying me off to look in thae other carriages, Robbie!"</p> + +<p>"What was?" inquired Mr. MacAlister a little nervously.</p> + +<p>"I ought to have stopped and looked under the seats!"</p> + +<p>Mr. MacAlister shook his head and declared firmly:</p> + +<p>"There was naething under the seats. I could see that fine. And onyhow +we can hae a look at the next stop."</p> + +<p>"As if he'll be waiting for us, now he kens we're looking for him!"</p> + +<p>"But there was naething there!" persisted Mr. MacAlister.</p> + +<p>"Then what's come over the man? Here were we sitting next the platform. +He can't have got out afore we started, or we'd have seen him. Folks +don't disappear into the air! I'll try under the seats, though I doubt +the man will have been up and out while we were wasting our time in yon +other carriages."</p> + +<p>At the next station they searched that mysterious compartment earnestly +and thoroughly, but there was not a sign of the muffled stranger, under +the seats or anywhere else. Again the superintendent was silent for a +space, and then he said confidentially:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p><p>"I'm just wondering if it's worth while reporting the thing, Robbie. The +fiscal might have a kin' of unpleasant way of looking at it. Besides, +there's really naething to report. Anyhow I'll think it over. And that +being the case, the less said the better. I can tell ye all that's known +about the case, Robbie; knowing that you'll be discreet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you can trust me," said Mr. MacAlister earnestly,—"I'll no breathe +a word o' yon man. Weel, now, you were saying you'd tell me the haill +story."</p> + +<p>By this judicious arrangement Mr. MacAlister got his money's worth of +sensational disclosures, and the superintendent was able to use his +discretion and think the incident over. He thought over it very hard and +finally decided that he was demonstrating his vigilance quite +sufficiently without mentioning the trifling mystery of the empty +compartment.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX</h2> + +<h3>THE SPORTING VISITOR</h3> + +<p>In summer and autumn, visitors were not uncommon in this remote +countryside; mostly shooting or fishing people who rented the country +houses, raised the local prices, and were described by the tradesmen as +benefiting the county greatly. But in late autumn and winter this +fertilising stream ceased to flow, and when the trains from the south +crawled in, the porters and the boots from the hotels resigned +themselves to welcoming a merely commercial form of traveller.</p> + +<p>It was therefore with considerable pleasure and surprise that they +observed one afternoon an unmistakeably sporting gentleman descend from +a first class compartment and survey them with a condescending yet +affable eye.</p> + +<p>"Which is the best of these hotels?" he demanded with an amiable smile, +as he surveyed through a single eyeglass the names on the caps of the +various boots.</p> + +<p>His engaging air disarmed the enquiry of embarrassment, and even when he +finally selected the Kings Arms Hotel, the other boots merely felt +regret that they had not secured so promising a client. His luggage +confirmed the first favourable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>impression. It included a gun case, a +bag of golf clubs, and one or two handsome leather articles. Evidently +he meant to make more than a passing visit, and as he strolled down the +platform, his leisurely nonchalant air and something even in the way in +which he smoked his cigarette in its amber holder, suggested a gentleman +who, having arrived here, was in no hurry to move on. On a luggage label +the approving boots noted the name of "F. T. Carrington."</p> + +<p>When he arrived at the Kings Arms, Mr. Carrington continued to produce +favourable impressions. He was a young man, apparently a little over +thirty, above middle height, with a round, ingenuous, very agreeable +face, smooth fair hair, a little, neatly trimmed moustache, and a +monocle that lent just the necessary touch of distinction to what might +otherwise have been a too good-humoured physiognomy. His tweed suit was +fashionably cut and of a distinctly sportive pattern, and he wore a pair +of light spats. In short, there could be no mistaking him for anything +but a gentleman of position and leisure with strong sporting +proclivities, and his manner amply confirmed this. It was in fact almost +indolent in its leisurely ease.</p> + +<p>Miss Peterkin, the capable manageress of the Kings Arms, was at first +disposed to think Mr. Carrington a trifle too superior, and, as she +termed it, "la-de-da," but a very few minutes' conversation with the +gentleman completely reassured her. He was so polite and so +good-humoured <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>and so ready to be pleased with everything he saw and +anything she suggested, that they became firm friends within ten minutes +of his arrival, and after Mr. Carrington had disposed of his luggage in +the bedroom and private sitting room which he engaged, and partaken of a +little dinner, she found herself welcoming him into her own sitting room +where a few choice spirits nightly congregated.</p> + +<p>It is true that these spirits, though choice, were hardly of what she +called Mr. Carrington's "class," but then in all her experience she had +never met a gentleman of such fashion and such a superior air, who +adapted himself so charmingly to any society. In fact, "charming" was +the very adjective for him, she decided.</p> + +<p>About his own business he was perfectly frank. He had heard of the +sporting possibilities of the county and had come to look out for a bit +of fishing or shooting; preferably fishing, for it seemed he was an +enthusiastic angler. Of course, it was too late in the season for any +fishing this year, but he was looking ahead as he preferred to see +things for himself instead of trusting to an agent's description. He had +brought his gun just on the chance of getting a day somewhere, and his +club in case there happened to be a golf links. In short, he seemed +evidently to be a young man of means who lived for sport; and what other +question could one ask about such a satisfactory type of visitor? +Absolutely none, in Miss Peterkin's opinion.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p><p>As a matter of fact, she found very early in the evening, and continued +to find thereafter, that the most engaging feature of Mr. Carrington's +character was the interest he took in other people's business, so that +the conversation very quickly strayed away from his own concerns—and +remained away. It was not that he showed any undue curiosity; far from +it. He was simply so sympathetic and such a good listener and put +questions that showed he was following everything you said to him in a +way that really very few people did. And, moreover, in spite of his +engaging frankness, there was an indefinable air of discretion about him +that made one feel safe to tell him practically everything. She herself +told him the sad story of her brother in Australia (a tale which, as a +rule, she told only to her special intimates) before he had been in her +room half an hour.</p> + +<p>But with the arrival of three or four choice spirits, the conversation +became more general, and it was naturally not long before it turned on +the greatest local sensation and mystery within the memory of man—the +Cromarty murder. Mr. Carrington's surprise was extreme when he realised +that he was actually in the county where the tragedy had occurred, +within a very few miles of the actual spot, in fact. Of course, he had +read about it in the papers, but only cursorily, it seemed, and he had +no idea he was coming into the identical district that had acquired such +a sinister notoriety.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p><p>"By Jove!" he exclaimed more than once when he had made this discovery, +"I say, how interesting!"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Miss Peterkin with becoming pride, "we are getting quite +famous, I can assure you, Mr. Carrington."</p> + +<p>"Rather so!" cried he, "I've read quite a lot about this Carnegie +case——"</p> + +<p>"Cromarty," corrected one of the spirits.</p> + +<p>"Cromarty, of course, I mean! I'm rather an ass at names, I'm afraid." +The young man smiled brightly and all the spirits sympathised. "Oh yes, +I've seen it reported in the papers. And now to think here I am in the +middle of it, by George! How awfully interesting! I say, Miss Peterkin, +what about these gentlemen having another wee droppie with me, all +round, just to celebrate the occasion?"</p> + +<p>With such an appreciative and hospitable audience, Miss Peterkin and the +choice spirits spent a long and delightful evening in retailing every +known circumstance of the drama, and several that were certainly unknown +to the authorities. He was vastly interested, though naturally very +shocked, to hear who was commonly suspected of the crime.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say his own heir—and a young girl like that——? By +Jove, I say, how dreadful!" he exclaimed, and, in fact, he would hardly +believe such a thing conceivable until all the choice spirits in turn +had assured him that there was practically no doubt about it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p><p>The energetic part played by Mr. Simon Rattar in unravelling the dark +skein, or at least in trying to, was naturally described at some length, +and Mr. Carrington showed his usual sympathetic, and, one might almost +say, entranced appreciation of the many facts told him concerning that +local celebrity.</p> + +<p>Finally Miss Peterkin insisted on getting out the back numbers of the +local paper giving the full details of the case, and with many thanks he +took these off to read before he went to bed.</p> + +<p>"But mind you don't give yourself the creeps and keep yourself from +going to sleep, Mr. Carrington!" she warned him with the last words.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, that's an awful thought!" he exclaimed, and then his eyes +twinkled. "Send me up another whisky and soda to cure the creeps!" said +he.</p> + +<p>Miss Peterkin thought he was quite one of the pleasantest, and promised +to be one of the most profitable gentlemen she had met for a very long +time.</p> + +<p>Next morning he assured her he had kept the creeps at bay sufficiently +to enjoy an excellent night's sleep in a bed that did the management +credit. In fact, he had thoroughly enjoyed reading the mystery and had +even begun to feel some curiosity to see the scene of the tragedy. He +proposed to have a few walks and drives through the neighbouring +country, he said, looking at its streams and lochs with an eye to +sporting possibilities, and it would be interesting to be able to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>recognise Keldale House if he chanced to pass near it.</p> + +<p>Miss Peterkin told him which road led to Keldale and how the house might +be recognised, and suggested that he should walk out that way this very +morning. He seemed a little doubtful; spoke of his movements as things +that depended very much on the whim of the moment, just as such an +easy-going young man would be apt to do, and rather indicated that a +shorter walk would suit him better that morning.</p> + +<p>And then a few minutes later she saw him saunter past her window, +wearing a light gray felt hat at a graceful angle and apparently taking +a sympathetic interest in a small boy trying to mount a bicycle.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> + +<h3>MR. CARRINGTON'S WALK</h3> + +<p>Mr. Carrington's easy saunter lasted till he had turned out of the +street on which the Kings Arms stood, when it passed into an easy walk. +Though he had seemed, on the whole, disinclined to go in the Keldale +direction that morning, nevertheless he continued to head that way till +at last he was on the high road with the little town behind him; and +then his pace altered again. He stepped out now like the sportsman he +was, and was doing a good four miles an hour by the time he was out of +sight of the last houses.</p> + +<p>For a man who had come out to gather ideas as to the sporting +possibilities of the country, Mr. Carrington seemed to pay singularly +little attention to his surroundings. He appeared, in fact, to be +thinking about something else all the time, and the first sign of +interest he showed in anything outside his thoughts was when he found +himself within sight of the lodge gates of Keldale House, with the +avenue sweeping away from the road towards the roofs and chimneys amid +the trees. At the sight of this he stopped, and leaning over the low +wall at the road side gazed with much interest at the scene of the +tragedy he had heard so much of last night. The choice spirits, had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>they been there to see, would have been gratified to find that their +graphic narratives had sent this indolent looking gentleman to view the +spot so swiftly.</p> + +<p>From the house and grounds his eye travelled back to the road and then +surveyed the surrounding country very attentively. He even stood on top +of the wall to get a wider view; and then all of a sudden he jumped down +again and adopted the reverse procedure, bending now so that little more +than his head appeared above the wall. And the reason for this change of +plan appeared to be a figure which had emerged from the trees and began +to move along a path between the fields.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington studied this figure with concentrated attention, and as +it drew nearer and became more distinct, a light leapt into his eye that +gave him a somewhat different expression from any his acquaintances of +last night had observed. He saw that the path followed a small stream +and ran at an angle to the high road, joining it at last at a point some +little distance back towards the town. He looked quickly up and down the +road. Not a soul was in sight to see his next very curious performance. +The leisurely Mr. Carrington crossed to the further side, where he was +invisible from the path, and then set out to run at a rapid pace till he +reached the junction of path and road. And then he turned down the path.</p> + +<p>But now his bearing altered again in a very extraordinary <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>way. His gait +fell once more to a saunter and his angling enthusiasm seemed suddenly +to have returned, for he frequently studied the burn as he strolled +along, and there was no sign of any thoughtfulness on his ingenuous +countenance. There were a few willows beside the path, and the path +itself meandered, and this was doubtless the reason why he appeared +entirely unconscious of the approach of another foot passenger till they +were within a few yards of one another. And then Mr. Carrington stopped +suddenly, seemed to hesitate, pulled out his watch and glanced at it, +and then with an apologetic air raised his hat.</p> + +<p>The other foot passenger was face to face with him now, a slim figure in +black, with a sweet, serious face.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said Mr. Carrington, "but can you tell me where this path +leads?"</p> + +<p>He was so polite and so evidently anxious to give no offence, and his +face was such a certificate to his amiable character that the girl +stopped too and answered without hesitation:</p> + +<p>"It leads to Keldale House."</p> + +<p>"Keldale House?" he repeated, and then the idea seemed to arouse +associations. "By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Really? I'm an utter stranger +here, but isn't that the place where the murder took place?"</p> + +<p>Had Mr. Carrington been a really observant man, one would think he would +have noticed the sudden change of expression in the girl's face—as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>if +he had aroused painful thoughts. He did seem to look at her for an +instant as he asked the question, but then turned his gaze towards the +distant glimpse of the house.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she murmured and looked as though she wanted to pass on; but Mr. +Carrington seemed so excited by his discovery that he never noticed this +and still stood right in her path.</p> + +<p>"How very interesting!" he murmured. "By Jove, how very interesting!" +And then with the air of passing on a still more interesting piece of +news, he said suddenly, "I hear they have arrested Sir Malcolm +Cromarty."</p> + +<p>This time he kept his monocle full on her.</p> + +<p>"Arrested him!" she cried. "What for?"</p> + +<p>This question, put with the most palpable wonder, seemed to disconcert +Mr. Carrington considerably. He even hesitated in a very unusual way for +him.</p> + +<p>"For—for the murder, of course."</p> + +<p>Her eyes opened very wide.</p> + +<p>"For Sir Reginald's murder? How ridiculous!"</p> + +<p>Again Mr. Carrington seemed a little disconcerted.</p> + +<p>"Er—why is it ridiculous?" he asked. "Of course, I—I know nothing +about the gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Evidently!" she agreed with reproach in her eyes. "If Sir Malcolm +really has been arrested, it can only have been for something quite +silly. He couldn't commit a murder!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p><p>The fact that this tribute to the baronet's innocence was not wholly +devoid of a flavour of criticism seemed to strike Mr. Carrington, for +his eye twinkled for an instant.</p> + +<p>"You are acquainted with him then?" said he.</p> + +<p>"I am staying at Keldale; in fact, I am a relation."</p> + +<p>There was no doubt of her intention to rebuke the too garrulous +gentleman by this information, and it succeeded completely. He passed at +once to the extreme of apology.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I beg your pardon!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea. Really, I hope +you will accept my apologies, Miss—er—Cromarty."</p> + +<p>"Miss Farmond," she corrected.</p> + +<p>"Miss Farmond, I mean. It was frightfully tactless of me!"</p> + +<p>He said it so nicely and looked so innocently guilty and so contrite, +that her look lost its touch of indignation.</p> + +<p>"I still can't understand what you mean about Sir Malcolm being +arrested," she said. "How did you hear?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I was very likely misinformed. An old fellow at the hotel last +night was saying so."</p> + +<p>Her eye began to grow indignant again.</p> + +<p>"What old fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Red hair, shaky knees, bit of a stammer, answers to the name of Sandy, +I believe."</p> + +<p>"Old Sandy Donaldson!" she exclaimed. "That drunken old thing! He was +simply talking nonsense as usual!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p><p>"He seemed a little in liquor," he admitted, "but you see I am a mere +stranger. I didn't realise what a loose authority I quoted. There is +nothing in the report, I am certain. And this path leads only to Keldale +House? Thank you very much. Good morning!"</p> + +<p>How Mr. Carrington had obtained this erroneous information from a person +whose back he had merely seen for a couple of minutes the night before, +as the reprobate in question was being ejected from the Kings Arms, he +did not stop to explain. In fact, at this point he showed no inclination +to continue the conversation, but bowing very politely, continued his +stroll.</p> + +<p>But the effect of the conversation on him remained, and a very marked +effect it appeared to be. He took no interest in the burn any longer, +but paced slowly on, his eyes sometimes on the path and sometimes +staring upwards at the Heavens. So far as his face revealed his +sensations, they seemed to be compounded of surprise and perplexity. +Several times he shook his head as though some very baffling point had +cropped up in his thoughts, and once he murmured:</p> + +<p>"I'm damned!"</p> + +<p>When the path reached the policies of the house, he stopped and seemed +to take some interest in his surroundings once more. For a moment it was +clear that he was tempted to enter the plantations, and then he shook +his head and turned back.</p> + +<p>All the way home he remained immersed in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>thought and only recovered his +nonchalant air as he entered the door of the Kings Arms. He was the same +easy-going, smiling young man of fashion as he passed the time of day +with Miss Peterkin; but when he had shut the door of his private sitting +room and dropped into an easy chair over the fire, he again became so +absorbed in thought that he had to be reminded that the hour of luncheon +had passed.</p> + +<p>Thought seemed to vanish during lunch, but when he had retired to his +room again, it returned for another half hour. At the end of that time +he apparently came to a decision, and jumping up briskly, repaired to +the manageress' room. And when Miss Peterkin was taken into his +confidence, it appeared that the whole problem had merely concerned the +question of taking either a shooting or a fishing for next season.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking," said he, "that my best plan will perhaps be to +call upon Mr. Simon Rattar and see whether he knows of anything to let. +I gather that he is agent for several estates in the county. What do you +advise?"</p> + +<p>Miss Peterkin decidedly advised this course, so a few minutes later Mr. +Carrington strolled off towards the lawyer's office.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII</h2> + +<h3>MR. CARRINGTON AND THE FISCAL</h3> + +<p>The card handed in to Mr. Simon Rattar contained merely the name "Mr. F. +T. Carrington" and the address "Sports Club." Simon gazed at it +cautiously and in silence for the better part of a minute, and when he +glanced up at his head clerk to tell him that Mr. Carrington might be +admitted, Mr. Ison was struck by the curious glint in his eye. It seemed +to him to indicate that the fiscal was very wide awake at that moment; +it struck him also that Mr. Rattar was not altogether surprised by the +appearance of this visitor.</p> + +<p>The agreeable stranger began by explaining very frankly that he thought +of renting a place for next season where he could secure good fishing +and a little shooting, and wondered if any of the properties Mr. Rattar +was agent for would suit him. Simon grunted and waited for this overture +to develop.</p> + +<p>"What about Keldale House?" the sporting visitor suggested. "That's the +place where the murder was committed, isn't it?" and then he laughed. +"Your eye betrays you, Mr. Rattar!" said he.</p> + +<p>The lawyer seemed to start ever so slightly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p><p>"Indeed?" he murmured.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Carrington with a candid smile, "let's put our cards +on the table. You know my business?"</p> + +<p>"Are you a detective?" asked the lawyer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington smiled and nodded.</p> + +<p>"I am; or rather I prefer to call myself a private enquiry agent. People +expect so much of a detective, don't they?"</p> + +<p>Simon grunted, but made no other comment.</p> + +<p>"In a case like this," continued Carrington, "when one is called in +weeks too late and the household broom and scrubbing brush and garden +rake have removed most of the possible clues, and witnesses' +recollections have developed into picturesque legends, it is better to +rouse as few expectations as possible, since it is probably impossible +to find anything out. However, in the capacity of a mere enquiry agent I +have come to pick up anything I can. May I smoke?"</p> + +<p>He asked in his usual easy-going voice and with his usual candid smile, +and then his eye was arrested by an inscription printed in capital +letters, and hung in a handsome frame upon the office wall. It ran:</p> + +<p class="center">"MY THREE RULES OF LIFE,</p> + +<p class="left">1. I DO NOT SMOKE.</p> + +<p class="left">2. I LAY BY A THIRD OF MY INCOME.</p> + +<p class="left">3. I NEVER RIDE WHEN I CAN WALK."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p><p>Beneath these precepts appeared the lithographed signature of an eminent +philanthropist, but it seemed reasonable to assume that they also formed +the guiding maxims of Mr. Simon Rattar.</p> + +<p>His visitor politely apologised for his question.</p> + +<p>"I had not noticed this warning," said he.</p> + +<p>"Smoke if you like. My clients sometimes do. I don't myself," said the +lawyer.</p> + +<p>His visitor thanked him, placed a cigarette in his amber holder, lit it, +and let his eyes follow the smoke upwards.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar, on his part, seemed in his closest, most taciturn humour. +His grunt and his nod had, in fact, seldom formed a greater proportion +of his conversation. He made no further comment at all now, but waited +in silence for his visitor to proceed.</p> + +<p>"Well," resumed Carrington, "the simple facts of the case are these. I +have been engaged through a certain firm of London lawyers, whose name I +am not permitted to mention, on behalf of a person whose name I don't +know."</p> + +<p>At this a flash of keen interest showed for an instant in Simon's eye; +and then it became as cold as ever again.</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" said he.</p> + +<p>"I am allowed to incur expense," continued the other, "up to a certain +figure, which is so handsome that it gives me practically a free hand, +so far as that is concerned. On the other hand, the arrangement entails +certain difficulties which I daresay you, Mr. Rattar, as a lawyer, and +especially <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>as a Procurator Fiscal accustomed to investigate cases of +crime, will readily understand."</p> + +<p>"Quite so; quite so," agreed Mr. Rattar, who seemed to be distinctly +relaxing already from his guarded attitude.</p> + +<p>"I arrived last night, put up at the Kings Arms—where I gathered +beforehand that the local gossip could best be collected, and in the +course of the evening I collected enough to hang at least two people; +and in the course of a few more evenings I shall probably have enough to +hang half a dozen—if one can believe, say, a twentieth of what one +hears. This morning I strolled out to Keldale House and had a look at it +from the road, and I learned that it was a large mansion standing among +trees. That's all I have been able to do so far."</p> + +<p>"Nothing more than that?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington seemed to have a singularly short memory.</p> + +<p>"I think that's the lot," said he. "And what is more, it seems to me the +sum total of all I am likely to do without a little assistance from +somebody in possession of rather more authentic facts than my friend +Miss Peterkin and her visitors."</p> + +<p>"I quite understand," said the lawyer; and it was plain that his +interest was now thoroughly enlisted.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Mr. Carrington, "I thought things over, and rightly or +wrongly, I came to this decision. My employer, whoever he is, has made +it an absolute condition that his name is not to be known. His reasons +may have been the best <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>imaginable, but it obviously made it impossible +for me to get any information out of <i>him</i>. For my own reasons I always +prefer to make my enquiries in these cases in the guise of an +unsuspected outsider, whenever it is possible; and it happens to be +particularly possible in this case, since nobody here knows me from +Adam. But I must get facts—as distinguished from the Kings Arms' +gossip, and how was I to get them without giving myself away? That was +the problem, and I soon realised that it was insoluble. I saw I must +confide in somebody, and so I came to the decision to confide in you."</p> + +<p>Simon nodded and made a sound that seemed to indicate distinctly his +opinion that Mr. Carrington had come to a sensible decision.</p> + +<p>"You were the obvious person for several reasons," resumed Carrington. +"In the first place you could pretty safely be regarded as above +suspicion yourself—if you will pardon my associating even the word +suspicion with a Procurator Fiscal." He smiled his most agreeable smile +and the Fiscal allowed his features to relax sympathetically. "In the +second place you know more about the case than anybody else. And in the +third place, I gather that you are—if I may say so, a gentleman of +unusual discretion."</p> + +<p>Again he smiled pleasantly, and again Mr. Rattar's features relaxed.</p> + +<p>"Finally," added Carrington, "I thought it long odds that you were +either actually my employer or acting for him, and therefore I should +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>be giving nothing away by telling you my business. And when I mentioned +Keldale House and the murder I saw that I was right!"</p> + +<p>He laughed, and Simon permitted himself to smile. Yet his answer was as +cautious as ever.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Carrington?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Carrington, "if you actually are my employer and we both +lay our cards on the table, there's much to be gained, and—if I may say +so—really nothing to be lost. I won't give you away if you won't give +me."</p> + +<p>The lawyer's nod seemed to imply emphatic assent, and the other went on:</p> + +<p>"I'll keep you informed of everything I'm doing and anything I may +happen to discover, and you can give me very valuable information as to +what precisely is known already. Otherwise, of course, one could hardly +exchange confidences so freely. Frankly then, you engaged me to come +down here?"</p> + +<p>Even then Simon's caution seemed to linger for an instant. The next he +answered briefly but decidedly:</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Very well, now to business. I got a certain amount of literature on the +case before I left town, and Miss Peterkin gave me some very valuable +additions in the shape of the accounts in the local papers. Are there +any facts known to you or the police beyond those I have read?"</p> + +<p>Simon considered the question and then shook his head.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p><p>"None that I can think of, and I fear the local police will be able to +add no information that can assist you."</p> + +<p>"They are the usual not too intelligent country bobbies, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Quite so," said Simon.</p> + +<p>"In that case," asked Mr. Carrington, still in his easy voice, but with +a quick turn of his eyeglass towards the lawyer, "why was no outside +assistance called in at once?"</p> + +<p>For a moment Simon Rattar's satisfaction with his visitor seemed to be +diminished. He seemed, in fact, a little disconcerted, and his reply +again became little more than a grunt.</p> + +<p>"Quite satisfied with them," seemed to be the reading of his answer.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Carrington, "no doubt you knew best, Mr. Rattar."</p> + +<p>His eyes thoughtfully followed the smoke of his cigarette upwards for a +moment, and then he said:</p> + +<p>"That being so, my first step had better be to visit Keldale House and +see whether it is still possible to find any small point the local +professionals have overlooked."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar seemed to disapprove of this.</p> + +<p>"Nothing to discover," said he. "And they will know what you have come +about."</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington smiled.</p> + +<p>"I think, Mr. Rattar, that, on the whole, my appearance provokes no +great amount of suspicion."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p><p>"Your appearance, no," admitted Simon, "but—"</p> + +<p>"Well, if I go to Keldale armed with a card of introduction from you, to +make enquiry about the shootings, I think I can undertake to turn the +conversation on to other matters without exciting suspicion."</p> + +<p>"Conversation with whom?" enquired the lawyer sceptically.</p> + +<p>"I had thought of Mr. Bisset, the butler."</p> + +<p>"Oh—" began Mr. Rattar with a note of surprise, and then pulled himself +up.</p> + +<p>"Yes," smiled Mr. Carrington, "I have picked up a little about the +household. My friends of last night were exceedingly communicative—very +gossipy indeed. I rather gather that omniscience is Mr. Bisset's foible, +and that he is not averse from conversation."</p> + +<p>The look in Simon's eye seemed to indicate that his respect for this +easy-going young man was increasing; though whether his liking for him +was also increased thereby was not so manifest. His reply was again a +mere grunt.</p> + +<p>"Well, that can easily be arranged," said Carrington, "and it is +obviously the first thing to do."</p> + +<p>He blew a ring of smoke from his lips, skilfully sent a second ring in +chase of it, and then turning his monocle again on the lawyer, enquired +(though not in a tone that seemed to indicate any very acute interest in +the question):</p> + +<p>"Who do you think yourself murdered Sir Reginald Cromarty?"</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII</h2> + +<h3>SIMON'S VIEWS</h3> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Rattar deliberately, "I think myself that the actual +evidence is very slight and extremely inclusive."</p> + +<p>"You mean the direct evidence afforded by the unfastened window, +position of the body, table said to have been overturned, and so forth?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. That evidence is slight, but so far as it goes it seems to me +to point to entry by the door and to the man having been in the house +for some little time previously."</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Carrington in an encouraging voice.</p> + +<p>"So much for the direct evidence. I may be wrong, but that is my decided +opinion. No bad characters are known to the police to have been in the +county at that time, and there was no robbery."</p> + +<p>"Apparently confirming the direct evidence?"</p> + +<p>"Decidedly confirming it—or so it seems to me."</p> + +<p>"Then you think there is something in the popular theory that the +present baronet and Miss Farmond were the guilty parties?"</p> + +<p>Simon was silent for a moment, but his face was unusually expressive.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p><p>"I fear it looks like it."</p> + +<p>"An unpleasant conclusion for you to come to," observed Mr. Carrington. +"You are the family lawyer, I understand."</p> + +<p>"Very unpleasant," Mr. Rattar agreed. "But, of course, there is no +absolute proof."</p> + +<p>"Naturally; or they'd have been arrested by now. What sort of a fellow +is Sir Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"My own experience of him," said the lawyer drily, "is chiefly confined +to his visits to my office to borrow money of me."</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" said Carrington with interest. "That sort of fellow, is he? He +writes, I understand."</p> + +<p>Simon nodded.</p> + +<p>"Any other known vices?"</p> + +<p>"I know little about his vices except that they cost him considerably +more than he could possibly have paid, had it not been for Sir +Reginald's death."</p> + +<p>"So the motive is plain enough. Any evidence against him?"</p> + +<p>Simon pursed his lips and became exceedingly grave.</p> + +<p>"When questioned next morning by the superintendent of police and +myself, he led us to understand that he had retired to bed early and was +in no position to hear or notice anything. I have since found that he +was in the habit of sitting up late."</p> + +<p>"'In the habit,'" repeated Carrington quickly. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>"But you don't suggest +he sat up that night in particular?"</p> + +<p>"Undoubtedly he sat up that night."</p> + +<p>"But merely as he always did?"</p> + +<p>"He might have been waiting for his chance on the previous nights."</p> + +<p>Carrington smoked thoughtfully for a moment and then asked:</p> + +<p>"But there is no evidence that he left his room or was heard moving +about that night, is there?"</p> + +<p>"There is not yet any positive evidence. But he was obviously in a +position to do so."</p> + +<p>"Was his room near or over the library?"</p> + +<p>"N—no," said the fiscal, and there seemed to be a hint of reluctance in +his voice.</p> + +<p>Carrington glanced at him quickly and then gazed up at the ceiling.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a girl is Miss Farmond?" he enquired next.</p> + +<p>"She is the illegitimate daughter of a brother of the late Sir +Reginald's."</p> + +<p>Carrington nodded.</p> + +<p>"So I gathered from the local gossips. But that fact is hardly against +her, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>Carrington looked a little surprised.</p> + +<p>"Girls don't generally murder their uncles for choice, in my own +experience; especially if they are also their benefactors."</p> + +<p>"This was hardly the usual relationship," said the lawyer with a touch +of significance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p><p>"Do you suggest that the irregularity is apt to breed crime?"</p> + +<p>Simon's grunt seemed to signify considerable doubt as to the morals of +the type of relative.</p> + +<p>"But what sort of girl is she otherwise?"</p> + +<p>"I should call Miss Farmond the insinuating type. A young man like +yourself would probably find her very attractive—at first anyhow."</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington seemed to ponder for a moment on this suggestive +description of Miss Farmond's allurements. And then he asked:</p> + +<p>"Is it the case that she is engaged to Sir Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"You are sure?"</p> + +<p>Something in his voice seemed to make the lawyer reflect.</p> + +<p>"Is it called in question?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Carrington shook his head.</p> + +<p>"By nobody who has spoken to me on the subject. But I understand that it +has not yet been announced."</p> + +<p>"No," said Simon. "It was a secret engagement; and marriage would have +been impossible while Sir Reginald lived."</p> + +<p>"So there we get the motive on her part. And you yourself, Mr. Rattar, +<i>know</i> both these young people, and you believe that this accusation +against them is probably well founded?"</p> + +<p>"I believe, Mr. Carrington, that there is no proof and probably never +will be any; but all the evidence, positive and negative, together with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>the question of motive, points to nobody else. What alternative is +possible?"</p> + +<p>"That is the difficulty, so far," agreed Carrington, but his thoughts at +the moment seemed to be following his smoke rings up towards the +ceiling. For a few moments he was silent, and then he asked:</p> + +<p>"What other people benefited by the will and to what extent?"</p> + +<p>The lawyer went to his safe, brought out the will, and read through the +legacies to the servants, mentioning that the chauffeur and gardener +were excluded by circumstances from suspicion.</p> + +<p>"That leaves Mr. Bisset," observed Carrington. "Well, I shall be seeing +him to-morrow. Any other legatees who might conceivably have committed +the crime?"</p> + +<p>Simon looked serious and spoke with a little reluctance that he seemed +to make no effort to conceal.</p> + +<p>"There is a relative of the family, a Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland, who +certainly benefited considerably by the will and who certainly lives in +the neighbourhood—if one once admitted the possibility of the crime +being committed by some one outside the house. And I admit that it is a +possibility."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Carrington. "I heard about him last night, but so far +suspicion certainly hasn't fastened on him. What sort of a fellow is +he?"</p> + +<p>"He has lived the greater part of his life in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>the wilder parts of +America—rather what one might call a rough and ready customer."</p> + +<p>It was apparent that Mr. Carrington, for all his easy-going air, was +extremely interested.</p> + +<p>"This is quite interesting!" he murmured. "To what extent did he benefit +by the will?"</p> + +<p>"£1,200."</p> + +<p>"£1,200!" Carrington repeated the words with an odd intonation and +stared very hard at the lawyer. There was no doubt that his interest was +highly excited now, and yet it seemed to be rather a different quality +of interest this time.</p> + +<p>"A considerable sum," said Simon.</p> + +<p>"That is the only point about it which strikes you?"</p> + +<p>Simon was manifestly puzzled.</p> + +<p>"What else?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"No coincidence occurs to you?"</p> + +<p>The lawyer's puzzled look remained, and the next instant Carrington +broke into a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Mr. Rattar," he cried. "What an owl I am! I have +just been dealing lately with a case where that sum of money was +involved, and for the moment I mixed the two up together!" He laughed +again, and then resuming his businesslike air, asked: "Now, what else +about this Mr. Cromarty? You say he is a relation. Near or distant?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, quite distant. Another branch altogether."</p> + +<p>"Younger branch, I presume."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p><p>"Poorer but not younger. He is said to be the head of the family."</p> + +<p>"Really!" exclaimed Mr. Carrington, and this information seemed to have +set him thinking again. "He is the head of the family, and I hear he +took up the case with some energy."</p> + +<p>Simon's grunt seemed to be critical.</p> + +<p>"He got in our way," he said.</p> + +<p>"Got in your way, did he?"</p> + +<p>Carrington was silent for a few moments, and then said:</p> + +<p>"Well I am afraid I have taken up a great deal of your time. May I have +a line of introduction to Mr. Bisset before I go?"</p> + +<p>While the line was being written he walked over to the fire and cleared +the stump of his last cigarette out of the holder. This operation was +very deliberately performed, and through it his eyes seemed scarcely to +note what his hands were doing.</p> + +<p>He put the note in his pocket, shook hands, and then, just as he was +going, he said:</p> + +<p>"I want to understand the lie of the land as exactly as possible. Your +own attitude, so far has been, I take it—no proof, therefore no arrest; +but a nasty family scandal left festering, so you decided to call me in. +Now, I want to know this—is there anybody else in the neighbourhood who +knows that I have been sent for?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Rattar replied with even more than his usual deliberation, and after +what is said by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>foreigners to be the national habit, his reply +consisted of another question.</p> + +<p>"You say that your employer made a particular point of having his +identity concealed?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a particular point."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't that answer your question, Mr. Carrington?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Carrington, "not in the least. I am asking now whether there +is any other employer in this neighbourhood besides yourself. And I may +say that I ask for the very good reason that it might be awkward for me +if there were and I didn't know him, while if I did know him, I could +consult with him if it happened to be advisable. Is there any one?"</p> + +<p>He seemed to hang on the lawyer's answer, and Simon to dislike making +the answer.</p> + +<p>Yet when he did make it, it was quite emphatic.</p> + +<p>"No," he replied.</p> + +<p>"That's all right then," said Mr. Carrington with his brightest smile. +"Good afternoon, Mr. Rattar."</p> + +<p>The smile faded from his ingenuous face the moment the door had closed +behind him, and it was a very thoughtful Mr. Carrington who slowly went +downstairs and strolled along the pavement. If his morning's interview +had puzzled him, his afternoon's interview seemed to have baffled him +completely. He even forgot to relapse into the thoughtless young +sportsman when he entered the hotel, and his friend the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>manageress, +after eyeing him with great surprise, cried archly:</p> + +<p>"A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Carrington! About shooting or fishing, +I'm sure!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington recovered his pleasant spirits instantly.</p> + +<p>"Quite right," said he. "I was thinking about fishing—in very deep +waters."</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV</h2> + +<h3>MR. BISSET'S ASSISTANT</h3> + +<p>At eleven o'clock next morning a motor car drove up to Keldale House and +an exceedingly affable and pleasing stranger delivered a note from Mr. +Simon Rattar to Mr. James Bisset. Even without an introduction, Mr. +Carrington would have been welcome, for though Mr. Bisset's sway over +Keldale House was by this time almost despotic, he had begun to find +that despotism has its lonely side, and to miss "the gentry." With an +introduction, Mr. Carrington quickly discovered that Mr. Bisset and the +mansion he supervised were alike entirely at his disposal.</p> + +<p>The preliminary discussion on the sporting possibilities of the estate +and the probability of its being let next season impressed Mr. Bisset +very favourably indeed with his visitor; and then when the conversation +had passed very naturally to the late tragedy in the house, he was still +further delighted to find that Mr. Carrington not only shared his own +detective enthusiasm, but was vastly interested in his views on this +particular mystery.</p> + +<p>"Come along here, sir," said he, "we can just <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>have a look at the +library and I'll explain to you the principles of the thing."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see the actual scene of the crime immensely!" cried Mr. +Carrington eagerly. "You are sure that Lady Cromarty won't object?"</p> + +<p>"Not her," said Bisset. "She's never in this part of the house now. +She'll be none the wiser anyhow."</p> + +<p>This argument seemed to assure Mr. Carrington completely, and they went +along to the library.</p> + +<p>"Now," began Bisset, "I'll just explain to you the haill situation. Here +where I'm laying this sofie cushion was the corp. Here where I'm +standing the now was the wee table, and yon's the table itself."</p> + +<p>To the disquisition that followed, Mr. Carrington listened with the most +intelligent air. Bisset had by this time evolved quite a number of new +theories, but the one feature common to them all was the hypothesis that +the murderer must have come in by the window and was certainly not an +inmate of the household. His visitor said little till he had finished, +and then he remarked:</p> + +<p>"Well, Bisset, you don't seem to put much faith in the current theory, I +see."</p> + +<p>"Meaning that Sir Malcolm and Miss Farmond were concerned?" said Bisset +indignantly. "That's just the ignorance of the uneducated masses, sir! +The thing's physically impossible, as I've just been demonstrating!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p><p>Carrington smiled and gently shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I don't know much about these things," said he, "but I'm afraid I can't +see the physical impossibility. It was very easy for any one in the +house to come downstairs and open that door, and if Sir Reginald knew +him, it would account for his silence and the absence of any kind of a +struggle."</p> + +<p>"But yon table and the windie being unfastened! And the mud I picked up +myself—and the hearth brush!"</p> + +<p>"They scarcely make it impossible," said Carrington.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," demanded the butler, "what's your own theory?"</p> + +<p>Carrington said nothing for several minutes. He strolled up and down the +room, looked at the table and the window, and at last asked:</p> + +<p>"Do you remember quite distinctly what Sir Reginald looked like when you +found him—the position of the body—condition of the clothes—and +everything else?"</p> + +<p>"I see him lying there every night o' my life, just as plain as I see +you now!"</p> + +<p>"The feet were towards the door, just as though he had been facing the +door when he was struck down?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, but then my view is the body was moved——"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a curious performance on Mr. Carrington's part. +His visitor was in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>fact stretching himself out on the floor on the spot +where Sir Reginald was found.</p> + +<p>"He lay like this?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Aye, practically just like that, sir."</p> + +<p>"Now, Bisset," said the recumbent visitor, "just have a very good look +at me and tell me if you notice any difference between me and the body +of Sir Reginald."</p> + +<p>Bisset looked for a few seconds and then exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Your clothes are no alike! The master's coat was kind of pulled up like +about his shoulders and neck. Oh, and I mind now the tag at the back for +hanging it up was broken and sticking out."</p> + +<p>Carrington sprang to his feet with a gleam in his eye.</p> + +<p>"The tag was not broken before he put on the coat?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly was not that! But what's your deduction, sir?"</p> + +<p>Carrington smiled at him.</p> + +<p>"What do you think yourself, Bisset? You saw how I threw myself down +quite carelessly and yet my coat wasn't pulled up like that."</p> + +<p>"God, sir!" cried the butler. "You mean the corp had been pulled along +the floor by the shoulders!"</p> + +<p>Carrington nodded.</p> + +<p>"Then he had been killed near the windie!"</p> + +<p>"Not too fast, not too fast!" smiled Carrington. "Your own first +statement which I happened <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>to read in a back number of the newspaper +the other day said that the windows were all fastened when Sir Reginald +came into the room."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I've been altering my opinion on that point, sir."</p> + +<p>Carrington shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid because a fastened window doesn't suit your theory."</p> + +<p>"But the master might have opened it to him, thinking it was some one he +knew."</p> + +<p>"Sounds improbable," said Carrington thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"But not just absolutely impossible."</p> + +<p>"No," said Carrington, still very thoughtfully, "not impossible."</p> + +<p>"Sir Reginald might never have seen it was a stranger till the man was +fairly inside."</p> + +<p>Carrington smiled and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Thin, Bisset; very thin. Why need the man have been a stranger at all?"</p> + +<p>Bisset's face fell.</p> + +<p>"But surely you're not believing yon story that it was Sir Malcolm and +Miss Farmond after a'?"</p> + +<p>His visitor stood absolutely silent for a full minute. Then he seemed +suddenly to banish the line of thought he was following.</p> + +<p>"Is it quite certain that those two are engaged?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Bisset's face showed his surprise at the question.</p> + +<p>"They all say so," said he.</p> + +<p>"Have either of them admitted it?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p><p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why don't they acknowledge it now and get married?"</p> + +<p>"They say it's because they daurna for fear of the scandal."</p> + +<p>"'They' say again!" commented Carrington. "But, look here, Bisset, you +have been in the house all the time. Did you think they were engaged?"</p> + +<p>"Honestly, sir, I did not. There's nae doubt Sir Malcolm was sweet on +the young lady, but deil a sign of sweetness on him did I ever see in +her!"</p> + +<p>"Do they correspond now?"</p> + +<p>Bisset shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Hardly at a'. But of course folks just say they are feared to now."</p> + +<p>"Has anybody asked either of them if they are—or ever were—engaged?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. But if they denied it now, folks would just say the same +thing."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I see—naturally. Lady Cromarty believes it and is keeping Miss +Farmond under her eye, the gossips tell me. Is that so?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's true right enough, sir."</p> + +<p>"Who told Lady Cromarty?"</p> + +<p>"That I do not know, sir."</p> + +<p>Again the visitor seemed to be thinking, and again to cast his thoughts +aside and take up a new aspect of the case.</p> + +<p>"Supposing," he suggested, "we were to draw the curtains and light these +candles for a few <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>minutes? It might help us to realise the whole +thing."</p> + +<p>This suggestion pleased Mr. Bisset greatly and in a minute or two the +candles were lit and the curtains drawn.</p> + +<p>"Put the table where it stood," said Carrington. "Now which was Sir +Reginald's chair? This?"</p> + +<p>He sat in it and looked slowly round the darkened, candle-lit library.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "suppose I was Sir Reginald, and there came a tap at +that window, what would I do?"</p> + +<p>"If you were the master, sir, you'd go straight to the windie to see who +it was."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't get in a funk and ring the bell?"</p> + +<p>"No fears!" said Bisset confidently.</p> + +<p>"And any one who knew Sir Reginald at all well could count on his not +giving the alarm then if they tapped at the window?"</p> + +<p>"They could that."</p> + +<p>Carrington looked attentively towards the window.</p> + +<p>"Those curtains hang close against the window, I see," he observed. "A +very slight gap in them would enable any one to get a good view of the +room, if the blinds were not down. Were the blinds down that night?"</p> + +<p>Bisset slapped his knee.</p> + +<p>"The middle blind wasn't working!" he cried. "What a fool I've been not +to think on the extraordinar' significance of that fac'! My, the +deductions <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>to be drawn! You've made it quite clear now, sir. The man +tappit at that windie——"</p> + +<p>"Steady, steady!" said Carrington, smiling and yet seriously. "Don't you +go announcing that theory! If there's anything in it—mum's the word! +But mind you, Bisset, it's only a bare possibility. There's no good +evidence against the door theory yet."</p> + +<p>"Not the table being cowpit and the body moved?"</p> + +<p>"They might be explained."</p> + +<p>He was thoughtful for a moment and then said deliberately:</p> + +<p>"I want—I mean you want certain evidence to exclude the door theory. +Without that, the window theory remains a guess. Sir Malcolm is in +London, I understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Likely to be coming north soon?"</p> + +<p>"No word of it, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington reflected for a moment and then rose and went towards the +window.</p> + +<p>"We can draw back the curtains now," said he.</p> + +<p>He drew them as he spoke and on the instant stepped involuntarily back +and down went the small table. Miss Cicely Farmond was standing just +outside, evidently arrested by the drawn curtains. Her eyes opened very +wide indeed at the sight of Mr. Carrington suddenly revealed. Her lips +parted for an instant as though she would cry out, and then she hurried +away.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington seemed more upset by this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>incident than one would expect +from such a composed, easy-going young man.</p> + +<p>"What will they think of me!" he exclaimed. "You must be sure to tell +Miss Farmond—and Lady Cromarty too if she hears of this—that I came +solely to enquire about the shootings and not to poke my nose into their +library! Make that very explicit, Bisset."</p> + +<p>Even though assured by Bisset that the young lady was the most amiable +person imaginable, he was continuing to lay stress on the point when his +attention was abruptly diverted by the sight of another lady in deep +black walking slowly away from the house.</p> + +<p>"Is that Lady Cromarty?" he asked, and no sooner had Bisset said "yes" +than the window was up and Mr. Carrington stepping out of it.</p> + +<p>"I really must explain and apologise to her ladyship," said he.</p> + +<p>"Her ladyship will never know——!" began Bisset, but the surprising +visitor was already hastening after the mourning figure. Had the worthy +man been able to hear the conversation which ensued he would have been +more surprised still.</p> + +<p>"Lady Cromarty, I believe?" said the stranger in a deferential voice.</p> + +<p>She turned quickly, and her eyes searched him with that hard glance they +wore always nowadays.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am Lady Cromarty," she said.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me for disturbing you," said he. "It <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>is a mere brief matter of +business. I represent an insurance company to which Sir Malcolm Cromarty +has made certain proposals. We are not perfectly satisfied with his +statements, and from other sources learn that he is engaged to be +married. I have come simply to ascertain whether that is the case."</p> + +<p>Lady Cromarty was (as Mr. Carrington had shrewdly divined) no better +versed in the intricate matter of insurance than the majority of her +sex, and evidently perceived nothing very unusual in this enquiry. It +may be added in her excuse that the manner in which it was put by the +representative of the company was a perfect example of how a business +man should address a lady.</p> + +<p>"It is the case," said she.</p> + +<p>"May I ask your ladyship's authority—in strict confidence of course?" +enquired the representative firmly, but very courteously.</p> + +<p>"I learned it from my own man of business," said she.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the insurance representative. "I beg that your +ladyship will say nothing of my call, and I shall undertake not to +mention the source of my information," and with an adequate bow he +returned to the house.</p> + +<p>Before disappearing through her library window, Mr. Carrington saw that +her ladyship's back was turned, and he then gave this candid, if +somewhat sketchy, account of his interview to her butler.</p> + +<p>"It suddenly struck me," said he, "that Lady <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>Cromarty might think it +somewhat unseemly of me to come enquiring about shooting so soon after +her bereavement; so I gave her a somewhat different explanation. She is +not likely to make any further enquiries about me and so you need say +nothing about my visit."</p> + +<p>He was careful however to impress on his friend Mr. Bisset that he +actually had come from purely sporting motives. In fact he professed +some anxiety to get in touch with Sir Malcolm on the subject, even +though assured that the young baronet had nothing to do with the +shootings.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but it will gratify him, Bisset," said he, "and I think it is the +nice thing to do. Could you give me his London address?"</p> + +<p>He jotted this down in his pocket book, and then as he was leaving he +said confidentially:</p> + +<p>"You tell me that you think Sir Malcolm is interested in Miss Farmond, +though she seemed not so keen on him?"</p> + +<p>"That was the way of it to my thinking," said Bisset. "And what +deduction would you draw from that, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I should deduce," said this sympathetic and intelligent visitor, "the +probable appearance of certain evidence bearing on our theories, +Bisset."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bisset thought he had seldom met a pleasanter gentleman or a more +helpful assistant.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV</h2> + +<h3>A TELEGRAM</h3> + +<p>The car took Mr. Carrington straight back to the town and dropped him at +the door of Mr. Rattar's office.</p> + +<p>"I shall want you again at two o'clock sharp," he said to the chauffeur, +and turned in to the office.</p> + +<p>He caught the lawyer just before he went out to lunch and said at once:</p> + +<p>"I want to see Sir Malcolm Cromarty. Can you arrange for him to run up +here for a day?"</p> + +<p>Simon stared at him hard, and there seemed to be even more caution than +usual in his eye; almost, indeed, a touch of suspicion. The lawyer was +not looking quite as well as usual; there was a drawn look about the +upper part of the face and a hint of strain both in eyes and mouth.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want to see Sir Malcolm?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Carrington, "the fact of the matter is, Mr. Rattar, that, +as you yourself said, the direct evidence is practically nil, and one is +forced to go a good deal by one's judgment of the people suspected or +concerned."</p> + +<p>Simon grunted sceptically.</p> + +<p>"Very misleading," he said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p><p>"That depends entirely on one's judgment, or rather on one's instinct +for distinguishing bad eggs from good. As a matter of observation I +don't find that certain types of men and women commit certain actions, +and I do find that they are apt to commit others. And contrariwise with +other types."</p> + +<p>"Very unsafe doctrine," said Simon emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Extremely—in the hands of any one who doesn't know how to apply it. On +the other hand, it can be made a short and commonsense cut to the truth +in many cases. For instance, the man who suspected Mr. Bisset of +committing the crime would simply be wasting his time and energy, even +if there seemed to be some evidence against him."</p> + +<p>"Any man can commit any crime," said Simon dogmatically.</p> + +<p>Carrington smiled and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Personally," said he, "if you had a young and pretty wife, I am capable +of running away with her, and possibly even of letting her persuade me +to abscond with some of your property, but I am not capable of laying +you out in cold blood and rifling that safe. And a good judge of men +ought to be able to perceive this and not waste his time in trying to +convict me of an offence I couldn't commit. On the other hand, if the +crime was one that my type is apt to commit he would be a fool to acquit +me off-hand, even if there was next to no evidence against me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p><p>"Then you simply go by your impressions of people?"</p> + +<p>"Far from it. A complete absence of motive would force me to acquit even +the most promising looking blackguard, unless of course there were some +form of lunacy in his case. One must have motive and one must have +evidence as well, but character is the short cut—if the circumstances +permit you to use it. Sometimes of course they don't, but in this case +they force me to depend on it very largely. Therefore I want to see Sir +Malcolm Cromarty."</p> + +<p>The lawyer shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, no, Mr. Carrington," he said, "I can't bring him down here on such +trivial grounds."</p> + +<p>"But you yourself suspect him!"</p> + +<p>For a moment the lawyer was silent.</p> + +<p>"I think suspicion points to him; but what is wanted is <i>evidence</i>. You +can't get evidence merely by bringing him here. You don't suppose he +will confess, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Have you ever studied the French methods of getting at the truth?" +enquired Carrington, and when Simon shook his head contemptuously, he +added with some significance: "We can learn a good deal from our +neighbours."</p> + +<p>"Trivial grounds!" muttered Simon. "No, no!"</p> + +<p>Carrington became unusually serious and impressive.</p> + +<p>"I am investigating this case, Mr. Rattar, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>I want to see Sir +Malcolm. Will you send for him or not?"</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't come."</p> + +<p>"It depends on the urgency of the message."</p> + +<p>"I can't invent bogus urgent messages to my clients."</p> + +<p>Carrington smiled.</p> + +<p>"I might do the inventing for you."</p> + +<p>Again the lawyer stared at him and again there was the same extreme +caution in his eye, mingled with a hint of suspicion.</p> + +<p>"I'll think about it," he said.</p> + +<p>"I want to see him immediately."</p> + +<p>"Call again to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>Carrington's manner altered at once into his usual easy-going air.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, Mr. Rattar," said he as he rose.</p> + +<p>"By the way," said Simon, "you have been out at Keldale this morning, I +presume?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Carrington carelessly, "but there is really nothing new to +be found."</p> + +<p>Simon looked at him hard.</p> + +<p>"No fresh evidence?"</p> + +<p>Carrington laughed.</p> + +<p>"Not likely, after you and your sleuth hounds had been over the ground!"</p> + +<p>He went to the door, and there Simon again spoke.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing next?"</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, I am rather wondering. I must think about it. Good +morning."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p><p>For a man who was rather wondering, Mr. Carrington's next movements were +remarkably prompt. He first went straight to the Post Office and +dispatched a wire. It was addressed to Sir Malcolm Cromarty and it +ran—"Come immediately urgent news don't answer please don't delay." The +only thing that seemed to indicate a wondering and abstracted mind was +the signature to this message. Instead of "Carrington" he actually wrote +"Cicely Farmond."</p> + +<p>He then hurried to the hotel, which he reached at one-fifty. In ten +minutes he had bolted a hasty lunch and at two o'clock was sitting in +the car again.</p> + +<p>"To Stanesland Castle," he commanded. "And be as quick as you can."</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI</h2> + +<h3>AT STANESLAND</h3> + +<p>Mr. Carrington's interview with the laird of Stanesland began on much +the same lines as his talk with Bisset. The amiable visitor was shown +into the laird's smoking room—an apartment with vast walls like a +dungeon and on them trophies from the laird's adventurous days, and +proceeded to make enquiry whether Mr. Cromarty was disposed to let his +shootings for next season, or, if not, whether he could recommend any +others.</p> + +<p>As the visitor was in no hurry, he declared, to fix anything up, it was +very natural that this conversation, like the morning's, should +eventually turn on to the subject of the great local mystery. Through it +all Mr. Carrington's monocle was more continually fixed on the other +than usual, but if he were looking for peculiarities in the laird's +manner or any admissions made either by tongue or eye, he was +disappointed. Cromarty was as breezy and as direct as ever, but even +when his visitor confessed his extreme interest in such cases of +remarkable crime, he (to all seeming) scented nothing in this beyond a +not uncommon hobby. There was no doubt, however, of his keenness to +discuss the subject. Carrington <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>gave him an entertaining account of his +efforts to assist Mr. Bisset, and then Ned asked:</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of his theory that the man came in by the +window?"</p> + +<p>Carrington smiled.</p> + +<p>"Bisset is evidently extremely anxious to save the credit of the +family."</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty was aroused now.</p> + +<p>"Good God!" he cried. "But do you mean to say that you think that story +will hold water?"</p> + +<p>"What story?" enquired Carrington mildly.</p> + +<p>"You know what I mean—the scandal that Sir Malcolm and—and a lady were +concerned in the murder."</p> + +<p>"They are said to have actually committed it, aren't they?"</p> + +<p>Ned's eye began to look dangerous.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it's credible?" he asked brusquely.</p> + +<p>"You know them better than I. Do you think it is?"</p> + +<p>"Not for an instant!"</p> + +<p>"I haven't met Sir Malcolm," said Carrington, wiping his eyeglass on his +handkerchief. "I can't judge of him. What sort of a fellow is he?"</p> + +<p>"A bit of a young squirt," said Ned candidly. "But I'll not believe he's +a murderer till I get some proof of it."</p> + +<p>"And Miss Farmond? Is she at all a murderous lady?"</p> + +<p>He fixed his monocle in his eye just in time to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>see his host control +himself after what seemed to have been a somewhat violent spasm.</p> + +<p>"I'll stake my life on her innocence!" said Ned, and it was hard to know +whether his manner as he said this should be termed fierce or solemn.</p> + +<p>For the space of perhaps two seconds Carrington's eyeglass stared very +straight at him, and immediately afterwards was taken out for cleaning +again, while its owner seemed to have found some new food for thought. +The silence was broken by Ned asking brusquely:</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe me?"</p> + +<p>Again his visitor fixed the monocle in his eye, and he answered now very +quietly and deliberately:</p> + +<p>"I happened to meet a young lady one afternoon, whom I discovered to be +Miss Farmond. My own impression—for what it is worth—is that it would +be a mere waste of time to investigate the suspicion against her, +supposing, that is, that one were a detective or anything of that kind +engaged in this case."</p> + +<p>"You think she is innocent?" asked Ned eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I am quite certain of it, so far as I am any judge."</p> + +<p>Ned heaved a sigh of relief, and for an instant a smile flitted across +Carrington's face. It seemed as though he were amused at such a tribute +to the opinion of a mere chance visitor.</p> + +<p>"And Sir Malcolm?" enquired Ned.</p> + +<p>Carrington shook his head.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p><p>"I have no means of judging—yet."</p> + +<p>Ned glanced at him quickly.</p> + +<p>"Do you expect to get hold of a means?"</p> + +<p>Carrington's smile was his only answer to the question. And then, still +smiling, he said:</p> + +<p>"I rather wonder, Mr. Cromarty, that you who have taken so much interest +in this case, and who are, I am told, the head of the family, don't get +some professional assistance to help you to get at the bottom of it."</p> + +<p>Ned's mouth shut hard and his eyes turned to the fire. He said nothing +for a moment and then remarked:</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess that's worth thinking over."</p> + +<p>Carrington's shoulders moved in an almost imperceptible shrug, but he +made no comment aloud. In a moment Ned said:</p> + +<p>"Supposing those two are scored out, there doesn't seem to be anybody +else inside the house who could have committed the crime, does there? +You wouldn't suspect Lady Cromarty or Bisset, would you?"</p> + +<p>"Lady Cromarty is physically incapable of giving her husband the blow he +must have received. Besides, they were a very devoted couple, I +understand, and she gained nothing by his death—lost heavily, in fact. +As for Bisset——" Carrington let his smile finish the sentence.</p> + +<p>"Then it must have been some one from outside—but who?"</p> + +<p>"Can you think of any one?" asked Carrington.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p><p>Ned shook his head emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Can you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Me?" said his visitor with an innocent air, and yet with a twinkle for +an instant in his eye. "I am a mere stranger to the place, and if you +and Mr. Rattar and the police are baffled, what can I suggest?"</p> + +<p>Ned seemed for a moment a trifle disconcerted. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"That's so, of course, Mr. Carrington. But since we happen to be talking +about it—well, I guess I'm quite curious to know if any ideas have just +happened to occur to you."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the other, "between ourselves, Mr. Cromarty, and speaking +quite confidentially, one idea has struck me very forcibly."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Ned eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Simply this, that though it <i>might</i> be conceivable to think of somebody +or other, the difficulty that stares me in the face is—motive!"</p> + +<p>Ned's face fell.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's what has struck all of us."</p> + +<p>"Sir Reginald was a popular landlord, I hear."</p> + +<p>"The most popular in the county."</p> + +<p>"This isn't Ireland," continued Carrington. "Tenants don't lay out their +landlords on principle, and in this particular instance they would +simply stand to lose by his death. Then take his tradesmen and his agent +and so on, they all stand to lose too. An illicit love affair and a +vengeful swain might be a conceivable theory, if his character gave +colour to it; but there's not a hint of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>that, and some rumour would +have got about for certain if that had been the case."</p> + +<p>"You may dismiss that," said Ned emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Then there you are—what's the motive?"</p> + +<p>"If one could think of a possible man, one could probably think of a +possible motive."</p> + +<p>On Carrington's face a curious look appeared for an instant.</p> + +<p>"I only wish one could," he murmured.</p> + +<p>A gong sounded and Ned rose.</p> + +<p>"That means tea," said he. "I always have it in my sister's room. Come +up."</p> + +<p>They went up the stone stair and turned into Miss Cromarty's boudoir. On +her, Mr. Carrington produced a favourable impression that was evident at +once. At all times she liked good-looking and agreeable gentlemen, and +lately she had been suffering from a dearth of them. She had been +suffering also from her brother's pig-headed refusal to reconsider his +decision not to buy a car; and finally from the lack of some one to +sympathise with her in this matter. In the opulent-looking and +sportingly attired Mr. Carrington she quickly perceived a kindred +spirit, and having a tongue that was not easily intimidated even by the +formidable looking laird, she launched into her grievance. They had been +talking about the long distances that separated most of the mansions in +the county.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it ridiculous, Mr. Carrington," said she, "we haven't got a car!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p><p>"Absurd," agreed Mr. Carrington, helping himself to cake.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, this brother of mine here has actually come into a +fortune, and yet he won't buy me even one little motor car!"</p> + +<p>Ned frowned and muttered something that might have checked their +visitor's reply, had he noticed the laird's displeasure, but for the +moment he seemed to have become very unobserving.</p> + +<p>"Come into a fortune?" said he. "What a bit of luck! How much—a +million—two million?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not as much as that, worse luck! But quite enough to buy at least +three decent cars if he was half a sportsman! And he won't get one!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington was now trying to balance his cake in his saucer and was +evidently too absorbed in his efforts to notice his host's waxing +displeasure.</p> + +<p>"In my experience," said he, "you can't get a decent car much under four +hundred."</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "that's just the figure it would bring it to."</p> + +<p>"Lilian!" muttered her brother wrathfully.</p> + +<p>But at that moment Mr. Carrington coughed, evidently over a cake crumb, +and failed to hear the expostulation.</p> + +<p>"But perhaps he is going to buy you something even handsomer instead," +he suggested.</p> + +<p>"Is he!" she scoffed, with a defiant eye on her brother. "I believe he's +going to blue it in something too scandalous to talk about in mixed +society! <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>Anyhow it's something too mysterious to tell me!"</p> + +<p>By this time Ned's face was a thundercloud in which lightning was +clearly imminent, but Mr. Carrington now recovered his wonted tact as +suddenly as he had lost it.</p> + +<p>"That reminds me of a very curious story I heard at my club the other +day," he began, and in a few minutes the conversation was far away from +Miss Cromarty's grievances. And then, having finished his cup of tea, he +looked at his watch with an exclamation and protested that he must +depart on the instant.</p> + +<p>As he lay back in his car he murmured with a satisfied smile:</p> + +<p>"That's settled anyhow!"</p> + +<p>And then for the whole drive home he fell very thoughtful indeed. Only +one incident aroused him, and that but for a moment. It was quite dark +by this time, and somewhere between the Keldale House lodge and the +town, the lamps of the car swept for an instant over a girl riding a +bicycle in the opposite direction. Carrington looked round quickly and +saw that she was Miss Cicely Farmond.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXVII" id="XXVII"></a>XXVII</h2> + +<h3>FLIGHT</h3> + +<p>On the morning after his visit from Mr. Carrington, Ned Cromarty took +his keeper with him and drove over to shoot on a friend's estate. He +stayed for tea and it was well after five o'clock and quite dark when he +started on his long drive home. The road passed close to a wayside +station with a level crossing over the line, and when they came to this +the gates were closed against them and the light of the signal of the up +line had changed from red to white.</p> + +<p>"Train's up to time," said Ned to the keeper. "I thought we'd have got +through before she came."</p> + +<p>There was no moon, a fine rain hung in the air, and the night was +already pitch dark. Sitting there in the dogcart before the closed +gates, behind the blinding light of the gig lamps, they were quite +invisible themselves; but about thirty yards to their left they saw the +station platform plainly in the radiance of its lights, and, straight +before them in the radiance of their own, they could see less distinctly +the road beyond the line.</p> + +<p>At first, save for the distant rumble of the southward bound train, +there was no sign of life or of movement anywhere, and then all at once +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>a figure on a bicycle appeared on the road, and in a moment dismounted +beside the station. It was a girl in black, and at the sight of her, Ned +bent forward suddenly in his driving seat and stared intently into the +night. He saw her unstrap a small suit case from the bicycle and lead +the bicycle into the station. A minute or two passed and then she +emerged from the ticket office on to the platform carrying the suit case +in her hand. The bicycle she had evidently left in the station, and it +seemed manifest that she was going by this train.</p> + +<p>"That's Miss Farmond, sir, from Keldale House!" exclaimed the keeper.</p> + +<p>His master said nothing but kept his eye intently fixed on the girl. One +of the platform lamps lit her plainly, and he thought she looked the +most forlorn and moving sight that had ever stirred his heart. There was +something shrinking in her attitude, and when she looked once for a few +moments straight towards him, there seemed to be something both sad and +frightened in her face. Not another soul was on the platform, and seen +in that patch of light against an immensity of dark empty country and +black sky, she gave him such an impression of friendlessness that he +could scarcely stay in his seat. And all the while the roar of the +on-coming train was growing louder and ever louder. In a few minutes she +would be gone—"Where?" he asked himself.</p> + +<p>"I'm wondering where she'll be going at this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>time o' night with nae +mair luggage than yon," said the keeper.</p> + +<p>That decided it.</p> + +<p>"Take the trap home and tell Miss Cromarty not to expect me to-night," +said his master, quickly. "Say I've gone—oh, anywhere you derned well +like! There's something up and I'm going to see what it is."</p> + +<p>He jumped quietly on the road just as the engine thundered between the +gates in front. By the time the train was at rest, he was over the gate +and making his way to the platform. He stopped in the darkness by the +rear end of the train till he saw the figure in black disappear into a +carriage, and then he stepped into a compartment near the guard's van.</p> + +<p>"Haven't got a ticket, but I'll pay as I go along," he said to the guard +as he passed the window.</p> + +<p>The guard knew Mr. Cromarty well and touched his cap, and then the train +started and Mr. Cromarty was embarked upon what he confessed to himself +was the blindest journey he had ever made in all his varied career.</p> + +<p>Where was she going—and why was she going? He asked himself these +questions over and over again as he sat with a cigar between his teeth +and his long legs stretched out on the opposite seat, and the train +drove on into an ever wilder and more desolate land. It would be very +many miles and a couple of hours or more before they reached any sort of +conceivable destination for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>her, and as a matter of fact this train did +not go beyond that destination. Then it struck him sharply that up till +the end of last month the train had continued its southward journey. The +alteration in the timetable was only a few days old. Possibly she was +not aware of it and had counted on travelling to—where? He knew where +she had got to stop, but where had she meant to stop? Or where would she +go to-morrow? And above all, why was she going at all, leaving her +bicycle at a wayside station and with her sole luggage a small suit +case? Ned shook his head, tried to suck life into his neglected cigar, +and gave up the problem in the meanwhile.</p> + +<p>As to the question of what business he had to be following Miss Farmond +like this, he troubled his head about it not at all. If she needed him, +here he was. If she didn't, he would clear out. But very strong and very +urgent was the conviction that she required a friend of some sort.</p> + +<p>The stations were few and far between and most desolate, improbable +places as endings for Cicely Farmond's journey. He looked out of the +window at each of them, but she never alighted.</p> + +<p>"She's going to find herself stuck for the night. That's about the size +of it," he said to himself as they left the last station before the +journey ended.</p> + +<p>Though their next stop was the final stop, he did not open the carriage +door when the train <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>pulled up. He did not even put his head far out of +the window, only just enough to see what passed on the platform ahead.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to worry her if she doesn't need me," he said to himself.</p> + +<p>He saw the slip of a figure in black talking to the stationmaster, and +it was hardly necessary to hear that official's last words in order to +divine what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Weel, miss," he overheard the stationmaster say, "I'm sorry ye're +disappointed, but it's no me that has stoppit the train. It's aff for +the winter. If ye turn to the left ye'll fin' the hotel."</p> + +<p>The girl looked round her slowly and it seemed to Ned that the way she +did it epitomised disappointment and desolation, and then she hurried +through the station buildings and was gone.</p> + +<p>He was out of the carriage and after her in an instant. Beyond the +station the darkness was intense and he had almost passed a road +branching to the left without seeing it. He stopped and was going to +turn down it when it struck him the silence was intense that way, but +that there was a light sound of retreating footsteps straight ahead.</p> + +<p>"She's missed the turning!" he said to himself, and followed the +footsteps.</p> + +<p>In a little he could see her against the sky, a dim hurrying figure, and +his own stride quickened. He had never been in this place before, but he +knew it for a mere seaboard village with an utterly lonely country on +every inland side. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>She was heading into a black wilderness, and he took +his decision at once and increased his pace till he was overhauling her +fast.</p> + +<p>At the sound of his footsteps he could see that she glanced over her +shoulder and made the more haste till she was almost running. And then +as she heard the pursuing steps always nearer she suddenly slackened +speed to let him pass.</p> + +<p>"Miss Farmond!" said he.</p> + +<p>He could hear her gasp as she stopped short and turned sharply. She was +staring hard now at the tall figure looming above her.</p> + +<p>"It's only me—Ned Cromarty," he said quietly.</p> + +<p>And then he started in turn, for instead of showing relief she gave a +half smothered little cry and shrank away from him. For a moment there +was dead silence and then he said, still quietly, though it cost him an +effort.</p> + +<p>"I only mean to help you if you need a hand. Are you looking for the +hotel?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said in a low frightened voice.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I guess you'd walk till morning before you reached an +hotel along this road. You missed the turning at the station. Give me +your bag. Come along!"</p> + +<p>She let him take the suit case and she turned back with him, but it +struck him painfully that her docility was like that of a frightened +animal.</p> + +<p>"Where are you bound for?" he enquired in his usual direct way.</p> + +<p>She murmured something that he could not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>catch and then they fell +altogether silent till they had retraced their road to the station and +turned down towards a twinkling light or two which showed where the +village lay.</p> + +<p>"Now, Miss Farmond," said he, "we are getting near this pub and as we've +both got to spend the night there, you'll please observe these few short +and simple rules. I'm your uncle—Uncle Ned. D'you see?"</p> + +<p>There was no laugh, or even a smile from her. She gave a little start of +surprise and in a very confused voice murmured:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see."</p> + +<p>"My full name is Mr. Ned Dawkins and you're Louisa Dawkins my niece. +Just call me 'Uncle Ned' and leave me to do the talking. We are touring +this beautiful country and I've lost my luggage owing to the derned +foolishness of the railroad officials here. And then when we've had a +little bit of dinner you can tell me, if you like, why you've eloped and +why you've got a down on me. Or if you don't like to, well, you needn't. +Ah, here's the pub at last."</p> + +<p>He threw open the door and in a loud and cheerful voice cried:</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are, Louisa. Walk right in, my dear!"</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXVIII" id="XXVIII"></a>XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE RETURN</h3> + +<p>His friends would scarcely have picked out Mr. Ned Cromarty of +Stanesland as likely to make a distinguished actor, but they might have +changed their opinion had they heard him breezily announce himself as +Mr. Dawkins from Liverpool and curse the Scottish railways which had +lost his luggage for him. It is true that the landlord looked at him a +trifle askance and that the landlady and her maid exchanged a knowing +smile when he ordered a room for his niece Louisa, but few people shut +up in a little country inn with such a formidable looking, loud voiced +giant, would have ventured to question his statements openly, and the +equanimity of Mr. Dawkins remained undisturbed.</p> + +<p>"Sit right down, Louisa!" he commanded when dinner was served; and then, +addressing the maid, "You needn't wait. We'll ring when we need you."</p> + +<p>But the moment she had gone he checked a strong expression with an +effort.</p> + +<p>"Damn—confound it!" he cried. "I ought to have remembered to say grace! +That would have given just the finishing touch to the Uncle Ned +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>business. However, I don't think they've smelt any rats."</p> + +<p>Cicely smiled faintly and then her eyes fell and she answered nothing. +Their only other conversation during dinner consisted in his +expostulations on her small appetite and her low-voiced protests that +she wasn't hungry. But when it was safely over, he pushed back his +chair, crossed his knees, and began:</p> + +<p>"Now, Louisa, I'm going to take an uncle's privilege of lighting my pipe +before I begin to talk, if you don't mind."</p> + +<p>He lit his pipe, and then suddenly dropping the rôle of uncle +altogether, said gently:</p> + +<p>"I don't want to press you with any questions that you don't want to +answer, but if you need a friend of any sort, size, or description, here +I am." He paused for a moment and then asked still more gently: "Are you +afraid of me?"</p> + +<p>For the first time she let her long-lashed eyes rest full on his face +and in her low voice, she answered:</p> + +<p>"Partly afraid."</p> + +<p>"And partly what else?"</p> + +<p>"Partly puzzled—and partly ashamed."</p> + +<p>"Ashamed!" he exclaimed with a note of indignant protest. "Ashamed of +what?"</p> + +<p>"The exhibition I've made of myself," she said, her voice still very +low.</p> + +<p>"Well," he smiled, "that's a matter of opinion. But why are you afraid?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," she exclaimed. "You know of course!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p><p>He stared at her blankly.</p> + +<p>"I pass; I can't play to that!" he replied. "I honestly do not know, +Miss Farmond."</p> + +<p>Her eyes opened very wide.</p> + +<p>"That's what I meant when I said I was puzzled. You <i>must</i> know—and +yet——!"</p> + +<p>She broke off and looked at him doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said he, "some one's got to solve this mystery, and I'll +risk a leading question. Why did you run away?"</p> + +<p>"Because of what you have been doing!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Me</i> been doing! And what have I been doing?"</p> + +<p>"Suspecting me and setting a detective to watch me!"</p> + +<p>Ned's one eye opened wide, but for a moment he said not a word. Then he +remarked quietly:</p> + +<p>"This is going to be a derned complicated business. Just you begin at +the beginning, please, and let's see how things stand. Who told you I +was setting a detective on to you?"</p> + +<p>"I found out myself I was being watched."</p> + +<p>"How and when?"</p> + +<p>She hesitated, and the doubtful look returned to her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Come, Louisa!" he said. "No nonsense this time! We've got to have this +out—or my name's Dawkins!"</p> + +<p>For the first time she smiled spontaneously, and the doubtful look +almost vanished. Just a trace was left, but her voice, though still very +low, was firmer now.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p><p>"I only discovered for the first time the wicked suspicion about poor +Malcolm," she said, "when I met a gentleman a few days ago who told me +he had heard Malcolm was arrested for the murder of Sir Reginald."</p> + +<p>"But that's not true!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, and he admitted it was only a story he had heard at the hotel, but +it suddenly seemed to throw light on several things I hadn't been able +to understand. I spoke to Lady Cromarty about it, and then I actually +found that I was suspected too!"</p> + +<p>"Did she tell you so?"</p> + +<p>"Not in so many words, but I knew what was in her mind. And then the +very next day I caught the same man examining the library with Bisset +and I saw him out of the window follow Lady Cromarty and speak to her, +and then I knew he was a detective!"</p> + +<p>"How did you know?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, by instinct, and I was right! The position was so horrible—so +unbearable, that I went in to see Mr. Rattar about it."</p> + +<p>"Why Rattar?"</p> + +<p>"Because he is the family lawyer and he's also investigating the case, +and I thought of course he was employing the detective. And Mr. Rattar +told me you were really employing him. Are you?"</p> + +<p>There was a pleading note in this question—a longing to hear the answer +"No" that seemed to affect Ned strangely.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p><p>"It's all right, Miss Farmond!" he said. "Don't you worry! I got that +man down here to clear you—just for that purpose and no other!"</p> + +<p>"But——" she exclaimed, "Mr. Rattar said you suspected Malcolm and me +and were determined to prove our guilt!"</p> + +<p>"Simon Rattar said that!"</p> + +<p>There was something so menacing in his voice that Cicely involuntarily +shrank back.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me, honour bright, that Simon Rattar told you that +lie in so many words?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said, "he did indeed. And he said that this Mr. Carrington +was a very clever man and was almost certain to trump up a very strong +case against us, and so he advised me to go away."</p> + +<p>He seemed almost incapable of speech at this.</p> + +<p>"He actually advised you to bolt?"</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<p>"To slip away quietly to London and stay in an hotel he recommended till +I heard from him. He said you had sworn to track down the criminals and +hang them with your own hands, and so when I saw you suddenly come up +behind me in that dark road to-night—oh, you've no idea how terrified I +was! Mr. Rattar had frightened away all the nerve I ever had, and then +when I thought I was safely away, you suddenly came up behind me in that +dark road!"</p> + +<p>"You poor little——" he began, laying his hand upon hers, and then he +remembered Sir Malcolm and altered his sentence into: "You know now +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>that was all one infernal pack of lies, don't you?"</p> + +<p>Though he took away his hand, she had not moved her own, and she gave +him now a look which richly rewarded him for his evening's work.</p> + +<p>"I believe every word you tell me," she said.</p> + +<p>"Well then," said Ned, "I tell you that I got this fellow Carrington +down to take up the case so that I could clear you in the first place +and find the right man in the second. So as to give him an absolutely +clear field, he wasn't told who was employing him, and then he could +suspect me myself if he wanted to. As a matter of fact, I rather think +he has guessed who's running him. Anyhow, yesterday afternoon he told me +straight and emphatically that he knew you were innocent. So you've run +away a day too late!"</p> + +<p>She laughed at last, and then fell serious again.</p> + +<p>"But what did Mr. Rattar mean by saying you had engaged the detective +because you suspected Malcolm and me?"</p> + +<p>"That's precisely what I want to find out," said Ned grimly. "He could +guess easy enough who was employing Carrington, because I had suggested +getting a detective, only Simon wouldn't rise to it. But as to saying I +suspected you, he knew that was a lie, and I can only suspect he's +getting a little tired of life!"</p> + +<p>They talked on for a little longer, still sitting by the table, with her +eyes now constantly smiling into his, until at last he had to remind +himself so vigorously of the absent and lucky baronet that the pleasure +began to ebb. And then <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>they said good-night and he was left staring +into the fire.</p> + +<hr class="medium" /> + +<p>Next morning they faced one another in a first class carriage on a +homeward bound train.</p> + +<p>"What shall I say to Lady Cromarty?" she asked, half smiling, half +fearfully.</p> + +<p>He reflected for a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"Tell her the truth. Lies don't pay in the long run. I can bear witness +to this part of the story, and to the Carrington part if necessary, +though I don't want to give him away if I can help it."</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" she said, "we mustn't interfere with him. But supposing Lady +Cromarty doesn't believe——"</p> + +<p>"Come straight to Stanesland! Will you?"</p> + +<p>"Run away again?"</p> + +<p>"It's the direction you run in that matters," said he. "Now, mind you, +that's understood!"</p> + +<p>She was silent for a little and then she said:</p> + +<p>"I can't understand why these horrible stories associate Malcolm and me. +Why should we have conspired to do such a dreadful thing?"</p> + +<p>He stared at her, and then hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Because—well, being engaged to him——"</p> + +<p>"Engaged to Malcolm!" she exclaimed. "Whatever put that into people's +heads?"</p> + +<p>"What!" he cried. "Aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious no! Was <i>that</i> the reason then?"</p> + +<p>He seemed too lost in his own thoughts to answer her; but they were +evidently not unhappy thoughts this time.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p><p>"Who can have started such a story?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"Who started it?" he repeated and then was immersed in thought again; +only now there was a grim look on his face.</p> + +<p>"Well anyhow," he cried, in a minute or two, "we're out of that wood! +Aren't we, Louisa?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Ned," she smiled back.</p> + +<p>He stirred impulsively in his seat and then seemed to check himself, and +for the rest of the journey he appeared to be divided between content +with the present hour and an impulse to improve upon it. And then before +he had realised where they were, they had stopped at a station, and she +was exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I must get out here! I've left my bike in the station!"</p> + +<p>"Look here," said he, with his hand on the door handle, "before you go +you've got to swear that you'll come straight to Stanesland if there's +another particle of trouble. Swear?"</p> + +<p>"But what about Miss Cromarty?" she smiled.</p> + +<p>"Miss Cromarty will say precisely the same as I do," he said with a +curiously significant emphasis. "So now, I don't open this door till you +promise!"</p> + +<p>"I promise!" said she, and then she was standing on the platform waving +a farewell.</p> + +<p>"I half wish I'd risked it!" he said to himself with a sigh as the train +moved on, and then he ruminated with an expression on his face that +seemed to suggest a risk merely deferred.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXIX" id="XXIX"></a>XXIX</h2> + +<h3>BROTHER AND SISTER</h3> + +<p>Ned Cromarty found his sister in her room.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ned," she asked, "where on earth have you been?"</p> + +<p>He shut the door before he answered, and then came up to the fireplace, +and planted himself in front of her.</p> + +<p>"Who told you that Cicely Farmond was engaged to Malcolm Cromarty?" he +demanded.</p> + +<p>She made a little grimace of comic alarm, but her eye was apprehensive.</p> + +<p>"Don't eat my head off, Neddy! How can I remember?"</p> + +<p>"You've got to remember," said her brother grimly. "And you'd better be +careful what you tell me, for I'll go straight to the woman, or man, you +name."</p> + +<p>She looked at him boldly enough.</p> + +<p>"I don't know if you are aware of it, but this isn't the way I'm +accustomed to be talked to."</p> + +<p>"It's the way you're being talked to now," said he. "Who told you?"</p> + +<p>"I absolutely refuse to answer if you speak to me like that, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"Then we part company, Lilian."</p> + +<p>There was no doubt about the apprehension in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>her eye now. For a moment +it seemed to wonder whether he was actually in earnest, and then to +decide that he was.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know who told me," she said in an altered voice.</p> + +<p>"Did anybody tell you, or did you make it up?"</p> + +<p>"I never actually said they were engaged."</p> + +<p>He looked at her in silence and very hard, and then he spoke +deliberately.</p> + +<p>"I won't ask you why you deceived me, Lilian, but it was a low down +trick to play on me, and it has turned out to be a damned cruel trick to +play on that girl. I mentioned the engagement as a mere matter of course +to somebody, and though I mentioned it confidentially, it started this +slander about Malcolm Cromarty and Cicely Farmond conspiring to +murder—to <i>murder</i>, Lilian!—the man of all men they owed most to. +That's what you've done!"</p> + +<p>By this time Lilian Cromarty's handkerchief was at her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I—I am very sorry, Ned," she murmured.</p> + +<p>But he was not to be soothed by a tear, even in the most adroit lady's +eye.</p> + +<p>"The latest consequence has been," he said sternly, "that through a +mixture of persecution and bad advice she has been driven to run away. +Luckily I spotted her at the start and fetched her back, and I've told +her that if there is the least little bit more trouble she is to come +straight here and that you will give her as good a welcome as I shall. +Is that quite clear?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p><p>"Yes," she murmured through her handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Otherwise," said he, "there's no room for us both here. One single +suggestion that she isn't welcome—and you have full warning now of the +consequences!"</p> + +<p>"When is she coming?" she asked in an uncertain voice.</p> + +<p>"When? Possibly never. But there's some very fishy—and it looks to me, +some very dirty business going on, and this port stands open in case of +a storm. You fully understand?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," she said, putting away her handkerchief. "I'm not +quite a fool!"</p> + +<p>And indeed, none of her friends or acquaintances had ever made that +accusation against Lilian Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's all," said Ned, and began to move across the room.</p> + +<p>But now the instinct for finding a scapegoat began to revive.</p> + +<p>"Who did you tell it to, Ned?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Simon Rattar."</p> + +<p>"Then <i>he</i> has spread this dreadful story!" she exclaimed with righteous +indignation.</p> + +<p>Her brother stopped and slowly turned back.</p> + +<p>"By heaven, I've scarcely had time to think it all out yet—but it looks +like it!"</p> + +<p>"It <i>must</i> be that nasty grumpy old creature! If you told nobody +else—well, it can't be anybody else!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p><p>"But why should he go and spread such a story?"</p> + +<p>"Because he wants to shelter some one else!"</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that's for the police to find out. But I'm quite certain, Ned, that +that pig-headed old Simon with his cod-fish eyes and his everlasting +grunt is at the bottom of it all!"</p> + +<p>He stared thoughtfully into space.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said slowly, "he has certainly been asking for trouble in one +or two ways, and this seems another invitation. But he'll get it, sure! +At the same time—what's his object?"</p> + +<p>His sister had no hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Either to make money or hide something disgraceful. You really must +enquire into this, Ned!"</p> + +<p>He dropped into a chair and sat for a few minutes with his face in his +hands. At last he looked up and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm out of my depth," he said. "I guess I'd better see Carrington."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Carrington?" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I had a long talk with him," he explained. "He seems an uncommon shrewd +fellow. Yes, that's the proper line!"</p> + +<p>She looked at him curiously but evidently judged it tactful in the +present delicate situation to ask no more. He rose now and went, still +thoughtful, to the door.</p> + +<p>"What a dreadful thing of Simon Rattar to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>do! Wasn't it, Ned?" she said +indignantly, her eyes as bright as ever again.</p> + +<p>He turned as she went out.</p> + +<p>"The whole thing has been damnable!"</p> + +<p>As the door closed behind him she made a little grimace again and then +gave a little shrug.</p> + +<p>"He's going to marry her!" she said to herself, and acting immediately +on a happy inspiration, sat down to write a long and affectionate letter +to an old friend whose country house might, with judicious management, +be considered good for a six months' visit.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXX" id="XXX"></a>XXX</h2> + +<h3>A MARKED MAN</h3> + +<p>The unexpected energy displayed by her charming guest in bustling all +over the country had surprised and a little perplexed Miss Peterkin, but +she now decided that it was only a passing phase, for on the day +following his visits to Keldale and Stanesland he exhibited exactly the +same leisurely calm she had admired at first. He sought out the local +golf course and for an hour or two his creditable game confirmed his +reputation as a sportsman, and for the rest of the time he idled in a +very gentlemanly manner.</p> + +<p>In the course of the afternoon he strolled out and gradually drifted +through the dusk towards the station. Finding the train was, as usual, +indefinitely late, he strolled out again and finally drifted back just +as the signals had fallen at last. It was quite dark by this time and +the platform lamps were lit, but Mr. Carrington chanced to stand +inconspicuously in a background of shadows. As the engine hissed +ponderously under the station roof and the carriage doors began to open, +he still stood there, the most casual of spectators. A few passengers +passed him, and then came a young man in a fur coat, on whom some very +curious glances had been thrown when he alighted from his first class +compartment. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>Mr. Carrington, however, seemed to take no interest either +in him or anybody else till the young man was actually passing him, and +then he suddenly stepped out of the shadows, touched him on the shoulder +and said in a much deeper and graver voice than usual:</p> + +<p>"Sir Malcolm Cromarty, I believe!"</p> + +<p>The young man started violently and turned a pale face.</p> + +<p>"Ye—es, I am," he stammered.</p> + +<p>"May I have a word with you?" said Carrington gravely.</p> + +<p>With a dreadfully nervous air Sir Malcolm accompanied him out into the +dark road, neither speaking, and then the young man demanded hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me?"</p> + +<p>Carrington's voice suddenly resumed its usual cheerful note.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," he said, "for collaring you like this, but the fact is I +am very keen to see you about the Keldale shootings."</p> + +<p>Sir Malcolm gave a gasp of relief.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" he exclaimed. "Good Lord, what a fright you gave me!"</p> + +<p>"I say I'm awfully sorry!" said Carrington anxiously. "How frightfully +stupid I must have been!"</p> + +<p>The young man looked at him, and, like most other people, evidently +found his ingenuous face and sympathetic manner irresistibly confidence +inspiring.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p><p>"Oh, not at all," he said. "In fact you must have wondered at my manner. +The fact is Mr.—er——"</p> + +<p>"Carrington."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Carrington, that I'm in a most awful position at present. You know +of course that I'm suspected of murder!"</p> + +<p>"No!" exclaimed Carrington, with vast interest. "Not really?"</p> + +<p>"It's an absolute fact—suspected of murder! Good God, just imagine it!"</p> + +<p>The young baronet stopped and faced his new acquaintance dramatically. +In spite of his nervousness, it was evident that his notoriety had +compensations.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I—the head of an ancient and honourable house—am +actually suspected of having murdered my cousin, Sir Reginald Cromarty!"</p> + +<p>"What, that murder!" exclaimed Carrington. "By Jove, of course, I've +heard a lot about the case. And you are really suspected?"</p> + +<p>"So much so," said the baronet darkly, "that when you touched me on the +shoulder I actually thought you were going to arrest me!"</p> + +<p>Carrington seemed equally astounded and penitent at this unfortunate +reading of his simple and natural action in stepping suddenly out of the +dark and tapping a nervous stranger on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"How very tactless of me!" he repeated more <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>than once. "Really, I must +be more careful another time!"</p> + +<p>And then he suddenly turned his monocle on to the baronet and enquired:</p> + +<p>"But how do you know you are suspected?"</p> + +<p>"How do I know! My God, all fingers are pointing at me! Even in my club +in London I feel I am a marked man. I have discussed my awful position +with all my friends, and by this time they tell me that everybody else +knows too!"</p> + +<p>"That is—er—not unnatural," said Carrington drily. "But how did you +first learn?"</p> + +<p>The young man's voice fell almost to a whisper and he glanced +apprehensively over his shoulder as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I knew I should be suspected the moment I heard of the crime! The very +night before—perhaps at the actual moment when the deed was being +done—I did a foolish thing!"</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!" exclaimed his new friend with every appearance of +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you may not believe me, but I acted like a damned silly ass. Mind +you, I am not as a rule a silly ass," the baronet added with dignity, +"but that night I actually confided in a woman!"</p> + +<p>"What woman?"'</p> + +<p>"My relative Miss Cicely Farmond—a charming girl, I may mention; there +was every excuse for me, still it was a rotten thing to do, I quite +admit. I told her that I was hard up and feeling desperate, and I even +said I was going to sit up late! And on top of that Sir Reginald was +murdered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>that very night. Imagine my sensations for the next few days, +living in the same house with the woman who had heard me say <i>that</i>! She +held my fate in her hands, but, thank God, she evidently had such faith +in my honour and humanity that she forebore to—er——"</p> + +<p>"Peach," suggested Carrington, "though as a matter of fact, I fancy she +had forgotten all about the incident."</p> + +<p>"Forgotten my words!" exclaimed the baronet indignantly. "Impossible! I +can never forget them myself so long as I live!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Carrington soothingly, "let us suppose she remembered them. +Anyhow she said nothing, and, that being so, how did you first actually +know that you were suspected?"</p> + +<p>"My own man of business thought it his duty to drop me a hint!" cried +the baronet.</p> + +<p>This piece of information seemed to produce quite as much impression on +his new acquaintance as his first revelation, though he took it rather +more quietly.</p> + +<p>"Really!" said he in a curious voice. "And what course of action did he +advise?"</p> + +<p>"He advised me to keep away from the place. In fact he even suggested I +should go abroad—and, by Gad, I'm going too!"</p> + +<p>To this, Carrington made no reply at all. His thoughts, in fact, seemed +to have wandered entirely away from Sir Malcolm Cromarty. The baronet +seemed a trifle disappointed at his lack of adequate interest.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p><p>"Don't you sympathise with me," he enquired.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," said Carrington, "my thoughts were wandering for +the moment. I do sympathise. By the way, what are you going to do now?"</p> + +<p>The baronet started.</p> + +<p>"By Gad, my own thoughts are wandering!" said he, "though I certainly +have some excuse! I must get down to the Kings Arms and order a trap to +take me out to Keldale House as quickly as I can." And then he added +mysteriously, "I only came down here because I was urgently wired for by +some one who—well, I couldn't refuse."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to the Kings Arms, too. We'll walk down together, if you +don't mind."</p> + +<p>"Delighted," said the baronet, "if you don't mind being seen with such a +marked man."</p> + +<p>"I rather like them marked," smiled Carrington.</p> + +<p>All the way to the hotel the notorious Sir Malcolm pursued what had +evidently become his favourite subject:—the vast sensation he was +causing in society and the pain it gave a gentleman of title and +position to be placed in such a predicament. When they reached the Kings +Arms, his new acquaintance insisted in a very friendly and confident way +that there was no immediate hurry about starting for Keldale, and that +the baronet must come up to his sitting room first and have a little +refreshment.</p> + +<p>The effect of a couple of large glasses of sloe <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>gin was quickly +apparent. Sir Malcolm became decidedly happier and even more +confidential. He was considerably taken aback, however, when his host +suddenly asked, with a disconcertingly intense glance:</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure you are really innocent?"</p> + +<p>"Innocent!" exclaimed the baronet, leaping out of his chair. "Do you +mean to tell me you doubt it? Do you actually believe I am capable of +killing a man in cold blood? Especially the honoured head of my own +house?"</p> + +<p>Carrington seemed to suppress a smile.</p> + +<p>"No," said he, "I don't believe it."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir," said the baronet haughtily, "kindly do not question my +honour!"</p> + +<p>This time Carrington allowed his smile to appear.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, Sir Malcolm," he said, "pull yourself together, and listen to +a few words."</p> + +<p>Sir Malcolm looked extremely surprised, but obeyed.</p> + +<p>"What I am going to say is in the strictest confidence and you must give +me your word not to repeat one single thing I tell you."</p> + +<p>His serious manner evidently impressed the young man.</p> + +<p>"I give you my word, sir," said he.</p> + +<p>"Well then, in the first place, I am a detective."</p> + +<p>For a few seconds Sir Malcolm stared at him in silence and then burst +into a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>"Good egg, sir!" said he. "Good egg! If I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>had not finished my sloe gin +I should drink to your health!"</p> + +<p>It was Carrington's turn to look disconcerted. Recovering himself he +said with a smile:</p> + +<p>"You shall have another glass of sloe gin when you have grasped the +situation. I assure you I am actually a detective—or, rather, a private +enquiry agent."</p> + +<p>Sir Malcolm shook a knowing head.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow," said he, "you can't really pull my leg like that. I +can see perfectly well you are a gentleman."</p> + +<p>"I appreciate the compliment," said Carrington, "but just let me tell +you what was in the telegram which has brought you here. It ran—'Come +immediately urgent news don't answer please don't delay. Cicely +Farmond.'"</p> + +<p>Sir Malcolm's mouth fell open.</p> + +<p>"How—how do you know that?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Because I wrote it myself. Miss Farmond is quite unaware it was sent."</p> + +<p>The baronet began to look indignant.</p> + +<p>"But—er—why the devil, sir——"</p> + +<p>"Because I am a detective," interrupted Carrington, "and I wished to see +you."</p> + +<p>Sir Malcolm evidently began to grasp the situation at last.</p> + +<p>"What about?" he asked, and his face was a little paler already.</p> + +<p>"About this murder. I wanted to satisfy myself that you were—or were +not—innocent."</p> + +<p>"But—er—how?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p><p>"By your actions, conversation, and appearance. I am now satisfied, Sir +Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"That I am innocent."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then will this be the end of my—er—painful position?"</p> + +<p>"So far as your own anxiety goes; yes. You need no longer fear arrest."</p> + +<p>The first look of relief which had rushed to the young man's face became +clouded with a suggestion of chagrin.</p> + +<p>"But won't people then—er—talk about me any longer?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I can't prevent that—for a little longer."</p> + +<p>The last of the baronet's worries seemed to disappear.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he said complacently. "Well, let them talk about me!"</p> + +<p>Carrington rose and rang the bell.</p> + +<p>"You deserve a third sloe gin!" said he.</p> + +<p>While the third sloe gin was being brought, he very deliberately and +very thoughtfully selected and lit a cigarette, and then he said:</p> + +<p>"You tell me specifically that Mr. Rattar was the first person to inform +you that suspicion was directed against you, and that he advised you to +keep away, and for choice to go abroad. There is no doubt about that, is +there?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Sir Malcolm, "he didn't specifically advise me to go +abroad, but certainly his letter seemed to suggest it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p><p>"Ah!" said Carrington and gazed into space for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I am now going to take the liberty of suggesting your best course of +action," he resumed. "In the first place, there is no object in your +going out to Keldale House, so I think you had better not. In the second +place, you had better call on Mr. Rattar first thing to-morrow and +consult him about any point of business that strikes you as a sufficient +reason for coming so far to see him. I may tell you that he has given +you extremely bad advice, so you can be as off-hand and brief with him +as you like. Get out of his office, in fact, as quick as you can."</p> + +<p>"That's what I always want to do," said the baronet. "I can't stick the +old fellow at any price."</p> + +<p>"If he asks you whether you have seen me, say you have just seen me but +didn't fancy me, and don't give him the least idea of what we talked +about. You can add that you left the Kings Arms because you didn't care +for my company."</p> + +<p>"But am I to leave it?" exclaimed the young man.</p> + +<p>Carrington nodded.</p> + +<p>"It's better that we shouldn't stay in the same hotel. It will support +your account of me. And finally, get back to London by the first train +after you have seen Mr. Rattar."</p> + +<p>"Then aren't you working with old Simon?" enquired Sir Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, in a sense, I am," said Carrington carelessly, "but I daresay you +have found him yourself <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>an arbitrary, meddlesome old boy, and I like to +be independent."</p> + +<p>"By Gad, so do I," the baronet agreed cordially. "I am quite with you +about old Silent Simon. I'll do just exactly as you suggest. He won't +get any change out of me!"</p> + +<p>"And now," said Carrington, "get your bag taken to any other hotel you +like. I'll explain everything to Miss Peterkin."</p> + +<p>Sir Malcolm by this time had finished his third sloe gin and he said +farewell with extreme affability, while his friend Mr. Carrington +dropped into the manageress' room and explained that the poor young man +had seemed so nervous and depressed that he had advised his departure +for a quieter lodging. He added with great conviction that as a sporting +man he would lay long odds on Sir Malcolm's innocence, and that between +Miss Peterkin and himself he didn't believe a word of the current +scandals.</p> + +<p>That evening Mr. Carrington joined the choice spirits in the manageress' +room, and they had a very long and entertaining gossip. The conversation +turned this time chiefly on the subject of Mr. Simon Rattar, and if by +the end of it the agreeable visitor was not fully acquainted with the +history of that local celebrity, of his erring partner, and of his +father before him, it was not the fault of Miss Peterkin and her +friends. Nor could it fairly be said to be the visitor's fault either, +for his questions were as numerous as they were intelligent.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXI" id="XXXI"></a>XXXI</h2> + +<h3>THE LETTER AGAIN</h3> + +<p>On the morning after Sir Malcolm's fleeting visit to the Kings Arms, the +manageress was informed by her friend Mr. Carrington that he would like +a car immediately after breakfast.</p> + +<p>"I really must be a little more energetic, or I'll never find anything +to suit me," he smiled in his most leisurely manner. "I am thinking of +running out to Keldale to have another look at the place. It might be +worth taking if they'd let it."</p> + +<p>"But you've been to Keldale already, Mr. Carrington!" said Miss +Peterkin. "I wonder you don't have a look at one of the other places."</p> + +<p>"I'm one of those fellows who make up their minds slowly," he explained. +"But when we cautious fellows do make up our minds, well, something +generally happens!"</p> + +<p>Circumstances, however, prevented this enthusiastic sportsman from +making any further enquiry as to the letting of the Keldale shootings. +When Bisset appeared at the front door consternation was in his face. It +was veiled under a restrained professional manner, but not sufficiently +to escape his visitor's eye.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" he asked at once.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p><p>Bisset looked for a moment into his sympathetic face, and then in grave +whisper said:</p> + +<p>"Step in, sir, and I'll tell ye."</p> + +<p>He led him into a small morning room, carefully closed the door, and +announced,</p> + +<p>"Miss Farmond has gone, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Gone. When and how?"</p> + +<p>"Run away, sir, on her bicycle yesterday afternoon and deil a sign of +her since!"</p> + +<p>"Any luggage?"</p> + +<p>"Just a wee suit case."</p> + +<p>"No message left, or anything of that kind?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word or a line, sir."</p> + +<p>"The devil!" murmured Carrington.</p> + +<p>"That's just exac'ly it, sir!"</p> + +<p>"No known cause? No difficulty with Lady Cromarty or anything?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing that's come to my ears, sir."</p> + +<p>Carrington stared blankly into space and remained silent for several +minutes. Bisset watched his assistant with growing anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Surely, sir," he burst forth at last, "you're not thinking this goes to +indicate any deductions or datas showing she's guilty?"</p> + +<p>"I'm dashed if I know what to think," murmured Carrington still lost in +thought.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he turned his eyeglass on the other.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "the day before yesterday I passed that girl +riding on a bicycle towards Keldale House after dark! Do you know where +she had been?"</p> + +<p>"Into the town, sir. I knew she was out, of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>course, and she just +mentioned afterwards where she had been."</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea whom she saw or what she did?"</p> + +<p>Bisset shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I have no datas, sir, that's the plain fac'."</p> + +<p>"But you can't think of any likely errand to take her in so late in the +afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. In fact, I mind thinking it was funny like her riding about +alone in the dark like yon, for she's feared of being out by hersel' in +the dark; I know that."</p> + +<p>Carrington reflected for a few moments longer and then seemed to dismiss +the subject.</p> + +<p>"By the way," he asked, "can you remember if, by any chance, Sir +Reginald had any difficulty or trouble or row of any kind with anyone +whatever during, say, the month previous to his death? I mean with any +of the tenants, or his tradesmen—or his lawyer? Take your time and +think carefully."</p> + +<hr class="medium" /> + +<p>Carrington dismissed his car at Mr. Rattar's office. When he was shown +into the lawyer's room, he exhibited a greater air of keenness than +usual.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Rattar," said he, "you'll be interested to hear that I've got +rather a new point of view with regard to this case."</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" said Simon, and his lips twitched a little as he spoke. There +was no doubt that he was not looking so well as usual. His face had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>seemed drawn and worried last time Carrington had seen him; now it +might almost be termed haggard.</p> + +<p>"I find," continued Carrington, "that Sir Reginald displayed a curious +and unaccountable irritability before his death. I hear, for instance, +that a letter from you had upset him quite unduly."</p> + +<p>Carrington paused for an instant, and his monocle was full on Simon all +the time, and yet he did not seem to notice the very slight but distinct +start which the lawyer gave, for he continued with exactly the same +confidential air.</p> + +<p>"These seem to me very suggestive symptoms, Mr. Rattar, and I am +wondering very seriously whether the true solution of his mysterious +death is not—" he paused for an instant and then in a low and earnest +voice said, "suicide!"</p> + +<p>There was no mistake about the lawyer's start this time, or about the +curious fact that the strain seemed suddenly to relax, and a look of +relief to take its place. And yet Carrington seemed quite oblivious to +anything beyond his own striking new theory.</p> + +<p>"That's rather a suggestive idea, isn't it?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Very!" replied Simon with the air of one listening to a revelation.</p> + +<p>"How he managed to inflict precisely those injuries on himself is at +present a little obscure," continued Carrington, "but no doubt a really +expert medical opinion will be able to suggest an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>explanation. The +theory fits all the other facts remarkably, doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Remarkably," agreed Simon.</p> + +<p>"This letter of yours, for instance, was a very ordinary business +communication, I understand."</p> + +<p>"Very ordinary," said Simon.</p> + +<p>"Of course, you have a copy of it in your letter book—and also Sir +Reginald's reply?"</p> + +<p>There was a moment's pause and then Simon's grunt seemed to be forced +out of himself. But he followed the grunt with a more assured, +"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"May I see them?"</p> + +<p>"You—you think they are important?"</p> + +<p>"As bearing on Sir Reginald's state of mind only."</p> + +<p>Simon rang his bell and ordered the letter book to be brought in. While +Carrington was examining it, his eyes never left his visitor's face, but +they would have had to be singularly penetrating to discover a trace of +any emotion there. Throughout his inspection, Carrington's air remained +as imperturbable as though he were reading the morning paper.</p> + +<p>"According to these letters," he observed, "there seems to have been a +trifling but rather curious misunderstanding. In accordance with written +instructions of a fortnight previously, you had arranged to let a +certain farm to a certain man, and Sir Reginald then complained that you +had overlooked a conversation between those dates in which he had +cancelled these instructions. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>He writes with a warmth that clearly +indicates his own impression that this conversation had been perfectly +explicit and that your forgetfulness or neglect of it was unaccountable, +and he proposes to go into this and one or two other matters in the +course of a conversation with you which should have taken place that +afternoon. You then reply that you are too busy to come out so soon, but +will call on the following morning. In the meantime Sir Reginald is +murdered, and so the conversation never takes place and no explanation +passes between you. Those are the facts, aren't they?"</p> + +<p>He looked up from the letter book as he spoke and there was no doubt he +noticed something now. Indeed, the haggard look on Simon's face and a +bead of perspiration on his forehead were so striking, and so singular +in the case of such a tough customer, that the least observant—or the +most circumspect—must have stared. Carrington's stare lasted only for +the fraction of a second, and then he was polishing his eyeglass with +his handkerchief in the most indifferent way.</p> + +<p>A second or two passed before Simon answered, and then he said abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Sir Reginald was mistaken. No such conversation."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me literally that <i>no</i> such conversation took +place? Was it a mere delusion?"</p> + +<p>"Er—practically. Yes, a delusion."</p> + +<p>"Suicide!" declared Carrington with an air of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>profound conviction. +"Yes, Mr. Rattar, that is evidently the solution. The unfortunate man +had clearly not been himself, probably for some little time previously. +Well, I'll make a few more enquiries, but I fancy my work is nearly at +an end. Good-morning."</p> + +<p>He rose and was half way across the room, when he stopped and asked, as +if the idea had suddenly occurred to him:</p> + +<p>"By the way, I hear that Miss Farmond was in seeing you a couple of days +ago."</p> + +<p>Again Simon seemed to start a little, and again he hesitated for an +instant and then replied with a grunt.</p> + +<p>"Had she any news?" asked the other.</p> + +<p>Simon grunted again and shook his head, and Carrington threw him a +friendly nod and went out.</p> + +<p>He maintained the same air till he had turned down a bye street and was +alone, and only then he gave vent to his feelings.</p> + +<p>"I'm dashed!" he muttered, "absolutely jiggered!"</p> + +<p>All the while he shook his head and slashed with his walking stick +through the air. There was no doubt that Mr. Carrington was thoroughly +and genuinely puzzled.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXII" id="XXXII"></a>XXXII</h2> + +<h3>THE SYMPATHETIC STRANGER</h3> + +<p>Carrington's soliloquy was interrupted by the appearance of someone on +the pavement ahead of him. He pulled himself together, took out his +watch, and saw that it was still only twenty minutes past twelve. After +thinking for a moment, he murmured:</p> + +<p>"I might as well try 'em!"</p> + +<p>And thereupon he set out at a brisk walk, and a few minutes later was +closeted with Superintendent Sutherland in the Police Station. He began +by handing the Superintendent a card with the name of Mr. F. T. +Carrington on it, but with quite a different address from that on the +card he had sent up to Mr. Rattar. It was, in fact, his business card, +and the Superintendent regarded him with respectful interest.</p> + +<p>After explaining his business and his preference for not disclosing it +to the public, he went briefly over the main facts of the case.</p> + +<p>"I see you've got them all, sir," said the Superintendent, when he had +finished. "There really seems nothing to add and no new light to be seen +anywhere."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid so," agreed Carrington. "I'm afraid so."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p><p>In fact he seemed so entirely resigned to this conclusion that he +allowed, and even encouraged, the conversation to turn to other matters. +The activity and enterprise of the Procurator Fiscal seemed to have +particularly impressed him, and this led to a long talk on the subject +of Mr. Simon Rattar. The Superintendent was also a great admirer of the +Fiscal and assured Mr. Carrington that not only was Mr. Simon himself +the most capable and upright of men, but that the firm of Rattar had +always conducted its business in a manner that was above reproach. Mr. +Carrington had made one or two slightly cynical but perfectly +good-natured comments on lawyers in general, but he got no countenance +from the Superintendent so far as Mr. Rattar and his business were +concerned.</p> + +<p>"But hadn't he some trouble at one time with his brother?" his visitor +enquired.</p> + +<p>The Superintendent admitted that this was so, and also that Sir Reginald +Cromarty had suffered thereby, but he was quite positive that this +trouble was entirely a thing of the past. There was no doubt that this +information had a somewhat depressing effect even on the good-humoured +Mr. Carrington, and at last he confessed with a candid air:</p> + +<p>"The fact is, Superintendent, that I have a theory Sir Reginald was +worrying about something before his death, and as all his business +affairs are conducted by Mr. Rattar, I was wondering whether he had any +difficulties in that direction. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>Now about this bad brother of Mr. +Rattar's—there couldn't be trouble still outstanding, you think?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. George Rattar was out of the firm, sir, years ago," the +Superintendent assured him. "No, it couldna be that."</p> + +<p>"And Mr. George Rattar certainly died a short time ago, did he?"</p> + +<p>"I can show you the paper with his death in it. I kept it as a kind of +record of the end of him."</p> + +<p>He fetched the paper and Carrington after looking at it for a few +minutes, remarked:</p> + +<p>"I see here an advertisement stating that Mr. Rattar lost a ring."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Superintendent, "that was a funny thing because it's not +often a gentleman loses a ring off his hand. I've half wondered since +whether it was connected with a story of Mr. Rattar's maid that his +house had been broken into."</p> + +<p>"When was that?"</p> + +<p>"Curiously enough it was the very night Sir Reginald was murdered."</p> + +<p>Carrington's chair squeaked on the floor as he sat up sharply.</p> + +<p>"The very night of the murder?" he repeated. "Why has this never come +out before?"</p> + +<p>The stolid Superintendent looked at him in surprise.</p> + +<p>"But what connection could there possibly be, sir? Mr. Rattar thought +nothing of it himself and just mentioned it so that I would know it was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>a mere story, in case his servants started talking about it."</p> + +<p>"But you yourself seemed just now to think that it might not be a mere +story."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that was just a kind o' idea," said the Superintendent easily. "It +only came in my mind when the ring was never recovered."</p> + +<p>"What were the exact facts?" demanded Carrington.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the Superintendent vaguely, "there was something about a +window looking as if it had been entered, but really, sir, Mr. Rattar +paid so little attention to it himself, and we were that taken up by the +Keldale case that I made no special note of it."</p> + +<p>"Did the servants ever speak of it again?"</p> + +<p>"Everybody was that taken up about the murder that I doubt if they've +minded on it any further."</p> + +<p>Carrington was silent for a few moments.</p> + +<p>"Are the servants intelligent girls?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, quite average intelligent. In fact, the housemaid is a particular +decent sort of a girl."</p> + +<p>At this point, Mr. Carrington's interest in the subject seemed to wane, +and after a few pleasant generalities, he thanked the Superintendent for +his courtesy, and strolled down to the hotel for lunch. This time his +air as he walked was noticeably brisker and his eye decidedly brighter.</p> + +<p>About three o'clock that afternoon came a ring at the front door bell of +Mr. Simon Rattar's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>commodious villa. Mary MacLean declared afterwards +that she had a presentiment when she heard it, but then the poor girl +had been rather troubled with presentiments lately. When she opened the +front door she saw a particularly polite and agreeable looking gentleman +adorned with that unmistakeable mark of fashion, a single eyeglass; and +the gentleman saw a pleasant looking but evidently high strung and +nervous young woman.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Simon Rattar at home?" he enquired in a courteous voice and with +a soothing smile that won her heart at once; and on hearing that Mr. +Rattar always spent the afternoons at his office and would not return +before five o'clock, his disappointment was so manifest that she felt +sincerely sorry for him.</p> + +<p>He hesitated and was about to go away when a happy idea struck him.</p> + +<p>"Might I come in and write a line to be left for him?" he asked, and +Mary felt greatly relieved at being able to assist the gentleman to +assuage his disappointment in this way.</p> + +<p>She led him into the library and somehow or other by the time she had +got him ink and paper and pen she found herself talking to this +distinguished looking stranger in the most friendly way. It was not that +he was forward or gallant, far from it; simply that he was so nice and +so remarkably sympathetic. Within five minutes of making his +acquaintance, Mary felt that she could tell him almost anything.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p><p>This sympathetic visitor made several appreciative remarks about the +house and garden, and then, just as he had dipped his pen into the ink, +he remarked:</p> + +<p>"Rather a tempting house for burglars, I should think—if such people +existed in these peaceable parts."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but they do, sir," she assured him. "We had one in this very house +one night!"</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXIII" id="XXXIII"></a>XXXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE HOUSE OF MYSTERIES</h3> + +<p>The sympathetic stranger almost laid down his pen, he was so interested +by this unexpected reply.</p> + +<p>"What!" he exclaimed. "Really a burglary in this house? I say, how +awfully interesting! When did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Mary in an impressive voice, "it's a most +extraordinary thing, but it was actually the very self same night of Sir +Reginald's murder!"</p> + +<p>So surprised and interested was the visitor that he actually did lay +down his pen this time.</p> + +<p>"Was it the same man, do you think?" he asked in a voice that seemed to +thrill with sympathetic excitement.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I've sometimes wondered!" said she.</p> + +<p>"Tell me how it happened!"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Mary, "it was on the very morning that we heard about +Sir Reginald—only before we'd heard, and I was pulling up the blinds in +the wee sitting room when I says to myself. 'There's been some one in at +this window!'"</p> + +<p>"The wee sitting room," repeated her visitor. "Which is that?"</p> + +<p>He seemed so genuinely interested that before <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>she realised what +liberties she was taking in the master's house, she had led him into a +small sitting room at the end of a short passage leading out of the +hall. It had evidently been intended for a smoking room or study when +the villa was built, but was clearly never used by Mr. Rattar, for it +contained little furniture beyond bookcases. Its window looked on to the +side of the garden and not towards the drive, and a grass lawn lay +beneath it, while the room itself was obviously the most isolated, and +from a burglarious point of view the most promising, on the ground +floor.</p> + +<p>"This is the room, sir," said Mary. "And look! You still can see the +marks on the sash."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the visitor thoughtfully, "they seem to have been made by a +tacketty boot."</p> + +<p>"And forbye that, there was a wee bit mud on the floor and a tacket mark +in that!"</p> + +<p>"Was the window shut or open?"</p> + +<p>"Shut, sir; and the most extraordinary thing was that it was snibbed +too! That's what made the master say it couldna have been a burglar at +all, or how did he snib the window after he went out again?"</p> + +<p>"Then Mr. Rattar didn't believe it was a burglar?"</p> + +<p>"N—no, sir," said Mary, a little reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"Was anything stolen?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; that was another funny thing. But it must have been a +burglar!"</p> + +<p>"What about the other windows, and the doors? Were they all fastened in +the morning?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p><p>"Yes, sir, it's the truth they were," she admitted.</p> + +<p>"And what did Mr. Rattar do with the piece of mud?"</p> + +<p>"Just threw it out of the window."</p> + +<p>The sympathetic stranger crossed to the window and looked out.</p> + +<p>"Grass underneath, I see," he observed. "No footprints outside, I +suppose?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Did the police come down and make enquiries?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, the master said he would inform the pollis, but then came +the news of the murder, and no one had any thoughts for anything else +after that."</p> + +<p>The sympathetic visitor stood by the window very thoughtfully for a few +moments, and then turned and rewarded her with the most charming smile.</p> + +<p>"Thank you awfully for showing me all this," said he. "By the way, +what's your name?" She told him and he added with a still nicer smile, +"Thank you, Mary!"</p> + +<p>They returned to the library and he sat down before the table again, but +just as he was going to pick up the pen a thought seemed to strike him.</p> + +<p>"By the way," he said, "I remember hearing something about the loss of a +ring. The burglar didn't take that, did he?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir, I remember the advertisement was in the paper before the +night of the burglary."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p><p>He opened his eyes and then smiled.</p> + +<p>"Brilliant police you've got!" he murmured, and took up the pen again.</p> + +<p>"There was another burglar here and he might have taken it!" said Mary +in a low voice.</p> + +<p>The visitor once more dropped the pen and looked up with a start.</p> + +<p>"Another burglar!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, this one didn't actually burgle, but—"</p> + +<p>She thought of the master if he chanced to learn how she had been +gossiping, and her sentence was cut short in the midst.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mary! You were saying?" cooed the persuasive visitor, and Mary +succumbed again and told him of that night when a shadow moved into the +trees and footprints were left in the gravel outside the library window, +and the master looked so strangely in the morning. Her visitor was so +interested that once she began it was really impossible to stop.</p> + +<p>"How very strange!" he murmured, and there was no doubt he meant it.</p> + +<p>"But about the master's ring, sir—" she began.</p> + +<p>"You say he looked as though he were being <i>watched</i>?" he interrupted, +but it was quite a polite and gentle interruption.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; but the funny thing about losing the ring was that he never +could get it off his finger before! I've seen him trying to, but oh, it +wouldn't nearly come off!"</p> + +<p>Again he sat up and gazed at her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p><p>"Another mystery!" he murmured. "He lost a ring which wouldn't come off +his finger? By Jove! That's very rum. Are there any more mysteries, +Mary, connected with this house?"</p> + +<p>She hesitated and then in a very low voice answered:</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir; there was one that gave me even a worse turn!"</p> + +<p>By this time her visitor seemed to have given up all immediate thoughts +of writing his note to Mr. Rattar. He turned his back to the table and +looked at her with benevolent calm.</p> + +<p>"Let's hear it, Mary," he said gently.</p> + +<p>And then she told him the story of that dreadful night when the unknown +visitor came for the box of old papers. He gazed at her, listening very +attentively, and then in a soothing voice asked her several questions, +more particularly when all these mysterious events occurred.</p> + +<p>"And are these all your troubles now, Mary?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>He asked so sympathetically that at last she even ventured to tell him +her latest trouble. Till he fairly charmed it out of her, she had shrunk +from telling him anything that seemed to reflect directly on her master +or to be a giving away of his concerns. But now she confessed that Mr. +Rattar's conduct, Mr. Rattar's looks, and even Mr. Rattar's very +infrequent words had been troubling her strangely. How or why his looks +and words should trouble her, she knew not precisely, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>and his conduct, +generally speaking, she admitted was as regular as ever.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that just now and then he takes a wee drop too much?" +enquired her visitor helpfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir," said she, "the master never did take more than what a +gentleman should, and he's not a smoking gentleman either—quite a +principle against smokers, he has, sir. Oh, it's nothing like that!"</p> + +<p>She looked over her shoulder fearfully as though the walls might repeat +her words to the master, as she told him of the curious and disturbing +thing. Mr. Rattar had been till lately a gentleman of the most exact +habits, and then all of a sudden he had taken to walking in his garden +in a way he never did before. First she had noticed him, about the time +of the burglary and the removal of the papers, walking there in the +mornings. That perhaps was not so very disturbing, but since then he had +changed this for a habit of slipping out of the house every night—every +single night!</p> + +<p>"And walking in the garden!" exclaimed Mr. Carrington.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes I've heard his footsteps on the gravel, sir! Even when it has +been raining I've heard them. Perhaps sometimes he goes outside the +garden, but I've never heard of anyone meeting him on the road or +streets. It's in the garden I've heard the master's steps, sir, and if +you had been with him as long as I've been, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>knew how regular his +habits was, you'd know how I'm feeling, sir!"</p> + +<p>"I do know, Mary; I quite understand," Mr. Carrington assured her in his +soothing voice, and there could be no doubt he was wondering just as +hard as she.</p> + +<p>"What o'clock does he generally go out?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"At nine o'clock almost exactly every night, sir!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington looked thoughtfully out of the window into the garden, +and then at last looked down at the ink and paper and pen. Not a word +was written on the paper yet.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Mary," he said very confidentially. "I am a friend of Mr. +Rattar's and I am sure you would like me to try and throw a little light +on this. Perhaps something is troubling him and I could help you to +clear it up."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir," she cried, "you are very kind! I wish you could!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the best thing then," he suggested, "would be for me not to +leave a note for him after all, and for you not even to mention that I +have called. As he knows me pretty well he would be almost sure to ask +you whether I had come in and if I had left any message and so on, and +then he might perhaps find out that we had been talking, and that +wouldn't perhaps be pleasant for you, would it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my! No, indeed, it wouldn't!" she agreed. "I'm that feared of the +master, sir, I'd <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>never have him know I had been talking about him, or +about anything that has happened in this house!"</p> + +<p>So, having come to this judicious decision, Mr. Carrington wished Mary +the kindest of farewells and walked down the drive again. There could be +no question he had plenty to think about now, though to judge from his +expression, it seemed doubtful whether his thoughts were very clear.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXIV" id="XXXIV"></a>XXXIV</h2> + +<h3>A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION</h3> + +<p>The laird of Stanesland strode into the Kings Arms and demanded:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Carrington? What, having a cup of tea in his room? What's his +number? 27—right! I'll walk right up, thanks."</p> + +<p>He walked right up, made the door rattle under his knuckles and strode +jauntily in. There was no beating about the bush with Mr. Cromarty +either in deed or word.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Carrington," said he, "don't trouble to look surprised. I +guess you've seen right through me for some time back."</p> + +<p>"Meaning—?" asked Carrington with his engaging smile.</p> + +<p>"Meaning that I'm the unknown, unsuspected, and mysterious person who's +putting up the purse. Don't pretend you haven't tumbled to that!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," admitted Carrington, "I have tumbled."</p> + +<p>"I knew my sister had given the whole blamed show away! I take it you +put your magnifying glass back in your pocket after your trip out to +Stanesland?"</p> + +<p>"More or less," admitted Carrington.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ned, "that being so, I may as well <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>tell you what my idea +was. It mayn't have been very bright; still there was a kind of method +in my madness. You see I wanted you to have an absolutely clear field +and let you suspect me just as much as anybody else."</p> + +<p>"In short," smiled Carrington, "you wanted to start with the other +horses and not just drop the flag."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Ned. "But when my sister let out about that £1200, +and I saw that you must have spotted me, there didn't seem much point in +keeping up the bluff, when I came to think it over. And since then, Mr. +Carrington, something has happened that you ought to know and I decided +to come and see you and talk to you straight."</p> + +<p>"What has happened?"</p> + +<p>Ned smiled for an instant his approval of this prompt plunge into +business, and then his face set hard.</p> + +<p>"It's a most extraordinary thing," said he, "and may strike you as +hardly credible, but here's the plain truth put shortly. Yesterday +afternoon Miss Farmond ran away." Carrington merely nodded, and he +exclaimed, "What! You know then?"</p> + +<p>"I learned from Bisset this morning."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I see. Did you know I'd happened to see her start and gone after +her and brought her back?"</p> + +<p>Carrington's interest was manifest.</p> + +<p>"No," said he, "that's quite news to me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p><p>"Well, I did, and I learnt the whole story from her. You can't guess who +advised her to bolt?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can," said Carrington quietly.</p> + +<p>"Either you're on the wrong track, or you've cut some ice, Mr. +Carrington. It was Simon Rattar!"</p> + +<p>"I thought so."</p> + +<p>"How the devil did you guess?"</p> + +<p>"Tell me Miss Farmond's story first and I'll tell you how I guessed."</p> + +<p>"Well, she spotted you were a detective—"</p> + +<p>Carrington started and then laughed.</p> + +<p>"Confound these women!" said he. "They're so infernally independent of +reason, they always spot things they shouldn't!"</p> + +<p>"Then she discovered she was suspected and so she got in a stew, poor +girl, and went to see Rattar. Do you know what he told her? That I was +employing you and meant to convict Sir Malcolm and her and hang them +with my own hands!"</p> + +<p>"The old devil!" cried Carrington. "Well, no wonder she bolted, Mr. +Cromarty!"</p> + +<p>"But even that was done by Simon's advice. He actually gave her an +address in London to go to."</p> + +<p>"Pretty thorough!" murmured Carrington.</p> + +<p>"Now what do you make of that? And what ought one to do? And, by the +way, how did you guess Simon was at the bottom of it?"</p> + +<p>Carrington leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment before +answering.</p> + +<p>"We are in pretty deep waters, Mr. Cromarty," <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>he said slowly. "As to +what I make of it—nothing as yet. As to what we are to do—also nothing +in the meantime. But as to how I guessed, well I can tell you this much. +I had to get information from someone, and so I called on Mr. Rattar and +told him who I was—in strict confidence, by the way, so that he had no +business to tell Miss Farmond or anybody else. I had started off, I may +say, with a wrong guess: I thought Rattar himself was probably either my +employer or acting for my employer, and when I suggested this he told me +I was right."</p> + +<p>"What!" shouted Ned. "The grunting old devil told you that?" He stared +at the other for a moment, and then demanded, "Why did he tell you that +lie?"</p> + +<p>"Fortune played my cards for me. Quite innocently and unintentionally. I +tempted him. I said if I could be sure he was my employer I'd keep him +in touch with everything I was doing. I had also let him know that my +employer had made it an absolute condition that his name was not to +appear. He evidently wanted badly to know what I was doing, and thought +he was safe not to be given away."</p> + +<p>"Then have you kept him in touch with everything you have done?"</p> + +<p>Carrington smiled.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Mr. Cromarty, my cards were being played for me. Five +minutes later I asked him who benefited by the will and I learned that +you had scored the precise sum of £1200."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p><p>"I hadn't thought of that when I made my limit £1200!" exclaimed Ned. +"Lord, you must have bowled me out at once! Of course, you spotted the +coincidence straight off?"</p> + +<p>"But Rattar didn't! I pushed it under his nose and he didn't see it! +Inside of one second I'd asked myself whether it was possible for an +astute man like that not to notice such a coincidence supposing he had +really guaranteed me exactly that sum—an extraordinarily large and +curious sum too."</p> + +<p>"I like these simple riddles," said Ned with a twinkle in his single +eye. "I guess your answer to yourself was 'No!'"</p> + +<p>Carrington nodded.</p> + +<p>"That's what I call having my cards played for me. I knew then that the +man was lying; so I threw him off the scent, changed the subject, and +did <i>not</i> keep Mr. Simon Rattar in touch with any single thing I did +after that."</p> + +<p>"Good for you!" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Good so far, but the next riddle wasn't of the simple kind—or else I'm +even a bigger ass than I endeavour to look! What was the man's game?"</p> + +<p>"Have you spotted it yet?"</p> + +<p>Carrington shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Simon Rattar's game is the toughest proposition in the way of +puzzles I've ever struck. While I'm at it I'll just tell you one or two +other small features of that first interview."</p> + +<p>He lit a cigarette and leant over the arm of his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>chair towards his +visitor, his manner growing keener as he talked.</p> + +<p>"I happened to have met Miss Farmond that morning and my interview had +knocked the bottom out of the story that she was concerned in the crime. +I had satisfied myself also that she was not engaged to Sir Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"How did you discover that?" exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Her manner when I mentioned him. But I found that old Rattar was wrong +on both these points and apparently determined to remain wrong. Of +course, it might have been a mere error of judgment, but at the same +time he had no evidence whatever against her, and it seemed to suggest a +curious bias. And finally, I didn't like the look of the man."</p> + +<p>"And then you came out to see me?"</p> + +<p>"I went out to Keldale House first and then out to you. I next +interviewed Sir Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"Interviewed Malcolm Cromarty!" exclaimed Ned. "Where?"</p> + +<p>"He came up to see me," explained Carrington easily, "and the gentleman +had scarcely spoken six sentences before I shared your opinion of him, +Mr. Cromarty—a squirt but not homicidal. He gave me, however, one very +interesting piece of information. Rattar had advised him to keep away +from these parts, and for choice to go abroad. I need hardly ask whether +you consider that sound advice to give a suspected man."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me nearly as rotten advice as he gave Miss Farmond."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p><p>"Exactly. So when I heard that Miss Farmond had flown and discovered she +had paid a visit to Mr. Rattar the previous day, I guessed who had given +her the advice."</p> + +<p>Carrington sat back in his chair with folded arms and looked at his +employer with a slight smile, as much as to say, "Tell me the rest of +the story!" Cromarty returned his gaze in silence, his heaviest frown +upon his brow.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," said Ned at last, "that Simon Rattar is mixed up in +this business—sure! He has something to hide and he's trying to put +people off the scent, I'll lay my bottom dollar!"</p> + +<p>"What is he hiding?" enquired Carrington, looking up at the ceiling.</p> + +<p>"What do you think?"</p> + +<p>Carrington shook his head, his eyes still gazing dreamily upwards.</p> + +<p>"I wish to Heaven I knew what to think!" he murmured; and then he +resumed a brisker air and continued, "I am ready to suspect Simon Rattar +of any crime in the calendar—leaving out petty larceny and probably +bigamy. But he's the last man to do either good or evil unless he saw a +dividend at the end, and where does he score by taking any part or +parcel in conniving at or abetting or concealing evidence or anything +else, so far as this particular crime is concerned? He has lost his best +client, with whom he was on excellent terms and whose family he had +served all his life, and he has now got instead an unsatisfactory young +ass whom he suspects, or says he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>suspects, of murder, and who so +loathes Rattar that, as far as I can judge, he will probably take his +business away from him. To suspect Rattar of actually conniving at, or +taking any part in the actual crime itself is, on the face of it, to +convict either Rattar or oneself of lunacy!"</p> + +<p>"I knew Sir Reginald pretty well," said Ned, "but of course I didn't +know much about his business affairs. He hadn't been having any trouble +with Rattar, had he?"</p> + +<p>Carrington threw him a quick, approving glance.</p> + +<p>"We are thinking on the same lines," said he, "and I have unearthed one +very odd little misunderstanding, but it seems to have been nothing more +than that, and, apart from it, all accounts agree that there was no +trouble of any kind or description."</p> + +<p>He took a cigarette out of his case and struck a match.</p> + +<p>"There must be <i>some</i> motive for everything one does—even for smoking +this cigarette. If I disliked cigarettes, knew smoking was bad for me, +and stood in danger of being fined if I was caught doing it, why should +I smoke? I can see no point whatever in Rattar's taking the smallest +share even in diverting the course of justice by a hair's breadth. He +and you and I have to all appearances identical interests in the +matter."</p> + +<p>"You are wiser than I am," said Ned simply, but with a grim look in his +eye, "but all I can say <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span>is I am going out with my gun to look for Simon +Rattar."</p> + +<p>Carrington laughed.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you'll have to catch him at something a little better known +to the charge-sheets than giving bad advice to a lady client, before +it's safe to fire!" said he.</p> + +<p>"But, look here, Carrington, have you collected no other facts whatever +about this case?"</p> + +<p>Carrington shot him a curious glance, but answered nothing else.</p> + +<p>"Oh well," said Ned, "if you don't want to say anything yet, don't say +it. Play your hand as you think best."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cromarty," replied Carrington, "I assure you I don't want to make +facts into mysteries, but when they <i>are</i> mysteries—well, I like to +think 'em over a bit before I trust myself to talk. In the course of +this very afternoon I've collected an assortment either of facts or +fiction that seem to have broken loose from a travelling nightmare."</p> + +<p>"Mind telling where you got 'em?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Chiefly from Rattar's housemaid, a very excellent but somewhat +high-strung and imaginative young woman, and how much to believe of what +she told me I honestly don't know. And the more one can believe, the +worse the puzzle gets! However, there is one statement which I hope to +be able to check. It may throw some light on the lady's veracity +generally. Meantime I am like a man trying to build a house of what may +be bricks or may be paper bags."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p><p>Ned rose with his usual prompt decision.</p> + +<p>"I see," said he. "And I guess you find one better company than two at +this particular moment. I won't shoot Simon Rattar till I hear from you, +though by Gad, I'm tempted to kick him just to be going on with! But +look here, Carrington, if my services will ever do you the least bit of +good—in fact, so long as I'm not actually in the way—just send me a +wire and I'll come straight. You won't refuse me that?"</p> + +<p>Carrington looked at the six feet two inches of pure lean muscle and +smiled.</p> + +<p>"Not likely!" he said. "That's not the sort of offer I refuse. I won't +hesitate to wire if there's anything happening. But don't count on it. I +can't see any business doing just yet."</p> + +<p>Ned held out his hand, and then suddenly said, "You don't see any +business doing just yet? But you feel you're on his track, sure! Now, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>Carrington glanced at him out of an eye half quizzical, half abstracted.</p> + +<p>"Whose track?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Ned paused for a second and then rapped out:</p> + +<p>"Was it Simon himself?"</p> + +<p>"If we were all living in a lunatic asylum, probably yes! If we were +living in the palace of reason, certainly not—the thing's ridiculous! +What we are actually living in, however, is—" he broke off and gazed +into space.</p> + +<p>"What?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"A blank fog!"</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXV" id="XXXV"></a>XXXV</h2> + +<h3>IN THE GARDEN</h3> + +<p>It was a few minutes after half past eight when Miss Peterkin chanced to +meet her friend Mr. Carrington in the entrance hall of the Kings Arms. +He was evidently going out, and she noticed he was rather differently +habited from usual, wearing now a long, light top coat of a very dark +grey hue, and a dark coloured felt hat. They were not quite so becoming +as his ordinary garb, she thought, but then Mr. Carrington looked the +gentleman in anything.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to desert us to-night, Mr. Carrington?" asked the +manageress.</p> + +<p>"I have a letter or two to post," said he, "they are an excuse for a +stroll. I want a breath of fresh air."</p> + +<p>He closed the glass door of the hotel behind him and stood for a moment +on the pavement in the little circle of radiance thrown by the light of +the hall. Mr. Carrington's leisurely movements undoubtedly played no +small part in the unsuspecting confidence which he inspired. Out of the +light he turned, strolling easily, down the long stretch of black +pavement with its few checkers of lamplight here and there, and the +empty, silent street of the little country town at his side. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>It was a +very dark, moonless night, and the air was almost quite still. Looking +upward, he could see a rare star or two twinkle, but all the rest of the +Heavens were under cloud. Judging from his contented expression the +night seemed to please him.</p> + +<p>He passed the post office, but curiously enough omitted to drop any +letters into the box. The breath of fresh air seemed, in fact, to be his +sole preoccupation. Moving with a slightly quickened stride, but still +easily, he turned out of that street into another even quieter and +darker, and in a short time he was nearing the lights of the station. He +gave these a wide birth, however, and presently was strolling up a very +secluded road, with a few villas and gardens upon the one side, and +black space on the other. There for a moment he stopped and transferred +something from the pocket of his inner coat into the pocket of his top +coat. It was a small compact article, and a ray of light from a +lamp-post behind him gleamed for an instant upon a circular metal +orifice at one end of it.</p> + +<p>Before he moved on, he searched the darkness intently, before him and +behind, but saw no sign of any other passenger. And then he turned the +rim of his dark felt hat down over his face, stepped out briskly for +some fifty yards further, and turned sharply through an open gate. Once +again he stopped and listened keenly, standing now in the shadow of the +trees beside the drive. In his dark top coat and with his hat turned +over <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>his face he was as nearly invisible as a man could be, but even +this did not seem to satisfy him, for in a moment he gently parted the +branches of the trees and pushed through the belt of planting to the +lawn beyond.</p> + +<p>The villa of Mr. Simon Rattar was now half seen beyond the curving end +of the belt that bounded the drive. It was dim against the night sky, +and the garden was dimmer still. Carrington kept on the grass, following +the outside of the trees, and then again plunged into them when they +curved round at the top of the drive. Pushing quietly through, he +reached the other side, and there his expedition in search of fresh air +seemed to have found its goal, for he leaned his back against a tree +trunk, folded his arms, and waited.</p> + +<p>He was looking obliquely across a sweep of gravel, with the whole front +of the house full in view. A ray came from the fanlight over the front +door and a faint radiance escaped through the slats of the library +blinds, but otherwise the villa was a lump of darkness in the dark.</p> + +<p>One minute after another passed without event and with scarcely even the +faintest sound. Then, all at once, a little touch of breeze sprang up +and sighed overhead through the tree tops, and from that time on, there +was an alternation of utter silence with the sough of branches gently +stirred.</p> + +<p>From a church tower in the town came the stroke of a clock. Carrington +counted nine and his eyes were riveted on the front door now. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>Barely +two more minutes passed before it opened quietly; a figure appeared for +an instant in the light of the hall, and then, as quietly, the door +closed again. There was a lull at the moment, but Carrington could hear +not a sound. The figure must be standing very still on the doorstep, +listening—evidently listening. And then the thickset form of Simon +Rattar appeared dimly on the gravel, crossing to the lawn beyond. The +pebbles crunched a little, but not very much. He seemed to be walking +warily, and when he reached the further side he stood still again and +Carrington could see his head moving, as though he were looking all +round him through the night.</p> + +<p>But now the figure was moving again, coming this time straight for the +head of the belt of trees. Carrington had drawn on a pair of dark +gloves, and he raised his arm to cover the lower part of his face, +looking over it through the branches, and facing the silent owner of the +garden, till there were hardly three paces between them, the one on the +lawn, the other in the heart of the plantation.</p> + +<p>And then when Simon was exactly opposite, he stopped dead. Carrington's +other hand slipped noiselessly into the pocket where he had dropped that +little article, but otherwise he never moved a muscle and he breathed +very gently. The man on the turf seemed to be doing something with his +hands, but what, it was impossible to say. The hands would move into his +pocket and then out again, till quite three or four minutes had passed, +and then came a sudden flash <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>of light. Carrington's right hand moved +halfway out of his pocket and then was stayed, for by the light of the +match he saw a very singular sight.</p> + +<p>Simon Rattar was not looking at him. His eyes were focussed just before +his nose where the bowl of a pipe was beginning to glow. Carrington +could hear the lips gently sucking, and then the aroma of tobacco came +in a strong wave through the trees. Finally the match went out, and the +glowing pipe began to move slowly along the turf, keeping close to the +shelter of the trees.</p> + +<p>For a space Carrington stood petrified with wonder, and then, very +carefully and quite silently, he worked his way through the trees out on +to the turf, and at once fell on his hands and knees. Had any one been +there to see, they would have beheld for the next five minutes a strange +procession of two slowly moving along the edge of the plantation; a +thickset man in front smoking a pipe and something like a great gorilla +stalking him from behind. This procession skirted the plantation nearly +down to the gate; then it turned at right angles, following the line of +trees that bordered the wall between the garden and the road; and then +again at right angles when it had reached the further corner of Mr. +Rattar's demesne. Simon was now in a secluded path with shrubs on either +hand, and instead of continuing his tour, he turned at the end of this +path and paced slowly back again. And seeing this, the ape behind him +squatted in the shadow of a laurel and waited.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p><p>A steady breeze was now blowing and the trees were sighing continuously. +The sky at the same time cleared, and more and more stars came out till +the eyes of the man behind the bush could follow the moving man from end +to end of the path. The wind made the pipe smoke quickly, and presently +a shower of sparks showed that it was being emptied, and in a minute or +two another match flashed and a second pipe glowed faintly.</p> + +<p>Backwards and forwards paced the lawyer, and backwards and forwards +again, but for the space of nearly an hour from his first coming out, +that was everything that happened; and then at last came a tapping of +the bowl and more sparks flying abroad in the wind. The procession was +resumed, Simon in front, the ape-like form behind; but with a greater +space between them this time as the night was clearer, and now they were +heading for the house. The lawyer's steps crunched lightly on the gravel +again, the front door opened and closed, and Carrington was alone in the +garden.</p> + +<p>Still crawling, he reached the shelter of the belt of trees and then +rose and made swiftly for the gate, and out into the road. As he passed +under a lamp, his face wore a totally new expression, compounded of +wonder, excitement, and urgent thought. He was walking swiftly, and his +pace never slackened, nor did the keenness leave his face, till he was +back at the door of the Kings Arms Hotel. Before he entered, he took off +his hat and turned up the brim again, and his manner <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>when he tapped at +the door of the manageress' room was perfectly sedate. He let it appear, +however, that he had some slight matter on his mind.</p> + +<p>"What is the name of Mr. Rattar's head clerk?" he enquired. "An oldish, +prim looking man, with side whiskers."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be Mr. Ison," said the manageress.</p> + +<p>"I have just remembered a bit of business I ought to have seen about +to-night," he continued. "I can't very well call on Mr. Rattar himself +at this hour, but I was thinking of looking up Mr. Ison if I could +discover his whereabouts."</p> + +<p>"The boots will show you the way to his house," said she, and rang the +bell.</p> + +<p>While waiting for the boots, Mr. Carrington asked another casual +question or two and learned that Mr. Ison had been in the office since +he was a boy. No man knew the house of Rattar throughout its two +generations better than Mr. Ison, said Miss Peterkin; and she remembered +afterwards that this information seemed to give Mr. Carrington peculiar +satisfaction. He seemed so gratified, indeed, that she wondered a little +at the time.</p> + +<p>And then the visitor and the boots set out together for the clerk's +house, and at what hour her guest returned she was not quite sure. The +boots, it seemed, had been instructed to wait up for him, but she had +long gone to bed.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXVI" id="XXXVI"></a>XXXVI</h2> + +<h3>THE WALKING STICK</h3> + +<p>Had there been, next morning, any curious eyes to watch the conduct of +the gentleman who had come to rent a sporting estate, they would +probably have surmised that he had found something to please his fancy +strangely, and yet that some perplexity still persisted. They would also +have put him down as a much more excitable, and even demonstrative, +young man than they had imagined. On a lonely stretch of shore hard by +the little town he paced for nearly an hour, his face a record of the +debate within, and his cane gesticulating at intervals.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden he stopped dead and his lips moved in a murmured +ejaculation, and then after standing stock still for some minutes, he +murmured again:</p> + +<p>"Ten to one on it!"</p> + +<p>His cane had been stationary during this pause. Now he raised it once +more, but this time with careful attention. It was a light bamboo with a +silver head. He looked at it thoughtfully, bent it this way and that, +and then drove it into the sand and pressed it down. Though to the +ordinary eye a very chaste and appropriate walking stick for such a +gentleman as Mr. Carrington, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>the result of these tests seemed to +dissatisfy him. He shook his head, and then with an air of resolution +set out for the town.</p> + +<p>A little later he entered a shop where a number of walking sticks were +on view and informed the proprietor that he desired to purchase +something more suitable for the country than the cane he carried. In +fact, his taste seemed now to run to the very opposite extreme, for the +points on which he insisted were length, stiffness, and a long and if +possible somewhat pointed ferule. At last he found one to his mind, left +his own cane to be sent down to the hotel, and walked out with his new +purchase.</p> + +<p>His next call was at Mr. Simon Rattar's villa. This morning he +approached it without any of the curious shyness he had exhibited on the +occasion of his recent visit. His advance was conducted openly up the +drive and in an erect posture, and he crossed the gravel space boldly, +and even jauntily, while his ring was firmness itself. Mary answered the +bell, and her pleasure at seeing so soon again the sympathetic gentleman +with the eyeglass was a tribute to his tact.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mary," said he, with an air that combined very happily +the courtesy of a gentleman with the freedom of an old friend, "Mr. +Rattar is at his office, I presume."</p> + +<p>She said that he was, but this time the visitor exhibited neither +surprise nor disappointment.</p> + +<p>"I thought he would be," he confessed confidentially, "and I have come +to see whether I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>couldn't do something to help you to get at the bottom +of these troublesome goings on. Anything fresh happened?"</p> + +<p>"The master was out in the garden again last night, sir!" said she.</p> + +<p>"Was he really?" cried Mr. Carrington. "By Jove, how curious! We really +must look into that: in fact, I've got an idea I want you to help me +with. By the way, it sounds an odd question to ask about Mr. Rattar, but +have you ever seen any sign of a pipe or tobacco in the house?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never indeed!" said she. "The master has never been a smoking +gentleman. Quite against smoking he's always been, sir."</p> + +<p>"Ever since you have known him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, and before that, sir."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" observed Mr. Carrington in a manner that suggested nothing +whatever. "Well, Mary, I want this morning to have a look round the +garden."</p> + +<p>Her eyes opened.</p> + +<p>"Because the master walks there at nights?"</p> + +<p>He nodded confidentially.</p> + +<p>"But—but if he was to know you'd been interfering, sir—I mean what +he'd think was interfering, sir—"</p> + +<p>"He shan't know," he assured her. "At least not if you'll do what I tell +you. I want you to go now and have a nice quiet talk with cook for half +an hour—half an hour by the kitchen clock, Mary. If you don't look out +of the window, you won't know that I'm in the garden, and then nobody +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>can blame you whatever happens. We haven't mentioned the word 'garden' +between us—so you are out of it! Remember that."</p> + +<p>He smiled so pleasantly that Mary smiled back.</p> + +<p>"I'll remember, sir," said she. "And cook is to be kept talking in the +kitchen?"</p> + +<p>"You've tumbled to it exactly, Mary. If neither of you see me, neither +of you know anything at all."</p> + +<p>She got a last glimpse of his sympathetic smile as she closed the door, +and then she went faithfully to the kitchen for her talk with cook. It +was quite a pleasant gossip at first, but half an hour is a long time to +keep talking, when one has been asked not to stop sooner, and it so +happened, moreover, that cook was somewhat busy that morning and began +at length to indicate distinctly that unless her friend had some matter +of importance to communicate she would regard further verbiage with +disfavour. At this juncture Mary decided that twenty minutes was +practically as good as half an hour, and the conversation ceased.</p> + +<p>Passing out of the kitchen regions, Mary glanced towards a distant +window, hesitated, and then came to another decision. Mr. Carrington +must surely have left the garden now, so there was no harm in peeping +out. She went to the window and peeped.</p> + +<p>It was only a two minutes' peep, for Mr. Carrington had not left the +garden, and at the end <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>of that space of time something very disturbing +happened. But it was long enough to make her marvel greatly at her +sympathetic friend's method of solving the riddle of the master's +conduct. When she first saw him, he seemed to be smoothing the earth in +one of the flower beds with his foot. Then he moved on a few paces, +stopped, and drove his walking stick hard into the bed. She saw him lean +on it to get it further in and apparently twist it about a little. And +then he withdrew it again and was in the act of smoothing the place when +she saw him glance sharply towards the gate, and the next instant leap +behind a bush. Simultaneously the hum of a motor car fell on her ear, +and Mary was out of the room and speeding upstairs.</p> + +<p>She heard the car draw up before the house and listened for the front +door bell, but the door opened without a ring and she marvelled and +trembled afresh. That the master should return in a car at this hour of +the morning seemed surely to be connected with the sin she had connived +at. It swelled into a crime as she held her breath and listened. She +wished devoutly she had never set eyes on the insinuating Mr. +Carrington.</p> + +<p>But there came no call for her, or no ringing of any bell; merely sounds +of movement in the hall below, heard through the thrumming of the +waiting car. And then the front door opened and shut again and she +ventured to the window. It was a little open and she could hear her +master <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>speak to the chauffeur as he got in. He was now wearing, she +noticed, a heavy overcoat. A moment more and he was off again, down the +drive, and out through the gates. When she remembered to look again for +her sympathetic friend, he was quietly driving his walking stick once +more into a flower bed.</p> + +<p>About ten minutes afterwards the front door bell rang and there stood +Mr. Carrington again. His eye seemed strangely bright, she thought, but +his manner was calm and soothing as ever.</p> + +<p>"I noticed Mr. Rattar return," he said, "and I thought I would like to +make sure that it was all right, before I left. I trust, Mary, that you +have got into no trouble on my account."</p> + +<p>She thought it was very kind of him to enquire.</p> + +<p>"The master was only just in and out again," she assured him.</p> + +<p>"He came to get his overcoat, I noticed," he remarked.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carrington's powers of observation struck her as very surprising for +such an easy-going gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that was all."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm very glad it was all right," he smiled and began to turn +away. "By the way," he asked, turning back, "did he tell you where he is +going to now?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't see me, sir."</p> + +<p>"You didn't happen to overhear him giving any directions to the +chauffeur, did you? I noticed you at an open window."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p><p>For the first time Mary's sympathetic friend began to make her feel a +trifle uncomfortable. His eyes seemed to be everywhere.</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard him say 'Keldale House,'" she confessed.</p> + +<p>"Really!" he exclaimed and seemed to muse for a moment. In fact, he +appeared to be still musing as he walked away.</p> + +<p>Mary began to wonder very seriously whether Mr. Carrington was going to +prove merely a fresh addition to the disquieting mysteries of that +house.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXVII" id="XXXVII"></a>XXXVII</h2> + +<h3>BISSET'S ADVICE</h3> + +<p>The short November afternoon was fading into a gusty evening, as Ned +Cromarty drew near his fortalice. He carried a gun as usual, and as +usual walked with seven league strides. Where the drive passed through +the scrap of stunted plantation it was already dusk and the tortured +boughs had begun their night of sighs and tossings. Beyond them, pale +daylight lingered and the old house stood up still clear against a +broken sky and a grey waste with flitting whitecaps all the way to the +horizon. He had almost reached the front door when he heard the sound of +wheels behind him. Pausing there, he spied a pony and a governess' car, +with two people distinct enough to bring a sudden light into his eye. +The pony trotted briskly towards the door, and he took a stride to meet +them.</p> + +<p>"Miss Farmond!" he said.</p> + +<p>A low voice answered, and though he could not catch the words, the tone +was enough for him. And then another voice said:</p> + +<p>"Aye, sir, I've brought her over."</p> + +<p>"Bisset!" said he. "It's you, is it? Well, what's happened?"</p> + +<p>He was lifting her out of the trap and not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>hesitating to hold her hand +a little longer than he had ever held it before, now that he could see +her face quite plainly and read what was in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I've dared to come after all!" she said, with a little smile, which +seemed to hint that she knew the risk was over now.</p> + +<p>"I advised her vera strongly, sir, to come over with me to Stanesland," +explained her escort. "The young lady has had a trying experience at +Keldale, and forby the fair impossibility of her stopping on under the +unfortunate circumstances, I was of the opinion that the sea air would +be a fine change and the architectural features remarkably interesting. +In fac', sir, I practically insisted that Miss Farmond had just got to +come."</p> + +<p>"Good man!" said Ned. "Come in and tell me the unfortunate +circumstances." He bent over Cicely and in a lowered voice added: +"Personally I call 'em fortunate—so long as they haven't been too +beastly for you!"</p> + +<p>"It's all right now!" she murmured, and as they went up the steps he +found, somehow or other, her hand for an instant in his again.</p> + +<p>"If you'll stand by your pony for a moment, Bisset, I'll send out some +one to take her," he said with happy inspiration.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Bisset was not so easily shaken off.</p> + +<p>"She'll stand fine for a wee while," he assured his host. "You'll be the +better of hearing all about it from me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p><p>They went into the smoking room and the escort began forthwith.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, Mr. Cromarty, that yon man Simon Rattar is a fair +discredit. Miss Farmond has been telling me the haill story of her +running away, and your ain vera seasonable appearance and judicious +conduct, sir; which I am bound to say, Mr. Cromarty, is neither more nor +less than I'd have expectit of a gentleman of your intelligence. Weel, +to continue, Miss Farmond acted on your advice—which would have been my +own, sir, under the circumstances—and tellt her ladyship the plain +facts. Weel then——"</p> + +<p>"And what did Lady Cromarty say to you?" demanded Ned.</p> + +<p>"Hardly a word. She simply looked at me and said she would send for Mr. +Rattar."</p> + +<p>Not a whit rebuffed, Mr. Bisset straightway resumed his narrative.</p> + +<p>"A perfectly proper principle if the man was capable of telling the +truth. I'm no blaming her ladyship at that point, but where she departit +from the proper principles of evidence——"</p> + +<p>"When did Rattar come?"</p> + +<p>"This morning," said Cicely. "And—can you believe it?—he absolutely +denied that he had ever advised me to go away!"</p> + +<p>"I can believe it," said Ned grimly. "And I suppose Lady Cromarty +believed him?"</p> + +<p>"God, but you're right, sir!" cried Bisset. "Your deductions are +perfectly correct. Yon man had the impudence to give the haill thing a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>flat denial! And then naturally Miss Farmond was for off, but at first +her ladyship was no for letting her go. Indeed she went the length of +sending for me and telling me the young lady was not to be permitted to +shift her luggage out of the house or use any conveyance."</p> + +<p>"But Bisset was splendid!" cried Cicely. "Do you know what the foolish +man did? He gave up his situation and took me away!"</p> + +<p>Bisset, the man, permitted a gleam of pleasure to illuminate his blunt +features; but Bisset, the philosopher, protested with some dignity.</p> + +<p>"It was a mere matter of principle, sir. Detention of luggage like yon +is no legal. I tellt her ladyship flatly that she'd find herself afore +the Shirra', and that I was no going to abet any such proceedings. I +further informed her, sir, of my candid opinion of Simon Rattar, and I +said plainly that he was probably meaning to marry her and get the +estate under his thumb, and these were the kind o' tricks rascally +lawyers took in foolish women wi'."</p> + +<p>"You told Lady Cromarty that!" exclaimed Ned. "And what did she say?"</p> + +<p>"We had a few disagreeable passages, as it were, sir," said the +philosopher calmly. "And then I borrowed yon trap and having advised +Miss Farmond to come to Stanesland and she being amenable, I just +brought her along to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it was on your advice then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p><p>Cicely and her host exchanged one fleeting glance and then looked +extremely unconscious.</p> + +<p>"She's derned wise!" said he to himself.</p> + +<p>He held out his hand to the gratified counsellor.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Bisset, you've touched your top form to-day, and I may tell +you I've been wanting some one like you badly for a long while, if you +are willing to stay on with me. Put that in your pipe, Bisset, and smoke +over it! And now, you know your way, go and get yourself some tea, and a +drink of the wildest poison you fancy!"</p> + +<p>Hardly was the door closed behind him than the laird put his fate to the +test as promptly and directly as he did most other things.</p> + +<p>"I want you to stop on too, Cicely—for ever. Will you?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes, shyly questioning for a moment and then shyly tender, answered +his question before her lips had moved, and it would have been hard to +convince them that the minutes which followed ever had a parallel within +human experience.</p> + +<p>A little later he confessed:</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Cicely, I've always had a funky feeling that if I ever +proposed my glass eye would drop out!"</p> + +<p>The next event was the somewhat sudden entry of Lilian Cromarty, and +that lady's self control was never more severely tested or brilliantly +vindicated. One startled glance, and then she was saying, briskly, and +with the old bright smile:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span></p><p>"A telegram for you, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said he. "By the way, here's the future Mrs. Ned—that's to +say if she doesn't funk it before the wedding."</p> + +<p>Lilian's welcome, Lilian's embrace, and Lilian's congratulations were +alike perfect. Cicely wondered how people could ever have said the +critical things of her which some of her acquaintances were unkind +enough to say at times. As to Bisset's dictum regarding the lady in the +castle, that was manifestly absurd on the face of it. Miss Cromarty was +clearly overjoyed to hear of her brother's engagement.</p> + +<p>"And now, Neddy dear!" cried the bright lady, "tell me how it all came +about!"</p> + +<p>Ned looked up from his telegram with a glint in his eye that was hardly +a lover's glance.</p> + +<p>"Cicely will tell you all about it," said he. "I'm afraid I've got to be +off pretty well as quick as I can."</p> + +<p>He handed them the wire and they read: "Meet me eight to-night Kings +Arms urgent. Carrington."</p> + +<p>"From Mr. Carrington!" exclaimed his sister.</p> + +<p>Ned smiled.</p> + +<p>"Cicely will explain him too," he said. "By Gad, I wonder if this is +going to be the finishing bit of luck!"</p> + +<p>In another twenty minutes the lights of his gig lamps were raking the +night.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXVIII" id="XXXVIII"></a>XXXVIII</h2> + +<h3>TRAPPED</h3> + +<p>Cromarty and Carrington slipped unostentatiously out of the hotel a few +minutes after eight o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Take any line you like," said Carrington, "but as he knows now that you +brought Miss Farmond back and have heard her version, he'll naturally be +feeling a little uncomfortable about the place where one generally gets +kicked, when he sees you march in. He will expect you to open out on +that subject, so if I were you I'd take the natural line of country and +do what he expects."</p> + +<p>"Including the kicking?"</p> + +<p>Carrington laughed.</p> + +<p>"Keep him waiting for that. Spin it out; that's your job to-night."</p> + +<p>"I wish it were more than talking!" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well," drawled Carrington, "it may lead to something more amusing. Who +knows? You haven't bought your own gun, I suppose? Take mine."</p> + +<p>He handed him the same little article he had taken out the night before, +and Ned's eye gleamed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p><p>"What!" said he. "That kind of gun once more? This reminds me of old +times!"</p> + +<p>"It's a mere precaution," said the other. "Don't count on using it! +Remember, you're going to visit the most respectable citizen of the +town—perhaps on a wild goose errand."</p> + +<p>"I guess not," said Ned quietly.</p> + +<p>"We daren't assume anything. I don't want to make a fool of myself, and +no more do you, I take it."</p> + +<p>"I see," said Ned, with a nod. "Well, I'll keep him in his chair for +you."</p> + +<p>"That's it."</p> + +<p>They were walking quickly through the silent town under the windy night +sky. It was a dark boisterous evening, not inviting for strollers, and +they scarcely passed a soul till they were in the quiet road where the +villa stood. There, from the shadows of a gateway, two figures moved out +to meet them, and Cromarty recognised Superintendent Sutherland and one +of his constables. The two saluted in silence and fell in behind. They +each carried, he noticed, something long-shaped wrapped up loosely in +sacking.</p> + +<p>"What have they got there?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Prosaic instruments," smiled Carrington. "I won't tell you more for +fear the gamble doesn't come off."</p> + +<p>"Like the sensation before one proposes, I suppose," said Ned. "Well, +going by that, the omens ought to be all right."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p><p>They turned in through Simon's gates and then the four stopped.</p> + +<p>"We part here," whispered Carrington. "Good luck!"</p> + +<p>"Same to you," said Ned briefly, and strode up the drive.</p> + +<p>As he came out into the gravel sweep before the house, he looked hard +into the darkness of the garden, but beyond the tossing shapes of trees, +there was not a sign of movement.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rattar in?" he enquired. "Sitting in the library I suppose? Take me +right to him. Cromarty's my name."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cromarty to see you, sir," announced Mary, and she was startled to +see the master's sudden turn in his chair and the look upon his face.</p> + +<p>"Whether he was feared or whether he was angered, I canna rightly say," +she told cook, "but anyway he looked fair mad like!"</p> + +<p>"Good evening," said Ned.</p> + +<p>His voice was restrained and dry, and as he spoke he strode across the +room and seated himself deliberately in the arm chair on the side of the +fire opposite to the lawyer.</p> + +<p>Simon had banished that first look which Mary saw, but there remained in +his eyes something more than their usual cold stare. Each day since +Carrington came seemed to have aged his face and changed it for the +worse: a haggard, ugly, malicious face it seemed to his visitor looking +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>hard at it to-night. His only greeting was a briefer grunt than +ordinary.</p> + +<p>"I daresay you can guess what's brought me here," said Ned.</p> + +<p>The lawyer rapped out his first words jerkily.</p> + +<p>"No. I can't."</p> + +<p>"Try three guesses," suggested his visitor. "Come now, number one——?"</p> + +<p>For a moment Simon was silent, but to-night he could not hide the +working of that face which usually hid his thoughts so effectually. It +was plain he hesitated what line to take.</p> + +<p>"You have seen Miss Farmond, I hear," he said.</p> + +<p>"You're on the scent," said his visitor encouragingly. "Have another +go."</p> + +<p>"You believe her story."</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"It's false."</p> + +<p>Ned stared at him very hard and then he spoke deliberately.</p> + +<p>"I'm wondering," said he.</p> + +<p>"Wondering what?" asked Simon.</p> + +<p>"Whether a horse whip or the toe of a shooting boot is the best cure for +your complaint."</p> + +<p>The lawyer shrank back into his chair.</p> + +<p>"Do you threaten me?" he jerked out. "Be careful!"</p> + +<p>"If I threatened you I'd certainly do what I threatened," said Ned. "So +far I'm only wondering. Where did you learn to lie, Mr. Rattar?"</p> + +<p>The lawyer made no answer at all. His mind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>seemed concentrated on +guessing the other's probable actions.</p> + +<p>"Out with it, man! I've met some derned good liars in my time, but you +beat the lot. I'm anxious to know where you learned the trick, that's +all."</p> + +<p>"Why do you believe her more than me?" asked Simon.</p> + +<p>"Because you've been found out lying before. That was a pretty stiff one +about your engaging Carrington, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>Simon was quite unable to control his violent start, and his face turned +whiter.</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't say I did," he stammered.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ned, "I admit I wasn't there to hear you, but I know +Carrington made you put your foot fairly in it just by way of helping +him to size you up, and he got your size right enough too."</p> + +<p>"Then——" began Simon, and stopped and changed it into: "What does +Carrington suspect—er—accuse me of?"</p> + +<p>Ned stared at him for several seconds without speaking, and this +procedure seemed to disconcert the lawyer more than anything had done +yet.</p> + +<p>"What—what does Carrington mean?" he repeated.</p> + +<p>"He means you've lied, and he believes Miss Farmond, and he believes Sir +Malcolm, and he believes me, and he puts you down as a pretty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>bad egg. +What did you expect to be accused of?"</p> + +<p>Simon could no more hide his relief to-night than he could hide his +fears.</p> + +<p>"Only of what you have told me—only of course of what you say! But I +can explain. In good time I can explain."</p> + +<p>It was at that moment that the door opened sharply and the start the +lawyer gave showed the state of his nerves after Mr. Cromarty's +handling. Mary MacLean stood in the doorway, her face twitching.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" snapped her master.</p> + +<p>"Please, sir, there are men in the garden!" she cried.</p> + +<p>The lawyer leapt to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Men in the garden!" he cried, and there was a note in his voice which +startled even tough Ned Cromarty. "What are they doing?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir. It sounded almost as if they was digging."</p> + +<p>Simon swayed for an instant and grasped the back of his chair. Then in a +muffled voice he muttered:</p> + +<p>"I'm going to see!"</p> + +<p>He had scarcely made a step towards the door when Cromarty was on his +feet too.</p> + +<p>"Steady!" he cried. "Get out there, and shut the door!"</p> + +<p>The towering form and formidable voice sent Mary out with a shut door +between them almost as the command was off his tongue. A couple <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>of +strides and he had got the lawyer by the shoulder and pulled him back.</p> + +<p>"Sit down!" he commanded.</p> + +<p>Simon turned on him with a new expression. The terror had passed away +and he stood there now as the sheer beast at bay.</p> + +<p>"Damn you!" he muttered, and turned his back for a moment.</p> + +<p>The next, his hand rose and simultaneously Ned's arm shot out and got +him by the wrist, while the shock of his onslaught drove the man back +and down into his chair. Though Simon was tough and stoutly built, he +was as a child in the hands of his adversary. A sharp twist of the wrist +was followed by an exclamation of pain and the thud of something heavy +on the floor. Ned stooped and picked up the globular glass match box +that had stood on the table. For a few moments he stared at it in dead +silence, balancing it in his hands. It was like a small cannon ball for +concentrated weight. Then in a curious voice he asked:</p> + +<p>"Is this the first time you have used this?"</p> + +<p>Simon made no reply. His face was dead white now, but dogged and grim, +and his mouth stayed tight as a trap. Ned replaced the match box on the +table, and planted himself before the fire.</p> + +<p>"Nothing to say?" he asked, and Simon said nothing.</p> + +<p>They remained like this for minute after minute; not a movement in the +room and the booming <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>of the wind the only sound. And then came +footsteps on the gravel and the ringing of a bell.</p> + +<p>"We'll probably learn something now," said Ned, but the other still said +nothing, and only a quick glance towards the door gave a hint of his +thoughts.</p> + +<p>There was no announcement this time. Superintendent Sutherland entered +first, then the constable, and Carrington last. The superintendent went +straight up to the lawyer, his large face preternaturally solemn. +Touching him on the shoulder he said:</p> + +<p>"I arrest you in the King's name!"</p> + +<p>The man in the chair half started up and then fell back again.</p> + +<p>"What for?" he asked huskily.</p> + +<p>"The murder of Simon Rattar."</p> + +<p>The lawyer took it as one who had seen the sword descending, but not so +Ned Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"Of Simon Rattar!" he shouted. "What the—then who the devil is this?"</p> + +<p>Carrington answered. He spoke with his usual easy smile, but his +triumphant eye betrayed his heart.</p> + +<p>"The superintendent has omitted part of the usual formalities," he said. +"This person should have been introduced as Mr. George Rattar."</p> + +<p>"George!" gasped Ned. "But I thought he was dead!"</p> + +<p>"So did I," said Carrington, "but he wasn't."</p> + +<p>"What proof have you of this story?" demanded the man in the chair +suddenly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p><p>"We have just dug up your brother's body from that flower bed," said +Carrington quietly. "Do you recognise his ring?"</p> + +<p>He held up a gold signet ring, and the lawyer fell back in his chair.</p> + +<p>"But look here!" exclaimed Ned, "what about Sir Reginald's murder? He +did that too, I suppose!"</p> + +<p>Carrington nodded.</p> + +<p>"We hope to add that to his account in a day or two. This is enough to +be going on with, but as a matter of fact we have nearly enough evidence +now to add the other charge."</p> + +<p>"I can add one bit," said Ned, picking up the match box. "He has just +tried to do me in with this little thing, and I take it, it was the +third time of using."</p> + +<p>Carrington weighed it in his hand, and then said to the prisoner:</p> + +<p>"You put it in the end of a stocking, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>The man looked up at him with a new expression in his eye. If it were +not a trace of grim humour, it was hard to say what else it could be.</p> + +<p>"Get me a drink," he said huskily, nodding towards the tantalus on the +side table, "and I'll tell you the whole damned yarn. My God, I'm dry as +a damned bone!"</p> + +<p>"Give me the key of the tantalus," said Carrington promptly.</p> + +<p>But the superintendent seemed somewhat taken aback.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p><p>"Anything you say may be used against you," he reminded the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"You know enough to swing me, anyhow," said Rattar, "but I'd like you to +know that I didn't really mean to do it. I want that drink first +though!"</p> + +<p>He took the glass of whisky and water and as he raised it to his lips, +that same curious look came back into his eye.</p> + +<p>"Here's to the firm of S. and G. Rattar, and may their clients be as +damned as themselves!" he said with a glance at Cromarty, and finished +the drink at a draught.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XXXIX" id="XXXIX"></a>XXXIX</h2> + +<h3>THE YARN</h3> + +<p>"I needn't trouble you with my adventures before I came down here to +visit brother Simon," began the prisoner, "for you know them well +enough. It was about a month ago when I turned up at this house one +night."</p> + +<p>"How did you get here?" demanded the superintendent.</p> + +<p>"I did the last bit under the seat of the carriage," grinned Rattar, +"and when we got into the station I hopped out on the wrong side of the +train. The way I paid my fare wasn't bad either, considering I hadn't +half of the fare from London in my pocket when I started—or anything +like it. However, the point is I got here and just as I'd come through +the gates I had the luck to see both the maids going out. So the coast +was clear.</p> + +<p>"Well, I rang the bell and out came Simon—the man who'd got me +convicted, and my own brother too, mind you!—looking as smug as the +hard-hearted old humbug he was. He got the shock of his life when he saw +who it was, but I began gently and I put a proposition to him. I'll bet +none of you will guess what it was!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p><p>He looked round the company, and Carrington answered:</p> + +<p>"Blackmail of some sort."</p> + +<p>"You may call it blackmail if you like, but what was the sort? Well, +you'd never guess. I was wearing a beard and moustaches then, but I knew +if I took them off I'd look so like Simon that no one meeting one of us +would know which it was, supposing we were dressed exactly alike and I +did Simon's grunting tricks and all that. And Simon knew it too.</p> + +<p>"'Well, Simon, my dear brother,' I said to him, 'I'll make you a +sporting proposition. My idea is to settle down in this old place, and +I'm so fond of you I mean to shave, get an outfit just like yours, and +give free rein to my affection for you. I'm so fond of you,' I said, +'that I know I shan't be able to keep more than five yards away from you +whenever you are walking the streets, and I'll have to sit in church +beside you, Simon. That's my present programme.'</p> + +<p>"I let that sink in, and then I went on:</p> + +<p>"'Supposing this programme embarrasses you, Simon, well there's one way +out of it, and I leave it to your judgment to say what it is.'</p> + +<p>"Now, mind you, I'd banked on this coming off, for I knew what a +stickler Simon was for the respectable and the conventional and all +that. Can't you see the two of us going through the streets together, +five yards apart and dressed exactly alike! Wouldn't the small boys have +liked it! That was my only idea in coming down <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>here. I meant no more +mischief, I'll swear to that! Unfortunately, though, I'd got so keen on +the scheme that I hadn't thought of its weak spot.</p> + +<p>"Simon said not a word, but just looked at me—exactly as I've been +looking at people since I took his place in society. And then he asked +me if I was really very hard up. Like a fool I told him the plain truth, +that I had inside of five bob in my pockets and that was every penny I +owned in the world.</p> + +<p>"He grinned then—I can see him grinning now—and he said:</p> + +<p>"'In that case you'll have a little difficulty in paying your board and +lodging here, and still more in buying clothes. I tell you what I'll +do,' he said, 'I'll buy a ticket back to London for you and leave it +with the stationmaster, and that's every penny you'll ever get out of +me!'</p> + +<p>"I saw he had me, but I wasn't going off on those terms. I damned him to +his face and he tried to shut the door on me. We were talking at the +front door all this while, I may mention. I got my foot in the way, and +as I was always a bit stronger than Simon, I had that door open after a +tussle and then I followed him into the library.</p> + +<p>"I knew the man was hard as flint and never showed mercy to any one in +his life when he had them on toast, and I knew he had me on toast. How +was I to get any change out of him? That was what I was wondering as I +followed him, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>and then all at once something—the devil if you +like—put the idea into my head. I'd <i>be</i> Simon!"</p> + +<p>He looked round on his audience as though he still relished the memory +of that inspiration.</p> + +<p>"The beauty of the idea was that no one would ever dream of suspecting a +man of not being himself! They might suspect him of a lot of things, but +not of that. I hadn't thought of the scheme ten seconds before I +realised how dead safe it was so long as I kept my head. And I have kept +it. No one can deny that!"</p> + +<p>His glance this time challenged a contradiction, but no one spoke. The +circle of steadfast eyes and silent lips he seemed to take as a tribute +to his address, for he smiled and then went on:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I kept my head from the beginning. I stood talking to him in this +very room, he refusing to answer anything except to repeat that he'd buy +a ticket to London and leave it with the stationmaster, and I working +out the scheme—what to do it with and how to manage afterwards. I knew +it was a swinging risk, but against that was a starving certainty, and +then I spied that match box and the thing was settled. I got him to look +the other way for a moment—and then he was settled. Give me another +drink!"</p> + +<p>Carrington got him a drink and he gulped it down, and then turned +suddenly on Ned Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"Your damned glass eye has been getting on my nerves long enough!" he +exclaimed. "My God, that eye and your habit of hanging people—I've <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>had +enough of them! Can't you turn it away from me?"</p> + +<p>"Won't turn," said Ned coolly, "spring broken. Get on with your story!"</p> + +<p>Even in his privileged position as prisoner, Rattar seemed disinclined +to have trouble with his formidable ex-client. He answered nothing, but +turned his shoulder to him and continued:</p> + +<p>"After that was over I set about covering my tracks. The first part was +the worst. Before the maids came back I had to get Simon stowed away for +the night—no time to bury him then of course, and I had to get into his +clothes, shave, and learn the lie of the house and all that. I did it +all right and came down to breakfast next morning and passed muster with +the servants, and never a suspicion raised!"</p> + +<p>"There was a little," remarked Carrington, "but never enough."</p> + +<p>"Not enough was good enough!"</p> + +<p>"I am not quite certain of that," said Carrington. "However, go on. Your +next bunker was the office."</p> + +<p>The prisoner nodded.</p> + +<p>"It took some nerve," he said complacently, "and I'm free to confess +that to begin with I always had a beastly feeling that some one was +watching me and spotting something that didn't look quite right, but, +good Lord, keeping my head the way I kept it, there was nothing to worry +about! Who would ever think that the Simon Rattar who walked into his +office and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>grunted at his clerks on Wednesday morning, wasn't the same +Simon Rattar who walked in and grunted on Tuesday morning? And then I +had one tremendous pull in knowing all the ropes from old days. Simon +was a conservative man, nothing was ever changed—not even the clerks, +so I had the whole routine at my fingers. And he was an easy man to +imitate too. That was where I scored again. I daresay I have inherited +some of the same tricks myself. I know I found them come quite easy—the +stare and the silence and the grunts and the rest of them. And then I +always had more brains than Simon and could pick up business quicker. +You should have heard me making that ass Malcolm Cromarty, and the +Farmond girl, and this hangman with the glass eye tell me all about +themselves and what their business was, without their ever suspecting +they were being pumped! For, mind you, I'd never set eyes on Malcolm +Cromarty or the Farmond girl before in my life! No, it wasn't at the +office I had the nastiest time. It was burying the body that night."</p> + +<p>The boastful smile died off his lips and for a moment he shivered a +little.</p> + +<p>"What happened about that?" enquired Carrington keenly.</p> + +<p>Rattar's voice instinctively fell a little.</p> + +<p>"When I got home that afternoon I found he wasn't quite dead after all!"</p> + +<p>"That accounts for it!" murmured Carrington.</p> + +<p>"For what?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span></p><p>"Your maid heard him moving."</p> + +<p>The prisoner seemed to have recovered from his passing emotion.</p> + +<p>"And I told her it was a rat, and she swallowed it!" he laughed. "Well, +he didn't move for long, and I had fixed up quite a good scheme for +getting him out of the house. A man was to call for old papers. I even +did two voices talking in the hall to make the bluff complete! Not being +able to get his ring off his finger rather worried me, but I put that +right by an advertisement in the paper saying I'd lost it!"</p> + +<p>He was arrested by the look on Carrington's face.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" he exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that gave me away?"</p> + +<p>"Those superfluous precautions generally give people away."</p> + +<p>"But how?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter now. You'll learn later. What next?"</p> + +<p>"Next?" said Rattar. "Well, I just went on keeping my head and bluffing +people——" he broke off, looked at Superintendent Sutherland, and gave +a short laugh. "I only lost my nerve a bit once, and that was when the +glass-eyed hangman butted in and said he was going to get down a +detective. It struck me then it was time I was off—and what's more, I +started!"</p> + +<p>The superintendent's mouth fell open.</p> + +<p>"You—you weren't the man——" he began.</p> + +<p>"Yes," scoffed the prisoner, "I was the man <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>with toothache in that +empty carriage. I'd got in at the wrong side after the ticket collector +passed and just about twenty seconds before you opened the door. But the +sight of your red face made me change my plans, and I was out again +before that train started! A bright policeman you are! After that I +decided to stick it out and face the music; and I faced it."</p> + +<p>His mouth shut tight and he sat back in his chair, his eyes travelling +round the others as though to mark their unwilling admiration. He +certainly saw it in the faces of the two open-eyed policemen, but +Cromarty's was hard and set, and he seemed still to be waiting.</p> + +<p>"You haven't told us about Sir Reginald yet," he said.</p> + +<p>Rattar looked at him defiantly.</p> + +<p>"No evidence there," he said with a cunning shake of his head, "you can +go on guessing!"</p> + +<p>"Would you like to smoke a pipe?" asked Carrington suddenly.</p> + +<p>The man's eyes gleamed.</p> + +<p>"By God, yes!"</p> + +<p>"You can have one if you tell us about Sir Reginald. We've got you +anyhow, and there will be evidence enough there too when we've put it +together."</p> + +<p>The superintendent looked a trifle shocked, but Carrington's sway over +him was by this time evidently unbounded. He coughed an official protest +but said nothing.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p><p>The prisoner only hesitated for a moment. He saw Carrington taking out a +cigarette, and then he took out his keys and said:</p> + +<p>"This is the key for that drawer. You'll find my pipe and baccy there. +I'll tell you the rest." And then he started and exclaimed: "But how the +h— did you know I smoked?"</p> + +<p>"At five minutes past nine o'clock last night," said Carrington, as he +handed him his pipe, "I was within three paces of you."</p> + +<p>The prisoner stared at him with a wry face.</p> + +<p>"You devil!" he murmured, and then added with some philosophy: "After +all, I'd sooner be hanged than stop smoking." And with that he lit his +pipe.</p> + +<p>"You want to know about old Cromarty," he resumed. "Well, I made my +first bad break when I carried on a correspondence with him which Simon +had begun, not knowing they had had a talk between whiles cancelling the +whole thing. You know about it and about the letter Sir Reginald sent me +after I'd written. Well, when I got that letter I admit it rattled me a +bit. I've often wondered since whether he had really suspected anything +or whether he would have sooner or later. Anyhow I got it into my head +that the game was up if something didn't happen. And so it happened."</p> + +<p>"You went and killed him?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"That's for you and your glass eye to find out!" snapped the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Take his pipe away," said Carrington quietly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span></p><p>"Damn it!" cried Rattar, "I'll tell you, only I'm fed up with that man's +bullying! I put it in a stocking" (he nodded towards the match box) +"just as you guessed and I went out to Keldale that night. My God, what +a walk that was in the dark! I'd half forgotten the way down to the +house and I thought every other tree was a man watching me. I don't know +yet how I got to that library window. I remembered his ways and I +thought he'd be sitting up there alone; but it was just a chance, and +I'd no idea I'd have the luck to pick a night when he was sleeping in +his dressing room. Give me another drink!"</p> + +<p>Carrington promptly brought one and again it vanished almost in a gulp.</p> + +<p>"Well, I saw him through a gap in the curtains and I risked a tap on the +glass. My God, how surprised he was to see me standing there! I grinned +at him and he let me in, and then——" He broke off and fell forward in +his chair with his face in his hands. "This whisky has gone to my head!" +he muttered. "You've mixed it too damned strong!"</p> + +<p>Ned Cromarty sprang up, his face working. Carrington caught him by the +arm.</p> + +<p>"Let's come away," he said quietly. "We've heard everything necessary. +You can't touch him now."</p> + +<p>Cromarty let him keep his arm through his as they went to the door.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p><p>"I'll send a cab up for you in a few minutes," Carrington added to the +superintendent.</p> + +<p>They left the prisoner still sitting muttering into his hands.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XL" id="XL"></a>XL</h2> + +<h3>THE LAST CHAPTER</h3> + +<p>On their way down to the hotel Ned Cromarty only spoke once, and that +was to exclaim:</p> + +<p>"If I'd only known when I had him alone! Why didn't you tell me more +before I went in?"</p> + +<p>"For your own sake," said Carrington gently. "The law is so devilish +undiscriminating. Also, I wasn't absolutely certain then myself."</p> + +<p>They said nothing more till they were seated in Carrington's sitting +room and his employer had got a cigar between his teeth and pushed away +an empty tumbler.</p> + +<p>"I'm beginning to feel a bit better," said he. "Fire away now and tell +me how you managed this trick. I'd like to see just how derned stupid +I've been!"</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, I assure you you haven't! I'm a professional at this +game, and I tell you honestly it was at least as much good luck as good +guidance that put me on to the truth at last."</p> + +<p>"I wonder what you call luck," said Ned. "Seems to me you were up +against it all the time! You've told me how you caught Rattar lying at +the start. Well, that was pretty smart <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>of you to begin with. Then, what +next? How did things come?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Carrington, "I picked up a little something on my first +visit to Keldale. From Bisset's description I gathered that the body +must have been dragged along the floor and left near the door. Why? +Obviously as a blind. Adding that fact to the unfastened window, the +broken table, the mud on the floor, and the hearth brush, the odds +seemed heavy on entry by the window. I also found that the middle blind +had been out of order that night and that it <i>might</i> have been quite +possible for any one outside to have seen Sir Reginald sitting in the +room and known he was alone there. Again, it seemed long odds on his +having recognised the man outside and opened the window himself, which, +again, pointed to the man being some one he knew quite well and never +suspected mischief from."</p> + +<p>"Those were always my own ideas, except that I felt bamboozled where you +felt clear—which shows the difference between our brains!"</p> + +<p>Carrington laughed and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could think so! No, no, it's merely a case of every man to his +own trade. And as a matter of fact I was left just as bamboozled as you +were. For who could this mysterious man be? Of the people inside the +house, I had struck out Miss Farmond, Bisset, Lady Cromarty, and all the +female servants. Only Sir Malcolm was left. I wired for him to come up +and was able to score him out too. I also visited you and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>scored you +out. So there I was—with no conceivable criminal!"</p> + +<p>"But you'd already begun to suspect Rattar, hadn't you?"</p> + +<p>"I knew he had lied about engaging me; I discovered from Lady Cromarty +that he had told her of Sir Malcolm's engagement to Miss Farmond—and I +suspected he had started her suspicions of them; and I saw that he was +set on that theory, in spite of the fact that it was palpably improbable +if one actually knew the people. Of course if one didn't, it was +plausible enough. When I first came down here it seemed to me a very +likely theory and I was prepared to find a guilty couple, but when I met +Miss Farmond and told her suddenly that Sir Malcolm was arrested, and +she gazed blankly at me and asked 'What for?' well, I simply ran my +pencil, so to speak, through her name and there was an end of her! The +same with Sir Malcolm when I met him. And yet here was the family +lawyer, who knew them both perfectly, so convinced of their guilt that +he was obviously stifling investigation in any other direction. And on +top of all that, all my natural instincts and intuitions told me that +the man was a bad hat."</p> + +<p>"But didn't all that make you suspect him?"</p> + +<p>"Of what? Of leaving his respectable villa at the dead of night, +tramping several miles at his age in the dark, and deliberately +murdering his own best client and old friend under circumstances so +risky to himself that only a combination <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>of lucky chances saw him +safely through the adventure? Nothing—absolutely nothing but homicidal +mania could possibly account for such a performance, and the man was +obviously as sane as you or I. I felt certain that there was something +wrong somewhere, but as for suspecting him of being the principal in the +crime, the idea was stark lunacy!"</p> + +<p>"By George, it was a tough proposition!" said Ned. "By the way, had you +heard of George Rattar at that time?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I heard of him, and knew they resembled one another, but as I +was told that he had left the place for years and was now dead, my +thoughts never even once ran in that direction until I got into a state +of desperation, and then I merely surmised that his misdeeds might have +been at the bottom of some difficulty between Simon and Sir Reginald."</p> + +<p>"Then how on earth did you ever get on to the right track?"</p> + +<p>"I never would have if the man hadn't given himself away. To begin with, +he was fool enough to fall in with my perfectly genuine assumption that +he was either employing me or acting for my employer. No doubt he stood +to score if the bluff had come off, and he banked on your stipulation +that your name shouldn't appear. But if he had only been honest in that +matter, my suspicions would never have started—not at that point +anyhow."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p><p>"That was Providence—sure!" said Ned with conviction.</p> + +<p>"I'm inclined to think it was," agreed Carrington. "Then again his +advice to Sir Malcolm and Miss Farmond was well enough designed to +further his own scheme of throwing suspicion on them, but it simply +ended in his being bowled out both times, and throwing suspicion on +himself. But <i>the</i> precaution which actually gave him away was putting +in that advertisement about his ring."</p> + +<p>"I was just wondering," said Ned, "how that did the trick."</p> + +<p>"By the merest fluke. I noticed it when I was making enquiries at the +Police Office on quite different lines, but you can imagine that I +switched off my other enquiries pretty quick when Superintendent +Sutherland calmly advanced the theory that the ring was stolen when +Rattar's house was entered by some one unknown on the very night of the +murder!"</p> + +<p>"This is the first I've heard of that!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"It was the first I had, but it led me straight to Rattar's house and a +long heart to heart talk with his housemaid. That was when I collected +that extraordinary mixed bag of information which I was wondering +yesterday whether to believe or not. Here are the items, and you can +judge for yourself what my state of mind was when I was carrying about +the following precious pieces of information."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p><p>He ticked the items off on his fingers.</p> + +<p>"A mysterious man who entered the garden one night and left his +footprints in the gravel, and whose visit had a strange and mysterious +effect on Rattar. Funny feelings produced in the bosom of the housemaid +by the presence of her master. Doors of unused rooms mysteriously locked +and keys taken away; said to be old papers inside. Mysterious visit of +mysterious man at dead of night to remove the said papers. A ring that +couldn't come off the owner's finger mysteriously lost. Mysterious +burglary on night of the murder by mysterious burglar who left all +windows and doors locked behind him and took nothing away. Mysterious +perambulations of his garden every night at nine o'clock by Mr. Simon +Rattar."</p> + +<p>"Great Scot!" murmured Cromarty.</p> + +<p>"I have given you the items in what turned out to be their order of +date, but I got them higgledy-piggledy and served up in a sauce of +mystery and trembly sensations that left me utterly flummoxed as to how +much—if anything—was sober fact. However, I began by fastening on to +two things. The first was the burglary, which of course at once +suggested the possibility that the man who had committed the crime at +Keldale had returned to Rattar's house and got in by that window. The +second was the nightly perambulations, which could easily be tested. +When Mr. Rattar emerged at nine that night, I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>was in the garden before +him. And what do you think he did?"</p> + +<p>"Had a look at his brother's grave?"</p> + +<p>"Smoked two pipes of tobacco! A man who was an anti-tobacco fanatic! The +truth hit me straight in the eye—'That man is not Simon Rattar!' And +then of course everything dropped into its place. The ex-convict twin +brother, the only evidence of whose supposititious death was an +announcement in the paper, obviously put in as a blind. The personal +resemblance between the two. All the yarns told me by the housemaid, +including the strange visitor—George of course arriving; the man who +came for the papers—George himself taking out the body; and the +vanished ring. Everything fitted in now, and the correspondence between +Sir Reginald and Rattar which had beaten me before, gave the clue at +once as to motive."</p> + +<p>"I guess you felt you had deserved a drink that trip!" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"I didn't stop to have my drink. I went straight off to see old Ison and +pumped him for the rest of the evening. He wasn't very helpful but +everything I could get out of him went to confirm my theory. I found for +certain that Simon Rattar had never smoked in his life, and that George +used to be a heavy smoker. I also learned that a few recent +peculiarities of conduct had struck the not too observant Ison, one +being very suggestive. Rattar, it seemed, kept an old pair of kid gloves +in his desk which he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>was in the habit of wearing when he was alone in +the office."</p> + +<p>"Don't quite see the bearing of that."</p> + +<p>"Well, on my hypothesis it was to avoid leaving finger marks. You see +George was an ex-convict. It was a very judicious precaution too, and +made it extremely difficult to catch him out by that means, for one +could scarcely approach a respectable solicitor and ask him for an +impression of his fingers! And anyhow, nothing could be definitely +proved against him until we had found Simon's body. That was the next +problem. Where had he hidden it?"</p> + +<p>"And how did you get at that?"</p> + +<p>"Guessed it. At first my thoughts went too far afield, but when I went +over the times mentioned in the maid's story of the man who took away +the papers, and the fact that she heard no sound of a wheeled vehicle, I +realised that he must have simply planted it in one of the flower beds. +This morning I prodded them all with a stout walking stick and found the +spot. Then I talked like a father to old Sutherland and fixed everything +up with him. And then I sent my wire to you."</p> + +<p>"And you deliberately tell me you got there as much by good luck as good +guidance?"</p> + +<p>Carrington's eyes thoughtfully followed his smoke rings.</p> + +<p>"I can see the luck at every turn," he answered, "and though I'd like to +believe in the guidance, I'm hanged if it's quite as distinct!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span></p><p>"If you are telling me the neat, unvarnished truth, Carrington," said +his admiring employer, "I can only say that you've a lot to learn about +your own abilities—and I hope to Heaven you'll never learn it!"</p> + +<p>"But I assure you there are some people who think me conceited!"</p> + +<p>"There are guys of all sorts in the world," said Ned. "For instance +there's a girl who has mistaken me for a daisy, and I've got to get back +to her now. Good night! I won't say 'Thanks' because I can't shout it +loud enough."</p> + +<p>When his gig lamps had flashed up the silent street and Carrington had +turned back from the pavement into the hotel, he met his friend Miss +Peterkin.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cromarty's late to-night," said she. "A fine gentleman that! I +always say there are few like Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland."</p> + +<p>"That's lucky for me," said Carrington with a smile that puzzled her a +little. "My business in life would be gone if there were!"</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Simon, by J. Storer Clouston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIMON *** + +***** This file should be named 26306-h.htm or 26306-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/3/0/26306/ + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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