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diff --git a/42813-8.txt b/42813-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6d63e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/42813-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11961 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels, by Mrs. Charles Bryce + +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: Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels + +Author: Mrs. Charles Bryce + +Release Date: May 26, 2013 [EBook #42813] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS *** + + + + +Produced by eagkw, Clarity and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS + + + + + MRS. + VANDERSTEIN'S + JEWELS + + BY MRS. CHARLES BRYCE + + + [Illustration] + + + LONDON: JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD + NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY + TORONTO: BELL & COCKBURN MCMXIV + + + + +THE ANCHOR PRESS, LTD., TIPTREE, ESSEX. + + + + +MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The room looked very cool in the afternoon light. A few bowls of white +roses that were arranged about it seemed to lend it an aspect of more +than usual specklessness. + +To Madame Querterot, a person of no taste, who made no pretension +of being fastidious, and who had, moreover, little sympathy with a +passion for cleanliness when this was carried to exaggeration, the airy +lightness of the place suggested the convent school of her youthful +days; and, bringing again before her the figure of a stern sister +superior who had been accustomed in those vanished times to deal out +severe penalties to the youthful but constantly erring Justine, caused +her invariably to enter Mrs. Vanderstein's bedroom after a quick intake +of the breath on the threshold, as if she were about to plunge into an +icy bath. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, ever the essence of punctuality, was ready for her on +this particular evening, as she always was. + +Wrapped in some diaphanous white garment, which she would perhaps have +called a dressing-gown, she lay on a silk covered sofa and lazily +watched Madame Querterot unpacking the little bag in which she carried +the accessories of her profession, that of a hairdresser and beauty +specialist. + +"You must make me very beautiful to-night, Madame Justine," she said, +with a smile. "We are going to hear _La Bohème_, and the Queen will +be there. My box is nearly opposite the Royal box, and in case Her +Majesty's eyes fall in my direction I wish to look my best." + +"All eyes will not fail to be directed to your side of the theatre, +madame," replied Madame Querterot, taking out her collection of pomade +pots, powder boxes and washes, and arranging them in a semicircle upon a +Louis XVI table. "Royalties know the use of opera glasses as well as any +citizen. As for making you beautiful, the good God has occupied Himself +with that! I can only preserve what I find. I can make your beauty +endure, madame. More than that one must not ask of me. I am not the +good God, me!" and Madame Querterot's plump shoulders shook with easy +merriment. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, too, smiled. She did not suffer from any affectation +of modesty as far as her obvious good looks were concerned. But she was +obliged to own regretfully--though only to herself--that she was no +longer as young as she had been; and the masseuse's assurances that her +youthful appearance could be indefinitely preserved fell on her ears +as melodiously as if they were indeed a prelude to the magic strains +that would presently rise to charm her through the envied, if stuffy +atmosphere of Covent Garden. + +"You are a flatterer, Madame Justine," she murmured. Then, before she +laid her head back against the cushions and gave herself up to Madame +Querterot's ministrations, she called to a figure that was seated in the +window, half hidden among the muslin curtains that fluttered before it: +"Barbara, be sure and tell me if you see anything interesting." + +Barbara Turner answered without looking round: + +"Nothing has come yet, but I am keeping a good look-out." + +Mrs. Vanderstein closed her eyes, and Madame Querterot, after turning up +her sleeves and arraying herself in an apron, began to pass her short +fingers over the placid features and smooth skin of the lady's face. For +a time nothing else stirred in the big room. + +A ray of sunlight passed very slowly across a portion of the grey +panelled walls, and coming to a gilded mirror climbed cautiously over +the carved frame, only to be caught and held a while on the flashing +surface of the looking-glass. + +On every side the subdued gold of ancient frames, surrounding priceless +pictures that had been acquired by the help of the excellent judgment +and long purse of the late Mr. Vanderstein, shone softly and pleasantly. + +The furniture, of the best period of the reign of Louis XVI--as was +the case all over the house--had been collected by the same unerring +connoisseur, and each piece would have been welcomed with tears of joy +by many an eager director of museums. + +The thick carpet that covered the floor exactly matched the pale grey +tone of the walls and upholstery, and the extreme lightness of these +imparted that air of great luxury which the lavish use of fragile +colours, in a town as dirty as London, does more to convey than any more +ostentatious sign of extravagance. + +Through the open casements many noises rose from the street, for the +bedroom was at the front of the house, which stood in a street in +Mayfair immediately opposite to a great hotel where the overflow of +foreign Royalty is frequently sheltered at times of Court festivals, +when the hospitable walls of the Palace are filled to bursting point. + +The coming and going of these distinguished guests was always a source +of the most unquenchable interest to Mrs. Vanderstein, to whom every +trivial action, if it were performed by any sort of a Highness, was +brimming with thrilling suggestion. + +At the period of which I speak, London was astir with preparations for +a great function, and representatives of the Courts of Europe were +arriving by every train from the Continent. + +Mrs. Vanderstein could hear the sounds of a constant stream of carriages +and motors stopping or starting below her window, and knew that it +was not to her door that they crowded, but across the road under the +magnificent stucco portico of Fianti's Hotel. + +"Barbara, has no one interesting appeared?" she called again after a few +minutes. + +"Not yet," was the reply. "There's a victoria driving along the street +now, though, which looks something like a Royal turnout. Rather a nice +looking pair in it." + +"Is it a pair of foreign looking gentlemen?" asked Mrs. Vanderstein +excitedly. + +"No, a pair of Cleveland bays. I hate them as a rule, but from here they +don't look bad. All back, though, of course." + +"My dear girl, do tell me about the people. I don't want to hear about +your horrid horses. I believe all sorts of celebrities go in and out of +Fianti's while I am lying here, and you never even notice them." + +"Yes, yes, I do," said Barbara. "I will call you directly any one passes +who looks as if he might be accustomed to wield the sceptre, or who is +wearing a crown over his top hat." + +Mrs. Vanderstein made a little impatient movement. It annoyed her that +her companion did not take her duties more seriously--did not, in fact, +seem to understand how much more important was this task of keeping a +good look-out in the wide bow of the window than any of the others that +she was apt to approach in a quite admirable spirit of thoroughness. +Why, wondered Mrs. Vanderstein, could the girl not do as she was asked +in this matter, without making those attempts to be facetious which +appeared so ill-advised, and which fell so extremely flat, as a moment's +observation would have made apparent to her? She did not make jokes +about the flowers while she arranged them, nor about Mrs. Vanderstein's +correspondence, to which it was her business to attend. She was able +to answer the telephone or order the carriage without indulging in +unseemly giggles. Why then, in heaven's name, couldn't she take up her +post of observation at the window without finding in it an excuse for +pleasantries as dull as they were pointless? + +Mrs. Vanderstein sighed deeply and wriggled her head deeper in the +cushions. + +Madame Querterot saw the cloud and guessed very easily what had caused +it: she had often noticed similar disturbances of her customer's +otherwise easy-going temper. Knowing with remarkable accuracy on which +side of her bread the butter was applied, she at once set herself to +calm the troubled waters. + +"You did not see me to-day, madame," she began, "but me, I have already +seen you. I passed in Piccadilly where your auto was stopped in a block +before the Ritz." + +"Yes, we were kept there quite a long time, but I did not see you, +Madame Justine," said Mrs. Vanderstein indifferently. + +"How should you have seen me? I was in a bus. It's not there that you +would look for your acquaintances. That understands itself! But I was +not the only one to see you, and what I heard said of you then will +make you smile. I said to myself at the moment, 'It is quite natural, +Justine, but it will make her laugh all the same.'" + +"What was it? Who can have said anything of me in an omnibus?" + +"Ah, madame! Even in buses people do not cease to talk. One hears things +to make one twist with laughter! But one hears the truth too, sometimes, +and this young man, even if he made a mistake, one cannot surprise +oneself at that!" + +"But you do not tell me what you heard," cried Mrs. Vanderstein. + +"It was this young man of whom I speak to you. He was a nice smart +looking young gentleman, and he had with him a lady, well dressed and +very chic. What they did in that _galère_ I know not, but as we passed +the Ritz he touched his companion on the arm and pointed out of the +window. 'Look, Alice,' said he, 'you see the dark lady in that motor? +It is the Russian Princess they talk so much about, Princess Sonia. Is +she not handsome? She was pointed out to me last night at the Foreign +Office reception.' The lady he called Alice looked where he pointed and +every one in the bus looked also. I, too, turned round and followed +the eyes of the others. And who did I see, madame? Can you not guess? +It was at you they looked, as you sat there in your beautiful car with +Mademoiselle Turner beside you. You, with your flowers and your pretty +hat with the long white feather, and your wonderful pearls. And your +face, madame! But I must not permit myself to speak of that!" + +"You talk great nonsense, and I do not believe a word you say," said +Mrs. Vanderstein gaily, her good-humour more than restored. "No one +could mistake me for a moment for the beautiful Princess Sonia." + +"Nevertheless, madame, it happened as I say. And I see nothing strange +about it. It was a very natural mistake, as anyone who has seen both +you and the Princess will readily agree." + +Madame Querterot had not seen the Princess herself, but she had studied +her photograph in the illustrated papers and devoutly hoped that Mrs. +Vanderstein had not herself met the lady at closer quarters. + +"The poor young man was not near enough to observe my wrinkles and my +double chin, Madame Justine!" + +"Bah! You will have forgotten the word wrinkle, which is not +_d'ailleurs_ a pretty one, by the time I have finished giving you my +course of treatment. And as for a double chin, look at me, madame! I +assure you that, in my time, I have developed no less than five double +chins. And I have rubbed them all away. Do you suppose, then, that I +shall allow you to have one?" + +Mrs. Vanderstein looked as she was bidden. Indeed she lost no +opportunity of studying the countenance of the little Frenchwoman, who, +on her own admission, was at least ten years older than herself, but +whose face was as smooth and unlined as that of a girl, though there +was an indefinable something in the expression, an experienced glimmer, +perhaps, in the eyes, that prevented her appearance from being entirely +youthful. + +Still, she might very well have been taken for Mrs. Vanderstein's +junior, even for her younger sister, possibly, if she had been as well +dressed, for there was a certain resemblance between the two women. Both +were short and plump, both had long oval faces and brown eyes set rather +near together beneath arched, well-marked eyebrows, and, though Madame +Querterot had not a drop of Jewish blood in her veins and her nose did +not assume the Hebraic droop that in Mrs. Vanderstein betrayed her +race, yet it was distinctly of the hooked variety and gave her a family +likeness to the children of Israel, on which fact her relations and +friends had frequently considered it entertaining to dwell. Her hair, +however, was golden and fluffy, curling about her head with a juvenile +abandon; while Mrs. Vanderstein's dark, straight locks were simply and +severely dressed at the back, and concealed on her forehead by a large, +flat curled fringe in the manner affected by the English Royal ladies. + +Mrs. Vanderstein at all events was sincere in her admirations. + +"If you can make me look as young as you do," she said now, "I ask +nothing better. But indeed London in this hot weather is very wearing, +and I see myself grow older every morning. To-day it was oppressive to +drive even in an open motor." + +To drive? Ah! Madame Querterot was not imaginative, but a vision of the +crowded bus in which she went about her business floated before her, +side by side with one of a rushing motor car; and she paused in her work +for a minute and looked around her. + +An electric fan revolved tirelessly above the window, and on a table +at the foot of the bed was placed a large block of ice, half hidden in +flowers and ferns. She raised herself, inhaling the cool air in long, +deep breaths. + +"It has been hot, very hot, these last days," she admitted. "It reminds +me of our beautiful Paris, and of much in my young days that I would be +content to forget," she added, with a laugh. "Ah, the room in that city, +in which as a girl I used to work; the little dark room where I learnt +my trade! It was hot in that room in the summer. But, madame, I could +not tell you how hot it was. I remember one of the girls who used to +pray quite seriously to die, because, she explained to us, wherever she +went in another world it could not fail to be more cool. It was over a +baker's kitchen and had no window except one which gave on to a sort of +shaft that ran up the middle of the house, so that we had the gas always +burning. Oh, la, la!" + +"How dreadful!" murmured Mrs. Vanderstein comfortably. "I wonder it was +allowed." + +"Allowed? Ah, madame, there are plenty of worse workrooms than that in +Paris. I wonder what you would say if you could see your dresses made! +We liked it very well in the winter, for there were no stairs, and it +was agreeable then to shut the window and profit by the warmth from the +kitchen. That was all long ago, before I married that poor Eugène and +came to live in London. They were, all the same, not so bad, those days. +Ah, la jeunesse, la belle jeunesse, which one does not know how to enjoy +when one has it." + +Madame Querterot crossed over to the table and laid her hands on the +block of ice, casting a glance over her shoulder to the window where +Barbara sat at her sentry post. The motionless, silent figure annoyed +Madame Querterot. To be conscious that all her chatter was overheard +by that quiet listener got on her nerves and sometimes made her, as +she said, feel as if her own words would suffocate her. There was so +much she could have said to Mrs. Vanderstein from time to time if they +had been alone--much that she instinctively felt would have been very +acceptable to that lady--but in the presence of Miss Turner, even though +nothing of her were visible except the back of her head, there were, it +appeared, lengths of flattery to which Madame Querterot found herself +incapable of proceeding. Thus did a feeling of awkwardness, some sense +of restraint, cast a certain gloom over hours that should have been the +brightest in the day. + +"These roses, madame, how fine they are," she murmured, bending towards +a bowl that stood on the table, and unconsciously her voice took on a +note of defiance as she faced the window. "They are as beautiful as if +they were artificial. One would say they were made of silk!" + +Mrs. Vanderstein laughed tolerantly, but Barbara, her face turned to the +street, made a naughty face. + +Madame Querterot, with hands ice cool, went back to her massage, and for +a little while again no one spoke. + +Suddenly Barbara turned. + +"Here comes a Royal carriage," she said. "I think it is Prince Felipe of +Targona and his mother." + +"Oh I must see them," cried Mrs. Vanderstein, jumping up, and brushing +Madame Querterot unceremoniously aside. "Where are they?" She ran to the +window. + +The masseuse followed more slowly, and three heads were thrust out over +the street. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +A carriage was driving up to the steps of Fianti's. + +To allow it to approach, a waiting motor was obliged to move away, +and in the short interval that elapsed while this was being wound up +and started off the carriage paused almost immediately opposite the +window of Mrs. Vanderstein's bedroom; she had thus a better view of its +occupants than it had ever previously been her fortune to obtain. + +On the right of the barouche sat an elderly lady, with grey hair piled +high under a very small black hat. She sat very upright and stiff, +giving a little nervous start when the horses moved forward impatiently +and were drawn up with a jerk by the coachman. + +"That is the Princess," said Barbara, whose head was touching Mrs. +Vanderstein's. + +Prince Felipe sat beside his mother, a middle-aged young man of forty +with a black upturned moustache and an eyeglass. He had a cigarette in +his hand and, as they looked, he turned round and gazed after a smartly +dressed woman who was driving by. + +On the back seat of the carriage sat two other men--gentlemen in +waiting, no doubt. + +Mrs. Vanderstein's eyes were, however, fully occupied with the Princess +and her son. + +"Isn't he handsome?" she whispered to Barbara, as if there were a danger +of being overheard above the rattle and din of the busy roadway. + +But it almost seemed as if the words reached the ears of the man she was +watching, for, the motor in the portico having at last got under way and +left the road clear for Their Highnesses, the Prince threw back his head +as the carriage moved on, and looking up met Mrs. Vanderstein's eyes +fixed admiringly on him. + +She drew back her head in some confusion, but the Prince was still +looking up when the barouche disappeared in the shade of the portico. + +"Madame! Son Altesse vous a reconnue!" cried Madame Querterot, her face +wreathed in smiles. + +"He never saw me before," replied Mrs. Vanderstein, retreating into the +room. "How odd that he should have looked up just then! What a charming +face he has." And she subsided once more on the sofa, her own face aglow +with excitement and pleasure. + +"Don't move from the window, Barbara, whatever you do," she said. "Just +think if we had missed them!" + +As Madame Querterot resumed her rubbing, a knock came at the door, and +Mrs. Vanderstein's maid entered bearing the jewels her mistress intended +wearing that night at the opera. As she set the cases down on the +dressing-table and busied herself in laying out the various garments of +her mistress' evening toilet, she cast from time to time disapproving +glances in the direction of Madame Querterot, whom, although a +compatriot, she disliked very heartily, considering that in the privacy +of Mrs. Vanderstein's chamber any ministrations besides her own were +unnecessary, and having altogether a strong tendency to look upon her +countrywoman as an interloper, who had possibly an eye to a share in +various perquisites for which Amélie preferred to see no other candidate +in the field. + +She took an elaborate gown from the wardrobe and spread it out upon the +bed together with divers other articles of attire. She placed a jug of +hot water in the basin and a jar of aromatic salts beside it. + +She straightened several objects on the dressing-table, which had no +need of being made straight; tilted the looking-glass forward and +tilted it back again; lifted up a chair and set it down with a thud; +and finally, despairing of ever witnessing the departure of her dreaded +rival, was about to leave the room when her mistress' voice called her +back. + +"Amélie," she said, "just show me what necklace you have brought up for +me to-night. Is it the one with the flower pendants or the stone drops?" + +Amélie carried all the cases over to the sofa; and Madame Querterot left +off rubbing while Mrs. Vanderstein sat up and opened them one by one. + +In the largest a magnificent diamond necklace, imitating a garland +of wild roses and their leaves, glistened against its blue velvet +background. The other cases, when opened, displayed bracelets and a +diamond tiara, as well as rings and a pair of ear-rings formed of +immense single stones. + +Mrs. Vanderstein shut them all up again and handed them back to Amélie. + +"Take them down again to Blake," she said, "and tell him I have changed +my mind and will wear the emeralds instead. They go better with that +dress." + +"Ah, madame," sighed Madame Querterot, as Amélie departed with the +jewels, "what marvellous diamonds! Wherever one goes one hears the +jewels of Mrs. Vanderstein spoken of." + +"It is true," said Mrs. Vanderstein, "that my jewels are very good. My +dear husband had a passion for them and collected stones as another +man collects bric-à-brac. He never made a mistake, they say, and my +ornaments are rather out of the way in consequence. For myself I feel +it an extravagance to lock up such a vast amount of capital in mere +gewgaws." + +"My poor Eugène," said Madame Querterot, "had also this same enthusiasm +for precious stones. He loved so to adorn his wife with diamonds, that +dear soul! But with him it was, alas, more than an extravagance. It was +our ruin; for he was not a connoisseur, like monsieur votre mari, and +when the crisis came and we would have turned my jewellery back into +money, behold, we were told that we had been cheated in our purchases, +and that, for the most part, the stones were without value. Ah, the sad +day! As you know, madame, bankruptcy followed, and we had to give up our +beautiful _établissement_ in Bond Street. It broke the heart of that +poor Eugène. He never recovered from the blow and soon left me, I trust +for a happier world, by way, it goes without saying, of purgatory," +added the masseuse, crossing herself like a good Catholic. "Since that +day I have faced the troubles of this life alone, without friendship, +without sympathy." + +Here her emotion overcame Madame Querterot, and she turned away for a +moment with a display of her handkerchief. She had omitted from her +affecting narrative the fact that "that poor Eugène" had perished by +his own hand, on discovering the state of his affairs; and she slightly +trifled with the truth when she asserted that it was his unfortunate +craze for covering his wife with jewels which had brought about such a +disastrous state of things. It was Madame Querterot's own passion for +the adornment of her person that had resulted in the dissipation of +Eugène's savings, and brought him, at the last, to see with despair the +total disappearance of the business, which she had neglected and ruined. + +Mrs. Vanderstein's kind heart was touched. + +She had heard vaguely the reason of the Querterots' removal from their +gorgeous Bond Street rooms after the death of Eugène, the incomparable +hairdresser, and it was from a creditable desire not to desert the +unfortunate that she continued to employ the little Frenchwoman since +the day of the catastrophe. But no details of the affair had reached +her, and she now heard for the first time, and not without being +sincerely moved, the sad story of a man who, having spent his all in +lavishing tokens of affection on his wife, had in the end reduced her to +a state of poverty bordering on want, and even left her to confront this +terror in solitude, as a result of his misdirected tenderness. + +Considerably affected, she tried to speak words of comfort to the poor +woman. + +"It is dreadfully sad," she murmured. "Poor Madame Justine, how sorry I +am. Your poor husband, I see well how he must have adored you and that +what he did was all for the best. But you are not absolutely alone in +the world, are you? Have you not a daughter?" + +"Yes, it is true, madame, that I have a daughter," replied Madame +Querterot, wiping her eyes and resuming her work. + +"And she is no doubt a great comfort to you?" + +"Children, madame, are at once a joy and a trouble," returned the +masseuse evasively. + +"I hope your daughter has not caused you much trouble." + +"She has given me nothing but worry since the day she was born. Her +childhood, her education, her illnesses! Measles, chicken pox, whooping +cough, mumps, scarlet fever; she has had them all one after the other." + +"But not while you have been coming to see me!" cried Mrs. Vanderstein, +alarmed. + +"Ah no, madame, all that is long finished," replied Madame Querterot, +"but since then I have been obliged to provide for her education, and +every year she has become more expensive. Now she is eighteen, and you +would imagine her anxious to repay some of the expense and _ennuis_ she +has caused me during all these years." + +"Yes, no doubt," agreed Mrs. Vanderstein, "she will be a great help to +you now." + +"So one would think. But figure to yourself, madame, what this young +girl proposes to me to do with her life. She desires to enter a convent +and to spend her days in good works rather than be of assistance to her +mother!" and Madame Querterot laughed bitterly. + +"I think she ought not to take such a decisive step at present," said +Mrs. Vanderstein; "at the age of eighteen she can hardly know if a +religious life is really her vocation." + +"She is obstinate like a donkey, madame. Just think of it, a young girl, +healthy, not ugly; already she has had offers of marriage. There is a +young man, very _bien_, very _comme il faut_, who demands her hand and +who thinks of nothing but her. But will she take him? No. Not at all. We +prefer to be a religious; and _voilà_!" + +Madame Querterot, having finished her massaging, was repacking the brown +bag in which she had brought her apparatus. + +"I hope that you will amuse yourself at the opera, madame," she went on, +folding her apron and laying it on top of the other things in the bag, +the lock of which clicked as she shut it down with an impatient snap. + +"A demain, mesdames," she concluded, taking up the bag by the handle +and giving it a shake as if she only wished she could so shake her +unsatisfactory child. "A cette heure-ci, n'est-ce pas?" + +And with that she bowed herself from the room. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Mrs. Vanderstein and Barbara hurried over their dinner and were early in +their places in Covent Garden. Mrs. Vanderstein always arrived before +the orchestra had tuned up. She had, like many of her race, a great +appreciation of music and did not like to miss a bar of the overture, +even though she had already heard the opera that was being given so +often that she knew it by heart. + +She felt very much in a mood to enjoy herself that evening, and till the +first act was over leant back in her chair with half-closed eyes, hardly +moving at all, and absolutely absorbed in listening to the wonderful +singers who were that night interpreting Puccini's melodious work. Even +the Royal box opposite barely distracted her attention for more than a +few moments. + +Barbara Turner was not musical, but she, too, was always pleased to +go to the opera. She liked the sensation of luxury, which enveloped +her there even more than elsewhere; she liked the feeling that the +entertainment offered them was costing a huge amount of money, and +therefore could only be witnessed by a privileged few. Although she +laughed at Mrs. Vanderstein's passion for Royalty, she shared her +simple satisfaction in the knowledge that the box in which they were +now sitting was sandwiched between that occupied by the Duke of +Mellinborough on their left, and the one tenanted by Sir Ian Fyves, the +sporting Scotch millionaire. + +Barbara rejoiced in the exclusiveness obtainable by the rich, therein +differing from some other people who depreciate the advantages of wealth +on the grounds that the largest fortunes may be made and handled by +the most vulgar, and that banking accounts are not in these days the +exclusive property of the refined, or even of the intellectual. + +Mrs. Vanderstein made no secret of the benefit to her health derived +from hours spent in the closest proximity to the aristocracy, the air +inhaled by a duchess being separated from that which filled her own +lungs merely by the thinnest of partitions. She invariably occupied the +chair on the left-hand side of the box, so that the space between her +and her unseen neighbours might be thought of in terms of inches; and +it cannot be denied that Barbara herself relished the thought of the +company of the great who surrounded her, heedless though they might be +of the pleasure they were providing. It was not really to be expected, +besides, that the nearness of Sir Ian Fyves, whose horse had already +so easily won the Derby the year before, and who was again the lucky +owner of the favourite for the coming contest, should leave unmoved the +daughter of Bill Turner, the trainer. + +All Barbara's childhood had been passed at Newmarket, and the talk of +the racing men with whom her father associated had been the first to +fall on her infantile ears. The horses in his charge had grown to be +her chief interest in life, as they were that of every one she was +brought in contact with; and at the age of ten she knew as much about +them--their points, prowess, value, and chances--as any stable boy on +the place. On a small but truculent pony she followed her father and +his friends to the heath in the early mornings and watched the morning +gallops with a critical eye; with the same edifying companions she +pottered about the stableyard during most of the rest of the day, and +only when bed-time came--and it came at eight o'clock, for on that one +point her father was firm--was she reluctantly torn away. + +All Mr. Vanderstein's horses were trained by her father, and many a time +the childish eyes followed them to victory. + +In earlier days, before Barbara had made her bow upon the scene, Turner +had been associated in various affairs of business with Mr. Vanderstein, +then plain Mr. Moses Stein, familiarly known to his intimates of those +days by the endearing nickname of Nosey Stein; sometimes in moments of +rare affection, when some particularly brilliant _coup_ had just been +brought off, he was alluded to as Nosey Posey. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, then Miss Ruth Hengersohn, had changed all this. The +name of Stein was repugnant to her, though it seems a good enough sort +of appellation in its way; Nosey or Nosey Posey she could only think +of with a shudder; while the idea of being herself known as Mrs. Nosey +filled her with a burning determination, which, as it cooled, hardened +to the inflexible consistency of chilled steel. + +Before their marriage took place, Mr. Stein, who always admiringly +recognised, when he met it, a will more adamant than his own, had at +great trouble, inconvenience, and expense changed his name for that of +Vanderstein, by which he was afterwards known. + +The enterprises, chiefly connected with the promotion of companies, +in which this gentleman had, in his early, forgotten--and best +forgotten--youth, the assistance and co-operation of Mr. William Turner, +were in their nature precarious and not a source, unfortunately, of the +profit foreseen by those who set out upon them. + +At the conclusion of one of them, indeed, things took on a very +unexpected complexion, assuming in the twinkling of an eye so +disagreeable a hue, that the directors of the company, whose management +was suddenly the centre of attraction and which was in danger of +receiving a most unwelcome, if flattering, attention from the +public prosecutor, thought it best to disappear with a rapidity and +unobtrusiveness highly creditable to a modest desire for self-effacement +at a moment when free advertisement was within the grasp of each of +them. + +Luckily for Mr. Stein, his name did not appear among those who sat on +the board of this particular company and he was able to pursue his way +in a retiring and profitable manner; but it was otherwise with his less +fortunate friend, Bill Turner. + +It was to the search for this worthy though too incautious person +that the efforts of the authorities were principally directed; and it +was only by returning once more, under an assumed name, to the racing +circles which he had during a short interval forsaken for the city, +and still further owing to the absence of the chief witness for the +prosecution, whose whereabouts could not for a long time be ascertained, +that Turner was able to escape the fate which ought assuredly to have +been his. + +He settled finally at Newmarket, and married the daughter of a +neighbouring squire, who never spoke again to a child who could so far +forget her father's position and ignore his commands as to unite herself +to the more than questionable William. + +The poor lady, however, took her revenge on her relations, and her leave +of a world in which she had found time to suffer some disillusions, on +the day that saw Barbara ushered into the light; so that the little girl +was left to grow up entirely in that odour of the stables which her +father preferred, in his heart, to any more delicate perfume. + +It was not until she was ten years old that Turner began to suffer +from the attentions of blackmailers, but these, having once discovered +him, saw in him a mine of gold which they fondly expected to prove +inexhaustible. Such, however, was not the case. After a year's +persecution the wretched man found himself penniless, and on the advice +of Vanderstein, the only one of his old pals who did not ignore him in +his trouble, he left the country with precipitation and secrecy. + +So little was his intention suspected that he eluded all further +detection and bolted successfully to South America, where he remained +untraced by undesirable acquaintances and finally drank himself to death +after several years of the most gratifying obscurity. + +Turner's only regret at leaving England was that he could not take with +him his little girl; but hampered by the company of a child escape would +have been impossible, and he sorrowfully yielded to the representations +of Vanderstein on that point. + +The Jew promised to take charge of Barbara in the future, and assured +Turner with every mark of solemnity that as long as he or his wife lived +the girl should not lack a home. Turner, who knew that Vanderstein never +ceased to chafe under a sense of obligations incurred in the early days +of their struggles, placed every confidence in the words, and had no +doubt that his friend would live up to his promises. + +And Vanderstein did not fail to do so. + +Barbara, whose grief at parting from her father was intense and +pathetic, was comforted as best might be and sent to school at the +select academy of the Misses Yorke Brown at Brighton. Here she received +the best of educations in the company of about thirty other young +ladies, the daughters of well-to-do middle class people. In their +society she obtained a nodding acquaintance with algebra, history, +science, and literature; with them she attended dancing classes, learnt +a little French and German, and disported herself on the tennis court +and hockey field. She roller-skated and played golf, became proficient +in the art of swimming, and with a chosen and fortunate few rode daily +on the downs. + +At the end of six or seven years she had grown into a self-possessed, +capable young woman, a little old for her years perhaps, as was obvious +to those who knew her well, but to outward appearance still a mere +child, easily amused at trifles, and with a rare capacity for enjoying +life, which made her a delightful companion. + +Her face had an innocent and helpless expression at variance with her +real nature, which was eminently self-reliant and independent. She would +never forgive her mother's relations who had despised her father, and at +any mention of them her large blue eyes would always flash resentfully. + +Her relatives for their part made no effort to seek her out and were +quite content to leave her to the Vandersteins' tender mercies. + +Before Barbara left school Mr. Vanderstein died, leaving in his will a +provision to the effect that his widow was to continue the care of his +friend's daughter, either making her an annual allowance of £500 a year +or taking her to live with her as friend and companion. There was a +further bequest of £30,000 to Barbara, which was to become hers on Mrs. +Vanderstein's death. + +This was not the only thing in the will which filled Mrs. Vanderstein +with indignation. + +She found to her disgust that half the fortune, which she had formed +the habit of considering hers, was left to young Joe Sidney, the son +of her husband's sister. This lady had committed the horrid offence of +marrying a Christian, and to her, during her lifetime, the orthodox and +scandalised Moses never alluded. Her death occurred a year or two before +his own, and after it Mr. Vanderstein had displayed a certain interest +in his nephew, but not enough to prepare his wife for his preposterous +action in regard to the division of his money. Indeed, he expressed in +the will his wish that after her death it should all go to Joe, though +he left the final decision on this point to her judgment. + +Old Vanderstein had amassed considerably over half a million sterling +during the latter and most prosperous portion of his career, so that his +widow was not altogether the pauper she was fond of declaring herself; +but in the first shock of seeing her income divide itself by two she +decided to save the £500 provided for Barbara and to submit instead to +the infliction of her presence. + +She had never seen the girl, who had, indeed, been a subject of +disagreement between her husband and herself, but she was so easy-going +and good-natured at heart that a very short period of Barbara's +society had sufficed to change her prejudices and distrust into a warm +affection, and she soon looked on her as she might have done on a +younger sister. + +There were occasions certainly when, if anything annoyed her, she would +not refrain from pointing out to Barbara how much had been done for her +and how exaggerated had been Mr. Vanderstein's views in this direction. + +"My dear husband," she would exclaim, "would have ruined himself, +if he had lived longer, by his own unbounded philanthropy. He was +constitutionally unable to say 'no' to anyone, and goodness knows in +what difficulties he would have landed himself if time had only been +afforded him. How often he would admit to me that certain people had +tried to borrow from him and that he had let them have what they +wanted. In vain I begged him to be more firm. He would make me promises, +but I would soon discover that he had been doing the same thing again. +'My dear,' he would reply to my reproaches, 'I have really not the heart +to refuse to help these poor young men.'" + +Mr. Vanderstein did not bother his wife with details of his private +affairs, holding that women have no concern with business; and he +decidedly never thought it necessary to mention that he used a +certain discretion in his benevolence, steeling himself against more +supplications than she suspected. + +It was true, however, that he never refused to lend money to such +poor young men as were heirs to entailed estates or could offer other +satisfactory security for the repayment of his kindness, and it was by +these unobtrusive charities that his fortune was collected. + +Mrs. Vanderstein's prejudices against Joe Sidney had also decreased +very rapidly when she became acquainted with that young man, as she +did shortly after his mother's death, and by the time this story +begins--that is to say, three years after she herself had been left a +widow--he had become a great favourite of hers, although there were +still moments when she thought a little bitterly of the large sums he +had deprived her of by the fact of his existence. However, she liked him +well enough to let him know that it was her intention to comply with Mr. +Vanderstein's wishes in regard to the ultimate disposal of his fortune, +and that her will constituted Sidney her sole legatee. + +As she was only a few years older than himself and of a robust health, +there was every likelihood that this provision would not affect his +fortunes for many years to come, or even that she might survive him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +When that night, during the interval between the first and second acts +of the opera, the door of the box opened and Sidney made his appearance, +Mrs. Vanderstein greeted him with a beaming smile and the most sincere +pleasure. + +"How nice to see you, dear Joe," she said. "I didn't know you were in +London." + +"I only came up from York last night," said her nephew, "or I should +have been to see you before. The Garringdons asked me to their box, +which is more or less under this, so I couldn't see if you were here, +but I thought you would be." + +He sat down and began to talk about his doings and to ask questions +about theirs, Mrs. Vanderstein looking at him meanwhile with a feeling +of gratification at the decorative effect on her box of this good +looking youth. She hoped the audience, or at least some members of +it, had noticed his entrance, and she thought to herself that even +inconvenient nephews had their uses. + +Joe Sidney was twenty-five years of age and his father's son. The late +Mr. Sidney had been a very tall, fair individual, and Joe resembled +him, showing the merest trace of the Jew in the droop of his nose, +which, however, was not very marked. His eyes too, perhaps--but why pick +to pieces a young man who really was, taken altogether, a very fine +specimen of his kind? Though he had not, or scarcely had, inherited the +appearance of his mother's race, he showed much of its sympathy with +art and music; and his intelligence was equalled by his prepossessing +manner, which had made him a favourite since his boyhood with nearly +all with whom he came in contact, and, combined with his wealth, +rendered him extremely popular in the cavalry regiment in which he +was a subaltern. He knew a great many smart people whose acquaintance +Mrs. Vanderstein would have given her ears to make, and from time to +time he invited her to meet one or two of them at a restaurant dinner +or theatre, quite unconscious of the pleasure he was giving; for the +very intensity of her longing made Mrs. Vanderstein shy of letting this +superior young relative guess at it, and Barbara had never hinted to him +at the weakness of his uncle's widow. + +Poor Mrs. Vanderstein! One pities her when one reflects that if the good +Moses had survived a few years, till the advent of a Radical government +which was extremely short of sympathisers in the Upper House, she might +have lived to hear him called "My Lord," and have answered with beating +heart to the delicious salutation of "My Lady." + +She seized the opportunity afforded by Sidney's presence now to gather +information about the occupants of the boxes facing them. Did Joe see +anyone he knew? Of course she knew by sight every one in the Royal box, +except that man behind the Queen. Who was that? Sidney thought it was +the Italian ambassador. What a distinguished looking man! And in the +next box? Sidney didn't know. And the one beyond that? He didn't know +either. Mrs. Vanderstein was disappointed in him. Well, who did he know? +Couldn't he tell her anyone? + +"Really," said Sidney, "I don't see many, but there are one or two. +That woman with the red face and the purple dress is Lady Generflex, +and the man two boxes off hers on the right is Sir William Delaplage. +Then that girl in pink who has just taken up her opera glasses is Lady +Vivienne Shaw, and the man in the same box is Tom Cartwright, who was at +Eton with me. Down in the stalls there are one or two men I know, and I +think that's all. Of course there's old Fyves, next door. You know him, +don't you?" + +Mrs. Vanderstein gazed with intent interest at the people he pointed +out; and then let her attention wander back to the Royal box while +Sidney talked to Barbara. + +"Have you been racing?" she asked him soon. + +"Off and on. I went to see my horse, Benfar, run the other day. He came +in easily last." + +"I don't think that man can ride him well. He's a good horse. I saw him +as a two-year-old." + +"There's something wrong somewhere, that's certain. If I don't +have better luck this year than I had last I shall give up keeping +race-horses," said Sidney with decision. + +"Oh, you mustn't do that," cried Barbara in a tone of so much distress +that Sidney laughed. + +"Why do you care?" he asked. + +"I care a lot. I never see anything of racing people nowadays, or meet +anyone except you who knows a horse from a centipede. If you give up +racing I shall feel that my last link of connection with the turf is +severed." + +"Why don't you get my aunt to bring you down to Epsom to-morrow?" + +"Oh, she wouldn't like it a bit," said Barbara regretfully. + +"I daresay she'd enjoy it enormously. Aunt Ruth, why don't you come +racing with me sometimes? Miss Turner and I will show you the ropes and +you'll probably be plunging wildly by this time next week." + +"I hate spending a hot day walking from the stand to the paddock and +back again," said Mrs. Vanderstein. "I hate horses and I hate seeing +their heels waving round my head on every side, which seemed to me to be +the case the only time I went to a race meeting. Nasty vicious animals. +The way they are led about among the crowd by people who can't control +them is most dangerous, I consider." + +"I expect you saw one let off a kick or two out of sheer lightness of +heart," said Barbara. "Horses are darlings, really; I wish you knew them +as well as I do." + +Mrs. Vanderstein not only disliked horses herself, but she strongly +disapproved of Barbara's fondness for them. The career of the late Mr. +Turner had been unedifying to such a point that even Mr. Vanderstein +had been unable to disguise entirely from his wife some of its more +notorious features, and Mrs. Vanderstein would have been better pleased +if she could have persuaded herself that the girl had forgotten all +about the days of her companionship with so undesirable a father. + +She had, moreover, no sympathy for speculation in any form, and +especially mistrusted that which took the shape of gambling on the +turf. Her greatest friend had married a man who had entirely ruined +himself by the practice of backing losers; and the sight of the misery +and privation that had, in this manner, been brought on a woman for +whom she felt a sincere affection left on Mrs. Vanderstein one of those +deep impressions that determine many of our strongest opinions and +prejudices throughout life. To Mrs. Vanderstein betting was one of the +most unpardonable sins. It was true that Mr. Vanderstein had kept a +racing-stable and she had never really forgiven him for not giving it +up at her request. But he had always assured her that he never betted. + +She turned away without answering, and Barbara's conscience--for she +knew how much her friend disliked the subject of the turf--made her +think she detected an impatient expression in the back of the white +shoulders and told her it would be better to change the conversation. +The temptation was too strong, however, and she continued, dropping her +voice to a murmur: + +"You are going to Epsom to-morrow yourself?" + +"Yes," said Sidney, wondering why she leant so confidentially towards +him. + +"Well, I wonder if you would be very kind and put a little money on a +horse for me. Would it be too much trouble?" + +"Not a bit. What horse is it?" + +"It's a tip Ned Foster sent me. He was one of my father's grooms, +you know, and I hear of him sometimes. He used to be very good to me +when I was a child. I had a letter from him to-day begging me to back +Averstone. He says he's absolutely certain to romp in on Wednesday." + +"How much do you want me to put on him?" asked Sidney. + +"I haven't got much, I'm afraid," said Barbara ruefully, "but I've saved +a little out of the pocket money your aunt gives me. It's only £20. I +wish it was more." + +"Are you going to risk your entire fortune?" said Sidney. "You're a +pretty rash young lady, aren't you?" + +"Oh, I must have a flutter. Besides, it's a dead certainty. I'd put a +thousand on if I had it." + +"What a fearful gambler! When you've lost as much as I have you'll go a +bit slower." + +"Have you lost much?" asked Barbara sympathetically. "I'm so sorry. Just +lately?" + +"Well, yes, since you ask me I don't mind telling you that I have had +some rather nasty blows during the last few months. That brute, Benfar, +has a lot to answer for, my word!" + +"He'll turn out a winner yet," said Barbara hopefully. + +"He might come in first if all the other starters tumbled down," said +Sidney, with an effort to treat the subject lightly, "but I'm afraid +before that happens I shall have to shut up shop. Things can't go on +like this. I lost £10,000 over the Lincolnshire meeting, and that's only +a drop in the ocean. But I don't know why I'm bothering you with my +troubles," he concluded, pulling himself up abruptly. + +"I am glad you tell me," she replied simply. "I am so very sorry that +you have had such rotten luck. You'd better change it by backing my tip. +Ned Foster would never have advised me to put my all on Averstone unless +he knew it was a sure thing. He really has a regard for me, I believe, +and he often used to say that the day would come when he'd make my +fortune and his own. He doesn't approve of betting as a general thing. +He's a most steady, cautious kind of individual." + +"I wonder," said Sidney. "I think perhaps I'll have a last fling. What +are the odds?" + +"They're long. Averstone's not supposed to have a ghost of a chance. I +think it's about 40 to 1 against him." + +"My word, just think if one had a few thousands on him and it came off!" +said Sidney. "The bookies would all die on the spot." + +"It would be rather annoying for some one," laughed Barbara. "I hope it +will come off." + +"I'm afraid it would be too good to be true," said Sidney gloomily, +"but it would certainly save the situation if it did. If I lost a very +little more I'd have to leave the army." + +"Is it as bad as that?" asked Barbara, for the first time realising the +graveness of the position for Sidney. "How dreadful. I _am_ sorry!" + +The young man laughed awkwardly. + +"It's awfully good of you," he said. "I've been a perfect ass, of +course. If I could win back half what I've lost, I swear I'd never back +a horse again!" + +"I expect your luck will turn," repeated Barbara hopefully. She had all +a gambler's instinct of optimism. + +But Sidney only laughed again rather recklessly as he got up to go. The +interval was over and the people were hurrying back to their seats. + +"As the orchestra seems to be going to make another effort," he said, +"I must get back to the Garringdons' box. Good night, Miss Turner; good +night, Aunt Ruth; I'll come and look you up in a day or two, if I get +over to-morrow without being obliged to put a sudden end to my career." + +"What did Joe mean by his last remark?" Mrs. Vanderstein asked as the +door shut behind the young man's vanishing form. "I don't understand +what he meant about putting an end to his career." + +"He was telling me he has lost a lot of money lately, racing," Barbara +murmured rather reluctantly, for she was not sure if Sidney would like +her to repeat what he had said. Still, she thought, it was surely absurd +for her to imagine that he would confide in her anything he would +hesitate to tell a relation. "I suppose he was trying to joke about +that." + +"It's nothing to joke about," said Mrs. Vanderstein severely. "Not that +I saw anything like a joke. I think it's disgraceful, and I shall alter +my opinion of him very seriously if he really has been betting. But +hush, the music is going to begin." + +And she was soon entirely engrossed in listening to it. + +But Barbara, to whose ear any but the most elementary tunes presented +nothing but a confused medley of noises, wriggled rather impatiently on +her chair from time to time, as she waited for the act to come to an +end. Recollections that had lain dormant for a long time, put away on +some high shelf of the wardrobe of memory, had been awakened again by +her conversation with Sidney and the letter she had that day received +from the old stableman. How happy her childhood seemed when viewed now +through the flattering medium of the intervening years, which obscured +all that had been disagreeable, and magnified the delights of her +unrestrained wanderings and of the free and easy company of her father +and her father's delightfully jocular friends. + +How they used to laugh at each other's witty remarks, and how she, +too, had laughed, joining in the mirth without understanding in the +least what aroused it but with enjoyment none the less complete on +that account. With closed eyes she leant back against the wall of the +box, her lips curved in a smile and her head a little to one side in +an attitude of listening. But it was not the voices of the singers she +heard. Instead, the thud, thud of galloping hoofs sounded in her ears, +coming nearer and nearer, and, mixed with the creaking of leather, the +excited snorts of her pony and the jingling of bits. She seemed to see +around her the bare, open spaces of the heath and the figures of the +watchers, among them herself, crouching low in the saddle with her back +to the bitter east winds that sweep across the bleak Newmarket country +in the spring. Splendid bracing air, her father used to say, and for her +part she had never given a thought to the weather. Happy, happy times! +Oh, that they could return. Why could not Mrs. Vanderstein give her that +£500 a year, thought Barbara, and let her take a cottage, however tiny, +within reach of a race-course and within hail of a training stable? If +only she had a little money of her own. Money was everything, after all. +It meant liberty. If Averstone won his race it would be something to the +good. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, turning to catch her eye at a point in the music +which, even more than the rest, gave her a pleasure that asked to be +shared, saw only the closed lids and the smiling lips, and with a +sensation of gratified surprise said to herself that Barbara was at last +developing an appreciation of music. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +When Madame Querterot left the cool, airy house, which reminded her +so unpleasantly of one which was associated principally in her inmost +consciousness with the sensation of corporal punishment applied in no +niggardly spirit, she turned her steps towards her own home, which was +situated in the remotest part of Pimlico. + +By the time she got off her bus and set out on foot into the dreary +labyrinth of dingy streets, in one of which she lived, the shadows were +lengthening fast and the pavement was losing some of the blistering heat +accumulated during the day. Madame Querterot climbed rather wearily the +flight of steps before her door. When she entered the little shop where +Julie sat sewing behind the counter, she passed through it without a +word to her daughter, and going into the tiny room, which served as a +sitting-room, threw herself into the one arm-chair with something like a +groan. + +Julie, whose smile of welcome had faded on her lips when she saw the +expression on her mother's face, bent again over her work, and for a +little while all was still in the tiny, two-storied house. + +There was not room for many customers in the shop. Julie often wondered +what she would do if more than two came in at the same time, but such an +embarrassing contingency had not so far occurred. Quite half the space +was taken up by the counter, on which stood a tray containing hair-pins +and hair-nets. In one corner a space was curtained off for such clients +as should wish to have their hair dressed or washed. No one had as yet +requested this last service. In the window Madame Querterot displayed a +few superior articles which had survived the wreck of the Bond Street +establishment. + +There was a waxen lady, with fair hair wonderfully curled and twisted, +who obscured the light a good deal as she stood with her shoulders +disdainfully turned to the interior of the room and her snow white +nose close against the plate glass, which separated her from the +street. Plainly she felt it a come-down to look out on to this gloomy +Pimlico roadway. Around her were strewn combs and brushes, bottles +of brillantine and china pots containing creams for the complexion, +curls and tails of false hair--in some cases attached to gruesome +scalps of pink wax--and half a dozen elaborately carved tortoise-shell +combs, which the luckless Eugène had invested in in a fit of mistaken +enthusiasm shortly after his arrival in England, but which had never +received so much as a comment or an inquiry as to price from any of +those who had since looked on them. + +They had remained, however, a source of pride to Madame Querterot, who +would often remark to Julie what an air they bestowed. + +Presently, after a glance at the clock, Julie put down her work and came +to the door between the two rooms. + +"You are back, mother," she said, looking at her gravely. + +"So it appears," snapped her mother without raising her eyes. + +"I am afraid you must be tired," went on Julie calmly. "The day has been +so hot. Will you not take a glass of lemonade before supper?" + +"Have you got a lemon?" asked Madame Querterot somewhat less crossly. + +"Yes," said Julie. + +She opened the cupboard and taking out a lemon, a tumbler, and a lemon +squeezer, went about the business of preparing a cool drink for her +heated parent. + +"Has anyone bought anything to-day?" Madame Querterot asked when after a +few minutes the beverage was handed to her. "Put a little more sugar in +the glass." + +"A boy came in for a bottle of hair-oil," replied Julie, "and a few +women have bought hair-pins and hair-curlers. It has been a dull day." + +"We shall soon be in the street at this rate," said Madame Querterot +despairingly. "One cannot live on a few packets of hair-pins and a +bottle of hair-oil. No. If only we could move to a fashionable locality. +Here no one ever comes and we have but to die of hunger." + +"We haven't been here very long. We may do better presently. It is the +customers whom you massage that keep us from starvation." Julie propped +open the door into the shop and taking up her work sat down by the table +in the parlour. + +"Bah! Who knows how long they will continue? They have the skin of +crocodiles, all of them. What can I do with it? Nothing. And in time +they will find that out, and I shall be put to the door. What will +happen then? You, I suppose, think you will be safe in your religious +house. And your poor mother, you will be able to mock yourself of her +then, _hein_!" + +"Mother, you know I shall not leave you while you want me. I have not +spoken of becoming a nun since father died, have I?" + +"Your father!" exclaimed Madame Querterot with emotion. "Your father was +a poltroon. No sooner did I need his assistance than he deserted me!" + +"Mother!" cried Julie, and there was that in her tone which made Madame +Querterot's lamentations die away into inaudible mumblings. + +The girl did not say any more, but went on quietly with her sewing, till +after a while her mother rose to go upstairs. + +At the door she paused. + +"Bert is coming to supper," she said over her shoulder. "You have not +forgotten that it is to-night we go with him to the theatre? He will be +here soon, I should think," and she went on up the narrow stairs without +waiting for an answer. + +Half an hour later, when they sat down to a cold meal, which Julie had +carefully prepared--for Madame Querterot was particularly fond of eating +and had seen that her daughter early acquired the principles of good +cookery--they had been joined by the guest to whom she had alluded. + +This was a young man of anæmic aspect, with fair hair that lay rather +untidily across a high, narrow forehead. His face, which was pale and +thin, was not at first sight particularly prepossessing. The contour +of it was unusually pointed, though the chin receded so much that it +could hardly be said to exhibit a point. The mouth was weak and large +and always half open, so that the teeth, stained brown by the smoking of +continuous cigarettes, were not completely hidden when he talked under +the straggling little moustache, the end of which he had an unpleasant +habit of chewing. The nose was prominent and looked too large for the +rest of his face, the eyes, dark and deep-set, seemed to flash with +unsuspected fires when talk turned on a subject that interested him. It +was they that redeemed the whole man from total insignificance. They +were the eyes of an enthusiast, almost of a fanatic. He did not talk +much, but seemed content to devour the food set before him and to gaze +untiringly at Julie who sat opposite him at the small square table. + +Julie was a very good-looking girl in her way, which was not at all +an English way, although the English language came more naturally to +her lips than her mother tongue. To tell the truth, she was not very +proficient in that, her mother and father having both found it easier, +after she began to go to school, to talk to her in broken English. +Indeed, after twenty years or so of residence in London that language +became as natural to them as their own tongue, and Madame Querterot's +French had by now grown quite as anglicised as that of many linguists +in her adopted country. She found, however, that many of her customers +preferred her to talk in broken English; they liked to feel that here +was some one come straight from the gay city to do their pleasure. + +Her daughter inherited her mother's oval face and arched eyebrows, but +there the likeness ceased. Julie was tall while Madame Querterot was +short; she was dark, while her mother was fair, and of a fairness that +owed nothing to art. Julie had a straight, short nose and a little +rosebud of a mouth, her skin was dark but glowing with health, and the +brown eyes, set far apart under the low brow, had a wide-open look +of sorrowful surprise as if she found herself in a world that failed +continually to come up to her expectations. Bert, it was plain to see, +found all this very much to his liking, and was so taken up with the +contemplation of it that a great deal of Madame Querterot's conversation +fell unheeded on his ears, and his answers, when he made any, were for +the most part quite irrelevant. + +Madame Querterot had by this time completely recovered her good temper, +or at all events displayed the amiability habitual to her in intercourse +with strangers. She prattled away about the weather, the letter she had +that day received from her relations in Paris, asked about Bert's work, +and showed, and possibly felt, great interest in his meagre replies. +Presently she began to talk about the occupation of her own day. + +"There is an old lady whom I visit for the massage," she said, "who +would make you laugh to see. She is ugly, she is fat, she has the +complexion of a turkey! Yet there is no one so anxious as she to become +young again. Was she ever beautiful? I do not know; but it is certain +that she will not be so again. Every day I find her with a mirror in her +hand and every day as I leave her she takes it up again to see if there +is any improvement. For all I know she sits like that, gazing at her +unsympathetic reflection till the next day when I come once more." + +Madame Querterot paused and took a draught of her lemonade. + +"A little more sugar, Julie, my cherished, and it would be better +still," she said. "In this country sugar is less dear and you are +unnecessarily careful of it. If we were in France I would not say so; +there, there are _impôts_. But this, one must admit it, is the cheapest +place one can live in. That is why one finds here so many Jews. Bah! the +Jews! Why does one suffer them? In England as in France one sees nothing +else; but even more in England since l'affaire Dreyfus. There is one +lady to whom I go daily who would gladly live in France, I think, if it +had not become less disagreeable for her race here since that business. +But perhaps it is not only on that account that she stays here, now +that I reflect. She is not one of those who amuse themselves well in a +republic." + +"How is that, mother?" asked Julie without much interest, while their +guest, for his part, merely grunted indifferently. + +"She is more than a Royalist," said Madame Querterot; "she loves to see +a head which knows how it feels to wear a crown. She goes every day to +watch the Queen drive through the park. Mon Dieu! I think she lives only +for that. To-day a Prince passed below her window, and as chance had it +he looked up at her as he went. She was mad with joy; one would have +said it was the happiest hour of her existence. She said nothing, but +I have my eyes! And it is a woman who has everything to make her enjoy +life. She is not bad-looking, not at all bad-looking; for a Jewess, even +handsome; she is still young, and rich. Oh, but rich!" + +Madame Querterot put down her knife and fork and raised both hands in +the air to convey the extent of the wealth enjoyed by the lucky Jewess. + +For the first time Bert displayed some interest in the conversation, or +monologue, as one might more properly call it. + +"It's disgraceful," he said, "it ought to be put a stop to. These +people! They suck the blood of the poor!" + +"The Jews, yes; it is their _métier_," agreed Madame Querterot. + +"I don't refer to the Jew especially. What I'm alluding to at the +present moment is all these useless rich folk. The drones of the hive, +as you may say. These bloated capitalists who occupy the land that ought +by rights to jolly well belong to the people. They'd better look out for +themselves, I can tell them. There's a day coming when society won't +stand it any longer. In other words, we're going to drive them out. Tax +them out of their very existence. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" + +Bert glared triumphantly round as he brought his hand down on the table +with a conclusive emphasis which made the glasses on the table jump +nervously. + +"This Mrs. Vanderstein of whom I speak," resumed Madame Querterot +composedly, "has no land so far as I know. She has only a house in +London. But she is rich all the same. One sees it at each step. In the +house, what luxury! Such pictures! such furniture! such flowers! And +automobiles, and boxes at the opera! Such dresses! And above all, such +jewels! Oh, she is very rich, that one." + +"It's all the same," declared Bert, "whether she spends her money on +land, or on clothes, or what not. The point I want to impress on you is +that she does spend it, and that while she's living on the fat of the +land the rest of us may starve!" + +He helped himself as he spoke to another plateful of _oeufs à la neige_. + +Julie watched him, the shadow of a smile playing about her mouth. + +"Have you seen this lady's jewels, mother?" she asked. "I adore precious +stones." + +"I have seen some of them," said her mother. "To-night her maid brought +to her a necklace and bracelets of diamonds, besides a coiffure and +rings of great beauty, no doubt without price. But she sent them away +again, saying that she would wear others. Those I did not see, but it +is certain that she has many, and all wonderful. Every day she wears +different ones and, constantly, a string of enormous pearls. Without +those last I have never seen her. They are as large as marbles and, to +tell the truth, not much more pretty, for my taste. When I tell you that +she employs a night watchman, whose sole duty is to patrol the house +every night, you will understand that the value of what it contains must +be large." + +"That's just what these capitalists do," cried Bert excitedly. "They +lock away thousands of pounds like that when the money ought to be out +in the world paying just and equal wages. I should like to see it made +a criminal offence to wear jewellery." + +"But what would happen to the people who make it?" asked Julie. "They +would all lose their means of earning a livelihood, is it not so? What +would the pearl fisher do, or those who dig precious stones out of +the earth? And the polishers and setters? Every industry has a host +depending on it for a demand for its labour." + +"There would be less need for labour," said Bert more gently, as was +always the case when he spoke to her, "if the money was taken from the +capitalists and divided among the people." + +"Still----" objected Julie again. + +Madame Querterot, however, did not propose to listen to an argument on +the benefits to be expected from Socialism; she had frequently heard +all that Bert had to say on the subject, and it had bored her very +considerably. She pushed back her chair and stood up. + +"It is half-past seven," she said, "we must put on our hats for the +theatre. It begins at nine, but we shall take twenty minutes getting +there, and I want to have good places. Come and get ready, Julie." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The two women went upstairs; Bert lit a cigarette, and retired to smoke +in the tiny yard behind the house. Soon he heard footsteps descending, +and hastily throwing away his cigarette he entered the little room again +just as Julie came into it. She had been quicker than her mother. + +Bert did not waste time in preambles. He knew he only had a few minutes +at the best. + +"Joolie," he began hurriedly, "why do you never let me see you alone? +Will you never be any nicer to me?" + +"Aren't I nice to you, Bertie? I don't mean not to be." + +"You know quite well what I mean. I want you to like me better. Oh, +Joolie, you haven't a notion how fond I am of you. It seemed to come +over me all of a sudden that day we walked in the Park, when your mother +for once didn't come with us. And since then I haven't had a moment's +peace. Not a single solitary moment. Wherever I look, whether it's going +to the office, or at my work, or after it's done, I seem to see nothing +but you, Joolie, and I don't want to see anything else either." + +He moved closer to her and she retreated instinctively. + +"Don't be afraid! I won't touch you," he said with a certain bitterness. +"I know you can't bear the sight of me, but I'd give my life to make you +happy." + +"Oh, Bert," she said, and her tone was full of contrition. "It isn't +true that I can't bear the sight of you. I like you very much, I do +indeed. We are such old friends. And it is so nice of you to like me so +much, but why can't we go on just being friends?" + +"Joolie, Joolie," cried the young man. "You don't understand. I love +you, Joolie. I love you so much, dear! Don't you think you could marry +me some day? There, I didn't mean to ask you now," he went on quickly, +seeing the look on the girl's face, "don't answer me now. I know what +you're going to say and I can't bear to hear it. Wait a while and +perhaps I shall be able to get you to care for me in time." + +Before she could reply Madame Querterot's foot was on the stair, and in +another moment she came in smiling and arrayed in her best. + +They set out without further delay and proceeded by a succession of +buses to the Strand. Descending there, they made their way into one of +the neighbouring streets and took their places in a queue of people who +were already waiting for the doors of the theatre to open. + +Though not by any means the first to enter, they secured good places +in the pit and settled down in them to await the beginning of the +performance, each of them, in his or her different way, prepared to +enjoy the evening to the utmost. + +When at length the curtain rose they followed the fortunes of the +characters with a breathless intensity of interest, and the play itself +formed the subject of a heated discussion afterwards, which lasted +all the way home, Julie maintaining that an honest course was always +desirable whatever excuses might be adduced for other conduct. + +Bert and Madame Querterot held, it appeared, more elastic opinions, Bert +declaring that there were people it was a sin to leave in possession of +their ill-gotten gains, and Madame Querterot inclining to the view that +if anyone was so stupid as not to be able to keep what they had, small +blame need attach to those who were clever enough to take it from them. + +She upheld this contention by pointing out that no one did blame the +gentleman burglar who formed the central figure of the play; the heroine +herself, who was assuredly in a high degree the pattern of all the +virtues, had easily forgiven his little lapses, slips which had been +made entirely for her sake. + +"For my part," she asserted, "I admire a man of that sort. Not that it +is common to find one like him. Most men have too high a regard for the +safety of their own skins. But one must admit that the young girl, for +whom this brave man took all those risks, was of no ordinary beauty. It +is possible that if there were more like her there would also be more +lovers, young and ardent, ready to chance prison and the gallows to +win the wealth that should make her theirs. Ah, there is no chivalry +nowadays," and Madame Querterot heaved a heavy sigh. Possibly she was +thinking of the base way in which Eugène had deserted her in the hour of +need. + +"Wealth is not always enough," said Bert disconsolately, "and, anyhow, +wealth is an abomination and a snare. In the ideal socialistic state +there won't be any such thing. All riches will be equally divided and +every one will have enough to live on, but no more. Anyone who wants +luxuries will just have to work for them." + +"You look too far ahead, my young friend," returned Madame Querterot +philosophically. They were walking up the dark streets that led to her +house, Bert having insisted on seeing them home in spite of protests as +to the lateness of the hour and the necessity for his getting up early +next morning. + +"You have brains," she continued, "and you use them, which is not too +general. But in this world it is a mistake to show that one is clever. +The stupid only dislike one for differing from them in a way that they +cannot understand, and clever people actually hate others who dare in +this manner to resemble them. If you wish to be loved it is best to +appear foolish. No one desires a lover too intelligent to care for their +opinions. If you wish to obtain respect do not show yourself unusually +brilliant. You will only be thought eccentric or even mad. And finally +if you want to make money never allow anyone to suspect that you are not +perfectly an idiot. People will be on their guard if they think they +have to do with a clever man, but if they think you a fool precautions +will seem unnecessary and it will be very easy for you to deal with them +to your own advantage." + +Bert listened to these remarks with more attention than he usually +displayed. + +"Do you really think a man has more chance with a girl if he is foolish +and rich?" he asked in a low tone. They were walking behind Julie, the +pavement having narrowed so as to make it impossible to continue three +abreast. + +Madame Querterot slackened her pace and fell back a little. + +"Run on, Julie, my angel," she called out, "and prepare me a cup of +coffee. I feel a kind of faintness and will walk more slowly if Bertie +will give me his arm." + +Bert made a gesture of annoyance, and would have left her in pursuit of +Julie, who hurried on as she was told, but Madame Querterot clutched at +his arm and held him back. + +"Stay with me, I wish to speak to you," she said, clinging so tightly to +him that without roughness he could not have shaken her off. + +"What is it? I want to speak to Joolie," he said crossly. + +"You can speak to her any time; listen to me now. You asked me a minute +ago if I thought one had more chance with a girl if one was rich." + +"Yes." He spoke with returning interest. "You do think so, I suppose?" + +"Bert, let me speak. I must tell you that for some time I have seen +clearly that you have a tenderness for my daughter. You wish to marry +her, is it not so?" + +"It is the only wish of my life." + +"It is easy to see. You show it in each word, in your whole manner +towards her. But let me tell you, my friend, that in my country it +is not only the consent of a young girl that is sought by a would-be +husband. It would have been more _convenable_ if you had approached me, +her mother, in this matter." + +"Madame Querterot, will you help me? Joolie doesn't seem to care about +me. Is there any other man?" + +"There is no other man. Julie has an absurd idea of entering into a +religious house, but she is a dutiful daughter and will not go against +my wishes in that or any other matter. As regards this question of +marriage she will, I am convinced, be guided by me. Ah, how she loves +me, that child! There is nothing she would not do to please me. I say to +you that Julie is not a girl. She is an angel!" + +"I know that," grunted Bert; "if you'll help me with her, Madame +Querterot, and there's ever anything I can do to show my gratitude, why, +you can take it that I'll do it, that's all." + +"Ah, Bert, now is the time to prove that. Words, words, words! But if it +came to the point what would you do, not to show gratitude, but to win +the hand of Julie? That is what I ask myself." + +"I'd do anything. By Jove, I believe there's nothing I would stick at." + +"Very well. Now, with me as your friend and ally I think you might make +certain that my daughter will consent to the marriage. But I, Bert, will +never agree to her marrying a poor man. I have other ideas for her, I +assure you." + +"You know I am poor," said Bert. "I despise riches, but for Joolie I +wouldn't raise an objection to them if they were in my reach. But you +know very well I shall always be poor as long as this beastly capitalist +government has its own way. Some day perhaps things will change." + +"Bert," said Madame Querterot, dropping her voice, "it is yourself who +have suggested to me a way by which one might become rich. Supposing +I were to tell you that I had a plan; that I knew a way by which in a +flash you might gain both riches and Julie, and at the same time show +your faith in the truth of your own gospel? What then, Bert? Have you a +little courage, my boy? Girls do not understand your modern ideas, that +every one should be of an equal poverty; they like to have money, they +like what money can give them. Did you not hear Julie say this evening +that she adored jewels?" + +They had reached the door of the shop and Bert turned towards it without +answering. But Madame Querterot made as if to continue their walk, and +after a moment's hesitation he turned and paced beside her. + +"I would give her all the diamonds in the world," he said, "if she +wanted them and I could get them for her. What do you suppose I care for +my ideas, as you call them? Nothing! Oh, nothing matters beside Joolie! +Still, I'm hanged," said Bert, "if I can see what you're driving at." + +"I see a way," replied his companion, "of doing a little good business. +For it I need the assistance that a young man like yourself can +give. Some one with courage, with determination, and who will not be +discouraged by a few apparent difficulties. But to succeed the affair +must be kept secret. It is indeed of the most private character. Before +I say more, swear to me by your love for Julie that you will die before +you repeat a word of what I am going to tell you." + +"I swear it," said Bert solemnly. + +Madame Querterot gave one more quick, penetrating glance at his pale +face and, apparently reassured by the light that burned in the dark +eyes, began to talk again in low, persuasive tones as they paced up and +down before the little house. + +Julie came to the door and cried to them that the coffee was ready; then +despairing of an answer she retired to her bedroom, where a light burned +for a little while; presently it was extinguished, and Julie in a few +minutes was peacefully asleep. + +But still her mother and her lover walked and turned on the pavement +beneath her window. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The next day, Mrs. Vanderstein, busy with a watering-can among the pots +of roses that during the season adorned her balcony, and keeping a sharp +look-out on the entrance to Fianti's opposite, was disappointed not to +catch another glimpse of Prince Felipe of Targona whom she thought every +minute to see issue from beneath the portico. + +"What can keep him indoors on so fine a day?" she asked herself +repeatedly, for again the sun smote down on the city out of a cloudless +azure. + +Having spent the hour immediately after luncheon in this vain +expectancy, at the imminent risk of both sunstroke and indigestion, she +began to despair of her hopes ever being fulfilled, and went back into +the drawing-room, where she threw herself dejectedly into a chair. + +"If this weather goes on," she said to Barbara, "we might run over to +Dieppe for a few days." + +Mrs. Vanderstein was very much in the habit of making sudden excursions +to the other side of the Channel; whenever she was bored at home she +would dash off at a moment's notice to Dieppe or Ostend. + +Barbara enjoyed these trips, but sometimes wished Mrs. Vanderstein would +not make up her mind to depart quite at the last minute, as she nearly +always did. It was awkward occasionally to have only half an hour given +one in which to pack. + +"Will you go to-day?" she asked, with a shade of anxiety in her voice. + +"Oh, I don't know," Mrs. Vanderstein answered wearily. "I daresay I +may." + +Barbara walked over to the open window. + +"There's Madame Justine coming out of Fianti's," she remarked presently. + +"Really?" said Mrs. Vanderstein, getting up and going to Barbara's side. +"I wonder what she can have been doing there?" + +Madame Querterot was hurrying along the pavement, bag in hand. She +looked up at the balcony and made a little smiling bow in response to +Mrs. Vanderstein's friendly nod. Then she rounded a corner and was out +of sight. + +"What a good kind face she has," Mrs. Vanderstein said as she turned +back into the house. "It would cheer up anyone, that delightful smile. +It always does me good to see Madame Justine." + +"I can't think why you like her so much," said Barbara, as she also came +back into the room. "I don't think she looks particularly nice." + +"Ah, Barbara," said Mrs. Vanderstein, "at your age you are no judge +of character. Now I know a good woman when I see one, and I do admire +that one. Look at the way she works day and night to support her idle, +ungrateful daughter." + +"I don't suppose she's so ungrateful as her mother makes out," said +Barbara. She seemed determined to see no good in poor Madame Querterot. + +In the cool of the afternoon the two ladies drove in the Park and +visited one or two of the houses of their friends. It was past six when +they returned home, and for once the masseuse was waiting for them. +She came forward as Mrs. Vanderstein entered, and her manner showed +some excitement. In the background hovered Amélie, who would have died +sooner than allow Madame Querterot to remain alone in her mistress' +room, hinting darkly, if vaguely, to the other servants that mysterious +and terrible results would have to be expected if such a liberty were +accidentally permitted. + +"Oh, madame," cried Madame Querterot, "I have such amusing news. At all +events I hope that you will laugh and not be offended if I repeat it to +you." + +"What is it, Madame Justine?" + +"Figure to yourself, madame, that this morning I received a +summons--but, madame," said Madame Querterot, checking herself on a +sudden and casting a look of scarcely veiled malice towards the other +occupants of the bedroom, "what I have to tell you is of a nature +somewhat private. Is it possible that you permit that I speak with you +alone?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Vanderstein; "why not, if you wish. Amélie, I will +ring when I want you, please. Barbara, do you mind going away till I +call you? Thanks so much. I must hear this amusing story of Madame +Justine's." + +Barbara and the maid lost no time in obeying, and left the room; but +while the one did so with alacrity, her pride preventing her from +showing any curiosity, even for a moment, as to what Madame Querterot +might have to relate, Amélie was at no pains to conceal the dislike, +almost amounting to hatred, which shone in her eyes as she fixed them +in an angry stare on her compatriot before she slowly moved towards the +door. Some day she hoped to be revenged on this woman, this odious, +talkative bourgeoise, for the way in which she had wormed herself, if +not into her mistress' confidence, at all events into such familiar +impertinent terms with her; when, if Mrs. Vanderstein could but be +brought to feel about her, in her bones, as Amélie felt, she would +recognise her for a person to whom an honest woman, let alone a lady at +all _comme il faut_, would scorn to address herself. + +Her rage and indignation continued to augment as the minutes passed and +no bell summoned her back to her duties. Though no fonder of work than +her fellows, Amélie's whole soul rose in revolt against the idea that +she could be dispensed with. And when at last, after an hour's waiting, +both she and Miss Turner were recalled to the bedroom, one of them at +least re-entered it with murderous feelings in her heart, which she +vented by making faces at the masseuse behind the ladies' backs and +vowing to herself that the day of vengeance could not be much longer +delayed. + +As for Barbara, she was struck immediately she returned to her friend +by a suppressed excitement, a restlessness of manner, which seemed to +betray that there had been something of personal interest in Madame +Querterot's confidences. She did not like, however, to ask what the +Frenchwoman had had to tell in private, and as Mrs. Vanderstein did not +volunteer any information, but was very silent all the evening, fully +occupied apparently with her own thoughts, Barbara was not sorry when +bedtime came. + +"Do you still think of running over to Dieppe?" she asked, as she said +good night. + +"To Dieppe!" cried her friend, "good gracious, no! I have all kinds of +engagements, and you have forgotten that my box is taken for the gala +performance of the opera on Monday. I shall certainly stay in London for +the present!" + +Clearly Mrs. Vanderstein had forgotten the half-formed intention of the +afternoon. + +Well, that would not prevent her changing her mind again, thought +Barbara, and they might be off across the Channel in a day or two in +spite of to-night's decision. + +But days elapsed and no more was said on the subject. Every evening saw +Madame Querterot arrive as usual; but now there was always a private +interview between her and Mrs. Vanderstein, which left that lady flushed +and smiling. + +Barbara could not imagine what was happening to cause all these changes. +She disliked Madame Querterot and vaguely resented the secret that she +felt was being kept from her. Why should Mrs. Vanderstein have secrets +with this horrid little Frenchwoman and leave her out in the cold? How +could she allow the woman's familiarity? Barbara was both piqued and +disgusted at the whole trend of the matter. + +On Sunday they walked in the Park with a certain Mrs. Britterwerth, a +friend of Mrs. Vanderstein. + +After a day or two of clouds and rain, during which people shivered and +said it was like winter, the weather had cleared again to the radiant +brightness which distinguished that summer from those preceding and +following it. The Park was gay with light dresses and brilliant coloured +parasols. The flowers, too, were at their best--the rain had come at the +right moment for them and the beds were a vision of beauty--but they +received scanty attention, as usual, people flocking to the other side +of the road, where, to tell the truth, it was very pleasant on the green +lawns beneath the trees. + +The three ladies strolled up and down in the shade. Mrs. Vanderstein +called it taking exercise, and did it once a week for the sake of her +figure. Mrs. Britterwerth was really stout and would gladly have sat +down after a turn or two, but was not allowed to by her more energetic +friend. + +"Consider, my dear, what a lot of good it does us," said Mrs. +Vanderstein. + +Here, presently, they were joined by Joseph Sidney, and soon Barbara +found herself walking on ahead with him, while the two others followed +them at a little distance. + +She had not seen him since the night at Covent Garden, and she noticed +with concern that he looked worn and worried. + +"I saw that Averstone did no good," she said, as soon as they were out +of earshot. + +"No," said Sidney shortly. + +"Did you back him?" she asked, and knew the answer before he spoke. + +"Oh yes," he said, "I backed him all right. He'd have won, I daresay, if +I hadn't spoilt his chance with my rotten luck." + +Barbara walked on in silence for a minute. + +"I'm sorry," she said at length. "It was my fault. I gave you the tip." + +"Nonsense," he answered almost roughly. "Your money's gone too." + +"Did you lose much last week?" she asked abruptly. + +"So much," he replied, "that it's no good trying to hide it from you. +It's bound to come out in a few days. The truth is that I've lost every +penny my uncle left me and every sixpence I had before. Worse than that! +I've lost money I can't pay, and I shall not only have to leave the +regiment, but----" he broke off bitterly and slashed with his stick at +the grass. "Well, you know what it means," he finished lamely. + +"Oh, it can't be as bad as that!" cried Barbara. "Tell Mrs. Vanderstein. +She will help you. How I wish I had some money!" + +"Do you think she would help me?" asked Sidney. "She would let me +blow my brains out first. You don't realise, perhaps, what a violent +prejudice she has against betting. Look at this letter. I got it the +day after I saw you at the opera." He pulled from his pocket a large +sheet of blue writing paper on which Barbara at once recognised Mrs. +Vanderstein's unmistakable handwriting. + + "MY DEAR JOSEPH," it ran, + + "I hope there is no truth in what I hear about your betting on + race-horses. It is a practice I deplore with all my heart and I should + be very sorry to see you descend to such unprincipled depths. Without + entering upon a long dissertation, I must tell you that, unless you + henceforward sever all connection with bookmakers and their kind, I + shall think it my duty to depart from your uncle's wishes and leave my + money away from you altogether. It pains me to write like this and I + trust it is unnecessary, but it is best to have things understood. + + "Your affectionate aunt, + "RUTH VANDERSTEIN." + +Barbara read the letter in horror-struck silence. + +"That's the sort of help I should get from her," said Sidney, as she +gave it back to him. + +"Something must be done," she repeated dully; "can't you borrow from +some one?" + +"I've been losing steadily for three years," replied the young man, +"and I had to go to the money-lenders long ago. I can't get another +penny from them. It's rather funny if you think of how my uncle made his +money, isn't it? But perhaps you don't know," he went on hastily, seeing +the blank look on Barbara's face. "So that's how it is," he started +afresh. "It's all up with me, you see. I'm absolutely done for unless +I can get £10,000 by next week. I'm pretty desperate, I can tell you. +There's nothing I wouldn't do to get the money." + +He spoke in emphatic tones, and several of the passing crowd turned +their heads to see who it was who so loudly published the unfortunate +state of his financial affairs. Sidney was quick to realise the +attention he was attracting, and lowered his voice to a more +confidential pitch. Neither he nor his companion specially remarked +one among those who glanced up at them on hearing the outspoken words, +a small spare man with a clean-shaven face and brown hair fading to a +premature greyness. Nor if they had done so would either of them have +recognised in this correctly dressed, spick and span Londoner, whose +well-fitting morning coat and patent leather boots so exactly resembled +those worn by Sidney himself and nearly every smart young man to be +met with in the Park that day, the well-known private detective, Mr. +Gimblet, the man most dreaded by the criminal class of the entire +kingdom. + +Walking at a more rapid pace than they, he was in the act of overtaking +the couple as they strolled along, when something in Sidney's voice, a +note of despairing recklessness more than the words themselves that he +uttered, aroused his interest and wakened his ever ready curiosity. He +continued to walk on without slackening his speed, and did not look back +until he had advanced some fifty yards. Then he hesitated, loitered a +moment, and finally sat down on one of the green chairs, which stood +conveniently unoccupied, just before Sidney and Barbara strolled +unconcernedly by. + +Before they had passed, Gimblet had made a quick survey of the young +man's face, on which signs of worry and anxiety were very plainly to be +noted. + +"I wonder who it is," he thought; and continued, when they had gone on, +to gaze meditatively after the young people. + +In his turn he failed to observe two ladies who came up in the opposite +direction to that in which his head was turned. Mrs. Vanderstein +observed his intent expression as she approached, and following the +direction of his eyes murmured to her friend: + +"Do you see that man staring at Barbara? He looks quite moonstruck. She +attracts a great deal of attention. Such a dear girl, I don't know what +I should do without her." + +"You are so good to her," murmured her companion. "The question +is rather, what would she do without you? But she is certainly an +attractive young person, especially to men. I wonder that you are not +afraid to let that delightful nephew of yours see so much of her." + +To Barbara, walking mechanically by Sidney's side, it seemed suddenly as +if some strange darkness hung over the face of nature. The lightness of +heart with which she had gone forth out of the house, the high spirits +natural to her that constituted the only legacy of any value which +she had inherited from her father, deserted her now to make place for +distress on the young man's account. Nor was it only at the thought of +the trouble that had fallen on him that she recoiled horror-struck and +that the sunlight took on a quality of gloom, which made the present +hour such a dismal one and those of the future to appear encircled in +a dusk that deepened, as it receded, till it merged into that utter +obscurity over whose boundaries Joe seemed already to be slipping and +vanishing. It was the effect of his disaster on her own life that +chiefly terrified and shocked her. What would she do without the only +man friend of anything like her own age whom she knew in London and +whose tastes so much resembled her own? She would hear no more sporting +gossip, be cut off from her one remaining link with the racing world. +What would she do without him if he disappeared as he threatened? What +would she do without the only person in the world she cared to see? The +only person in the world she cared for.... The knowledge came to her +suddenly like a revelation and she stumbled for a moment in her walk as +she realised with a flash of self-comprehension the full meaning of her +dread. + +In that instant she saw and realised that to lose Joe Sidney would be, +for her, to lose all. + +He, occupied in a recital of his troubles, noticed nothing beyond his +own almost unconscious relief in speaking at length of the worries he +had for so long kept to himself. It was a comfort to have so sympathetic +a listener. + +Still, not much comfort could be extracted even from that, with the +crisis in his life so real and so near at hand, and he was soon +repeating his earlier assertions that it was no use talking, and that +there was no hope for him of anything but absolute ruin. + +"Your aunt. She must, oh, she must help you!" Barbara heard herself +saying again. + +Again Sidney shook his head. + +"You don't understand her. She will act in accordance with her ideas. +We Jews----" + +"You are not a Jew!" Her voice was indignant. + +"My mother was a Jewess. You don't suppose I am ashamed of it? We Jews +have stronger convictions--opinions--principles--call them what you +like--than Christians are in the habit of hampering themselves with. We +are more apt, I should say, to live up to our theories. My aunt looks +on gambling as the most deadly of sins. Where you or I perceive a green +track and a few bookies, she sees, I do believe, a personage with horns +and a tail, brandishing a pitchfork. I'm not at all sure she isn't +right. I am at least quite sure that if I could get out of this mess +I'd never go near a race-course or have so much as a look at the odds +again as long as I lived. It's not much use saying that now, is it? But +believe me, help from Aunt Ruth is out of the question. You may scratch +it. This is the end of all for me. I shall just have to go. Drop out, as +many better men have had to do before me." + +"Oh don't talk like that," cried Barbara. She had pulled herself +together, and was thinking clearly and rapidly. "Listen to me. If +you can't go to Mrs. Vanderstein with the truth, can't you go to her +with"--she hesitated--"something else?" + +"A lie," said Joe bluntly. "I don't wonder you think I'd not be above +a lie if it could save me. But can you suggest one with which I could +go to her and ask for £10,000? If you can, let's hear it, for goodness' +sake. But of course you can't. She's not an absolute fool!" He laughed +again, a short, hard laugh. + +"You don't know Mrs. Vanderstein as well as I do, though you are a +relation," said Barbara. "She has weak points, you know. At least she +has one weakness. I wonder if you know what it is?" + +They had come to the Corner and paused by the rails. Instinctively +Barbara turned about, looking to see if Mrs. Vanderstein were within +earshot. + +"Why, look at her now," she cried. + +Sidney, too, turned, and followed the direction of her gaze. + +His aunt and her friend had reached a point some fifty yards behind +them. Mrs. Vanderstein's face was radiant. A rosy colour dyed her +cheeks. Her eyes sparkled, when for a moment she lifted them and glanced +in the direction of the roadway. But for the most part they seemed to be +modestly cast down and Mrs. Vanderstein appeared interested solely in +the toes of her shoes; these, though of the most pleasing aspect, did +not entirely justify the delight the lady seemed to feel in them. She +may, perhaps, have been wondering whether or no they touched the ground, +for so lightly did she tread that a mere spectator might have felt very +grave doubts on the subject. She looked, indeed, to be walking upon air. +Even Sidney, unobservant as he commonly was of the expressions of people +to whom he was not at the moment talking, could not help noticing her +unusual demeanour. Indeed she looked the incarnation of happiness. + +"What's the matter with her?" he asked, turning again to the girl beside +him. + +For answer she made a movement of her hand towards the road. + +"Do you see that?" she inquired. + +There was very little traffic in the Park on that Sunday evening. A +motor or two rolled through, but they were few and far between. Joe saw +nothing remarkable or that could, to his thinking, in any way account +for his aunt's strange looks. One carriage only was driving by, a +barouche occupied by an elderly lady and three foreign-looking men. +There was nothing about them to attract attention. + +"What in the world is there to see?" he said, in bewilderment. + +"In that carriage are Prince Felipe of Targona and his mother," said +Barbara, "and Mrs. Vanderstein gets as excited as that whenever she sees +any kind of a Royal personage. I don't think," she added truthfully, +"that I ever saw her show it quite so plainly, but you can see the +effect they have on her. Royalty is what really interests her most in +life. You wouldn't believe how much she is thrilled by it. It is an +infatuation, almost a craze." + +"I had no notion she was like that," said Joe, with an air of some +disgust. "I should never have thought she was such a frightful snob." + +"I don't think it is snobbishness with Mrs. Vanderstein," said Barbara. +"It's more a sort of romanticness. But I don't suppose you understand. +The point is that there's nothing she wouldn't do to meet any kind of +a little princeling. And if she once met him, there's nothing he could +ask she wouldn't give. After all," she went on in an argumentative tone, +"she ought not to let you be ruined. I am sure Mr. Vanderstein never +would have. And £10,000 is really so little to her. Why, her pearls +alone are worth far more. What does a sum like that matter? It's only +four or five hundred a year. She wouldn't miss it a bit." + +"I daresay," said Sidney, "but I don't see what good that does me." + +"Have you got a friend you can trust who would stretch a point to help +you?" + +"Not a decimal point as far as cash is concerned. In other ways, I +daresay I have got one or two. They'd help me all right, poor chaps, if +they'd got any money themselves." + +"It's not money. I mean some one who would take a little trouble." + +"Oh yes, I think I can raise one of that sort. For that matter," said +Sidney, "if you don't mind my calling you a friend, I think no one could +want a better one. It's no end good of you to be so sympathetic and let +me bore you with my rotten affairs." + +The girl turned away her face. + +"Of course I am a friend," she said, "but you will want a man, if my +idea is any good. Now listen, I have got a plan." + +Barbara hesitated. She was very conscious that the idea which had come +to her was not one which would commend itself to Joe. A few hours before +she would have scornfully rejected the suggestion that she herself +could ever be brought to tolerate such an expedient, but now everything +was changed and all her convictions of right and wrong were shaken and +tottering, if not entirely swept aside by the fear of the imminent +danger to the man she loved. Her one feeling now was that at any cost +the peril must be averted, and the question of the moment was how to +represent her design in such terms as would prevail on him to see in it +a path that a man might conceivably follow and yet retain some remnant +of self-esteem. + +Very carefully, choosing her words with deliberation, she disclosed to +Sidney the plan that to her seemed to offer the only chance of setting +his affairs in order. As she expected, he refused at first to entertain +the idea at all; undismayed, she returned to the attack and persisted, +with Jesuitical reasonings and syllogisms, in showing him that in the +method she proposed lay his only hope of obtaining the necessary money. +Very slowly and reluctantly he allowed himself to be persuaded. No one +could have listened for half an hour to Barbara's cajolements without +giving way. + +At the first sign of his weakening she redoubled her efforts, and as she +talked, refusing to allow herself to be discouraged by Joe's objections +and the difficulties he pointed out, he gradually succumbed to her +wheedling, and once he had thrust his scruples into the background +became nearly as enthusiastic as she was herself. + +Before they parted the plan was worked out in every point. It remained +but to take the faithful necessary friend of Joe's into their +confidence. This, Joe told her, had better be a subaltern in his +regiment, by name Baines, luckily in London at the present moment. + +"As long," he said with a return to former doubts, "as old Baines is +equal to the job. There's not much he'd stick at, though." + +"Yes," said Barbara, and was silent a minute during which the +difficulties of carrying out her plan successfully seemed to swarm +around her with quite a new vigour. "If anything should turn up," she +faltered, "to make this idea impossible, you will try telling Mrs. +Vanderstein the truth, won't you? It is a chance, after all." + +"Well, it can't make things worse, I suppose," he agreed. "I hope +it won't come to that. I don't think it will now; but if it does, I +promise, if it pleases you, that I will make a clean breast of it to +her." + +"Thank you," she murmured; and then as they turned, "there she is now, +making signs that we should go back." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +When they had driven away Sidney wandered off beyond the outskirts of +the crowd to a lonely spot among the trees, where he walked up and down, +whistling softly to himself and pausing from time to time to aim a blow +at the head of an unoffending daisy with his stick. + +"What an ass I am," he exclaimed presently in heartfelt tones, but a +listener who had fancied he was alluding to his foolish gambling on the +turf would have been mistaken. His thoughts were engaged on quite a +different and much pleasanter subject. + +How lovely she had looked! How sorry she had seemed! What sympathy had +shone in her eyes as she listened to his discreditable troubles. How +determined she had been to find a way out; surely she could not show +such interest in the concerns of all her acquaintances. + +The way out, by the by, now that he thought of it dispassionately, was +hardly, perhaps, quite one that a man could take after all and keep the +little self-respect left to him; but it was overwhelmingly sweet that +she should have lost sight so completely of all considerations except +the one of retrieving his fortunes. + +He had always liked and admired her, of course, but never till to-day +had he realised what a loyal, brave spirit dwelt behind those sea-blue, +childish eyes. There was no girl in the world like her, and was it +unduly conceited of him to think she must like him a little to show +such agitation at the tale of his misfortunes? And here he frowned and +pulled himself up short. What business had he, a ruined gambler, a man +whose career was, to all intents and purposes, at an end, to think twice +about any girl, much less to feel so absurdly happy? He determined +heroically to banish Barbara from his thoughts, and in pursuance of +that excellent resolution walked off across the Park at such a tearing +speed that little boys whom he passed asked derisively where the other +competitors in the race had got to. + + * * * * * + +It was on the following morning that Mrs. Vanderstein made certain +confidences to Barbara, thereby dashing to earth the high hopes she +had built of rescuing Sidney from the ruinous meshes in which he had +entangled himself. + +To that which Mrs. Vanderstein told her the girl listened at first with +incredulity, but a scoffing comment was received with such extreme +disfavour that she dared not venture another; and finally, as she heard +more and fuller accounts and Mrs. Vanderstein, chafing under a sense of +her friend's disbelief, went so far as to produce written evidence of +the truth of the story, Barbara was no longer able to deny to herself +that the astounding tale was undoubtedly not the joke she had taken it +for, but represented the plain facts of the case. + +With increasing dismay she heard all that Mrs. Vanderstein had to tell +her, seeing her hopes for Joe vanish more completely at each new piece +of information; and when at the end of the tale her friend reproached +her for her lack of sympathy she had much ado to prevent herself from +bursting into unavailing tears. + +She was able, however, to summon enough self-control to find some words +of affection, which seemed to fill the requirements of the situation; at +all events they seemed to satisfy Mrs. Vanderstein. The girl only made +one stipulation, and on this point remained obstinate till the elder +lady, failing to shake her determination, was at last obliged to yield a +reluctant consent. + +As soon as she could escape, Barbara, making the first excuse that +occurred to her, ran to her room, where she pinned on a hat without +so much as waiting to glance in the looking-glass. Then, snatching up +a latch key, she let herself out of the hall door and hurried to the +nearest post office. + +Several telegraph forms were filled in, only to be torn up and discarded +before she worded the message to her satisfaction; and even when she +handed it in under the barrier--which protects young ladies of the post +office from too close contact with a public who might, were it not for +these precautions, be exasperated into showing signs of violence--she +was still regarding it doubtfully, and her fingers lingered on the paper +as if reluctant to let it go. + +It was addressed to Joseph Sidney, and covered more than one form. + + "Plan completely spoilt will explain meanwhile try telling your aunt + the truth as you promised she will be in at teatime and it will be + best to get it over one way or another." + +Would he come? she asked herself, as she went back to the house; and +all the afternoon the same question echoed in her mind. Would he come? +And, if he came and did not succeed in enlisting Mrs. Vanderstein's +sympathies, what then? + +There seemed no other possible course. In vain, as she sat beside her +friend in the motor, she racked her brains to imagine some way in which +Joe could still raise the money if this attempt failed. But she had his +assurance that he had already exhausted all practicable means. + +Mrs. Vanderstein wished to visit a shop in the Strand, and their way to +it led them past the theatre that Madame Querterot had visited a week +before, in the company of her daughter and her daughter's suitor. + +Large placards ornamented the front of the house, depicting some of the +more thrilling episodes of the play. These were varied by photographs +of the young actor who played the principal rôle. He was portrayed in +immaculate evening dress and in the act of opening the safe; another +picture showed him snapping his fingers at the officers of the law; and +yet a third displayed him as he took--in the fourth act--the heroine to +his arms. + +Mrs. Vanderstein and Barbara had seen the play, which was making a +roaring success, on more than one occasion. Mrs. Vanderstein smiled as +she observed the posters. + +"That is a good play," she said to her companion. "I can hardly help +screaming when he escapes by the window as the police burst into the +room. It is almost too exciting. And he, the gentleman burglar, you +know, is so good-looking. One can't help being on his side, can one? And +of course one is intended to be. All the honest people are so terribly +dull. Besides, of course, he was a count and quite charming really. I +don't wonder the heroine forgave him." She put down her parasol, as +they turned into a shady street. "Do you know, Barbara," she went on, +"I think that sort of play might do a lot of harm. It can't be right to +make dishonesty appear so attractive." + +Barbara made no reply, and Mrs. Vanderstein, glancing at her in +surprise, was still more astonished at the strange look in the girl's +eyes. + +"What do you think about it?" she asked again. + +"It depends on what you call harm," Barbara answered slowly, and as they +pulled up at their destination the conversation came to an end. + +They went home early and had barely finished tea when Sidney was +announced. He looked rather pale and shook hands with Barbara without +speaking as she made a hasty excuse and left the room. Going into +another sitting-room, she waited in an agony of suspense till the +drawing-room door should open and the interview be over for good or ill. + +She had not long to wait. + +Five minutes had scarcely passed before she heard the sound of hurried +footsteps descending the stairs, and a moment later the front door +banged behind Sidney's retreating figure. At the same time a bell pealed +violently and, before it could be answered, Barbara caught the sound of +the swish of silken skirts and the light tread of Mrs. Vanderstein's +feet as she ran down a few steps and called over the banisters to the +butler. + +"Blake," she called, as that portly person emerged from the door leading +to the basement. "Is that you, Blake?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Blake, I am not at home in future to Mr. Joseph Sidney. You are never +to let him come into this house again. Do you understand?" + +"Very good, ma'am." Blake's tones were as imperturbed as if he were +receiving an order to post a letter. + +"And tell the footmen. I will not see him again on any account whatever. +Let it be clearly understood. And, Blake, please telephone at once to +Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones and say, if it is convenient to him, I should +like to see him immediately. Ask him to come at once; or to come to +dinner; or to the opera. No," she corrected herself, "not to the opera +to-night. But ask him to come and see me before I start if he possibly +can. It is most important." + +"Yes, ma'am." Blake showed no surprise: in moments of distress his +mistress always telephoned to Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, still in a state of great agitation, retreated to +write a letter before dressing for the opera, a matter that demanded, +to-night of all nights, both time and undistracted attention. + +When she descended to the dining-room all traces of the disturbance +caused by Sidney's visit had vanished from her face; and her expression +was again one of joyful expectation, as it had been throughout the day. +After writing a hurried note, she had entirely dismissed all memory of +her husband's nephew. + +It was natural that, in the contest with other interests so enthralling +as those which that evening filled the mind of his uncle's widow, Sidney +should cease to occupy a place in Mrs. Vanderstein's thoughts; should +become, as he would have expressed it, an "also ran." What was more +remarkable was the fact that Barbara's countenance, when she took her +place at the early dinner, wore a look of pleasant anticipation almost +equalling that of her friend, very different from the signs of anxiety +and distress that had been visible upon it during the earlier part +of the day. Mrs. Vanderstein had seen nothing of the weeping figure +which, after Joe's dismissal, lay with its face buried in the pillows +on Barbara's bed trying to stifle the great sobs that shook it in spite +of every effort, or even she, preoccupied as she was, would have felt +astonished at so complete a recovery of spirits. + +The change, indeed, had been instantaneous and coincided with the +moment, when, in the midst of her grief, a sudden idea had flashed into +Barbara's mind, an inspiration, it seemed, that immediately smoothed +away all trouble and made plain the way by which Sidney's difficulties +should be removed. How was it possible that she had not thought of +it before? The knowledge that Joe would never agree to the means she +proposed to take, that the persuasions and sophistries of yesterday +would be of no use here, that it would be impossible even to broach the +subject to him, she swept from her impetuously. There was no need that +he should ever suspect her hand in the matter. Care must be taken; she +must act with prudence and caution, and all would be well. One thought +only held her mind to the exclusion of all else, the wish to protect and +save this boy whom she loved from the consequences of his own folly. +Nothing was worth considering except this. No fear of the possible +effect on her own life shook her resolution, for what, she thought, is +life or for that matter death, if it does not imply the prolongation +on the one hand, or, on the other, the cutting short of the ties of +affection. + +She remembered the reckless air with which Joe had said that this +business would be the end of all for him, and with a shudder she told +herself that the words could only have one meaning. If by sacrificing +her life his could be saved, she would not hesitate to give it. Here +plain to her eye was the opportunity to serve him, and whatever the +result might be to herself she did not shrink from it. As she dressed +for the evening, Barbara smiled gladly to herself and sang softly a +little song. One thought disturbed her. Sidney was unaware that his +salvation was so near. She could not bear to think of him now, worried +and despairing. Yet how could she reassure him without betraying +herself and the great idea? With a little frown Barbara mused over this +question, as she stuck a paste comb that Mrs. Vanderstein had given her +into the masses of her thick fair hair. Presently she scrawled a few +words upon a sheet of paper, and hastily folding it into an envelope +tucked it into the front of her dress; then, fearing she was late, she +ran down the stairs. + +"Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones is out of town, ma'am," Blake was saying as +she entered the room. + +"Oh well, never mind now," said Mrs. Vanderstein. + +Dinner that evening was a silent meal. Mrs. Vanderstein, gloriously +arrayed, sat smiling abstractedly at nothing from one end of the small +table. So preoccupied was she that she forgot to eat, and Blake was +obliged to ask her repeatedly whether she would partake of a dish before +she could be brought to notice that it was being handed to her. Once, +as, recalled suddenly to the present, she brought her thoughts back +with a start from their wanderings and turned with some trivial remark +towards Barbara, she noticed with a faint feeling of amusement that the +girl was as much engrossed in her own imaginings as she was herself, and +was sitting absently pulling a flower to pieces, her great eyes fixed +vacantly on the shining pearls that swung suspended from the neck of her +friend. + +They started in good time, Barbara begging to be allowed to stop for one +minute at a post office on the way. + +She had, she said, forgotten to reply to an invitation, and thought that +now it was so late she had better send an answer by wire. She gave the +message, which was already written out and in a sealed envelope, to the +footman, together with some money, and told him to hand it in as it +was, and not to waste time in waiting to see it accepted. + +The man was back in a minute, and they drove on, to take their places a +few minutes later in the long string of motors and carriages which was +slowly advancing to the doors of the Covent Garden opera house. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Mr. Gimblet lived in a flat in the neighbourhood of Whitehall. It was +a fad of his to be more comfortably housed than most solitary men. The +situation was conveniently near to Scotland Yard, where officials were +much in the habit of requiring to see him at odd moments. The view from +the windows, overlooking the river, was delightful to one of cultivated +and artistic propensities, and the rooms, large and well-proportioned, +were capable of displaying to advantage the old and valuable pictures +and furniture with which it was the detective's delight to surround +himself. + +Much of his time was spent in curiosity shops, and he was among the +first to discover that former happy hunting ground of the bargain +seeker--the Caledonian market. Many an impatient member of the Force, +sent round from the "Yard" to ask Mr. Gimblet's assistance in some +obscure case, had, after kicking his heels for an hour or two in the +hall, left the flat in desperation, only to meet the detective coming up +the stairs with a dusky, dust-covered picture in his hand, or hugging to +his breast a piece of ancient china. + +The younger son of a Midland family, which had moderately enriched +itself in the course of the preceding century by commercial transactions +in which a certain labour-saving machine for the weaving industries had +played a large part, Mr. Gimblet had received the usual public school +education, and had spent two or three subsequent years at Oxford. His +artistic propensities had always been strongly marked, but his family +showing much opposition to his becoming an artist, and he himself having +a modest idea of his own genius and doubting his ability to make his way +very high up the ladder of success by the aid of talent which he knew to +be somewhat limited, he had ended by going into an architect's office, +where he had worked with interest and enjoyment for several more years. +It was by accident that he discovered his capacity for tracking the most +wary of criminals to his hiding place and for discovering the authors +of mysterious and deeply plotted crimes. It happened that a workman +employed in the building of a house for which Gimblet had provided the +design was found murdered in circumstances as peculiar as they were +sinister. There appeared to be no clue to the author of the deed, and +after a week or two the official investigators had confessed among +themselves that they were completely at a loss. + +To Gimblet, visiting the scene of the crime in his capacity of +architect--but not without an unwonted and hitherto unknown quickening +of the pulse--a piece of board nailed upright where it should have +been horizontal had proved immediately suggestive; and its removal had +brought to light certain hastily concealed objects, which with one +or two previously unnoticed trifles had resulted in the capture and +ultimate hanging of the murderer. + +This success had led the young man to feel an interest in other +mysterious affairs of the same nature; and it was not long before he +found the task of assisting the police in such researches so much +more profitable and engrossing than his work as an architect, that he +gradually came to give more and more of his leisure to the attempt to +discover secrets and to solve problems which at first sight seemed to +offer no solution. By the time he was thirty there was scarcely a crime +of any importance that he was not called upon to assist in bringing +home to its perpetrator; and he had entirely abandoned the pursuit of +architectural learning for that of criminal mankind. + +He refused an invitation to become attached to the official staff, +although this was conveyed in terms that were in the highest degree +flattering, preferring to be at liberty to decide for himself whether +or no he should take up a case. It was the sensational and odd that +attracted him; and he found that quite enough of this came his way to +make his occupation an extremely profitable one. + +Early on Tuesday afternoon Gimblet sat in his dining-room, contemplating +with some satisfaction a large dish of strawberries and a pot of cream +sent him by a Devonshire friend. He was finishing a luncheon which he +considered well earned, as that morning he had discovered in a narrow +back street in Lambeth, and purchased for a mere song, a little picture +black with age and dirt, in which his hopeful eye discerned a crowd +of small but masterfully painted figures footing it to the strains of +a fiddle upon the grass under a spreading tree. Gimblet told himself +that it was in all probability from the brush of Teniers, and he had +propped it on the dining-room mantelpiece so that in the intervals of +eating he could refresh his eyes as well as his body. Beside him lay +the day's paper which he had hardly had time to read before going out +that morning. He heaped cream upon his strawberries, sprinkled them with +sugar, and took, in succession, a spoonful of the mixture, a look at his +picture, and a glance at the paper. With a contented sigh he repeated +the process. + +At the moment he had no work in hand, and no one more thoroughly enjoyed +an occasional loaf. + +It was good, he felt, to have nothing to do for once; to have time to +idle; to eat greedily delicious food; to spend as many hours as he chose +in the dusty recesses of second-hand shops; to do a little painting +sometimes; even to be able to arrange beforehand to play a game of golf. +Gimblet had an excellent eye, and had been rather good at games in early +days. He seldom had time now and, if he did go down to a golf ground +occasionally in the afternoons, had to resign himself to play with +anyone he could find, as he never knew till the last minute whether he +would be able to get away. + +He thought of going this afternoon, and looked at his watch. There +would be a train from Waterloo in half an hour. Just time to finish his +strawberries and catch it. That picture would look well when he had +cleaned it. He took up the paper again. It must have been a fine sight +last night at Covent Garden. And what a list of singers. Gimblet, who +loved music, wished he had been there. "The Verterexes might have asked +me to their box," he said to himself. "Life is full of ingratitude. +After all I did for them." + +And then it struck him that he had not done much for the Verterexes +after all, beyond nearly arresting Mr. Verterex by mistake for a murder +he had not committed. + +Gimblet laughed. + +Then his thoughts reverted lazily to the pleasures of loafing. + +"I think I shall give up work," he said to himself. "Why not? I have +enough money put by to keep me, with economy, in moderate comfort. +Not quite so many strawberries perhaps," he added regretfully, taking +another mouthful, "but what I want is leisure. Yes. I am decided I will +do no more work. Let the police catch its own burglars!" + +He spoke aloud, and defiantly, addressing himself to the picture. + +At that moment his servant came into the room. + +"A gentleman very anxious to see you, sir," he said. "I have shown him +into the library." + +"Ask him to come in here if he's in a hurry," said Gimblet. "I haven't +finished lunch." + +A minute later the man opened the door again, announcing: + +"Major Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones." + +Major Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones was a little man with a pink complexion +and a small brown moustache. He was short and rather plumper than he +could wish, but carried himself very uprightly and with a great sense +of his own importance, glaring at those who might be so obtuse as not +immediately to recognise it with such concentrated disapproval that it +was usual for the offenders to realise their mistake in the quickest +possible time. Behind a fussy, self-satisfied exterior he hid a fund +of kindness and good nature seldom to be met with. Sir Gregory prided +himself on his youthful appearance, was, in his turn, a source of some +pride to one of the best tailors in London, took remarkable interest in +his ties and boots, trained his remaining hair in the way it should go, +and, though he was sixty-five, flattered himself that he looked not a +day over fifty-nine. + +"I am in luck to find you, Mr. Gimblet," he said, advancing with +outstretched hand as Gimblet rose to receive him. "But this is a sad +occasion, a very sad occasion, I fear." + +"Dear me," said Gimblet, "I'm sorry to hear that. But won't you sit +down? I thought as my man said you were in a hurry you would rather come +in here than wait for me. May I offer you some strawberries? No? I'm +sorry I can't give you any wine, but I'm a teetotaller, you know. Don't +have any in the house. Afraid you'll think me faddy. And now that the +servant has gone, may I ask what is the sad event which has given me the +pleasure of seeing you?" + +"Bad habit, drinking water," commented Sir Gregory, seating himself in +an arm-chair by the fire-place. "But nowadays young men have no heads. +They can't stand it, that's what it is. Show them three or four glasses +of port and they say it gives them a headache. Absurd, sir! The country +is rotten through and through. The men can't eat, they can't drink, they +can't even dance! They stroll about a ball-room now in a way that would +make you sick. In my days we used to valse properly. But they don't +dance the _deux-temps_ any more, I'm told. They say it makes them giddy! +Giddy! Rotten constitutions, that's what we suffer from nowadays. It's +the same with all this talk of reforming the army. Compulsory service +indeed," the major snorted. "What should we want compulsory service +for? In my day one Englishman was as good as twenty Germans or any kind +of foreigner. At least he would have been if we'd had a European war, +which as it happened was not the case while I was in the Service. But +now there are actually people who think that if it comes to a fight it +would be an advantage for us to have as many men as the enemy. They +ought to be ashamed of themselves, if there's any truth in it. No, no, +the army doesn't need reforming, take my word for it. There are a few +alterations which I could suggest in the uniforms which would make all +the difference in the world, but except for that, what I say is, let +sleeping dogs lie." + +Having delivered himself of these remarks, Sir Gregory felt in his +pocket, drew forth a cigar case, selected a cigar and asked for a match. + +"Did you come to persuade me to your views on compulsory service?" asked +Gimblet pleasantly as he continued to devour his strawberries, which +were now nearly all gone. "Because I'm afraid it's no good. You can't +possibly convince me that its adoption is not a vital necessity to the +nation." + +"I'm sorry to hear you think that," said the other, "for I have the +highest opinion of your intellect. Believe me, when you discovered the +frauds that were being perpetrated at the Great Continental Bank last +year, I marked you down, Mr. Gimblet, as the man I should consult in +case of need. And it is to consult you that I am here. I said it was +a sad occasion. Well, it is sad for me, but I am not yet, as a matter +of fact, quite sure whether or no it is desperately so. What has +happened, in a word, is this. A lady to whom I am deeply attached has +disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" said Gimblet, pushing back his chair. He had eaten the +last of the strawberries. "May I ask who the lady is--a relation of +yours?" + +"Not exactly. She is a Mrs. Vanderstein, for whom, as I have just said, +I have a great regard, I may say an affection. In fact," said Sir +Gregory, leaning forward and speaking in confidential tones, "I don't +mind telling you that she is the lady I have chosen to be the future +Lady Aberhyn Jones." + +"Indeed. You are engaged to marry her?" + +"Not precisely engaged," admitted Sir Gregory, with a slightly troubled +look. + +As a matter of strict accuracy, he had proposed to Mrs. Vanderstein +about three times a year ever since the death of her husband; but Mrs. +Vanderstein, although tempted by his title, had already been the wife +of one man twice her age and did not intend to repeat the experiment. +Still, his friendship was dear to her; he was the only baronet of +her acquaintance and she liked to have him about the house. He had +been a director on the board of one of her husband's companies, and, +when introduced by him, her pretty face and amiable disposition had +quite captured Sir Gregory's heart, so that he had cultivated Mr. +Vanderstein's society to such good purpose as to become a constant +habitué of the house in Grosvenor Street. + +After Mr. Vanderstein's death he lost no more time than decency demanded +in proposing to his widow; and, though she refused to marry him, and +refused over and over again, yet she did it in so sympathetic a manner +and was so kind in spite of her obstinacy that Sir Gregory believed her +absence of alacrity in accepting his hand to be prompted by anything +rather than a lack of affection. She treated him as her best friend and +consulted him on every question of business, to the wise conduct of +which her own shrewdness was a far better guide, and had imperceptibly +fallen into the habit of never making a decision of any importance +without first threshing out the pros and cons in conversation with him. +Nothing so strengthened her faith in the soundness of her own judgment +as his disapproval of any course she intended to adopt. + +"For some reason," Sir Gregory continued after a pause, "Mrs. +Vanderstein has never consented to an actual engagement. It is that +which makes me so uneasy now. Can it be--Mr. Gimblet, I give you my word +I feel ashamed of mentioning such a suspicion even to you--but can it be +that she has fled with another?" + +He uttered the last words in such a tragic tone that Gimblet, though he +felt inclined to smile, restrained the impulse, and, summoning up all +the sympathy at his command, inquired again: + +"Will you not explain the circumstances to me a little more fully? When +did the lady vanish? Have you any reason to think she did not go alone? +Was there some kind of understanding between you, and what did it +amount to?" + +"I will be perfectly frank with you," said Sir Gregory, "much the +best thing in these cases is to be absolutely candid. You agree with +me there? I thought you would. At the same time where a lady is +concerned--you follow me? One must avoid anything that looks like +giving her away. But in this case there is really no reason why I +should conceal anything from you. Mrs. Vanderstein has never accepted +my proposals. On the contrary she has refused to marry me on each of +the occasions when I have suggested it to her. You ask me why? My dear +sir, I cannot reply to that question. Who can account for a woman's +whims? Not I, sir, not I. Nor you either; if you will allow me to say +so." Sir Gregory's hands and eyes were uplifted in bewilderment as he +considered the inexplicable behaviour of woman in general and of Mrs. +Vanderstein in particular. "But I have no doubt that in time she would +have reconsidered her decision," he went on puffing at his cigar, "that +is to say I _had_ no doubt until this morning." + +"And what happened then?" asked the detective. + +"I came up from Surrey, where I had been paying a week-end visit," +pursued his visitor, "arriving at my rooms at midday. My servant at once +informed me that Mrs. Vanderstein had sent a telephone message yesterday +evening, begging me to go immediately to see her and adding that it +was most important. I only waited to change into London clothes, Mr. +Gimblet, before I hurried to her house in Grosvenor Street. And when I +got there, what did I hear? 'Pon my soul," exclaimed Sir Gregory, taking +his cigar out of his mouth, "you might have knocked me down with a +feather!" + +"You heard that the lady had disappeared?" + +"Exactly. Not been seen or heard of since last night. Drove away from +her own door, they tell me, in her own motor car; and has never come +back from that hour to this." + +"Did she leave no word as to where she was going?" + +"None whatever. She dined early, of course, on account of the opera." + +"The opera! In that case what makes you think she didn't go there?" + +"Of course she went. Didn't I say so? She drove off to Covent Garden and +that's the last that's been heard of her." + +"You interest me," said Gimblet. "Was she not seen to leave the opera +house?" + +"I don't know about that," said Sir Gregory. "I found the servants very +much disturbed; and very glad they were, I may say, to see me." + +"She has probably met with some accident and has been taken to a +hospital," suggested Gimblet. "Have any inquiries been made?" + +"I rather think they have been telephoning to the hospitals, but I told +them not to communicate with the police till I had seen you. Wouldn't +do, you know. She would dislike it extremely, especially if it turns out +as I fear and she has gone off with some other man." + +"I can't see why she should have done that," said Gimblet. "She was +her own mistress, I suppose, and had no need to conceal her movements. +Depend on it," he went on, for the anxiety on Sir Gregory's face moved +him to pity, "she will be found at one of the hospitals; and I advise +you to make inquiries at them. A woman, alone as she was, would be +carried to one of them if she were taken ill or met with a slight +accident that prevented her for the moment from giving her address." + +"But she was not alone," urged Sir Gregory. "Miss Turner, her companion, +was with her, of course." + +"Indeed," said Gimblet, "you said nothing of there being anyone with +her. And what has Miss Turner to say on the subject?" + +"She's not there. She's vanished too." + +"Really," said the detective. "This is getting interesting. That two +ladies should set out for Covent Garden opera house on a gala night and +never return from it, is, to say the least, slightly unconventional. +Now, before we go any further," he went on quickly, "what do you wish me +to do in the matter?" + +"I want you to find Mrs. Vanderstein, naturally," returned Sir Gregory, +staring at him in astonishment; "I feel the greatest anxiety on her +account, the more so since you consider her likely to have met with an +accident." + +"But if, as you seem to suspect, the lady has gone off deliberately, +will she not be annoyed at our seeking her out? Will she not be angry +with you for trying to discover her movements if she wishes them +unknown?" + +"I daresay she'd think it dashed impertinent. But I can't help that. +She may be in need of me; in fact," cried Sir Gregory with sudden +recollection, "I know she is! Don't I tell you she telephoned for me +last night? A most urgent message. That proves she wishes for my help +in some matter of importance to her, and how can I assist her without +knowing where she is?" + +"As you say," said Gimblet, "it does look as if she did not wish to +leave you unacquainted with her whereabouts. Well, I have nothing to +do just now and if you wish me to make inquiries I will do so with +pleasure, though I do not think it will prove to be an affair altogether +in my line." + +"Thank 'ee. Thank 'ee," mumbled the old soldier with his cigar between +his teeth. "That's what I want. Now, how are you going to set about it?" + +"I am going to ask you a few questions first. You have not yet furnished +me with that comprehensive clear account in which the trivial details +which look so unimportant and may yet be of such moment are never +omitted: the lucid narrative so dear to the detective's heart. I do not +think, if you will pardon my saying so, that I am likely to get it from +you, Sir Gregory." + +Sir Gregory glared, but said nothing; and Gimblet continued, with a +smile: + +"To begin with, who is Mrs. Vanderstein?" + +"The widow of a Jewish money-lender." Sir Gregory spoke somewhat +shortly. He considered Gimblet's remarks disrespectful. + +"Rich, then?" + +"Yes." + +"Does she live alone in Grosvenor Street?" + +"A young lady, Miss Barbara Turner, lives with her." + +"And who is she?" + +"She is the daughter of an old pal of Vanderstein's. A man who used to +train his racehorses at Newmarket. He was a bad lot and had to fly the +country long ago. Dead now, I believe." + +"Has Miss Turner any money of her own?" + +"Old Vanderstein left her a good large sum, £30,000 I think it is, but +Mrs. Vanderstein has a life interest in it. The girl has nothing as long +as she lives with Mrs. Vanderstein, who, however, I have no doubt, is +most generous to her." + +"I suppose you know Miss Turner well? What is she like?" + +"Oh, she's a very ordinary girl, rather pretty some people think, +apparently. I don't admire the robust, muscular type that is +fashionable nowadays. Mrs. Vanderstein is very fond of her." + +"That means you don't like her yourself?" + +Sir Gregory hesitated. It was not in him, really, to dislike anyone +without very much provocation, but he always had an idea that Barbara +was laughing at him, and he cherished his dignity. + +"I don't suppose there's any harm in the girl," he grunted at last. + +"Has Mrs. Vanderstein the full control of her fortune?" asked Gimblet, +after a quick look at him. + +"I believe she has, absolutely. But if you think I was after her for her +money," exclaimed Sir Gregory in an angry tone and half rising as he +spoke, "you're dashed well mistaken!" + +Gimblet hastened to reassure him on this point and he sat down again, +still grumbling. + +"It was Vanderstein's expressed wish that all the money should +ultimately be left to his nephew, young Joe Sidney," he explained, "and +I am sure his widow would not disregard his ideas on that point." + +The dining-room faced south-west, and the afternoon sun, creeping round, +already shone full on the small square panes of the casement windows, so +that the temperature of the room was rapidly rising to an intolerable +warmth. Gimblet thought of the train that was to have carried him to the +golf links. It would have been unbearably hot in it, he told himself. +And the disappearance of a wealthy lady from her house in London +was sufficiently unusual to excite his curiosity. Already his vivid +imagination was seething with guesses and speculations. His resolution +to do no more detective work was utterly forgotten. + +"What is Mrs. Vanderstein like to look at?" he asked abruptly. + +"She is quite young," began Sir Gregory, "about your own age, I should +say. She is not very tall and has dark hair and a perfect figure, not +one of those great maypoles of women one sees about so much now, but +beautifully proportioned and just right in every way. She has wonderful +brown eyes and a smile for every one. I think she is most beautiful," +concluded her old friend simply. + +Gimblet got up. + +"I will give instructions about having inquiries made at the hospitals," +he said, "though it does seem hardly likely that both ladies should have +been hurt, without some news of it having come before now. And then let +us go round to the house. I should like to see the servants and hear +what they may have to tell. I hope there may, even now, be some tidings +awaiting you there." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +There was no news of the missing ladies in Grosvenor Street; but Gimblet +interviewed all the servants and heard several facts, which gave him +food for thought. + +It was from Blake, the butler, that he received most information. It was +Blake himself, looking heartily scared, with half his usual pompousness +driven out of him by his anxiety, who opened the door to them and, +on hearing from Sir Gregory who it was that accompanied him, begged +Gimblet to allow him to speak to him for a few moments. They went into +the morning-room, a cheerful white-walled apartment, gay with books and +flowers, and Blake addressed himself to the detective. + +"I'm very glad you've come, sir, I am indeed. Sir Gregory will have told +you, sir, that Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, who lives here with +her, went out last night to the opera and have not returned. I have been +very uneasy about them and at a loss to know what to do, sir, for Mrs. +Vanderstein mightn't like me to inform the police if so be that she's +gone away on purpose. But I never knew her to go away without informing +me of the fact or without any luggage and leaving no address, though +she does go off very sudden sometimes to spend a week or so in foreign +parts, Dieppe being her favourite, I may say." + +"Indeed," said Gimblet, "was Mrs. Vanderstein in the habit of going +abroad at a moment's notice?" + +"She went very sudden, when the fancy took her, sir, but not so sudden +as this. I've known her say at lunchtime to Miss Turner, 'My dear, we +will go to Boulogne by the 2.20 from Charing Cross,' which, lunch being +at one o'clock, didn't leave much time for packing, sir." + +"No, it wouldn't," agreed Gimblet. + +"But in such cases," continued Blake, "the maid would often be left +to follow with the luggage, the ladies taking no more than what they +required for the night. But nothing was said to the maid yesterday on +the subject, and I can't think Mrs. Vanderstein would ever go off like +that anywhere, sir, in her evening dress and diamonds." + +"Of course, it being a gala night at the opera, she would be wearing +jewels," Gimblet assented. + +"Yes, sir, and that's partly what makes me feel so upset, sir; I've +never known Mrs. Vanderstein to wear so many jewels on one occasion. It +would have been well worth anyone's while to rob her last night, sir." + +"Really. What was she wearing? Had she valuable jewels?" + +"Indeed, yes," broke in Sir Gregory, "the Vanderstein jewels were +famous." + +"Yes, sir," repeated Blake; "beautiful jewellery indeed. A great +responsibility, sir, in a household. But I have them always in a safe in +the pantry, where I sleep myself, and if I go out in the daytime it's +never without one of the footmen stays in the room all the time I'm +away. At night we have a night watchman always on the premises, sir, +and it was him that first alarmed me this morning. He came to my door +about five o'clock and knocked me up. 'What's the matter?' I called out, +thinking at first what with sleep and one thing and another that the +house was on fire. 'She haven't come in yet,' he said, and it was a few +minutes before I understood what he was driving at. And then I didn't +really feel anxious; though we'd all thought it very strange last night, +when Thomas, the second footman, who had gone with the motor to Covent +Garden, came back saying that he'd received orders that the car wasn't +to go back to fetch the ladies at all." + +"What? the car was not to go back after the performance?" exclaimed +Gimblet. + +"No, sir, orders were given to that effect. Still, I thought possibly +they were coming home with some friends, and even this morning I said +to myself that perhaps they were staying the night at a friend's house, +having for some reason not been able to get a cab home. I had no doubt +I should get a telephone message at any moment, which would explain the +whole of the circumstances. But the morning passed away without our +hearing anything whatever, and by the time Sir Gregory called I was just +about getting ready to go out and make inquiries at the police station." + +Gimblet considered in silence for a few moments. + +"Have you noticed anything unusual of late," he asked, "in the habits or +demeanour of anyone in the house?" + +"No, nothing unusual beyond the fact that Mrs. Vanderstein seemed to be +enjoying uncommonly good spirits. I also thought, but it might be it was +only my fancy, that you couldn't say the same of Miss Turner. Yesterday +she appeared to be very much down on her luck." + +"Did the idea of an accident occur to you?" asked Gimblet. "Have you +inquired at any of the hospitals?" "I telephoned to St. George's, sir, +but with no result. I didn't know where else to make inquiries." + +"I understand," said the detective presently, "that Mrs. Vanderstein +has relatives and friends living in London. Did you communicate with any +of them this morning?" + +"No, sir, I did not. I had already telephoned to Sir Gregory last night +and heard he was out of town." + +"Is there no one else to whom you could have appealed for advice? I +understand that Mrs. Vanderstein has a nephew or nephew by marriage. +Does he live in London?" + +"No, sir, his regiment is quartered in the north of England. But it is +true," Blake stammered, with some appearance of reluctance, "that Mr. +Sidney is off and on in London, according as he is able to obtain leave, +and I believe he is up at the present moment." + +"I should have thought you would have telephoned to him to-day. Did it +not occur to you to do so?" + +Blake hesitated again. He looked from Gimblet to Sir Gregory, then let +his eyes roam to the window and round the room as if help might be hoped +for from some unlikely source. Finally, they once more encountered those +of the detective and, under that compelling gaze, he spoke. + +"I did think of it," he faltered, "I should have done so if it had not +been for one thing. Mr. Sidney came to the house yesterday afternoon +and, I don't like to mention it, sir, but I am afraid that he had words +with his aunt. I have no idea what it was about, sir, but he only stayed +a few minutes and as soon as he was gone Mrs. Vanderstein called me and +gave me strict orders not to allow him to enter the house in future. She +seemed very much put out about something and I am sure she wouldn't like +me to have any communications with Mr. Sidney now. It isn't my place to +allude to such a thing at all, but in the peculiar circumstances, sirs, +I hope you will excuse my saying that Mrs. Vanderstein appeared to me to +be very much put out indeed." + +"Quite so," said Gimblet, "in the peculiar circumstances your proper +course is to tell me everything you can, whether it bears on Mrs. +Vanderstein's failure to return home or not. I shall be less likely to +go astray after some false scent if I have a thorough knowledge of the +private affairs of these ladies, and there is no knowing what trifling +detail may not turn out to be useful. Now about these jewels, can you +tell me what your mistress wore last night? I should also like to see +the place you keep them in." + +Blake conducted them to the pantry. A small safe let into the wall +contained a quantity of jewel cases, for the most part empty. The butler +gave Gimblet a list of what they had contained. + +"I never knew Mrs. Vanderstein to wear so many ornaments at once," +he repeated. "She would mostly wear her pearls and a necklace and +perhaps a tiara and a few bracelets and rings, but last night besides +these she had the two diamond necklaces sewn on to her dress, and the +emerald set, which takes to pieces so as to make one big ornament, was +sewn on it too. I don't suppose there were many ladies at the gala +performance," said Blake, with some pride, "who wore better jewels than +she did--unless it was the Queen herself." + +Gimblet requested to be taken over the house, and in the various +sitting-rooms he hunted for some evidence of a documentary character to +show that Mrs. Vanderstein had not intended to return on the previous +evening. He looked on the mantelpieces for an invitation which should +have been stuck up there, on the writing tables for something of the +same kind. But though cards for different entertainments were not +wanting--most of them bearing well-known Jewish names and conveying +invitations to musical parties--there was nothing suggesting that the +ladies were to attend one on Monday night. He noticed the subtle odour +that hung about the rooms, and his scrutinising eyes noted with delight +the many beautiful and rare objects of Mr. Vanderstein's collection. + +He would gladly have lingered to examine the pictures that decorated +the walls, and the priceless china, which stood on cabinets against +the white panelling. But, deferring this pleasure, he continued his +methodical search in the expectant company of Sir Gregory and the +half-scandalised Blake, who could not decide in his own mind whether he +was doing right in allowing a detective, even one so well known as Mr. +Gimblet, to turn over his mistress' correspondence in this unceremonious +fashion. When the detective's search led him to the door of Mrs. +Vanderstein's bedroom, Blake felt himself unable to remain with him any +longer, and summoning Amélie from her workroom he turned over to her the +duty of keeping an eye on these doubtful proceedings. + +The news of the detective's presence had spread through the house like +wildfire, and Amélie for her part was burning to assist the great man. +Quite unhampered by such scruples as those which were felt by the worthy +butler, she dragged open drawers, threw wide the doors of cupboards, +thrust any letters she could find into Gimblet's hands and invited him +to verify for himself the information, or lack of it, which she volubly +imparted. She knew there was nothing enlightening in the letters and did +not hesitate to say so. She had read them all long ago. + +"That poor lady," she cried, "they have assassinated her to rob her +of her marvellous jewels. Ah, but of that I am well convinced," she +declared, nodding her head with gloomy satisfaction. "She wore too +many--it was to tempt Providence." + +Gimblet asked her for a list of the jewels and received the same that he +had had from Blake. + +"And will you describe to me what clothes Mrs. Vanderstein wore," he +asked, "and also those of Miss Turner?" + +"Madame had on a dress of white _mousseline de soie_, all _diamantée_," +Amélie told him, "ce qu'elle était belle avec cette robe-là! Over it she +wore a magnificent cloak of _crêpe de Chine_ and silver lace. The cloak +is mauve in the daylight, but in the evening one would say that it was +pink. She had on silver shoes and white stockings and carried an antique +fan of great value." + +"And Miss Turner?" Gimblet was writing down her description in his +notebook. + +"Mademoiselle also was dressed in white, but with a dress much more +simple. She had a cloak of flame-coloured brocade that Madame gave her +on her birthday. It is lined with white chiffon; nothing can be more +chic." + +As she spoke she glanced in surprise at Gimblet, who was standing in the +middle of the room, his head thrown back, his nostrils expanding and +contracting. As each succeeding drawer had been pulled out he had stood +there, sniffing appreciation. The vague scent that clung about the lower +part of the house was more penetrating here, and with each disturbance +of Mrs. Vanderstein's belongings grew stronger. There were flowers about +the room, tea roses in many bowls of shining glass; but their faint +sweetness was drowned beneath the more powerful smell that pervaded the +air. + +"Your mistress uses a delicious perfume," said the detective. "Did she +always have the same one?" + +"It smells good in here, is it not?" said Amélie. "Yes, Madame uses +always the same perfume. See, here it is on her table. It sells itself +very expensive, but with one drop one may perfume a whole dress. +Everything that Madame touches smells of it." + +Gimblet went to the dressing-table and took up the bottle she indicated; +he lifted it to his nose and, removing the stopper, took a long, deep +sniff. Then recorking the bottle he put it down again with a glance at +the label. "Arome de la Corse," he read, and below, the name of a French +perfumery celebrated for the excellence and high prices of its products. + +"Madame is an admirer of the great Napoléon," explained Amélie +helpfully. + +"Who does not share her admiration?" rejoined the detective. "And now +may I see Miss Turner's room?" + +In Barbara's chamber his stay was short. Here was no arresting perfume, +very little suggestion of feminine personality. The room was more like +that of a boy. Photographs adorned the walls; a few books lay about. A +couple of letters were on the table; one was a bill. The other, which +Gimblet perused under the sympathetic eyes of Amélie, ran as follows: + + "DEAR MISS TURNER, + + "I put the money on Averstone as you said. So sorry he wasn't + placed. He got away badly and had no luck from the start. In haste, + + "Yours sincerely, + "J. SIDNEY." + +"Thanks, I think that is all I want just now," said Gimblet, and he +turned to leave the room. But Amélie was in no mind to let him go like +that. She had hoped for some confidences, that she might have a theory +to retail downstairs. + +"If Monsieur will listen to my idea," she said, "I will tell him what I +believe has happened to Madame. She has been killed for the sake of her +jewels. That is what I think. And it would be prudent before making so +many inquiries that one should look for her on the floor of her box at +the opera. It is probable that she is there, _la pauvre_, just as they +struck her down and left her!" + +"Thank you for your suggestion," replied Gimblet gravely. "I assure you +that I will not neglect to visit the box. But I think that the bodies of +two ladies, 'struck down' in it, would have called forth some expression +of astonishment on the part of the caretakers." + +"Monsieur is laughing at me," began Amélie in injured tones, but Gimblet +was already half-way down the stairs. + +On the landing outside the drawing-room door Blake was still hovering. + +"Ah, there you are," Gimblet said. "Can I see the second footman now? +Thomas, I think you said he was called." + +Thomas, being summoned, proved to be a tall lad possessing an honest and +ingratiating smile, adorning a fair and open countenance. + +"It was you, I think," the detective said to him, "who accompanied the +motor last night when it left here with the two ladies?" + +"Yes, sir," said Thomas, "I did, sir." + +"And you were told the car would not be required again after the opera?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Can you remember Mrs. Vanderstein's exact words when she gave you the +order not to return?" + +"It wasn't Mrs. Vanderstein who told me, sir," said Thomas, "it was +Miss Turner. 'Mrs. Vanderstein says she won't have the car again this +evening,' she said, and, 'do you understand, Wilcox?' she says--that's +the chauffeur, Wilcox is; she come running down to speak to him just as +he put the clutch in and we was moving off--'You're not to come to fetch +us to-night after the opera,' I heard every word of course as plain as +Wilcox did. 'Very good, miss,' he says, and she ran back through the +swing doors. Mrs. Vanderstein had gone straight in and I didn't see her +again. We was very surprised, Wilcox and me, as it was the first time +that Mrs. Vanderstein hadn't had the motor to bring her home that either +of us could remember. But orders is orders," concluded Thomas with an +engaging smile at Mr. Gimblet, who ignored it. + +"Thank you, that will do for the present," he said; and, when Thomas had +gone, turned once more to Blake. + +"How long has Wilcox been in Mrs. Vanderstein's service?" he asked. + +"He was with Mr. Vanderstein before he married," replied Blake. "The +same as I was myself, sir. Wilcox was a groom in the old days, but +they had him taught to drive the motor some years ago. He's a most +respectable, steady man, sir." + +"Thanks, I should like to see him," said Gimblet. + +Wilcox, it appeared, was in the house at the moment, having come round +from the garage to hear if there was any news, and Gimblet had him in +and cross-examined him. His story was the same as Thomas', with one +small addition. + +"Was there anything that struck you as the least unusual?" Gimblet asked +him. "Did you notice anything in the appearance of either of the ladies, +or overhear anything they said to each other as they got in or out of +the car, that was not perfectly natural?" + +"No, sir, I did not," said Wilcox stolidly. He was rather a fat man with +a very horsey look. "Not that I paid any heed to what they might be +saying so long as it wasn't to me they said it. As far as I remember, +Mrs. Vanderstein got into the car and Miss Turner after her, and 'To +Covent Garden' one of them says to Thomas, and Miss Turner calls out, +'Just stop at a post office on the way.' And so we did." + +"Ah," said Gimblet, "you stopped at a post office, did you? Was that +quite in the usual course? And which post office did you stop at?" + +"It was not in the usual course," admitted Wilcox, "in fact, I don't +remember doing it on the way to the opera before. But Miss Turner had +a telegram to send. We stopped in Piccadilly and she gave the form to +Thomas to take into the office. After that we drove straight on to the +opera house." + +Thomas, recalled, remembered handing in the telegram, certainly. Didn't +know why he hadn't thought of mentioning it before. Miss Turner gave him +a sealed envelope with "Telegram" written outside it, and told him to +give it with some money to the young person in the office, and not to +bother about waiting for the change, as they were in a hurry. He did as +she said, and that was all he could tell about it. + +Not much information to be collected from Thomas. Possibly Gimblet's +face showed a trace of disappointment, for the footman added in a +regretful tone: + +"I'm very sorry, sir, that I didn't open the envelope so as I could tell +you what the telegram was, sir; but the ladies being in a hurry I didn't +scarcely have time. If I'd known it was important, or anyway if I'd had +a minute or two to myself, I'd have taken a look at it. I'm very sorry +indeed, sir." + +Gimblet dismissed him somewhat peremptorily. He felt that he was taking +an unreasoning dislike for the apologising Thomas, so anxious to +ingratiate himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +In the morning-room he found Sir Gregory, who had refrained, with an +impatient delicacy, from following him further than the drawing-room. He +was walking to and fro before the hearth, another big cigar between his +lips. + +"Well?" he asked, as the detective entered. + +Gimblet looked at him with a disapproving sternness. + +"If you intend to accompany me further in my investigations, Sir +Gregory," he began, "I must warn you that I can allow no smoking. The +sense of smell is as valuable to me in my work as it is to a questing +hound, and I cannot have red herrings like your cigars dragged across +the trail I might possibly be following." + +"My cigars! Red herrings!" Sir Gregory stuttered. "This, Mr. Gimblet, is +the finest Havana!" + +"No doubt," said Gimblet, "as tobacco it is good enough. But if it came +straight from Paradise I could not let the strong smell of it interfere +with my business. I must keep my nose free from such gross odours, or it +will not serve me when I most need it. When we first came into this room +it was filled with a perfume all its own. Now that I return I can smell +nothing but the taint of your cigar." + +Though considerably incensed at Gimblet's choice of words--Sir Gregory +nearly choked when he heard them--he controlled his feelings of +indignation as best he could, for he was bent on seeing the detective at +work. "If the flavour of the best tobacco really impedes you," said he, +swallowing his annoyance, "I will defer the pleasure of smoking until +you have arrived at some conclusion. I suppose you have not discovered +anything of importance so far?" + +"I think I have added to my knowledge by this visit," returned Gimblet, +"whether importantly or not it is too soon to say. You did not mention +to me, by the way, that Miss Turner had inherited her father's +partiality for horses." + +"Didn't I? I didn't know it would interest you. Yes; she seems very +devoted to riding." + +"And to racing," added Gimblet. + +"I don't know about that. She's never been near a race-course, as far as +I know. What makes you think so? Have you been talking to Blake about +her?" + +"When a young lady's room is full of pictures of race-horses, and +'Ruff's Guide to the Turf' occupies a prominent position on her +bookshelf," said Gimblet indifferently, "it is not really necessary to +ask the servants whether she takes an interest in racing. But come, Sir +Gregory, I think we have no more to do here. Shall we go back to my flat +and see if anything has been heard at the hospitals?" + +With a farewell word to Blake they prepared to leave the house, the +butler hastening before them to open the hall door. As he drew back +the latch and they stepped forth into the street, they were confronted +by a grey-haired man carrying a small black bag, who stood with a hand +already upon the bell. + +"Whom have we here?" said the detective to himself, and taking Sir +Gregory's arm he drew him back into the house, leaving Blake to parley +with the new-comer. + +"No, sir, Mrs. Vanderstein's not at home," they could hear him saying. + +The two men retreated to the morning-room but here in a few minutes +Blake followed them. + +"If you please, sirs," he said, "here is Mr. Chark, Mrs. Vanderstein's +solicitor." + +On his heels came the stranger. + +"You will excuse me coming to see you, gentlemen," said he, fixing his +eyes, after a momentary hesitation, upon the detective, "but hearing +that Mr. Gimblet was in the house"--here he bowed to that gentleman--"I +thought I had better seize the opportunity of offering such help as I +may be able to furnish in your investigations. Very little, I fear, +still possibly I am in possession of a fact which may as yet be unknown +to you." + +Mr. Chark, partner in the firm of D'Allby and Chark, was a man of +medium height, of medium age, less than medium good looks, and medium +intellect. His face and hair were of different shades of grey and, +although clean-shaven, he conveyed the impression that he wore side +whiskers. His manner and movements were precise and deliberate. He spoke +slowly, and as he did so his hands slowly revolved round each other. It +seemed as if he were grinding out each word by some secret mill-like +process differing from that of ordinary speech. + +"I have just heard from the butler," he continued, after Gimblet and +Sir Gregory had acknowledged his greeting in suitable terms, "that +my client, Mrs. Vanderstein, is absent under circumstances I must be +permitted to designate as unusual. That, in short, she went out last +night, 'on gaiety intent,' he he! and has not since been heard of. +This is very startling news, very strange news indeed. I think I can +prove to you, Mr. Gimblet, that Mrs. Vanderstein's continued absence is +unintentional." + +So saying Mr. Chark unlocked his black bag, which he had placed on the +floor between his feet as if fearing that it might be surreptitiously +removed if he did not keep in touch with it, and drew from its dark +recesses a letter in a large mauve coloured envelope, which he handed +with another bow to Mr. Gimblet. + +The detective took it and lifted it to his nose with a look of surprise. + +"This," he cried, "is a letter from Mrs. Vanderstein herself." + +"Your surmise is correct," said Mr. Chark. "I was unaware that you and +my client were acquainted, but I see that you know her handwriting." + +"I never saw it before," Gimblet answered absently. He was studying it +now with a look of deep interest. + +"Indeed. Then, may I inquire your reason for thinking that this +document bore her inscription?" Mr. Chark's drawling tones were plainly +sceptical. + +"Arome de la Corse," murmured Gimblet, as he handed the letter to Sir +Gregory. "You, Sir Gregory, know the lady's writing, I suppose?" + +"Yes," said Sir Gregory. "It is from her. Will you not read it aloud? +Without spectacles, I'm sorry to say, I should find a difficulty in +doing so," and he gave it back to Gimblet. + +The detective opened the envelope and unfolding the sheet it contained +read aloud what was written on it: + + "Grosvenor Street: + "Monday Evening. + + "DEAR SIRS, + + "I shall be much obliged if one of your firm will call on me + to-morrow, Tuesday, between four and five o'clock, for the purpose + of altering my will. Mr. Sidney has made it impossible for me to + contemplate longer the thought of his inheriting any portion of my + late husband's fortune. If Mr. Vanderstein were alive I am sure he + would agree with me on this point, but as he is no more and has left + the matter to my discretion, it becomes a sacred duty with me utterly + to ignore the wishes he expressed, and to alter my will immediately to + that effect. Trusting you will make it convenient to call at teatime + to-morrow, + + "I remain, + "Yours faithfully, + "RUTH VANDERSTEIN." + +Gimblet folded the letter carefully, replaced it in the envelope, and +handed it back to Mr. Chark. + +"We heard something of a quarrel between Mrs. Vanderstein and Mr. +Sidney," he said. "I wonder whether she would have stuck to her threat +of cutting him off with a penny. People write this sort of letter when +they lose their tempers, but very often they have calmed down by the +following day." + +"You do not know Mrs. Vanderstein, Mr. Gimblet," interrupted Sir +Gregory. "She isn't one of those women who fly into a rage about nothing +at all, or try to frighten people with threats. She does not suffer from +nerves; her health is as excellent as her temper. I am persuaded she +wouldn't have written that letter unless she had the gravest reasons for +doing so." + +"That also is my view," agreed Mr. Chark. "I can endorse Sir Gregory +Aberhyn Jones's opinion as regards the character of my client, +Mr. Gimblet; I can endorse it thoroughly. Mrs. Vanderstein is a +level-headed, shrewd woman, far from being driven by every impulse." + +"There is something decidedly womanly about the way she considers it +her sacred duty to ignore her husband's wishes," commented Gimblet, and +then, as he saw the wrathful light flashing in Sir Gregory's eyes, he +added quickly, "I hope that Mrs. Vanderstein herself will be able to +make everything clear in a few hours' time at the most. Sir Gregory and +I, Mr. Chark, were on our way to see if she had been heard of at the +hospitals, at the moment of your arrival. We fear she may have met with +some misadventure." + +Mr. Chark was disappointed. Beneath his stiff, outer shell there +lurked a tiny spark of romantic fire, which had never been entirely +extinguished by the stifling routine of the legal casuistries with +which D'Allby and Chark principally occupied themselves. Mortgages, +settlements of property, the continual framing in a maze of words of +those deeds which should mystify any but creatures like himself, to +whom their lack of intelligibility meant profitable business; all this +systematic dullness had failed to choke that imperceptible glimmer, and +at the mere knowledge of Gimblet's presence in the house it had leapt +on a sudden to a hot and burning flame. All his life he had cherished a +secret regret that his way had not lain along the precipitous bypaths +of criminal law, and now his excited imagination saw murder and +violence beckoning from all sides, with fingers redly fascinating. He +gave a stiff bow at the detective's words, and spoke with a feeling of +irritation and a sensation of being played with, which he was careful to +conceal beneath his usual precise and colourless tones. + +"Indeed," he drawled, his hands revolving as ever in their stroking +movement. "I may venture to say that my impression is a different one. +Though no detective, I am still, in my capacity of lawyer, able to +put two and two together. This letter"--he tapped Mrs. Vanderstein's +note--"and the evidence of the butler that a quarrel between my client +and her nephew did occur yesterday afternoon in this house, and +immediately preceded the writing of this letter; the knowledge that the +lady left her home intending to return in two or three hours, but has +actually failed to do so in twenty--these facts, gentlemen, if they +convey nothing to you, appear to me to be eminently suggestive." + +Gimblet made no reply; but Sir Gregory, whose face had been getting +pinker and pinker till it resembled a full-blown peony, burst out with a +truculent snort: + +"And what do they suggest to you, sir?" + +"They suggest," Mr. Chark resumed with apparent calm, "that Mr. Joseph +Sidney could very probably inform us of his aunt's whereabouts." + +"I have the pleasure of Mr. Sidney's acquaintance," exclaimed Sir +Gregory, "and let me inform you, Mr. Chark, if that is your name, that +he is a gentleman holding a commission in His Majesty's army. I hope it +is unnecessary to say more. Your insinuations are absurd." + +"You cannot deny in the face of the facts that matters look very black +against this young gentleman," drawled the lawyer. + +"Black!" Sir Gregory seemed about to choke. "I consider it black +behaviour, sir, to come here and make these libellous and scandalous +assertions about an officer and a gentleman. One who, moreover, is, as I +gather, entirely unknown to you. Do you know him, sir, or do you not?" +demanded Sir Gregory, leaning forward and rapping out an accompaniment +to the words with the palm of his hand on a small table which stood near +him, so that the flower glasses on it danced and jingled. + +"I do not know him, it is true," admitted Mr. Chark, "but I do know +that he would benefit to the extent of several hundred thousands of +pounds, if Mrs. Vanderstein should die before she found it possible to +revise her will. And I have no doubt that she told him her intention of +altering it." + +"Die? What do you say?" Sir Gregory's voice came faintly. The rosy +colour faded from his cheeks. The utmost horror and astonishment were +depicted in his countenance. + +Gimblet, at the sight, got up from his chair. + +"Mr. Chark," he said severely, "you are letting your imagination run +away with you. You are, indeed, talking like a halfpenny feuilleton. +There is no reason to take so melodramatic a view while Mrs. +Vanderstein's absence still admits of some more or less ordinary +explanation. I am going now to ascertain if she has not been discovered +in the accident ward of one of the hospitals. Are you coming, Sir +Gregory?" + +With a word of farewell they left the house, cutting short more +observations on the part of Mr. Chark, who followed them, deeply +chagrined at being treated with such scant ceremony. + +Sir Gregory, as he drove with Gimblet in the direction of Whitehall, +returned nervously to the implication of foul play. + +"What made him think of such a thing, d'ye think?" he asked. "It is +impossible that young Sidney would harm her. A nice civil lad; I +have always liked him. Why should he? I'll not believe it." He spoke +disjointedly; the suggestion had shaken him. + +Gimblet did his best to reassure him, but when they reached his flat, +and found that the hospitals had been drawn blank for news of the two +ladies, he felt more concerned than he liked to show. Still, the order +that had been given to the chauffeur, not to return to the opera house, +seemed to point to some intention other than that of going back to +Grosvenor Street, and it was still to be hoped that any moment might +bring tidings. There were, however, other considerations not quite so +encouraging. + +Gimblet, who had left Sir Gregory below while he ran up to his rooms, +gave some instructions to Higgs, the man who at times combined the +duties of servant with those of an assistant in the more tiresome but +necessary details of the detective's work. Then he went down again to +break to the baronet, with reluctant gravity, that there was no news. + +"We will go to Covent Garden now," he said; and they got into another +taxi. + +Sir Gregory had become very silent. His face was drawn with anxiety. +"What can have happened?" he kept muttering to himself. + +To divert his thoughts, Gimblet recalled the suspicion he had harboured +at first--that Mrs. Vanderstein had flown with some other admirer. But +the fear that she was in danger, or that worse had befallen her, had +taken hold of the man, and it was he who now pooh-poohed the idea and +found arguments to show its improbability. + +"She had no need to run away," he objected in his turn, "she could marry +whom she liked. And whoever heard of a woman's taking a friend on a +wedding trip? No, if it had been anything of the sort, Miss Turner would +have been left behind, we may be sure of that." + +At Covent Garden they learnt very little. The box had been cleaned out, +and bore no sign of having been used the night before. Gimblet went +sniffing round it, but could find no trace of lingering Arome de la +Corse. The box opener told them that Mrs. Vanderstein and the young lady +who generally came with her had occupied it at the gala performance, and +had left before the end of the last scene. She hadn't noticed anything +strange or otherwise about either of them, and as far as she knew no one +had visited the box during the intervals. + +No one, it appeared, had observed their departure from the doors of the +theatre. One commissionaire thought he remembered two ladies coming +out early and driving off in a carriage, but he couldn't say, he was +sure, what they were like. Might have been young and lovely, or again, +might have been old and ugly. He had seen a powerful lot of ladies in +the course of the evening, and never had enjoyed what you might call a +memory for faces. If it had not been for the lack of that useful talent, +the commissionaire concluded regretfully, he would, as likely as not, +have been sitting in the hall of a West End club at the present moment, +with no more to do than to answer the inquiries of one gentleman for +another gentleman. Never had been what you might call the victim of good +luck. + +They left him testing a shilling doubtfully with his teeth, as if +unwilling to believe that his fortune could have changed sufficiently +for the coin to be other than a bad one. + +It was growing late, the doors of the theatres would soon be open. +Already shutters were up in front of shop windows, and the crowds that +still filled the streets had no excuse for loitering now there was +nothing to look at, nowhere left for noses to be flattened. Instead, +every one seemed to be hurrying in one direction, the direction of +railway station or tram, or whatever would carry them to their homes. +The sinking sun had at last left the streets full of shadows and, though +the pavements and walls still radiated heat, a cool breeze had arisen +and was rushing in from the river. In open spaces, where the tall walls +of houses did not prevent a glimpse of the western sky, one could see a +cloud or two slowly climbing the heavens. + +The two men walked together in silence for a little way, and then +Gimblet stopped, holding out his hand. + +"I don't think we can do any more to-night," he said. "Put away your +anxieties for a few hours, Sir Gregory; it does no good to worry. +To-morrow, if fresh tidings come, we must see what else can be done. I +think perhaps you will be wise to consult the police." + +But at this Sir Gregory raised an outcry. + +"Well, we will see about that when to-morrow comes," said Gimblet. "In +the meantime I must say good night." + +Gimblet saw Sir Gregory off in the direction of his club, and then, +after a moment's hesitation, hailed a taxi himself, and drove to the +residence of the Postmaster-General. He thought that at this hour he had +a good chance of finding that Minister at home, and he was not mistaken. + +Sir James was in, said the footman who answered his ring, but at the +present moment engaged in dressing, before dining early and going to the +theatre. He would take up Mr. Gimblet's card. + +As luck had it, it had been Gimblet's fortune to render a considerable +service to Sir James Mossing, at a date in this gentleman's career when +his foot was still insecurely placed on the first rung of the ladder +he subsequently climbed; and, as he rose in power, the politician had +never failed to show that he gratefully remembered the obligation. The +detective had only to wait ten minutes before the man he had come to see +hurried into the room, with apologies for keeping him waiting. Gimblet +lost no time in explaining the object of his visit, and had little +difficulty in obtaining the written order he wished for. Armed with +this, he detained the affable statesman no longer, but withdrew quickly +and turned his steps homeward. + +"Higgs," he said, as his servant met him in the hall of the flat. "I +want you to go at once to the post office in Piccadilly and get a +telegram which was handed in last evening by a footman. It was in a +sealed envelope, which also held the money for the message. It may, or +may not, be signed by Miss Barbara Turner. It was certainly written +by her. Here is an order from the Postmaster-General, which will make +things easy for you. I have one or two things to do that ought to have +been finished this morning or I should go myself. They will take me +about an hour, and I hope you will be back by that time." + +In an hour Higgs was back. He looked pleased with himself, and proffered +the detective a sheet of paper. + +"That's right, Higgs, you've been quick," Gimblet commended him. + +"They were a little while looking through the forms," said Higgs, "but +luckily there was no fuss about giving it to me after I'd shown your +card and Sir James' order." + +Gimblet was reading the paper. It was a telegraph form addressed to +Joseph Sidney, and contained a short message: + + "Luck is coming your way at last expect to have good news by + Wednesday removing all difficulties." + +There was no signature. + +"How do you know this is the right one?" Gimblet asked sharply. + +"The young person at the office happened to remember it, sir. It was +handed in, enclosed in an envelope, and when she opened it and saw +there was no signature she ran out after the footman, intending to ask +that the space at the back of the form, where the name and address is +requested for reference only, should be filled in. She was only in +time to see the motor drive away. Still, it stamped the message on her +memory, especially as there was some change to give back." + +"She may easily be mistaken," grumbled the detective. + +"I thought you might not be satisfied, sir," said Higgs, "so I went on +to Grosvenor Street and asked the butler to let me have a specimen of +Miss Turner's writing. I didn't tell him why I wanted it, of course. I +just let him think a letter had been found and that you wanted something +to identify it by," added Higgs, with some pride. He produced a menu as +he spoke, written in a large round hand. "Miss Turner always writes the +menus in Grosvenor Street," he explained. + +Gimblet took it and compared it with the telegram. It was easy to see +that both had been written by the same person. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The next morning dawned grey and boisterous. The English climate was +giving an example of that infinite variety to which custom never +reconciles the stranger within our gates. Julie Querterot, whose +life had been passed entirely in London, suffered from an hereditary +sensitiveness to the changes of the weather, and was never able to +prevent her spirits from drooping as the barometer fell. Rain and gloomy +skies made her dismal even when her whole day was spent within doors, +and on this Wednesday morning, when she had done with the business of +sweeping and cleaning about the house, and took up her station in the +little shop behind the hair-pins and pomades, the view from the window +must have had more than its usual depressing effects upon her, for if +the unlooked for had happened and a customer had chanced to enter he +might have seen that her eyelids were swollen as by the shedding of many +tears. + +Soon after midnight the storm that had been brewing had burst over the +empty streets; for hours the lightning had torn the clouds and the +tremendous noise of the thunder had made sleep impossible. All night +torrents of rain had fallen, and people lying awake, or at best dozing +uneasily, had heard its constant patter. Julie's face, white and weary, +looked as if to her at least the night had brought no rest. Sitting in +the half-dusk of the shop she took up her work with slow deliberation; +then letting it fall back to her knee leant her chin upon her palm with +a hopeless gesture. She had had no breakfast, and hunger was combining +with fatigue to bring her to the point of exhaustion. By her, on the +counter where she had put it down, a halfpenny paper lay spread out; and +presently she took it up, and glanced again at the prominent headlines, +which in large black type flaunted across the page. + + "DISAPPEARANCE OF LADIES FROM THEIR HOME IN WEST END." + + "Mystery of Missing Millionairess." + +After a while Julie rose and put away her needlework. Going up to her +little bedroom, she took from the cupboard a small black hat, and +regardless of the weather prepared to go out. Not that she made an +elaborate toilette. A neat coat of plainest black was added to her +blouse and skirt, a rather tawdry brooch pinned where a button had been +torn off, and another, for pure ornament, in a place where it was not +needed. It has already been said that Julie was fond of trinkets, and +she seemed to derive some slight comfort from them even this morning. +Two or three bracelets jingled already on either wrist, and when she +had added a pair of gloves her attire was complete. A few minutes +later the girl opened her umbrella and stepped into the street; then, +locking the shop door behind her, she set her face westward. The rain +was falling less heavily, and before she had taken many turnings it +ceased altogether. Julie shut her umbrella with a sigh of relief. Since +leaving the house she had not been able to put aside a minor, but still +consuming, anxiety, as to the fate of her hat. + + * * * * * + +In his rooms in Whitehall, Gimblet was studying a copy of the same +newspaper that lay now neglected in the Pimlico shop. One glance at the +headlines had told him to whom they referred, and the paragraph that +followed was still more explicit. + + "We learn that anxiety is felt as to the whereabouts of Mrs. + Vanderstein, a lady residing at No. 90, Grosvenor Street, W. Mrs. + Vanderstein left her house on the evening of Monday last for the + purpose of attending the gala performance at the Royal opera house + at Covent Garden. She was accompanied by a young lady, Miss Barbara + Turner, who lives at Grosvenor Street in the capacity of friend and + companion to Mrs. Vanderstein. The two ladies drove to the opera in + their private motor car, and some surprise was felt by the servants + on being told at the door of the theatre that their return after + the performance was over was not desired. No alarm, however, was + experienced until yesterday morning, when the household awoke to find + that neither of the ladies had returned. + + "Inquiry at the hospitals, where it was thought the ladies might + have been carried in the event of an accident having occurred, were + productive of no result, and as the day passed without news of their + whereabouts being obtained it was deemed advisable to secure the + services of a detective. It is whispered that one of London's most + celebrated criminal investigators has consented to look into the + matter. Rumours reach us that differences between Mrs. Vanderstein and + one of her nearest relatives have more to do with her disappearance + than at first seems obvious. Mrs. Vanderstein is the widow of the late + Mr. Moses Vanderstein, a financier well known in city circles. She is + a lady of remarkable personal attractions, and is a great favourite in + Jewish society. Miss Turner is the daughter of the late Mr. William + Turner, of Newmarket, and is not much over twenty years of age. It is + believed that the police have a clue to the continued absence of the + two ladies, and that foul play is apprehended." + +"So," said Gimblet to himself, "it appears that the worthy Mr. Chark has +been talking." + +As he threw aside the paper, and took up another to see if it also had +something to say on the same subject, the bell of the flat rang, and a +moment later Higgs announced Mr. Joseph Sidney. + +With a scarcely perceptible start Gimblet recognised the young man he +had observed in the Park on Sunday. + +"I hope I don't disturb you," Sidney said at once, "but they told me in +Grosvenor Street that you had been up there asking questions, and so I +suppose Sir Gregory has engaged you to look into this business." + +"That is so," said Gimblet. "I hope you have come to give me some +assistance." + +"Why, I wish to goodness I could," said Sidney, "but I never heard a +word about it till I saw the paper this morning; and then I couldn't +believe it. But I rang up Grosvenor Street pretty quick, and old Blake, +my aunt's butler, swears it's gospel. It's a queer thing to happen, +isn't it? What can they have done with themselves? Really, women ought +not to be allowed out alone. If my aunt couldn't take care of herself, I +do think she might have made an effort to look after Miss Turner!" + +"It's a queer business indeed," said Gimblet, "and I'm afraid it looks +stranger every minute, and very much more serious than it did at first. +For here's another night gone by and no news of either of the ladies. +And we have no clue, no idea where to hunt, nor anything whatever to go +on in our search. I was in hopes you might have some information to +offer me, Mr. Sidney; you were, I believe, one of the last people who +spoke with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday." + +Gimblet looked narrowly at the young man, who, for his part, seemed not +altogether at his ease. He hesitated, crossed to the window and drummed +with his fingers on the pane. In the detective's ears was echoing a +sentence heard above the murmur of the crowd: "I'm pretty desperate, I +can tell you. There's nothing I wouldn't do to get the money." + +A second later Sidney turned; and, coming back to where Gimblet sat +impassively waiting, drew up a chair upon which he sat himself down with +an air of resolution. + +"I did see my aunt on Monday, Mr. Gimblet, and to tell you the truth I +don't like telling you what she said to me then. One doesn't care about +confiding one's private family affairs to strangers. Still, if you +think it can be of any possible use.... Well, the fact is that I had a +frightful row with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday." + +"What about?" asked Gimblet. + +"I," Sidney hesitated again, and then continued with a plunge, "I have +been losing a great deal of money lately; I am ashamed to say that I +have lost it on race-courses, and that it is a sum far larger than I +can afford. I went to my aunt to ask for help. I asked her, in fact, to +lend me some money to tide over my difficulties for the present. She was +very irate about it. She can't stand betting; and as soon as I told her +she got in a fearful rage and threw me out of the house. That is all the +conversation I had with her on Monday. You can understand I don't much +like owning up to it, as it's not precisely to my credit." Sidney ended +with a rueful laugh. + +"Mrs. Vanderstein absolutely refused to help you in any way?" + +"Said she'd see me damned first. Well, you know, she mayn't have put it +exactly like that." + +"Hardly, I should think. I'd rather have her own words, if you can +remember them, please." + +Sidney searched his memory. "As far as I can recollect, what she +actually said was, 'I will have nothing whatever to do with a gambler +like you. Not only will I not give you money now, but you shall never +have a penny that is mine to use for that degrading vice. I shall +alter my will,' she said, 'and that to-morrow. And never let me see +you again. I'll not have you in my house.' That's what she said, and I +had nothing to do but to go out of the house like a whipped dog. And I +went." Sidney's voice was bitter as he recalled his humiliation, but +when he spoke again he had recovered his normal good temper. "Poor Aunt +Ruth," he said, "there's a good deal to be said on her side, you know, +and just about nothing at all on mine. However, I didn't come to talk +about my own rotten affairs. I wonder where she can have got to? There's +something uncommon fishy about her vanishing this way, don't you think? +Hope to goodness she's not been knocked on the head for the sake of her +diamonds, you know." + +His tone was light, but Gimblet seemed to perceive a note of genuine +anxiety underlying it. + +"I hope not, indeed," he agreed gravely. + +"I really feel a bit worried about her--her and Miss Turner," went on +the young man. "Hang it all, since I've begun confiding in you I think I +may as well make a clean breast of the whole show. The fact is I've got +a beastly guilty conscience sort of feeling, because I was on the verge, +a day or two ago, of playing the dickens of a shabby trick on Aunt Ruth. +You can see how badly I want this money, as I told you, to pay my debts +next week. Well, I as near as makes no difference tried to get it out +of my aunt by what I suppose you'd call false pretences--which sounds a +nice blackguardly thing to do, don't it? I don't suppose anyone's told +you that she had a craze for Royalty in any shape? Well, I didn't know +it myself till lately, but it seems there's nothing she wouldn't do to +get in contact with great people. A friend of mine suggested that we +should get another of my pals to impersonate some royal prince, and that +I should introduce him to my aunt. The idea was that he should rather +make up to her, and then intercede on my behalf, or get the money out of +her in some way. I don't think I should have done it when it came to the +point, because I saw very plainly the next day what an impossible thing +it was to do. And if I'd gone as far as to ask my friend to help, I +haven't the slightest doubt he would have told me not to be an ass. But +there you are--I did think of it, and it sticks on my conscience now. +I shall never get the taste out of my mouth, I believe, and if there's +anything you think I could do to be of any use, now that she's gone and +mislaid herself, you can understand that I'd do it all the more gladly +since I feel I owe her a good turn." + +He ceased speaking, crossed one leg over the other, and leant back, +looking at Gimblet with an air half ashamed, half ingenuous. + +The detective returned his gaze with interest. + +"Here," he was saying to himself, "is a young man either very innocent +or beyond the common crafty." + +"Who was it who suggested this questionable proceeding in the first +place?" he asked. + +"Oh, I really can't tell you that," cried Sidney; "it can't have any +importance, and I'm not so dead to all sense of decency as you naturally +think!" + +"You say you only contemplated it for a short time. Did you tell your +friend ultimately that, on second thoughts, you didn't like the idea +and had decided to give it up?" + +"It wasn't necessary. Before I could communicate with my friend I got a +message from her--him--my friend, I mean----" Sidney grew scarlet as he +realised his slip, but continued hastily in the vain hope of covering +it, "a message to say that the plan was ruined. I don't know what had +happened, but for some reason, apparently, it was completely off, +irrespective of my jibbing." + +"And so now," said Gimblet, after a pause, "you have no hope, I suppose, +of paying your debts." + +A shade crossed Sidney's face as he replied sadly: "Devil a hope." + +"There has been no alteration in your prospects since Monday then," +pursued the detective; "you have had no better news to-day? Your +difficulties have not so far been removed?" He spoke with great +deliberation, while one hand, hidden in his pocket, fingered the +telegraph form that Barbara Turner had omitted to sign. + +Sidney looked up suspiciously, but the little man's face wore no +expression beyond one of calm inquiry. + +"No," said he slowly, "everything is just as it was. I have heard +nothing at all and my prospects are as bad as they can be." + +There was something about Sidney that disarmed suspicion, and Gimblet +did not fail to be influenced by it. In vain he reflected that the young +man was certainly refraining from telling him of Miss Turner's telegram, +and deliberately, since Gimblet had purposely reminded him of it by +quoting words it actually contained. As he sat considering what should +be his next move, the door opened, and Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones was +announced. + +"Good morning, Mr. Gimblet. Have you any news for me? No, I see you +have not; and there is none in Grosvenor Street, as you doubtless know. +Ah, Sidney, how are you? This is a trying time for us all. I am glad +to see you, very." He shook hands warmly with the young man; and then, +before Gimblet guessed what he would be at, the harm was done. "I'm more +than glad to meet you, my dear boy," Sir Gregory was declaring, "so as +to be able to tell you that I don't believe a word they may say against +you. I'm positive you never had a hand in this black business, any more +than I did myself. And all the Charks and beastly rags of newspapers +in London shan't convince me to the contrary." Sir Gregory, still +holding Joe by the hand, shook it up and down with extra and exaggerated +heartiness. + +Sidney wrenched it away. + +"What the deuce are you talking about?" he exclaimed. "Who's been saying +things about me?" + +"I tell you I don't believe a word of it," said Sir Gregory soothingly. +"But you must have seen it in the papers. 'It is believed,' they say, +'that a quarrel took place between Mrs. Vanderstein and a near relative, +which has more to do with the unfortunate ladies' disappearance than +seems plain at first.' You did quarrel with her, didn't you? And Chark, +her lawyer, you know, is taken with the idea; in fact, he's been round +telling me this morning that he's ascertained for a fact that you're +infernally hard up, which would provide a motive, he says. Infernal +nonsense, of course." + +"Infernal lies," cried Sidney; "what the devil does anyone mean by +suggesting such things? Do they imagine I've spirited away not only +Aunt Ruth but Miss Turner too, and am holding them for ransom, or what? +Or perhaps your friend Chark would rather think that I was given to +poisoning my relations? If it comes to that, I'll begin on him if he +don't look out. Infernal ass." + +He was furious. Gimblet, watching him with interest, wondered whether +his face was so red from anger or from some other emotion. + +Sir Gregory, for once, was silenced. + +"Where's this newspaper editor?" demanded Sidney. "I'm going to kick +him, now, at once." + +"You'd better wait till he gets up," said Gimblet; "at this hour he's +probably still in bed." + +"I'll soon get him out." + +"Better not take any notice of it. More dignified not to," urged Sir +Gregory, repenting too late his well-meant assurances. "Best treat that +sort of idiot with contempt," he went on. "Chark's the worst. It's he +that's put them up to it." + +"Mr. Chark," said Gimblet, "has a longing to be mixed up in a +sensational affair. I saw that yesterday. He ought to know better than +to indulge in libel, a lawyer too! I daresay he's frightened to death, +now that he has done it, and has time to think of the consequences." + +"I'll frighten him," said the young man. + +He calmed down, however, as the detective continued to pour oil on the +troubled waters, and was at last persuaded to depart peacefully. + +Gimblet wrote out a short description of the missing ladies, together +with the promise of a reward to whosoever should bring news of either of +them, and this he gave into Sidney's keeping, charging him to have it +inserted in the evening papers, of which the early editions were already +appearing in the streets. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Sir Gregory lingered. "I suppose there's nothing to do but wait?" he +said, as the door closed behind Sidney. + +"Not much, I'm afraid," replied the detective. "Believe me, I am doing +what is possible, and now that Chark has been talking to the press no +doubt the police, on their side, will do what they can. Did you hear +anything in Grosvenor Street?" + +"No," said Sir Gregory, "no one had been there. They had seen no more of +Mr. Chark. But no doubt there will be folks calling to-day. I daresay +the street will be blocked by people wanting to know if what they've +seen in the papers is true. There's plenty of curiosity about. It was +beginning already, from what I could see, when I came away; there were +three or four idlers staring at the house. What they thought they saw in +it, don't ask me. Expect the police soon moved them on. Too much of this +lazy loafing about; I'd soon compel them to do some honest work, if I +had my way." + +"And yet you're against compelling them to be trained for the defence of +the country!" murmured Gimblet. "Well, well! Just ordinary loafers, were +they?" he went on. + +"That's all," said Sir Gregory, after a moment, during which he glared +fiercely at Gimblet. + +"Except one young woman," he continued, as an afterthought. "Poor thing, +she seemed really distressed; but more because she thought she'd never +see her money than on Mrs. Vanderstein's account." + +"One of the maidservants?" suggested the detective. + +"No, no, I think not. She came up just as I was leaving the house. 'Oh, +sir,' she cried, 'can you tell me if there's any truth in what I've seen +in the papers, about the lady that lives here having disappeared? Surely +it's not true?' She seemed so much concerned that I explained the state +of affairs to her. 'It is true,' I said, 'that the ladies of this house +went out on Monday night, and have not yet come back. But I hope we may +find out where they are at any moment.' To my surprise no sooner had I +said this than she leant back against the door-post as if she were going +to faint or something, devilish ill she looked, poor creature, and then +quite suddenly covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. I +must own," Sir Gregory confessed, "that the sight of so much feeling +exhibited on Mrs. Vanderstein's account moved me considerably. A very +little more and I should have mingled my tears with those of the poor +girl. 'Don't cry, my dear child,' I said, a good deal affected. 'It is +natural that those who care for her should feel anxious and upset, but +we must show a brave face and hope for the best.' Still, in spite of all +I could say, she went on crying, and sobbed very piteously, poor thing; +till at last, on my asking her how it was that she was so anxious about +Mrs. Vanderstein, she managed to regain control of herself, and said in +a doleful tone: 'I'm only a poor girl, sir, and the lady owes us money. +If she is lost it means a great deal to me.' I own I was disappointed, +having thought her distress prompted by affection rather than mercenary +considerations; but people are all alike in this world; self-interest, +Mr. Gimblet, that's the only motive that rules men's actions nowadays. +However, I did my best to comfort her, and told her that whatever +happened Mrs. Vanderstein's bills would not go unpaid. I can't say I +was very successful in my efforts to reassure her and she went off in +the end looking dreadfully woe-begone. 'Pon my word, I never saw such a +miserable, frightened-looking little creature! I didn't like to let her +go without trying to help her in some way, but I hardly knew what to do, +for she didn't look the sort one could offer money to," concluded Sir +Gregory, who had the kindest heart in the world. + +"What was she like?" asked Gimblet with a show of interest. + +"A shop girl, I should say, but she had a foreign look about her: +a lot of dark hair, and big dark eyes to match, and she was neatly +dressed, trim and tidy. You know the sort of way these French girls get +themselves up, but all in black or some dark colour. Very quiet and +respectable-looking girl. The only thing I thought looked a bit flashy +about her was that she wore a heap of common jewellery, bracelets and +brooches all over, cheap and nasty; and I could see a string of great +beads round her neck under her blouse, imitation pearls as big as +marbles. I was astonished, I must say, at her going in for that sort +of thing, for in other ways she seemed a very nice, quiet girl. Looked +terribly ill, too, poor thing." + +"I wonder who she was," said Gimblet. "Do you say she wore her necklace +under her blouse?" + +"Yes, I could see it through the muslin or whatever it was she had on. +Some transparent stuff." + +"That was rather curious. Girls of that class, who are fond of decking +themselves out with such cheap ornaments, don't generally hide their +finery. It's generally quite on the surface, I think." + +"I should think it was unusual," agreed Sir Gregory. "She must have +dressed in a hurry, and done it by mistake; don't you think so?" + +Gimblet did not answer. He had been wandering about the room, in an +aimless fashion, and now he paused beside a table and offered Sir +Gregory the contents of a glass jar that stood upon it. + +"Have some barley sugar?" he suggested. And, as Sir Gregory indignantly +refused: "One must have a pet vice, and after all, this is my only one," +said he, putting a large piece into his mouth. But Sir Gregory only +shook his head mournfully and refused to smile. + +"I suppose," he said after a moment, with a shamefaced look, "that there +can't be anything in Chark's idea, can there?" His tone was that of one +who pleads to have a disturbing and discreditable doubt utterly removed. +Gimblet remembered the warmth of the baronet's protestations to Sidney, +and suppressed a smile. + +"I think we may hope for a solution less shocking than Mr. Chark's," +he said hopefully. "As for whether his suspicions can have anything in +them or not, I can only say that they are nothing much more than the +wildest of surmises. They amount to this. Mr. Sidney has lost money in +a way disapproved of by Mrs. Vanderstein, and, on appealing to her for +assistance, was met not only by reproaches but by threats that he would +be cut off from his inheritance. On the other hand, Mrs. Vanderstein +is not very much older than her nephew, so that his expectations of +enjoying that inheritance could never be other than extremely remote, +since the lady enjoys the best of health. Mr. Chark does not hesitate to +hint that Sidney may have taken his aunt's life, in order that he may +at once inherit the money of which he is certainly in urgent need. And +if he could contemplate such a deed at all there may be said to be this +further inducement, that in the event of Mrs. Vanderstein remaining +alive she would most likely marry again; when, if she had children, she +would probably--since she has full power over it--leave most if not all +her fortune to them, whatever her late husband's hopes may have been +regarding the disposal of it. + +"Chark takes these circumstances and finds in them a motive; he then +takes Mrs. Vanderstein's disappearance and proceeds to infer from that, +that young Sidney has made away with her. His motive may exist, though +it is a question whether such a motive is strong enough to induce so +terrible a crime in a young man of Sidney's class and upbringing, who is +in normal health, and we will presume, for the sake of argument, sane. +But Chark has not, as far as I know, a shadow of evidence on which to +assert that the lady has been injured in any way; and I think any such +conjecture is ridiculous without more to support it; while to suggest +it publicly, as he has done, is quite scandalous. It is still perfectly +possible that Mrs. Vanderstein or Miss Turner received some urgent +message while at the opera, which caused them to leave before the end of +the performance. It may have been an appeal for help from some friend in +trouble, or something involving a certain secrecy of procedure. There +are thousands of possible situations that might arise, to the conduct of +which privacy would be essential. Wait, Sir Gregory, at least to see if +we get an answer to our advertisements, before allowing your imagination +to follow headlong in the wake of Mr. Chark's speculations." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Late in the afternoon, Gimblet, returning to the flat in Whitehall, +found a visitor awaiting him there. + +Higgs, hearing his footstep in the hall, hurried out to meet him and +inform him of the fact. + +"A young lady, sir. She gave me this card, and wants to see you on +business. She's been here about ten minutes, and I've taken tea in to +her, not knowing how long you might be, sir." + +Gimblet took the card and read: "Miss Seraphina Finner, Inanity +Theatre." "Where is she?" he asked. + +"In the waiting-room," replied Higgs; and Gimblet went at once into the +small sitting-room he set apart to be used by people unknown to him. + +As he opened the door Gimblet checked himself for a moment on the +threshold with the sensation of entering some one else's room by +mistake. His visitor had pushed most of the furniture back against +the wall, and was, when he first caught sight of her, in the act of +pirouetting round in the middle of the floor, with her skirts lifted +high and one foot raised to the level of the mantelpiece. Her back was +towards him, but at the sound of the opening door she twisted round with +a swinging movement, and confronted him with a laugh. + +"They told me you were out," said Miss Finner gaily, and without any +trace of embarrassment, "so I just started doing a bit of practising to +fill up the time while the tea is standing. Waste not, want not, that's +my motto," she added. + +"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," the detective began; "won't you +sit down now?" And he pulled out a chair she had piled with some others +in a corner, and offered it to her. + +"I suppose I may as well," admitted the young woman; "though it does +seem a pity not to do a bit of exercising now I've cleared the room. You +see, I dance in 'The Jodeling Girl,' and one has to keep one's limbs +supple, or, if you aren't up to the mark one night, they put on somebody +else. Fact is," she added confidentially, "that's why they took me on. +Dixie Topping, who used to be one of the four of us that do the dance +I'm in, let herself get stiff, and one night when it came to kicking +William Tell's apple off the boy's head, she missed it clean, and, as +it's got to be done in time with the music, that put the conductor out, +so when she had another try, and missed it again, he got so mad that +they sacked her and put me on. Ill wind that blows no one any good," +said Miss Seraphina philosophically. + +Her belongings were strewn about the room: a great bouquet of carnations +lay on a chair, gloves and scarf were thrown on the bookshelf, while an +enormous hat covered with flowers and ribbons was poised on a cabinet. +She had drawn a curtain across the window, no doubt out of consideration +for her complexion, as Gimblet happened to have chosen for this room +hangings of a becoming rose colour; and the air was filled with the +reek of inexpensive scent. The detective compared it mentally, and +extremely unfavourably, with the Arome de la Corse. Altogether he would +not have recognised his own room, to such an extent had ten minutes of +Miss Seraphina Finner's occupation removed all former traces of his own +individuality. He actually started as he suddenly noticed, perched on +the mantelpiece, a pair of small white animals: a smooth-haired cat with +eyes of a greenish yellow, and a dog no bigger, but with a long, silky +coat. It appeared to be one of the tribe known to the unappreciative +as Fidos, and to the admiring owners as Toy Poms. It stood at one end +of the shelf, fidgeting and whining, but not daring to jump. The cat +had retired to the extreme opposite corner, where it sat with its paws +very close together and its tail curled tightly round them, surveying +the restless behaviour of the dog with a look of sleepy disdain. The +feelings with which Gimblet saw these two, but more especially the dog, +sharing this point of vantage with his best blue and white china may be +imagined. He was speechless; and perhaps it was just as well. + +"I hope you don't mind Nigger and Pompom," said Miss Finner, as she +accepted a cup of tea, "lots of lumps, please, and heaps of cream too. +Seraphina's pets are her inseparable companions! Don't they look sweet +up there? I put them there to be out of the way while I was on my light +fantastic. It bothers me never to know when my foot will come down on +one of them, instead of the floor. Pompom seems to enjoy being trampled +on by the way he's always in the middle of the room." She seized the +woolly dog by the scruff of the neck and deposited it in her lap. "Was +you frightened of falling on your heady peady, darling," she murmured, +fondling it ecstatically. "No, no, you mustn't lick your auntie's +face; might give you a pain in your little inside. Isn't she a sweet +little affectionate thing?" she asked, raising her eyes for a moment to +Gimblet's. "Yes," she went on, as the little dog danced on her knee in a +frantic effort to make clear his need to share the cake she had taken, +"Pompom shall have a cake too. His auntie wouldn't let her darling go +hungry, no, she wouldn't! And Nigger shall have some cream for a nice +treat." + +She poured some cream into a saucer and placed it on the floor at +her feet. The cat, which had watched the attentions showered on +Pompom with the cold eye of indifference, now abandoned its pose of +superiority, and jumping lightly to the ground approached the saucer on +noiseless, unhurried tiptoes. It began to lap the cream with a genteel, +condescending air, and with due regard for its whiskers, shaking its +head sharply if a drop adhered to one of their long, stiff hairs. + +Miss Finner contemplated the sight with admiring delight. + +"Doesn't it do your heart good to see how he likes it?" she asked, "and +aren't his manners lovely? Oh, Pompom, what an example he is to you, +darling!" she exclaimed, as Pompom snatched at a piece of cake and +swallowed it with one gulp. "Try and behave like your brother does, my +angel. He's always the same," she went on, "I don't care where you put +him, Nigger is always the perfect gentleman. Why! I took them across +to Paris at Easter. Didn't know what a trouble I should have smuggling +Pompom home again, or I should have left her behind in London. I tied +feathers all over her, though, and put her in a bonnet box, so they took +her for a hat, the darling. As if any hat was half as beautiful! But, +as I was saying, we had a beast of a crossing. Oh my! that channel! And +poor Pompom was one of the first to feel it. And much as I love her, I +must say, she just gave way, and never made the tiniest little effort +to hide her feelings. But Nigger! If you'll believe me, that cat was +so ashamed of the way he felt he was going to behave that the tears +streamed down his face, and he just mewed and mewed till I could have +cried; only being so sick myself I really didn't care, as a matter of +fact. But though he felt so bad he didn't forget his manners and he +wouldn't be sick, he simply wouldn't, till I gave him a basin. Then +certainly. Oh Lord!" Miss Finner stopped. The recollection was too much +even for her; she was also slightly out of breath. + +Gimblet listened to her with amusement. Though he wondered vaguely what +her business with him could be, he let her run on, supposing that she +would disclose it in time. After a moment she resumed in serious tones: + +"It's a good thing, don't you think, to have a fad of some kind? It's so +hard to get noticed, isn't it? Expect you found that when you started +looking for thieves? People won't see that one's any different to +anyone else, do what you like. But manage to have something really out +of the common about you, and you get your chance. That's what I think. +They forget me all right, but they remember my white cat and dog, and +after a little they begin to notice me too. I had a pretty hard time at +first, I tell you," Miss Finner sighed. "But I'm getting on well now, +thanks," she continued, with a return of her former vivacity. "Of course +I haven't got a speaking part yet, but I'm doing a dance, and that's +something at the Inanity. Some one sent me a diamond brooch last week," +she added with pride, pointing to an ugly little diamond star. "What do +you think of it? You're a judge of stones, I should think, being always +in the society of burglars, as one may say." + +Gimblet examined and admired. "I'm afraid, though, I'm not really a +judge," he said. + +"That's your modesty. But, as you see, I'm prosperous. And it isn't +after the reward that I've come. Not that I'll deny that the money would +always be useful. Still, it's the ad. I'm thinking about. Will you put +my name in the paper now? 'Miss Seraphina Finner of the Inanity brings +news of the missing ladies.' That's what I'd like to see, right across a +poster." + +A flicker of interest showed itself for an instant on Gimblet's face. +"So that's it," he said to himself. + +Aloud he answered: "I don't know whether I can promise you that just +yet. It rather depends, you know. But if I am called upon to send any +communication on the subject to the press, you may be sure that, if +possible, your name shall be inserted." + +Seraphina pouted. "I call that stingy," she complained. "He might put us +on a poster, Pompom, mightn't he? He's an unkind, cruel man, he is." + +"What do you know of the missing ladies?" asked Gimblet, disregarding +these observations. + +Miss Finner assumed an air of importance. "I didn't know anything about +it till lunchtime," she said. "Not being what you'd call an early riser, +it's not often I take a squint at the newspapers unless it's in the +afternoon. But to-day a friend came to see me and we had lunch together. +By and by she begins talking about one thing and another, and presently +she says: 'Have you read about these ladies that have disappeared?' +So I said no, what was it, and she said: 'What! haven't you seen the +paper? There's an exciting bit about them in this morning's _Crier_.' +When she'd told me all she could remember, I began to get interested. I +had a feeling, you know, as if this was in my part. So I sent out for +a paper, and they brought in one of the evening editions which had the +reward and description of the ladies in it, as well as everything, or so +my friend said, that the _Crier_ had. I read it all out loud, and when +I came to the part about wearing a white dress with mauve cloak heavily +embroidered and a large amount of valuable jewellery, I said to myself: +'This, Seraphina, my dear, is where you walk on.' By the time I'd +finished the paragraph I was certain sure. It was just a fluke," said +Miss Finner reflectively, "that I ever saw that description or heard +anything about it at all, for, as I say, I don't look at the papers more +than about once in a fortnight, unless it's the notices of a new show." + +Gimblet's murmured comment might have passed for astonishment, +agreement, or merely encouragement to proceed. He thought it best to let +her tell her story in her own way. + +"It's a funny thing," she went on after a moment's silence; "it seems +somehow as if it was meant to be, doesn't it? Well, the reason why I +felt so excited, when I read the description, was because I had seen the +ladies later than anyone else. I saw them on Monday night, after they +left the opera." + +"And where did you see them?" asked Gimblet, bending over the cat, +which, having finished the cream, was rubbing itself in a friendly +fashion against his leg, where it left a covering of white hairs on his +dark trousers. "Poor pussy," he said, stroking it. + +"I was driving home from the theatre in a taxi," said Seraphina. "I +live up in Carolina Road, N.W. I don't suppose you know it; up beyond +Regent's Park, to the right, as you may say, of Maida Vale. It was a +very hot, sultry night, you remember, and I'd got the cab open so as to +get a little air. I was tired for some reason--it's not often you can +tire me--and I put my head back, and my feet on one of the back seats, +and as near as possible went off into a snooze. That's why I can't tell +you exactly which street it was in, and I'm afraid that makes it very +awkward." Miss Finner's voice was full of regret. + +"Suddenly we swung round a corner with such a bump that it roused me, +and I sat up and took notice. We were driving through a nice wide +street, with trees on each side, and good-sized houses set back in +little gardens, all separate from each other. Each garden had two gates, +and just room for a carriage to drive in and out. There wasn't a light +to be seen in one of them, and I thought how early the people in those +parts went to bye-bye. And then I caught sight of an open doorway, with +the light shining from it out into the small yard or garden in front, +and a street lamp standing exactly in front of it; so that between the +two the place was well lit up. There was a carriage just driving out +through the gate, and there were no shrubs or bushes in the garden, +nothing but a little yard it was, I think, so I could see the two ladies +standing in front of the door as plain as the nose on your face. + +"I turned round when we'd passed and stared back at them, for the street +wasn't crowded with people in gorgeous opera cloaks and blazing with +diamonds, like one of these two was. I suppose it was Mrs. Vanderstein. +She was standing a little to one side, as if she'd taken a step or two +after the carriage, and was looking after it still. She had on a white +dress, all sparkling, and a mauve or pink cloak thrown open and back on +her shoulders, so I could see the jewels flashing and shining away all +over her as right as rain, just like it says in the papers. There was +a tiara on the top of her head as big as, as--" Seraphina gazed round +searchingly for a simile--"as big as that chandelier. Oh, it can't have +been anyone else! And besides, there was the other young lady; I didn't +look at her so much, but I can swear she had a red cloak on. There now! +As soon as I read about them I remembered what I'd seen on Monday night, +and I said to my friend: 'My dear, I'm going out to keep an appointment +with my photographer. Ta-ta.' I wasn't going to let on to her, of +course. She's a bit of a cat, as a matter of fact." + +Miss Finner stopped, fixing on Gimblet a gaze full of modest pride. But +Gimblet sat, to all appearance, lost in thought. Though his eye met +hers, it was with an abstracted look, and this in spite of the fact that +Miss Finner's eyes were blue and darkly fringed. He could not fail to +observe her curls of gold, the pink transparency of her cheek, the broad +green and white stripes of her silken gown. He could not fail to hear, +whenever she moved, the jingling of bracelets, of the many charms that +were suspended from the chain around her white throat, and the merry +peal of her laugh; but all this seemed to be escaping his attention, and +Miss Finner could detect nowhere the glances of admiration, which she +considered the least that was due to her. + +Instead, he had nothing but prosaic questions for her. + +"What time do you say this was?" + +"After the theatre. Nearly midnight. I was late getting away." + +"You don't know the name of the street? Could you find your way to it +again?" + +"Afraid not, it's not the way one generally goes. I've no idea where it +was, beyond what I've told you." + +"And the house? Did you notice nothing about it to distinguish it from +its neighbours?" + +"No, I didn't look at it specially. Yes, I did, though; there was a +board with 'To Let' on it, up on the railings. The light from the lamp +showed it very clearly." + +"That's the only thing you can remember?" + +"Yes," said Seraphina. + +"You said the door was open. Could you see anything of the inside of the +house?" + +"No, or at least I didn't notice anything. There might have been some +one standing in the hall. I don't know." + +"Try and remember," urged Gimblet. + +Miss Finner shut her eyes, contracted her brows, and gave herself up to +reflection. + +"No good," she remarked, after an interval in which one might have +counted twenty. + +"Did you notice the carriage which was driving away?" + +"Can't say I did. It was a brougham, I think. I looked at the people on +the pavement." + +"Did you see lights in the house--in the windows, I mean?" + +"No, I think the only light came from the door." + +"Were you able to observe the expression on the ladies' faces?" + +"Oh no, we went by too quick for anything of that sort. I didn't notice +their faces at all, except that I believe they were both more or less +young women." + +"You can't think of anything else, however trivial?" + +Miss Finner could not. + +"If anything else comes back to me, I'll let you know," she said +hopefully. "Don't you think you can find them from what I've told you?" + +"I don't think there ought to be much difficulty in discovering the +house, or at all events the street," said the detective, "thanks for +your information, which may prove most valuable. You must allow me to +present you with the reward offered in the papers." + +After a slight show of protest she did allow him. + +"Well, I must be off now," she said, after that formality was +accomplished, and proceeded to gather her things together. "Thank you +for the tea. But, I say, don't you want to know a little more of the +beauteous stranger who is the bearer of the good tidings? You don't even +know my name." + +"Oh yes, Miss Finner, I do know it," Gimblet assured her. "You left a +card in the hall; I saw it as I came in, but I should of course be +delighted to know more of you than that." + +"Know then," said Seraphina, speaking in high, clear tones and with an +assumption of affectation, "know then that I am not what I seem. My +name, indeed, is a disguise, for my father, worthy man, was a Fynner +with a y, an obscure relation of the noble house of Fynner of Loch +Fyne. Though honest, he was poor; and my beloved and beautiful mother +came of a line as well connected and impecunious as his own. The +marriage aroused the wrath of both families, and the head of my father's +house, proud and haughty earl that he was, would never be brought to +acknowledge his unhappy cousins. I was educated in a convent, and, at +the death of my parents, found myself at the age of sixteen alone, and +without a penny in the world. Scorning to beg, I adopted the profession +of the stage, chiefly with a view to supporting an aged and suffering +relative, the aunt of my father's cousin. Now you know all there is to +know about the innocent and unfortunate daughter of a gallant gentleman, +the scion of a proud, but noble race." + +Miss Finner tilted her nose skyward and drew herself up haughtily. Then, +with a disconcerting suddenness, she winked at Gimblet, and burst into a +peal of laughter. + +"If you can't detect something fishy in that story," she cried, "you're +not the detective you're cracked up to be! But I often say that piece +about my family. A poor chap I used to know in my young days, when I +was in the provinces, made it up for me. A poet, he called himself, and +was always making up things; very pretty some of them were--if you like +that sort of thing. It was him that thought of my name, and I've never +regretted it really. But I never heard that he got anyone else to take +any notice of his composings, poor fellow." Miss Finner sighed and +looked rather sadly out of the window. "He was a good sort," she added +reminiscently; "one of the best. I put that bit in myself about being +educated in a convent," she concluded, pulling at her gloves. "It's the +usual thing." + +With a white dog under one arm and a white cat under the other, Miss +Seraphina Finner, of the Inanity, talked herself out into the hall, and, +after an interval for the purpose of regaling Gimblet with an anecdote +of her earlier struggles, finally talked herself through the door and +out of the flat altogether. + +Gimblet, returning to the little room and absently rearranging the +displaced chairs and tables in their habitual order, found it more +silent and lonely than before Seraphina had ever entered there, with her +incessant chatter, her boisterous mirth, and her happy vulgarity. As +he moved about the place, restoring to it the appearance of every-day +tidiness, his mind was busy with the information she had brought and the +question of his next move. He decided on it quickly as he was finishing +his task, and only lingered to pull back the curtain and throw open the +window, so that the odour of scent that Seraphina had bequeathed might +have an opportunity of dispersing. This he did, and then taking his hat +and a light overcoat, for the evening was chilly and the weather had +turned afresh to rain, he went down to the street and hailed a taxi. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +"Drive to the Inanity," said the detective as he got into the cab; and +when the man stopped before the theatre: "Do you know Carolina Road, +North West?" he asked him, leaning out of the window to do so. + +"Yes," the driver said. "The other side of Regent's Park, isn't it?" + +"Then go there." Gimblet drew his head back and sat down as the man let +in the clutch and the taxi started again. It was almost seven o'clock +and the roads were comparatively clear of traffic, while the pavement +seemed still more deserted, the few people who were to be seen walking +quickly to get out of the rain; but it appeared that for the most part +the world was within doors, resting after the day's work, or preparing +for the entertainments of the evening. + +The taxi went swiftly, and in a short time had drawn near to its +destination. As they left the more fashionable streets behind and passed +northward into semi-suburban districts, Gimblet leant eagerly forward, +noting every characteristic of the neighbourhood with an observant eye +and an expectant alertness. + +They soon came upon tree-lined roadways, bordered by houses that boasted +small plots of ground before their doors. Railings enclosed these plots, +and in many cases a minute carriage drive circled from the pavement to +the entrance of the house; but as they turned corner after corner and +the same scene, with slight variations, continually repeated itself, +Gimblet's hopes gave way to an incredulous disappointment, for of all +these dwellings not one answered to the description given by Miss +Finner. She had mentioned particularly that the house he was looking for +stood alone in its little garden; but in all the streets traversed by +the detective not so much as a cottage was to be seen of the kind known +technically as "detached." + +They turned at length into Carolina Road and the driver slowed up, +looking round as he did so for instructions. + +Again Gimblet's head went out of the window. + +"Go back towards the theatre," he said, "but go another way," and after +much noise and backing--for the street was a narrow one--the cab turned, +and off they started again. + +Rain was falling heavily by this time in a cold, persistent downpour. +The wind blew chill from the west, and the detective, all a-shiver on +this summer's evening, told himself, as he drew up the windward pane, +that there must be icebergs sailing down the North Atlantic. He wrapped +his coat closer around him, and hugged himself in a corner of the taxi. +Again they splashed and bumped over the muddy, streaming macadam; the +water swished from the wheels; the driver cowered under his shining +waterproof screen; and the car skidded unpleasantly as they swung round +corners and narrowly avoided collision with other vehicles in the same +plight. + +Gimblet kept a look-out no less sharp than before, but with no better +result. Here were houses, indeed, in plenty, here were gardens and +carriage gates, and dripping trees; but here was no single detached +building of any shape or kind whatsoever. Another drive Gimblet took, +following devious ways. He felt inclined to ring at Miss Finner's door +and reproach her with inaccuracy; but she had not told him the number +in Carolina Road of the house she lived in. Besides, at this hour she +would be at the theatre preparing to remove the apple which young Tell +was undauntedly balancing. + +For an unpleasant moment the detective wondered if she had merely made +a mistake, or whether the whole tale were a fabrication. He remembered +uneasily the readiness with which he had accepted it and his urgent +pressing upon the voluble lady of the reward offered in the papers. No +doubt she was laughing at his gullibility, and regaling her friends with +an embellished account of how easily she had taken in the well-known +detective. Gimblet's lips tightened as he thought of it. Was he becoming +unduly credulous in his old age? There was the story Sidney had told +him, too. He had assured himself that he had kept an open mind as to +the truth of it, and had reserved his opinion till proofs were offered +him; but, as a matter of fact, as he now acknowledged sardonically, he +had believed every word spoken by the young man, and allowed himself +to be absurdly influenced by an honest face and an appearance of frank +trustfulness. + +"A nice sort of detective you are!" said Gimblet to his reflection in +the little slip of looking-glass that adorned the cab; and he cried to +the driver to go back to Whitehall. + +Higgs was waiting for him, and reported that he had taken a second +advertisement to the advertising agents, and that he had also been to +most of the principal taxi garages, where he had made inquiries and +posted notices. + +"The man is sure to turn up to-morrow morning, sir," he said. + +In the morning there was no news. Gimblet telephoned to Grosvenor Street +and was himself called up by Sidney. To him he replied coldly that +so far he had nothing to report. Directly after breakfast Sir Gregory +arrived, panting. "I couldn't get you on the telephone," he said. "Have +you heard nothing?" + +"I had an answer to my advertisement," replied Gimblet, "but I am afraid +the information brought me was quite unreliable." + +He told Sir Gregory in a few words of Miss Finner's visit. + +"I tested her story pretty severely yesterday," he said, "but there +still remains a chance that the man who drove her may appear, and be +able to remember the exact route by which he took her on Monday night. +There is no doubt her own account is so inaccurate as to be worthless; +and it is possible," he added, owning the secret dread he could not keep +from his thoughts, "that she was only indulging in a kind of practical +joke." + +Sir Gregory was beginning to show the effect of his days of anxiety. +Though his face was still pink, the lines on it seemed to have become +deeper and more numerous, and he had the weary, listless air of one to +whom sleep has denied herself. Gimblet was not anxious for his company, +but Sir Gregory would not be shaken off. The detective said he had +letters to write and business that must be attended to; but was met by a +pleading request to be allowed to remain, in case the taxi driver should +make his appearance. + +"I don't know what to do with myself if I go away," said Sir Gregory +miserably. "If I am here I feel that, if any news does come, I shan't +have to wait longer than is necessary for it. Nothing like being at +headquarters." + +Finally Gimblet consented to his staying, and himself withdrew into +another room with a bundle of papers that needed his attention. When he +went back after an hour's work to the library, where he had left Sir +Gregory surrounded by newspapers and books, he found these cast aside or +strewn on the floor and the baronet himself standing by the telephone, +in the act of hanging up the receiver. + +"I got tired of reading," he explained; "nothing of interest in the +papers, or I can't take any interest in them, whichever it is; so I +just thought I'd call up young Sidney, and tell him about the ladies +having been seen by that young woman. Relieve his anxiety, poor chap, to +have some one to talk about it to." On the incidental relief to his own +feelings afforded by having a listener into whose ears to pour them, Sir +Gregory did not think it necessary to expatiate. + +Gimblet showed his vexation. + +"Really, Sir Gregory, you might have known better than to put him on his +guard in that way! Supposing there's anything in Chark's suspicions, +don't you see that the more complete Sidney thinks our ignorance and +mystification, the better? While, as soon as he knows us to be on the +track, we lose any advantage we may have?" + +"But--but you said you didn't suspect him!" stammered Sir Gregory, +dumfounded. + +"I didn't say so. I said there was no reason to take a tragic view or +to suspect anyone at all at first. I certainly do not accuse anyone +now. But day after day is passing, and the matter looks very much more +serious with each succeeding hour. It seems impossible, if all were +well, that the ladies should not have communicated with their friends +before now. This is Thursday. They vanished on Monday. I have been +anxious to spare you, Sir Gregory. I know you have been only too ready +to imagine the worst, and I did not wish to add to your fears; but this +is the third day without news, and it is impossible to disguise any +longer that you have grave reason for them." + +Poor Sir Gregory's last hopes flickered and were extinguished. + +"You think--you think----" he murmured. + +"I think there is cause for grave anxiety, but that is not to say that +I am without hope. Far from it. Still, it is necessary to act with +caution; and it was most imprudent of you to tell Sidney that we had +heard anything. It is true that what we have heard is probably a mare's +nest, but in any case there is no need to go blurting things out like +that." + +Sir Gregory paid little attention to what Gimblet was saying. "So you +do think Sidney may know more of this business than he admits," he +repeated, half to himself. "Well, perhaps it was a pity I spoke to him +just now, though I don't see what harm it can do either. The question +is, what do you think he's done with her? Do you think"--Sir Gregory's +voice seemed to fail him but he cleared his throat and continued with a +gulp--"he's killed her?" + +The words came with a rush, and the question was plainer than Gimblet +cared to answer. "I don't think anything," he replied, still rather +testily, "but I must consider everything and anything possible. At +present it is all mere suspicion, but things look rather black, though +not only against Sidney. As a matter of personal opinion I incline to +the idea that that young man is innocent; still, I can't admit his +character cleared on that account. I've no evidence worth mentioning one +way or the other." + +"Who else are you thinking of, when you say things look black against +others than Sidney?" asked Sir Gregory eagerly. "I have thought myself, +that, perhaps, the servants----" + +"Mrs. Vanderstein's servants? I don't think they can have anything to +do with it. It would have been impossible for one of them to have got +rid of the two ladies, while they were at home, without the knowledge +of the others. And we can hardly contemplate the possibility of an +organised conspiracy at present. The chauffeur and footman, you think, +may have disposed of them by some means when they were supposed to be +driving to the opera? But the chauffeur is an old and trusted servant, +and, moreover, the box opener says that the ladies occupied their +box. There is also the night watchman, who is an ex-corporal of the +Foot-guards, and whose character is of the best. Suppose that, on their +late return to the house, he let them in quietly, as it was his business +to do, and then killed them both in order to possess himself of Mrs. +Vanderstein's jewels. The difficulties that would then confront him +before he could dispose of the bodies would be well nigh insurmountable, +even if it were possible for him to silence two women simultaneously so +effectively as to prevent anyone in the house from being aroused. The +probabilities are strongly against the night watchman's having anything +to do with it; and, indeed, I think all the servants may safely be left +out of the reckoning." + +"Then who can have harmed them?" Sir Gregory asked. + +"I hesitate to mention anything more to you, Sir Gregory, after your +recent injudicious conduct. However, I don't think you'd be able to warn +the other person upon whom suspicion may fall. It is odd that it should +not have occurred to our friend Chark that Sidney is not the only one +who would benefit by Mrs. Vanderstein's death," said Gimblet. + +"Why, what do you mean; who would benefit?" + +"Surely you know. It was you that told me." + +"I told you?" Sir Gregory looked the picture of bewilderment. "I don't +know anyone, except, of course, Miss Turner, who would be a penny the +better if my dear friend should die." + +"Exactly." Gimblet, his chin on his hand, gazed over Sir Gregory's head +at his newly-discovered Teniers, which he had found time to hang up in a +central position. "A little further to the right, and it would be still +better," he thought. + +But Sir Gregory was bounding in his chair. "Miss Turner! Impossible! A +young girl, sir! You don't know what you are saying." + +"I thought you disliked her." Gimblet was very calm, almost indifferent. + +"That's a very different thing from thinking her capable ... surely it's +impossible.... What makes you suspect her?" Sir Gregory finished by +asking, his curiosity getting the better of his incredulity. + +"I don't say I suspect her," Gimblet answered patiently. "I say that +suspicion might possibly fall on her more reasonably than on Mr. Sidney, +with whom, by the way, I think she is in love." + +"Really, how do you know that?" + +"I have evidence that she sympathised very deeply with his troubles, and +carried her sympathy to a length unusual in young ladies for men to whom +they are not attached. I saw him last Sunday in the company of a girl, +who I think must have been she. If it was, there is no doubt about the +thing. Anyone could see it in her face at a glance." + +"Still, if that were so, I don't see why she should injure Mrs. +Vanderstein." + +"Love is a very common prompter of crime. I don't say it is likely, but +it is not impossible that this young woman, knowing Sidney to be in +terrible straits for want of money, his career threatened, heaven knows +what other threats on his tongue, should be prepared to go to desperate +lengths to procure him what he needs. You never can tell what they will +do in such cases; and the one piece of real evidence that I have shows +that she did not mean to sit by idle while her lover went to his ruin." + +Gimblet took Barbara's telegraph form from his notebook, and spread it +on the table before him. "Look at this," he said; and Sir Gregory got up +and peered eagerly over his shoulder, eyeglasses on nose. + + "Luck is coming your way at last expect to have good news by + Wednesday removing all difficulties." + +"There's no signature. Who is it from?" he asked. + +"It is from Miss Turner. I was able to get this form from the post +office and to compare it with a specimen of her handwriting," said +Gimblet. "The absence of signature alone looks as if a good deal of +intimacy exists between her and Sidney, though the name may possibly +have been omitted accidentally." + +"But what could she mean?" + +"Her meaning is plain enough. She promises Sidney that the money he +wants shall be forthcoming. I do not know how much he requires, but he +told me that the sum is a large one. Now, how was she going to get a +large sum by Wednesday?" + +"She might raise something on the legacy from old Vanderstein, in which +his widow has a life interest," suggested the baronet. + +"I don't know the exact conditions of the will; but, supposing she dies +before Mrs. Vanderstein, what happens?" + +"I don't know," Sir Gregory confessed. + +"If it reverts to Mrs. Vanderstein, there wouldn't be much security to +borrow money on. In any case, there is little difference between the +ages of the two ladies, and rates would be very high. She might not be +able to raise nearly enough, even if she could get any at all," said +Gimblet. + +"It would be too terrible if a girl like that so much as lifted a finger +against one who has been the soul of kindness to her," Sir Gregory +repeated. + +"Ah, Sir Gregory, terrible indeed! But terrible things happen every day. +Let a crisis arise, and you never know who may not surprise and horrify +you by showing the cloven hoof. I hope that Miss Turner is entirely +innocent of all knowledge of this affair, but there are two points which +are against her." + +"And what are they?" + +"One is her parentage. I have been making inquiries about her father, +and find that William Turner was a most unholy scoundrel, a man who +would shrink at nothing to gain his ends, always escaping the penalties +of the law by the skin of his teeth. He slipped from beneath the hand +of justice over and over again, and finally bolted to South America, +where he is reported to have died. Suppose that there was no truth in +that rumour? Suppose he should in reality have returned to Europe, that +he is even now in England, in London, his presence unknown to anyone +but his daughter? With such a man to instigate her to crime, who can +say what the girl might not venture? In any case she has bad blood in +her; and there is much truth, Sir Gregory, in the old saying that 'blood +will tell,' despite the socialistic opinions to the contrary which now +prevail." + +"True enough," murmured the baronet. He was leaning forward listening +intently to Gimblet's every word. "But you said there were two points +against her." + +"Yes. The second is what may have prevented you from suspecting her +before. It is the fact that she appears to have been spirited away +as well as Mrs. Vanderstein. Well, if there has been foul play--which +heaven forbid, but we must consider all the possibilities now--if, +I say, the vanishing of these ladies has its origin in crime, the +disappearance of Miss Turner is the most suspicious part of the whole +affair. For why in the world should she share with Mrs. Vanderstein +the attentions of any hypothetical criminal? She had no diamonds to be +robbed of; she did not go about covered with jewels, having none of +any value to display. She could only be an additional danger, and one +that no ordinary robber would willingly burden himself with, since her +presence could be no possible source of profit. + +"No, it seems clear that if Mrs. Vanderstein were to be decoyed away +and murdered for her jewels it would be on an occasion when she was +unattended by her companion. So far, Sir Gregory, you may take that +as an encouragement to think that she is uninjured. It is indeed a +most hopeful sign, and one of the reasons why I have refused, until +to-day, to take a gloomy view of the business. Still, why has the girl +disappeared? We are driven back on the supposition that she did so of +her own free will; and, if that was the case, what was her purpose? +Remember, all this is the merest theory, which it would be ridiculous to +accept before we obtain further facts by which to test it. At present +we have a very insufficient acquaintance with anything that does not +involve these wild conjectures." As he finished speaking, Gimblet took +out his watch and gazed at it long and significantly. + +With a sigh, Sir Gregory was at last obliged to take the hint. It was +luncheon time: the footsteps of Higgs as he journeyed between the +kitchen and the dining-room; the clatter of the dishes as he placed them +upon the table or sideboard; the delicious smell of pie that was wafted +in whenever the door was opened--all these proclaimed that the hour +had sounded on the stroke of which it was Gimblet's custom to take his +place before the dining table, full of the pleasantest anticipations. +He was an eccentric gourmet, devising for himself meals in which +strange dishes appeared in the menu, and he had an excellent cook, who +was content to humour his taste and to labour secretly to prevent his +poisoning himself altogether; so that, when he ordered fried oysters +and Schwalbach _soufflé_ for luncheon, or lobster and chocolate ice for +dinner, she would intersperse what she considered more wholesome dishes, +such as legs of mutton and rice puddings, among those he had chosen for +himself, in the vain hope that they might tempt him from his dangerous +combinations. He gave up remonstrating with her after a while, although +he refused to be coerced into eating what he did not like, and his +persistent neglect to partake of the rice puddings caused such distress +in the kitchen that Higgs fell into the habit of removing a spoonful +from them before he cleared them away, and consumed it himself rather +than that the cook should what he called "take on." + +To tell the truth, Sir Gregory was not without hope that Gimblet would +have asked him to stay to lunch; but it was plain to the most sanguine +that the detective had no such intention, and with hesitating reluctance +the baronet was obliged to depart. He turned in the doorway, however, to +say firmly: "I shall come back this afternoon," and then hurried away +before Gimblet had time to put into words the objection his lips were +struggling to form. + +Sir Gregory walked to his club, and regaled himself on cold lamb and a +glass of claret. He had no appetite, and soon pushed away his plate and +wandered into the smoking-room, where he fidgeted about, disconsolate +and dejected. Several members whom he knew, aware of his friendship with +the ladies whose mysterious disappearance was by now arousing general +interest and, as a topic, shared the favour of the newspapers with the +preparations for the Royal function that was to take place during the +following week, came up to him and tried to get him to talk about it. +But if they hoped to glean from him some grains of gossip beyond the +reach of common knowledge, too scandalous possibly for a decorous press, +wherewith they should proceed to acquire a libellous popularity among +their acquaintances, these gentlemen were to know the leaden flavour +of disappointment. Sir Gregory, with the sting of Gimblet's reproaches +fresh in his mind, shut his mouth like a vice at any attempt to turn +the conversation in the forbidden direction, and scowled as horribly +at his friends as his naturally amiable cast of countenance rendered +practicable; so that they soon moved off, telling each other that old +Jones was becoming a cantankerous old fool and seemed likely to go off +his head altogether, as far as they could judge. + +It happened in this way that the baronet found himself more and more +neglected and alone; till, after standing it for a couple of hours, he +could at last bear no longer a state of things as disastrous to his +nerves as it was wearing to his temper. About half-past four he put his +pride in his pocket, and leaving the smoking-room caught up his hat and +hastened from the building. Ten minutes later he was again ringing at +Gimblet's door. + +Scarcely had he been ushered into the detective's presence than the bell +rang again, and Higgs came in to say that a taxi driver had arrived in +answer to an advertisement, and asked to see Mr. Gimblet. + +To Sir Gregory's despair Gimblet at once left him, and called the man +into the little waiting-room. + +"Good afternoon," he said to the taxi man, an intelligent looking fellow +with a clean-shaven face, who returned his greeting civilly as he +followed him into the room; "are you the man who drove a lady from the +Inanity on Monday night to a house in Carolina Road?" + +"That's me, sir," answered the man, "leastways, as you may say, I drove +one of them there." + +"What?" said Gimblet. "Was there more than one?" + +"Yes, sir, there was two young ladies when I took them up, but only one +of them went to Carolina Road." + +"What happened to the other?" + +"I took her to another address first, sir," said the driver; "I forget +the exact number, but somewhere about half-way down Hilliard Street +it was, and on the right hand side as I went. That's Maida Vale way, +Hilliard Street is." + +"And you went there first," cried the detective, "why then, of course +I see it all now; the lady only told me she went from the theatre to +Carolina Road, and my not knowing of the detour you made on the way has +led me to some wrong conclusions." + +"To Hilliard Street first. Those were the orders they give me," repeated +the man. + +"Yes, of course," said Gimblet. "Now, as you drove on from there to +Carolina Road, do you by any chance remember seeing two ladies, very +richly dressed, standing in front of the open door of a house, which had +a small garden or yard between it and the street?" + +"Now you're asking me a riddle," said the taxi man. "I may have seen two +ladies, or again I may have seen a hundred of them, or I mayn't have +seen none at all. That's more than I could tell you." + +"You didn't happen to notice any particular two?" + +"No, sir, I did not. If I was to go driving about the streets a-looking +at all the pretty ladies I see about, I'd be troubling the insurance +people a bit too often. I keep my eyes on what's in the roadway and that +takes me all my time, I don't think." + +"Quite so," said Gimblet. "Of course you are perfectly right not to +look about you. Well now, perhaps you could tell me this. In going from +Hilliard Street to Carolina Road, would you pass through a row of single +detached houses on the way? Houses all standing in their own gardens +some little way apart from each other?" + +The man considered, mumbling to himself the names of the streets, as +he made a mental journey along the route the detective indicated. In a +minute he looked up. + +"There's Scholefield Avenue," he suggested, "that's all little places +like what you say." + +"Did you go by it on Monday?" asked Gimblet. + +"I did, sir. It's about half-way. There isn't no other street on the +road with the houses all separate like that, so far's I can recollect. +I've got me cab down at the door, sir; why don't you jump in and let me +take you along to see for yourself?" + +"I think that's exactly what I will do," said Gimblet. "You go down and +I'll follow in a moment." + +Gimblet was all eagerness. Here at last he seemed to be off on a +definite scent, and he leapt to it all the more keenly for last night's +check. The door had not closed upon the driver of the taxi before the +detective had decided in his mind more than one question requiring an +answer. First, he would take Higgs, secondly, he would not take Sir +Gregory. He tiptoed along the passage, and noiselessly turned the handle +of the pantry door. + +"Higgs," he said, "I am going out to have a look at a certain house. I +may want you. Get ready to come. I give you three minutes." + +As quietly, he repaired to his own bedroom, and going to a cupboard +made a rapid selection of various small articles, which he stuffed in +his pockets. Then, opening a drawer, he took out a Browning pistol, and +that also was stowed away. He stood an instant in the middle of the room +with his head on one side, tugging absently at his ear. Had he forgotten +anything? Ah, he knew what it was, and springing back to a shelf he +seized and added to his collection a box of chocolates. "One never knows +when one will get back from these sort of jaunts," he said to himself, +"and I have been very hungry before now on my hunting trips." + +One more look round satisfied him that he had everything he could +imaginably need, and he returned to the hall, where Higgs was waiting by +the door. + +A minute more and they would have got clear away, but at the very +instant that Gimblet, hurrying quietly towards his servant, snatched +at his hat and lifted it to his head, the library door opened, and Sir +Gregory's pink and anxious countenance peered out on him. + +"Mr. Gimblet," he cried, "where are you off to? The taxi man brought +news then; and you would go without telling me! No, don't let me delay +you," as Gimblet paused, hesitating, "I will come with you wherever you +are going, and you shall tell me on the way," and grasping his hat and +stick, the baronet prepared to accompany the others. + +There was no help for it, and the detective surrendered at once. Indeed, +the anxious face reproached him, and he knew he had been patently a +little less willing to endure Sir Gregory's society than was, under the +circumstances, altogether charitable. The poor man's distress, though it +made him rather a depressing companion, bore witness to the kindness +of his heart and was if anything a circumstance entirely to his credit; +and the accident that he bored Gimblet ought not really to be allowed to +prevent him from participating in the rescue of his friends, if rescue +there were to be. + +"Come along, Sir Gregory," said Gimblet. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Scholefield Avenue was a short street of moderate-sized houses, which, +when they were built, had stood at the extreme margin of what was then a +suburb; indeed, some of the original tenants had called it the country. +There was considerable variety of appearance about them, but they were +alike in one respect: each stood apart from its neighbours, in grounds +that differed in extent from a tiny yard to half an acre. Thus No. 1, at +the south-eastern corner, possessed a large kitchen garden running back +a long way, with outbuildings at the further end, a stable, with a coach +house on one side of the stable gate, and a chicken house and run on the +other. The old lady who lived at No. 1 was very proud of the fact that +she supplied herself with vegetables, eggs, and poultry all the year +round, though, as she was fond of saying, her house was within three +miles of the Marble Arch. She often thought of keeping a cow. + +No. 3, next door, had hardly any garden behind it at all, the ground +that should by rights have belonged to it having been bought up by No. 1 +in former days and added to its own; and this caused an unneighbourly +feeling to exist between the two houses, which was inherited by each +successive occupier of No. 3. Most of the other dwellings in the street +were more equally provided with land; and the row came to an end with +No. 17, a very small house surrounded by nothing more interesting than +an asphalt path, with a thin hedge of laurel between it and the outer +railings. Some of the houses showed the large, high window of a studio. +On the opposite side of the road the same variety existed. + +The taxi containing Gimblet, Sir Gregory, and Higgs drove slowly down +the street, and was more than halfway along it when the detective caught +sight of the board "To Let" for which he was looking. It adorned the +railings of No. 6, which stood on the left hand side as they went north. + +They stopped after they had turned the corner, and got out of the cab. +Gimblet paid and dismissed it, and they walked back to No. 6. + +It did not look very promising, presenting a shuttered and unbroken +front to the spectator, and bearing marks of age and disrepair. The gate +swung on a broken hinge, and, in the cold wind that was still blowing, +a door at the back banged every now and then with uncontrolled and +unprofitable violence. + +Higgs, at a sign from Gimblet, rang the bell and stood aside, while they +waited for some one to answer it. For a few minutes they heard nothing +but the jar of the banging door and the rustle of the wind in the trees +that lined the street; then they were aware of a slatternly woman, +carrying a wooden bucket in her hand, who was trying to attract their +attention from the steps of the house next door. + +"If you gentleman are a-ringing," she began, addressing them in a shout +over the intervening bushes, "a-thinking, as it might be, by so doing +to get into that there house, it ain't no good; you can't do it. There +ain't no one in it." + +"Who's got the key?" Gimblet cried back to her. + +"I've got it meself. I'll come round and unlock the door." + +Descending the steps as she spoke she proceeded to make her way into +the street, and so in at the swinging gate of No. 6. + +"'Ave you got a horder from the hagents?" she demanded when she arrived. +"No? Well, I don't mind you having a look at the 'ouse all the same, if +you're set on it. There ain't much to see, I reckon, but a lot of dirt +and litter." + +As she spoke she inserted the key in the lock, and opened the door. Sir +Gregory, who was nearest, was about to enter, but Gimblet laid a hand +upon his arm. + +"Please, Sir Gregory, I must pass before you to-day," he said, and +putting him gently on one side he stepped across the threshold. The +woman was in the act of following, but he motioned her back, and stood +for a moment staring at the floor. Then he turned to her. + +"I see on the board that the house is to be let unfurnished, or would be +sold," he said, "and I understand it has been empty a considerable time. +Can you tell me how long it is since anyone has been to look at it?" + +"It's stood hempty more'n two years," said the woman, "so I've 'eard +say. There ain't been no one come to look at it since I've been 'ere. +I'm caretaking, I am, for a party what live next door. 'E's away in +foreign parts, that's where 'e is, and time I've been a-caretaking for +'im you're the first what's asked to see the hinside of this yere +'ouse." + +"And how long have you been caretaking here, do you say?" Gimblet +inquired. + +"I've been 'ere a matter of four months come next Monday," replied the +woman. + +"Thanks," said Gimblet; and turned again towards the interior of the +building. He bent down, and looked close at the bare boards of the +passage, on which lay the dust and dirt that accumulates in an empty +house. Then as an idea struck him he stood upright again. + +"I don't think we will bother to go over the house," he said to the +woman. "I fear it wouldn't suit me. At all events, you can perhaps tell +me one more thing I am anxious to know," he continued, coming out of the +house and facing the street. "There was another board up in this street +about a week ago, but I see they have taken it down. Do you know which +number it was, and whether the house has been let?" + +"Why yes, sir, they 'ave been and took down the board from No. 13," said +the caretaker, "took it down beginning of the week, they did. But the +'ouse's let, I think; it won't be no good your going after it. If it's a +furnished 'ouse you're looking for, I see a board hup in the next street +t'other day. Little Cumberland Street." + +"Thank you very much," said Gimblet. "I'll take a look at it if I find +No. 13 is let. Good morning, and I'm sorry to have troubled you." + +They left the woman to lock up the house and return to her caretaking, +and started off up the street. + +Sir Gregory went reluctantly, visibly hanging back. + +"Look here," he said to Gimblet, "why don't you go over that house? It +wouldn't take a minute. Supposing they've got her shut up in an empty +room at the top somewhere. Much better make sure." + +"My dear Sir Gregory, no one has been in that house for months; the +dust was deep on the floor and there were no signs of its having been +disturbed recently. Do you think two women in long evening dresses could +go in without leaving some mark of their passage so short a time ago. +Their dresses would either have swept away some of the dust or, if they +held them high, their footmarks would have remained. It is impossible +that No. 6 is the house, unless some one has spread fresh dust in the +hall since Monday. Besides, it is very improbable that they should +have gone to such a deserted, filthy building, and, on the contrary, +more than likely that they should go to a house that had just been +let. I felt sure there must have been a board up at another house in +this street when Miss Finner passed, as soon as I looked at the floor. +Come, here is No. 13, and I have a feeling that we shall find it a more +profitable hunting ground." + +Gimblet opened, as he spoke, the gate of No. 13, and took a rapid +scrutiny of its exterior as he walked quickly up the short distance that +separated it from the road. + +It showed a striking contrast to the forlorn and gloomy front offered +to the world by the house they had just visited. No. 13 was spick and +span; its white walls and shutters shone with the brightness of new +paint; a neat grass plot, with a diminutive carriage drive winding in +a half-circle round it, divided it from the railings of the street, +the whole occupying no more than a few square yards of space. On each +side of the flight of steps that led up to the front door there was a +little triangular flower bed, gay with pansies, and, as the three men +approached, the sun, breaking for the first time that day through the +dilatory dispersal of the clouds, cast a shining beam about the place +and was caught and reflected from the surface of the windows. + +The change in the day was not without its effect even on Sir Gregory, +and as he watched Higgs spring forward to ring the bell a new and sudden +inrush of hope mounted to his heart. + +"I have an excuse by which we may get into the house if they seem +disinclined to admit us," Gimblet was murmuring in his ear. "Back me up +in all I say, but leave the chief part of the talking to me." + +They waited eagerly, with eyes fixed on the door and ears strained to +catch the sound of footsteps; but minutes passed and no such sound +greeted them. Higgs rang again; the loud pealing of the bell could be +heard jingling itself to a standstill in the basement, and must surely +be audible all over the house. Still no one came, and he tried the area +with no better result. Leaving Higgs to continue his efforts, Gimblet +backed across the little lawn, and looked up at the windows to see if he +could detect any sign of life. + +There were muslin curtains in the bedroom windows and he tried in vain +to catch sight of a pair of eyes peeping from behind one of them; but +not a movement was visible anywhere. The shutters of the drawing-room +were closed, and the parapet of the broad balcony shut them out from +a searching inspection, which was still further impeded by a wide +wooden stand which took up most of the balcony, and extended its whole +length. In it were planted flowers, tall daisies and geraniums, which +appeared somewhat withered and neglected, and, with the closed shutters, +contributed the only hint of disorder in the clean and cheerful aspect +of the house. + +The detective made his way round to the back. Here the ground fell away, +and the basement appeared on the surface instead of below the level of +the ground. Another and longer flight of iron steps led up to a door +used, no doubt, to give access to the garden. There was no bell here, +and the door, of which Gimblet tried the handle, was locked. Through +the windows of the basement he could see into the kitchen, clean and +orderly as the outside of the house, with white tiled walls and rows +of shining stewpans. The table was bare, he noticed, and no fire burnt +in the grate; on a summer's evening such as this it might well have +been allowed to go out. On the other side of the steps he looked into +what must be the scullery, and beyond this was a larder; over these was +a small window into which he could not see, while above the kitchen +a large one was hidden, like those of the drawing-room, by outside +shutters. The back window of the first floor, however, and all the other +windows at the back of the house were without shutters, and veiled only +by curtains of white muslin. + +Gimblet took a hasty survey of the garden. It was not large, extending +back for some sixty or seventy yards from the house, but bright with +flowers and green with lawn and leaf; trees surrounded it on all sides, +now golden in the rays of the descending sun; and a high wall gave it +privacy from an inquisitive world. Here again the beds were dappled +with pansies; here were pinks and poppies, daisies and tall larkspurs, +with such other flowers as could be induced to derive nourishment from +the unrefreshing showers of smuts, which was their daily portion. By +the end wall was a hut, of which the door yielded to Gimblet's touch, +and disclosed a mowing machine in one corner, some garden implements +in another, and a potting bench with boxes of mould and some packets +of seeds; by the door were stacked a few red pots. Gimblet stood for a +moment looking in, and then went back to the front of the house. + +Here he found Sir Gregory engaged in conversation with an elderly man, +whose velvet coat and the paint brush he carried stuck behind his ear +suggested that he was an artist. He introduced himself as the detective +came up. + +"Mr. Gimblet, I think," said he; "my name is Brampton. I live next +door," and he waved his hand towards the south. + +Gimblet ground his teeth as he realised that Sir Gregory had given away +his identity, but he replied civilly that it was indeed he. + +"Although only a stay-at-home painter, I have heard of you," said the +new-comer; "but of course I had no idea who was ringing, when I came +round. My wife saw your friends at the door here, and suggested that I +should come and tell you that she believes there is no one in the house. +We heard that it was let, and the other day a man came and took down +the board, but my wife says that no one has been seen to go in or leave +the house for several days; she and the servants are of opinion that +it is empty at the present moment, and that the new tenant has not yet +arrived." + +"Indeed," said Gimblet, "I am grateful for your information; but I have +some reason to think that the new tenant took possession some time ago." + +"It can hardly be very long," observed Brampton, "for the Mills, to whom +it belongs, only went away last week." + +"Really," said Gimblet, "you interest me. Who are the Mills? Do you know +them at all?" + +"Most certainly I do. They are great friends of ours, and their having +to go away like this is a sad loss to us. Arthur Mill is the son of an +old acquaintance of mine--a manufacturer of glass--and is employed in +his father's business. His wife is a charming woman, and we are devoted +to them both. It was only lately decided that he was to go abroad, to +look after a branch of the business in Italy, and they had very little +time to make arrangements about letting their house. They only left on +Friday last, and it was a great surprise to us to hear on Monday that +the house had been let." + +"Did you hear who had taken it?" inquired Gimblet. + +"I think I did hear the man's name, but I am afraid I have forgotten +it. My wife saw a charwoman going in on Monday morning whom she often +employs herself, so she ran in here, as she told me, to ask her what she +was doing, as the house had been all cleaned up on Friday and Saturday +after the Mills left. The charwoman said she had been sent in by the +house agents to see if anything remained to be put in order, as the new +tenant, or so she understood, wanted to go in at once. That is all we +heard; but as no one has been seen or heard about the place since that +day it looks as if they had changed their minds." + +"Thanks very much," said Gimblet. "If you could tell me the name of the +agents I think my best plan is to go and try to get the key from them, +as it seems impossible to rouse anyone here." + +"Ennidge and Pring are the agents; in Sentinel Street, about ten +minutes' walk from here. You'll have to be quick, or you won't catch +them. They're sure to close at six." + +"I will go now," said Gimblet, and he drew Higgs on one side. "Higgs," +he said, "keep an eye on the front of the house, and if anyone comes out +and you fail to detain him, follow him, leaving Sir Gregory to watch the +house. In the meantime, let him watch the back. I shall be back soon if +I can get a taxi." + +He started off, Mr. Brampton accompanying him as far as his own door +and pointing out the way to Sentinel Street. At the gate they glanced +back at the shuttered first floor windows and the faded flowers on the +balcony. + +"Mrs. Mill would be terribly upset if she saw how her flowers are being +neglected," said Mr. Brampton. "She is so very fond of her garden, and +is always watering and attending to her plants. A man is to come once a +week, on Saturday mornings, to look after the garden and mow the lawn, +and I shall tell him to insist on watering the balcony boxes. That's +your way now, up the street and bear to the left. Ah, there's a taxi." + +A cab had indeed that moment turned into the street, and Gimblet hailed +it and drove rapidly to the offices of Messrs. Ennidge and Pring, house +agents. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mr. Ennidge was a short, middle-aged man, with grey hair, and a +mild, benignant eye, which gazed at you vaguely through gold-rimmed +spectacles. Mr. Pring, his partner, tall, thin, nervous and excitable, +was the very antithesis of him, and that is possibly why they got on so +well together. While Mr. Pring was always able to display enthusiasm in +regard to the properties he had to dispose of, to the people who were +inquiring for houses, and was never at a loss when it was necessary to +explain that what the intending client took for geese were really swans, +he was apt to relapse into gloom when called upon to deal with would-be +sellers, or those who had houses to let and were disappointed with the +rent obtainable, or the failure of Ennidge and Pring to procure them a +tenant at any price. He was then only too likely, if left to himself, to +disclose his plain and truthful opinion as to their property. This was +seldom productive of good results, for, as a rule, the transference of +the property in question to the books of another agent followed these +outbursts; and, Ennidge and Pring's business being a small one, they +could not afford to lose customers. + +It was in such cases, however, that Mr. Ennidge was seen at his best. It +was he who, with friendly smile and hopeful, encouraging word, cheered +the downhearted householder and sent him away with confidence restored, +convinced once more that a tenant would shortly be forthcoming to whom +the absence of a bath-room, of a back door, of gas or hot water laid on, +and the presence of blackened ceilings, wallpaper hanging in strips, and +dirt-encrusted paint, would if anything prove a veritable inducement to +clinch a bargain most satisfactory to the landlord. + +Mr. Pring had already left the office when Gimblet arrived on the +scene, and in another quarter of an hour he would have found it wholly +deserted. He gave his card to the only clerk of the establishment, who +took it in to the little inner room, where he was immediately received +by the smiling Mr. Ennidge; and to him he quickly stated his business. + +"There can be no possible objection to my giving you all the information +in my power with regard to the gentleman who has taken 13 Scholefield +Avenue," said the house agent, "and since you cannot get an answer at +the house I will send down my clerk with the key to let you in and +assist, if necessary, in explaining matters to the tenant, if he should +be discovered to be there after all. A very eccentric gentleman, I +fancy, and something of a recluse. I could not, of course, take it on +myself to use the spare key, which the owner happens to have left with +us, at the request of a less well-known and responsible person than +yourself, if I may say so, Mr. Gimblet; but since the capture of the +forgers at the Great Continental last year, your name, sir, has been +in every one's mouth; and you will allow me to add that I am, although +hitherto unknown, one of your most fervent admirers." + +Thus was it ever Mr. Ennidge's pleasant way to oil the wheels of +intercourse with his fellows. + +"The name of the tenant of No. 13," he continued, "is Mr. West, Mr. +Henry West. He has taken the house for a month with the option of +taking it on for a year or longer; and I fancy he must be a man of +means, as the offer which he made appears to be an unusually high +one--unnecessarily so, I may say, between you and me, Mr. Gimblet; but +in the interests of our client, the owner of the lease, I need hardly +tell you we did not quarrel with him on that account!" + +"What aged man is he?" inquired Gimblet. + +"I really can hardly tell you," replied Mr. Ennidge. "The fact is that I +myself have not yet seen him. Both I and my partner happened to be out +when Mr. West came to the office, and he made all the arrangements with +our clerk. Perhaps you would like him to come in?" + +"I should be glad to ask him a few questions," said Gimblet. + +Mr. Ennidge put his head into the outer office. + +"Tremmels," he called, with his hand on the door. "Just come in here a +moment." + +The clerk appeared, a white-faced young Londoner, showing very plainly +the effects of an indoor life and long, hot hours spent upon an office +stool; he moved languidly, as if every step were an exertion almost too +great to repeat, and stood before Gimblet in a drooping attitude of +fatigue. + +"Mr. Gimblet wants to hear about the tenant of No. 13 Scholefield +Avenue," Mr. Ennidge told him. + +The clerk straightened himself with a perceptible effort, and stared +fixedly at Gimblet, who had long since become accustomed to the interest +the mention of his name commonly aroused. No doubt this youth knew the +detective by repute; but he had an expression of such wooden stupidity, +and withal looked so terribly ill and exhausted, that Gimblet wondered +if he would be able to extract much sense from him. + +"It was you," he said, "who let the house to Mr. West?" + +"Yes," said the clerk. "He came in one day last week." + +"Friday," interposed Mr. Ennidge. + +"Yes, he came in here last Friday morning, and said he'd been over No. +13 Scholefield Avenue, having seen the board 'To Let' in front of the +house," replied the clerk. "The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Mill, had only +gone away that morning, and Mr. West was shown over by a servant who +had been left behind to clear up and follow by a later train. He told +me he required a furnished house for a year. He said he was very fond +of solitude; that he had lived in India all his life and didn't care +to meet strangers, but wanted a house with a garden, where he could +be private, so to speak. He said he thought Scholefield Avenue would +suit him admirably, but that he wished to take it for a month first +to see how he liked it, and to have the option of taking it on. I was +uncertain whether Mr. Mill would be agreeable to such an arrangement, +and suggested waiting till we could communicate with the owner, but he +wouldn't hear of that; said he wished to go in immediately, and would +take some other house he'd seen unless he could clinch the matter then +and there. He made an offer of fifteen guineas a week for the first +month, and eight for the rest of the year if he should decide to take +it on. This is such a very high price for this part of London that I +felt sure Mr. Ennidge or Mr. Pring, if they had been here, would not +have let it escape, but would have hit the iron while it was hot, if you +take my meaning; and as I was aware that Mr. Mill had left an absolute +discretion to the firm with regard to letting the house, and that he +was very anxious to do so as quickly as possible, I didn't hesitate any +longer, but agreed to Mr. West's conditions. + +"He said that he wished to have possession of the house from midday of +Monday last; told me to get a charwoman in on Monday morning, in case +any cleaning up remained to be done, and that he wished me to meet him +at the house on Monday for the purpose of going over the inventory. +Then he took out a pocket book, which seemed to be stuffed full of bank +notes, paid me thirty guineas, the rent for half the first month, and +asked me to get the agreement for him to sign. I got him two agreement +forms such as we use, as a rule, when letting furnished houses, and he +signed them both and put one in his pocket." + +"Perhaps Mr. Gimblet would like to glance at our copy," said Mr. +Ennidge, diving into a drawer. "Here it is," and he handed a paper to +the detective, who turned it over thoughtfully. There was nothing on +it beyond the ordinary printed clauses setting forth the terms of the +contract. At the end the tenant had signed his name, "Henry West," +in large, sprawling characters, the strokes of which seemed a trifle +uncertain, as if the hand that held the pen had not been absolutely +steady. Below, in a neat business-like writing, was the clerk's +signature: "A. W. Tremmels, for Messrs. Ennidge and Pring." + +Gimblet put it in his pocket. "I may keep it for the present, I +suppose?" he asked Mr. Ennidge, who looked rather as if he would have +liked to object, but on the whole decided not to. + +"Can you describe what Mr. West looked like?" Gimblet asked the clerk. +"But perhaps you had better tell me that on the way to the house. Mr. +Ennidge has promised to send you down with me. One thing, however, +before we start: I should like to see the inventory, if I may." + +"By all means," Mr. Ennidge replied. "Just get it, Tremmels, and the key +too. You know where they are kept," and as the clerk went into the outer +office he turned again to Gimblet. + +"If you would like me to come myself?" he suggested. + +"Oh no, thanks," Gimblet answered, "do not trouble to come. As the clerk +is the only one who met Mr. West, I think he will really be more useful +to me. I suppose he can stand a walk down to Scholefield Avenue? He +looks dreadfully ill, poor chap; what's wrong with him? Consumptive?" + +"He is ill, I'm afraid," said Mr. Ennidge regretfully, "but it will do +him good to get a walk and a breath of fresh air. The hot weather we had +last week was very trying; Tremmels certainly looks very bad since the +heat. I have told him to take a holiday to-morrow," he added kindly, +"a day in the country will be the best thing for him, and there is not +very much to be done in the office at this time of the year. Business is +very slack, Mr. Gimblet. I daresay, now, yours keeps your nose to the +grindstone, at one season as much as another?" + +"Well, yes," said Gimblet. "I'm afraid the criminal classes aren't very +regular in their holiday-making. It's very inconsiderate of them, but +I'm afraid they're a selfish lot." + +The house agent's ever-present smile broadened, and at that moment +young Tremmels made his reappearance with the inventory. In an instant +Gimblet's keen nose had told him that with the clerk there now entered +the room a pervading smell of brandy, and his quick eye noted a tinge of +colour in the pale cheek of the young man, which had previously not been +visible there. "O-ho," he said to himself, "so that's the trouble, is +it?" Then, with a word of thanks to Mr. Ennidge, Gimblet led the way out +into the street, and turned his steps towards Scholefield Avenue. + +"Now then," he said to his companion as they hurried along, "about this +Mr. West. What is he like?" + +"He's an elderly, rather horsey-looking gentleman, and odd in his +manner," said the clerk. "What I mean to say is, he has a very pleasant +way of talking, and yet somehow he doesn't talk like an ordinary +gentleman might. Seems rather fond of what I may term the habit of using +bad language." + +"What does he look like?" + +"He isn't what you'd call a tall man; not that I should call him short +either; and thin, very thin. Don't know if I make myself clear?" + +"Perfectly," said Gimblet patiently, "would you know him again?" + +"Oh yes. He's a very uncommon sort to meet about. I'd know him anywhere. +He's got a leather coloured face, which looks as if he'd been out in the +sun more than a few weeks, and a funny little bit of a pointed beard on +his chin. Tell you what he looks like," said Tremmels, with more show of +animation than he had so far exhibited, "he looks more like an American +than he does an Indian; and, come to think of it, he's got a nasty sort +of voice, same as they have, but not very strong." + +"Anything else you can remember about him?" Gimblet asked. He was +listening with intense interest. + +"Well, he has got a way of standing with his legs apart, and getting +up on his tiptoes; and then down he lets himself go with a jerk, if +I make myself plain. His wool is a bit grey and is commencing to get +baldish on the top. He seems to dislike seeing strangers or making new +acquaintances, as you may say. He gave me to understand that he's a +scholar, and going in for reading and what not when he's settled in +Scholefield Avenue; says his health's bad too, but I shouldn't wonder +if it was more likely something else. More this sort of thing." The +clerk made an upward movement with his right arm and hand, of which, as +Gimblet was walking on his other side, the significance was lost on him. + +"I beg your pardon?" he inquired doubtfully. + +"Granted," said Tremmels; "what I mean is, if you understand me, I +shouldn't be surprised if anyone was to tell me that he takes a drop too +much. Rather rosy about the beak, I thought, and when he left the office +I watched him go down the street till he was nearly out of sight, when +what should he do but nip across into the private bar of the _Lion and +Crown_." + +"Ah," said Gimblet, "I observed a certain shakiness in the signature +of the lease." In his own mind he was thinking that it was more than +probable that the clerk had accompanied Mr. West to the _Lion and +Crown_. "Did you notice anything else?" + +"I don't know that I did," said Tremmels thoughtfully. "He wore ordinary +sort of clothes. Gent's lounge suit with a large check pattern, brown +boots, and a very genteel diamond pin in the centre of his tie. +Altogether quite the gentleman, and very civil-spoken and pleasant when +not swearing. He told me that he wouldn't want any coals ordered in, +as his cooking would be done chiefly on the gas stove with which the +kitchen of No. 13 is fitted. There is every convenience, as you may +say," concluded the clerk. + +As Gimblet pondered over what he had heard, and reflected that the +powers of observation that his companion showed were greater than he had +given him credit for, they drew near to Scholefield Avenue and passed +beneath its lines of branching plane trees to the gate of Mr. Mill's +house. Higgs was at his post before it and reported that nothing had +stirred during the detective's absence. Sir Gregory came from the back +of the house in the company of Mr. Brampton, who had joined him there. +The artist was plainly excited. + +"Your friend tells me," he said, as he came up to Gimblet's side, "that +you think that the two ladies of whose disappearance the papers are so +full--Mrs. Vanderstein and her companion--came to this house on the +night that they vanished. It will be the greatest favour if you will +allow me to witness your methods of investigating this affair." + +"By all means," said Gimblet ungraciously, "why shouldn't the whole +street come? I think it is very probable that it will do so, since Sir +Gregory Aberhyn Jones appears to be perfectly incapable of keeping his +own counsel, no matter whether the safety of his friends is endangered +or not." So saying he turned and held out his hand for the key of the +house to the clerk, who, panting and gasping after his walk, now leant +against the door as if no longer able to support himself unaided. + +Sir Gregory and the artist, off whom Gimblet's right and left shots +had glanced with a sting but produced no permanent wounds, fell back +silenced for the moment, though unflinchingly determined to see anything +there was to be seen. The quick, searching eyes of Brampton rested on +the clerk, and he took in his woeful condition with the rapidity of his +trade. + +"That young fellow ought to be in bed," he said, in a low voice, in Sir +Gregory's ear, "but I suppose, like the rest of us, he won't be able to +tear himself away from this exciting spot." + +They followed Gimblet, who had opened the door and passed through it +into the hall. He looked round him in despair. + +"Really, gentleman," he cried, "you must stay at the door for the +present. If this house has anything to tell, it will never do so after +you have trampled all traces from the very floors with your innumerable +feet. I will just see if there is anyone here; and, if not, you can +come in after I have begun my thorough examination, as long as you keep +out of my way and do as I tell you. Otherwise I warn you, Sir Gregory, +that you will ruin every chance of success." + +"He talks as if we were centipedes," murmured Brampton. + +Sir Gregory motioned him to silence, and they remained obediently in +the doorway while the detective and Higgs ran over the house, opening +all the doors and glancing into the rooms to see if there were anyone +in them. Whatever secret might lurk beneath that roof, for the moment +at least there was no visible human occupant to divulge it; and, if he +was to arrive at any answer to the problem of what had taken place on +Monday night after the arrival of the ladies, it was clear to Gimblet +that he must do so with no help other than the dumb aid he might receive +from the inanimate objects still within the walls, or even from the very +walls themselves. + +As soon as he had completed the first hurried general survey, the +detective began a systematic examination of the house, starting with the +hall and passage of the ground floor. The other men had to move away +from the steps while he was here, as their figures crowding in the open +doorway blocked the light, and he wanted all he could get. There was no +electric light. In Scholefield Avenue, Brampton told Sir Gregory, all +the houses were dependent on gas for their illumination. Gimblet knelt +down and examined the carpet of the hall on his hands and knees. He +took a small magnifying lens from his pocket, and applied it to certain +spots, which he lingered over longer than the rest of the floor; at the +foot of the stairs he picked up a small object from under the corner of +the mat; he held it to the light for a moment between finger and thumb, +and then put it carefully away in a little box like a pill-box, which +he also produced from his pocket. Then he stood up, and examined the +furniture with the same patient deliberation. Presently he spoke to the +clerk, who was standing before the door, a little apart from the others. + +"Have you got that inventory?" he asked. "Just read out the contents of +the hall." + +Tremmels came up the steps and opened the book he carried. + +"Two oak chairs, one oak table, one mirror, one mat," he read. "One +umbrella stand; two chairs on landing, eight engravings in frames." + +"Wait a bit," interposed the detective, "we haven't got there yet." + +He went to the door, and called to Sir Gregory and Brampton. + +"I've finished the hall," he said. "If you want to come in, you can, as +long as you stay behind me and don't bother me with talking." + +Then he turned back to his search, and began to subject each tread of +the staircase to the same minute examination as the hall had received. +From time to time he added another tiny object to the one he had already +placed in the pill-box; four or five were deposited there before they +reached the first floor. + +In this way the party ascended, a step at a time, till Brampton's +curiosity began to succumb to the boredom of such ineffably slow, +crawling, snail-like progress. + +"I think I'll not inflict my presence any longer, Mr. Gimblet," said he, +"it is time I dressed for dinner, or my wife will have to wait for me." + +Receiving no answer from Gimblet, who was now absolutely absorbed in his +work, he whispered to Sir Gregory that he would come back after dinner, +and retired from the scene, escorted to the door by Higgs, who let him +out and shut it behind him before he returned to his post at the foot of +the staircase. + +At the top of the house Gimblet straightened himself and turned to Sir +Gregory and the clerk, who were on the stairs a few steps below him. + +Sir Gregory, who was nearly choking with pent-up questions, seized the +opportunity. + +"Have you found anything?" he cried, and Tremmels, though he said +nothing, was a living echo of the words, as he strained forward behind +Sir Gregory to catch the reply. + +"Nothing definite as yet," said Gimblet, "but I may say it appears to +me probable that, if Mrs. Vanderstein did come here on Monday night, +she did not stay in the house long. I should say she went no higher, +at all events, than the drawing-room floor." And he proceeded to the +examination of the rooms working his way downwards. + +The bedrooms yielded no harvest; they wore the dismal look of unoccupied +rooms and had apparently not been entered since, having been swept and +cleaned with great thoroughness, they had been left ready for the use of +the tenant. None of the beds were made, there was no water in the jugs, +there was absolutely no indication of so much as one of them having been +used since the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Mill. Gimblet did not spend +so long over them as he had over the staircase, but it was past eight +o'clock when at length he came out of the last one and descended to the +first floor. + +"I can always try upstairs again if there is nothing conclusive here," +he said to Sir Gregory, as they went down. + +With his hand on the knob of the drawing-room door he paused an instant, +looking with more sympathy than he had lately shown at the anxious face +of the old soldier. A feeling crept over him that it would not be good +for Sir Gregory to enter this room; it was a vague impalpable feeling, +which he could not explain; and in a moment it had passed. He opened the +door and went into the drawing-room, leaving the baronet, in obedience +to instructions received, faithfully standing on the landing, the white +face of the clerk showing over his shoulder, framed in the square of the +doorway against the dusky shadows beyond. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +In the preliminary hasty search over the house, it had fallen to Higgs +to reach the first floor earlier than his master. Gimblet had left it to +him to examine, while he himself hurried to the upper stories; so that +he now entered the drawing-room for the first time. + +He stood for a moment turning his head to right and left, taking in +the principal features of the apartment with quick, comprehensive +glances. Then, of a sudden, the whole figure of the man stiffened; and +it was hard to recognise Mr. Gimblet, the dilettante, the frequenter +of curiosity shops, the lounger in picture galleries, in the tense, +motionless form of Gimblet, the detective, at this moment. He stood, as +a pointer stands when it catches the wind of game, erect and stiff, in +an attitude of interrupted movement, one knee still bent for the step +he had been in the very act of making; his whole form absolutely still, +save for a series of short, successive intakings of the breath, as, +with head thrown back and his eyes shining with the keen, well-balanced +excitement of the hunter, he sniffed the air. + +What was it he smelt? Something so faint, so indefinite, that after +the first arresting instant he had lost it altogether; and with it the +knowledge of what it was--which in that one second had seemed almost +his--slipped away and was gone, nor could his most strenuous effort +recall it. Oh, for one more whiff of that evasive, troubling odour! But +sniff as he might he could no longer detect anything, and slowly his +attitude relaxed, and he brought other senses to bear upon the scene. + +The room was divided, by its shape, into a front and back drawing-room, +as is commonly the case in London houses; but the two had been thrown +into one and the door led into the narrower back part, so that the +light from the window overlooking the garden, which was obscured by +trees, while it still illumined all that lay on Gimblet's right, hardly +penetrated into the front and larger portion of the place. There the +closed shutters of the three windows leading to the balcony prevented +the light from finding an entrance, and it was very dark. The detective +lit the gas and looked around him. + +It was a cheerful, pleasant room; not overcrowded with furniture, and +showing taste and judgment in its arrangement and decoration, though +there was nothing very original about it. On the walls, which were +covered with some light coloured paper, were hung three or four good +modern pictures; the mantelpiece was an eighteenth century one, and +on either side of it was placed a Chippendale cabinet, with shelves +for china, of which some good pieces could be seen through the small +panes of the glass doors. At the opposite end of the room was a long, +low bookcase and, except for a large writing bureau, the rest of the +furniture consisted of sofas and chairs, with one or two small tables. +It was a room at once dainty and desolate, gay and forlorn. The empty +flower vases which stood on the tables, the absence of stray books, +work, papers, or other signs of human occupancy, gave it a look of +discomfort and dreariness; but it was plain, from the bright chintzes +and curtains and the soft luxury of the carpet, that it only needed the +presence of its owners to assume a cheerful and lively aspect. + +Gimblet began his examination in his usual methodical manner, working +his way over the floor on hands and knees, gazing at the carpet through +his lens at any place where there appeared a doubtful mark or change in +the appearance of its surface from that of the surrounding parts. As +he came to chairs or tables he moved them to one side, and continued +his quest on the spot where they had stood. There were two small +Chesterfield sofas, one of which jutted out at right angles to the +fire-place before the right hand window of the front part of the room, +the other facing the door with its back against the wall. + +When the detective came to the sofa by the fireplace, he pushed it to +one side as he had pushed each piece of furniture in its turn, and as +his eyes fell on the floor beneath it a low whistle escaped him: there +was a patch of reddish stain on the green Wilton carpet, about three +inches in diameter, and a smaller spot or two near by of the same rusty +colour. + +With his head on one side, and his lips still pursed as if to emit a +whistling sound, but with no audible noise issuing from them, Gimblet +gazed at the stain on the carpet; and the longer he looked the sterner +his face became; the whistling expression vanished, and he opened and +shut his mouth with a grinding sound as the teeth met. He rubbed his +finger over the marks, and the patch seemed to crumble away at his +touch, till a hole appeared in the carpet and the white boards of the +flooring were exposed to view. He applied his lens to the edges of the +hole and plucked at the frayed wool with his fingers. A small piece that +he pulled off he bestowed in one of the little specimen boxes with which +he had provided himself. + +Then he replaced the sofa in its original position, and continued his +examination of the floor. Under the fender he discovered another of +the little objects he had picked up on the stairs, but nothing else +did he find of any interest till he began to turn his attention to +the furniture. Almost the first thing he looked at was the sofa that +concealed the hole in the carpet; he was drawn back to it with an +irresistible attraction. A careful scrutiny, however, did not reveal +much more than the fact that the chintz cover was rather tumbled. +Gimblet dug his hand down at the back of the seat, and pulled out the +part of it which was tucked down. As he did so he felt a little lump +under his fingers, and holding it up saw that it was yet another tiny +shining thing for his pill-box collection, and as he looked at the piece +of chintz he had pulled out he perceived several more of the same kind. + +They glittered in the gaslight like little diamonds, but had evidently +come off the spangled tulle of a lady's dress. Gimblet remembered +that Mrs. Vanderstein's dress had been described by her maid as +"_diamantée_"; but then it was possible, indeed probable, that Mrs. +Mill, or her friends, possessed gowns of similar material. Gimblet +stooped again, and tugged up the rest of the sofa covering from the +depths behind the cushions. This time he pulled it all up; the whole +covering lay spread before him in an untidy, unwieldy mass, and from the +end, as he plucked it out, there shot two small objects, which fell to +the floor at his feet. In a moment he had lifted them from the ground +and stood staring at them: they were a piece of crushed and folded paper +and a minute powder puff. + +The detective unfolded the paper, and held it to the light; it was a +sheet of thick white notepaper, and on it was embossed a crown and +device in heavy gold lettering. Below these was written in a fine, +slanting foreign hand + + "Most adored, I count the hours, the minutes, till I shall hear for + the first time the sound of your voice. Heaven be praised that I have + not long to wait, and you, whom heaven has sent to me, accept the + thanks of my grateful heart. I send this by Madame Q." + +The signature that followed made Gimblet open his eyes. "Felipe," in +conjunction with the crown at the head of the paper and the foreign +character of the penmanship, could refer to one person only. Gimblet +was well aware that the Prince of Targona was honouring London with his +presence. He glanced carefully round the room to make sure no one was +near, folded the paper carefully, and placed it in his notebook. Then he +turned his attention to the powder puff. + +It was an ordinary little powder puff of pink silk and white down--very +small, very dainty, if very commonplace. Gimblet turned it over and +over, but could see nothing about it which stamped it as different +from other powder puffs. Not that it was a curio in the peculiarities +of which he was very well versed; he could not help realising that in +the matter of powder puffs his education had been neglected. A French +detective, he told himself sadly, would have read a whole history in +this soft toy. He brushed it across the back of his hand, but it left +no mark; he shook it into the palm, but no powder fell from it. It was +plain to him that, whatever uses it might have served in the white +hands that had formerly clasped it, it was not of any use at all in +his, and in his irritation he was inclined to hurl it from him. But his +methodical habits prevailed and he felt in his coat for a box to contain +it. And suddenly, with what seemed like an involuntary movement, he +lifted the hand that held the powder puff, and held it to his nose. + +"Ah," he sighed, and it was a sigh of deep content. Then he stored +away the precious fluffy thing, and put it in his pocket. He finished +the tour of the furniture without further discovery; at the end of +it he requested Tremmels to read out the contents of the room from +the inventory, as he had done at the conclusion of his visits to each +room or landing, checking off each object as the clerk read out its +description. + +"I am in hopes," he said to Sir Gregory, "of finding something not +mentioned in the inventory, which we might take to be the property +of Mr. West. But so far there is nothing that can possibly be his, +not so much as a toothbrush. He certainly seems to be a leader of the +simple life." Then he turned to Tremmels again. "Is there no mention +of the chair covers?" he asked. But the young man only stared at him +open-mouthed, and he seized the book from his hand. + +"Let me see," he murmured, running a finger down the page. "Here we are. +'Two Chesterfield sofas and five arm-chairs with loose chintz covers.' +Might mean anything. Look here!" he turned to the clerk again, "you went +over the inventory. What do you remember about that sofa?" He pointed to +the one opposite the door, which, unlike the other sofas and chairs, had +no chintz covering. Tremmels was flurried by the detective's sharp tone. + +"I--I don't remember anything at all," he stammered. + +"What, don't you remember that it had a cover?" + +Gimblet's second question was still more sharply spoken. The clerk shot +a glance at him in which suspicion, timidity, and bewilderment were +oddly mixed, and he answered stubbornly, repeating his former words as +if he imagined a trap were being laid for him. + +"I don't remember anything about it." His pale face wore an expression +more wooden than ever. + +The detective turned from him with an impatient movement, and stood +looking down at the sofa with a frown on his face. It was exactly the +same as the one in the front part of the room, but, instead of a cover +of pink and white chintz, it displayed only the upholstery with which +it had been originally covered by the makers: a kind of white tapestry +with grey flowers and flecks of red, in general colouring not unlike +the chintz on the other sofas and chairs, but tightly fitting and +leaving exposed the bare legs of brown varnished wood, which were of a +particularly ugly shape. + +"Come," said Gimblet at last, "I must go downstairs." + +"What did you find?" Sir Gregory asked him anxiously as they went down, +followed at a distance by the clerk, "what did you find by the other +sofa?" + +The detective hesitated an instant. + +"Sir Gregory," he said, "there is something here, some story to be read, +if I can read it. The walls are trying to speak to me, I believe, if I +could only listen rightly. There are things very plain that I can see, +but not enough of them, and there is something that I don't understand. +But what I have seen points to sinister things, and I must warn you that +I don't like the look of them." + +"Mr. Gimblet!" cried Sir Gregory. "What do you mean?" + +"Yes, Sir Gregory," said the detective. "I am very much more--uneasy +about your friend than I have yet been. I fear that, when I am in a +position to give you news of her, it may be very bad. You may have to +stand a shock. Don't you think it would be best if you went home and +waited till I came to you?" + +But, though on Sir Gregory's face there crept a look of terrified grief, +he would not go. + +The dining-room told nothing, Gimblet's researches there were vain, and +he soon adjourned to the room behind it, which seemed to be a library +or smoking-room. The shutters, as they had seen from the garden, were +fastened, but by this time the last of the long summer twilight was +fading and the night promised to fall dark and windy. Gimblet's first +act was to light the gas. + +It was a small room, this back room, where, no doubt, Mr. Mill, when +he was at home, was accustomed to smoke his pipe and attend to his +correspondence. Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves; one side +was taken up by the window; and on the fourth, opposite the door and +above the fire-place, were hung a quantity of mezzotints framed in +sombre black. They surrounded a small oil painting that filled the place +of honour immediately over the chimney piece, and which caught Gimblet's +interested eye directly. It appeared to be an example of the early Dutch +school, and he was seized with the desire to examine it more closely. +The fire-place below it was lined with old blue and white tiles, and at +these too he cast an envious glance, but the feelings of the collector +were subservient just now to those of the detective, and he turned to +the more everyday furniture of the room. + +There was not very much in it: a couple of arm-chairs stood one on each +side of the fire-place, and before the window was a large writing table +with inkstand and blotting book disposed upon it, together with a few +odds and ends. Even with these the table looked empty; one missed the +papers that by rights should have been scattered there. As Gimblet stood +beside it, he was conscious of the cold draught that whistled by his +ear, and it was then that he first looked toward the window. + +"It must be open," he said to himself, and then, as he looked closer: +"By Jingo!" + +It was a sash window of the old-fashioned kind, with a dozen or so +wood-framed panes to each half of it, and the usual metal catch holding +the top and bottom in position together when the window was shut. It +was shut now, and the cold air that pervaded the place entered through +cracks in the shutters, and after that encountered no further obstacle, +for the top middle pane of the lower sash was destitute of glass. + +Gimblet pushed away the table and examined the empty framework +carefully, touching the edges with an incautious finger, which, however, +he withdrew rather hurriedly and transferred to his mouth. He looked +at the floor; and then, following his usual custom, knelt down on it, +lens in hand. The gaslight was obscured by the shadow of the writing +table, and he had recourse to the aid of a pocket electric torch. He was +satisfied with what he saw, apparently, for he soon rose and turned to +the window again. He unfastened the catch, and placing one hand on the +framework sought to raise the sash, but it stuck stiffly, and both hands +and a good deal of strength had to be exerted before he was able to lift +it. + +Then he flashed the light of the little torch on the window sill, and +took from it a splinter of broken glass. After this he pursued his +inspection of the room and its contents. There was, as has been said, +little enough in it except books, but everything there was came in for +the usual close scrutiny; the waste paper basket was not forgotten, nor +were the empty grate and coal scuttle. In the end, after comparing the +things mentioned in the inventory with those in the room, Gimblet shut +the door into the hall, and ran his lens hastily over its woodwork. +Apparently he saw on it more than he expected, for he returned more +slowly to the task and spent several minutes examining some small spots +of dirt, which were visible to the naked eye on the white paint. + +At last he had done, and there only remained the basement to be +investigated. This took some time, and the results disappointed him, +with the exception of a cupboard under the stairs where he discovered a +housemaid's dustpan full of pieces of broken glass. He seized on it with +eager excitement, and examined the surface of the tin very carefully +with his lens; only to put it down again with an irritated clicking of +the tongue. + +Sir Gregory watched these proceedings in a stricken silence; his +hopes had turned to lead at the words Gimblet had addressed to him on +leaving the drawing room; as each successive door was thrown open he +felt a tightening of the heart and a sick fear of being confronted +with some terrible sight. Now he would almost have preferred that the +detective should find no clue, so much he dreaded the solution to which +he instinctively felt that these small discoveries were irresistibly +leading. + +The face of the clerk, who equally shared the rôle of silent onlooker, +wore an expression of excited interest, except when he was addressed, +when it relaxed into its usual wooden apathy. At other times he peered +over Sir Gregory's shoulder with feverish, straining eyes, evidently +possessed by all the passion for sensation in any form which is common +to his class; though, that he was as much in the dark as Sir Gregory, +with regard to the conclusions suggested to the detective by the +various objects he examined, was clear from the look of something like +elation with which he watched the minute attention bestowed upon the +unprofitable dustpan. + +Gimblet returned this article to its place, and drew out, one by one, +the other things in the cupboard: a water-can, a bucket, a scrubbing +brush, and other odds and ends. The last thing he brought to light was +a crumpled ball of newspaper, stuffed away at the back of some brooms +and pails. This did not look interesting; and, while Sir Gregory saw +with relief the handling of anything which gave him breathing space, +Tremmel's face fell. + +Gimblet, however, was too methodical to ignore anything, even so +unpromising an object as an old newspaper. He opened it out on the floor +of the passage, unrolling the crumpled pages and spreading them flat on +the boards. In the middle of the ball was a small quantity of dust, or +rather what looked more like earth. Gimblet scooped it up in one hand +and let it fall through his fingers into the palm of the other; it was +black and fine, but gritty to the touch. With a puzzled expression he +stowed some of it away in one of his little boxes, and put the rest in +his pocket, wrapped in a piece of the newspaper. Then he disappeared +into the coal cellar, which was the only place left that he had not +visited. He found nothing there. + +By this time it was nearly ten o'clock. + +They went back into the hall and Gimblet opened the door of the little +library. + +"Sit down in here, Sir Gregory," he said, "you have been on your feet +for hours"--and indeed the baronet was dropping with fatigue--. "I am +just going out into the garden, and you may as well rest a little. As +for you," he added to Tremmels, "you can go home if you like. I've done +with the inventory." + +"There's the key," the clerk reminded him, "and, if you don't mind my +sitting down here in the hall for a few minutes before I go ... I'm +feeling a bit tired myself, sir." + +He certainly looked it, but then he had looked so ill from the +beginning that the effect of these hours of standing about and the +lack of food, which told heavily upon Sir Gregory, hardly added to the +miserable aspect of Tremmels, whatever he might be feeling. + +Gimblet told him to sit down, and leaving them went out into the +garden. He walked round to the back, and along the path which led to +the toolshed. Going into it he hunted, by the light of his torch, among +the implements that leant against the wall; but what he sought was not +there, and he retreated, unsatisfied. As he returned slowly to the +house, he moved his lamp from side to side, so that the light shone on +the flower beds between which he walked and not on the path beneath his +feet; it was as if he hoped to find what he wanted among the flowers. + +Turning the corner of the wall, he saw a dark figure in the act of +shutting the further gate; it came towards him and he recognised the +artist, Brampton. + +"You work late, Mr. Gimblet," he said, as he met the detective. "Any +discoveries?" + +Gimblet did not reply; he was looking at his watch. + +"It _is_ late," he said after a pause; and then half to himself, "late! +too late, and too dark," he murmured; and again, "perhaps it is just +as well. It will do Sir Gregory no harm to wait till to-morrow for bad +news." + +"What," said Brampton, "you have bad news for him?" + +"I fear there will be bad news--to-morrow," said Gimblet. + +The night was very dark, for clouds had gathered afresh, and the wind +was getting up again. The leaves of the trees in the street rustled +loudly as if in protest; from a distance the tinkle of a barrel organ +sounded fitfully in the intervals between gusts of wind. + +"It's as cold as winter," grumbled Brampton. + +Gimblet was staring up at the front of the house, and when he spoke +Brampton was struck by the change in his voice. + +"Of course!" he cried, "the crumpled newspaper! What have I been about? +Now, ah, now I know! Mr. Brampton," he said, moving, so that he faced +the other in the darkness, "there is something very terrible here; +something to be done that is quite unfit for Sir Gregory to take part +in. I am only too well convinced that a crime has been committed in this +house, a gruesome and dastardly crime, which but for the merest accident +might not have been discovered for weeks. No ordinary criminals have +been at work here; we have to deal with some scoundrel so cold-blooded +and resourceful, so prudent, and so full of forethought and vile +cunning, as I do not think I have ever encountered before. What is your +nerve like, Mr. Brampton? I see you are muscularly a strong man, and I +shall have need of help. What do you say? Can you give me the assistance +I want, or shall I go and find the policeman on this beat?" + +The solemn words of the detective, and still more acutely the grave and +urgent note in his voice, thrilled the imagination of the artist, and +awoke in him a horrified perception of the seriousness of the situation, +which hitherto he had looked on with an eye, half amused, half derisive, +as we may contemplate a game of Red Indians played by some earnest +and dramatic children. The spirit of adventure cried aloud in him, +and overcame the shrinking of a refined nature from contact with the +horrible. + +"You can rely on me," was all he said, and thereupon Gimblet ran up to +the door, calling to Higgs to open it. + +The other men were sitting as he had left them, Sir Gregory in an +arm-chair by the library fire-place, and the clerk in the hall; both +drooped in attitudes of extreme weariness. + +"Will you please stay where you are a little longer?" Gimblet said to +Sir Gregory. "I am going upstairs with Mr. Brampton, to see if he can +tell me one or two things I want to know about the ordinary disposal of +the furniture; and after that we will go home, unless you will be guided +by me and do so at once. No? Well, we shall not be long. We shall not +want you," he added to Tremmels, who was struggling stiffly to rise from +his seat. + +At Gimblet's words he sank back again, and leant his head weakly against +the wall. + +With a sign to Higgs and Brampton to follow him, Gimblet went upstairs. + +The gas was still burning in the drawing-room, and the door stood open +as he had left it. Gimblet paused on the threshold and drew Brampton's +attention to the sofa opposite. + +"Do you remember," he asked, "whether that sofa had a cover like the +other before Mr. Mill went away?" + +Brampton looked at it doubtfully. + +"I can't say I do really," he said. "I ought to know, of course, but +I don't feel quite sure. You see, the colouring is so much like that +of the chintzes. One might never notice it. Still, the legs are very +ugly; I think I should have observed them. And it is not like Mrs. Mill +to leave an ugly thing so plainly displayed. But on the whole I'm not +certain about it." + +"Don't you feel," said Gimblet, "that there is something terrible, +something fearful, in those shining brown pieces of wood? Their ugliness +should be decently covered. Unfortunately, I am afraid I know where to +look for their covering." + +He led the way to one of the French windows of the front room and threw +it open. Unfastening the shutters, which still barred the way, he flung +them back and went out on to the balcony, followed by the two men. + +It was, as he had seen from the ground, an unusually broad one, and +extended across the whole width of the house. A low wall about nine +inches high ran round its edge, supporting a balustrade of stone. A +large green painted wooden box, or trough, about ten feet long by a yard +wide, and as tall as the balustrade, was planted with flowers, which did +not appear to be in a very flourishing condition. + +By the light of the street lamp they could see that the geraniums' +petals were turning black, and that the marguerites hung their heads +on stalks from which all vigour seemed to have departed. Within the +balustrade the black shadows lay like a pool of ink, and the floor of +the balcony was quite invisible, except where the open window through +which they had stepped let out a narrow stream of light. + +"Open the shutters of the other windows," Gimblet said to Higgs. + +When this was done they could see better. To Brampton's amazement +Gimblet's next act was to grasp one of the geraniums and pull it up by +the roots; a daisy followed, and in a few minutes he had torn up every +plant. Brampton, as he stood watching, noticed how easily they came up. + +Then Gimblet called to him. + +"Now, Mr. Brampton, if you and Higgs will take that end of the box, I +can manage this one. I want to tilt it up a little." + +It needed all the efforts of the three men to move the box, full to the +brim of soil as it was. Panting and heaving, they shifted it first away +from the balustrade, and tilted it towards the wall of the house. The +earth poured out as the angle increased, and in a minute the floor was +deep in it. + +"Gently, gently," said Gimblet. "Look, what is that?" and he pointed to +something white, which was poking out through the earth in the box. + +His electric torch flashed upon it, and the others, balancing the tilted +flower box on its edge, peered in, and saw that it was a bit of pink and +white chintz. + +It seemed a long while before Gimblet spoke. He stood as if turned to +stone, and Brampton felt an indefinable horror stealing over him, a +dread of he knew not what, but which he seemed to be conscious was in +some way a reflection or telepathic transference of the other's unspoken +thoughts. + +At last with an obvious effort Gimblet straightened himself. + +"We must tilt out a little more earth," he said in a low tone, "very +carefully now." + +Very cautiously they raised the side of the stand again, and a rush of +soil poured over the edge; the little patch of white they had seen in a +corner became a large piece, and almostly instantly it was plain to them +all that the greater part of the box was full of it. Leaving the others +to manage the box, which was now easily steadied, Gimblet ran round and +knelt at its side, scooping out handfuls of garden mould and disclosing +what looked like a very long, bulky bundle of flowered chintz. + +Suddenly, in a voice hardly above a whisper, Brampton broke the silence. + +"My God!" he said, pointing, and staring with horrified eyes. + +From the corner of the wrapper a hand protruded, half covered with +earth; it was a white and shapely hand, the hand of a woman. + +"Do you see it?" whispered Brampton again, and leant shaking against the +wall. + +"It's a hand," said Higgs, troubled but stolid. + +Gimblet was very pale, and he took a quick breath as he braced himself +to lift the enveloping chintz. The lighted windows cast three streaks +of light out into the darkness and threw grotesque distorted shadows of +the men upon the coping of the balcony. A sudden gust of wind made the +trees in the street moan and shiver as though they had been swept by the +passing broom of some night-riding hag; all around them the darkness +gathered close like a wicked thing that would if it dared swallow up the +tiny protecting lights men burn in self-defence. + +Gimblet felt himself struggling against some such malevolent influences; +half conscious fears, some sensation of evil presences in the air, +gibing, mocking, clustering round to gloat over the results of earthly +villainy, seemed to paralyse him; and he had to call up his reserves +of will power before, after a moment's hesitation, he bent forward and +unrolled the chintz covering. + +Inside it was the body of a young woman. Long black hair lay in masses +on her shoulders and streamed over the single white garment she wore. +The face was so terribly disfigured as to be quite unrecognisable. + +With a shudder Gimblet drew the wrapping over her again. + +"Vitriol," he muttered, and became aware, as he spoke, of some one +behind him in the opening of the window. + +Before he could turn, a heartstricken cry sounded in his ear, and he was +not in time to catch Sir Gregory, who staggered back in the embrasure, +and from there slid fainting to the ground. As Gimblet sprang to his +help, he had a fleeting vision of a ghastly face and a crouching figure +in the back of the drawing-room: it was the face of Tremmels, the clerk, +but so wild and white with terror, so distorted by the shock of what he +had seen as to be almost like that of another man. + +Suspecting from the noise made by the opening shutters, followed by the +sudden and prolonged silence, that something was happening on the floor +above them, and unable any longer to bear the suspense and curiosity +accentuated by waiting and inactivity, Sir Gregory, followed by the +clerk, had crept upstairs into the drawing-room without attracting the +attention of Gimblet or his assistants, and the horror of what they had +seen was too much for both of them. + +As with the help of Higgs Gimblet lifted the inanimate form of the +baronet from where it had dropped, a sudden loud noise from the street +below made them nearly let fall their burden; and it was a second before +any of them realised that the sound was only the first jangling bar of +a popular music hall tune. The barrel organ they had heard a quarter of +an hour earlier had wandered into Scholefield Avenue, and, attracted +without doubt by the lighted windows, had thought fit to draw up before +No. 13 and there begin its headlong plunge into melody. Half the +rollicking air it was playing had been thumped forth, with all the usual +din of banging bass and clanking scales, before any one of those who +stood above it in the grim presence of death sufficiently recovered his +presence of mind to be able to stop it. + +Telling the clerk curtly not to be an ass, but to pull himself together +and follow them, Gimblet, with the help of Higgs and Brampton, carried +Sir Gregory out of the fatal house and into No. 15, the home of the +artist. Here they gave him over to the care of Mrs. Brampton, a capable, +bustling woman with common-sense written all over her, to whom her +husband explained in guarded terms as much of the situation as was +inevitable. + +"There has been a terrible tragedy next door, my dear," he told her. +"This poor gentleman has fainted on learning of the death of his +friend," and the kind-hearted, sensible creature took charge of Sir +Gregory without wasting precious time in questions. + +At his request, Brampton conducted the detective to the telephone, while +Higgs was sent out to look for a policeman. + +"Is that Scotland Yard?" Gimblet was asking, as the artist shut the door +on him and returned to his wife. + +By the time the detective had finished telephoning, Higgs was back with +two policemen, the one he had found in the next street having whistled +for a comrade. Gimblet went with them to No. 13, and together they +entered the silent drawing-room, where the gas was still flaring and the +windows stood open to the night like three black doors to a villainous +and tragic world. With the help of the new-comers the body of the dead +woman was lifted out of the flower box and carried into the house, +where, still enveloped in the chintz cover, it was gently deposited on +one of the sofas. For a moment they turned back the wrapping, while +Gimblet searched hastily for some clue that should have inadvertently +been enclosed in it, but there was nothing besides the body and the one +garment in which it was clad. + +"See," he murmured in a low voice, pointing to an oblong incision at +the edge of the chemise, "they have cut away the linen there. No doubt +the name, or initial, was embroidered in that place. What fine linen +it is; and this lace trimming is as delicate as a cobweb! If we had +nothing else to go by, this would show that the murdered woman was rich +and luxury-loving. Most women, if they had such lace, would keep it to +adorn their dresses with." + +He drew the covering over her again; and, going back to the balcony, +stood looking at the half-empty box and the mound of earth that was +heaped upon the floor. + +"They must have had a job to clear away the surplus soil," he remarked +to Higgs, who had followed him. "I suspect it was carried down to the +garden, bucketful by bucketful, and the last handful or two were swept +up into a newspaper. I found some trace of it in a cupboard downstairs." + +Leaving the police to guard the house, they went in search of Sir +Gregory, and found him so far recovered as to be sent home in a taxi in +the care of Higgs. The clerk also was seen safely started on the way to +his lodgings, where, Gimblet thought to himself, he would probably take +the brandy bottle to bed with him. + +"You will have to attend the inquest, you know," he said to him as he +was departing. "It may be to-morrow or the next day. Good evening, and +don't stay awake all night." + +After renewed thanks and apologies to the Bramptons, Gimblet found +another taxi, and, getting in, gave the driver the address of Joe +Sidney's rooms. + +"I think," he said to himself, "it's just about time I paid that young +gentleman a visit." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +It was close on eleven when the cab drew up before the door of Sidney's +lodging in York Street, St. James's, and as luck would have it Sidney +himself was standing on the doorstep, in the act of inserting his +latch-key in the lock. Gimblet saw himself recognised as he sprang +out of the taxi, and saw also a look of unmistakable pleasure in the +recognition. + +"This man is as innocent as I am," he thought, as the young soldier +greeted him. + +"Come in, do," Sidney said, "you're the very man I wanted to see. I went +to your flat this evening, but you'd just gone out, so the porter said. +I am anxious to hear if you have any news of my aunt and Miss Turner." + +He led the way upstairs as he spoke, and ushered the detective into a +sitting-room on the first floor, switching on the light as he did so. + +Gimblet waited till the door was shut behind them, and then turned a +grave face to his host. + +"The news is very bad," he said slowly, and waited a moment to give time +for the significance of the words to sink in, and to prepare Sidney for +what was to come. + +"What has happened?" cried Sidney. "Are they hurt? Is Miss Turner----" + +He stopped short, grasping the back of a chair. + +"I don't know what has happened to Miss Turner," Gimblet said, "but I +have terrible news of your poor aunt. Mrs. Vanderstein has been foully +and cruelly murdered. I come now from the discovery of her dead body." + +"Murdered!" cried Sidney, "murdered! Who by? How? Where?" He sat down +mechanically, and stared at Gimblet. "And Miss Turner? Have they killed +her too?" + +The detective repeated that at present he knew nothing of the younger +lady. + +"Good God!" said Sidney, "what a dreadful thing." + +Leaning his elbows on the table, he hid his face in his hands for a few +minutes, and Gimblet sat silent opposite him, waiting till he should +recover from the first shock of the news. + +When Sidney raised his head again the face he disclosed was pale and +drawn. + +"Poor Aunt Ruth," he said. "Poor thing, poor thing. To think that she +should be dead. I can hardly realise it, you know. She has been killed +for her jewels, I suppose, after all. The devils! You haven't caught +them, have you?" and, as Gimblet only shook his head: "How can such a +thing be possible here in civilised London? And to think of that beastly +old raven, Chark, going about croaking as he has been, and hinting that +I'd killed her! To think of his being right after all! I don't mean +about my killing her," he added, "but there it is, she's dead; and +I come into her money just in time to save me from ruin. I hate the +thought of it!" He was talking to himself more than to his listener, and +Gimblet let him talk. "I almost wish she had altered her will," he went +on, "it's a beastly notion: her death being my profit, you know. And I +suppose they'll say I've murdered her all the more now?" He looked up +interrogatively; then, as he received no answer, his expression changed +and he started up, alert and wide awake once more. "I say," said he, +"do you think I did it, too?" + +Gimblet hesitated a moment before answering. + +"As a matter of fact," he said at last, "I do not. I don't think so +for a moment. But that is merely my personal opinion and, to tell you +the truth, I think it will be just as well if you can account for your +movements since Monday to the satisfaction of more people than myself. I +ought to suspect you--it's my business to suspect every one--but, as I +say, I don't." + +"I daresay things do look rather black against me," Sidney said; "it's +my fault for not having bothered to defend myself. You see, it seems +so eccentric to me that anyone should think such a thing. It seems so +impossible, and absurd, if you don't mind my saying so. One forgets that +other people don't know what one is capable of as one does oneself, and +it never struck me yesterday that you, or Sir Gregory either, might +suspect me. I did go and see the editor of the worst of the newspapers, +and explained things to him, and told him to let old Chark know he was +wrong. You may have noticed he's eaten his words in to-day's paper. +But I didn't think it necessary to say anything to anyone else. You +see, I've got what you call an alibi. I was in the country from Monday +evening till yesterday morning. I met a pal almost on Aunt Ruth's +doorstep when she turned me out of the house, and he got me to go off +with him down to his house near Ascot to play golf, and I was down there +till Wednesday. I had only just come back, in fact, when I came to see +you. I didn't know about my aunt's disappearance till I read it in the +train coming up; my friend came up at the same time and stayed with me +till I left him at your door. It's waste of time suspecting me; I admit +that it looks as if I ought to have murdered the poor dear, but in view +of the facts that theory doesn't hold water." + +"I'm very glad to hear what you say," said Gimblet, "and I wish you'd +told me before, though I never really thought you had any direct +knowledge of the affair. Still, you must confess, Mr. Sidney, that you +were not quite open with me: there was something which you knew, and +which you kept to yourself when we talked about it." + +"I'm blessed if there was!" cried Sidney. "What was it?" + +For answer Gimblet took Barbara's telegraph form out of his notebook and +handed it to the young man. + +"You didn't tell me you had received this telegram from Miss Turner," he +said, "not even though I quoted most of its contents to you by way of a +hint." + +Sidney took the form, and stared at it for a moment. + +"It is her writing," he said at last. "I wonder what the deuce she +meant." + +He, also, produced a folded paper from his pocket and pushed it across +the table to the detective. + +It was the message as he had received it. + +"You will observe," he said, "that there is no signature. How was I +to know who it came from? As a matter of fact, I guessed, or at least +thought it possible she had sent it, as no one else cares whether I +go to blazes or not. But I've no idea whatever why she chose to think +I should get some money or good news on Wednesday. I need hardly +say that I didn't. And I saw no reason to speak to you of what only +concerns a young lady and myself. It can have no possible bearing on her +disappearance, or that of my aunt." + +"You think not?" Gimblet looked at him oddly. + +"How could it? I can't imagine what connection there could be. But +of course you're the sort of fellow who can read the secret of dark +mysteries in anything, from the Tower Bridge to a baked potato, aren't +you? So perhaps there's some occult inference that I fail to draw. By +the way, you've not told me much yet. How did you discover the murder, +and where?" + +"I found the poor lady's body buried in a house in the north of London," +said Gimblet, "No. 13 Scholefield Avenue. As to how I discovered it, +it was by the help of two or three facts from which I was able to draw +certain inferences." + +"I wish you would tell me all about it." + +"Well," said Gimblet, "as Sir Gregory told you over the telephone +this morning, I heard, as a result of the advertisement I gave you +yesterday to have inserted in the papers, that the two ladies were seen +by an actress on Monday night, standing under a board 'To Let,' before +a detached house in some street on the way to Carolina Road. I was +unable to find that street yesterday, and it was not until I could get +hold of the cabman who had driven the actress that I ascertained that +Scholefield Avenue was the only street he had passed through on Monday +night which contains detached houses. I went there at once and found +out that No. 13 had recently been let, the board having been removed +on Tuesday morning. I rang the bell, but no one came to the door, so +after getting the name of the house agent from a neighbour I went to the +office and interviewed the agent. From him I learnt that the house had +only been let since Monday, and that the tenant was a man named West +who had been ready to pay a high rent for immediate possession, and who +gave out that he was a recluse, desiring nothing so much as solitude and +privacy. The agent happened to have a spare key of No. 13 Scholefield +Avenue and he sent his clerk down with me to open the door. + +"As soon as I got in I ran over the house with my servant, who as well +as Sir Gregory had accompanied me, but there was no one to be seen in +it, and so I proceeded to make a careful and searching examination. Not +to weary you with details, I soon found a considerable number of small +paste spangles, or imitation diamonds, such as are sewn on to the more +elaborate and gorgeous kinds of ladies' evening dresses. As I found +several of these on the staircase between the hall and the drawing-room +and a good many more in the drawing-room itself, but none in any other +part of the house, I thought it was likely that, if they came off Mrs. +Vanderstein's gown, this was the only room she had visited. There was, +of course, the possibility that they had fallen from the dress of some +one who had been in the room before the place was let, but I set against +this the improbability of the mistress of the house or her friends being +rich people who would wear such expensively ornamented materials, and +also the fact that your aunt's maid in describing her toilette to me had +spoken of it as '_diamantée_.' + +"The next discovery was a most alarming one. On moving the sofa I saw +beneath it a large stain in the carpet, which various indications +assured me was the result of some acid that had been upset. From the +nature of the damage I was pretty certain that it had been caused by +sulphuric acid or vitriol. Now this is a strange thing to find traces +of in a lady's drawing-room, and when you find it in an empty house +which a young and beautiful lady has been seen to enter, but which she +has never been seen to leave, and when you further reflect that the +disappearance of this lady appears to be complete, and on the fact +that when last seen she was wearing a fortune in jewellery, one of two +conclusions appears inevitable, unless you assume that all these facts +are entirely unconnected and the result of pure coincidence. Assume them +on the contrary to be related to each other, and you are led, as I say, +to consider two possibilities. So I asked myself at once whether Mrs. +Vanderstein had been decoyed to the house by some demented creature bent +on assuaging a mad jealousy by throwing vitriol at her, or whether she +had been induced to visit it to satisfy the still more fatal greed of +a robber. And the more I looked at it, the more likely it seemed that +the poor lady had been murdered for her jewels and that the vitriol was +used to make the recognition of her body, if it should be discovered, +a negligible danger. A few minutes later I came across a powder puff +perfumed with the peculiar scent your aunt was in the habit of using--I +daresay you know it--and this dispelled any doubts I still had as to her +having been in the room. + +"I still hoped against hope, however, that she might have left it +alive, and I found some evidence downstairs which led me to think she +had been locked in one of the lower rooms for a time; but if so it must +have been before she was taken up to the drawing-room. In the library +a pane of the window was broken, no doubt by some one trying to escape +or attract attention, and obviously it had been done by a woman, as a +man could have opened the window, which was so stiff as to require more +than a woman's strength. The broken glass had been carefully removed +from the frame, so that, but for the draught, it might well have passed +unnoticed. + +"That it had been broken since the letting of the house was clear, since +I found a dustpan full of broken glass, which would not have been left +so by the landlord's servants, or by the charwoman who cleaned up after +their departure. The sight of that dustpan filled me with hopes that +were doomed to disappointment. Nothing offers a better ground for the +impression and retention of finger marks than a piece of shining metal, +and I expected to find a whole collection on the tin surface of the +pan. But to my astonishment and disgust I could not find a single one; +and this strengthened my opinion that I had to deal with deliberate +crime, and that of no ordinary stamp, for it was plain that not only had +some one cleaned and polished the dustpan after using it, but that the +person who had done so had worn gloves. And it was the same all over the +house. Not a finger-print to be seen, except in the room with the broken +pane, on the white painted door of which I found several distinct marks +of fingers. What more likely than that the poor lady, finding herself +locked into a strange room, should have broken the window and beaten +on the door with her hands in a sudden panic? In the same cupboard as +the dustpan was an old newspaper crumpled into a ball, which I found to +contain a handful or so of what appeared to be garden mould, and I could +not at first imagine why it should be there, though I can account for +it now. I had by this time been all over the house and made the most +thorough and exhaustive search, but the only other clue I could discover +was a negative one. + +"I must tell you that I had made sure that there was no article in +the house belonging to the tenant, Mr. West, as he called himself; +everything was accounted for in the inventory and belonged to Mr. Mill, +the owner. It became clear to me that West must have taken the place for +a definite purpose other than the usual one of living in it, and since I +knew that it had been occupied on Monday evening, his object doubtless +fulfilled itself then in a terrible manner and he probably fled from +the scene of his crime the moment he had, to the best of his ability, +removed all traces of it. In his haste he had left the little spangles +which had scattered themselves in the wake of his victim; and, though he +cleaned up the dustpan as if he feared it should tell tales in spite +of the precautionary gloves, he seemed to have thought the broken glass +could not betray him, or else, perhaps, he had no time to dispose of it. +But, if he had left nothing behind him, it looked as if he had taken +something away. + +"The chairs and sofas in the drawing-room were provided with loose +chintz covers, with one exception. There was a small sofa which stood +opposite the door naked and unashamed, in all the hideousness of the +original, ugly upholstery. Not only was the tapestry which covered +it of a meretricious nineteenth-century design, quite out of keeping +with the good taste displayed all over the house in the choice of +pattern and decoration, but the legs and arms, which were very much in +evidence, were made of brown varnished wood peculiarly objectionable in +appearance. It seems to me in the last degree unlikely that in a room +so full of beauty and quiet refinement this one thing should have been +allowed to flaunt its vulgarity, and hold the eye of the visitor with +an awful fascination. I felt convinced that West was responsible for +its nakedness, and it was quite likely that he, a man doubtless devoid +of any artistic sense, would imagine that the absence of that cover +might pass unnoticed, as the tapestry resembled the chintzes in general +colouring." + +"But why should he remove it? What could he want with a loose chintz +sofa cover?" asked Sidney, as the detective paused. + +"I asked myself these questions," continued Gimblet, "and I saw that +there were only two explanations which met all the facts. It might be +that the chintz bore traces of his crime that at all costs must be +destroyed; it might be, for instance, stained with blood. But in that +case he would probably have tried to burn it; that would be a difficult +job, and there was no sign of a fire having been lighted lately in any +of the grates. No coal in the cellar and no firewood. He would have +needed brushes and blacking to make all ship-shape again, and his grate +cleaning would probably have been amateurish. Or he might have had a +use for the chintz. It would be a handy thing to wrap a dead body in +before carrying it out to the grave he would dig for it in the garden. +For it seemed to me certain that after killing his victim he would have +buried her in the garden. There was a toolshed at the end of it, and I +hunted there for a spade that should show signs of recent use; but to my +surprise there was no spade at all. + +"By this time it was dark and late, and I returned to the house with the +intention of deferring till to-morrow a search for the grave, which I +felt sure of finding if it was there. I had little hope that the poor +lady had escaped, but it was still quite possible that my theories were +mistaken, and that even the signs of vitriol having been used were +capable of some other interpretation; and I gladly admitted to myself +that I had no actual proof of foul play. And then, just as I was on the +point of knocking off for the night, an elusive memory that had been +troubling me ever since I entered the house suddenly flashed clearly +into conscious recollection, and I knew that I had made no mistake. + +"When I opened the drawing-room door for the first time I had been aware +of a faint odour, which I seemed to catch a whiff of as it passed me, +so to speak, and to lose again immediately. During the second in which +I perceived it, its name was on my tongue, but before I could utter it +the smell was gone and with it my knowledge of what it was. I racked +my brains to remember it without the least result; but, though I gave +up the attempt and concentrated every effort on investigating what +was apparent to my other senses, the thing bothered me, and I did not +entirely forget it. As I stood in front of the house after my vain +search for a spade, it suddenly flashed into my mind what it was that I +had smelt: it was the never to be mistaken smell of chloroform. + +"I was staring absently up at the balcony of the drawing-room when the +knowledge came to me, and in an instant another light dawned on me with +equal suddenness. There was a great box or stand for plants on the +balcony, and the neighbour who had given me some information as to the +tenant had remarked that the mistress of the house would be sad to see +her flowers so neglected. Indeed, they were all faded and withered, +and he had implied that it was for want of water. Now, the thought +that leapt into my brain as swift and as illuminating as lightning was +this one: Why should the flowers die for want of water when we have +had constant rain for the last two days? Clearly it was not drought +that they were suffering from. But how if the _soidisant_ West, having +cruelly murdered your unfortunate aunt, proceeded to uproot the flowers +and to bury her, wrapped in the sofa cover, in the flower stand? It was +quite large enough for such a purpose, and if he had then replanted the +flowers it was probable enough that they would feel the effects of his +attempt at gardening. + +"I went up at once and put this theory to the test. I am very sorry to +say that it proved to be correct in every detail." + +Gimblet ceased speaking, and Sidney, who had listened in sad silence, +lifted his head, and asked a question. + +"The vitriol? They had used it--as you thought?" His voice was hoarse, +and his face stern and grim. + +"Alas, yes." + +"Hanging is too good for such brutes; but I will never rest till they +hang for it. Have you any idea who are the fiends who did this?" + +"An idea? Say rather that I have a suspicion," returned Gimblet. "Surely +you can see the direction in which the circumstances point?" + +"Unless it was the chauffeur," said Sidney, "I can't imagine who can +have done it." + +"I don't think there is anything in the theory that the chauffeur or +any one of the servants had a hand in it. There are several things +which make that idea hardly worth considering. But there is one person +against whom things look very black. Do you mean to say you can't see +who it is?" + +"No, I can't," repeated Sidney. + +"Mr. Sidney," said the detective slowly, "where do you suppose Miss +Turner is?" + +"I only wish I knew," answered the young man; "it is horrible not to +know. Where do you think she can possibly be? Tell me the truth, Mr. +Gimblet: do you believe she is dead?" He spoke harshly, and with averted +eyes. + +"No," said Gimblet, "I don't think she is dead." + +Something in his tone made Sidney look up. Gimblet was looking at +him with a strange expression, and as their eyes met he turned away +uneasily. For a minute Sidney stared at him wonderingly, and then an +incredulous enlightenment stole over him. + +"You can't mean," he said slowly, "that you imagine she had any +knowledge of the attack on my aunt?" + +Gimblet was silent; and his silence was more eloquent than words. + +"But it is impossible," cried Sidney, "that anyone out of a lunatic +asylum should think such a thing. You don't know her, Mr. Gimblet, she +is the sweetest, dearest girl. The most unselfish, the most devoted, the +loyalest girl in the world! How can you hint at it? Oh, I know it is +your business to suspect people, but you go too far! I cannot hear a +word against her." + +Gimblet turned and faced him. + +"Be reasonable, Mr. Sidney," he said, "and accept it as a fact that the +young lady will be suspected. If she is innocent it will be better to +try and clear her than to refuse to hear what there is to be said as to +her possible complicity. I understand your feelings, but you must see +that there is nothing to gain by disguising the truth. It is because I +thought it possible that you might feel a keen interest in Miss Turner +that I have told you I suspect her. I hope you may be able to help me to +convince myself of her innocence, and surely the best way to do that is +to try and get at the truth." + +"I will try and be reasonable, as you call it," said Sidney, after a +pause, "and I suppose by that you mean listening to your abominable +accusations. Well, let's hear your evidence, and if I can prevent myself +from throttling you I will! More than that no man could say," he added, +with an attempt at a smile. "And I feel a beast even to allow you to +speak of the thing." + +"I am extremely sorry to have to do it," said Gimblet, "but no good +ever came of shutting one's eyes to facts, and it's facts that make me +suspect Miss Turner. In the first place, there is the fact that she +stands to profit by Mrs. Vanderstein's death to the tune of £30,000." + +"That applies to me, too, only more so," interrupted Sidney. + +"Yes, and I don't think it of much importance," admitted the detective. +"I mention it as one of the points which is outside the region of +speculation, and therefore not negligible. The second fact is that you +were at your wits' end for money." + +"I daresay! But what that's got to do with your suspecting Miss Turner +beats me," cried Sidney. + +"It's got this to do, though I'm afraid you will not like my alluding to +your most private affairs--Miss Turner is in love with you. We may call +that fact No. 3." + +"There is absolutely no foundation for that statement," said Sidney, +flushing hotly, while he could not but be conscious of a strange +acceleration in the beating of his heart. + +"Is there not?" asked Gimblet, looking at him thoughtfully. "Well, we +will waive that point if you like. Let us say that Miss Turner has an +unusually friendly feeling for you. So friendly that she would go to +any length to provide you with the necessary funds. You yourself have +as good as told me so much. You cannot deny that she was the person who +urged you to try to get the money by false pretences." + +"I am sure she did not look at it in that light," protested Sidney, +while inwardly he cursed himself for the slip by which, on the previous +day, he had allowed the sex of his friend to escape him. + +"I saw you with her in the Park last Sunday, did I not?" said the +detective; "I noticed her expression. I am rather an observant fellow in +my way, you know. I have only seen that look on the faces of people very +much in love. I find I must go back to that, after all, in spite of your +objection to the suggestion." + +"I do object very much. Miss Turner has no such feelings for me, I am +sure, and I can't let you impute them to her." + +"I am afraid you must," said Gimblet tranquilly. "People who are +madly in love," he continued, "as I believe her to be, are capable +of any sacrifice, of any heroism, or of any villainy. In that state +of exaltation they are apt to lose their sense of proportion, and to +confound extremes; they may see in the basest depths of infamy only +another aspect of noble heights of self-abnegation; if the object +of their affections is in danger, they may consider no expedient too +shameful if it can be made to provide a means of extricating him. + +"There is nothing inherently impossible in imagining that Miss Turner, +conscious of nothing but your need, blindly strove to supply it and was +in no mood to boggle at any feasible method. I don't know if you are +aware of the character borne by her father. He was a man of the worst +reputation: an utterly merciless and unscrupulous swindler. His daughter +may not have escaped the taint of heredity; it is, at all events, +conceivable that her principles suffered from her early association with +him. He is said to have died in South America, where he was obliged to +fly to escape his just deserts, but there is no proof at all that he +really did die. + +"I know that I am for the moment dealing in theory, if I say, suppose +this man to be secretly in London and in secret communication with +his daughter. Suppose she let him see how direly she needed money +at this moment. Might not a scoundrel of his description seize the +opportunity to persuade her to help him in some such nefarious business +as the robbery of Mrs. Vanderstein, and secure her silence, if not her +assistance, in even a more dastardly business? To return to the realm of +fact; the order to the motor not to fetch the ladies from the opera was +given by Miss Turner. She ran back alone to tell the chauffeur, after +your aunt had gone into the theatre. She had previously sent you this +wire, in which she was very positive that the money you required would +be forthcoming. + +"She was seen by Miss Finner standing at the door of the house in +Scholefield Avenue in the company of your aunt, and it is not too much +to presume that she subsequently entered it with her. There would be +no imaginable motive to induce a thief or gang of thieves to decoy +her to the house: she had no jewels to be deprived of. There would be, +on the contrary, every reason why she should be prevented from going +anywhere near the place. Since, then, she assuredly went there on her +own initiative, it seems probable that Mrs. Vanderstein was persuaded to +accompany her by the girl herself. + +"To go back for the moment to speculation, one may imagine that it +was old Turner who masqueraded as West, the tenant, who is described +as a horsey-looking elderly man who had lived much in a hot climate. +This accords with a description of Turner I took the trouble to obtain +yesterday, with the exception of the beard or imperial worn by West, +which he may easily have grown of late years. It may have been the +girl's father, therefore, who opened the door to the two women, and +who, once he had her safe inside, first locked your aunt in the library +while he finished his preparations upstairs, and then led her to the +drawing-room, as in times more in harmony with his deeds he might have +led her to the nearest tree. + +"Finally, in support of this theory, or at least of Miss Turner's +complicity in the affair, we have the facts that the two ladies were +last seen together, and that, while the one has been found robbed and +murdered, the other has departed without a word or a sign. It is only +too likely that she is half way to America. The ports are being watched, +but by now it is probably too late." + +Gimblet finished speaking and sat watching the face of the younger man. +Sidney looked troubled, but his manner was confident as he gave his +opinion. + +"If she has not been heard of," he said, "it is because for some +reason she is unable to communicate with anyone. I have heard all your +arguments attentively, Mr. Gimblet, and I must confess that you have +not in the least convinced me that there is anything in your idea. It +all sounds very plausible, no doubt, but if you knew the young lady +as I have the pleasure of doing you would see that the whole thing is +ridiculous. No one can be what she is and act in the way you suggest. +Her nature is such as to put it out of the question. I can only repeat +that the thing is ludicrously impossible, and that if you knew her you +would be the first to see it. However, I agree with you that the best +way of proving what I say is to find the real murderer. My only fear is +that to-morrow you may discover that she too has been killed and buried +in the garden." + +"I am not afraid of that," said Gimblet, "because, as I tell you, if +her presence had not been desirable she would never have been near the +place. She would have been kept as unaware of its existence as you were +yourself. The first essential of such a plan as the murderer must have +concocted would be to get hold of Mrs. Vanderstein alone and unsuspected +by anyone who was not a confederate." + +Sidney made an impatient movement. + +"I am absolutely convinced that Miss Turner had nothing whatever to do +with it," he said. + +"Well," returned Gimblet as he rose to go, "I hope you are right and +that further investigations will lead me to share your view. If we can +lay hands on Mr. West we shall get at the truth, and unless he is very +careful how he disposes of the jewels we are sure to catch him. From +what I hear, Mrs. Vanderstein's rope of pearls is well known to every +jeweller in Europe; and, if he tries to sell so much as one of them, +he'll find a very different sort of rope around his neck. Now I must be +off; they are expecting me at Scotland Yard." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +It was long past one when at last Gimblet got to bed. He had had a long +and tiring day, full of strain and excitement, and his head was no +sooner on the pillow than he slept soundly and dreamlessly. It seemed to +him that he had only just shut his eyes when Higgs awoke him the next +morning by coming in with his hot water. He rolled over yawning and +rubbing his eyes, as his servant pulled up the blinds and laid ready his +clothes. When he had finished and gone away, the detective turned over +again for another snooze; but in a minute Higgs was back again. + +"The young man from Ennidge and Pring has called, sir," he said, "the +clerk who came with the key last evening, you know, sir. He wants to +know if the inquest is to be to-day, as, if not, he has been given a +holiday and is going to spend it in the country." + +"He can go," said Gimblet; "the inquest won't be till to-morrow." + +He was thoroughly awakened by now, and went to his bath as soon as Higgs +had departed. + +Breakfast was on the table when he entered the dining-room, and he +helped himself to omelet and sat down and poured out his tea before he +took up the morning paper, which lay beside his plate. + +As he folded back the sheet and cast his eye over the page, he uttered +a startled exclamation and sat staring incredulously at the paper as he +read: + + MYSTERY OF MISSING LADIES PROVES MYTHICAL. + + Mrs. Vanderstein is Staying at Boulogne. + + "Our correspondent at Boulogne telegraphs that Mrs. Vanderstein, + of 90 Grosvenor Street, is staying at the Hôtel de Douvres in that + town. Having observed her name in the visitors' book of the hotel, + our correspondent inquired of the manager if the lady could be she + who had been reported missing for the last two or three days, and + learnt that, while the manager was unaware of the anxiety which has + been felt in England on her account, it is certainly Mrs. Vanderstein, + of 90 Grosvenor Street, who is at present beneath his roof. Further + conversation with the affable and obliging host of the Hôtel de + Douvres elicited the information that the lady arrived early on + Tuesday morning with the intention of staying for one night only. She + complained of feeling indisposed, however, and sent for a doctor, + who ordered complete rest; so that Mrs. Vanderstein kept her room + till this evening, when, her health being improved, she dined in her + apartment as usual, but afterwards went out to the Casino. + + "As luck would have it, the manager was relating these details to + our correspondent at the very moment--about 11 p.m.--when a carriage + drove up to the door, and the lady herself re-entered the hotel. On + our correspondent's introducing himself and explaining that grave + anxiety was being felt on her behalf in this country, she expressed + considerable astonishment, and said that this explained the fact + that letters she had written had not been answered. She conjectured + further that they could not even have been delivered, remarking that + the French postal system left much to be desired. In reply to further + questions, the lady proclaimed her aversion to being interviewed, and + said merely that she would send some telegrams in the morning; upon + which our correspondent withdrew, and she entered the lift and mounted + to the first floor, where she has a suite of rooms. + + "Mrs. Vanderstein, who appeared to be entirely recovered in health, + was elegantly dressed in a black and white casino costume, with a + rose coloured toque trimmed with an osprey, which was very becoming + to her dark hair and superb complexion. She was wearing some of the + magnificent jewels with which rumour has been so busy during the last + few days." + +Gimblet read the paragraph twice, and then pushing back his chair walked +restlessly about the room. His appetite was gone for the time being; his +eyes glowed again with the excitement of a new problem. One second he +spared, in which to be glad that Mrs. Vanderstein still lived; he was +glad for Sir Gregory's sake, and for Sidney's sake, and even a little +for her own, though he had never to his knowledge set eyes on her. But +from the first he had felt an indefinable sympathy for the fastidious +lady whose house was scented with the delicate, delicious perfume that +he associated with her name. But, as a matter of fact, Mrs. Vanderstein, +alive and well and disporting herself at Boulogne, slipped quickly out +of the place in Gimblet's interest hitherto filled by Mrs. Vanderstein +dead and cruelly murdered. His mind now occupied itself busily and +eagerly with the questions raised by this shifting of rôles in the +tragedy of Scholefield Avenue. + +If Mrs. Vanderstein had not played the piteous part of the victim on +that fatal Monday night, who had? Not Miss Barbara Turner, for she was +described as having very fair hair, while that of the murdered woman was +very dark. And if Miss Turner were not flying from justice, where was +she? Could she and Mrs. Vanderstein have combined to kill their hostess, +when they visited the house hired by Mr. West of tropical origin? In +any case here was a tangled knot to unravel, and a black crime to bring +home to its perpetrator. Gimblet saw that he was not likely to solve +the puzzle off-hand, and reflected that in the meantime he had better +fortify himself with food while he had the opportunity. His breakfast +was rather cold by the time he again sat down to it. + +What, in heaven's name, had Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner been doing +in that house on Monday night? Had Miss Finner been mistaken, after all, +and was it not they whom she had seen before the door? If so, by what +astounding coincidence had he been led to search there of all places, by +what incredible freak had Fortune taken him to the scene of this black +and cold-blooded crime? His brain, while he ate, busied itself with +these and such-like riddles. + +Soon after breakfast a high official from the Yard called for him in +accordance with arrangements made the night before, and they set forth +together in a taxi for Fianti's. + +"For," said the official, as they went, "whether it was Mrs. Vanderstein +or some one else whose body you found, we want the man who did it +equally badly, and we want your help in finding him. I suppose your +commission from Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones dies a natural death now?" + +"I suppose so," said Gimblet, "but I'll see him presently and let you +know. There's still Miss Turner to account for, but I daresay she's at +Boulogne too." + +"As likely as not," agreed his companion. "It's just the sort of little +detail they'd forget to mention." + +"Well, we shall soon know," was Gimblet's only comment. + +At Fianti's they sent up their cards by the detective of the regular +force who was always in attendance on the Prince and Princess of +Targona, with a request for the favour of an audience. They had not +long to wait, and were very graciously received by Prince Felipe, who +listened with grave attention to the explanation of the object of their +visit, and read the note presented for his inspection by Gimblet with a +lively curiosity. + +No, His Highness was afraid he could not assist them in this matter. +The writing paper was certainly his--how obtained he could offer no +suggestion--the writing was of course a forgery, if that could be called +a forgery which made absolutely no pretence of resembling the original. +He had no notion to whom the appellation of Madame Q. might refer. No +doubt more than one lady whose name began with that initial had been +presented to him on different occasions, but he could not for the moment +recall.... Possibly some of his suite could be of more assistance. + +But no one of the Prince's household could give them any help. In the +matter of the writing paper, it was suggested that the hotel servants +might know something as to how it was obtained, but nothing definite +could be found out about it. + +The Prince sent for them again before they left, but it was only to say +that they had his best wishes for the success of their investigations, +and to ask a few questions as to points of English police procedure in +which he appeared to be interested. + +"Truly, a strange country!" he murmured from time to time on receiving +the answers to his inquiries. + +Before they were dismissed, Gimblet once more produced the crumpled +paper which bore the Targona arms over the Prince's name, and asked the +Prince if he could detect a certain odour which clung about it. + +"Delicious," said Prince Felipe, when he had pressed it to his nose, "a +delicate, pungent fragrance! But no, I do not know what it is." + +The official parted from Gimblet at the door of Fianti's and while the +one returned in a hurried taxi to his sanctum at Scotland Yard, the +other strolled across the street to Mrs. Vanderstein's house. + +He found a relieved and rejoicing household. + +"You've seen the news, of course, sir," said Blake, himself opening the +door in answer to the detective's ring. "And we've had a telegram this +morning. Here it is." + +He handed it to Gimblet, who read: + + "Blake 90 Grosvenor Street London W. Think letters must have missed + am staying at Hotel de Douvres Boulogne till further notice writing. + + "VANDERSTEIN." + +The telegram had been sent off at 8.14 that morning. + +"I suppose Miss Turner is with her, sir," Blake was saying, as Gimblet +gave him back the paper, "the newspaper doesn't mention her." + +"No," said Gimblet. "Still, as you say, I daresay she is there all the +same. It is Mrs. Vanderstein, and above all Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels, +that the public is interested in." + +He went back to his flat, where he found Sidney and Sir Gregory, both +radiant. + +"What splendid news!" Sir Gregory greeted him as they met, with a +joyful cry. "I could not believe it at first; it seems too good to be +true. But oh, Mr. Gimblet! what a night I have spent! I shall send that +reporter man a fiver. These newspaper chaps sometimes have their uses, +after all!" + +"I hope you see now," Sidney remarked, "what a mistake it is to suspect +people of doing impossible things." + +Sir Gregory looked towards them with a puzzled expression. Gimblet, +however, merely smiled. + +"I am delighted to be in the wrong, Mr. Sidney," was all he said. + +"She will laugh when she hears what a fuss I've been making," resumed +Sir Gregory, pursuing his own thoughts. "I think I shall run over to +Boulogne to-morrow and see her. I assure you, Mr. Gimblet, I feel ten +years younger again. What a nightmare it has been!" + +"I found a wire for me at the club," put in Sidney; "she says she is +sorry we have been worried, and that her letter must have missed the +post. It's jolly good of her to wire to me; I didn't think she meant to +have anything more to do with me when I last saw her." + +"It looks as if she had forgiven you, doesn't it?" said Gimblet. + +He was thinking that it was not every young man in Sidney's position who +would have looked so delighted to hear that his aunt was alive after +all, when all his difficulties seemed removed by her supposed death. + +"She doesn't say a word about Miss Turner," Sidney continued. "She might +have, you'd think. Of course she doesn't realise in the least that we've +been imagining her murdered." + +"I telegraphed this morning as soon as I'd seen the paper," said Sir +Gregory, "and said we had been most anxious and that I trusted they were +both well. I expect there will be an answer for me by the time I get +back. Must be going now in fact. You see she has been ill; kept her room +till last night, the hotel man said." + +"It's a very odd business," said Gimblet. "I have done a little +telegraphing on my own account, I may tell you, for I want to know +whether Mrs. Vanderstein did go to Scholefield Avenue, or whether Miss +Finner took some one else for her. I ought to get the reply any minute. +And the police are sending a man of theirs over to see her, by the +afternoon boat. They want me to help them with investigations of the +tragedy we discovered yesterday. I suppose, Sir Gregory, that I can be +of no further use to you?" + +"Thankee, Mr. Gimblet, I hope I shan't trouble you any more." + +After a little more mutual congratulation the two visitors took +themselves off, and Gimblet composed himself to await the answer to his +telegram, which was now due. + +He was sitting contemplating his Teniers, the beauties of which he had +not had much leisure to gaze at of late, and munching sweets as he +mused, when the expected ring came at the door of the flat; but instead +of the message he thought to receive it was Inspector Jennins from +Scotland Yard, an astute and good-humoured officer, who had before now +been his associate in more than one important case. + +"I came round to tell you, Mr. Gimblet," he exclaimed as he was shown +in, "that the young lady has been found." + +"What, Miss Turner?" + +"That's it. She's in the Middlesex Hospital and, what's more, has been +there all the time." + +"Then how in the world was it that no one knew it? That was one of the +first places I inquired at, and I daresay you did too." + +"Yes; she was brought in on Wednesday morning about 3 a.m. by a police +constable who had been on night duty in Regent's Park. He saw her +knocked down by a man, and picked her up unconscious, and she has been +so ever since. The man got away in the dark, and at the hospital no one +recognised the young lady from the description given in the inquiries +that were made, as the account of the clothes she wore was all wrong. +But there have been a lot of photographs of her and Mrs. Vanderstein +in the papers to-day and yesterday, and this morning one of the nurses +who'd been studying her portrait recognised the original in spite of her +wounds. The hospital authorities communicated with us, and I'm off to +the hospital now. I thought perhaps you'd like to come." + +"I should, certainly," said Gimblet, and they were soon on their way. + +"I have only once seen Miss Turner, and that was only a passing +glimpse," Gimblet said as the taxi sped along. "Don't you think it would +be a good plan to take one of the Grosvenor Street servants with us to +identify the young lady? It is possible that the nurse may be mistaken; +people look so different in a horizontal position. And their saying that +her clothes were wrongly described looks to me as if there were some +error somewhere." + +"I think that's a very good idea of yours," agreed Jennins, and putting +his head out of the window he told the driver to go to 90 Grosvenor +Street. + +They called for Amélie, Mrs. Vanderstein's maid, who appeared after a +few minutes, in high delight and excitement at the prospect of assisting +the police. She looked rather reproachfully at Gimblet, as though she +would have liked to point out to him that it was to be regretted that he +had hitherto failed to appreciate how valuable her co-operation might +be. "Ah, cette pauvre demoiselle," she murmured as they got into the +cab; and her manner indicated that she would have liked to add: "How +different it would have been if you had consulted me earlier." + +At the hospital there was a little delay before they were led upstairs +and handed over to the guidance of a pleasant-faced nurse who led them +to a ward full of casualty cases, which had suffered various injuries at +the hands of Fortune. + +In one bed was a woman who had been knocked down by a van; in the next a +child who had fallen into the kitchen fire; in the third a woman whose +husband had kicked her to the very verge of the grave; the fourth held +a girl with an arm crushed in the machinery of the factory she worked +in--so the nurse informed the inspector. + +She led the party through the ward, keeping up a running commentary as +they advanced, till they reached the end bed of all, in which lay a +young girl whose head was covered with bandages, and who lay quiet and +still as if asleep. + +"Here she is," said their guide. + +Gimblet looked at Amélie. + +"Mais oui, monsieur," she answered his unspoken question. "C'est bien +Mademoiselle Turner. Ah, là là! the poor one, what have they done to +her?" + +Barbara looked terribly white and fragile. Her face had grown thin to +emaciation, and there were deep blue lines under her eyes. + +"Poor young lady," said the nurse, "she's got concussion of the brain, +and it must have been a frightful blow that did it." + +When they left the ward Gimblet asked: "How was it Miss Turner was not +recognised till to-day?" + +"Well," said the nurse, "you see the pictures in the papers aren't very +good, and her hair is so hidden by the bandages that it's rather hard to +see the likeness. But what really put us off here was the description of +the clothes she was supposed to have been wearing. Of course no one ever +thought of connecting her with a young lady in a white evening dress +and a red opera cloak!" + +"Why," asked Jennins, "were those not the colours she wore?" + +"Just wait a moment," said the nurse; "I'll show you her things." + +She hurried away and returned in a minute with a bundle of apparel. + +"Look at them," she said, and held them up for them to see. "Look +at this old black coat and skirt; do you see how threadbare and +old-fashioned it is? It isn't even very clean. And this horrible hat," +she pointed to a battered straw, "it is almost in pieces; and the boots +are, quite. Her underclothes were of such coarse, stiff calico that you +would take them for workhouse things, and all darned and mended till you +could hardly see the original stuff. The stockings weren't even mended. +They were just one large hole. And there was no blouse under the coat +at all. Nothing but a chemise. How was one to imagine that this was the +young lady who was being inquired for? There's a tremendous amount in +appearances, and she appeared to be the poorest of the poor." + +Gimblet seized upon the miserable garments and examined them eagerly. +But they rendered him no information. Nothing was marked, the boots were +odd ones and of a prehistoric age; there was no distinctive feature +about any of the things. + +With injunctions that they should be telephoned to if Miss Turner awoke +to consciousness, they left the hospital and dismissed Amélie, who went +back to Grosvenor Street to pack and return to the hospital with some +of Barbara's belongings, so that she might find them there if they were +needed. + +"Now what I want is to see the constable who brought that young lady +into the hospital," Gimblet said to Jennins. + +"So do I," said the inspector. "He's been sent for and should be at the +Yard by now," and they drove off in another taxi. + +Police-Constable Matterson of S division had already arrived, and was +awaiting them when they reached Scotland Yard. Jennins called him into +his private office, and there, in response to their questions, he told +his story. + +"At about 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning," said he, "it being a dark, wet +night, with the rain pouring down like water out of a bucket, and the +thunder claps as near overhead, and as frequent, as ever I heard, I +was on duty near St. Mark's Church just outside Regent's Park. There +is a small bridge for foot passengers across the canal opposite and I +crossed it on my way to the outer circle of the Park. I was just resting +a minute on the bridge, for I didn't like to stay under the trees more +than I need with that storm so close, when a flash of lightning that +must have been almost over me, it was that bright, showed up the canal +below, as I leant on the parapet, so clear that I could have counted +every blade of grass. There was the canal winding out of sight, and the +surface of it all jumping and hissing as the rain-drops hit it; and +there were the banks on either side and the trunks of the trees lit up +as light as day. But the thing that caught my eye was the sight of two +people struggling on the bank, a few yards from the water. It was a man +and a woman, and he seemed to be trying to catch hold of her round the +neck, while she was dodging and defending herself as best she could. +It was all very clear for half a second and then the dark swallowed +everything up again, and the thunder burst, as it seemed, just on my +head. + +"Apart from what I had seen it seemed to me that folks wouldn't be out +for any good in that weather, and at that hour and place; and when the +noise of the clap rumbled away I caught the sound of the tail end of a +scream which made me sure of it. I turned my lantern towards the place +and hollered back, running to get over the fence and down to the canal +as I did so. + +"As I came near to where I'd seen the pair, two successive flashes +coming close one after the other showed them up again no more than a +few yards away, and they saw me in the same instant. The man had got a +great spade in his hand, and when he caught sight of me he lifted it up +sideways and aimed a fearful blow at the woman with the edge of it. She +ducked and dodged again--very active she was, poor thing--and he missed, +so that the blade glanced off her shoulder and he as near as possible +lost his balance. But he recovered himself at once and threw up his arms +again with the spade clutched in both hands, as I saw by the second +flash, and brought it down with all his force flat on the top of her +head. + +"I didn't see her go down, for the light went before the blow had +fallen, and in the dark I lost him, and he got clear away. + +"While I was groping about with my lantern, I fell over the body of the +girl, lying where he had struck her to the ground, and at the first +start off I thought he had done for her sure enough. So I let her lie +for a few minutes, while I blew my whistle and kept on searching around +for the scoundrel. Two more of our men came up after a time and we had a +regular hunt, but he'd got a good start and we never saw him. On turning +our attention to the girl again, we found that she was still alive, +though unconscious, so we got an ambulance and took her to the hospital. +There was nothing to show who she was, but from her clothes I judged her +to be one of the lowest and poorest class. I reported the occurrence at +the time, and made a further search by daylight on the spot. I picked up +the spade near by, where the fellow had evidently dropped it as he ran; +it had a piece of stout cord attached to the handle about four or five +feet long, but was otherwise without distinguishing mark of any kind. +It's outside, if you wish to see it, sir." + +Jennins told him to bring it in. + +"Of course," he said to Gimblet, "no one ever thought of connecting this +story of violence and brutality with the two missing ladies. The report +didn't come my way, as it happens, but I don't suppose for a moment I +should have been a scrap the wiser if it had. Still, it makes one feel a +bit foolish now, I'll own." + +Matterson returned with the spade and cord, which proved to be very +ordinary; and Gimblet's inquiring lens could discover nothing about them +in any way remarkable. + +"What was the man like?" he asked the policeman. + +"I didn't have much time to take notice, sir," replied Matterson, "but +he was a dark fellow with a black beard, and tall." + +"Did you see if he wore gloves?" + +"Come to think of it, now you ask me, sir, I believe he did. I saw his +hands plain enough as he lifted the spade, and I ought to know. But I +couldn't swear to it, I'm afraid, though my impression is that he did, +and that it struck me as curious at the time, in the sort of way a thing +will strike you for a moment and then slip out of your memory like a +dream does." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +"I bet it's our man," said Gimblet, as Jennins dismissed the constable. + +"Well, he must have altered his appearance if he is Mr. West, the +gentleman from South America, unless Matterson's account is very wrong +indeed," was Jennins' only comment. "Aren't you going a bit out of your +way, Mr. Gimblet," he asked, "to see any connection between this violent +attempt on Miss Turner's life and the actual murder which has taken +place at 13 Scholefield Avenue? For my part I don't see any reason to +think the two affairs have anything to do with each other. I admit it +looked as if Miss Turner and Mrs. Vanderstein had been in the house, but +surely that theory is disposed of now and it is clear that your friend +the actress was mistaken in thinking it was them she saw. Remember, she +didn't even know them by sight, but merely guessed at their identity +from the description in the advertisement: two ladies in white, one +wearing a red cloak and the other a mauve one. Why, there may have been +dozens of couples dressed in these colours going about London on Monday, +or any other night!" + +"But the jewels," said Gimblet, "she saw them too, you know." + +"Mrs. Vanderstein hasn't a monopoly of diamonds. And besides, at that +distance, and at the pace Miss Finner was going, she could only have +received the vaguest impression, in any case." + +"I suppose I have got my head full of Scholefield Avenue," said Gimblet. +"I admit that I find it very hard to remember that Mrs. Vanderstein, at +all events, is a very long way from that spot. And I daresay you are +right, and Miss Turner never was much nearer to it. Still...." Gimblet +fell into an introspective silence from which he soon roused himself +with a start. "Tell me what you think, Jennins," he said. "Have you any +theory?" + +"I haven't any theory about the Scholefield Avenue business," replied +Jennins reluctantly, "but there doesn't seem much mystery about the +other affair, to my way of thinking. Surely it is clear that when Mrs. +Vanderstein went off so secretly to Boulogne, for some reason she wished +it to appear that Miss Turner went with her, while as a matter of fact +the young lady remained in London. Ten to one we shall find that Mrs. +Vanderstein had a more compromising companion with her in France than +she left in England. Miss Turner, no doubt, retired to some secluded +spot till her presence should be again required, probably to lodgings +near Regent's Park. Very likely she stayed indoors all day for fear of +meeting acquaintances who might call for troublesome explanations as to +her presence there, and being in want of exercise and fresh air went +for a walk at night in order to procure them. Is it surprising that +this ruffian of whom Matterson caught a glimpse, meeting her at such an +hour and in so lonely a place, should not have spared her his unwelcome +advances? Matterson saw him trying to put an arm round her neck, and it +was very natural for her to scream in such circumstances. On our man +running up, the black-bearded loafer, thinking himself caught, struck +out at the girl in a fit of temper, and then took to his heels just in +time to save himself." + +"All very fine, Jennins," said Gimblet, "but I can pick holes in that +theory till you'll take it for a sieve. To put aside the question +whether such a young lady as Miss Turner is said to be would lend +herself to the deception you suggest, is it conceivable that, if she +did go out to seek fresh air after dark, she should defer doing so till +two in the morning and then choose a particularly violent thunderstorm +to walk about in? Would her desire for exercise have led her to stand +half way up the embankment of the canal when the rain was falling in +torrents, and had been doing so since midnight? There is another thing +as inexplicable, and that is the attire in which she took this midnight +ramble. The clothes we saw at the hospital were mere rags. It seems +incredible that this young lady, whom we know to have been clad on +Monday night in purple and fine linen, should have been going about +on Wednesday morning in garments which were not only threadbare and +indescribably ancient but actually dirty. The battered state of the hat +may be due to the blow from the spade, and all the garments were of +course drenched by the rain, but there is something beyond that in their +repulsiveness. I can't imagine how she can have brought herself to wear +such things. + +"Apart from this behaviour of hers, which is in itself a mystery, what +was the black-bearded one doing in the same place and hour and in the +same unpropitious conditions? They could hardly both have been wandering +there for the innocuous purpose you attribute to Miss Turner. And, mark +you, the man was no destitute waif devoid of the means of procuring +himself shelter from the rain. He carried a good serviceable spade which +would have got him the price of a night's lodging whenever he liked to +pawn it. Now the kind of rough you are thinking of does not carry a +spade or anything so suggestive of hard and honest labour. On the other +hand, who does use that implement in a town like this? A gardener might +have one, or a scavenger; or one or two other people. I think one of the +most likely, especially at night, would be a gravedigger." + +"There you go!" exclaimed Jennins; "your mind is running on bodies +buried in the flower pots! I suppose you think this fellow was going to +bury the girl in one of the beds in the park!" + +"It's all very strange," mused Gimblet, unheeding the inspector's +jeering tones. "The rope now. That is a puzzle. What could he be going +to do with a rope? And why was it tied to a spade? Had he got the thing +in his hands when he was trying to put his arms round Miss Turner's +neck? It must have hampered him a good deal and perhaps helped her to +avoid his clutches." Gimblet, with unseeing eyes, stared fixedly at his +companion, his mind busy with the problem. Suddenly a light seemed to +fall upon it. "By Jove!" he cried, "I believe I see the whole thing. If +only Matterson were certain about the gloves." + +"What is it?" asked Jennins eagerly. + +"No, no," said Gimblet. "It is too wild an idea at present, though +indeed I do not think I can be mistaken. But you have all the facts +before you, Jennins, and are as able to come to the right conclusion as +myself. I will leave you to think over the puzzle, while I go back to my +flat and see if the answer to the wire I sent to Mrs. Vanderstein has +yet arrived. It ought to be there by now." + +But he found no telegram awaiting him. He was annoyed and surprised +at this, but the time taken by foreign telegrams is always uncertain, +and Mrs. Vanderstein might have been out when his reached Boulogne. +Lunch was being kept warm for him, and he made a hearty meal of Scotch +woodcock and asparagus; with which he drank iced coffee and ate sponge +cake instead of bread. There were strawberries to finish up with, and he +left the dining-room with a peaceful smile on his face. + +It was three o'clock, and the telegram was still undelivered. + +Gimblet decided to wait in for it, and, having now leisure to think of +others, rang up Sidney on the telephone and told him of the discovery of +Barbara Turner's whereabouts. + +Incoherent questions came to him over the wire, but after a minute or +two Sidney said "good-bye" and rang off hastily. The detective smiled +as he hung up the receiver. In his mind's eye he saw the young man dash +out and drive swiftly in the direction of the hospital, and indeed the +picture his imagination drew for him could not have been more accurate. + +The afternoon passed and the evening wore away, and yet no wire came +from Mrs. Vanderstein. It was tiresome, and Gimblet felt irritated with +the lady for her lack of courtesy. Surely she might have replied by now. +He felt that she held the clue to many things which perplexed him, and +he could not understand her failure to give it to him. His own telegram +had been very urgent. Well, the police were sending a man to see her; he +was to go over by the 2.20 from Charing Cross, and by now he would be +arriving at Boulogne. There could not be much more delay, telegram or no +telegram. + +Gimblet gave up waiting and went out again. He felt he must go to +Scholefield Avenue once more. The tragedy that had taken place there +filled his thoughts; and, being convinced in spite of Jennins' +contemptuous incredulity that the two mysteries were in some remote +way connected, he was inclined to go and see if there were not some +trifling point about things at No. 13 which he had overlooked, instead +of waiting longer for the minute glimmer of light which Mrs. Vanderstein +might be able to throw upon the darkness with which the whole affair was +enveloped. + +Scholefield Avenue looked very quiet and peaceful in the evening light; +the few boys who still hovered about the gate, survivals of the crowd +which the report of the murder had gathered there earlier in the day, +wore the tranquil air of those to whom time is no object, and Gimblet, +looking up and down the road, where the shadows lay long and the air +was cool in the green twilight of the overhanging trees, thought again +what a good place the murderer had chosen for his deed. Who would ever +suspect evil in so calm and bright an oasis among the mazes of dusty, +traffic-worn streets which surrounded it on every hand? + +The house was in charge of a couple of policemen, who let Gimblet in +without demur when he showed them his card, and followed him with their +eyes with looks in which curiosity and admiration were blended. He +went over the garden again, examining half-obliterated footmarks, and +poking about between flowering plants lest something should be thrust +away there and had escaped his notice. Then into the house, where he +renewed his search, but without result. He looked into the drawing-room +again, where all was as he had left it except that the body had been +removed to a bedroom, then went into the library and gazed again at the +dirty finger marks on the white paint of the door. Whose fingers were +they, he wondered, which had left so many imprints? Was it the murdered +woman who had been shut up in that room? Had Mrs. Vanderstein and her +companion been there too, or was Jennins right, and their presence in +that vicinity on Monday night been a figment of Miss Finner's excited +imagination? + +His thoughts reverted to the powder puff and the forged note, and he +took the folded paper from his pocket book and sniffed at it again. The +odour of scent, now faint indeed, but still clinging sweetly to the +impassioned words, was unmistakably that which hovered about the house +in Grosvenor Street. Arome de la Corse, it was called, he remembered, +and Amélie had said that Mrs. Vanderstein had it sent to her direct +from Paris. Such extraordinary things happen every day that anything +short of a miracle hardly attracts attention, but surely it would be a +strain on the long arm of coincidence to suppose that, having strayed +on to the scene of a murder owing to the mistaken idea that he was on +the track of Mrs. Vanderstein, he should then find that not only did the +dead woman resemble that lady and wear similar clothes but that she even +used the same uncommon perfume! Gimblet's whole soul revolted at such an +impossibility. In the name of common sense, he said to himself, it must +be Mrs. Vanderstein who had been seen on the doorstep on Monday night, +and none other, in spite of all probability to the contrary; though what +she was doing in that _galère_ certainly seemed incomprehensible from +nearly every point of view. + +No contingency was ever dismissed by Gimblet as too wild for +consideration, and the only reasonable explanation of her presence, +he felt, was that she was in some way mixed up with the murder, an +accomplice at least, if not the actual author of the deed; but this +view involved so complete a shifting of ideas, that he put it aside for +further consideration in the light of the information which the man +sent by Scotland Yard to Boulogne might be able to furnish. If only the +walls could speak! he thought, as he finally realised that nothing more +was to be gathered, and, before leaving the room, strolled over to the +mantelpiece in order to have a nearer look at the picture which hung +there, and which he had noticed the day before. + +It was a small oil painting, dark with dirt and age, and much of the +detail lost in a general blackness. Still the figures, those of a man +in blue and another in greenish brown in the act of lighting a long +pipe, could be clearly enough distinguished, together with enough of the +background to make it plain that this represented an interior. Gimblet +studied it with the keenest appreciation; it was just the class of +picture he most delighted in. A longing took him to remove it from its +nail and carry it to the light, and with rather a guilty glance back at +the door, which he had, however, shut as he entered, he put up his hand +and lifted it off. + +As he delicately lowered his prize he caught sight of something which +made him very nearly drop it. + +On the square of wall paper which had been hidden by the picture was +some pencilled writing, scrawled irregularly in a large round hand: + + "I am locked in this room. I write this hoping it may be the means + of delivering these people to justice, for I am sure they intend no + good. I can see that by the fact that the man with the black beard has + promised to help me to escape. Why should there be need to escape? But + I do not believe he will keep his word. I have been here so long, I do + not know how long, but many hours, perhaps days, and God knows what + dreadful thing they are doing in the drawing-room to Mr" + +The writing broke off abruptly about half way down the square of darker +colour, where the paper had been prevented from fading by the protecting +picture. Gimblet gazed at it with all the emotions of the scientist +whose theory has stood the decisive test. His hands fumbled in his +excitement, as he hastily snatched out his notebook, and sought in it +for the telegraph form Higgs had obtained from the Piccadilly office. +He flattened it against the wall below the pencilled words, more in +order to gloat over this proof of the soundness of his deductions than +for the sake of comparing the two handwritings, for it had only needed +the first glance to make it plain to him that they were one and the +same. The writing on the wall was larger; the letters followed each +other unevenly, and while some of the lines drooped lower and lower as +they advanced, others rose crookedly to meet them, so that one or two +actually overlapped and were rather hard to decipher, but the essential +character of the hand was clearly identical with that of the telegram. +There was no mistaking the slant of the short line of the h's or the +oval converging lines of the w's and the low crossing of the t's, +besides a hundred other small points which left the trained eye in no +doubt as to the authorship of the message. + +"I wonder what Jennins will say to this," thought Gimblet, as he copied +down the words on a page of his notebook. "That Scholefield Avenue has +got on my brain, I suppose." + +Excited as he was, he did not forget his original purpose in taking down +the painting, but carried it to the window and examined it closely by +the now diminishing light. On nearer inspection it proved to be of less +interest than he had expected, and he hung it up again with the less +regret. + +"But even Jennins will have to admit that a leaning towards Art comes +in very useful sometimes," he thought, as he once more hid the scrawled +message from view. + +It was long past eight when the detective returned to his flat, only to +find that there was still no answer to his telegram to Boulogne. + +"Nothing has come and no one has been to see us since you went out, +sir," Higgs told him. + +Higgs always spoke of himself as "us" when he was engaged on Gimblet's +affairs, just as he alluded, with a fine impartiality, to matters in +which his master alone was concerned as "ours." + +"They've been ringing us up from the Yard," he went on, "been ringing +every few minutes for the last half-hour, and said I was to ask you to +speak to them on the telephone the minute you come in. There they go +again," he concluded, as the bell tinkled violently in the library at +the same moment as there came a ring at the front door. + +Gimblet hurried to the instrument and Higgs went to answer the door. + +"Are you there?" + +"Yes, is that Mr. Gimblet? Hold the line, please, sir." + +In a moment Jennins' voice sounded in his ear. + +"Mr. Gimblet, that you? Oh, Mr. Gimblet, our man has wired from Boulogne +and it appears that things have taken a very unexpected turn. I daresay +you've seen an evening paper?" + +Gimblet had heard so much when the library door burst open, and Sir +Gregory rushed into the room. + +"Look at this," he almost screamed, evidently beside himself with some +painful emotion. "Look at this!" + +He waved an evening paper. + +"Oh, do go away, Sir Gregory," said Gimblet; "can't you see I'm busy? +Hullo, Jennins! Jennins, are you there?" + +But Sir Gregory would not be denied. Seizing Gimblet's arm he tore him +away from the telephone, and holding the newspaper under his eyes +pointed to it with a shaking hand. He would have spoken, but sobs choked +his utterance, and, glancing at him for the first time and in no very +friendly humour, Gimblet was surprised to see that tears were rolling +down the kindly pink face. + +"Why, what's the matter?" he said, but Sir Gregory only pointed to the +unfolded sheet. The detective's eyes at last followed the outstretched +finger, and he read: + + "Murder of Mrs. Vanderstein. + "Missing Lady Found Dead in Her Hotel at Boulogne." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +"What do you think about going over to Boulogne, Mr. Gimblet?" + +It was the following morning, and Jennins was sitting in Gimblet's +rooms. He had come round to talk matters over and discuss plans and +methods of carrying them out. + +"I think I may be more useful if I stay here," Gimblet said, in answer +to his question. "Your fellow, Burford, who is over there, is a good +sound man who will, at least, not overlook the obvious, and Bonnot, the +French detective, who is said to have been summoned, is a master of his +profession. These murders are certainly the work of the same gang, and +it may be easier to trace them here in London, if it is, as it appears +to be, their starting point, than it will be to do so in a foreign +country. There is no more news from Burford, I suppose?" + +"Nothing new since last night. And no more than the papers have, anyhow. +These reporters are the deuce." + +"They are," Gimblet agreed. "Let's see again what they say about it." He +took up a paper, turned to the sinister headline, and read aloud: + + "A startling sequel has followed the mysterious disappearance of + Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, who left their home early in the + week and whose whereabouts were only yesterday discovered. One + of these ladies, Mrs. Vanderstein, who, it will be remembered, we + ascertained to be staying at Boulogne, was found dead in her room at + the Hôtel de Douvres yesterday afternoon, and foul play is strongly + suspected. Traces of violence were plainly to be seen and it is + thought likely that the poor lady was strangled to death. A curious + feature of the affair is that though Mrs. Vanderstein had with her a + large quantity of her valuable jewellery, some of which was actually + lying on the table at the time, so far as is at present known none of + it has been stolen. + + "A page in the service of the hotel reports that he showed a visitor + to Mrs. Vanderstein's room soon after luncheon, and this stranger, who + is described as a tall man with a black beard, left the hotel shortly + before three o'clock, after delivering a message from the lady to the + effect that she did not wish to be disturbed again that day. The order + was duly given to the domestics of the hotel, and if a messenger from + London had not arrived by the five o'clock boat on important business + and insisted on penetrating to Mrs. Vanderstein's presence, it is + probable that the murder would not have been discovered until to-day. + The authorities are investigating the affair with the utmost energy, + and it is believed that they are on the track of the man with the + black beard." + +Gimblet put down the paper. "There are various other paragraphs saying +the same thing in different words," he remarked. + +"It certainly looks as if you were right again," observed Jennins +reflectively, "about all this being the work of the same gang, I mean." + +"There's not a doubt of it," said Gimblet. "I was sure of it from the +first, though I admit that I had not much to go on. A mere whiff of +perfume. Let us see how much we know now. To go back to Monday night, +Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner voluntarily entered the house in +Scholefield Avenue, though whether in response to an invitation from the +so-called West or not we do not know, in spite of a theory I have on the +subject. They then presumably separated, Miss Turner being imprisoned +in the room on the ground floor, very much against her will and to her +alarm since she broke a window in the hope of escaping, and when that +attempt failed wrote a despairing message on the wall, in which she +stated her fear that something dreadful was being done to somebody in +the drawing-room. You will, I am sure, agree with me that, though the +message says that her alarm was for 'Mr' and then stops, an s would +have been added if Miss Turner had not been interrupted, and it was her +intention to write 'Mrs.' But whether this would have referred to the +woman who was buried in the flower stand or whether she was thinking of +her friend, Mrs. Vanderstein, is not clear. + +"Was Mrs. Vanderstein in the drawing-room at the time of the murder, +and if so what was her business there, is the next question where +our knowledge fails us. We know she was in that room at some time +or other--I knew that the moment I smelt her perfume on the powder +puff and note--but whether or no she was there at the moment of the +crime we cannot tell. In either case her subsequent proceedings are +extraordinary. If she was detained in the house against her will and +made her escape by some unknown means, why did she fly to Boulogne, +instead of to her own house or to the nearest police station? Why, when +she got to Boulogne, did she not communicate with her friends until +yesterday? It is true she said she had written previously, but it would +have been more natural if she had telegraphed, and if she received no +reply had telegraphed again. Why did she display no anxiety on Miss +Turner's account? Her actions seem at present to be inexplicable and +strange to the last degree. Had she suddenly gone off her head? That is +the most probable solution, to my mind. If so, it may well be that it +was she who committed the terrible crime I discovered in Scholefield +Avenue, and then, with the mixture of cunning and recklessness common +to lunatics of a criminal type, retired to Boulogne to wait till the +affair should have blown over. There are, however, several drawbacks +to such a theory, and one of them is that it does not account for the +black-bearded man, unless he was a lover, and indeed it seems most +likely that he was. + +"We don't know what was the part he played on Monday night. Perhaps he +helped Mrs. Vanderstein to escape more effectually than he did Miss +Turner, in spite of his promise to her. + +"All we know is that he took the girl out of the house on Tuesday night +or Wednesday morning and that they went together to the bank of the +canal in Regent's Park, where Matterson came upon them. We know that +'black-beard' carried a heavy spade with him. What for? Not to use it as +he did, I think; neither was it to dig a grave with after Miss Turner +had been disposed of in some other way. Think, Jennins, there was a +cord attached to the handle, and the canal was within a few yards of +them. Do those two facts suggest nothing to you? Surely it is obvious +that his intention was to throw the young lady into the water, having +previously tied the spade to her so as to make sure she would sink. No +doubt she guessed what was in his mind, and that was why Matterson saw +her defending herself, poor girl, and heard her scream. Such at least is +my opinion." + +"I shouldn't wonder if you've hit the nail on the head this time," +agreed the inspector. "The question is, what's the next thing to be +done?" + +"It's high time I followed up a clue contained in the letter purporting +to come from Prince Felipe," replied Gimblet. "I should have done so +long ago, if I had not waited for Mrs. Vanderstein's version of the +affair. You remember a Madame Q. is mentioned as the bearer of the +note. Well, who is Madame Q.? I telegraphed early yesterday to Mrs. +Vanderstein saying, 'Were you at 13 Scholefield Avenue on Monday night, +and who else was present? Letter has been found there apparently +addressed to you by Prince F. mentioning Madame Q. Please wire very +fully, and give Madame Q.'s full name and address. Very grave matters +involved.' If the lady had replied to my wire we should doubtless have +been spared a lot of trouble, though we might not have been able to save +her life; but, as things are, I propose to try and sift the question of +Madame Q.'s identity for myself." + +Jennins went away; and Gimblet, after being detained by a short visit +from Sidney--who was on his way to catch the eleven o'clock train to +Boulogne--also took up his hat and left the house. + +A quarter of an hour later he was standing on the doorstep of Mrs. +Vanderstein's Grosvenor Street house. + +He found, as was natural, a shocked and dislocated household. The +cook and Blake were seated in the morning-room, where the cook was +flourishing a handkerchief, and reiterating observations to the effect +that she had always known something terrible was going to happen ever +since the second footman had broken the looking-glass in the pantry; +while the young man referred to was standing just outside the door, and +putting his head into the room every few minutes to remark defiantly, +though with a certain uneasiness, that it wasn't in nature for so +tremendous an event to be brought about by such an insignificant +piece of glass as the one he had had the "misfortune" with. From +the drawing-room came the penetrating shrillness of Amélie's voice, +apparently filling in the newspaper account of the murder, with all the +embellishing detail an unshrinkingly gruesome imagination could suggest, +for the benefit of the rest of the maids, whose chorusing groans could +also be distinguished. But, on the whole, there was more perturbation as +to the effect the tragedy would be likely to have on their own futures +than distress at the dreadful fate of their mistress; and Gimblet, if he +had to listen to much lamentation, found himself also beset with many +anxious questions. + +It was some minutes before he was able to introduce his own object in +coming there; but at last he drew Blake to one side, and asked him if +Mrs. Vanderstein had kept a visiting book with a list of the people she +called on. + +She had done so, and it was produced, but to Gimblet's disappointment +contained no name beginning with the letter Q. There were, however, the +names of two or three French ladies, and he wondered whether Q were +merely a cipher for Gerady or Kerigoet. Blake, cross-questioned, could +think of no foreign lady with whom Mrs. Vanderstein was on familiar +terms. + +Gimblet remembered Amélie's thorough knowledge in the matter of her +mistress' correspondence, and called to her to come and speak to him. + +"Had Mrs. Vanderstein a friend of your nationality?" he asked. "Was +there any French lady whom she knew well, and whose name, perhaps, began +with a Q?" + +"A lady? No," said Amélie. "A friend? Hardly! Il ne manquait plus que +cela! But she was acquainted with a French woman, whose name begins with +Q. Without doubt, it is of that Justine you speak." + +"Justine?" + +"Eh! Yes. Justine Querterot. Madame Querterot, as she calls herself, +though, for me, I never saw that she had a husband. It is said that he +shot himself, the poor man, and I do not see what he could have done +better with a wife like that one! Ah, monsieur, a nasty, bad woman!" + +"There are people like that," Gimblet agreed diplomatically; "but tell +me, how did Mrs. Vanderstein know this Madame Querterot?" + +"She came for a time to _coiffer_ Madame, and to rejuvenate her +complexion, which needed nothing of the kind, I assure you. But she had +the idea to be massaged, and for some months that woman was daily in the +house. Never did I comprehend how Mrs. Vanderstein could tolerate her. A +woman so vulgar, so familiar, and who never ceased to talk and talk and +talk!" + +Amélie spoke with virtuous indignation, as one to whom the gift of +silence has been vouchsafed. + +"She is a masseuse, then?" + +"Not a real masseuse, though so she calls herself; but, to say the +truth, she is just a hairdresser who tries to make people believe she +knows something of the care of the skin. For some reason she appeared to +amuse Madame, and I think it was chiefly for that reason that she let +her come." + +"Did she come every day, and has she been here since Mrs. Vanderstein +left home?" + +"For two or three months she came every day," replied Amélie bitterly. +"Indeed I thought she was coming always, but only last Monday--the very +day Madame went away--I heard la Justine say that it was her final +visit; and, in truth, she has not been here since, I am very happy to +say it." + +"Ah," said Gimblet. "Well, I shall have to go and see her. Let me see, +you said she is a tall, dark woman, did you not?" + +"But no," cried Amélie, "on the contrary she is short, and has yellow +hair in the worst possible taste." + +"What makes you dislike this woman so much? Do you know anything against +her, by any chance?" + +But it appeared that Amélie knew nothing against Madame Querterot. Vague +accusations and dark charges of a general character were all she had to +bring; and, after listening to a tirade of this kind for a considerable +time, Gimblet cut it short by asking for the masseuse's address. + +"Your mistress left a letter for her," he said, "which has been sent +over to us by the French police. It is of no importance, and contains, I +think, only a reference to Madame Querterot's account, but I am anxious +to deliver it; and, as the poor lady had got no further with the address +than Madame Q, without your assistance it would have been a matter of +some difficulty." + +It was unfortunate that the detective should have hit upon this excuse +to explain his interrogations, for the idea that even death had not put +a stop to intercourse between Mrs. Vanderstein and her enemy nearly +suffocated Amélie, whose jealous suspicions woke again at the challenge. + +"This is the address, monsieur," she said, as she gave it to him, +"but I would not count on finding the bird in the nest. It is in the +neighbourhood of Boulogne that you should look for that infamous woman. +One of her kind is capable of everything; and, in my opinion, nothing is +more probable than that it is she who is the real assassin of my poor +Madame! A black beard, indeed! Is she not a hairdresser?" + +Gimblet fled before the storm of words he had provoked, and hurried to +the Pimlico address that he had obtained. + +In spite of himself, Amélie's words echoed in his ears: "Is she not a +hairdresser?" A black beard was a simple enough disguise, and fair hair +may be covered. But he had been told also that the masseuse was a short +woman, and height is not so easily simulated. Such were his thoughts as +he turned the handle of the shop door. + +There was no one inside, and Gimblet had time to remark the empty +shelves and forlorn look of the window--which the waxen lady no longer +graced with her presence--before, in answer to the rapping of his hand +on the counter and his repeated cry of "Shop, please," the door leading +to the back room opened and Julie Querterot made her appearance. + +It was a sad enough figure she presented to him that day: paler, +thinner, more tired-looking than ever. There was a scared look in her +eyes now, and black lines under them. She came forward slowly, almost +timidly. + +"Did you want anything?" she said. "I am afraid our stock is nearly +all--sold out." + +"Thanks," said Gimblet. "I called to see Madame Querterot--is it +possible that I am speaking to her?" + +"Oh no," said Julie with a little smile. "I am her daughter. But I fear +you cannot see my mother just now. She is--out." + +"Never mind," returned Gimblet. "I will wait. Perhaps she will be in by +luncheon-time? I have a message for her." + +"I do not know when she will be back," said the girl. "Can you not leave +the message with me?" + +"It is for her own ear," said Gimblet. "If you don't mind, I will wait a +little." + +He sat down as he spoke, and Julie, after a hesitating glance, went back +to the inner room, leaving the door ajar between the two. + +Gimblet, left to himself, was surprised to notice again how very few +were the articles exposed for sale. Bare as the shop had looked when he +first entered, he now saw it to be even emptier than he had thought. A +tradesman's almanack on one wall, a picture from an illustrated paper +on the other, two or three bottles of hair-wash and a few packets of +hair-pins seemed to constitute the whole stock in trade. + +Gimblet was still wondering whether the massage was in as bad a way as +the hairdressing side of the Querterot business, when a subdued sound +coming from the next room drew his attention. + +What was it, that sort of low, muffled panting? + +The detective got up softly, and stole to the door. + +Peeping shamelessly through the crack, he saw that a chair had been +drawn up to the table and that Julie sat there with her head bent and +resting on her hands. It was from her that the sound came which had +caught his ear, for her whole body was shaking with the sobs which she +tried in vain to stifle. + +Gimblet opened the door and passed boldly through. + +"I am so sorry," he said, "to have come at a time when you are unhappy. +But won't you tell me all about it? Who knows, I may be able to help +you." + +At sight of him the girl started up, with a renewed effort to get the +better of her grief; but the kind tone of Gimblet's voice put the +finishing touch to her emotions: losing all attempt at self-control, she +laid her head down on the table before her and gave way to unrestrained +and passionate tears. + +Gimblet let her weep for a while, then he sat down near her and tried +to comfort her. He took one of her hands and patted it gently, as if she +had been a child. + +"There, there," he said, "don't cry any more. Tell me what's the matter +and let's see if something can't be done about it." + +Gradually her tears came more slowly; the convulsive sobs that had +shaken her died away, and she sat up and dried her eyes, looking at him +from time to time with furtive shyness. + +"You are very kind, sir," she said at last, succumbing reluctantly to +that feeling of confidence which Gimblet always succeeded in inspiring +if he tried. "It was--it was only because you asked to see my mother." + +"How's that?" + +"She--she--I don't know where she is." + +"No? But never mind. You will hear where she has been when she comes +home." + +"You don't understand. She hasn't been home for four days, and I have no +idea when she is coming back. She did not tell me anything." + +"Dear me!" Gimblet looked grave. "When do you say you saw her last?" + +"It was on Tuesday morning," said Julie. "She came and woke me very +early; she seemed to have been out, for she still wore her hat, and in +her hand she had a black bag. After that she went away. I heard her +moving about for some time, till at last she went downstairs and I heard +the front door slam. I jumped out of bed and looked out of the window +and saw her going down the street with a big bag in each hand. And I +haven't seen or heard anything of her since. But I am sure, oh, I _know_ +she did not mean to come back!" + +"How do you know that?" Gimblet asked. + +"I know it from what she said, and from what she did, before she went." + +"Won't you tell me?" + +Julie looked at him doubtfully. + +"Bert--that is a friend of mine--tried to make me promise not to say +anything about it, but I told him I should go to the police if I didn't +hear soon. And I feel I must tell some one, for something dreadful may +have happened to her," Julie added, half to herself. "Have you anything +to do with the police?" she asked. + +"Well, yes, I have, as a matter of fact; in an indirect way." + +"You will know what to do then, if I tell you. Bert doesn't seem to know +what to do; he only rages. Well, I think my mother has gone away for +good, because, before she went, she got a man to come to the house and +buy nearly every portable thing in it. There is hardly anything left +besides these chairs and table, and my bed upstairs. Soon after she had +gone they came and took away the things." + +"Did she leave you no money?" + +"No, but she left me the house, you see; only the rent is due and I have +nothing to pay it with. And she told me to collect any bills that were +due for her services, and that she made me a present of the money. So +when she was gone I looked in the ledger and found that everything owing +to her had been paid up during the last few days, except one account. It +was that of Mrs. Vanderstein, the poor lady who was murdered at Boulogne +yesterday, as perhaps you have seen in the papers?" + +Gimblet inclined his head gravely, and she went on. + +"My mother used to go to massage the complexion of Mrs. Vanderstein, and +the amount owing was large, over twenty pounds. I was grateful that such +a sum should be given to me; but, when I saw the next morning that the +lady had disappeared, I made sure it was because she was unable to pay +her bills, and it seemed likely that my mother had known this when she +was so generous to me. I made sure I should never see a penny of that +money, and I was in despair, as I didn't know what to do about the rent, +or even how to live in the meantime. I went up to Mrs. Vanderstein's +house to see if she had really gone, and a kind old gentleman told me +the bill would be paid all the same. That was a great comfort, but I +knew it would not be for some time, at any rate, and perhaps not till +I was starving. It did not really matter so very much," Julie added +loyally, "for I am anxious to enter a religious sisterhood, and they +will take me, I am sure, even if I have nothing to bring them. But I +can't bear to go to them as a beggar, and I wish, I wish she hadn't left +me quite destitute without any warning," she concluded, her eyes filling +with tears again. + +"Then what did she wake you up to say, early on Tuesday morning?" + +"I told you she had a bag in her hand? She took some clothes out of it +and gave them to me. She told me to burn them and that she would explain +why when she came back. But she said I might keep the linings to make +myself petticoats. Such fine petticoats would be no use to me. Still, +it was kind of her. And then she took out this and gave it to me to +take care of"--Julie put her hand to her neck and pulled out from under +her blouse a long string of enormous pearls. "She said that one of her +customers had asked her to look after them while she was travelling," +continued the girl, lifting the necklace over her head and holding it +out to Gimblet. "I don't know if they are real, though she told me to be +very careful of them and to wear them always. But I think if they had +been real she would not have left them." + +Gimblet took the necklace without a word. He was for the moment +incapable of speaking. + +"That was all my mother said to me," went on Julie, "but she seemed +very pleased about something; and at the same time excited. When I +looked out of the window and saw her walking away, she was wearing +clothes I had never seen before; they must have been quite new. They +were simple, certainly, just a coat and skirt and a small hat; but they +were beautifully made and fitted her so well, not at all like what she +generally wore. There is something about expensive clothes that makes +people look so different. I should hardly have known her if it had not +been for a way she has of walking. I could only see the top of her +head, but the hat was a very smart one, with a beautiful osprey in it. +Somehow she had the air of a person going to a wedding, and I can't help +thinking that perhaps it was her own wedding she was going to. She may +have married some one above us in station and not have wanted him to +know of my existence. That is what I think, but Bert says not." + +Gimblet cleared his throat. "I wonder," he said, "if you would mind +showing me the clothes you spoke of that your mother gave you before she +left." + +"I'm afraid I can't," said Julie. "I--you see I had no money--I sold +them to a second-hand clothes shop in Victoria Street. Bert wanted to +see them too. He thinks my mother must have had some special reason for +saying they were to be burnt, but I don't believe she would have told me +I could keep the linings if they had been infectious." + +"What were they like?" Gimblet asked. It needed all his self-control to +keep the eagerness out of his voice. + +"Two beautiful white evening dresses," said Julie, "and two opera cloaks +of red and mauve silk all covered with lovely embroidery and lace. Of +course I could never have worn them and it seemed a pity to cut them up. +I simply couldn't have burned them. The shop only gave me five pounds +for the lot, but that will keep me for some time till I have decided +what to do. Still, Bert says I ought not to have sold them." + +"By the way," said Gimblet, "who is Bert?" + +The girl flushed. "He's just a boy I know," she said. "He used to go +to school with me, and he is always good to me. I shouldn't like to +annoy him or to hurt his feelings, and I ought not to have spoken of +him, because when he advised me not to go to the police, and I wouldn't +promise, he said that I should see that harm would come of it. And so +I told him that if my mother came back and blamed me for having spoken +of her absence, as he seems to think she would, I would say that he had +urged me not to. And then he got quite angry and told me to do as I +pleased, but not to mix him up in it, and so I said of course I'd never +mention his name if he didn't like; but now I've done it." She stopped, +breathless. + +"Well, give Bert a message from me," said Gimblet; "tell him I agree +with him so far, and think you have no need to go to the police yet +awhile. But you had better not tell him I have anything to do with them, +as he seems to dislike them so much. Shall you see him soon?" + +"Yes, I expect he will come this evening when he leaves off work; he +generally does. And I think I shan't tell him anything about you. +Really, it isn't his business and I don't like being always lectured." + +"I think you are quite right," said Gimblet. "Now one question. Have +you any idea as to the man with whom you think your mother may have +gone off? Had you any suspicion before that she was thinking of marrying +again?" + +The girl hesitated a moment. "No," she said, "I have no idea at all who +it could be." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Gimblet was late for the inquest, which had been fixed for two o'clock. +By the time he arrived the evidence of Higgs and the policeman he had +fetched, and that of Brampton, the artist, and the house agents' clerk +had been already taken, and there only remained his own and the doctor's +to be heard. + +Nothing new was brought to light, and the jury returned a verdict of +"Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown." + +Gimblet did not judge it expedient to disclose the theories he had +formed on the subject of the crime. As he walked away from the house in +the company of Jennins, whom he had found there when he arrived, the +inspector said to him: + +"An old-clothes dealer in Victoria Street has communicated with us. They +have bought what they think, from the published description, to be the +dresses and cloaks worn by Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner on Monday +night. I am going to get that French maid of theirs to go down to the +place with me and see if the people are right in their assumption. They +say they bought the things from a young woman who gave an address in +Pimlico and the name of Julie Querterot. Can she be the Madame Q. of the +note? If she is, it is strange that she should not give a false name; +but everything about this case is mysterious." + +"It is not she," said Gimblet, "it was her mother. I have just been +to their house and seen her. As for mysteries, there is only one left +as far as I am concerned, and that is the whereabouts of West, and the +question whether he has not by this time exchanged his disguise of a +black beard for another in which it will be harder to identify him. +Everything else, I think, is quite clear, with the exception of a few +trifling details, and I do not think it will be long before we may hope +to lay our hands on Mr. West himself." + +Gimblet refused, however, to impart his lately acquired information to +Jennins, telling him, much to the inspector's disgust, that he would +know all about it soon enough. + +"And a tangled web you'll find it, Jennins," said he. + +They were interrupted by a messenger, who informed Jennins that Miss +Turner was conscious and anxious to make a statement. + +Gimblet and the inspector went together to the hospital, where they +found Barbara looking very much better than the day before. She was +recovering wonderfully, they were told, but must not excite herself more +than could be avoided. Indeed, she would not have been allowed to see +them yet, if she had not been fretting so much to tell her story that it +was thought best to let her do it. She must not, however, be made aware +of the death of her friend if it were possible to conceal it from her +for the next few days. + +She greeted the two men with a feeble smile. "I hear that I was rescued +by one of your men," she said to Jennins, "and I am more grateful to him +than I can say, though I do not remember very much after I realised that +that man was trying to tie his spade round my neck." + +"It's lucky you were seen in time," replied Jennins. "We don't want to +bother you to-day, but at the same time we are, of course, anxious to +hear anything you can tell us about the scoundrel you were with." + +"Oh, I want to tell you all about it so that you may be able to catch +him--and the woman too. I suppose you haven't got them yet?" + +Jennins shook his head. + +"I thought perhaps Mrs. Vanderstein had been able to put you on the +track. How glad I am that she escaped. I was afraid--but no matter now. +Has she told you how she managed to get away?" + +"Mrs. Vanderstein went abroad immediately," said Gimblet evasively; +"we have not heard any details from her yet. But will you not tell us +your adventures from the beginning? How was it you found yourselves in +Scholefield Avenue?" + +Barbara looked at him blankly. "Scholefield Avenue," she repeated, +"where is that?" + +"The house in which you were imprisoned is there," said Gimblet; "have +you forgotten? You went there with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday night +after the opera. I want you to tell us why you went to it." + +"I didn't know where it was," said Barbara, "but I don't think I can +tell you why we went. I don't think Mrs. Vanderstein would like me to do +that." + +"As you wish," replied Gimblet; "but this will show you that I already +know something of your friend's private affairs." He took out the sheet +of notepaper bearing the arms of Targona, and handed it to her. + +"She gave you this!" cried the girl, and as Gimblet remained silent: +"Then she cannot mind my speaking of it. Yes, it is true that we went to +that house to meet Prince Felipe, but I don't know if he came there or +not." + +"No, he did not go." + +"Then the whole thing was false! I thought so at the beginning, +but afterwards I was not sure. It was on Monday morning that Mrs. +Vanderstein spoke to me about it. For a week she had been looking +strange: excited, pleased--I don't know what exactly--happier, younger, +somehow different from her usual look. And on Monday she came to my room +and told me, blushing and smiling, that it was her happiness to be loved +by Prince Felipe of Targona, and that in all probability she was going +to marry him. They had only seen each other in the distance, she said, +but it had been love at first sight for both of them, and she was so +happy, so happy! And wouldn't I say I was glad? I asked her how she knew +what he felt for her, if they had never met, and she said she had had +letters from him and had written to him herself, and that she was going +to meet him that very night after the opera, at the house of a friend +of his. She said they could not meet in public, or at his hotel, or in +her own home, as he was surrounded by his suite, and his mother, who was +also with him, watched his every movement, so that all his comings and +goings were seen and marked. + +"They were staying at Fianti's Hotel just opposite to us in Grosvenor +Street, you know, so it would have been rather difficult for the Prince +to come to our house without being noticed. It was intended that he +should marry for political reasons, and at any sign of his affections +being bestowed on a private individual an outcry would have been raised, +which would have been hard to ignore. It was Prince Felipe's plan, so +Mrs. Vanderstein told me, that they should be married quietly and that +he should then abdicate; to which less objection would be made when it +was known that he was irretrievably disposed of from a matrimonial point +of view. The whole story appeared to me so improbable and fantastic that +I couldn't help laughing at it, which offended my friend very much, and +in order to convince me she finally showed me some of the Prince's +letters, including the one you have there. I could not doubt any longer +after I had seen them, though I was surprised and, I must say, shocked +to hear that the go-between in the affair and the bearer of all the +notes was a Frenchwoman, a hairdresser employed by Mrs. Vanderstein, and +also, it seemed, by one of the suite of Prince Felipe. + +"When I heard that Mrs. Vanderstein had no idea where the house to which +she was to go that night was situated, but had left all details to +Madame Querterot and the Prince, I tried to convince her of the folly of +such an arrangement, but nothing I could say had any effect. At last I +told her that I should accompany her on this escapade; and, though she +didn't like the idea and even grew quite angry with me about it, I stuck +to my point, and was so firm on the subject that in the end she gave in +and said I could come if I liked. It was, all the same, with serious +misgivings that I set forth with her that evening for Covent Garden, +where we were first to attend the gala performance. We had hardly +entered the theatre when Mrs. Vanderstein told me to run back and tell +the motor not to come to fetch us. We were to go away in a carriage sent +by the Prince, she said. + +"I was too much worried to enjoy the opera. I don't know whether Mrs. +Vanderstein did or not, but she kept looking at her watch and fidgeting, +so I think her thoughts were elsewhere. Before the last act was nearly +over we left the box and went down into the hall, which was nearly +empty, and told a man to call Mr. Targon's carriage, for so it appeared +the Prince was to be alluded to on this occasion. In a few minutes a +brougham drove up, drawn by a dun coloured horse, which dished badly and +had an odd white blaze across its nose and one eye. I noticed, too, that +it was driven by a very odd-looking man, who wore a hat much too large +for him crammed down over his eyes and a great scarf wrapped round his +neck and high over his chin and ears; though even so I could see that he +wore a beard, which is, to say the least of it, unusual in a coachman." + +"One moment," Jennins interrupted; "do you think you could recognise the +horse, Miss Turner, if you should see him again?" + +"I am nearly sure I should," Barbara replied. "There can't be many with +a blaze like that. I am more sure of it than I am of the driver. He +drove very badly," she went on, "pulling up under the arch with a jerk +and throwing up his hands, each of which clutched at a rein, nearly +over his head. 'Surely there is some mistake,' I said. 'Are you from +Mr. Targon?' 'I am from Mr. Targon,' he answered hoarsely, 'but I think +there is a mistake, as you say; I was to fetch one lady, not two.' 'Oh, +that's all right,' said Mrs. Vanderstein hurriedly. 'Jump in, Barbara.' +And she got into the brougham herself, so that I had no choice but to +follow her, and we drove off. + +"Oh dear, how badly that man drove! Luckily there was hardly any traffic +about, but we bumped into three things before we got to the top of +Regent Street, and went over the curb at the corners I don't know how +often. Once the carriage stopped and the driver leant down and called +through the window that he had orders to fetch one lady, and that I +must get out. This I absolutely refused to do, and by this time Mrs. +Vanderstein was so much alarmed by the reckless way in which he drove +that I don't think she would have allowed me to leave her even if I had +wished to do so. After a heated dispute a small crowd began to gather +round us, and the coachman seeing, I fancy, the shadow of an approaching +policeman, suddenly abandoned the contest, and whipping up his horse we +lurched forward again as the animal started with a bound. + +"It was a long drive, and towards the end of it I lost all notion of +direction and had no idea where we were going. At last, with a final +bump and jolt, we drove in at the gate of a little house, which seemed +to stand back from the road in a tiny garden, and pulled up with a jerk +before a flight of steps, at the top of which a door was flung open +the moment we stopped, and I recognised the figure of Madame Querterot +standing back from it in the half light of the passage. + +"We got out, and Mrs. Vanderstein, who is timid driving at any time, +began to abuse the man in a very angry tone. She had been thoroughly +frightened, poor dear, and had sat holding my hand with a white face +all the way, as I could see from time to time in the light of a passing +lamp. 'What do you mean by driving like that?' she called out from +the pavement. 'I think you are drunk. A nice thing, indeed. I shall +complain of you, do not fear. It is most disgraceful to be in such a +state. Never, never have I been driven like that! It is a wonder we +were not all killed!' The man flicked at the horse and drove away, but +Mrs. Vanderstein was so angry with him that she actually made as if to +follow. She only went a step or two, however, and then with a laugh +turned back, and we went up the steps, into the house. + +"We were received by Madame Querterot, looking, I must say, more tidy +than usual, in a neat black dress and a large apron, put on, I suppose, +in keeping with her part of parlourmaid. I was struck by the strange +expression on her face when she first caught sight of me, and she +murmured something to the effect that Mrs. Vanderstein had promised to +come alone; but my friend, who was still flushed from her encounter +with the coachman, did not answer her at all and marched on with her +chin in the air. Madame Querterot recovered her usual amiability in a +moment, and with many smiles and blandishments conducted us up to the +drawing-room, where she left us, saying that His Highness had not yet +arrived. + +"There we waited for what seemed a long time; twenty minutes perhaps, or +half an hour. My friend was very nervous and could not sit still, but +walked up and down, up and down, restlessly, the whole time. Now she +would plump down on a sofa and arrange herself in a graceful attitude; +a minute later she would jump to her feet and run to the looking-glass +to pat her curls into place, or dab her nose with powder. 'How do I +look?' she asked me more than once, and hardly seemed to hear me when I +answered her. + +"At last there was a slight noise downstairs; the front door shut, and +I could catch the mumble of voices talking low. After what seemed again +an interminable delay the door opened and Madame Querterot came in. 'If +Mademoiselle will come with me into another room for a short time,' said +she. 'His Highness has just arrived.' I only hesitated a second. There +was such an imploring look in Mrs. Vanderstein's eyes that I could not +refuse to go, much as I disapproved of the whole thing. I took her hand, +and kissed her encouragingly, and then left the room without a word; for +indeed there was something pathetic about her emotion, and I was too +much moved by it myself to trust my voice. + +"Madame Querterot led me down to a small back room that seemed to be +a library, and left me, shutting the door behind her. I heard feet +ascending the stairs, the drawing-room door open and shut, and then all +was still for a moment. + +"Suddenly, however, there came a noise from above. Something seemed +to have been knocked over, then came a sound of running footsteps and +finally a dragging noise as if a heavy object were being pulled across +the floor overhead. I started up in alarm. What was happening upstairs? +Surely there was something wrong! Without waiting to think, I rushed +into the hall and tore upstairs and in at the drawing-room door. I +found myself confronted by a tall man with a thick black beard and a +pale, blotchy face. Behind him at the further end of the room I caught +a glimpse of Mrs. Vanderstein, apparently lying on a sofa, and Madame +Querterot bending over her. 'What is it. Is she ill?' I cried. 'Take her +away, take her away,' exclaimed Madame Querterot, looking up over her +shoulder, and before I had time to speak again I was hustled out of the +room by the tall man and dragged downstairs again to the library. I was +so infuriated at his daring to touch me that I could scarcely speak, but +I managed to stammer again: 'Is she ill? Is Mrs. Vanderstein ill?' 'She +is not feeling quite well,' he replied, 'she will be best without you.' + +"I looked at him curiously. I had seen Prince Felipe, and this was not +he. Indeed I thought I recognised the driver of the brougham. He was +a strange-looking man, dressed in ordinary day clothes, and I noticed +with astonishment that he wore thick brown leather gloves on both hands. +'I think she will be better with me,' I said defiantly, and advanced +towards the door, but he barred the way. 'You must stay here,' he said. +'Must!' I said; 'what do you mean? Let me go this instant.' He didn't +answer, but just stood with his back to the door, grinning in a foolish +way. 'Let me out, let me out,' I exclaimed, on the point of tears by +this time, I am afraid. 'Let me out or--or--I'll set fire to the house!' + +"I caught up my scarf and held it towards the gas, but the man leapt +forward and, before I knew what he was doing, had turned out the flame +altogether, leaving us in the dark. As I still stood, bewildered, I +heard the door open and in an instant he had vanished through it and the +key was turned in the lock outside. + +"This was followed by the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and in the +silence that succeeded it is no exaggeration to say that the noise of +my pulses throbbing in my ears sounded as loud as the tramp of a whole +army on the march. I felt my way to a chair, and for a time sat in a +trembling silence, shaken and unstrung by terror the most unnerving, if +of the vaguest nature. + +"Why would they not let me go to Mrs. Vanderstein if she was ill? What +was the matter with her? Why had Madame Querterot looked as she did when +she saw me on the doorstep? What was she doing, kneeling by the sofa? +And, above all, what was the meaning of the man's behaviour to me? It +was, I think, the touch of his hand, as he dragged me downstairs, that +took away my courage altogether. + +"I sat for a long while, immovable in the darkness. From time to time +sounds came from the room above, but they did not convey any meaning to +me. At last I grew calmer, and indignation began to take the place of +my fears. I got up and moved about the room, feeling my way as I went. +In this manner I soon had an idea of the position and character of the +furniture, even of the fire-place and the coal scuttle; and I must have +blacked my fingers nicely in the process. I had a wild notion that it +might be useful to me to know where the poker was, though I had no +definite idea what I would do with it. Still, in one way or another I +was determined to escape from this imprisonment. What did they mean by +shutting me in this room? They must, they should, let me out! + +"I began to cry for help. I felt my way to the door and beat against it +with my hands, but no answer came. Then I had a brilliant thought--the +room was on the ground floor, surely I could get out of the window. I +reached it and tried to open it, but it was stiff and heavy. In spite of +all my efforts I could not raise the sash. I groped for the poker again +and, standing back for fear of the splintering glass, I aimed a blow +at the place where I knew the window to be and heard with delight the +crash of a shattered pane. Even as I delivered the blow, it struck me as +curious that no light came into the room from the night outside; and, +thrusting the poker through the hole I had broken, I found to my dismay +that there were strong wooden shutters beyond it. But the noise I had +made seemed to have attracted some attention at last, for I heard a door +open and the sound of some one running down the stairs. + +"A moment later the key was turned, and the door opened just enough to +let in the tall man, who shut it behind him again as soon as he was +inside. He had a little electric torch, which he turned in my direction, +so that the glare blinded me and I couldn't see him at all. 'It's no +good making all this row, Miss Turner,' he said, 'no sort of earthly, +kicking up such a shindy as a young lady like you ought to be ashamed to +raise. Besides,' he said, and now there was something in his tone that +turned me sick, 'it isn't _safe_. Do you understand? It is not _safe_. +Now, you see I don't mean you any harm or I simply shouldn't bother to +warn you. But no, I like the look of you, and I'm sorry to see you in +this house, where I tell you again it's dangerous to stay. But be a +sensible young lady and do as I tell you, and I'm blowed if I don't help +you to escape when the time comes. What do you say to that? I can't say +fairer, can I?' + +"I suppose you will think me a dreadful coward, but there was something +about the man which frightened me horribly. I think it was that he +seemed to be himself in the extremity of fear. How I gathered that +impression I am not sure. It may have been the low, hurried agitation +of his voice, or the way in which his hand was shaking, so that the +light behind which he was concealed danced and wavered between us like +a will-o'-the-wisp; or perhaps it was the mere telepathic infection of +fear. At all events I was ready to agree to anything he said, and jumped +at the idea of escape. 'I'll do anything, I'll be as quiet as a mouse,' +I cried beseechingly, 'if you'll only let me go away.' 'That's right,' +he said approvingly. 'I'll help you, never fear. And to show that I +mean it,' he went on, 'here's a change of clothes for you. You'd never +escape in that white and red costume, you know.' He threw down a bundle +on the table. 'Make haste and get into these togs, and let me take away +your own things. I'll leave you the lamp to change by, but you must look +sharp, and mind you change every single thing, down to your shift.' + +"So saying he put down the lamp and left the room again. No sooner was +the door shut than I caught up the lamp and ran to the window. Peering +through the glass, I tried to make out the fastening of the shutters and +to see if I could get at it by putting my arm through the broken pane; +but it was quite out of reach and I realised that I could do nothing +without smashing more glass, and I did not dare do that now. So I put +down the lamp again, and fell to changing my clothes as the man had +suggested. + +"They were horrible clothes he had brought, and it made me sick to put +them on; but I felt he was right in saying that I could not escape in my +evening dress. So, though I didn't see why I should change all my under +things, I thought there might be some reason for that also, and anyhow +I think I was too much frightened not to do as I was told. It was soon +done, but not too soon, for without so much as a knock the wretch walked +in again as I was fastening the last button of the shabby coat over a +chemise so rough that my skin prickled all over. He looked at me with +some satisfaction. 'You must alter your hair,' he said; 'do it up tight +and plain, so that it won't show more than can be helped.' + +"With that, he gathered up my clothes and went away, taking the lamp +with him this time, and I saw no more of him for a long while. There was +no need to twist my hair up so hurriedly, for after that was done I sat +down and waited for what seemed like days. It was terrible, waiting, +waiting, waiting in the darkness, which my fears peopled with invisible +presences, so that I found myself holding my breath lest the door handle +should turn again, and some one, or some thing, enter unheard by me. At +the thought, I got up and dragged a heavy chair across the room, where +I sat down on it with my back against the door, my anxiety to get out +quite forgotten and overwhelmed in the awful possibility of not being +certain whether or not I were alone. + +"If only Mrs. Vanderstein had still been with me. But, believe me, it +was not only selfishly that I longed for her: the vision of her, ill, +and no doubt in danger equal to mine as an inmate of this dreadful +house, sat on me like a nightmare; and, if I was frightened by the peril +of my own position, I trembled still more at the danger to which my +friend might be exposed. Why was the man afraid? It was the recollection +of his terror that cowed me, so that I sat there rigid, paralysed by the +fear of I knew not what. From time to time noises broke the silence, +the noise of people moving in the room above; and presently some one +descended the stairs and approached the door against which I crouched. + +"A violent trembling fit seized me and my teeth chattered so +convulsively that I could hardly hear the footsteps outside; but they +passed on, and I heard a door opened at the end of the passage. A +minute later they returned, sounding loud on the linoleum of the hall +and muffled as they went up the stairs; only to come down again in a +few moments. Over and over again this process was repeated: some one +apparently walking down the stairs, down the passage, and through a door +at the back of the house, then retracing his steps, and in a minute or +two beginning all over again. This went on, I should think, for more +than an hour, and then after an interval I heard two people come down +and go to the door; soon it was gently shut and only one pair of feet +returned. + +"Presently another noise began--rather a comforting, familiar noise--the +sound of sweeping and brushing, both on the stairs and in the room +overhead. It seemed as if a housemaid were about, beginning the +morning's work, for by now I could see through a tiny space in the +shutters that it was daylight. I called out once: 'Is there anyone +there?' at which the noise of sweeping ceased, and a warning 'Hush' was +breathed at me through the keyhole, close by my ear. After a time all +these sounds stopped altogether. The sweeper passed my door again, and +again went through the door at the end of the passage. This time it was +closed with a snap of the lock, and then silence settled on the house. I +don't know how long I sat there without hearing a sound. I think I must +have dozed. I know I began to feel so stiff and tired that fear seemed +a secondary consideration, and I didn't care what happened any more. +Heaven knows how long he left me there, dozing and waking, perhaps for +hours, perhaps for days. You know more about that than I do. + +"It was after what seemed like a week that the storm began. It was that +which definitely roused me from the sort of stupor into which I had +fallen, and stirred me to rack my brains again for some means of escape. +It was dreadfully hot in that little room; the atmosphere was close and +stifling till it seemed to weigh one down with an unbearable oppression, +and if it had not been for the glass I had broken--through which an +occasional breath of air penetrated by way of a crack in the shutter--I +suppose it would have been even worse than it was. From time to time I +had been conscious of the distant rumbling of thunder, and hoped dimly +that it would clear the air, for before the storm actually burst my head +was like to split; and it was with a certain relief that I heard the +first large drops of rain begin to fall. Soon afterwards there was a +tremendous clap of thunder. + +"I was appallingly hungry, and wondered if I were being purposely left +to die of starvation. With a vague idea that I might find something +edible I began feeling about again around the room and considering the +possibility, if the worst came to the worst, of eating my shoes, as +I had heard of starving men being forced to do. But I was not hungry +enough for that yet, and besides I wasn't sure if the soles of my satin +slippers were of leather, or only _papier mâché_. On the table my +fingers came across a stump of pencil, and that distracted my thoughts +for a little while. I had to feel it all over before I was sure what it +was; it was the point that made me almost certain, and I began at once +to ask myself whether I could not by some means send a message to the +outside world. I could think of no way of doing so, however, and even if +I could have, I had nothing to write on. Then the idea came to me of +writing on the wall. I thought to myself that if the man meant to play +me false, at least I could leave a token of my presence, which possibly +at some future day might lead to the punishment of these people. I knew +there were pictures on the walls, and feeling my way to the fire-place I +lifted up one hanging above it, so that by inserting my hand under the +frame I could write on that part of the wallpaper which, as far as I +could tell, lay behind. + +"I had only written a few words, when the key was turned and the door +opened. A rumbling of thunder had prevented my hearing the sound of +approaching feet, and I had only just time to let the picture fall back +into its place and to move a few steps away from the mantelpiece before +the black-bearded man entered the room. Fortunately, the chair I had +pushed against the door retarded its opening for a moment, or he would +have seen what I was doing. 'Come,' he said, taking hold of my arm, 'now +is the time for you to escape to a place of safety.' + +"Without further words he led me into the hall, and along it to the +front door. Here we paused, while he opened it very cautiously and +peered out. For my part, I was more nervous with regard to dangers that +might lurk in the house behind us; but his inspection of the outside +world seemed to satisfy him, for picking up, to my astonishment, a large +garden spade that was leaning against the wall he opened the door wide +and we passed through it together. I cannot tell you with what feelings +of gladness and thankfulness I hastened down the steps and out into the +street, nor with what joy I felt my unrestrained feet splashing into +the puddles, and the free air of the night blow freshly on my face. We +had gone some hundreds of yards and turned more than one corner before +I dared speak. 'What has happened to my friend?' I then said; 'has +she escaped too?' 'She has gone,' he answered evasively, and still +quickened his pace till I was half running to keep up with him. + +"It was wild weather to be abroad: the storm was still at its height +and the flashes of lightning and the thunder claps succeeded each +other with increasing frequency; rain was falling in torrents, the +roads and pavements were like seething rivers, and the gutters ran a +foot deep at the edge of the kerb, as I discovered by stepping into +one when we crossed the street. There was not a soul to be seen except +the black-cloaked figure of an occasional policeman, and whenever we +approached one of these my companion gripped my arm more tightly, and +wheeled away in a new direction. It was thus, with many turns and by +circuitous routes, that we progressed on our way. And, though I asked +more than once where we were going, not another word did I extract from +the black-bearded man; and I soon fell the more readily into a like +silence, as the rapid pace at which we walked left me little breath for +speech. + +"In this manner, and after we had hurried along for at least half an +hour, we made our way into an enclosure, which I guessed to be Regent's +Park. The first elation caused by leaving the house where I had been +imprisoned was wearing off and I had time to ask myself whither I was +being led, receiving in reply no very comforting assurances. Was I being +taken from one place of incarceration to another? I wondered, and at the +thought I tried to shake off the hand that lay upon my arm. 'If you will +let me go now,' I said timidly, 'I shall be all right by myself. I shall +never forget that you helped me to escape, but now, if you don't mind, +I--I had rather be alone.' But I got no answer, nor did the clutch on my +arm relax. In a fresh panic I made up my mind that the next time we saw +a policeman I would scream for help. + +"It was not many minutes after I had taken this decision that my +companion paused in his rapid walk; and after looking about him +doubtfully seemed to recognise some landmark in the darkness, and came +to a sudden halt. 'Can you get over these railings?' he said. We had +been following the line of an iron fence that bordered the path, and I +could feel rather than see that it reached above the height of my waist +and was ornamented with spikes. 'I think it is hardly possible,' I +replied; 'but why should I get over?' He did not answer, but seemed to +consider. 'I think I can lift you over,' he said at length, and before +I could object he had his arms around me, and with a tremendous effort +swung me up in the air and across the railings. 'Now you must help me,' +he said, holding tightly to my arm as I landed safely on the other side. +And partly by my help, partly by holding on to a tree that leant up +against the fence near by, he managed to scramble over. + +"Now, by the roughness of the ground under my feet, I knew we were +on the grass, even before a flash of lightning showed me that we +had wandered away from the fence and were standing on the top of an +embankment, at the bottom of which I caught sight of a high wooden +paling. With instinctive reluctance, I hung back as my companion began +to descend the bank, tugging me in his wake. At the bottom of the +hill we came to the high wall, which we followed for a little way, +and presently stopped before an opening through which I saw the gleam +of water. 'We must get through here,' said the man. 'There's plenty +of room where these two boards have been torn off.' There was, as he +said, a gap where some planks were missing and only the cross pieces +of wood remained. 'Why should we go this way?' I asked again, full of +misgivings. 'Where are you taking me?' 'Where you will be safe,' said +he. 'Come on,' and stepping before me through the gap he dragged me +roughly after him. + +"Then, for the first time, he suddenly removed the hand that all this +while had clutched me by the arm; and as I stood there, bewildered, +not knowing what to do with my freedom, the scene was lighted up by a +tremendous flash, brighter than any that had gone before, and I saw that +he was fumbling with a cord that was attached to the handle of the spade +he carried. His arms were stretched towards me, and before the light had +faded from the sky I realised that he was trying to throw the end of the +rope round my neck, passing it from one hand to the other as he did so. + +"Perhaps I leapt too suddenly to a conclusion, or perhaps--as I think +more likely--my understanding was quickened by fear, but in that instant +I became as certain of his intention as though he had explained it to +me in every detail. He was going to drown me in the canal, first tying +the heavy spade to me to make sure that I should sink, never to rise +again. I screamed aloud and pushed him away with all my strength. On +that steeply sloping bank he was at a disadvantage, the rain had made it +slippery, and for a minute I frustrated his purpose. Then came another +flash, and by it the man seemed to catch sight of something behind me, +which at the same time horrified and infuriated him, for I saw his +expression change, and with a snarl of frightened rage he lifted up +the spade and hit at me with it. Somehow I managed to jump aside, but +I saw him raise it for another blow, and after that--after that--I can +remember no more." + +Barbara's story was finished. It had been told slowly, and at intervals +the girl lay back with closed eyes, too weak to continue. But on any +proposal to defer her account to another day she had roused herself, +and proceeded with it resolutely till she came to the end. + +The shadows had time to grow long during the telling of it, so that +when at length, after they had finally taken leave of the invalid and +issued forth once more from the doors of the hospital, the two men found +themselves again in the open air it was already dinnertime. + +"Come back with me, Jennins, and have something to eat," said Gimblet, +as they walked away. "There is sure to be food of sorts ready for me at +the flat." + +But Jennins was bound elsewhere. + +"I'm going to have a try at hunting out that horse," he said. "Miss +Turner thinks she'd know it again and, as she says, the number of dun +coloured beasts with a decided dish and a peculiar crooked blaze of +white over the nose and one eye must be more or less limited. Then, +you remember, she thinks the driver was no other than our friend West, +and if, after he had set the ladies down in Scholefield Avenue, he was +less than half an hour in making his reappearance, one may argue that +the stables were not half a mile away from No. 13. Don't you think I am +right?" + +"I think your reasoning is perfectly sound," said Gimblet. "You ought to +be able to find out something about the horse without much trouble; and +incidentally, I hope, about the driver. Let me know as soon as you have +news. For my part I will try and see if I can't get some information +about him also. In the meantime, I've eaten nothing since breakfast, and +exhausted nature calls. I'm off to get some dinner." + +"I suppose," Jennins called after him, "from what you said to me this +afternoon, that you have ascertained that this Madame Querterot is +beyond our reach for the moment?" + +"Yes," said Gimblet. + +"And do you think the girl, her daughter, has any idea as to the woman's +whereabouts?" + +"No," said Gimblet gently, "I am sure she has not." + +In the flat Gimblet found a telegram awaiting him. It was from Boulogne, +and ran as follows: + + "Murdered woman not my aunt Mrs. Vanderstein or anyone known to me + there is no clue to her identity. + + "SIDNEY." + +Gimblet crumpled it up and flung it into a waste-paper basket. + +"A pity to squander five shillings," he murmured, "in telling me what I +already knew." + +Then he hastened hungrily to the dining-room. + +After a hearty meal he felt considerably better, and when he presently +pushed back his chair and strolled over to the open window he was ready +and eager for more work. His mind, which had been busy during the meal +with attempts to devise a plan that should bring him to closer quarters +with the person he most desired to meet, that should cause the phantom +figure of Mr. West of the black beard to materialise and become a solid +form discernible to the naked eye and capable of wearing handcuffs, had +not yet furnished him with a method by which this desirable object might +be attained. + +"Surely," he said to himself, "I must be able to trace Madame +Querterot's meetings with this man. It is impossible that she can have +been on such terms of intimacy with him without some one knowing it." + +He looked at his watch, helped himself to a sweet from a box which stood +on the shelf, and decided to go down to Pimlico and see if he could not +find out something more from Julie. It was half-past nine, but she was +not likely to have gone to bed yet, and he wanted a specimen of her +mother's handwriting. + +He went out and took a taxi to Warwick Square, where he dismissed it, +and pursued his way on foot. + +It was quite dark by now, with the soft blue darkness of summer, for +the weather had turned warm again and the sun had gone down in a clear +sky. There were plenty of people about, as it was Saturday night; many a +small coin was being carried snug in its earner's pocket that would no +longer be lying there in a couple of hours' time, and the tills of the +publicans were already flooded with the rise of the weekly tide. + +As he drew near the little shop in the gloomy, sordid little street, the +door of it opened suddenly and a man came out and walked rapidly away. +After a few steps he paused; and, turning, gazed for a moment longingly +back at the window--from which a pale light shone forth, so that the +pavement beneath it was bathed in a gentle radiance--before he swung +round once more and made off up the street. It happened that, as he +stood for that instant, hesitating perhaps whether or no to return and +make a final appeal to the girl he worshipped, the light of the street +lamp fell full upon his white, haggard face; and Gimblet, with a start, +experienced the surprise of his life, as he realised that he and Bert +had met before. + +Everything was clear to him now, and, with a sigh of something between +relief and regret, he abandoned his proposed visit to Julie and went +about the ordering of more important business. + + * * * * * + +An hour later, Albert Tremmels, clerk to Messrs. Ennidge and Pring, +house agents, was arrested in his lodgings for the murders of Mrs. +Vanderstein and Madame Querterot, and for the attempted murder of Miss +Turner. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Bert offered no resistance to the officers of the law. Indeed, after the +first moment, he showed a kind of relief at his arrest, and went with +his captors almost gladly. + +"I knew you'd get me sooner or later," he said, although warned that his +words would be used against him, "and it's best to get it over. Julie +won't ever forgive me, let alone have anything to do with me, so what +have I got to live for? I can't go on like this; no one could. Still, +mind you, I'm not so much to blame as you think, and it's my belief any +one of you chaps would have done the same as I did, in my place." + +Bert had always been ready to justify himself. + +He was willing enough to confess, to the police, to the prison chaplain, +to anyone. He showed, indeed, considerable satisfaction, not to say +pride, in the interest his story excited, and was not a little annoyed +with Gimblet when he found there was practically nothing he could tell +the detective of which he was not already aware. Bert did not dilate +so much on his love for Julie, the one real thing about him and the +innocent incentive of all his crimes. + +It is perhaps best not to give the exact words in which he poured +forth the history of the dark deeds in which he had been concerned, +but to offer to the reader a _résumé_ of his tale in so far as it was +corroborated by the evidence. + +Albert Tremmel's father was a West End dairyman who had the misfortune +to marry above him, as the saying is. He had a small shop in Hanover +Street and carried on a profitable business, but his wife despised it +from the first, and refused to allow their only child to assist her +husband when he became old enough to do so. She wished him to be a +clerk, and, as she had a way of getting what she wanted, young Bert at +the age of eighteen had entered, in that capacity, the office of Messrs. +Ennidge and Pring, house and estate agents. He was then, as later, a +cadaverous, unpleasant-looking youth, with a surly, combative temper +and a strongly marked tendency to look on most people as his natural +enemies. This in itself did not bring him friends, and he made matters +worse as often as he could by adopting a dictatorial manner of speech +and the habit of pointing out to comparative strangers his opinion that +they erred in thinking they knew their own business. He would also +mention their duty as another thing they were ignorant of. This line of +conversation he varied by assuring them that if it were true, as they +would have him believe, that they knew both better in any case than he +did, it was still more to be regretted that they should mismanage the +one and fail to do the other. + +Boys of his own age frankly refused to have anything to do with him, and +he found his most congenial surroundings at a Socialistic Club, where +all the members shared his disapproval of the world in general, and +descanted as much as they pleased on the shameful conduct and character +of those who were not of their own way of thinking. Here all ranks and +parts of the community were equally denounced, and if one could hardly +find words strong enough to censure the attitude of the rich who wished +to retain control of their own wealth, neither could one sufficiently +display one's anger and disgust at the behaviour of the poor who showed +themselves so regardless of the socialistic movement as to take +benefits from the capitalist classes. Fond as these young men were of +employing the words "give" and "take," the meaning generally conveyed by +their joint use was peculiarly repugnant to them. Take, in their view, +should always come first in any case, and a thing taken lost half its +value in their eyes if it came as a gift. They would have abolished both +generosity and gratitude from a world that can ill afford the loss of +those virtues. + +Bert drank in every tenet of this creed, and revelled in the +discussions and execrations as much as he delighted in the wishy-washy +sentimentalism. He was an unhealthy, discontented, miserable boy, his +hand against every one; and his club was the only place where he felt +himself more or less at his ease. + +There was, however, one spot which he liked better to be in, and that +was the household of the Querterots. + +He had gone to school with Julie Querterot, for it so happened that +Bert's father was a Lancashire man and a Roman Catholic. It is true that +when he died, as he did when Bert was only thirteen, the boy's mother +immediately removed him to another school and saw to it that he imbibed +her hatred of Rome; but he did not take any more kindly to her own +church, and when she herself died five or six years later he was going +pretty much his own way, which was a way devoid of religious belief +of any kind. In spite of this, he never lost touch with his little +schoolfellow; and, as the Querterots dealt at Tremmels' shop and the +children were always together, the two families became acquainted, and +a certain friendship even sprang up between Madame Querterot and Mrs. +Tremmels. These ladies drank tea together, and smiled over the devotion +of Bert for little Julie. This was in the days when prosperity reigned +in both houses. + +It was different after Mrs. Tremmels' death, when Bert discovered that +the business, of which he had never been allowed to learn the details, +was on the verge of bankruptcy, Mrs. Tremmels having conducted it since +her husband's death with an eye more to her own aggrandisement than to +profit. She had opened two large branches and started milk carts drawn +by Shetland ponies; and, having no capital, had borrowed money to do it. +Custom under her management had fallen off; the branches had had to be +closed; the smart ponies sold; and, at the time of her death, she could +no longer find the interest on the borrowed money and the mortgagees +were at the point of foreclosing. + +Bert, who spent half his evenings in advocating the redistribution +of wealth, did not at all enter into the spirit of the thing when he +found himself quietly set on one side while his own wealth, that is to +say, the competency to which he had always believed himself heir, was +redistributed without anyone consulting him. He took it very ill indeed, +and said things about his dead mother which would have brought him his +dismissal from the office if they had come to the ears of either Mr. +Ennidge or Mr. Pring. He had been in their employment about a year when +she died, and had done fairly well in it, for he was not a bad worker, +nor even without intelligence of a kind. Still, he only kept his post +by the skin of his teeth, for he had been in the office more than long +enough for Mr. Pring to take a violent dislike to him, and if it had +not been for the extremely kind heart of Mr. Ennidge, who argued that +he could not dismiss the youth to whom Fortune had already dealt so +severe a blow, Bert would have been sacked a dozen times a week. He +had, however, no idea of this, and considered himself indispensable and +miserably underpaid. + +He certainly was not paid a great deal, though more than he was worth +to Mr. Pring, at all events, and Madame Querterot ceased abruptly to +invite him to her house. He continued, however, to visit it from time to +time, and a couple more years went by without further event. Then came +the sudden and tragic failure of the Querterots. Eugène Querterot shot +himself; and in the fallen state of their fortunes the two impoverished +women he left behind him were glad of any friend who stood by them. The +sudden dropping off of their old acquaintances created a new bond of +sympathy between them and the young man, and when they moved to Pimlico +and he was the only person who ever went to see them, he received a much +warmer welcome, at all events from the mother, than he had lately grown +to expect. + +Gradually he went more and more often, until he formed the habit of +dropping in at least every other evening. He had always been fond of +Julie, and perhaps of no one else in the world, since he had shown +little affection for his parents; now, as he saw her with increasing +frequency, his feelings for her became more intense, till every day +he seemed to see in her new and more entrancing perfections, and even +his enthusiasms for Socialism faded under the continual protest of +her aversion to it. He admitted to himself with a kind of thrill of +self-defiance that Julie was so clever, so sensible, so wonderfully +reasonable and clear-sighted, that her opinion on any subject could +not be despised, and it became more and more plain to him that if she +thought badly of Socialism that doctrine would find difficulty in +retaining his complete loyalty. To be short, by the time she reached +her eighteenth birthday Bert was head over ears in love with the girl, +and had scarcely a thought in which she did not predominate. Madame +Querterot watched it all from beneath her heavy eyelids. She said +nothing, but the idea that here was one who in time might be useful to +her crept into her brain and took deep root there as the weeks went by. + +Julie was pious and devout. It was about this time that she began to +speak about entering a religious sisterhood, but the storm of reproach +and upbraiding that this desire provoked in her mother caused her to +relinquish the idea for the time being, and, more particularly, not to +talk of it any more. The only visible effect of the suggestion was that +Madame Querterot welcomed Bert more effusively than usual, and now often +invited him to stay to supper. + +It may be judged how readily he accepted, and these evenings were +certainly the happiest hours in his life. He used to come early and help +Julie to lay the table, and sometimes even to prepare the meal; and if +her sleeve chanced to brush against his shoulder as she stooped over +the fire or reached up to a shelf he would be reduced to a state of +speechless ecstasy, which Madame Querterot found a pleasant change from +the usual aggressive torrent of his talk. + +In spite of her quiet and demure ways, Julie had a girlish fondness +for dress and finery, and the offerings that from time to time Bert +laid at her feet, of gloves and trinkets, were a great source of +innocent pleasure to her. There was a time when he sallied forth from +his lodgings armed with the savings of months, and the intention of +buying a ring, which he should present to her accompanied by a speech he +prepared for the occasion, in which the secret of his heart was to be +imparted, together with the request that the ring should be a token of +their engagement. But his courage failed him at the jeweller's counter; +he felt suddenly a conviction, amounting to a certainty, that Julie +would refuse; and, rather than risk knowing the worst, he abandoned his +project and spent his hoardings on a brooch which he himself did not +really admire, and which Julie, when she received it, thought hideous. +The only person who was pleased was the jeweller, who had had the thing +in his shop two years and simply loathed the sight of it. + +It was soon after this that the great plan, of which Madame Querterot +had had the elements incubating in her mind for a long while, was +hatched, and presented itself to her in a complete and material form. +She knew from the first that she could not carry it out alone; and, +casting over in her thoughts for the help she required, saw in Bert a +tool made ready to her hand. When she broached her idea to him she had +her design prepared, down to every detail. + +It was on the night when he had treated the two women to the theatre, as +has been related in an early page of this narrative. Madame Querterot +began by telling the young man that she would never allow her daughter +to marry one so poor as himself, and added quickly that she knew of +a way by which he could attain both money and the assistance of her +influence exerted on his behalf with Julie. Having excited his curiosity +and his hopes she bound him to secrecy and disclosed her purpose to him. + +"It is yourself who gave me the good idea," she assured him. "It is your +socialistic teaching, is it not, to take from the rich? they have more +than is reasonable, those others!" + +They were walking up and down before the little house in Pimlico where +the Querterots lived in these days of poverty; Julie had left them and +gone to bed; the glimmer of a candle came from behind a blind in the +room upstairs. + +"Of course they have," Bert grunted. "But it's no use your thinking you +can take their money from them without further legislation. What price +the police?" + +"Ah, the police," sighed Madame Querterot, "if only they would not +meddle in what is not their affair! But, look you, there are cases +which are exceptional. There are cases which ought to receive immediate +attention, which cry out for treatment of the most drastic. If the law +is slow--and I grant you that the law has great need of alteration--when +a matter is exceptionally urgent, I say, the good citizen must take it +in his own hands to see justice done. And if while we render a service +to humanity we do so with profit to ourselves, it is clear that the ends +of justice are doubly served." + +Bert could not help agreeing with these excellent precepts. Indeed, +Madame Querterot's air of supernatural wisdom would have impressed the +most sceptical. + +"It is not enough to talk, one must demonstrate one's faith in a theory. +By the means I shall propose you can prove how well Socialism will work +in practice; for here will the poor, as represented by us, be made +richer, and yet the rich person who will have changed our fortunes +need scarcely feel any deprivation. You remember my talking to you at +supper-time about a lady, a very wealthy lady, one of my clientele?" + +"Yes," said Bert. "A Jewess, wasn't it?" + +"It is true. A Jewess! And have not the Jews for centuries ground the +bones of the poor? Who more fitted to be the first to contribute some of +their ill-gotten gains in return? Should they not be obliged to restore +some of that money which they never earned?" + +"I daresay," assented Bert; "but I wish you'd hurry up and let's see +what you're getting at, that's all." + +"Eh bien! This woman, this Jewess, is enormously rich, as I tell you. +And what does she do with her money? My friend, she covers herself with +diamonds! It is those diamonds which I propose to myself to deprive her +of." + +"What, steal them?" Bert's tone was troubled, although in his heart he +had known from the first whither her talk drifted. + +"Steal! What a word." Impossible to convey the contempt of Madame +Querterot's tone. "Is it right then, that she should be permitted to +have so much when others starve? Is it right that she should flaunt her +jewels in the face of the hungry poor?" + +Madame Querterot, who had a good memory, went on to quote phrase after +phrase she had at various times heard fall from Bert's own lips. She +poured his favourite catchwords into his ears, and strengthened them +with arguments of her own. She painted the robbery she designed in +such glowing colours that you would have thought, to hear her, that +it was a sacrifice she was going to make for the good of humanity. +She passed imperceptibly to picturing the delight of Julie when she +should be presented with one of the less easily identified jewels, to +the readiness with which, at the advice and with the glad consent of +her mother, she would accept the heart and hand of the prosperous and +enriched Albert, to the happiness of the young couple ensconced in +their charming house, surrounded by motors, gramophones, champagne; in +fine, all the luxuries due to a girl of Julie's perfections. Madame +Querterot did not stop till she came to her own prospective joys, her +grandchildren climbing on her knee. It was enough for the blushing +and intoxicated Bert. He surrendered, agreed to all she proposed, +put himself entirely under her directions, and these his prospective +mother-in-law willingly proceeded to give him. + +She explained to him first at some length the character of Mrs. +Vanderstein, and the means by which she hoped to play upon her weakness. + +"There is," said she, "a young Prince--the Prince Felipe of Targona--now +in London and staying at Fianti's Hotel in Grosvenor Street, which is +situated just opposite to the house of this Jewess. It so happened +to-day, as I was in the midst of my massaging, that she jumped up and +ran to the window to see this young man pass, and I also looked out. Now +by some chance the Prince, as he drove by, happened to lift his head +and look straight into Mrs. Vanderstein's face. It was a most lucky +occurrence, and I could not have hoped for anything so providential to +arrive. One would say, indeed, that it is an omen for me, a mandate to +carry out my plan. Mrs. Vanderstein was delighted at this encounter of +the eyes, and did not disguise her pleasure. Well, see how simple is now +my part. I have in the shop some tortoise-shell combs, purchased at a +ridiculous price by that poor Eugène when we first started in business +here in London. They are very beautiful, of the finest workmanship, +exquisitely and intricately carved, but of a pattern antiquated and +_démodé_. We have never been able to sell them. + +"Now see, I shall take those combs, and present myself at Fianti's +with a petition that I may see the Princess of Targona, mother of +Prince Felipe. For her I have a story that my husband was of Targona, +and that the combs also come from that country. I shall offer them to +Her Highness as a present from a humble and expatriated subject, and +say that my late husband refused to part with them out of patriotism, +and, when everything else he possessed had to be sold, clung always to +the only objects he had left to remind him of his beloved Targona. It +is quite probable that the Princess will be affected by this touching +history. She may even make me a present; but that is by the way. What +is really of importance is that I should be left alone in one of the +apartments occupied by the Royal party for a few minutes. If I can +manage that--and I think you may have confidence that I will do so--I +shall obtain some pieces of the Prince's notepaper on which his royal +device or monogram is certainly engraved; at all events it will bear +some distinguishing mark, and it will go hard if a few sheets of it do +not find their way into my bag. + +"The next step will be easy. I shall issue from the hotel at a moment +when I have ascertained, by peeping from a window, that Mrs. Vanderstein +is on her balcony, where at a certain hour she very often goes to water +some flowers she has there. She will see me pass; and, as she is very +curious about all that goes on at Fianti's, she will remark on the +incident. I shall tell her that I have been called by the Prince of +Targona, who has fallen madly in love with her at first sight. You may +think she will not believe this, but trust me to make it plausible; +and she will be readier to credit such an idea than you imagine, for +in the first place all beautiful women are ready to believe that their +attractions are irresistible--and she is beautiful, this Jewess, not +unlike what I was myself when I was younger--and in the second place, +Mrs. Vanderstein is of a nature romantic to the point of ridicule, and +is always, I am convinced, fabricating for herself stories of heroes and +princes, with herself for the heroine of these fables. + +"How do I know, you ask me? I tell you I know. I am a judge of +character; I have an aptitude for that. Eh bien! I shall convince the +Jewess that she is adored by a reigning Prince, with frenzy, with +devotion, with passion; that he thinks of nothing but her; that he would +put his hand in the fire for her sake, that he is ready to abdicate his +throne, to give up the government of his country. In short, that he +wishes to marry her, and that if she will not listen to his addresses +he has nothing further to live for in this world. What is perhaps the +weak point in my tale is the idea that Prince Felipe should have chosen +to make a confidante of myself, but, believe me, my dear Bert, I shall +make even that appear not unnatural, and, as a matter of fact, stranger +things are done every day. All this will take time, I do not know how +long--days, perhaps weeks. I must find out how long the Prince stays in +London," added Madame Querterot, more to herself than to her companion. + +It was the one thing she had forgotten. + +"I shall write her letters on the Royal notepaper, and as she will send +the answers by my hand, I shall know their contents and be able to reply +to them without arousing any suspicions on her part. In his impassioned +epistles the Prince will beg for an interview; he will lament the +obstacles that prevent his seeing her either at the hotel or in her own +residence, and he will finally, I am sure, persuade her to meet him +for the purpose of making his acquaintance, in a house which he will +indicate. + +"She will consent to all he proposes, or I am much mistaken. It is at +this point, my dear Bert, that your assistance becomes so indispensable. +You are a house agent's clerk. I shall require a house; and it is you +who must take it for me, in an assumed name, of course, and without the +knowledge of your employers." + +"I don't see how that can ever be done," Bert objected. + +They were still pacing slowly up and down the dingy street. A policeman +at the corner of the road looked at them once or twice, decided they +were harmless, and ceased his attentions. The light in Julie's bedroom +was long since extinguished. + +Madame Querterot cleared her throat and began again. + +"There will be a gentleman from India, let us say," she resumed, "who +will call at the office at an hour when the two partners are out. No +one will regret this more than yourself, but in their absence you will +do your best to attend to the requirements of the gentleman from India. +He will want a house, and he will want it immediately. He will desire +to take it by the week and he will be ready to pay a large rent. He is +somewhat eccentric, this gentleman, and dislikes meeting strangers. +He will tell you to see about getting a charwoman to make the house +ready for him, and he will settle then and there on the terms, on the +day he is to take possession, and upon every necessary detail. Then, +having signed the agreement, he will pay you the first week's rent in +advance--for which I will provide the money--and he will walk out of the +office. You will tell Mr. Ennidge and Mr. Pring, when they return, about +the eccentric gentleman from India, and they will not be suspicious +about him since there will be the money for the rent." + +"Are you going to act being this gentleman you're talking about?" asked +Bert. + +"No," replied Madame Querterot. "He will not exist at all; it is not +necessary that he should ever appear. But it may be very useful that he +should be thought to exist." + +"Then who is to sign the lease?" + +"You will do that," said the Frenchwoman, "you must begin at once to +practise writing with your left hand. Choose a short name--we will call +him Mr. West--and write it over and over again many times on a sheet of +foolscap, which you will always burn when you have covered it. Never +forget to burn it, Bert. You will find it quite easy in a few days, and +it will not in the least resemble your own hand." + +"I don't half like it," Bert commented. + +"I promise you it will be all that is most simple. The Indian gentleman +will ask you personally to meet him at the house on the day he takes +possession, and he will tell you to be sure to come yourself, as he +dislikes strangers and prefers not to do business with more than one +person. So you will get the house ready for him and hand him the key and +leave him in it. That is all the trouble there will be about the house. +Not much to take, for the sake of gaining a fortune and a charming wife, +you must admit? The Vanderstein will come to the house to meet Prince +Felipe. She will find us there, masked and unknown to her. We shall +relieve her of her jewels, which I shall have arranged that she will +wear; Prince Felipe is so fond of jewellery, it is a perfect passion +with him to see women so adorned! So I shall tell her, and she will not +fail to bedeck herself with them. When all is done she may return home; +disappointed, I fear; but life is full of disillusions, and the blame +will rest on the eccentric Mr. West from India." + +It was all very plausible. Bert could pick no holes in the plan. He +tried to offer one or two objections, but was quickly overruled, and +finally said good night and went home to bed committed to aid and abet +Madame Querterot in her purpose to the best of his power. + +All went well. Madame Querterot succeeded even beyond her expectations. +The Vanderstein, as she called her, was all a flutter of excitement and +delight, and Madame Querterot related to Bert at great length and with +huge enjoyment the scene in which she had embarked upon the hoax, and +the easy gullibility of "la Juive." + +"'Figure to yourself,' I said to her, 'that this morning I receive a +summons to Fianti's from a lady in waiting on the Princess of Targona! +What an honour! You can imagine my excitement! This lady used formerly +to stay much at her country's legation here, in London, and she was in +the habit of making herself _coiffée_ by that poor Eugène. So it appears +that yesterday she sent for him; but, when they told her that the poor +dear was no longer on this earth, she had the amiability to seek me +out, having heard of all our cruel misfortune, and asked that I should +present myself in his place. To-day, therefore, I attended at the hotel, +and had the pleasure of making the _coiffure_ of a charming lady. Mais +elle est charmante, cette dame-là! But--and here follows the affair that +is of interest to you, madame--as I left the apartment of the lady in +waiting and was about to descend the staircase, a voice called me back, +and, looking round, what was my surprise to perceive no less a person +than His Highness, Prince Felipe, who appeared to be beckoning to me to +join him in a dark part of the passage.' + +"Mrs. Vanderstein interrupted me with sparkling eyes. 'Do tell me,' +she cried, 'the words that His Highness spoke to you! Sit down, Madame +Justine, and tell me every single thing you can remember about it.' I +drew a chair close to the sofa where Mrs. Vanderstein was seated, and +I continued my narrative in a confidential undertone. 'I could not +imagine what it was that Prince Felipe had to say to me, but I thought +for a moment that possibly his mother required my services, and I was +enchanted at the idea that perhaps I was this day to dress the hair +of a Royal personage. But as soon as I drew near, the Prince began to +ask me questions of which at first I could not understand the purport. +Soon, however, I comprehended. "You live in this street?" he asked. +"No, monsieur," I replied; "I live far from here." "But I saw you," he +cried, "I am convinced that it was you I saw!" "When did Your Highness +see me?" I inquired. I was indeed flattered that he should condescend to +recognise me. "I saw you yesterday. You were looking out of the window +of a house opposite this hotel," said he positively. "Ah yes, monsieur, +it is true. I was in the house of Mrs. Vanderstein, one of my clients, +and we had the good fortune to see you drive past." + +"'I began now to see why I was receiving the honour of this interview. +"Mrs. Vanderstein!" he exclaimed. "Is that then her name? But," he +added, "there were two ladies. Which was Mrs. Vanderstein?" "The elder +of the two, monsieur, the one whose hair is dark." "It is she," he said. +"Ah, how beautiful she is! In all my life I have never seen a face that +so haunts my memory. It is the face I have dreamed of all these years. +But stay," cried he in a different tone and with a look of despair. "You +call her Mrs. Vanderstein! Am I to understand then that she is married? +No matter, her husband must perish! One of my gentlemen may engage him +in a duel. These things can arrange themselves." Such were his words. +Ah, madame! one sees that His Highness is not used to opposition.' + +"The Vanderstein was transformed. Her eyes flashed with unaccustomed +fires. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted, her breath came a +little quickly. I was astonished at the change. 'She looks ten years +younger,' I said to myself. 'Is it the massage that has had an effect +after all?' Aloud I continued my tale. 'I explained to the Prince that +Mr. Vanderstein had saved him the trouble of arranging a duel. "Then," +cried he, "there is no obstacle! Except," he added in a different and +depressed tone, "the wishes of my mother, and of the government of +Targona. They are very decided that I must marry for reasons of state, +but I have told them again and again that I will not do it. I will +abdicate if they like, but I will never marry except in accordance with +the dictates of my heart. And my heart has never before been touched; +so that I am sure now that there is but one woman in the world for me. +But how am I to meet her? If anyone suspects my feelings, unimaginable +difficulties will be thrown in the way. And how can I ever win the +affections of the beautiful and adorable Mrs. Vanderstein, if I cannot +even imagine a means by which I may make her acquaintance? One thing, +however, is sure. Without her I cannot live." + +"'Ah, madame,' I said, 'if you could have seen the poor gentleman your +heart would have ached for him. On his face so sad an expression! He had +an air so miserable and disconsolate. One can see that he has a tender +nature! In his despair he strode up and down the corridor, gesticulating +with his hands, and rumpling his hair--which is fine like silk--by +tearing at it with his fingers! Again and again he would clap his hand +to his forehead, or smite himself upon the breast, and, if he abstained +from bursting into actual tears, you may be sure it was because the +rigorous code, which forbids any public display of feeling in persons +of Royal blood, would not allow him to show his emotion even in the +presence of so insignificant a person as myself. Ah, the poor young man. +I, madame, I, whom he noticed as he would observe your looking-glass or +your boot-lace, felt myself ready to take him in my arms and to embrace +and comfort him like a mother.' + +"I paused for breath, and Mrs. Vanderstein cried: 'Oh, Madame Justine, +is it really possible that he should feel like that after only seeing me +once, and that at a distance?' 'Love at first sight,' I replied, 'is not +a thing of which one has never heard; and assuredly he is in love, this +poor Prince Felipe, or I do not know what love is. Several times again +he stopped in front of me, and cried out: "How, how am I to arouse her +interest, gain her respect, above all how can I win her heart, when I +have no chance of making myself known to her? I cannot hope that she +will be attracted by my personal appearance. With one of her mental and +spiritual superiority--as I can see at a glance--my rank and position +will scarcely avail; it is, then, only by learning the depth and +sincerity of my passion, only by realising the fond and tender quality +of my love for her, that she may in time be prevailed on to look not +altogether unfavourably upon my suit." And much more he said of the same +kind. As for me, madame, I assured him I would, in a tactful way, convey +to you some hints as to the state of his feelings. He insisted that they +should be no more than hints, fearing that you would be offended at his +making of me a messenger; so if I have, in my sympathy, overstepped +the bounds of discretion, you must judge the fault entirely my own and +not attribute it to any lack of manners on the part of the Prince. His +intentions are of the most perfect correctness. + +"'He questioned me closely as to your way of life, your opinions and +habits. "Ah," he cried, "I see we are made for one another, she and +I. You say that she likes to surround herself with pictures, flowers, +jewels, and the luxurious things of life. She is fond of music and of +the arts. Now remark this! I am a collector of paintings and _objets +d'art_. I, too, adore music and roses. I, also, have a passion for +precious stones and personal adornment. Wherein do we differ? _Hein!_ +It is plain that we have the same tastes, that I shall be _sympathique_ +to her. Oh, we must meet! Somehow, somewhere I will arrange, if she +consents, that we should meet. Not here. Impossible! Not at her house. I +should feel my mother's eye on me. I could not escape observation if I +merely crossed the road. No, neither here nor there, but in some other +place of which I will consider. In the meanwhile do you, with the utmost +delicacy, sound her feelings as regards myself, and prepare her for a +further expression of my own." I think, madame, that that is all that +passed between us, but I am to return to Fianti's to-morrow and report +to him whether you appeared displeased.' It seemed that Mrs. Vanderstein +was not displeased. She spoke very little more, but I could see, by the +happy, excited air she wore under her assumed calm, that my words were +having all the effect I could wish." + +All this Madame Querterot retailed with many details to the interested +and amazed Bert, and each succeeding day she had new accounts of her +cleverness and success to relate. She wrote impassioned, but eminently +"correct" letters on the royal notepaper she had filched in accordance +with her plan, and carried them to Mrs. Vanderstein with a hidden, +jeering smile at that lady's glad and confiding acceptance of their +authenticity. + +The night of the gala performance at the opera was fixed on for the +deed, and at their every meeting Madame Querterot repeated to Bert +her instructions as to the part played by the gentleman from India. +She elaborated and filled in her first sketch of his character and +behaviour, till at last the young man almost believed in the real +existence of Mr. West, and certainly knew far more about him than about +most of the people with whom he was actually in daily contact, for, +as a rule, he was unobservant to the last degree. She saw also to his +learning to write with his left hand, and he was able in a couple of +days to do this to her satisfaction. By now Bert was as keen about +the project as she could have wished. An evening spent at his club +had strengthened and confirmed his conviction that no one woman had a +right to the exclusive enjoyment of so much wealth; and he was now well +assured that he would deserve nothing but commendation for trying to +readjust the scales. There were moments when, for the fraction of an +otherwise optimistical second, he beheld a vision of Julie as she would +look at him if she ever heard of what was contemplated; and it was a +vision that caused in him a catching of the breath. But the idea for the +most part only hovered in the background of his thoughts, so that, while +he was always conscious of its neighbourhood, so to speak, he was able +with an effort to turn away his mental eyes, and to avoid looking it in +the face; and it was then that he would seem to Madame Querterot most +eager, most impatient for the night to arrive. + +The house in Scholefield Avenue was taken, and Messrs. Ennidge and Pring +showed themselves only mildly interested in the mythical Mr. West, and +that chiefly on account of his readiness to pay a high rent. Then a +difficulty arose; and it was Bert, to his satisfaction and pride, who +suggested a way out of it. + +Madame Querterot met him one evening with an expression of dismay she +made no attempt to conceal. + +"There is after all something I have forgotten," she cried. "_Nom d'un +nom!_ that I can have been so stupid, so idiot! Listen, it is this. The +Jewess must drive from the opera to Scholefield Avenue. But in what? It +is impossible that she should go in her own automobile, and if she takes +a taxi we are equally betrayed. _Aïe, aïe!_ what to do?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +It was then that Bert had his brilliant idea. + +To explain it, reference must be made again to his family history. His +father's sister had married a grocer at Richmond, named Stodder, she +having been cook in a family at Hampton Court previous to this event. + +The pair had five children, and Bert, when a child, was often taken down +to visit his relations; in the hot weather holidays the Stodders had him +to stay with them for most of the summer. The children hated him, for he +was a spoilt, ill-tempered little boy from the start, but they had to +put up with him, and he grew up on familiar if rather quarrelsome terms +with the whole family. + +The eldest boy, Ned, after he left school, was employed in driving his +father's cart about the neighbourhood every day, in order to deliver +orders received and to collect fresh ones. It was Bert's favourite +occupation to sit in the back of the van, his legs dangling, or kicking +against the backboard, while he watched the white roads slip under him +and the grocer's dog trotting with extended tongue beneath his drumming +heels. Ned was quite aware of the pleasure his cousin took in this not +very arduous form of exercise, and he soon devised a way of turning +it to his own profit. He pointed out to Bert that he could not expect +anyone to put up with his company unless he did something to make it +worth their while, and that he for one would not suffer Bert's company +in the van unless he justified his presence by cleaning it when they +came home, and by helping to look after the harness and the horse. Bert +disliked work, but he hated to be cut off from his drives, and, as Ned +was quite firm besides being older and stronger than he was, he told +himself that needs must--and Ned that he was the devil--and took up the +duties of stable boy. + +Under his critical and unsparing master and to the accompaniment of +more than a few cuffs and kicks when he tried to shirk his work, Bert +became more proficient in the care of the grocer's steed than any less +well-adjusted mixture of pain and pleasure would have been likely to +result in. + +As a further reward, too, the stern Ned so far relented as to allow him +occasionally to take the reins. The combination of discipline and fresh +air did the Tremmels' boy a world of good, and that was a happy summer +for him. Unfortunately, when he returned to Hanover Street his mother +soon undid the good effects of Ned's cuffings; and the following summer +when he found himself again under his uncle's hospitable roof Ned had +left it to enter private service in the stables, and his next cousin had +come out of school and succeeded to the job of driving the van. Geoffrey +was of a less good-humoured, easy-going disposition than his brother +Ned, and Bert was at this age becoming more and more objectionable; it +was seldom that Geoffrey could be induced to let him go with him on his +rounds, but he followed his brother's example in forcing his cousin to +assist him with the horse and cart when he returned with them. This only +enraged and embittered Bert, and of the good done the year before the +last remnant was now utterly destroyed. + +In the meantime, as the years went on, Ned grew up a credit to his +family, and a good and favoured servant. So rapid was his progress, +and so astounding--as the Tremmels said--his luck, that by the time +he was three-and-twenty he had risen to the situation of coachman to +an old lady named Mrs. Wilkinson, the aunt of his former master. This +lady kept only one horse and a brougham, and with them drove out every +afternoon, in winter from three to five, in summer from four to six. It +was impossible to imagine an easier or more comfortable place, and Bert +often envied his cousin the soft thing he had stepped into. + +Ned was the only one of his relations whom he ever went near nowadays, +but he used often to go round to his stable during the luncheon hour and +explain to the young coachman how little he deserved his good fortune. + +It was not till, for the first time, he beheld Madame Querterot at a +loss, not till he heard what in their great plan she had forgotten to +provide for, that he suddenly realised that Ned's good fortune was +possibly his own as well. + +"See here," he said to the agitated Frenchwoman, "I can manage that +part." And he told her of his cousin the coachman. + +"Mrs. Wilkinson, the lady he works for, has by the rarest luck a +house in the same street as the one I have taken. She lives at No. 1 +Scholefield Avenue, only a few doors away from No. 13. More than that, +it happens that she has a large garden at the back of the house, and +the stable is situated at the end of it, quite away from any other +buildings. There's luck for you!" + +"How is that?" cried Madame Querterot, "explain yourself quick." She +was very nervous and excited, and for the only time during the whole +business her calm confidence deserted her. It was so near the hour! She +had already smoothed away so many difficulties, done the impossible; and +if all her hopes were to be shattered now, and by so small an obstacle, +it would be, she told herself, the _comble_. + +"Why, this way," Bert reassured her. "Ned is always wanting to go home +to Richmond, because the young lady he's keeping company with lives down +there, though he makes out to me that it's his family he wants to see. +As if anyone wanted to see their family! But his old lady drives out +till six every day, and by the time Ned has cleaned up and rubbed down +the horse, and fed him, and washed the brougham and the rest of it, it's +too late to get a decent train down to Richmond, for it's a tidy way +from Scholefield Avenue to Gloucester Road, where the trains connect. + +"Now suppose I go to Ned, and tell him I know he wants an evening off, +and that if he likes I don't mind doing his job for once, so as he can +have it. I'll offer to be about on Monday, when he comes in from taking +old Mrs. Wilkinson out for her drive, and to look after the horse and to +put it to bye-bye. I've often done it for him when I was a lad, so he +knows I can manage, though I don't say he won't be a bit surprised at +my offering, so to speak. I think perhaps I'd best say I'll do it for a +consideration; he'll be good for a bob where his young lady's concerned, +I'll bet. What's more, I'll say I'll feed the horse in the morning, so +he won't have to catch the last train back, but can stay down home for +the night. After I've seen him off the premises I'll get inside his +livery--he's a bigger man than me, though not so long in the leg--and +I'll put the horse in again and drive down to Covent Garden and fetch +the lady up. We can say the Prince is sending his own carriage for her." + +Madame Querterot nearly wept on Bert's neck in her joy and emotion. + +"You will save us, my dear friend!" she exclaimed, pressing his hand, +a demonstration that he resented by snatching it savagely away. "What a +mind, what a genius, to think of so splendid, so heaven-given a device! +Let it be as you say. I am well assured now that all will go well." + +These last days were a busy time for Madame Querterot, for there were +certain personal details, essential to the success of her plan, to +be attended to: there were bills to collect, sales to arrange, and +purchases to be made. At last all was done, everything ready, and she +stood in the hall of No. 13 Scholefield Avenue awaiting, with only the +least flicker of the nerves, the sound of wheels before the door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Early as it was in the adventure, Bert was already realising +the difficulties of the part he had to play. He had induced the +gratified--though suspicious and thankless--Ned to accept his services +in the matter of the horse; and, having seen him depart with a small +brown paper parcel--which furnished the outward evidence of his +intention to stay the night with his people--had harnessed the animal +again in good time, arrayed himself in the livery belonging to Ned, and +adorned his chin with the false beard provided by Madame Querterot, +so that no time should be wasted on his return. "I do look a guy," he +said to himself, as he contemplated his reflection in the strip of +looking-glass in the harness-room. + +Nothing remained but to drive down to Covent Garden, and take his place +on the rank of waiting vehicles. This, he was surprised to find, was not +so easy as he had expected. He discovered that attempting to control +Mrs. Wilkinson's dun horse, which had a willing spirit and a hard mouth, +was a very different affair from driving the old and sluggish beast that +used to meander between the shafts of his uncle's van. Their progress +was erratic in the extreme, and he several times narrowly avoided an +accident. The Providence which looks after bad drivers did not fail +him, however, and at length he found himself, a good deal to his +surprise--for at one period of the journey hope had altogether deserted +him--forming one of the long string of motors and carriages that had +already drawn into line in the vicinity of the opera house. + +Now began a time during which the fear that the expected summons would +never reach him alternated with something very like hope that it would +not. As he sat on the box, while minute after minute passed, and still +no voice cried for Mr. Targon's carriage, he was beset with ever +growing misgivings as to the appearance he presented, and felt that his +ill-fitting livery and the false beard, which the scarf he had wrapped +round his neck and chin only partially concealed, must be riveting upon +him the eyes of every beholder; so that not a look was cast in his +direction but he read in it distrust and suspicion. + +Even the most seemingly interminable suspense comes to an end at last, +and he had not endured these torments more than a short half-hour before +the words for which he had been waiting fell upon his ear, and making +his way out of the line he succeeded in guiding the dun horse beneath +the portico of the theatre. + +The safe accomplishment of this manoeuvre, however, fully occupied +his every faculty, and it was only when the carriage had come to a +standstill before the doors that he had time to glance in the direction +of the lady he was to carry off. With a shock of surprise and dismay he +saw that not one but two elegantly attired women were about to enter the +carriage. + +He had not the courage for more than a feeble remonstrance; indeed, it +needed all the courage he could muster to lift up his voice at all in +the presence of the waiting attendants, and in the brilliant glare of +the lamps. After he had driven some way in increasing perplexity and +irresolution, he stopped, and tried again to induce Barbara to get out; +but the attention the ensuing discussion aroused from the passers-by +and the sight of an approaching policeman were too much for his nerves, +and he decided hastily to drive on and allow Madame Querterot to deal +with this unexpected complication. A glimpse of her face when they +arrived in Scholefield Avenue, and she saw what had happened, did not +add to his peace of mind. He drove round to Mrs. Wilkinson's stables, +extinguished the carriage lamps, and unharnessed the dun horse by the +light of his pocket electric torch as quietly and quickly as he might, +his heart sinking at the prospect of what she would say to him when he +returned. It was lucky that the stable gate opened on to such a lonely +street as the one which ran at the back of the gardens of the houses in +Scholefield Avenue. + +A blank wall faced it across the road, studded at intervals with the +doors to the gardens at the back of the houses in Westford Avenue, +which lay beyond. There was another stable some hundred yards further +down; but, unless some one were awake and about in that direction, Bert +knew that there was little chance of his presence and movements being +discovered. Still he could not feel secure for a moment, and it was not +till he had put everything in some kind of order and shut the door of +the loose box behind him that he breathed again. He hurried round to No. +13, seeing the fancied forms of lurking policemen behind every tree and +in every shadow, and it was with a hand already shaking with agitation +that he gave the three taps on the door, with which it had been agreed +that he should signal his return to Madame Querterot. + +She greeted him, as he had feared she would, with a storm of whispered +reproaches. What had he been thinking of to bring that girl to the +house? Was he mad? As she looked at him, however, in the light of the +gas jet which burned at the foot of the stairs, she saw plainly enough +that he was in a state of nervousness which she had not expected; and +that, if he was to be of any use to her in the crisis that was upon +them, she had better employ herself in soothing rather than adding to +his distress of mind. + +"Well, well," she interrupted her own words, "it is perhaps of no such +great consequence. A little more trouble, possibly, for you; but of +that we will talk later. For the moment we must get to business. These +summer nights are short and we have much to do before morning. Go into +the dining-room, while I prevail upon Miss Turner to leave her friend. +I will put her in the library, where she will be out of the way for the +present." + +After a few minutes, during which Bert waited, breathless, in the +darkness of the dining-room, she was back again, and announced in a +whisper that all was well. Barbara had been shown into the back room; +and upstairs Mrs. Vanderstein, alone and expectant, awaited the coming +of the Prince. + +"She has got on all her jewels," sniggered the Frenchwoman, drawing on +her gloves. "And she little thinks that there are here two people who +appreciate them as her Prince never could. Ah! Bah! Are there imbeciles +in the world? Now then, my friend, you know what you have to do. We rush +into the room, you seize this fair creature and hold her fast, while I +administer a little whiff of chloroform that shall keep her quiet and +prevent any outcry, so that we can remove from her the gems at our ease. +See, I have the bottle ready. Allons donc; à la besogne!" + +They went softly and quickly up the stairs. Now that the moment for +action had arrived, Bert's confidence was in some measure restored. The +sight of the diamonds glittering in the light of the brougham lamp, +when Mrs. Vanderstein had stood upbraiding him for his bad driving, +had sharpened his appetite for them, and the prospect of fingering the +shining things was a pleasant one. Inside the four walls of the house, +with the door bolted between them and the interfering outside world, +it seemed again safe and desirable enough to take her jewels from this +pampered member of the idle rich, and afterwards to lead her blindfolded +to some sequestered place, as they had planned, and there release her +to find her own way home. Even if she knew where the house was to which +she had been decoyed, it would be empty and discreetly silent by the +time she could bring to it the avenging hosts of the police. He himself +was so well disguised that she never could recognise him again; besides, +she would only see him for one moment. True, Madame Querterot was well +known to her, but Madame Querterot had her own plans for avoiding any +unpleasant consequences of their deed; so she had informed him, and +knowing her as he did, he never doubted her intention and capacity of +taking care of herself. A medley of these thoughts was in his mind as +they mounted the stairs, and paused for an instant at the drawing-room +door. No sound came from behind it, and with an encouraging whisper to +her companion Madame Querterot turned the handle and went in. + +From the end of the room Mrs. Vanderstein rose to greet them, with a +radiant, blushing countenance. Always a beautiful woman, she had never +been more lovely than at this moment. The smile faded from her lips as +she realised that here was not the lover she looked to see; but before +she had time to speak Bert was beside her, clutching her round the +waist and dragging her back towards the sofa, while over the mouth she +opened with a remonstrating cry were clapped the plump hands of Madame +Querterot, holding between them something that choked her with its +sickly, overwhelming odour. + +"See," said Madame Querterot, after a short interval, "see, she sleeps!" +But still she continued to hold the mouth of the bottle over Mrs. +Vanderstein's mouth and nose. + +It was at this moment that the door was flung open, and Barbara rushed +into the room. + +Bert sprang to meet her, fully alive to the undesirability of her +presence. It hardly needed Madame Querterot's cry of "Take her away," +to make him grasp her by the arms, and half push, half carry her out +on to the landing and down the narrow stairs to the library, where +he left her after a minute or two safely locked in. He listened for +a little while outside the door, for he fancied the girl might raise +the alarm or do some unimagined, desperate thing which should imperil +their safety. She had already threatened to set fire to the house, and +he racked his brains to guess what might be her next move. He was in +no hurry to return to the drawing-room, moreover, for his heart was +beating unpleasantly fast, and the sight of the helpless lady they had +so violently treated, sinking quiet and motionless on to the sofa, had +filled him with vague discomfort. + +After all--the thought would not be kept away any longer--what would +Julie think of all this? Could she ever be brought to care for a robber? +Yes, that was what he was--a robber. His fortifying socialistic claptrap +refused, somehow, to come to his aid in this hour of need. What would +Julie say? Already misgivings undermined his unstable resolves. He sat +down half-way up the stairs and buried his face in his hands. + +It was ten minutes before he could make up his mind to go back to the +drawing-room. + +Madame Querterot looked up quickly as he entered; she was on her knees +beside the unconscious form of Mrs. Vanderstein, engaged in unfastening +the clasp of a bracelet. A bright silk-covered cushion lay on the floor +beside her. + +"Where have you been?" she said. "Come and help me to get these things +off." + +Bert went over and stood opposite her. As his eyes rested on the figure +that lay so still upon the sofa, a horrible doubt leapt into his +mind. How white, how dreadful Mrs. Vanderstein looked! How quiet, how +motionless she was. Could she indeed be sleeping? There was no movement +to show that she breathed. + +Bert looked at Madame Querterot. + +"Madame Querterot!" was all he could find to say. But there was a world +of accusation in his hoarse tones, and the Frenchwoman, looking up in +reply to his words, was unable to stand the fixed stare with which he +glared into her face, as if expecting to read the terrible truth upon +it. Poor innocent, to look for the truth upon that face! + +Still, for once, she could not meet his eyes, and her glance shifted +furtively to one side. + +He knew now; and in the horror and rage which fell upon him he would +have struck her, if the sofa on which Mrs. Vanderstein was stretched had +not been between them. + +With dropping jaw and eyes starting from his head he thrust his face +forward towards her. + +"You have killed her!" he whispered. + +Madame Querterot laughed a little nervously "It was an accident. I gave +her a little more chloroform than I had the intention." + +"That is a lie. You meant to kill her all along. That cushion! You have +suffocated her! I see it now. Oh! I see it in your face; murderess!" + +"Bert, don't be a fool!" + +"Well, we'll see who's a fool," said he. "I am going for the police!" + +"My good Bert, you are, as I say, a fool," said Madame Querterot, +resuming with an effort her usual assurance. "For what will you fetch +the police? What will you tell them, eh? That you brought this woman +here in some one else's carriage, which you stole for the purpose; and +that I killed her, I suppose? A likely story! When you are gone I shall +scream and run to Miss Turner, who knows me well; and her I shall tell +that you have done this thing, and that now you would murder me, and +her also. Do you think the police would believe that I have done it? +Why, I am not stronger than Mrs. Vanderstein; it is impossible that I +could have done it alone, and they will see that easily. But it is very +possible that you could have done it, and believe me, Bert, if you are +not sensible and do all that I tell you, it is you, and you alone, who +will dangle in the air as a sequel to this accident." + +At this forecast, which he saw too plainly had a smack of probability +about it, Bert's resolution, never a dependable feature in his +composition, wavered and failed him. He flung himself down in a corner +of the room, bewailing his fate and cursing his companion with impartial +heartiness. + +Madame Querterot waited till he had exhausted his powers of +recrimination, and busied herself in transferring the jewels from the +body of Mrs. Vanderstein to the bag she had provided for the purpose. + +Then she had her turn. + +"What," she cried, "did you actually suppose I was sufficiently imbecile +to contemplate allowing this woman to live, when her first act would +have been to have me arrested? How do you suppose either of us could +have escaped, when it was I who made all the arrangements with her that +she should come to this house, and when she knew as well as you do that +it was I that chloroformed her? I could not have done it without your +help, so that you are as responsible as I; and more, for it was you who +brought her to the house. You brought the other girl too, you great, +stupid, whimpering baby, and she will have to die as well before either +you or I are safe. And that will be entirely your doing, for if she had +not come she could have lived till Doomsday for all I cared. Now, what +you have to do is to get the spade which I brought this afternoon from +the tool house in the garden, and dig a grave under the trees at the +back of the house, where you can hide this." She patted the arm of Mrs. +Vanderstein with gruesome familiarity. + +But Bert, sick and faint with horror, absolutely refused to do as he +was told in this matter. To go down into the starlit garden, to dig +for interminable hours in the open, with every shadow full of unknown +terrors, which would leap on him from out of the darkness, pounce on him +from behind, come creeping and gibbering at him with every leaf that +stirred or every chance footfall in a distant street! No. Again, it was +a long job to dig a grave; he knew that. The ground would be hard; he +would want a pickaxe. In any case he would not do it. + +Nothing Madame Querterot could say shook him in this determination. She +was growing really anxious, for it wanted only two or three hours to +dawn, and it began to look as if the body must be left where it lay, +when, by a lucky inspiration, she thought of the flower stand on the +balcony. Would Bert help her there? It would be quicker done and less +dangerous if he would, but if needs must, she said, she could manage +that alone. + +With a furious, shuddering sulkiness, Bert consented to help. + +He opened a window and undid the fastening of the shutters. Then, +after putting out the gas, they stepped cautiously out on to the +balcony, Madame Querterot carrying the spade, and, stooping behind the +balustrade, peered anxiously up and down the deserted street. There +was no one to be seen or heard, and with frenzied haste they began to +pull up the plants which adorned the flower box. At Madame Querterot's +direction Bert ladled out shovelfuls of loose soil, till the box was +more than half empty and the balcony was heaped high with black mould. + +They stole back to the drawing-room and Madame Querterot took from a +parcel that she had stored away in a corner of the room a bundle of +clothing, which she told Bert to carry downstairs and give to Miss +Turner to put on. + +"It would never do," she said, "for either of them to be found with +clothes on them that could be identified as their own. It would be best +that never should they be found at all, but it is well to be prepared +for everything, and though I fear Mrs. Vanderstein is sure to come to +light sooner or later, I prefer to take even more precautions with +regard to Miss Turner, as I shall be obliged to leave the disposal +of her to your scanty wits. Tell the girl, therefore, some cock and +bull story about intending to help her to escape, so that she may +readily attire herself in these clothes, which I had intended for the +Vanderstein. They are all bought in different rag shops, and there is +nothing on any of them to identify them by. Tell her also to undo her +hair and to screw it up plainly so as to hide it as much as possible. +Now go and do as I say." + +"But it is impossible," cried Bert, "that that girl should be killed +too. I cannot, I will not let you do it!" + +"So far from letting me do it, my dear Bert," replied Madame Querterot +placidly, "it is probable that you will have to do it yourself. But we +will speak of that again." + +Bert went reluctantly on his mission, and by the time he returned Madame +Querterot had undressed and decently enveloped the body in the chintz +cover of one of the sofas. Mrs. Vanderstein's clothes lay in a heap on +a chair near by, and the Frenchwoman was vainly trying, with a silken +petticoat, to rub away some large stains which appeared on the carpet, +beside the couch. As Bert came in she got up quickly, abandoning her +efforts. + +"What is it?" he asked, "what is that on the floor?" + +"Nothing. Only something I spilt. Some of the chloroform. It can easily +be hidden." And she pushed the sofa over the place. + +She said nothing to Bert about the vitriol she had used, nor did he +suspect it till the following Thursday night, when he was obliged to +undergo the ghastly ordeal of seeing the body unearthed by Mr. Gimblet. + +With a preliminary reconnaissance of the balcony to make sure that no +policeman was patrolling the street below, the young man and the woman +carried out the body of their victim, laid it in the grave they had made +ready, and then fell in silence to the task of restoring to the box the +mound of earth that was heaped upon the floor. When all was finished and +the flowers planted and blooming once more in their former places, there +still remained a quantity of soil for which there was no room in the +stand. + +Madame Querterot fetched a couple of housemaid's pails and they carried +the superfluous mould out by the back door to the garden, where they +scattered it widely upon the flower beds. It was a slow business and +necessitated many journeys, but by now Bert, in a paroxysm of fear, +which was in part for his own neck and almost as much at the certainty +that he would irretrievably lose Julie if any trace should ever be +discovered of that night's work, showed himself more tractable, and by +the time they had made the place shipshape was ready to lend a receptive +ear to the proposals of his resourceful leader as to their future +conduct. At her suggestion they sat down opposite to one another in the +back of the drawing-room, to talk over the best means of averting even a +shadow of suspicion. + +"We are safe enough," Madame Querterot asserted positively; "how is it +you say? safe as a church! Once the girl is disposed of, that is. Ah, +my friend, you made a mistake when you permitted the inclusion of Miss +Turner in the _partie_, but it is not impossible to remedy that error. +Here is the chloroform. What do you say? Shall we repeat the comedy +which we have just performed? For me, I am ready, for your sake, to do +my share." + +"No, no," cried Bert with a shiver, "not that, not that! Besides," he +added weakly, "there is only one flower box on the balcony." + +"It is true," mused the Frenchwoman, "that there is no room there for +another burial. And you still refuse to dig a grave? Perhaps to-morrow +night you will have more courage?" she suggested hopefully. + +But of this Bert held out no hope. "It would take too long," he said. "I +might screw myself up to commence the job, but I simply couldn't stick +to it for an hour, no more than I could fly. I'll do what I can, Madame +Querterot; I don't want to be hung for your beastly murders, and if I +can't keep my neck out of a noose any other way I suppose I've got to do +what you say--within reason, that is. It's the girl's life or mine right +enough, I believe, and I can't be blamed for thinking of myself first +in such a case," said Bert, nearly crying; "though as a matter of fact +it's not so much myself I'm thinking of, in a manner of speaking, as +it's Joolie. A nice thing for her it would be, to have it said that her +mother was hung! A fair treat, that 'ud be!" + +"It's very considerate of you, I'm sure, Bert, to take that view," said +Madame Querterot, with bitter sarcasm, "but it's no good talking like +that if you refuse to do anything to prevent such a scandal, which I +agree with you in thinking is one to be avoided if possible. Here is +another idea, though I think I am too patient with you, and shall not +waste much more time in trying to assist you out of a danger you have +yourself brought upon us. Suppose you take the girl out to a place where +there is some deep water--there is a canal near the Zoological Gardens, +is there not?--and push her in when she is walking beside it. She will +go with you willingly, if you let her think you are helping her to +escape, and you can find a pretext for attaching something heavy to her +first, so that she will not trouble us by rising again to the surface. +It should be easy to do on a dark night, and there is no moon now, as +you know." + +Bert had plenty of objections to raise to this plan, and they discussed +others with no better result. In the end he was obliged to admit that +drowning offered the best and easiest solution to the difficulty, and +she wrung from him a promise that he would get rid of the unfortunate +young lady by this means on the following night. + +In vain Madame Querterot urged the danger of delay, and the perils +which would attend on their keeping Barbara in the house for the next +twenty-four hours. Bert was obstinately determined not to venture forth +with her at this hour, for it wanted but a short time to sunrise and +any delay would mean that the culminating act must be performed after +the full darkness of the night had been diluted by the coming dawn. Even +Madame Querterot was obliged to admit that there was something in his +argument, and it was finally decided that he should wait till another +day had passed. + +In the meantime the Frenchwoman, as had previously been arranged, would +lose no time in leaving England, carrying with her the jewels, which, +she assured Bert, would be very easy for her to dispose of in her own +country without detection, as she had old friends there who were "in +that business." She promised faithfully to send him one-half of the +proceeds as soon as she received the money. + +"And then, mon cher," said she, "you and Julie will set up your little +_ménage_. I think you will find my daughter less capricious when I am +gone. She will be lonely, the poor little one, without her mother." +Madame Querterot's voice quavered with emotion at the thought, and she +lifted her handkerchief to her face to wipe away a tear--or was it to +conceal a smile? + +In spite of all assurances, she was unable to impart to Bert her +confidence in their safety from suspicion. + +"You'll see, something will give the whole show away," he kept saying, +half for the comfort of hearing himself contradicted. "Murder will out; +that's well known." + +"It is impossible." Madame Querterot spoke with refreshing conviction. +"Absolutely impossible if you manage the canal affair with discretion. +Consider. You walk innocently along a public path by the waterside, with +a companion who, mon Dieu! is so maladroit as to stumble and to fall +in. If anyone should be attracted by the splash, or she should scream +and be heard, are you not doing your utmost to rescue her?--though, +if possible, at a different place on the bank to the spot at which she +displayed such unfortunate clumsiness--but that is a remote chance, for +with proper care you will be able to manage so that the contretemps +occurs at a point from which no noise will reach the ears of strangers." + +"I know where there's a gap in the fence that runs along the park side +of the canal," Bert interrupted involuntarily. + +"Mourning her loss," Madame Querterot went on, "but silently, you +understand, you continue your walk, and the world hears no more of Miss +Barbara Turner. Even if her body is eventually found, there will be +nothing on it which can be recognised as belonging to any particular +person; and who would connect the wearer of the clothes I have provided +with the fashionable young lady, who may, perchance, be missing from her +home in Grosvenor Street? No one. I repeat, no one. With regard to Mrs. +Vanderstein we are even more entirely beyond suspicion. In the first +place nobody will even enter this house for some weeks at least. When +they do so it is unlikely that the flower stand will be touched. Though +the plants will be renewed there will be no occasion, as far as I can +see, to disturb the soil to a regrettable depth. But admitting that luck +may go against us and the body be discovered, it will not be identified. +I cut off the initials that were embroidered on her chemise, and the +rest of the clothing I will take home with me now, and burn before I +start on my journey. And I have a still better idea for diverting any +suspicion from us. Listen to this." + +And she expounded to Bert a plan, which made him open his eyes in +unwilling admiration of the coolness and courage of the woman. Such a +course as she proposed to adopt would have been entirely beyond his +powers, and well he knew it; indeed at first sight it seemed to require +an almost inhuman audacity to carry it out successfully. Her intention +was to go to a large hotel at some French watering place, Boulogne or +Dieppe for choice, and there to pass herself off as Mrs. Vanderstein for +a day or two, not long enough for the Jewess' friends to discover that +she was there, but long enough to allow no doubt to exist of her having +really been there when the fact should subsequently come to be known. + +"I shall be far away by the time inquiries begin to reach to the other +side of the channel," she told Bert, "and the proprietor of the hotel +will answer all questions to our satisfaction. I shall so contrive that +it is not I who write my name in the visitors' book. The manager will +be so obliging as to do it for me when he hears that I have slightly +injured my finger. But I shall not be feeling very well, I shall need +repose after the journey. I think, yes, I think that I shall send for +the doctor. When he is gone I shall give out that he has told me to keep +to my room for a few days, and I shall therefore remain upstairs during +the whole of my visit. When I leave I shall have established beyond +doubt that the lady I impersonate was staying in the hotel when she was +being sought in London, and after that she will be looked for abroad. +Once the police have got the idea fixed in their stupid heads that Mrs. +Vanderstein has left England, they may dig up her body as soon as they +like, and I, for one, shall not feel a moment's anxiety." + +"But," objected the startled Bert, "the people at the hotel will +describe you, and that will be a give away." + +"They will describe me," said Madame Querterot airily, "or they will +describe Mrs. Vanderstein. It will be the same thing. We are much +alike, she and I. That is," she added hastily, "we were much alike. In +the matter of the colour of my hair, it is true, I must make a great +sacrifice. But I have resolved to forget the value that not I alone have +always attached to the golden hue of my _chevelure_, and to dye it black +this same morning, before I start on my travels. You see that I shrink +at nothing! I promise you that, with a dress such as the Vanderstein +would have worn and a trifling alteration in my colouring, you yourself +would have doubts as to who I am. There will be no risk to speak of, +though it is worth a little to cover my retreat by a stratagem so +masterly." + +With Bert's aid the clothes belonging to the two ladies were folded +and made into a tidy parcel, then with a few more words of advice, +and a special recommendation never to come into the house without the +precaution of wearing gloves--for she was deeply impressed with the +dangers attendant on careless finger-prints--Madame Querterot said a +hasty farewell, the early summer dawn being at hand, and in another +moment the back door of the house had shut behind her vanishing figure. + +Bert, left alone without the support of the woman's ready resource and +calm confidence, would have soon sunk again into despair if his time +had not been too much occupied to admit of reflection. He was by now, +besides, so tired and exhausted with the emotions he had undergone as to +be incapable of coherent thought, and he was more than content to give +his whole mind to carrying out the instructions he had received. + +His first business was to get a brush from the cupboard under the +stairs and to sweep and brush the floor of the hall, and the carpets +of the stairs and drawing-room. He was awkward at the work, but made +up in thoroughness what he lacked in skill. Little shining pieces of +paste off Mrs. Vanderstein's dress were scattered everywhere; he swept +up quantities of them, but still some, better concealed than others, +escaped his diligence. + +Then having set straight such of the furniture as had been moved or +disarranged, he quietly opened the dining-room shutters and those of the +back drawing-room, for he did not wish the place to look uninhabited. +The shutters of the front drawing-room, however, he could not bring +himself to touch, though he seemed to hear the words of scorn which +Madame Querterot would have used if she had still been present. He +listened at the door of the library for some time, but not a sound came +from within; at last, seeing no more to do, he stole quietly out of +the house and back to his lodgings, where, in spite of the fears that +pursued him and the dreadful memory of the night's work, he soon slept +the sleep of exhaustion. + +Not for long, however. In a couple of hours his alarm clock awakened +him, and he started up to face the new terrors which the day would +bring. He had to feed the dun horse, he remembered; it would not do to +annoy Ned. + +After that came breakfast, for which he was surprised to find he had a +certain appetite, and soon it was time to begin his daily routine at +Ennidge and Pring's office. + +Every time the door opened that day, and on the days that succeeded it, +Bert expected to see a policeman enter. But the evening came without +any such nightmare materialising, and he even managed to snatch some +more uneasy slumber during the evening, before he once more assumed his +disguising beard and stealthily returned to the house in Scholefield +Avenue, knowing that before him lay far the worst part of the whole +business. He was too frightened for his own safety, however, to +hesitate. + +Madame Querterot had counted on that when she mentally balanced his +regard for his own neck against what she would have designated his +milksoppy squeamishness. It was hard to stay in that house of death +alone and in the dark, waiting till the small hours, when his project +might be best entered upon. + +Bert was very, very sorry for himself as he sat, trembling violently, in +an arm-chair in the dining-room. His pity did not extend to the other +side of the partition wall, where the girl whose life he was about to +take had sat in the same darkness and solitude for the last twenty-four +hours. For her, Bert, thoroughly selfish by nature and education--as, +cowering among the shadows in the grim company of his fears, he +shuddered away the hours--was shaken from start to finish by no +disabling pang of sympathy. Though at times his heart was like to burst +with compassion, it held barely enough to meet the urgent need of Albert +Tremmels; and when like her he heard the far-off murmurs which heralded +the approaching storm and the angry boom of the thunder began to rumble +closer and closer, though he started at each clap as if it were indeed +the wrathful voice of the Avenger drawing near to him, his whole being +cried out in resentful protest against this judgment that was being +passed on him in the heavens, and against the certainty that it would be +endorsed by mankind. + +His intention was to wait till two o'clock, but it was not yet half-past +one when he got to his feet, unable to face his solitary vigil any +longer. Better get it over, he said to himself, like a patient in a +dentist's room who has got to have a tooth out. Only this tooth was not +his. He had long since decided that the spade would be the best thing to +ensure the sinking of his victim, and he had placed it, with a piece of +cord tied to it, ready by the door. + +Weighted with that heavy piece of iron, so he comforted himself, there +would be a single splash and all would be over. He would be spared the +sight of a struggling figure rising to the surface, perhaps crying to +him for help or mercy, which above all things was what he most dreaded. + +Fortifying himself with a mental vision, in which Julie, the hangman, +and the body in the flower stand upstairs were all mingled, he unlocked +the library door and pushed it open. + +It is not necessary to tell again of his walk with Barbara through +the drenching rain and clamour of the storm, which was more severe +and prolonged than any of those that burst over London during a +year remarkable for the number and fierceness of its atmospheric +disturbances. The horror with which, at the last moment, as he was +trying to tie the spade to Barbara before pushing her into the water, +he beheld the running figure of the advancing policeman need not be +described. In a frenzy of disappointment, rage and fear, he lifted the +spade and struck at the girl again and again, missing her the first +time, and, as the handle twisted in his weak grasp, bringing it down +flat on the top of her head at the second blow, instead of edgeways as +he was trying to do. He did not stay to see the result, but throwing +down the spade fled for dear life. + +His legs were long, and he could run fast for a short distance. In a +few minutes he had lost himself and his pursuer in the darkness, but +he still ran blindly on, till his utmost efforts would drag him no +further, when he threw himself at full length on one of the park seats +and endeavoured to still his panting, laboured breath. If the policeman +should come upon him now, he thought his only chance lay in being able +to simulate profound slumber. Luckily the working powers of this plan +were not put to the test. Minutes passed, and no one came near him. +It was some time before he could convince himself that he had eluded +all pursuit for the present. When he was at last sure of it the fact +heartened him wonderfully. If he could so easily escape when caught +in the actual perpetration of a violent attack, it would bother the +authorities indeed to fasten on him as one of those concerned in a crime +so well concealed as that in which he had only unwillingly assisted. + +It was when he remembered that he was quite ignorant of the damage he +had inflicted on Barbara that doubts assailed him again. It seemed to +him that he must have killed her. But if not ... if not? Why then, +even though she could hardly denounce him, she would not forget Madame +Querterot. And Madame Querterot's first line of defence would be to +accuse him, as she herself had declared. + +Curse the woman, how he hated her! From first to last everything was her +doing; he wished, oh, how he wished that it was she he had killed. If he +had thought of that sooner, he told himself savagely, all these troubles +would have been saved. As things were he would probably be arrested that +day. + +He did not lose his head, however, and went back presently to +Scholefield Avenue, where he cleared away the broken glass in the +library and put everything in that room to rights, as he had already +done upstairs. Then he conquered his repugnance and went out on to the +balcony with his brush, and swept up a handful or so of earth, which +they had not been able to remove with the spade. + +He did not know how to get rid of the broken glass, as by now it was +daylight and he did not dare go out to bury it in the garden; so +he left it in the dustpan, and swept the grains of soil into an old +newspaper, which he crumpled up and thrust into the back of the cupboard +in the basement. Then he closed the shutters again, for he could not +bear to be a moment in the room without the friendly screen that +interposed between him and the flower stand. Finding, however, no more +to do upstairs, he went down, and knocked out the pieces of the window +pane in the library that still remained stuck in the frame; he thought +that the empty space might well pass unobserved for a considerable time. +In doing this he cut his hand, through the glove he was wearing in +obedience to Madame Querterot's reiterated commands, and some drops of +blood fell on to the shining tin of the dustpan, but he wiped them off +carefully and polished the pan with his sleeve as it had certainly never +been polished since it left the shop and entered into domestic service. + +At last his anxious mind could suggest nothing further, and he surveyed +the results of his efforts with some complacency. + +"I'm bothered," said Bert to himself, "if the brainiest detective on +this rotten earth could set his fingers on a clue now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +There was no sleep for him that morning, and he felt wretchedly ill and +exhausted when the time came to go to the office. Mr. Ennidge, always +kind, remarked sympathetically upon his looks, and he replied that he +had been kept awake all night by the storm. The day passed without the +expected appearance of the policeman, though he saw in the papers the +first allusion to the disappearance of Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, +and felt a horrified sinking at the heart when he read that search was +being made, even though he had of course known all along that there must +be a hue and cry. + +He could not find any reference to his exploit in Regent's Park, and he +was afraid this meant that the girl had survived, for if he had killed +her surely there would have been some mention of it. Yet if she were +alive it was strange that Miss Turner should still be thought to be +missing. Perhaps it was a dodge of the police to fill him with false +confidence. He could not guess what it meant, anyhow, and at all events +he was thankful for one thing: that he had cleared up and finished with +Scholefield Avenue. If they thought they would catch him there again +they were jolly well wrong. He would never set foot in the place again, +so help him! + +He supposed that his confederate had got clear away, and after his work +was over he went to see Julie, to make sure that everything had gone +well. + +He found her in despair at her mother's departure, or, rather, at the +manner of it; and it was with the utmost horror and indignation that he +learned that Julie--as she afterwards admitted to Gimblet--had been left +absolutely penniless. All his savings had been willingly given to Madame +Querterot to help her flight, but he had things which could be pawned, +and he pressed Julie to accept his assistance. This she would not do. + +Then she showed him the string of pearls, and he recognised it at once +as the necklace Mrs. Vanderstein had worn. He had seen since, in the +newspapers, that these enormous pearls were well known to every jeweller +in Europe, and there had not been wanting forecasts to the effect that, +if they had been stolen, an attempt to sell them would lead to the +arrest of the thieves. He had wondered if Madame Querterot knew this, +and reassured himself by thinking that, if she did not, the friends she +was to consult certainly would. But now, with passionate resentment, +he realised that she had known it very well and had left the necklace +to Julie, careless of the suspicion that might fall on her daughter if +she should be tempted to try and sell it. Nay, it seemed even possible +that she deliberately wished to cast suspicion upon Julie; her action +was otherwise unaccountable. But was it possible that she would risk not +only his safety but her own, in order to gratify her spite against her +daughter? + +Before he had fully grasped the meaning of this last manoeuvre on the +part of the woman he hoped to call his mother-in-law, Julie was telling +him of the clothes her mother had given her, and which she had already +sold to a second-hand dealer. In hoarse tones he demanded a description +of the garments, and, when he had received it, burst forth into such +raging comments on the girl's folly in selling them, and such furious +imprecations at the wickedness and stupidity of her mother, that Julie +took offence, and in a fit of anger as hot as his own, though less +justly provoked, told him to leave the house. + +He was all penitence in a moment, and she ended by accepting his +grovelling apologies. All the same, the fire of his wrath was not +extinguished, but smouldered with a dull red heat in his heart, ready at +any moment to leap into a fierce flame, burning to consume and devour. + +When the night came he could not sleep, in spite, or perhaps because, of +his extreme fatigue and harassed nerves. Not till daylight did he drop +at last into an uneasy slumber, from which a nightmare sent him leaping +up in bed, disturbing the house with his cries. His irate landlady +appeared in his room, in extreme deshabille, and her scathing references +to delirium tremens gave him the idea of the brandy bottle. He bought +one at the nearest public-house the moment he was dressed, and drank a +good wineglassful before he opened the daily paper that he procured at +the same time. + +There was nothing new in it, however. Though it contained plenty of +allusions to the missing ladies there was nothing about a girl being +knocked on the head in Regent's Park; and to Bert's fears this silence +appeared ominous as a denunciation. He found the brandy very comforting, +and took it to the office with him. There his appearance--rendered +still more ghastly by want of sleep than it had been on the preceding +days--moved Mr. Ennidge to such genuine concern that, Mr. Pring being +away and not returning till Monday, he told Bert he had better take a +holiday on the next day, which would be Friday. + +In the afternoon he was beginning to feel a little better and to hope +that after all things were going right for him somehow, when at the +eleventh hour Mr. Gimblet made his appearance upon the scene. From the +moment when Bert understood who he was and what was his business, he +gave himself up for lost. Some unsuspected gleam of courage came to his +aid now, however--a sort of phantom of the real thing, found, it may be +imagined, in the brandy bottle--and he made up his mind that, if he must +be taken, it should not be due, at all events, to any revelation of his +own. + +The agony of mind endured during the hours which followed is not to +be described in mere words. The dread, the suspense, the feeling +of physical weakness which nearly overcame him as he witnessed the +detective's search, and the final horrible moment when he saw the body +of the poor lady drawn from the grave where he had thought it hidden for +ever from his own, if not from every other eye, would have strained the +nerve of any man. It was, indeed, a heaping of horror upon horror. + +What unthinkable clairvoyance, what supernatural omniscience had led +Gimblet to pick out that house, of all the dwellings in the great city +and its suburbs, for his investigations, was as much beyond Bert's +imagination as the means by which he himself succeeded in refraining +from revealing, then and there, the part he had taken in the ghastly +business. + +To his almost incredulous astonishment no one seemed to suspect him, and +instead of being removed in irons, as he expected, he found himself free +to return to his lodgings, there to recuperate from the shocks he had +sustained, in a deep, brandy induced sleep. + +The next morning he was out early, and the first poster gave him the +news that Mrs. Vanderstein was found, and staying at Boulogne. He bought +the paper, and, even as he read the paragraph in which the news was +related, made up his mind to spend the holiday given him by Mr. Ennidge +in running over to Boulogne to see Madame Querterot. He had no definite +idea in doing so. But his rage at her treatment of her daughter was +still red-hot, and now was added to it a furious resentment at her +departure from the conduct they had agreed she should observe. What +possessed her not to stay quietly in her room? It was madness to have +gone out; yes, actually to have gone to the Casino, the place of all +others where she was most likely to be seen by some acquaintances of +Mrs. Vanderstein's. Did she want to lose them all by her folly and +recklessness? + +And in any case he could not rest till he had told her what he thought +of her. + +He went out to a pawnbroker's, and by pawning his watch and some odds +and ends of jewellery that had belonged to his mother collected enough +money for the return journey. Then he took a taxi for the first time in +his life, and drove to Whitehall. He had seen Gimblet's address on the +card he sent in to Mr. Ennidge. + +Higgs told him, in answer to his inquiries, that the inquest would not +be till the next day, so that there was nothing to prevent him from +taking the ten o'clock train from Charing Cross. There was time before +it started to put on his false beard, in an empty waiting-room, and to +gulp down a strong dose of brandy at the bar of the refreshment-room. He +felt safer when he had taken these precautions, for he had been haunted +by an uneasy feeling that Higgs might have followed him from the flat. + +The journey was uneventful, the sea as smooth as a pond. He hardly knew +how the time passed before they arrived at Boulogne pier. + +He walked round the harbour, asking the way by the simple repetition of +the words "Hôtel de Douvres," and following the direction in which the +fingers of those who answered him were pointed. + +Soon he came upon the hotel on the Digue, facing the sea. The name in +golden letters a yard long danced before his eyes, but with a great +effort of the will he steadied himself, and passed through the door into +the hall. + +As luck would have it there was no one about, and the only person to +come forward at his entrance was a small page or lift boy. + +Yes, Madame Vanderstein was in her room. Would Monsieur go up? + +Certainly Monsieur would; and he was ushered into the lift and carried +aloft. + +He heard Madame Querterot's voice say "Come in" in response to the boy's +knock, and in another minute he was in the room, with the door closing +behind him. + +For a moment he thought there must be some mistake, and, if she had not +spoken, would have turned and fled. Surely he had never seen before the +beautifully dressed, dark-haired lady who was bending over a box at the +end of the room. + +But at the sound of her voice he knew her again, though the difference +in her appearance caused by her dyed hair and painted complexion was +truly marvellous. She wore her elaborate dress with quiet assurance, and +jewels sparkled at her throat, in her ears, on her fingers, her wrists. + +"What in the world are you doing here?" she said, in a tone of the +deepest disapproval. + +Bert's voice shook as he took the paper from his pocket and held it out +to her. + +"Have you seen this?" he asked. "Every one in London knows you are here. +It is madness to stay." + +"Of course I have seen it," she answered coolly. "And of course I shall +not stay. I do but finish my packing. In ten minutes I shall ring to +have my luggage taken downstairs. There is a train in half an hour." + +"You will never escape now," he said gloomily. "Do you know, too, that +they have found the body of Mrs. Vanderstein?" + +This time she was startled. + +"What do you say?" she cried. "What _bêtise_ is this?" + +"It is true," he said. "They found it last night. I was there." + +"You were there? Last night?" she repeated. "And you were not arrested, +not suspected? Why, then, our star is indeed guarding us." + +"No, I wasn't arrested," he said, watching her, "and Joolie hasn't been +arrested yet, either." + +She started, and for a moment her eyes shone with the hatred and spite +she cherished for her daughter. Then they fell before his. "Julie," she +said; "why should Julie be arrested?" + +"Don't you know?" he asked. "How is she to account for the pearls, and +for the dresses and opera cloaks?" + +"Oh, the dresses. Hasn't she burnt them? I told her to. If she has not +she must do so at once." + +"And the pearls--was she to burn them too?" said Bert quietly. + +"They looked so well round her neck, the dear child. I left them as my +wedding gift to you both." + +"You left them because you knew you couldn't get rid of them. My God! +I believe you meant to keep the whole lot for yourself. But the pearls +were too dangerous, so you gave them to Joolie! You must have meant +suspicion to fall upon her!" + +"My dear Bert, you are absurd. Come and help me to fasten this +portmanteau. I shall register the luggage to Paris, and leave the train +myself at Amiens. From there I can go off in another direction, and you +will never hear of me again." + +"Nor of the jewels either, no doubt." + +"Oh, don't be afraid, you shall have the money for the jewels!" + +Madame Querterot began to go on with her packing, which for the moment +she had abandoned. As she bent over the trunk, filling up corners with +crumpled newspapers, she hummed a merry little tune, and the implied +disregard of his reproaches exasperated Bert beyond endurance. He stood +quite still, making a violent effort at self-control, and looking about +him in an unconscious attempt to regain his balance by a concentration +of his attention upon some everyday object. + +The fresh breeze off the water was fluttering the white muslin blinds by +the open window and, as Bert passed his tongue over his parched lips, he +tasted the salt taste of the sea. The tide was up, and the room full of +the noise of the breaking waves, so that the rattle of a cart passing on +the road beneath was merged and lost in the continuous volume of sound. + +On the table were several outspread pieces of blue paper, and he read +the typed messages from where he stood. They were the telegrams which +Sir Gregory, Gimblet, and Sidney had dispatched that morning to Mrs. +Vanderstein. + +"Have you answered those?" he said, pointing to them. + +"I answered Mr. Sidney's, and I sent one to the servants in Grosvenor +Street," Madame Querterot broke off her tune to reply. + +"I don't know who Aberhyn Jones is," she added, "nor where he lives, +so I can't answer him; and I haven't quite decided what to say to the +detective." + +She went on packing, and resumed her humming. Bert did not speak for a +minute, then he said very quietly: + +"I took the girl to Regent's Park, to the very edge of the water; and +then a policeman came up and prevented me doing as we arranged." + +"What!" Madame Querterot almost screamed. + +She stood erect and gazed at Bert in incredulous dismay. + +"I hit her and ran," he went on. "I don't suppose I did her much damage +or I should have seen it mentioned in the papers, and there has been +nothing about it." + +"If she is alive I don't understand how it is they still believe Mrs. +Vanderstein is here. But never mind that now. The point is, the girl, if +she lives, will put them on my track. I shall not be able to escape now +so easily. Perhaps the best thing to do is to go back and face it out. +Better get my story in before they have time to puzzle out the truth." + +She spoke musingly, more to herself than to her companion. + +"Your story!" Bert repeated, speaking only a little above a whisper. His +voice would not come out somehow; he felt as if he were choking. "You +mean you will say that I did it! Why not say that you have been hiding +from me in fear of your own life, all these days? That would round it +off well!" + +"Not a bad suggestion, Bert," she said. "I must look after myself, you +know. It would be a pity, wouldn't it, for people to say that Julie's +mother was hanged?" + +She spoke with a sneer. She had not forgotten that Bert had used those +words to her, nor forgiven him. She was not afraid to let him see that +his guess at her intentions was a good one; she felt for him a contempt +too complete and profound to dread anything he might say or do. + +It is a common failing among clever rascals to despise their dupes, +but they often learn to their cost that danger may come from the most +unlikely quarter. + +The derisive note in her voice was the last straw on Bert's frayed +nerves. His rage took hold of him so that he no longer knew what he was +about; he became a tool in other hands than Madame Querterot's. + +"Oh you fiend, you fiend!" he cried, and his voice was high and cracked, +"hanging would be too good for a devil like you! You needn't be afraid, +people never shall say that of Joolie's mother. You would have let her +be hanged, you devil! Her and me, both of us. Oh--oh----" + +The air was full of the murmur of the sea. It mingled with a maddening +noise that buzzed in his ears and made thought impossible. A mist +gathered before his eyes--a dreadful red mist in which everything swam +and danced. + +He bounded upon the woman, holding his hands outstretched before his +face as though to fend off something unspeakably hideous and terrifying. +Then they closed upon her throat and, with a sob, he shook her to and +fro as a dog shakes a rat that has bitten it badly. + +At last his rage spent itself. As it passed he became conscious of what +he was doing, and with an exclamation of disgust loosened his grip. + +She fell backwards, with a crash, across the open lid of the box she had +been packing. The hinges snapped under the impact and the lid broke off +and dropped to the floor with her. There she lay, head downwards, in an +untidy heap, one arm twisted at a curious angle under her body. + +Bert never doubted that she was dead, and he felt a glow of satisfaction +stealing over him at the knowledge. There were great livid marks on her +neck where his convulsive fingers had clutched at it, and he stooped +over her and looked at them with a gratified smile. They were already +turning black. + +A slight noise in the next room brought him to his senses. + +He crept on tiptoe to the door and listened intently with his ear to it. +The sounds in the next room continued, some one seemed to be opening and +shutting drawers; but there was no movement in the passage, and after a +moment he opened the door cautiously and went out. + +No one was in sight, and as an afterthought he went back, and removing +the key locked the door on the outside, as silently as he had opened +it. Then putting the key in his pocket he ran down the stairs. The +page who had shown him up was idling in the hall, but no one else was +about, though he caught a glimpse of a seated figure in the bureau as he +passed. Forcing himself to pause as he passed the page, he said to him: + +"Mrs. Vanderstein has asked me to tell you that she has a headache, and +does not wish to be disturbed again to-day. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir. I will give the message at the bureau. They will tell the +waiter and chambermaid." + +The page spoke English perfectly, and Bert felt assured that he would do +his errand. To make sure, he repeated his injunction and gave the boy a +shilling to impress it on his memory. Then he walked down the steps with +every outward appearance of calm. + +His impulse was to go back towards the harbour, but as a precaution he +started off in the opposite direction and only approached the docks +after several turnings separated him from the sea-front. There was no +boat back to England, however, till past seven, and he hung about the +port for three whole hours that seemed like three centuries. In a quiet +corner behind some empty trucks he got rid of his black beard, and +applying a match to it saw it frizzle up and disappear in two or three +seconds. He ground the ashes into the earth with his heel, and with a +recklessness which surprised himself walked back past the doorway of +the Hôtel de Douvres, to see if he would be known. The page was still +lolling in the doorway, and, to Bert's satisfaction, stared at him as he +passed with a vacant eye. He felt certain he had not been recognised, +and went back to the harbour with a lighter heart. + +There he watched the steamer from Folkestone arrive and disembark her +passengers, among whom--though he did not know it--was the man sent by +the London police to interview Mrs. Vanderstein; and a few minutes later +it was time to go on board the boat, which took him back to England. + +The next morning found him back in his place at the house agents' +office, and as the day passed without event he began to feel a sense +of security to which he had lately been a stranger. After all, he had +passed hours in the company of London's greatest detective without +arousing any suspicion; and every hour, he believed, added to his +safety. + +He was comparatively cheerful when he went down to Pimlico that evening +to see Julie. + +But he found her in a harder mood than usual; and when, with exceeding +want of discretion, he chose that most unpropitious moment to urge his +suit, she told him very plainly that she would never consent to be his +wife. + +She had no intention of marrying, she said; she was going to enter the +convent as she had always wished. But, she added, with unnecessary +cruelty--for she was still angry with him for his behaviour a day or two +before--in no case would she have married him. She did not reciprocate +his feelings, and she considered that he and she were quite unsuited to +each other; he had much better never think of her again. + +Thus it happened that he went away in the blackest depths of misery and +despair, so that when the police rapped at his door an hour later they +found a man broken and unstrung to such a point as to hail their coming +with something like relief. + +Such was the gist of Albert Tremmels' story; and, as it never varied in +the smallest detail in the course of its many repetitions, it may be +imagined that it was true in substance. + +Whether this would have been the opinion expressed by a jury cannot +now be known, for Bert died in prison while awaiting his trial. His +constitution, always frail, had not been able to withstand the bodily +fatigues, and more especially those torments of the mind which he had +endured during that week of stress, and a latent tendency to disease +was not slow to take advantage of his weakened condition. Its rapid +development was perhaps due, in part, to the fact that he made little +effort to get well, and seemed to have no wish to live. What, indeed, as +he said, had he to live for? + +He showed no repentance for his attack on Miss Turner, beyond saying +that it would have been unnecessary if he had had the sense to kill +Madame Querterot first, but he maintained with his last breath that +the idea was not his, any more than the thought of murdering Mrs. +Vanderstein, which he persisted in affirming had never crossed his mind. +He gloried in the death of his confederate, however, nor could all the +efforts of the prison chaplain move him to a better frame of mind with +regard to his deed. On the contrary, he did not cease to gloat over the +remembrance of it. Not even when he heard that Julie piously refused him +her forgiveness, in spite of her mother's designs upon herself, would +Bert admit that he regretted that which he had done. It is a cynical +freak of circumstance that his love for the girl, which was pure and +unselfish and the only creditable part of his whole nature, should from +first to last have been the inspiring source from which his crimes +proceeded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +It was a few days before Joe Sidney was allowed to see Barbara. The news +of her friend's death had been broken to her by the doctor, and though +her grief was profound she bore the shock better than they had feared +likely, and continued to make good progress towards recovery. + +It was on the day following that on which she learnt the truth, or +rather a bowdlerised version of it, that Sidney refused to be longer +denied, and practically forced his way into the private room at the +hospital to which she had been moved. + +At sight of her sad, tear-stained face, framed in bandages, and wearing +such a different aspect from when he had last looked on it, the little +speech he had prepared to greet her with died on his lips, and he could +only take her hand in silence and gaze at her without a word till the +door had shut behind the nurse, who, dearly as she would have liked to +remain, was luckily prevented from doing so by an urgent summons to +attend on the house surgeon elsewhere. + +"Oh, my dear, I thought you were dead," he stammered. + +She was very weak still, and while the tenderness in his voice, still +more than the words themselves, brought a feeble little smile of the +purest content to play a moment round the corners of her mouth, they +also caused the blood to rush to her face in a hot, embarrassing wave, +so that she turned her head away, and lay facing the wall with no +conscious wish except to hide from him. + +Then the flush died away, leaving her very white and still and silent, +with eyes tightly shut. She knew that if she opened them or tried to +speak she would not be able to help crying. + +Sidney did not understand her stillness. A dreadful fear came upon him +that she had fainted, and he looked round for the bell. It was just out +of reach; but, when he tried to withdraw the hand which still held hers, +her clasp gently tightened on it, and would not let him go. + +With a muffled exclamation he fell on his knees beside the pillow. + +"Barbara, Barbara," he cried, "will you always go hand in hand with me +now?" + +And with face still averted she murmured: "Always, always!" + +It was half an hour later that he asked her about the unsigned telegram +she had sent him. What had she meant by saying good luck was coming his +way? + +She reluctantly confessed her determination to provide him with the +money he needed. + +"Of course I always knew you were clever and dear enough to manage even +that," he said. "That's why I didn't bother unnecessarily over the mess +I'd got into." + +"Oh," cried Barbara, "how dare you say that! Why, you were desperate; I +was terrified by the things you hinted at." + +"It was disgraceful of me to talk in that way," he admitted, ashamed. +"But you haven't told me how you intended to provide me with money. As +if I'd have taken it from you! I didn't know you were a millionaire." + +"You know Mr. Vanderstein left me £30,000, which I was to have if poor +Mrs. Vanderstein died? I shall get it now, I suppose," said Barbara, her +eyes filling with tears. + +Joe stroked her hand in silent sympathy, and with a quaver in her voice +she went on. + +"Well, I meant to borrow £10,000 on the strength of my prospects, and +place it anonymously to your credit at Cox's. So you see you would have +had to take it!" she concluded triumphantly. "You wouldn't have known +who it was from." + +"I should have known perfectly well," he said. "Who else could good luck +come to me from if not from you? I knew you sent the telegram, you see." + +"You couldn't have proved it, and you'd have had to take the money, +because there would have been no one to send it back to." + +"It was like you to think of it," Joe said, "but I don't believe you +could have raised the money anyhow. Aunt Ruth's life was nearly as good +as yours then, and you hadn't really any security to offer, you silly +darling." + +Barbara's face fell. "I didn't think of that, but surely I could have +got £10,000 when I would have offered £30,000 in exchange," she said +sadly. "But it doesn't matter now, does it?" + +He hastened to reassure and comfort her. + +"And you will never bet again?" she asked presently. + +"I have sworn that I never will," Joe answered. "I've had a lesson more +severe than even I needed, I think." + +"If ever you want to have a teeny tiny bet," she smiled, "I can do it +for you, perhaps, if you're good." + +"No, no," he said seriously, "you must give it up too. I shall want you +to help me to stick to my resolutions. Promise!" + +"Very well," she said, seeing how grave he looked; "I promise faithfully +never to gamble again in any way, as long as I live." + +"Now we are safe!" he cried. "Indeed, I have used up all the luck one +man can scrape together in a lifetime in winning you, and I shall think +of that, if I am ever again tempted to stake anything on the chance of +further kindness at the hands of Fortune." + +"Don't be foolish," Barbara urged; "there is heaps and heaps more luck +in store for you." + +And so, in their serene confidence of the happy future which awaits +them, we will leave these two young people, who, if any more dangers lie +unsuspected in the path down which they are to travel through the years, +will brave them no longer in solitary isolation, but strengthened and +reinforced by an enduring love. + +THE END + + + + +=JOHN LANE'S LIST OF FICTION= + + +BY ARTHUR H. ADAMS + + =GALAHAD JONES= A TRAGIC FARCE CROWN 8VO 6s + With 16 full-page Illustrations by NORMAN LINDSAY + + =A TOUCH OF FANTASY= CROWN 8VO 6s + A Romance For Those who are Lucky Enough to Wear Glasses + + +BY W. M. ARDAGH + + =THE MAGADA= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE KNIGHTLY YEARS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY WILLIAM ARKWRIGHT + + =THE TREND= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY H. F. PREVOST BATTERSBY + + =THE SILENCE OF MEN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE LAST RESORT= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY GERARD BENDALL + + =THE ILLUSIONS OF MR. & MRS. BRESSINGHAM= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE PROGRESS OF MRS. CRIPPS-MIDDLEMORE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY PAUL BERTRAM + + =THE SHADOW OF POWER= + THIRD THOUSAND CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE FIFTH TRUMPET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY WALTER BLOEM + + =THE IRON YEAR= CROWN 8VO 6s + Translated from the German by STELLA BLOCH + + +BY MRS. CHARLES BRYCE + + =MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY JAMES BRYCE + + =THE STORY OF A PLOUGH BOY= + An Autobiography CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY WILLIAM CAINE + + =THE IRRESISTIBLE INTRUDER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =HOFFMAN'S CHANCE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY DANIEL CHAUCER + + + =THE SIMPLE LIFE LIMITED= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE NEW HUMPTY DUMPTY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MAUD CRUTTWELL + + =FIRE AND FROST= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY SIDNEY DARK + + =THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT BE KING= CROWN 3VO 6s + + +BY MARION FOX + + =THE BOUNTIFUL HOUR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +THE WORKS OF ANATOLE FRANCE IN ENGLISH + + Edited by FREDERIC CHAPMAN DEMY 8VO 6s + + =THE ANGELS= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =THE OPINIONS OF JERÔME COIGNARD= + A Translation by Mrs. WILFRID JACKSON + + =ON LIFE AND LETTERS= + A Translation by A. W. EVANS. Vols. 2, 3, and 4. + + =THE GODS ARE ATHIRST= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =MY FRIEND'S BOOK= + A Translation by J. LEWIS MAY + + =JOCASTA AND THE FAMISHED CAT= + A Translation by Mrs. FARLEY + + =THE ASPERATIONS OF JEAN SERVIEN= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =AT THE SIGN OF THE REINE PÉDAUQUE= + A Translation by Mrs. WILFRID JACKSON + + =ON LIFE AND LETTERS= + A Translation by A. W. EVANS. Vol. 1. + + =THE RED LILY= + A Translation by WINIFRED STEPHENS + + =MOTHER OF PEARL= + A Translation by the EDITOR + + =THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD= + A Translation by LAFCADIO HEARN + + =THE GARDEN OF EPICURUS= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =THE WELL OF ST. CLAIRE= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =BALTHASAR= + A Translation by Mrs. JOHN LANE + + =THAÏS= + A Translation by ROBERT B. DOUGLAS + + =THE WHITE STONE= + A Translation by C. E. ROCHE + + =PENGUIN ISLAND= + A Translation by A. W. EVANS + + =THE MERRIE TALES OF JACQUES TOURNE-BROCHE.= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =THE ELM TREE ON THE MALL= + A Translation by M. P. WILLCOCKS + + =THE WICKER-WORK WOMAN= + A Translation by M. P. WILLCOCKS + + +BY A. R. GORING-THOMAS + + =WAYWARD FEET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE STRONG HEART= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MRS. GRAMERCY PARK= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE LASS WITH THE DELICATE AIR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY CYRIL HARCOURT + + =THE WORLD'S DAUGHTER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HENRY HARLAND + + =THE CARDINAL'S SNUFF BOX= CROWN 8VO 6s + Illustrated by G. G. WILMHURST 165th Thousand + + =MY FRIEND PROSPERO= + CROWN 8VO THIRD EDITION 6s + + =THE LADY PARAMOUNT= + CROWN 8VO 55TH THOUSAND 6s + + =COMEDIES AND ERRORS= + CROWN 8VO THIRD EDITION 6s + + =GREY ROSES= + CROWN 8VO FOURTH EDITION 3s 6d net + + =MADEMOISELLE MISS= + CROWN 8VO THIRD EDITION 3s 6d + + +BY FRANK HARRIS + + =GREAT DAYS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =UNPATH'D WATERS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MONTES THE MATADOR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =ELDER CONKLIN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY CROSBY HEATH + + =HENRIETTA TAKING NOTES= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY BERTAL HEENEY + + =PICKANOCK=: A Tale of Settlement Days in Olden Canada + CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY ALICE HERBERT + + =GARDEN OATS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE MEASURE OF OUR YOUTH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MURIEL HINE + + =THE MAN WITH THE DOUBLE HEART= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =APRIL PANHASARD= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =HALF IN EARNEST= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =EARTH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY ADELAIDE HOLT + + =OUTSIDE THE ARK= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE VALLEY OF REGRET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MRS. JOHN LANE + + =KITWYK= CROWN 8VO 6s + A Story with numerous Illustrations by HOWARD PYLE, + ALBERT STERNER and GEORGE WHARTON EDWARDS + + =THE CHAMPAGNE STANDARD= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =ACCORDING TO MARIA= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =BALTHASAR AND OTHER STORIES= CROWN 8VO 6s + Translated by Mrs. JOHN LANE from the French of Anatole + France + + =TALK O' THE TOWN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY STEPHEN LEACOCK + + =BEHIND THE BEYOND= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + With Illustrations by A. H. FISH + + =SUNSHINE SKETCHES OF A LITTLE TOWN= + FIFTH EDITION CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + =NONSENSE NOVELS= + FIFTH EDITION CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + =LITERARY LAPSES= + FIFTH EDITION CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + +BY WILLIAM J. LOCKE + + =THE FORTUNATE YOUTH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =STELLA MARIS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE JOYOUS ADVENTURES OF ARISTIDE PUJOL= CROWN 8VO 6s + With Illustrations by ALEC BALL + + *=DERELICTS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=IDOLS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=A STUDY IN SHADOWS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=THE WHITE DOVE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=THE USURPER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE DEMAGOGUE AND LADY PHAYRE= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d + + *=AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =WHERE LOVE IS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE MORALS OF MARCUS ORDEYNE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=THE BELOVED VAGABOND= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =SIMON THE JESTER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE GLORY OF CLEMENTINA WING= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *Also Bound in Cloth with Illustrated paper wrapper 1s net. + + +BY CECIL CHAMPAIN LOWIS + + =FASCINATION= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY LAURA BOGUE LUFFMAN + + =A QUESTION OF LATITUDE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY A. NEIL LYONS + + =SIMPLE SIMON= CROWN 8VO 6s + With Illustrations by G. E. PETO + + =ARTHUR'S= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =SIXPENNY PIECES= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =COTTAGE PIE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =CLARA; SOME CHAPTERS IN THE LIFE OF A HUSSY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY ALLAN MCAULAY + + =THE EAGLE'S NEST= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =BEGGARS AND SORNERS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY KARIN MICHAELIS + + =THE DANGEROUS AGE= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + Translated from the Danish + + =ELSIE LINDTNER= A SEQUEL CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + =THE GOVERNOR= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + +BY IRENE MILLER + + =SEKHET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HECTOR H. MUNRO (Saki) + + =WHEN WILLIAM CAME= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE UNBEARABLE BASSINGTON= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE CHRONICLES OF CLOVIS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY LOUIS N. PARKER + + =POMANDER WALK= CROWN 8VO 6s + Author of "Rosemary," etc. With numerous Illustrations + by J. SCOTT WILLIAMS + + +BY JOHN PARKINSON + + =OTHER LAWS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY F. INGLIS POWELL + + =THE SNAKE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY F. J. RANDALL + + =SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =LOVE AND THE IRONMONGER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE BERMONDSEY TWIN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY SIDNEY SCHIFF + + =CONCESSIONS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HUGH DE SÉLINCOURT + + =A FAIR HOUSE= CROWN 8VO 6s + Author of "A Boy's Marriage," "The Way Things Happen," "The + Strongest Plume" + + +BY DORIS SOMERVILLE + + =GREEN CHALK= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY GEORGE STEVENSON + + =JENNY CARTWRIGHT= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =TOPHAM'S FOLLY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HERMANN SUDERMANN + + =THE SONG OF SONGS= (Das Hohe Lied) + A new Translation by Beatrice Marshall CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE INDIAN LILY= and other Stories. + Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn, M.A. CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY SIR FRANK SWETTENHAM + + =ALSO AND PERHAPS= CROWN 8VO 6s + Author of "Unaddressed Letters," "British Malaya," etc. + + +BY MARGELLE TINAYRE + + =MADELEINE AT HER MIRROR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE SHADOW OF LOVE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MRS. HORACE TREMLETT + + =CURING CHRISTOPHER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY GEORGE VANE + + =THE LIFTED LATCH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE LOVE DREAM= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY CLARA VIEBIG + + =THE SON OF HIS MOTHER= CROWN 8VO 6s + Translated by H. RAAHAUGE + + =ABSOLUTION= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =OUR DAILY BREAD= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON + + =THE TOMBOY AND OTHERS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY H. G. WELLS + + =THE NEW MACHIAVELLI= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d + Also Bound in Cloth with Illustrated paper wrapper 1s net + + +BY MARGARET WESTRUP + + =ELIZABETH'S CHILDREN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =HELEN ALLISTON= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE YOUNG O'BRIENS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =PHYLLIS IN MIDDLEWYCH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY EDITH WHERRY + + =THE RED LANTERN:= Being the Story of the Goddess of the + Red Light CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY M. P. WILLCOCKS + + =WIDDICOMBE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE WINGLESS VICTORY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =A MAN OF GENIUS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE WAY UP= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =WINGS OF DESIRE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY F. E. MILLS YOUNG + + =THE PURPLE MISTS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MYLES CALTHORPE, I.D.B.= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =GRIT LAWLESS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =SAM'S KID= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MISTAKEN MARRIAGE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =CHIP= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =ATONEMENT= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +POPULAR CHEAP EDITIONS + + Bound in Cloth with Illustrated Coloured Wrapper. + CROWN 8VO. 1s net + + +BY H. G. WELLS + + THE NEW MACHIAVELLI + + +BY GERTRUDE ATHERTON + + THE ARISTOCRATS + + +BY MRS. JOHN LANE + + ACCORDING TO MARIA + + +NOVELS BY WILLIAM J. LOCKE + + DERELICTS + THE USURPER + WHERE LOVE IS + THE WHITE DOVE + THE MORALS OF MARCUS ORDEYNE + AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA + IDOLS + A STUDY IN SHADOWS + THE BELOVED VAGABOND + + + + +THE NEW POCKET LIBRARY + +Printed from a clear type, upon a specially thin and opaque paper +manufactured for the Series + +Pott 8vo (6 x 3¾ in.) + + Bound in Cloth Price 1s net + Bound in Leather Price 2s net + + +BY THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD + + SYBIL + TANCRED + VENETIA + CONTARINI FLEMING + CONINGSBY + HENRIETTA TEMPLE + VIVIAN GREY + THE YOUNG DUKE, ETC. + ALROY, ETC. + + +BY HENRY BROOKE + + THE FOOL OF QUALITY (2 vols.) + + +BY GEORGE BORROW + + LAVENGRO + THE ROMANY RYE + THE BIBLE IN SPAIN + THE ZINCALI + WILD WALES + + +BY GEORGE ELIOT + + ADAM BEDE + SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE + THE MILL ON THE FLOSS + SILAS MARNER + + +BY EDWARD FITZGERALD + + EUPHRANOR + + +BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE + + THE SCARLET LETTER + THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES + + +BY HERMAN MELVILLE + + TYPEE + OMOO + + +BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY + PETER SIMPLE + THE KING'S OWN + THE PHANTOM SHIP + + +BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE + + DR. THORNE + THE WARDEN + BARCHESTER TOWERS + FRAMLEY PARSONAGE + THE BERTRAMS + THE THREE CLERKS + CASTLE RICHMOND + THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN + ORLEY FARM (2 vols.) + RACHEL RAY + THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS + THE SMALL HOUSE AT ALLINGTON (2 vols.) + + +LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD + + + + +Transcriber's note + + +Words in italics have been surrounded by _underscores_, underlined +titles in the advertisement pages at the end of the book have been +surrounded with =signs=, and small capitals have been changed to all +capitals. + +A few missing periods were added, also the following corrections were +made, on page + + 82 "Vande stein" changed to "Vanderstein" (that Mrs. Vanderstein + had sent a telephone message) + 168 "st aightened" changed to "straightened" (The clerk + straightened himself with a perceptible effort) + 347 "OE" changed to "OF" (=THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD=) + 349 underlining added (=HENRIETTA TAKING NOTES=) + 354 "Transtated" changed to "Translated" (Translated from the + Danish). + +Otherwise the original has been preserved. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels, by Mrs. Charles Bryce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MRS. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels + +Author: Mrs. Charles Bryce + +Release Date: May 26, 2013 [EBook #42813] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS *** + + + + +Produced by eagkw, Clarity and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img id="coverpage" src="images/illus_front_cover.jpg" width="506" height="762" alt="Cover" /> +</div> + +<hr class="l2" /> + +<hr class="l3" /> + +<p class="ttl">MRS. VANDERSTEIN’S JEWELS</p> + +<hr class="l4" /> + +<hr class="l2" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus_title_page.png" width="357" height="596" alt="Titlepage" /> +</div> + +<h1>MRS.<br /> +VANDERSTEIN’S<br /> +JEWELS</h1> + +<p class="tp1">BY MRS. CHARLES BRYCE</p> + + +<p class="tp2"> +LONDON: JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD<br /> +NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY<br /> +TORONTO: BELL & COCKBURN MCMXIV<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="l2" /> + + +<p class="tp3">THE ANCHOR PRESS, LTD., TIPTREE, ESSEX.</p> + +<hr class="l2" /> + + +<div class="bbox"> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<p class="noi"> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a><br /> +</p></div> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="l3" /> + +<p class="ttl">MRS. VANDERSTEIN’S JEWELS</p> + +<hr class="l4" /> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">The</span> room looked very cool in the afternoon +light. A few bowls of white roses that were +arranged about it seemed to lend it an aspect +of more than usual specklessness.</p> + +<p>To Madame Querterot, a person of no taste, who +made no pretension of being fastidious, and who had, +moreover, little sympathy with a passion for cleanliness +when this was carried to exaggeration, the airy lightness +of the place suggested the convent school of her +youthful days; and, bringing again before her the +figure of a stern sister superior who had been accustomed +in those vanished times to deal out severe +penalties to the youthful but constantly erring Justine, +caused her invariably to enter Mrs. Vanderstein’s +bedroom after a quick intake of the breath on the +threshold, as if she were about to plunge into an icy +bath.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein, ever the essence of punctuality, +was ready for her on this particular evening, as she +always was.</p> + +<p>Wrapped in some diaphanous white garment, which +she would perhaps have called a dressing-gown, she lay +on a silk covered sofa and lazily watched Madame +Querterot unpacking the little bag in which she carried +the accessories of her profession, that of a hairdresser +and beauty specialist.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>“You must make me very beautiful to-night, +Madame Justine,” she said, with a smile. “We are +going to hear <i>La Bohème</i>, and the Queen will be there. +My box is nearly opposite the Royal box, and in case +Her Majesty’s eyes fall in my direction I wish to look +my best.”</p> + +<p>“All eyes will not fail to be directed to your side of +the theatre, madame,” replied Madame Querterot, +taking out her collection of pomade pots, powder +boxes and washes, and arranging them in a semicircle +upon a Louis XVI table. “Royalties know the use +of opera glasses as well as any citizen. As for making +you beautiful, the good God has occupied Himself with +that! I can only preserve what I find. I can make +your beauty endure, madame. More than that one +must not ask of me. I am not the good God, me!” +and Madame Querterot’s plump shoulders shook with +easy merriment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein, too, smiled. She did not suffer +from any affectation of modesty as far as her obvious +good looks were concerned. But she was obliged to +own regretfully—though only to herself—that she was +no longer as young as she had been; and the masseuse’s +assurances that her youthful appearance could +be indefinitely preserved fell on her ears as melodiously +as if they were indeed a prelude to the magic strains +that would presently rise to charm her through the +envied, if stuffy atmosphere of Covent Garden.</p> + +<p>“You are a flatterer, Madame Justine,” she murmured. +Then, before she laid her head back against +the cushions and gave herself up to Madame Querterot’s +ministrations, she called to a figure that was +seated in the window, half hidden among the muslin +curtains that fluttered before it: “Barbara, be sure and +tell me if you see anything interesting.”</p> + +<p>Barbara Turner answered without looking round:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Nothing has come yet, but I am keeping a good +look-out.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein closed her eyes, and Madame +Querterot, after turning up her sleeves and arraying +herself in an apron, began to pass her short fingers over +the placid features and smooth skin of the lady’s face. +For a time nothing else stirred in the big room.</p> + +<p>A ray of sunlight passed very slowly across a portion +of the grey panelled walls, and coming to a gilded +mirror climbed cautiously over the carved frame, only +to be caught and held a while on the flashing surface +of the looking-glass.</p> + +<p>On every side the subdued gold of ancient frames, +surrounding priceless pictures that had been acquired +by the help of the excellent judgment and long +purse of the late Mr. Vanderstein, shone softly and +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>The furniture, of the best period of the reign of +Louis XVI—as was the case all over the house—had +been collected by the same unerring connoisseur, and +each piece would have been welcomed with tears of joy +by many an eager director of museums.</p> + +<p>The thick carpet that covered the floor exactly +matched the pale grey tone of the walls and upholstery, +and the extreme lightness of these imparted that air of +great luxury which the lavish use of fragile colours, in +a town as dirty as London, does more to convey than +any more ostentatious sign of extravagance.</p> + +<p>Through the open casements many noises rose from +the street, for the bedroom was at the front of the +house, which stood in a street in Mayfair immediately +opposite to a great hotel where the overflow of foreign +Royalty is frequently sheltered at times of Court +festivals, when the hospitable walls of the Palace are +filled to bursting point.</p> + +<p>The coming and going of these distinguished guests<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +was always a source of the most unquenchable interest +to Mrs. Vanderstein, to whom every trivial action, +if it were performed by any sort of a Highness, was +brimming with thrilling suggestion.</p> + +<p>At the period of which I speak, London was astir +with preparations for a great function, and representatives +of the Courts of Europe were arriving by every +train from the Continent.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein could hear the sounds of a constant +stream of carriages and motors stopping or starting +below her window, and knew that it was not to her +door that they crowded, but across the road under the +magnificent stucco portico of Fianti’s Hotel.</p> + +<p>“Barbara, has no one interesting appeared?” she +called again after a few minutes.</p> + +<p>“Not yet,” was the reply. “There’s a victoria +driving along the street now, though, which looks +something like a Royal turnout. Rather a nice +looking pair in it.”</p> + +<p>“Is it a pair of foreign looking gentlemen?” asked +Mrs. Vanderstein excitedly.</p> + +<p>“No, a pair of Cleveland bays. I hate them as a +rule, but from here they don’t look bad. All back, +though, of course.”</p> + +<p>“My dear girl, do tell me about the people. I don’t +want to hear about your horrid horses. I believe all +sorts of celebrities go in and out of Fianti’s while I am +lying here, and you never even notice them.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, I do,” said Barbara. “I will call you +directly any one passes who looks as if he might be +accustomed to wield the sceptre, or who is wearing a +crown over his top hat.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein made a little impatient movement. +It annoyed her that her companion did not take her +duties more seriously—did not, in fact, seem to understand +how much more important was this task of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +keeping a good look-out in the wide bow of the window +than any of the others that she was apt to approach in +a quite admirable spirit of thoroughness. Why, +wondered Mrs. Vanderstein, could the girl not do as +she was asked in this matter, without making those +attempts to be facetious which appeared so ill-advised, +and which fell so extremely flat, as a moment’s observation +would have made apparent to her? She did +not make jokes about the flowers while she arranged +them, nor about Mrs. Vanderstein’s correspondence, to +which it was her business to attend. She was able to +answer the telephone or order the carriage without +indulging in unseemly giggles. Why then, in heaven’s +name, couldn’t she take up her post of observation at +the window without finding in it an excuse for +pleasantries as dull as they were pointless?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein sighed deeply and wriggled her +head deeper in the cushions.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot saw the cloud and guessed very +easily what had caused it: she had often noticed similar +disturbances of her customer’s otherwise easy-going +temper. Knowing with remarkable accuracy on which +side of her bread the butter was applied, she at once set +herself to calm the troubled waters.</p> + +<p>“You did not see me to-day, madame,” she began, +“but me, I have already seen you. I passed in Piccadilly +where your auto was stopped in a block before +the Ritz.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we were kept there quite a long time, but I did +not see you, Madame Justine,” said Mrs. Vanderstein +indifferently.</p> + +<p>“How should you have seen me? I was in a bus. +It’s not there that you would look for your acquaintances. +That understands itself! But I was not the +only one to see you, and what I heard said of you then +will make you smile. I said to myself at the moment,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +‘It is quite natural, Justine, but it will make her +laugh all the same.’”</p> + +<p>“What was it? Who can have said anything of me +in an omnibus?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, madame! Even in buses people do not cease +to talk. One hears things to make one twist with +laughter! But one hears the truth too, sometimes, and +this young man, even if he made a mistake, one cannot +surprise oneself at that!”</p> + +<p>“But you do not tell me what you heard,” cried Mrs. +Vanderstein.</p> + +<p>“It was this young man of whom I speak to you. +He was a nice smart looking young gentleman, and he +had with him a lady, well dressed and very chic. What +they did in that <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">galère</i> I know not, but as we passed the +Ritz he touched his companion on the arm and pointed +out of the window. ‘Look, Alice,’ said he, ‘you see +the dark lady in that motor? It is the Russian +Princess they talk so much about, Princess Sonia. Is +she not handsome? She was pointed out to me last +night at the Foreign Office reception.’ The lady he +called Alice looked where he pointed and every one in +the bus looked also. I, too, turned round and followed +the eyes of the others. And who did I see, madame? +Can you not guess? It was at you they looked, as you +sat there in your beautiful car with Mademoiselle +Turner beside you. You, with your flowers and your +pretty hat with the long white feather, and your +wonderful pearls. And your face, madame! But I +must not permit myself to speak of that!”</p> + +<p>“You talk great nonsense, and I do not believe a +word you say,” said Mrs. Vanderstein gaily, her good-humour +more than restored. “No one could mistake +me for a moment for the beautiful Princess Sonia.”</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless, madame, it happened as I say. And +I see nothing strange about it. It was a very natural<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +mistake, as anyone who has seen both you and the +Princess will readily agree.”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot had not seen the Princess herself, +but she had studied her photograph in the illustrated +papers and devoutly hoped that Mrs. Vanderstein had +not herself met the lady at closer quarters.</p> + +<p>“The poor young man was not near enough to +observe my wrinkles and my double chin, Madame +Justine!”</p> + +<p>“Bah! You will have forgotten the word wrinkle, +which is not <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">d’ailleurs</i> a pretty one, by the time I have +finished giving you my course of treatment. And as +for a double chin, look at me, madame! I assure you +that, in my time, I have developed no less than five +double chins. And I have rubbed them all away. Do +you suppose, then, that I shall allow you to have +one?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein looked as she was bidden. Indeed +she lost no opportunity of studying the countenance of +the little Frenchwoman, who, on her own admission, +was at least ten years older than herself, but whose face +was as smooth and unlined as that of a girl, though +there was an indefinable something in the expression, +an experienced glimmer, perhaps, in the eyes, that +prevented her appearance from being entirely youthful.</p> + +<p>Still, she might very well have been taken for Mrs. +Vanderstein’s junior, even for her younger sister, +possibly, if she had been as well dressed, for there was +a certain resemblance between the two women. Both +were short and plump, both had long oval faces and +brown eyes set rather near together beneath arched, +well-marked eyebrows, and, though Madame Querterot +had not a drop of Jewish blood in her veins and +her nose did not assume the Hebraic droop that in +Mrs. Vanderstein betrayed her race, yet it was distinctly +of the hooked variety and gave her a family likeness to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +the children of Israel, on which fact her relations and +friends had frequently considered it entertaining to +dwell. Her hair, however, was golden and fluffy, +curling about her head with a juvenile abandon; while +Mrs. Vanderstein’s dark, straight locks were simply +and severely dressed at the back, and concealed on her +forehead by a large, flat curled fringe in the manner +affected by the English Royal ladies.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein at all events was sincere in her +admirations.</p> + +<p>“If you can make me look as young as you do,” she +said now, “I ask nothing better. But indeed London +in this hot weather is very wearing, and I see myself +grow older every morning. To-day it was oppressive +to drive even in an open motor.”</p> + +<p>To drive? Ah! Madame Querterot was not imaginative, +but a vision of the crowded bus in which +she went about her business floated before her, side by +side with one of a rushing motor car; and she paused +in her work for a minute and looked around her.</p> + +<p>An electric fan revolved tirelessly above the window, +and on a table at the foot of the bed was placed a large +block of ice, half hidden in flowers and ferns. She +raised herself, inhaling the cool air in long, deep +breaths.</p> + +<p>“It has been hot, very hot, these last days,” she +admitted. “It reminds me of our beautiful Paris, +and of much in my young days that I would be content +to forget,” she added, with a laugh. “Ah, the room +in that city, in which as a girl I used to work; the little +dark room where I learnt my trade! It was hot in that +room in the summer. But, madame, I could not tell +you how hot it was. I remember one of the girls who +used to pray quite seriously to die, because, she +explained to us, wherever she went in another world +it could not fail to be more cool. It was over a baker’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +kitchen and had no window except one which gave on +to a sort of shaft that ran up the middle of the house, so +that we had the gas always burning. Oh, la, la!”</p> + +<p>“How dreadful!” murmured Mrs. Vanderstein +comfortably. “I wonder it was allowed.”</p> + +<p>“Allowed? Ah, madame, there are plenty of worse +workrooms than that in Paris. I wonder what you +would say if you could see your dresses made! We +liked it very well in the winter, for there were no stairs, +and it was agreeable then to shut the window and +profit by the warmth from the kitchen. That was all +long ago, before I married that poor Eugène and came +to live in London. They were, all the same, not so bad, +those days. Ah, la jeunesse, la belle jeunesse, which +one does not know how to enjoy when one has it.”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot crossed over to the table and laid +her hands on the block of ice, casting a glance over her +shoulder to the window where Barbara sat at her +sentry post. The motionless, silent figure annoyed +Madame Querterot. To be conscious that all her +chatter was overheard by that quiet listener got on her +nerves and sometimes made her, as she said, feel as if +her own words would suffocate her. There was so +much she could have said to Mrs. Vanderstein from +time to time if they had been alone—much that she +instinctively felt would have been very acceptable to +that lady—but in the presence of Miss Turner, even +though nothing of her were visible except the back of +her head, there were, it appeared, lengths of flattery to +which Madame Querterot found herself incapable of +proceeding. Thus did a feeling of awkwardness, some +sense of restraint, cast a certain gloom over hours that +should have been the brightest in the day.</p> + +<p>“These roses, madame, how fine they are,” she +murmured, bending towards a bowl that stood on the +table, and unconsciously her voice took on a note of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +defiance as she faced the window. “They are as +beautiful as if they were artificial. One would say +they were made of silk!”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein laughed tolerantly, but Barbara, +her face turned to the street, made a naughty face.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot, with hands ice cool, went back +to her massage, and for a little while again no one +spoke.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Barbara turned.</p> + +<p>“Here comes a Royal carriage,” she said. “I think +it is Prince Felipe of Targona and his mother.”</p> + +<p>“Oh I must see them,” cried Mrs. Vanderstein, +jumping up, and brushing Madame Querterot unceremoniously +aside. “Where are they?” She ran +to the window.</p> + +<p>The masseuse followed more slowly, and three heads +were thrust out over the street.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">A carriage</span> was driving up to the steps of +Fianti’s.</p> + +<p>To allow it to approach, a waiting motor +was obliged to move away, and in the short interval +that elapsed while this was being wound up and +started off the carriage paused almost immediately +opposite the window of Mrs. Vanderstein’s bedroom; +she had thus a better view of its occupants than it had +ever previously been her fortune to obtain.</p> + +<p>On the right of the barouche sat an elderly lady, with +grey hair piled high under a very small black hat. She +sat very upright and stiff, giving a little nervous start +when the horses moved forward impatiently and were +drawn up with a jerk by the coachman.</p> + +<p>“That is the Princess,” said Barbara, whose head +was touching Mrs. Vanderstein’s.</p> + +<p>Prince Felipe sat beside his mother, a middle-aged +young man of forty with a black upturned moustache +and an eyeglass. He had a cigarette in his hand and, +as they looked, he turned round and gazed after a +smartly dressed woman who was driving by.</p> + +<p>On the back seat of the carriage sat two other men—gentlemen +in waiting, no doubt.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein’s eyes were, however, fully occupied +with the Princess and her son.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t he handsome?” she whispered to Barbara, +as if there were a danger of being overheard above the +rattle and din of the busy roadway.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>But it almost seemed as if the words reached the ears +of the man she was watching, for, the motor in the +portico having at last got under way and left the road +clear for Their Highnesses, the Prince threw back his +head as the carriage moved on, and looking up met Mrs. +Vanderstein’s eyes fixed admiringly on him.</p> + +<p>She drew back her head in some confusion, but the +Prince was still looking up when the barouche disappeared +in the shade of the portico.</p> + +<p>“Madame! Son Altesse vous a reconnue!” cried +Madame Querterot, her face wreathed in smiles.</p> + +<p>“He never saw me before,” replied Mrs. Vanderstein, +retreating into the room. “How odd that he +should have looked up just then! What a charming +face he has.” And she subsided once more on the sofa, +her own face aglow with excitement and pleasure.</p> + +<p>“Don’t move from the window, Barbara, whatever +you do,” she said. “Just think if we had missed +them!”</p> + +<p>As Madame Querterot resumed her rubbing, a knock +came at the door, and Mrs. Vanderstein’s maid entered +bearing the jewels her mistress intended wearing that +night at the opera. As she set the cases down on the +dressing-table and busied herself in laying out the +various garments of her mistress’ evening toilet, she +cast from time to time disapproving glances in the +direction of Madame Querterot, whom, although a +compatriot, she disliked very heartily, considering that +in the privacy of Mrs. Vanderstein’s chamber any +ministrations besides her own were unnecessary, and +having altogether a strong tendency to look upon her +countrywoman as an interloper, who had possibly an +eye to a share in various perquisites for which Amélie +preferred to see no other candidate in the field.</p> + +<p>She took an elaborate gown from the wardrobe and +spread it out upon the bed together with divers other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +articles of attire. She placed a jug of hot water in the +basin and a jar of aromatic salts beside it.</p> + +<p>She straightened several objects on the dressing-table, +which had no need of being made straight; +tilted the looking-glass forward and tilted it back +again; lifted up a chair and set it down with a thud; +and finally, despairing of ever witnessing the departure +of her dreaded rival, was about to leave the room when +her mistress’ voice called her back.</p> + +<p>“Amélie,” she said, “just show me what necklace +you have brought up for me to-night. Is it the one +with the flower pendants or the stone drops?”</p> + +<p>Amélie carried all the cases over to the sofa; and +Madame Querterot left off rubbing while Mrs. Vanderstein +sat up and opened them one by one.</p> + +<p>In the largest a magnificent diamond necklace, +imitating a garland of wild roses and their leaves, +glistened against its blue velvet background. The +other cases, when opened, displayed bracelets and a +diamond tiara, as well as rings and a pair of ear-rings +formed of immense single stones.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein shut them all up again and handed +them back to Amélie.</p> + +<p>“Take them down again to Blake,” she said, “and +tell him I have changed my mind and will wear +the emeralds instead. They go better with that +dress.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, madame,” sighed Madame Querterot, as Amélie +departed with the jewels, “what marvellous diamonds! +Wherever one goes one hears the jewels of Mrs. +Vanderstein spoken of.”</p> + +<p>“It is true,” said Mrs. Vanderstein, “that my +jewels are very good. My dear husband had a passion +for them and collected stones as another man collects +bric-à-brac. He never made a mistake, they say, and +my ornaments are rather out of the way in consequence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +For myself I feel it an extravagance to lock up such a +vast amount of capital in mere gewgaws.”</p> + +<p>“My poor Eugène,” said Madame Querterot, “had +also this same enthusiasm for precious stones. He +loved so to adorn his wife with diamonds, that dear +soul! But with him it was, alas, more than an +extravagance. It was our ruin; for he was not a +connoisseur, like monsieur votre mari, and when the +crisis came and we would have turned my jewellery +back into money, behold, we were told that we had +been cheated in our purchases, and that, for the most +part, the stones were without value. Ah, the sad +day! As you know, madame, bankruptcy followed, +and we had to give up our beautiful <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">établissement</i> in +Bond Street. It broke the heart of that poor Eugène. +He never recovered from the blow and soon left me, +I trust for a happier world, by way, it goes without +saying, of purgatory,” added the masseuse, crossing +herself like a good Catholic. “Since that day I have +faced the troubles of this life alone, without friendship, +without sympathy.”</p> + +<p>Here her emotion overcame Madame Querterot, +and she turned away for a moment with a display of +her handkerchief. She had omitted from her affecting +narrative the fact that “that poor Eugène” had +perished by his own hand, on discovering the state of +his affairs; and she slightly trifled with the truth when +she asserted that it was his unfortunate craze for +covering his wife with jewels which had brought about +such a disastrous state of things. It was Madame +Querterot’s own passion for the adornment of her +person that had resulted in the dissipation of Eugène’s +savings, and brought him, at the last, to see with +despair the total disappearance of the business, which +she had neglected and ruined.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein’s kind heart was touched.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>She had heard vaguely the reason of the Querterots’ +removal from their gorgeous Bond Street rooms after +the death of Eugène, the incomparable hairdresser, and +it was from a creditable desire not to desert the +unfortunate that she continued to employ the little +Frenchwoman since the day of the catastrophe. But +no details of the affair had reached her, and she now +heard for the first time, and not without being sincerely +moved, the sad story of a man who, having spent his +all in lavishing tokens of affection on his wife, had in +the end reduced her to a state of poverty bordering on +want, and even left her to confront this terror in +solitude, as a result of his misdirected tenderness.</p> + +<p>Considerably affected, she tried to speak words of +comfort to the poor woman.</p> + +<p>“It is dreadfully sad,” she murmured. “Poor +Madame Justine, how sorry I am. Your poor husband, +I see well how he must have adored you and that what +he did was all for the best. But you are not absolutely +alone in the world, are you? Have you not a +daughter?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is true, madame, that I have a daughter,” +replied Madame Querterot, wiping her eyes and +resuming her work.</p> + +<p>“And she is no doubt a great comfort to you?”</p> + +<p>“Children, madame, are at once a joy and a trouble,” +returned the masseuse evasively.</p> + +<p>“I hope your daughter has not caused you much +trouble.”</p> + +<p>“She has given me nothing but worry since the day +she was born. Her childhood, her education, her +illnesses! Measles, chicken pox, whooping cough, +mumps, scarlet fever; she has had them all one after +the other.”</p> + +<p>“But not while you have been coming to see me!” +cried Mrs. Vanderstein, alarmed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ah no, madame, all that is long finished,” replied +Madame Querterot, “but since then I have been +obliged to provide for her education, and every year +she has become more expensive. Now she is eighteen, +and you would imagine her anxious to repay some of +the expense and <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ennuis</i> she has caused me during all +these years.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, no doubt,” agreed Mrs. Vanderstein, “she +will be a great help to you now.”</p> + +<p>“So one would think. But figure to yourself, +madame, what this young girl proposes to me to do with +her life. She desires to enter a convent and to spend +her days in good works rather than be of assistance to +her mother!” and Madame Querterot laughed bitterly.</p> + +<p>“I think she ought not to take such a decisive step +at present,” said Mrs. Vanderstein; “at the age of +eighteen she can hardly know if a religious life is really +her vocation.”</p> + +<p>“She is obstinate like a donkey, madame. Just +think of it, a young girl, healthy, not ugly; already she +has had offers of marriage. There is a young man, very +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bien</i>, very <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">comme il faut</i>, who demands her hand and who +thinks of nothing but her. But will she take him? No. +Not at all. We prefer to be a religious; and <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">voilà</i>!”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot, having finished her massaging, +was repacking the brown bag in which she had brought +her apparatus.</p> + +<p>“I hope that you will amuse yourself at the opera, +madame,” she went on, folding her apron and laying it +on top of the other things in the bag, the lock of which +clicked as she shut it down with an impatient snap.</p> + +<p>“A demain, mesdames,” she concluded, taking up +the bag by the handle and giving it a shake as if she +only wished she could so shake her unsatisfactory child. +“A cette heure-ci, n’est-ce pas?”</p> + +<p>And with that she bowed herself from the room.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Mrs. Vanderstein</span> and Barbara hurried +over their dinner and were early in their +places in Covent Garden. Mrs. Vanderstein +always arrived before the orchestra had tuned up. She +had, like many of her race, a great appreciation of +music and did not like to miss a bar of the overture, +even though she had already heard the opera that was +being given so often that she knew it by heart.</p> + +<p>She felt very much in a mood to enjoy herself that +evening, and till the first act was over leant back in +her chair with half-closed eyes, hardly moving at all, +and absolutely absorbed in listening to the wonderful +singers who were that night interpreting Puccini’s +melodious work. Even the Royal box opposite barely +distracted her attention for more than a few moments.</p> + +<p>Barbara Turner was not musical, but she, too, was +always pleased to go to the opera. She liked the sensation +of luxury, which enveloped her there even more +than elsewhere; she liked the feeling that the entertainment +offered them was costing a huge amount of money, +and therefore could only be witnessed by a privileged +few. Although she laughed at Mrs. Vanderstein’s +passion for Royalty, she shared her simple satisfaction +in the knowledge that the box in which they were now +sitting was sandwiched between that occupied by the +Duke of Mellinborough on their left, and the one +tenanted by Sir Ian Fyves, the sporting Scotch +millionaire.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barbara rejoiced in the exclusiveness obtainable by +the rich, therein differing from some other people who +depreciate the advantages of wealth on the grounds +that the largest fortunes may be made and handled by +the most vulgar, and that banking accounts are not in +these days the exclusive property of the refined, or even +of the intellectual.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein made no secret of the benefit to her +health derived from hours spent in the closest proximity +to the aristocracy, the air inhaled by a duchess being +separated from that which filled her own lungs merely +by the thinnest of partitions. She invariably occupied +the chair on the left-hand side of the box, so that the +space between her and her unseen neighbours might be +thought of in terms of inches; and it cannot be denied +that Barbara herself relished the thought of the +company of the great who surrounded her, heedless +though they might be of the pleasure they were providing. +It was not really to be expected, besides, that +the nearness of Sir Ian Fyves, whose horse had already +so easily won the Derby the year before, and who was +again the lucky owner of the favourite for the coming +contest, should leave unmoved the daughter of Bill +Turner, the trainer.</p> + +<p>All Barbara’s childhood had been passed at Newmarket, +and the talk of the racing men with whom her +father associated had been the first to fall on her +infantile ears. The horses in his charge had grown to +be her chief interest in life, as they were that of every +one she was brought in contact with; and at the age +of ten she knew as much about them—their points, +prowess, value, and chances—as any stable boy on the +place. On a small but truculent pony she followed her +father and his friends to the heath in the early mornings +and watched the morning gallops with a critical eye; +with the same edifying companions she pottered about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +the stableyard during most of the rest of the day, and +only when bed-time came—and it came at eight +o’clock, for on that one point her father was firm—was +she reluctantly torn away.</p> + +<p>All Mr. Vanderstein’s horses were trained by her +father, and many a time the childish eyes followed them +to victory.</p> + +<p>In earlier days, before Barbara had made her bow +upon the scene, Turner had been associated in various +affairs of business with Mr. Vanderstein, then plain +Mr. Moses Stein, familiarly known to his intimates of +those days by the endearing nickname of Nosey Stein; +sometimes in moments of rare affection, when some +particularly brilliant <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">coup</i> had just been brought off, +he was alluded to as Nosey Posey.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein, then Miss Ruth Hengersohn, had +changed all this. The name of Stein was repugnant to +her, though it seems a good enough sort of appellation +in its way; Nosey or Nosey Posey she could only think +of with a shudder; while the idea of being herself +known as Mrs. Nosey filled her with a burning determination, +which, as it cooled, hardened to the inflexible +consistency of chilled steel.</p> + +<p>Before their marriage took place, Mr. Stein, who +always admiringly recognised, when he met it, a will +more adamant than his own, had at great trouble, +inconvenience, and expense changed his name for +that of Vanderstein, by which he was afterwards +known.</p> + +<p>The enterprises, chiefly connected with the promotion +of companies, in which this gentleman had, in +his early, forgotten—and best forgotten—youth, the +assistance and co-operation of Mr. William Turner, +were in their nature precarious and not a source, +unfortunately, of the profit foreseen by those who set +out upon them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the conclusion of one of them, indeed, things took +on a very unexpected complexion, assuming in the +twinkling of an eye so disagreeable a hue, that the +directors of the company, whose management was +suddenly the centre of attraction and which was in +danger of receiving a most unwelcome, if flattering, +attention from the public prosecutor, thought it best +to disappear with a rapidity and unobtrusiveness +highly creditable to a modest desire for self-effacement +at a moment when free advertisement was within the +grasp of each of them.</p> + +<p>Luckily for Mr. Stein, his name did not appear among +those who sat on the board of this particular company +and he was able to pursue his way in a retiring and +profitable manner; but it was otherwise with his less +fortunate friend, Bill Turner.</p> + +<p>It was to the search for this worthy though too +incautious person that the efforts of the authorities +were principally directed; and it was only by +returning once more, under an assumed name, to the +racing circles which he had during a short interval +forsaken for the city, and still further owing to the +absence of the chief witness for the prosecution, whose +whereabouts could not for a long time be ascertained, +that Turner was able to escape the fate which ought +assuredly to have been his.</p> + +<p>He settled finally at Newmarket, and married the +daughter of a neighbouring squire, who never spoke +again to a child who could so far forget her father’s +position and ignore his commands as to unite herself +to the more than questionable William.</p> + +<p>The poor lady, however, took her revenge on her +relations, and her leave of a world in which she had +found time to suffer some disillusions, on the day that +saw Barbara ushered into the light; so that the little +girl was left to grow up entirely in that odour of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +stables which her father preferred, in his heart, to any +more delicate perfume.</p> + +<p>It was not until she was ten years old that Turner +began to suffer from the attentions of blackmailers, but +these, having once discovered him, saw in him a mine +of gold which they fondly expected to prove inexhaustible. +Such, however, was not the case. After +a year’s persecution the wretched man found himself +penniless, and on the advice of Vanderstein, the only +one of his old pals who did not ignore him in his trouble, +he left the country with precipitation and secrecy.</p> + +<p>So little was his intention suspected that he eluded +all further detection and bolted successfully to South +America, where he remained untraced by undesirable +acquaintances and finally drank himself to death after +several years of the most gratifying obscurity.</p> + +<p>Turner’s only regret at leaving England was that he +could not take with him his little girl; but hampered +by the company of a child escape would have been +impossible, and he sorrowfully yielded to the representations +of Vanderstein on that point.</p> + +<p>The Jew promised to take charge of Barbara in the +future, and assured Turner with every mark of +solemnity that as long as he or his wife lived the girl +should not lack a home. Turner, who knew that +Vanderstein never ceased to chafe under a sense of +obligations incurred in the early days of their struggles, +placed every confidence in the words, and had no doubt +that his friend would live up to his promises.</p> + +<p>And Vanderstein did not fail to do so.</p> + +<p>Barbara, whose grief at parting from her father was +intense and pathetic, was comforted as best might be +and sent to school at the select academy of the Misses +Yorke Brown at Brighton. Here she received the best +of educations in the company of about thirty other +young ladies, the daughters of well-to-do middle class<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +people. In their society she obtained a nodding +acquaintance with algebra, history, science, and literature; +with them she attended dancing classes, learnt +a little French and German, and disported herself on +the tennis court and hockey field. She roller-skated +and played golf, became proficient in the art of swimming, +and with a chosen and fortunate few rode daily +on the downs.</p> + +<p>At the end of six or seven years she had grown into a +self-possessed, capable young woman, a little old for +her years perhaps, as was obvious to those who knew +her well, but to outward appearance still a mere child, +easily amused at trifles, and with a rare capacity for +enjoying life, which made her a delightful companion.</p> + +<p>Her face had an innocent and helpless expression at +variance with her real nature, which was eminently +self-reliant and independent. She would never forgive +her mother’s relations who had despised her father, and +at any mention of them her large blue eyes would +always flash resentfully.</p> + +<p>Her relatives for their part made no effort to seek +her out and were quite content to leave her to the +Vandersteins’ tender mercies.</p> + +<p>Before Barbara left school Mr. Vanderstein died, +leaving in his will a provision to the effect that his +widow was to continue the care of his friend’s daughter, +either making her an annual allowance of £500 a year +or taking her to live with her as friend and companion. +There was a further bequest of £30,000 to Barbara, +which was to become hers on Mrs. Vanderstein’s death.</p> + +<p>This was not the only thing in the will which filled +Mrs. Vanderstein with indignation.</p> + +<p>She found to her disgust that half the fortune, which +she had formed the habit of considering hers, was left +to young Joe Sidney, the son of her husband’s sister. +This lady had committed the horrid offence of marrying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +a Christian, and to her, during her lifetime, the orthodox +and scandalised Moses never alluded. Her death +occurred a year or two before his own, and after it +Mr. Vanderstein had displayed a certain interest in his +nephew, but not enough to prepare his wife for his +preposterous action in regard to the division of his +money. Indeed, he expressed in the will his wish that +after her death it should all go to Joe, though he left +the final decision on this point to her judgment.</p> + +<p>Old Vanderstein had amassed considerably over half +a million sterling during the latter and most prosperous +portion of his career, so that his widow was not +altogether the pauper she was fond of declaring herself; +but in the first shock of seeing her income divide +itself by two she decided to save the £500 provided for +Barbara and to submit instead to the infliction of her +presence.</p> + +<p>She had never seen the girl, who had, indeed, been +a subject of disagreement between her husband and +herself, but she was so easy-going and good-natured at +heart that a very short period of Barbara’s society +had sufficed to change her prejudices and distrust into +a warm affection, and she soon looked on her as she +might have done on a younger sister.</p> + +<p>There were occasions certainly when, if anything +annoyed her, she would not refrain from pointing out to +Barbara how much had been done for her and how +exaggerated had been Mr. Vanderstein’s views in this +direction.</p> + +<p>“My dear husband,” she would exclaim, “would +have ruined himself, if he had lived longer, by his own +unbounded philanthropy. He was constitutionally +unable to say ‘no’ to anyone, and goodness knows in +what difficulties he would have landed himself if time +had only been afforded him. How often he would +admit to me that certain people had tried to borrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +from him and that he had let them have what they +wanted. In vain I begged him to be more firm. He +would make me promises, but I would soon discover +that he had been doing the same thing again. ‘My +dear,’ he would reply to my reproaches, ‘I have really +not the heart to refuse to help these poor young men.’”</p> + +<p>Mr. Vanderstein did not bother his wife with details +of his private affairs, holding that women have no +concern with business; and he decidedly never thought +it necessary to mention that he used a certain discretion +in his benevolence, steeling himself against +more supplications than she suspected.</p> + +<p>It was true, however, that he never refused to lend +money to such poor young men as were heirs to +entailed estates or could offer other satisfactory security +for the repayment of his kindness, and it was by these +unobtrusive charities that his fortune was collected.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein’s prejudices against Joe Sidney +had also decreased very rapidly when she became +acquainted with that young man, as she did shortly +after his mother’s death, and by the time this story +begins—that is to say, three years after she herself had +been left a widow—he had become a great favourite of +hers, although there were still moments when she +thought a little bitterly of the large sums he had +deprived her of by the fact of his existence. However, +she liked him well enough to let him know that it was +her intention to comply with Mr. Vanderstein’s wishes +in regard to the ultimate disposal of his fortune, and +that her will constituted Sidney her sole legatee.</p> + +<p>As she was only a few years older than himself and +of a robust health, there was every likelihood that this +provision would not affect his fortunes for many years +to come, or even that she might survive him.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">When</span> that night, during the interval +between the first and second acts of the +opera, the door of the box opened and +Sidney made his appearance, Mrs. Vanderstein greeted +him with a beaming smile and the most sincere +pleasure.</p> + +<p>“How nice to see you, dear Joe,” she said. “I +didn’t know you were in London.”</p> + +<p>“I only came up from York last night,” said her +nephew, “or I should have been to see you before. +The Garringdons asked me to their box, which is more +or less under this, so I couldn’t see if you were here, +but I thought you would be.”</p> + +<p>He sat down and began to talk about his doings and +to ask questions about theirs, Mrs. Vanderstein looking +at him meanwhile with a feeling of gratification at the +decorative effect on her box of this good looking +youth. She hoped the audience, or at least some +members of it, had noticed his entrance, and she +thought to herself that even inconvenient nephews +had their uses.</p> + +<p>Joe Sidney was twenty-five years of age and his +father’s son. The late Mr. Sidney had been a very tall, +fair individual, and Joe resembled him, showing the +merest trace of the Jew in the droop of his nose, which, +however, was not very marked. His eyes too, perhaps—but +why pick to pieces a young man who really was, +taken altogether, a very fine specimen of his kind?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +Though he had not, or scarcely had, inherited the +appearance of his mother’s race, he showed much of its +sympathy with art and music; and his intelligence +was equalled by his prepossessing manner, which had +made him a favourite since his boyhood with nearly all +with whom he came in contact, and, combined with his +wealth, rendered him extremely popular in the cavalry +regiment in which he was a subaltern. He knew a +great many smart people whose acquaintance Mrs. +Vanderstein would have given her ears to make, and +from time to time he invited her to meet one or two +of them at a restaurant dinner or theatre, quite unconscious +of the pleasure he was giving; for the +very intensity of her longing made Mrs. Vanderstein +shy of letting this superior young relative guess at it, +and Barbara had never hinted to him at the weakness +of his uncle’s widow.</p> + +<p>Poor Mrs. Vanderstein! One pities her when one +reflects that if the good Moses had survived a few years, +till the advent of a Radical government which was +extremely short of sympathisers in the Upper House, +she might have lived to hear him called “My Lord,” +and have answered with beating heart to the delicious +salutation of “My Lady.”</p> + +<p>She seized the opportunity afforded by Sidney’s +presence now to gather information about the occupants +of the boxes facing them. Did Joe see anyone he +knew? Of course she knew by sight every one in the +Royal box, except that man behind the Queen. Who +was that? Sidney thought it was the Italian ambassador. +What a distinguished looking man! And in +the next box? Sidney didn’t know. And the one +beyond that? He didn’t know either. Mrs. Vanderstein +was disappointed in him. Well, who did he +know? Couldn’t he tell her anyone?</p> + +<p>“Really,” said Sidney, “I don’t see many, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +there are one or two. That woman with the red face +and the purple dress is Lady Generflex, and the man +two boxes off hers on the right is Sir William Delaplage. +Then that girl in pink who has just taken up her +opera glasses is Lady Vivienne Shaw, and the man in +the same box is Tom Cartwright, who was at Eton with +me. Down in the stalls there are one or two men I +know, and I think that’s all. Of course there’s old +Fyves, next door. You know him, don’t you?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein gazed with intent interest at the +people he pointed out; and then let her attention +wander back to the Royal box while Sidney talked to +Barbara.</p> + +<p>“Have you been racing?” she asked him soon.</p> + +<p>“Off and on. I went to see my horse, Benfar, run +the other day. He came in easily last.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think that man can ride him well. He’s a +good horse. I saw him as a two-year-old.”</p> + +<p>“There’s something wrong somewhere, that’s +certain. If I don’t have better luck this year than I +had last I shall give up keeping race-horses,” said +Sidney with decision.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you mustn’t do that,” cried Barbara in a tone +of so much distress that Sidney laughed.</p> + +<p>“Why do you care?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“I care a lot. I never see anything of racing people +nowadays, or meet anyone except you who knows a +horse from a centipede. If you give up racing I shall +feel that my last link of connection with the turf is +severed.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you get my aunt to bring you down to +Epsom to-morrow?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, she wouldn’t like it a bit,” said Barbara +regretfully.</p> + +<p>“I daresay she’d enjoy it enormously. Aunt Ruth, +why don’t you come racing with me sometimes? Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +Turner and I will show you the ropes and you’ll +probably be plunging wildly by this time next week.”</p> + +<p>“I hate spending a hot day walking from the stand +to the paddock and back again,” said Mrs. Vanderstein. +“I hate horses and I hate seeing their heels +waving round my head on every side, which seemed to +me to be the case the only time I went to a race +meeting. Nasty vicious animals. The way they are +led about among the crowd by people who can’t control +them is most dangerous, I consider.”</p> + +<p>“I expect you saw one let off a kick or two out of +sheer lightness of heart,” said Barbara. “Horses are +darlings, really; I wish you knew them as well as I do.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein not only disliked horses herself, +but she strongly disapproved of Barbara’s fondness for +them. The career of the late Mr. Turner had been +unedifying to such a point that even Mr. Vanderstein +had been unable to disguise entirely from his wife some +of its more notorious features, and Mrs. Vanderstein +would have been better pleased if she could have +persuaded herself that the girl had forgotten all about +the days of her companionship with so undesirable a +father.</p> + +<p>She had, moreover, no sympathy for speculation in +any form, and especially mistrusted that which took +the shape of gambling on the turf. Her greatest friend +had married a man who had entirely ruined himself by +the practice of backing losers; and the sight of the +misery and privation that had, in this manner, been +brought on a woman for whom she felt a sincere affection +left on Mrs. Vanderstein one of those deep impressions +that determine many of our strongest opinions and +prejudices throughout life. To Mrs. Vanderstein +betting was one of the most unpardonable sins. It was +true that Mr. Vanderstein had kept a racing-stable +and she had never really forgiven him for not giving it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +up at her request. But he had always assured her +that he never betted.</p> + +<p>She turned away without answering, and Barbara’s +conscience—for she knew how much her friend disliked +the subject of the turf—made her think she +detected an impatient expression in the back of the +white shoulders and told her it would be better to +change the conversation. The temptation was too +strong, however, and she continued, dropping her +voice to a murmur:</p> + +<p>“You are going to Epsom to-morrow yourself?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Sidney, wondering why she leant so +confidentially towards him.</p> + +<p>“Well, I wonder if you would be very kind and put a +little money on a horse for me. Would it be too much +trouble?”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit. What horse is it?”</p> + +<p>“It’s a tip Ned Foster sent me. He was one of my +father’s grooms, you know, and I hear of him sometimes. +He used to be very good to me when I was a +child. I had a letter from him to-day begging me to +back Averstone. He says he’s absolutely certain to +romp in on Wednesday.”</p> + +<p>“How much do you want me to put on him?” +asked Sidney.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t got much, I’m afraid,” said Barbara +ruefully, “but I’ve saved a little out of the pocket +money your aunt gives me. It’s only £20. I wish it +was more.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to risk your entire fortune?” said +Sidney. “You’re a pretty rash young lady, aren’t +you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I must have a flutter. Besides, it’s a dead +certainty. I’d put a thousand on if I had it.”</p> + +<p>“What a fearful gambler! When you’ve lost as +much as I have you’ll go a bit slower.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Have you lost much?” asked Barbara sympathetically. +“I’m so sorry. Just lately?”</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, since you ask me I don’t mind telling you +that I have had some rather nasty blows during the +last few months. That brute, Benfar, has a lot to +answer for, my word!”</p> + +<p>“He’ll turn out a winner yet,” said Barbara hopefully.</p> + +<p>“He might come in first if all the other starters +tumbled down,” said Sidney, with an effort to treat the +subject lightly, “but I’m afraid before that happens I +shall have to shut up shop. Things can’t go on like +this. I lost £10,000 over the Lincolnshire meeting, and +that’s only a drop in the ocean. But I don’t know why +I’m bothering you with my troubles,” he concluded, +pulling himself up abruptly.</p> + +<p>“I am glad you tell me,” she replied simply. “I +am so very sorry that you have had such rotten luck. +You’d better change it by backing my tip. Ned +Foster would never have advised me to put my all on +Averstone unless he knew it was a sure thing. He +really has a regard for me, I believe, and he often used +to say that the day would come when he’d make my +fortune and his own. He doesn’t approve of betting +as a general thing. He’s a most steady, cautious kind +of individual.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder,” said Sidney. “I think perhaps I’ll +have a last fling. What are the odds?”</p> + +<p>“They’re long. Averstone’s not supposed to have +a ghost of a chance. I think it’s about 40 to 1 against +him.”</p> + +<p>“My word, just think if one had a few thousands on +him and it came off!” said Sidney. “The bookies +would all die on the spot.”</p> + +<p>“It would be rather annoying for some one,” laughed +Barbara. “I hope it will come off.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid it would be too good to be true,” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +Sidney gloomily, “but it would certainly save the +situation if it did. If I lost a very little more I’d have +to leave the army.”</p> + +<p>“Is it as bad as that?” asked Barbara, for the first +time realising the graveness of the position for Sidney. +“How dreadful. I <em>am</em> sorry!”</p> + +<p>The young man laughed awkwardly.</p> + +<p>“It’s awfully good of you,” he said. “I’ve been a +perfect ass, of course. If I could win back half what +I’ve lost, I swear I’d never back a horse again!”</p> + +<p>“I expect your luck will turn,” repeated Barbara +hopefully. She had all a gambler’s instinct of +optimism.</p> + +<p>But Sidney only laughed again rather recklessly as +he got up to go. The interval was over and the people +were hurrying back to their seats.</p> + +<p>“As the orchestra seems to be going to make another +effort,” he said, “I must get back to the Garringdons’ +box. Good night, Miss Turner; good night, Aunt +Ruth; I’ll come and look you up in a day or two, if I +get over to-morrow without being obliged to put a +sudden end to my career.”</p> + +<p>“What did Joe mean by his last remark?” Mrs. +Vanderstein asked as the door shut behind the young +man’s vanishing form. “I don’t understand what he +meant about putting an end to his career.”</p> + +<p>“He was telling me he has lost a lot of money lately, +racing,” Barbara murmured rather reluctantly, for +she was not sure if Sidney would like her to repeat what +he had said. Still, she thought, it was surely absurd +for her to imagine that he would confide in her anything +he would hesitate to tell a relation. “I suppose +he was trying to joke about that.”</p> + +<p>“It’s nothing to joke about,” said Mrs. Vanderstein +severely. “Not that I saw anything like a joke. I +think it’s disgraceful, and I shall alter my opinion of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +him very seriously if he really has been betting. But +hush, the music is going to begin.”</p> + +<p>And she was soon entirely engrossed in listening to it.</p> + +<p>But Barbara, to whose ear any but the most +elementary tunes presented nothing but a confused +medley of noises, wriggled rather impatiently on her +chair from time to time, as she waited for the act to +come to an end. Recollections that had lain dormant +for a long time, put away on some high shelf of the +wardrobe of memory, had been awakened again by +her conversation with Sidney and the letter she had +that day received from the old stableman. How happy +her childhood seemed when viewed now through the +flattering medium of the intervening years, which +obscured all that had been disagreeable, and magnified +the delights of her unrestrained wanderings and of the +free and easy company of her father and her father’s +delightfully jocular friends.</p> + +<p>How they used to laugh at each other’s witty +remarks, and how she, too, had laughed, joining in the +mirth without understanding in the least what aroused +it but with enjoyment none the less complete on that +account. With closed eyes she leant back against the +wall of the box, her lips curved in a smile and her head +a little to one side in an attitude of listening. But it +was not the voices of the singers she heard. Instead, +the thud, thud of galloping hoofs sounded in her ears, +coming nearer and nearer, and, mixed with the creaking +of leather, the excited snorts of her pony and the +jingling of bits. She seemed to see around her the +bare, open spaces of the heath and the figures of the +watchers, among them herself, crouching low in the +saddle with her back to the bitter east winds that +sweep across the bleak Newmarket country in the +spring. Splendid bracing air, her father used to say, +and for her part she had never given a thought to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +weather. Happy, happy times! Oh, that they could +return. Why could not Mrs. Vanderstein give her that +£500 a year, thought Barbara, and let her take a +cottage, however tiny, within reach of a race-course and +within hail of a training stable? If only she had a +little money of her own. Money was everything, after +all. It meant liberty. If Averstone won his race it +would be something to the good.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein, turning to catch her eye at a +point in the music which, even more than the rest, gave +her a pleasure that asked to be shared, saw only the +closed lids and the smiling lips, and with a sensation of +gratified surprise said to herself that Barbara was at +last developing an appreciation of music.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">When</span> Madame Querterot left the cool, airy +house, which reminded her so unpleasantly +of one which was associated principally in +her inmost consciousness with the sensation of corporal +punishment applied in no niggardly spirit, she turned +her steps towards her own home, which was situated +in the remotest part of Pimlico.</p> + +<p>By the time she got off her bus and set out on foot +into the dreary labyrinth of dingy streets, in one of +which she lived, the shadows were lengthening fast +and the pavement was losing some of the blistering +heat accumulated during the day. Madame Querterot +climbed rather wearily the flight of steps before her +door. When she entered the little shop where Julie +sat sewing behind the counter, she passed through it +without a word to her daughter, and going into the +tiny room, which served as a sitting-room, threw herself +into the one arm-chair with something like a groan.</p> + +<p>Julie, whose smile of welcome had faded on her lips +when she saw the expression on her mother’s face, +bent again over her work, and for a little while all was +still in the tiny, two-storied house.</p> + +<p>There was not room for many customers in the shop. +Julie often wondered what she would do if more than +two came in at the same time, but such an embarrassing +contingency had not so far occurred. Quite half the +space was taken up by the counter, on which stood a +tray containing hair-pins and hair-nets. In one corner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +a space was curtained off for such clients as should +wish to have their hair dressed or washed. No one +had as yet requested this last service. In the window +Madame Querterot displayed a few superior articles +which had survived the wreck of the Bond Street +establishment.</p> + +<p>There was a waxen lady, with fair hair wonderfully +curled and twisted, who obscured the light a good deal +as she stood with her shoulders disdainfully turned to +the interior of the room and her snow white nose close +against the plate glass, which separated her from the +street. Plainly she felt it a come-down to look out on +to this gloomy Pimlico roadway. Around her were +strewn combs and brushes, bottles of brillantine and +china pots containing creams for the complexion, curls +and tails of false hair—in some cases attached to gruesome +scalps of pink wax—and half a dozen elaborately +carved tortoise-shell combs, which the luckless Eugène +had invested in in a fit of mistaken enthusiasm shortly +after his arrival in England, but which had never +received so much as a comment or an inquiry as to +price from any of those who had since looked on them.</p> + +<p>They had remained, however, a source of pride to +Madame Querterot, who would often remark to Julie +what an air they bestowed.</p> + +<p>Presently, after a glance at the clock, Julie put down +her work and came to the door between the two rooms.</p> + +<p>“You are back, mother,” she said, looking at her +gravely.</p> + +<p>“So it appears,” snapped her mother without raising +her eyes.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid you must be tired,” went on Julie +calmly. “The day has been so hot. Will you not +take a glass of lemonade before supper?”</p> + +<p>“Have you got a lemon?” asked Madame Querterot +somewhat less crossly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Julie.</p> + +<p>She opened the cupboard and taking out a lemon, a +tumbler, and a lemon squeezer, went about the business +of preparing a cool drink for her heated parent.</p> + +<p>“Has anyone bought anything to-day?” Madame +Querterot asked when after a few minutes the beverage +was handed to her. “Put a little more sugar in the +glass.”</p> + +<p>“A boy came in for a bottle of hair-oil,” replied +Julie, “and a few women have bought hair-pins and +hair-curlers. It has been a dull day.”</p> + +<p>“We shall soon be in the street at this rate,” said +Madame Querterot despairingly. “One cannot live +on a few packets of hair-pins and a bottle of hair-oil. +No. If only we could move to a fashionable locality. +Here no one ever comes and we have but to die of +hunger.”</p> + +<p>“We haven’t been here very long. We may do +better presently. It is the customers whom you +massage that keep us from starvation.” Julie propped +open the door into the shop and taking up her work +sat down by the table in the parlour.</p> + +<p>“Bah! Who knows how long they will continue? +They have the skin of crocodiles, all of them. What +can I do with it? Nothing. And in time they will +find that out, and I shall be put to the door. What +will happen then? You, I suppose, think you will be +safe in your religious house. And your poor mother, +you will be able to mock yourself of her then, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">hein</i>!”</p> + +<p>“Mother, you know I shall not leave you while you +want me. I have not spoken of becoming a nun since +father died, have I?”</p> + +<p>“Your father!” exclaimed Madame Querterot with +emotion. “Your father was a poltroon. No sooner +did I need his assistance than he deserted me!”</p> + +<p>“Mother!” cried Julie, and there was that in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +tone which made Madame Querterot’s lamentations die +away into inaudible mumblings.</p> + +<p>The girl did not say any more, but went on quietly +with her sewing, till after a while her mother rose to go +upstairs.</p> + +<p>At the door she paused.</p> + +<p>“Bert is coming to supper,” she said over her +shoulder. “You have not forgotten that it is to-night +we go with him to the theatre? He will be here soon, +I should think,” and she went on up the narrow stairs +without waiting for an answer.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, when they sat down to a cold +meal, which Julie had carefully prepared—for Madame +Querterot was particularly fond of eating and had seen +that her daughter early acquired the principles of good +cookery—they had been joined by the guest to whom +she had alluded.</p> + +<p>This was a young man of anæmic aspect, with fair +hair that lay rather untidily across a high, narrow +forehead. His face, which was pale and thin, was not +at first sight particularly prepossessing. The contour +of it was unusually pointed, though the chin receded so +much that it could hardly be said to exhibit a point. +The mouth was weak and large and always half open, +so that the teeth, stained brown by the smoking of +continuous cigarettes, were not completely hidden when +he talked under the straggling little moustache, the +end of which he had an unpleasant habit of chewing. +The nose was prominent and looked too large for the +rest of his face, the eyes, dark and deep-set, seemed to +flash with unsuspected fires when talk turned on a +subject that interested him. It was they that +redeemed the whole man from total insignificance. +They were the eyes of an enthusiast, almost of a +fanatic. He did not talk much, but seemed content to +devour the food set before him and to gaze untiringly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +at Julie who sat opposite him at the small square +table.</p> + +<p>Julie was a very good-looking girl in her way, which +was not at all an English way, although the English +language came more naturally to her lips than her +mother tongue. To tell the truth, she was not very +proficient in that, her mother and father having both +found it easier, after she began to go to school, to talk +to her in broken English. Indeed, after twenty years +or so of residence in London that language became as +natural to them as their own tongue, and Madame +Querterot’s French had by now grown quite as anglicised +as that of many linguists in her adopted country. +She found, however, that many of her customers +preferred her to talk in broken English; they liked +to feel that here was some one come straight from the +gay city to do their pleasure.</p> + +<p>Her daughter inherited her mother’s oval face and +arched eyebrows, but there the likeness ceased. Julie +was tall while Madame Querterot was short; she was +dark, while her mother was fair, and of a fairness that +owed nothing to art. Julie had a straight, short nose and +a little rosebud of a mouth, her skin was dark but glowing +with health, and the brown eyes, set far apart under +the low brow, had a wide-open look of sorrowful surprise +as if she found herself in a world that failed +continually to come up to her expectations. Bert, it +was plain to see, found all this very much to his liking, +and was so taken up with the contemplation of it that +a great deal of Madame Querterot’s conversation fell +unheeded on his ears, and his answers, when he made +any, were for the most part quite irrelevant.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot had by this time completely +recovered her good temper, or at all events displayed +the amiability habitual to her in intercourse with +strangers. She prattled away about the weather, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +letter she had that day received from her relations in +Paris, asked about Bert’s work, and showed, and +possibly felt, great interest in his meagre replies. +Presently she began to talk about the occupation of +her own day.</p> + +<p>“There is an old lady whom I visit for the massage,” +she said, “who would make you laugh to see. She is +ugly, she is fat, she has the complexion of a turkey! +Yet there is no one so anxious as she to become young +again. Was she ever beautiful? I do not know; but +it is certain that she will not be so again. Every day +I find her with a mirror in her hand and every day as I +leave her she takes it up again to see if there is any +improvement. For all I know she sits like that, gazing +at her unsympathetic reflection till the next day when +I come once more.”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot paused and took a draught of her +lemonade.</p> + +<p>“A little more sugar, Julie, my cherished, and it +would be better still,” she said. “In this country +sugar is less dear and you are unnecessarily careful of it. +If we were in France I would not say so; there, there +are <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">impôts</i>. But this, one must admit it, is the cheapest +place one can live in. That is why one finds here so +many Jews. Bah! the Jews! Why does one suffer +them? In England as in France one sees nothing +else; but even more in England since l’affaire Dreyfus. +There is one lady to whom I go daily who would gladly +live in France, I think, if it had not become less disagreeable +for her race here since that business. But +perhaps it is not only on that account that she stays +here, now that I reflect. She is not one of those who +amuse themselves well in a republic.”</p> + +<p>“How is that, mother?” asked Julie without much +interest, while their guest, for his part, merely grunted +indifferently.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>“She is more than a Royalist,” said Madame +Querterot; “she loves to see a head which knows how +it feels to wear a crown. She goes every day to watch +the Queen drive through the park. Mon Dieu! I +think she lives only for that. To-day a Prince passed +below her window, and as chance had it he looked up +at her as he went. She was mad with joy; one would +have said it was the happiest hour of her existence. +She said nothing, but I have my eyes! And it is a +woman who has everything to make her enjoy life. +She is not bad-looking, not at all bad-looking; for a +Jewess, even handsome; she is still young, and rich. +Oh, but rich!”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot put down her knife and fork and +raised both hands in the air to convey the extent of the +wealth enjoyed by the lucky Jewess.</p> + +<p>For the first time Bert displayed some interest in the +conversation, or monologue, as one might more +properly call it.</p> + +<p>“It’s disgraceful,” he said, “it ought to be put a stop +to. These people! They suck the blood of the poor!”</p> + +<p>“The Jews, yes; it is their <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">métier</i>,” agreed Madame +Querterot.</p> + +<p>“I don’t refer to the Jew especially. What I’m +alluding to at the present moment is all these useless +rich folk. The drones of the hive, as you may say. +These bloated capitalists who occupy the land that +ought by rights to jolly well belong to the people. +They’d better look out for themselves, I can tell them. +There’s a day coming when society won’t stand it any +longer. In other words, we’re going to drive them out. +Tax them out of their very existence. Do I make +myself perfectly clear?”</p> + +<p>Bert glared triumphantly round as he brought his +hand down on the table with a conclusive emphasis +which made the glasses on the table jump nervously.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>“This Mrs. Vanderstein of whom I speak,” resumed +Madame Querterot composedly, “has no land so far as +I know. She has only a house in London. But she is +rich all the same. One sees it at each step. In the +house, what luxury! Such pictures! such furniture! +such flowers! And automobiles, and boxes at the +opera! Such dresses! And above all, such jewels! +Oh, she is very rich, that one.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all the same,” declared Bert, “whether she +spends her money on land, or on clothes, or what not. +The point I want to impress on you is that she does +spend it, and that while she’s living on the fat of the +land the rest of us may starve!”</p> + +<p>He helped himself as he spoke to another plateful +of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">œufs à la neige</i>.</p> + +<p>Julie watched him, the shadow of a smile playing +about her mouth.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen this lady’s jewels, mother?” she +asked. “I adore precious stones.”</p> + +<p>“I have seen some of them,” said her mother. “To-night +her maid brought to her a necklace and bracelets +of diamonds, besides a coiffure and rings of great beauty, +no doubt without price. But she sent them away +again, saying that she would wear others. Those I did +not see, but it is certain that she has many, and all +wonderful. Every day she wears different ones and, +constantly, a string of enormous pearls. Without those +last I have never seen her. They are as large as +marbles and, to tell the truth, not much more pretty, +for my taste. When I tell you that she employs a +night watchman, whose sole duty is to patrol the house +every night, you will understand that the value of +what it contains must be large.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just what these capitalists do,” cried Bert +excitedly. “They lock away thousands of pounds +like that when the money ought to be out in the world<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +paying just and equal wages. I should like to see it +made a criminal offence to wear jewellery.”</p> + +<p>“But what would happen to the people who make +it?” asked Julie. “They would all lose their means of +earning a livelihood, is it not so? What would the +pearl fisher do, or those who dig precious stones out of +the earth? And the polishers and setters? Every +industry has a host depending on it for a demand for its +labour.”</p> + +<p>“There would be less need for labour,” said Bert +more gently, as was always the case when he spoke to +her, “if the money was taken from the capitalists and +divided among the people.”</p> + +<p>“Still——” objected Julie again.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot, however, did not propose to +listen to an argument on the benefits to be expected +from Socialism; she had frequently heard all that +Bert had to say on the subject, and it had bored her +very considerably. She pushed back her chair and +stood up.</p> + +<p>“It is half-past seven,” she said, “we must put on +our hats for the theatre. It begins at nine, but we shall +take twenty minutes getting there, and I want to have +good places. Come and get ready, Julie.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">The</span> two women went upstairs; Bert lit a +cigarette, and retired to smoke in the tiny +yard behind the house. Soon he heard +footsteps descending, and hastily throwing away his +cigarette he entered the little room again just as Julie +came into it. She had been quicker than her mother.</p> + +<p>Bert did not waste time in preambles. He knew he +only had a few minutes at the best.</p> + +<p>“Joolie,” he began hurriedly, “why do you never +let me see you alone? Will you never be any nicer +to me?”</p> + +<p>“Aren’t I nice to you, Bertie? I don’t mean not +to be.”</p> + +<p>“You know quite well what I mean. I want you +to like me better. Oh, Joolie, you haven’t a notion +how fond I am of you. It seemed to come over me all +of a sudden that day we walked in the Park, when +your mother for once didn’t come with us. And since +then I haven’t had a moment’s peace. Not a single +solitary moment. Wherever I look, whether it’s going +to the office, or at my work, or after it’s done, I seem to +see nothing but you, Joolie, and I don’t want to see +anything else either.”</p> + +<p>He moved closer to her and she retreated instinctively.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid! I won’t touch you,” he said +with a certain bitterness. “I know you can’t bear the +sight of me, but I’d give my life to make you happy.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, Bert,” she said, and her tone was full of +contrition. “It isn’t true that I can’t bear the sight +of you. I like you very much, I do indeed. We are +such old friends. And it is so nice of you to like me so +much, but why can’t we go on just being friends?”</p> + +<p>“Joolie, Joolie,” cried the young man. “You don’t +understand. I love you, Joolie. I love you so much, +dear! Don’t you think you could marry me some +day? There, I didn’t mean to ask you now,” he went +on quickly, seeing the look on the girl’s face, “don’t +answer me now. I know what you’re going to say and +I can’t bear to hear it. Wait a while and perhaps I +shall be able to get you to care for me in time.”</p> + +<p>Before she could reply Madame Querterot’s foot was +on the stair, and in another moment she came in smiling +and arrayed in her best.</p> + +<p>They set out without further delay and proceeded +by a succession of buses to the Strand. Descending +there, they made their way into one of the neighbouring +streets and took their places in a queue of people who +were already waiting for the doors of the theatre to +open.</p> + +<p>Though not by any means the first to enter, they +secured good places in the pit and settled down in +them to await the beginning of the performance, each +of them, in his or her different way, prepared to enjoy +the evening to the utmost.</p> + +<p>When at length the curtain rose they followed the +fortunes of the characters with a breathless intensity of +interest, and the play itself formed the subject of a +heated discussion afterwards, which lasted all the way +home, Julie maintaining that an honest course was +always desirable whatever excuses might be adduced +for other conduct.</p> + +<p>Bert and Madame Querterot held, it appeared, more +elastic opinions, Bert declaring that there were people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +it was a sin to leave in possession of their ill-gotten +gains, and Madame Querterot inclining to the view that +if anyone was so stupid as not to be able to keep what +they had, small blame need attach to those who were +clever enough to take it from them.</p> + +<p>She upheld this contention by pointing out that no +one did blame the gentleman burglar who formed the +central figure of the play; the heroine herself, who was +assuredly in a high degree the pattern of all the virtues, +had easily forgiven his little lapses, slips which had +been made entirely for her sake.</p> + +<p>“For my part,” she asserted, “I admire a man of +that sort. Not that it is common to find one like him. +Most men have too high a regard for the safety of their +own skins. But one must admit that the young girl, +for whom this brave man took all those risks, was of +no ordinary beauty. It is possible that if there were +more like her there would also be more lovers, young +and ardent, ready to chance prison and the gallows to +win the wealth that should make her theirs. Ah, there +is no chivalry nowadays,” and Madame Querterot +heaved a heavy sigh. Possibly she was thinking of the +base way in which Eugène had deserted her in the hour +of need.</p> + +<p>“Wealth is not always enough,” said Bert disconsolately, +“and, anyhow, wealth is an abomination +and a snare. In the ideal socialistic state there won’t +be any such thing. All riches will be equally divided and +every one will have enough to live on, but no more. Anyone +who wants luxuries will just have to work for them.”</p> + +<p>“You look too far ahead, my young friend,” +returned Madame Querterot philosophically. They +were walking up the dark streets that led to her house, +Bert having insisted on seeing them home in spite of +protests as to the lateness of the hour and the necessity +for his getting up early next morning.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>“You have brains,” she continued, “and you use +them, which is not too general. But in this world it +is a mistake to show that one is clever. The stupid +only dislike one for differing from them in a way that +they cannot understand, and clever people actually +hate others who dare in this manner to resemble them. +If you wish to be loved it is best to appear foolish. No +one desires a lover too intelligent to care for their +opinions. If you wish to obtain respect do not show +yourself unusually brilliant. You will only be thought +eccentric or even mad. And finally if you want to +make money never allow anyone to suspect that you +are not perfectly an idiot. People will be on their +guard if they think they have to do with a clever man, +but if they think you a fool precautions will seem +unnecessary and it will be very easy for you to deal +with them to your own advantage.”</p> + +<p>Bert listened to these remarks with more attention +than he usually displayed.</p> + +<p>“Do you really think a man has more chance with a +girl if he is foolish and rich?” he asked in a low tone. +They were walking behind Julie, the pavement having +narrowed so as to make it impossible to continue three +abreast.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot slackened her pace and fell back +a little.</p> + +<p>“Run on, Julie, my angel,” she called out, “and +prepare me a cup of coffee. I feel a kind of faintness +and will walk more slowly if Bertie will give me his arm.”</p> + +<p>Bert made a gesture of annoyance, and would have +left her in pursuit of Julie, who hurried on as she was +told, but Madame Querterot clutched at his arm and +held him back.</p> + +<p>“Stay with me, I wish to speak to you,” she said, +clinging so tightly to him that without roughness he +could not have shaken her off.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>“What is it? I want to speak to Joolie,” he said +crossly.</p> + +<p>“You can speak to her any time; listen to me now. +You asked me a minute ago if I thought one had more +chance with a girl if one was rich.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.” He spoke with returning interest. “You +do think so, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“Bert, let me speak. I must tell you that for some +time I have seen clearly that you have a tenderness for +my daughter. You wish to marry her, is it not so?”</p> + +<p>“It is the only wish of my life.”</p> + +<p>“It is easy to see. You show it in each word, in +your whole manner towards her. But let me tell you, +my friend, that in my country it is not only the consent +of a young girl that is sought by a would-be husband. +It would have been more <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">convenable</i> if you had +approached me, her mother, in this matter.”</p> + +<p>“Madame Querterot, will you help me? Joolie +doesn’t seem to care about me. Is there any other +man?”</p> + +<p>“There is no other man. Julie has an absurd idea +of entering into a religious house, but she is a dutiful +daughter and will not go against my wishes in that or +any other matter. As regards this question of marriage +she will, I am convinced, be guided by me. Ah, how +she loves me, that child! There is nothing she would +not do to please me. I say to you that Julie is not a +girl. She is an angel!”</p> + +<p>“I know that,” grunted Bert; “if you’ll help me +with her, Madame Querterot, and there’s ever anything +I can do to show my gratitude, why, you can take it +that I’ll do it, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Bert, now is the time to prove that. Words, +words, words! But if it came to the point what would +you do, not to show gratitude, but to win the hand of +Julie? That is what I ask myself.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’d do anything. By Jove, I believe there’s +nothing I would stick at.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. Now, with me as your friend and ally +I think you might make certain that my daughter will +consent to the marriage. But I, Bert, will never agree +to her marrying a poor man. I have other ideas for +her, I assure you.”</p> + +<p>“You know I am poor,” said Bert. “I despise +riches, but for Joolie I wouldn’t raise an objection to +them if they were in my reach. But you know very +well I shall always be poor as long as this beastly +capitalist government has its own way. Some day +perhaps things will change.”</p> + +<p>“Bert,” said Madame Querterot, dropping her +voice, “it is yourself who have suggested to me a way +by which one might become rich. Supposing I were +to tell you that I had a plan; that I knew a way by +which in a flash you might gain both riches and Julie, +and at the same time show your faith in the truth of +your own gospel? What then, Bert? Have you a +little courage, my boy? Girls do not understand your +modern ideas, that every one should be of an equal +poverty; they like to have money, they like what +money can give them. Did you not hear Julie say +this evening that she adored jewels?”</p> + +<p>They had reached the door of the shop and Bert +turned towards it without answering. But Madame +Querterot made as if to continue their walk, and after a +moment’s hesitation he turned and paced beside her.</p> + +<p>“I would give her all the diamonds in the world,” he +said, “if she wanted them and I could get them for her. +What do you suppose I care for my ideas, as you +call them? Nothing! Oh, nothing matters beside +Joolie! Still, I’m hanged,” said Bert, “if I can see +what you’re driving at.”</p> + +<p>“I see a way,” replied his companion, “of doing a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +little good business. For it I need the assistance that +a young man like yourself can give. Some one with +courage, with determination, and who will not be +discouraged by a few apparent difficulties. But to +succeed the affair must be kept secret. It is indeed of +the most private character. Before I say more, swear +to me by your love for Julie that you will die before +you repeat a word of what I am going to tell you.”</p> + +<p>“I swear it,” said Bert solemnly.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot gave one more quick, penetrating +glance at his pale face and, apparently reassured by the +light that burned in the dark eyes, began to talk again +in low, persuasive tones as they paced up and down +before the little house.</p> + +<p>Julie came to the door and cried to them that the +coffee was ready; then despairing of an answer she +retired to her bedroom, where a light burned for a little +while; presently it was extinguished, and Julie in a +few minutes was peacefully asleep.</p> + +<p>But still her mother and her lover walked and turned +on the pavement beneath her window.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">The</span> next day, Mrs. Vanderstein, busy with a +watering-can among the pots of roses that +during the season adorned her balcony, and +keeping a sharp look-out on the entrance to Fianti’s +opposite, was disappointed not to catch another glimpse +of Prince Felipe of Targona whom she thought every +minute to see issue from beneath the portico.</p> + +<p>“What can keep him indoors on so fine a day?” +she asked herself repeatedly, for again the sun smote +down on the city out of a cloudless azure.</p> + +<p>Having spent the hour immediately after luncheon +in this vain expectancy, at the imminent risk of both +sunstroke and indigestion, she began to despair of her +hopes ever being fulfilled, and went back into the +drawing-room, where she threw herself dejectedly into +a chair.</p> + +<p>“If this weather goes on,” she said to Barbara, “we +might run over to Dieppe for a few days.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein was very much in the habit of +making sudden excursions to the other side of the +Channel; whenever she was bored at home she +would dash off at a moment’s notice to Dieppe or +Ostend.</p> + +<p>Barbara enjoyed these trips, but sometimes wished +Mrs. Vanderstein would not make up her mind to +depart quite at the last minute, as she nearly always did. +It was awkward occasionally to have only half an hour +given one in which to pack.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Will you go to-day?” she asked, with a shade of +anxiety in her voice.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” Mrs. Vanderstein answered +wearily. “I daresay I may.”</p> + +<p>Barbara walked over to the open window.</p> + +<p>“There’s Madame Justine coming out of Fianti’s,” +she remarked presently.</p> + +<p>“Really?” said Mrs. Vanderstein, getting up and +going to Barbara’s side. “I wonder what she can +have been doing there?”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot was hurrying along the pavement, +bag in hand. She looked up at the balcony and made +a little smiling bow in response to Mrs. Vanderstein’s +friendly nod. Then she rounded a corner and was out +of sight.</p> + +<p>“What a good kind face she has,” Mrs. Vanderstein +said as she turned back into the house. “It would +cheer up anyone, that delightful smile. It always does +me good to see Madame Justine.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t think why you like her so much,” said +Barbara, as she also came back into the room. “I +don’t think she looks particularly nice.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Barbara,” said Mrs. Vanderstein, “at your age +you are no judge of character. Now I know a good +woman when I see one, and I do admire that one. +Look at the way she works day and night to support her +idle, ungrateful daughter.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t suppose she’s so ungrateful as her mother +makes out,” said Barbara. She seemed determined to +see no good in poor Madame Querterot.</p> + +<p>In the cool of the afternoon the two ladies drove in +the Park and visited one or two of the houses of their +friends. It was past six when they returned home, and +for once the masseuse was waiting for them. She +came forward as Mrs. Vanderstein entered, and her +manner showed some excitement. In the background<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +hovered Amélie, who would have died sooner than +allow Madame Querterot to remain alone in her +mistress’ room, hinting darkly, if vaguely, to the other +servants that mysterious and terrible results would have +to be expected if such a liberty were accidentally +permitted.</p> + +<p>“Oh, madame,” cried Madame Querterot, “I have +such amusing news. At all events I hope that you +will laugh and not be offended if I repeat it to you.”</p> + +<p>“What is it, Madame Justine?”</p> + +<p>“Figure to yourself, madame, that this morning I +received a summons—but, madame,” said Madame +Querterot, checking herself on a sudden and casting +a look of scarcely veiled malice towards the other +occupants of the bedroom, “what I have to tell you is +of a nature somewhat private. Is it possible that you +permit that I speak with you alone?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Mrs. Vanderstein; “why not, if you +wish. Amélie, I will ring when I want you, please. +Barbara, do you mind going away till I call you? +Thanks so much. I must hear this amusing story of +Madame Justine’s.”</p> + +<p>Barbara and the maid lost no time in obeying, and +left the room; but while the one did so with alacrity, +her pride preventing her from showing any curiosity, +even for a moment, as to what Madame Querterot +might have to relate, Amélie was at no pains to conceal +the dislike, almost amounting to hatred, which shone +in her eyes as she fixed them in an angry stare on her +compatriot before she slowly moved towards the door. +Some day she hoped to be revenged on this woman, this +odious, talkative bourgeoise, for the way in which she +had wormed herself, if not into her mistress’ confidence, +at all events into such familiar impertinent terms with +her; when, if Mrs. Vanderstein could but be brought +to feel about her, in her bones, as Amélie felt, she would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +recognise her for a person to whom an honest woman, +let alone a lady at all <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">comme il faut</i>, would scorn to +address herself.</p> + +<p>Her rage and indignation continued to augment as +the minutes passed and no bell summoned her back to +her duties. Though no fonder of work than her fellows, +Amélie’s whole soul rose in revolt against the idea that +she could be dispensed with. And when at last, after +an hour’s waiting, both she and Miss Turner were +recalled to the bedroom, one of them at least re-entered +it with murderous feelings in her heart, which she +vented by making faces at the masseuse behind the +ladies’ backs and vowing to herself that the day of +vengeance could not be much longer delayed.</p> + +<p>As for Barbara, she was struck immediately she +returned to her friend by a suppressed excitement, a +restlessness of manner, which seemed to betray that +there had been something of personal interest in +Madame Querterot’s confidences. She did not like, +however, to ask what the Frenchwoman had had to +tell in private, and as Mrs. Vanderstein did not volunteer +any information, but was very silent all the +evening, fully occupied apparently with her own +thoughts, Barbara was not sorry when bedtime +came.</p> + +<p>“Do you still think of running over to Dieppe?” +she asked, as she said good night.</p> + +<p>“To Dieppe!” cried her friend, “good gracious, +no! I have all kinds of engagements, and you have +forgotten that my box is taken for the gala performance +of the opera on Monday. I shall certainly stay in +London for the present!”</p> + +<p>Clearly Mrs. Vanderstein had forgotten the half-formed +intention of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Well, that would not prevent her changing her mind +again, thought Barbara, and they might be off across<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +the Channel in a day or two in spite of to-night’s +decision.</p> + +<p>But days elapsed and no more was said on the +subject. Every evening saw Madame Querterot arrive +as usual; but now there was always a private interview +between her and Mrs. Vanderstein, which left +that lady flushed and smiling.</p> + +<p>Barbara could not imagine what was happening to +cause all these changes. She disliked Madame Querterot +and vaguely resented the secret that she felt was +being kept from her. Why should Mrs. Vanderstein +have secrets with this horrid little Frenchwoman and +leave her out in the cold? How could she allow the +woman’s familiarity? Barbara was both piqued and +disgusted at the whole trend of the matter.</p> + +<p>On Sunday they walked in the Park with a certain +Mrs. Britterwerth, a friend of Mrs. Vanderstein.</p> + +<p>After a day or two of clouds and rain, during which +people shivered and said it was like winter, the weather +had cleared again to the radiant brightness which +distinguished that summer from those preceding and +following it. The Park was gay with light dresses and +brilliant coloured parasols. The flowers, too, were at +their best—the rain had come at the right moment for +them and the beds were a vision of beauty—but they +received scanty attention, as usual, people flocking to +the other side of the road, where, to tell the truth, +it was very pleasant on the green lawns beneath the trees.</p> + +<p>The three ladies strolled up and down in the shade. +Mrs. Vanderstein called it taking exercise, and did it +once a week for the sake of her figure. Mrs. Britterwerth +was really stout and would gladly have sat down +after a turn or two, but was not allowed to by her more +energetic friend.</p> + +<p>“Consider, my dear, what a lot of good it does us,” +said Mrs. Vanderstein.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here, presently, they were joined by Joseph Sidney, +and soon Barbara found herself walking on ahead with +him, while the two others followed them at a little +distance.</p> + +<p>She had not seen him since the night at Covent +Garden, and she noticed with concern that he looked +worn and worried.</p> + +<p>“I saw that Averstone did no good,” she said, as +soon as they were out of earshot.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Sidney shortly.</p> + +<p>“Did you back him?” she asked, and knew the +answer before he spoke.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes,” he said, “I backed him all right. He’d +have won, I daresay, if I hadn’t spoilt his chance with +my rotten luck.”</p> + +<p>Barbara walked on in silence for a minute.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry,” she said at length. “It was my +fault. I gave you the tip.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense,” he answered almost roughly. “Your +money’s gone too.”</p> + +<p>“Did you lose much last week?” she asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>“So much,” he replied, “that it’s no good trying to +hide it from you. It’s bound to come out in a few days. +The truth is that I’ve lost every penny my uncle left +me and every sixpence I had before. Worse than +that! I’ve lost money I can’t pay, and I shall not +only have to leave the regiment, but——” he broke +off bitterly and slashed with his stick at the grass. +“Well, you know what it means,” he finished lamely.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it can’t be as bad as that!” cried Barbara. +“Tell Mrs. Vanderstein. She will help you. How I +wish I had some money!”</p> + +<p>“Do you think she would help me?” asked Sidney. +“She would let me blow my brains out first. You don’t +realise, perhaps, what a violent prejudice she has +against betting. Look at this letter. I got it the day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +after I saw you at the opera.” He pulled from his +pocket a large sheet of blue writing paper on which +Barbara at once recognised Mrs. Vanderstein’s unmistakable +handwriting.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="noi"> +“<span class="smcap">My dear Joseph</span>,” it ran, +</p> + +<p class="in3">“I hope there is no truth in what I hear about +your betting on race-horses. It is a practice I deplore +with all my heart and I should be very sorry to see you +descend to such unprincipled depths. Without entering +upon a long dissertation, I must tell you that, unless +you henceforward sever all connection with bookmakers +and their kind, I shall think it my duty to +depart from your uncle’s wishes and leave my money +away from you altogether. It pains me to write like +this and I trust it is unnecessary, but it is best to have +things understood.</p> + +<p class="sgn"> +<span class="sp3">“Your affectionate aunt,</span><br /> +“<span class="smcap">Ruth Vanderstein</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Barbara read the letter in horror-struck silence.</p> + +<p>“That’s the sort of help I should get from her,” said +Sidney, as she gave it back to him.</p> + +<p>“Something must be done,” she repeated dully; +“can’t you borrow from some one?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve been losing steadily for three years,” replied +the young man, “and I had to go to the money-lenders +long ago. I can’t get another penny from them. It’s +rather funny if you think of how my uncle made his +money, isn’t it? But perhaps you don’t know,” he +went on hastily, seeing the blank look on Barbara’s +face. “So that’s how it is,” he started afresh. “It’s +all up with me, you see. I’m absolutely done for +unless I can get £10,000 by next week. I’m pretty +desperate, I can tell you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t +do to get the money.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>He spoke in emphatic tones, and several of the +passing crowd turned their heads to see who it was who +so loudly published the unfortunate state of his +financial affairs. Sidney was quick to realise the +attention he was attracting, and lowered his voice to a +more confidential pitch. Neither he nor his companion +specially remarked one among those who glanced up +at them on hearing the outspoken words, a small spare +man with a clean-shaven face and brown hair fading +to a premature greyness. Nor if they had done so +would either of them have recognised in this correctly +dressed, spick and span Londoner, whose well-fitting +morning coat and patent leather boots so exactly +resembled those worn by Sidney himself and nearly +every smart young man to be met with in the Park +that day, the well-known private detective, Mr. +Gimblet, the man most dreaded by the criminal class +of the entire kingdom.</p> + +<p>Walking at a more rapid pace than they, he was in +the act of overtaking the couple as they strolled along, +when something in Sidney’s voice, a note of despairing +recklessness more than the words themselves that he +uttered, aroused his interest and wakened his ever +ready curiosity. He continued to walk on without +slackening his speed, and did not look back until he +had advanced some fifty yards. Then he hesitated, +loitered a moment, and finally sat down on one of the +green chairs, which stood conveniently unoccupied, +just before Sidney and Barbara strolled unconcernedly +by.</p> + +<p>Before they had passed, Gimblet had made a quick +survey of the young man’s face, on which signs of +worry and anxiety were very plainly to be noted.</p> + +<p>“I wonder who it is,” he thought; and continued, +when they had gone on, to gaze meditatively after the +young people.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>In his turn he failed to observe two ladies who came +up in the opposite direction to that in which his head +was turned. Mrs. Vanderstein observed his intent +expression as she approached, and following the +direction of his eyes murmured to her friend:</p> + +<p>“Do you see that man staring at Barbara? He +looks quite moonstruck. She attracts a great deal of +attention. Such a dear girl, I don’t know what I +should do without her.”</p> + +<p>“You are so good to her,” murmured her companion. +“The question is rather, what would she do without +you? But she is certainly an attractive young +person, especially to men. I wonder that you are not +afraid to let that delightful nephew of yours see so +much of her.”</p> + +<p>To Barbara, walking mechanically by Sidney’s side, +it seemed suddenly as if some strange darkness hung +over the face of nature. The lightness of heart with +which she had gone forth out of the house, the high +spirits natural to her that constituted the only legacy +of any value which she had inherited from her father, +deserted her now to make place for distress on the +young man’s account. Nor was it only at the thought +of the trouble that had fallen on him that she recoiled +horror-struck and that the sunlight took on a quality +of gloom, which made the present hour such a dismal +one and those of the future to appear encircled in a +dusk that deepened, as it receded, till it merged into +that utter obscurity over whose boundaries Joe seemed +already to be slipping and vanishing. It was the +effect of his disaster on her own life that chiefly terrified +and shocked her. What would she do without the +only man friend of anything like her own age whom she +knew in London and whose tastes so much resembled +her own? She would hear no more sporting gossip, be +cut off from her one remaining link with the racing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +world. What would she do without him if he disappeared +as he threatened? What would she do +without the only person in the world she cared to see? +The only person in the world she cared for.... The +knowledge came to her suddenly like a revelation and +she stumbled for a moment in her walk as she realised +with a flash of self-comprehension the full meaning of +her dread.</p> + +<p>In that instant she saw and realised that to lose Joe +Sidney would be, for her, to lose all.</p> + +<p>He, occupied in a recital of his troubles, noticed +nothing beyond his own almost unconscious relief in +speaking at length of the worries he had for so long +kept to himself. It was a comfort to have so sympathetic +a listener.</p> + +<p>Still, not much comfort could be extracted even from +that, with the crisis in his life so real and so near at +hand, and he was soon repeating his earlier assertions +that it was no use talking, and that there was no hope +for him of anything but absolute ruin.</p> + +<p>“Your aunt. She must, oh, she must help you!” +Barbara heard herself saying again.</p> + +<p>Again Sidney shook his head.</p> + +<p>“You don’t understand her. She will act in +accordance with her ideas. We Jews——”</p> + +<p>“You are not a Jew!” Her voice was indignant.</p> + +<p>“My mother was a Jewess. You don’t suppose I am +ashamed of it? We Jews have stronger convictions—opinions—principles—call +them what you like—than +Christians are in the habit of hampering themselves +with. We are more apt, I should say, to live up to our +theories. My aunt looks on gambling as the most +deadly of sins. Where you or I perceive a green track +and a few bookies, she sees, I do believe, a personage +with horns and a tail, brandishing a pitchfork. I’m +not at all sure she isn’t right. I am at least quite sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +that if I could get out of this mess I’d never go near a +race-course or have so much as a look at the odds again +as long as I lived. It’s not much use saying that now, +is it? But believe me, help from Aunt Ruth is out of +the question. You may scratch it. This is the end +of all for me. I shall just have to go. Drop out, as +many better men have had to do before me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh don’t talk like that,” cried Barbara. She had +pulled herself together, and was thinking clearly and +rapidly. “Listen to me. If you can’t go to Mrs. +Vanderstein with the truth, can’t you go to her with”—she +hesitated—“something else?”</p> + +<p>“A lie,” said Joe bluntly. “I don’t wonder you +think I’d not be above a lie if it could save me. But +can you suggest one with which I could go to her and +ask for £10,000? If you can, let’s hear it, for goodness’ +sake. But of course you can’t. She’s not an +absolute fool!” He laughed again, a short, hard +laugh.</p> + +<p>“You don’t know Mrs. Vanderstein as well as I do, +though you are a relation,” said Barbara. “She has +weak points, you know. At least she has one weakness. +I wonder if you know what it is?”</p> + +<p>They had come to the Corner and paused by the +rails. Instinctively Barbara turned about, looking to +see if Mrs. Vanderstein were within earshot.</p> + +<p>“Why, look at her now,” she cried.</p> + +<p>Sidney, too, turned, and followed the direction of her +gaze.</p> + +<p>His aunt and her friend had reached a point +some fifty yards behind them. Mrs. Vanderstein’s +face was radiant. A rosy colour dyed her cheeks. +Her eyes sparkled, when for a moment she lifted them +and glanced in the direction of the roadway. But for +the most part they seemed to be modestly cast down and +Mrs. Vanderstein appeared interested solely in the toes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +of her shoes; these, though of the most pleasing +aspect, did not entirely justify the delight the lady +seemed to feel in them. She may, perhaps, have been +wondering whether or no they touched the ground, for +so lightly did she tread that a mere spectator might +have felt very grave doubts on the subject. She +looked, indeed, to be walking upon air. Even Sidney, +unobservant as he commonly was of the expressions of +people to whom he was not at the moment talking, +could not help noticing her unusual demeanour. Indeed +she looked the incarnation of happiness.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter with her?” he asked, turning +again to the girl beside him.</p> + +<p>For answer she made a movement of her hand +towards the road.</p> + +<p>“Do you see that?” she inquired.</p> + +<p>There was very little traffic in the Park on that +Sunday evening. A motor or two rolled through, but +they were few and far between. Joe saw nothing +remarkable or that could, to his thinking, in any way +account for his aunt’s strange looks. One carriage +only was driving by, a barouche occupied by an elderly +lady and three foreign-looking men. There was +nothing about them to attract attention.</p> + +<p>“What in the world is there to see?” he said, in +bewilderment.</p> + +<p>“In that carriage are Prince Felipe of Targona and +his mother,” said Barbara, “and Mrs. Vanderstein gets +as excited as that whenever she sees any kind of a +Royal personage. I don’t think,” she added truthfully, +“that I ever saw her show it quite so plainly, +but you can see the effect they have on her. Royalty +is what really interests her most in life. You wouldn’t +believe how much she is thrilled by it. It is an +infatuation, almost a craze.”</p> + +<p>“I had no notion she was like that,” said Joe, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +an air of some disgust. “I should never have thought +she was such a frightful snob.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think it is snobbishness with Mrs. Vanderstein,” +said Barbara. “It’s more a sort of romanticness. +But I don’t suppose you understand. The +point is that there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to meet +any kind of a little princeling. And if she once met +him, there’s nothing he could ask she wouldn’t give. +After all,” she went on in an argumentative tone, “she +ought not to let you be ruined. I am sure Mr. Vanderstein +never would have. And £10,000 is really so +little to her. Why, her pearls alone are worth far more. +What does a sum like that matter? It’s only four or +five hundred a year. She wouldn’t miss it a bit.”</p> + +<p>“I daresay,” said Sidney, “but I don’t see what good +that does me.”</p> + +<p>“Have you got a friend you can trust who would +stretch a point to help you?”</p> + +<p>“Not a decimal point as far as cash is concerned. In +other ways, I daresay I have got one or two. They’d +help me all right, poor chaps, if they’d got any money +themselves.”</p> + +<p>“It’s not money. I mean some one who would take +a little trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, I think I can raise one of that sort. For +that matter,” said Sidney, “if you don’t mind my +calling you a friend, I think no one could want a better +one. It’s no end good of you to be so sympathetic and +let me bore you with my rotten affairs.”</p> + +<p>The girl turned away her face.</p> + +<p>“Of course I am a friend,” she said, “but you will +want a man, if my idea is any good. Now listen, I +have got a plan.”</p> + +<p>Barbara hesitated. She was very conscious that the +idea which had come to her was not one which would +commend itself to Joe. A few hours before she would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +have scornfully rejected the suggestion that she herself +could ever be brought to tolerate such an expedient, +but now everything was changed and all her convictions +of right and wrong were shaken and tottering, if not +entirely swept aside by the fear of the imminent danger +to the man she loved. Her one feeling now was that +at any cost the peril must be averted, and the question +of the moment was how to represent her design in such +terms as would prevail on him to see in it a path that a +man might conceivably follow and yet retain some +remnant of self-esteem.</p> + +<p>Very carefully, choosing her words with deliberation, +she disclosed to Sidney the plan that to her seemed to +offer the only chance of setting his affairs in order. As +she expected, he refused at first to entertain the idea +at all; undismayed, she returned to the attack and +persisted, with Jesuitical reasonings and syllogisms, +in showing him that in the method she proposed lay +his only hope of obtaining the necessary money. Very +slowly and reluctantly he allowed himself to be +persuaded. No one could have listened for half an +hour to Barbara’s cajolements without giving +way.</p> + +<p>At the first sign of his weakening she redoubled her +efforts, and as she talked, refusing to allow herself to +be discouraged by Joe’s objections and the difficulties +he pointed out, he gradually succumbed to her wheedling, +and once he had thrust his scruples into the +background became nearly as enthusiastic as she was +herself.</p> + +<p>Before they parted the plan was worked out in every +point. It remained but to take the faithful necessary +friend of Joe’s into their confidence. This, Joe told +her, had better be a subaltern in his regiment, by name +Baines, luckily in London at the present moment.</p> + +<p>“As long,” he said with a return to former doubts,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +“as old Baines is equal to the job. There’s not much +he’d stick at, though.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Barbara, and was silent a minute during +which the difficulties of carrying out her plan successfully +seemed to swarm around her with quite a new +vigour. “If anything should turn up,” she faltered, +“to make this idea impossible, you will try telling Mrs. +Vanderstein the truth, won’t you? It is a chance, +after all.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it can’t make things worse, I suppose,” he +agreed. “I hope it won’t come to that. I don’t think +it will now; but if it does, I promise, if it pleases you, +that I will make a clean breast of it to her.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” she murmured; and then as they +turned, “there she is now, making signs that we should +go back.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">When</span> they had driven away Sidney wandered +off beyond the outskirts of the crowd to a +lonely spot among the trees, where he +walked up and down, whistling softly to himself and +pausing from time to time to aim a blow at the head of +an unoffending daisy with his stick.</p> + +<p>“What an ass I am,” he exclaimed presently in +heartfelt tones, but a listener who had fancied he was +alluding to his foolish gambling on the turf would have +been mistaken. His thoughts were engaged on quite +a different and much pleasanter subject.</p> + +<p>How lovely she had looked! How sorry she had +seemed! What sympathy had shone in her eyes as +she listened to his discreditable troubles. How +determined she had been to find a way out; surely +she could not show such interest in the concerns of all +her acquaintances.</p> + +<p>The way out, by the by, now that he thought of it +dispassionately, was hardly, perhaps, quite one that a +man could take after all and keep the little self-respect +left to him; but it was overwhelmingly sweet that +she should have lost sight so completely of all considerations +except the one of retrieving his fortunes.</p> + +<p>He had always liked and admired her, of course, but +never till to-day had he realised what a loyal, brave +spirit dwelt behind those sea-blue, childish eyes. +There was no girl in the world like her, and was it +unduly conceited of him to think she must like him a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +little to show such agitation at the tale of his misfortunes? +And here he frowned and pulled himself +up short. What business had he, a ruined gambler, a +man whose career was, to all intents and purposes, at +an end, to think twice about any girl, much less to feel +so absurdly happy? He determined heroically to +banish Barbara from his thoughts, and in pursuance of +that excellent resolution walked off across the Park at +such a tearing speed that little boys whom he passed +asked derisively where the other competitors in the +race had got to.</p> + +<p class="tb">. . . . .</p> + +<p>It was on the following morning that Mrs. Vanderstein +made certain confidences to Barbara, thereby +dashing to earth the high hopes she had built of rescuing +Sidney from the ruinous meshes in which he had +entangled himself.</p> + +<p>To that which Mrs. Vanderstein told her the girl +listened at first with incredulity, but a scoffing comment +was received with such extreme disfavour that she +dared not venture another; and finally, as she heard +more and fuller accounts and Mrs. Vanderstein, +chafing under a sense of her friend’s disbelief, went so +far as to produce written evidence of the truth of the +story, Barbara was no longer able to deny to herself +that the astounding tale was undoubtedly not the joke +she had taken it for, but represented the plain facts of +the case.</p> + +<p>With increasing dismay she heard all that Mrs. +Vanderstein had to tell her, seeing her hopes for Joe +vanish more completely at each new piece of information; +and when at the end of the tale her friend +reproached her for her lack of sympathy she had much +ado to prevent herself from bursting into unavailing +tears.</p> + +<p>She was able, however, to summon enough self-control<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +to find some words of affection, which seemed +to fill the requirements of the situation; at all events +they seemed to satisfy Mrs. Vanderstein. The girl only +made one stipulation, and on this point remained +obstinate till the elder lady, failing to shake her +determination, was at last obliged to yield a reluctant +consent.</p> + +<p>As soon as she could escape, Barbara, making the +first excuse that occurred to her, ran to her room, +where she pinned on a hat without so much as waiting +to glance in the looking-glass. Then, snatching up a +latch key, she let herself out of the hall door and +hurried to the nearest post office.</p> + +<p>Several telegraph forms were filled in, only to be torn +up and discarded before she worded the message to her +satisfaction; and even when she handed it in under +the barrier—which protects young ladies of the post +office from too close contact with a public who might, +were it not for these precautions, be exasperated into +showing signs of violence—she was still regarding it +doubtfully, and her fingers lingered on the paper as if +reluctant to let it go.</p> + +<p>It was addressed to Joseph Sidney, and covered +more than one form.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Plan completely spoilt will explain meanwhile +try telling your aunt the truth as you promised she +will be in at teatime and it will be best to get it over +one way or another.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Would he come? she asked herself, as she went back +to the house; and all the afternoon the same question +echoed in her mind. Would he come? And, if he +came and did not succeed in enlisting Mrs. Vanderstein’s +sympathies, what then?</p> + +<p>There seemed no other possible course. In vain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +as she sat beside her friend in the motor, she racked +her brains to imagine some way in which Joe could +still raise the money if this attempt failed. But she +had his assurance that he had already exhausted all +practicable means.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein wished to visit a shop in the +Strand, and their way to it led them past the theatre +that Madame Querterot had visited a week before, in +the company of her daughter and her daughter’s +suitor.</p> + +<p>Large placards ornamented the front of the house, +depicting some of the more thrilling episodes of the +play. These were varied by photographs of the +young actor who played the principal rôle. He was +portrayed in immaculate evening dress and in the +act of opening the safe; another picture showed him +snapping his fingers at the officers of the law; and yet +a third displayed him as he took—in the fourth act—the +heroine to his arms.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein and Barbara had seen the play, +which was making a roaring success, on more than one +occasion. Mrs. Vanderstein smiled as she observed +the posters.</p> + +<p>“That is a good play,” she said to her companion. +“I can hardly help screaming when he escapes by the +window as the police burst into the room. It is almost +too exciting. And he, the gentleman burglar, you +know, is so good-looking. One can’t help being on his +side, can one? And of course one is intended to be. +All the honest people are so terribly dull. Besides, of +course, he was a count and quite charming really. I +don’t wonder the heroine forgave him.” She put +down her parasol, as they turned into a shady street. +“Do you know, Barbara,” she went on, “I think that +sort of play might do a lot of harm. It can’t be right +to make dishonesty appear so attractive.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barbara made no reply, and Mrs. Vanderstein, +glancing at her in surprise, was still more astonished +at the strange look in the girl’s eyes.</p> + +<p>“What do you think about it?” she asked again.</p> + +<p>“It depends on what you call harm,” Barbara +answered slowly, and as they pulled up at their +destination the conversation came to an end.</p> + +<p>They went home early and had barely finished tea +when Sidney was announced. He looked rather pale +and shook hands with Barbara without speaking as +she made a hasty excuse and left the room. Going into +another sitting-room, she waited in an agony of +suspense till the drawing-room door should open and +the interview be over for good or ill.</p> + +<p>She had not long to wait.</p> + +<p>Five minutes had scarcely passed before she heard +the sound of hurried footsteps descending the stairs, +and a moment later the front door banged behind +Sidney’s retreating figure. At the same time a bell +pealed violently and, before it could be answered, +Barbara caught the sound of the swish of silken skirts +and the light tread of Mrs. Vanderstein’s feet as she +ran down a few steps and called over the banisters to +the butler.</p> + +<p>“Blake,” she called, as that portly person emerged +from the door leading to the basement. “Is that you, +Blake?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, ma’am.”</p> + +<p>“Blake, I am not at home in future to Mr. Joseph +Sidney. You are never to let him come into this house +again. Do you understand?”</p> + +<p>“Very good, ma’am.” Blake’s tones were as imperturbed +as if he were receiving an order to post a letter.</p> + +<p>“And tell the footmen. I will not see him again on +any account whatever. Let it be clearly understood. +And, Blake, please telephone at once to Sir Gregory<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +Aberhyn Jones and say, if it is convenient to him, I +should like to see him immediately. Ask him to come +at once; or to come to dinner; or to the opera. No,” +she corrected herself, “not to the opera to-night. But +ask him to come and see me before I start if he possibly +can. It is most important.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, ma’am.” Blake showed no surprise: in +moments of distress his mistress always telephoned to +Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Vanderstein, still in a state of great agitation, +retreated to write a letter before dressing for the opera, +a matter that demanded, to-night of all nights, both +time and undistracted attention.</p> + +<p>When she descended to the dining-room all traces +of the disturbance caused by Sidney’s visit had +vanished from her face; and her expression was again +one of joyful expectation, as it had been throughout the +day. After writing a hurried note, she had entirely +dismissed all memory of her husband’s nephew.</p> + +<p>It was natural that, in the contest with other +interests so enthralling as those which that evening +filled the mind of his uncle’s widow, Sidney should +cease to occupy a place in Mrs. Vanderstein’s thoughts; +should become, as he would have expressed it, an +“also ran.” What was more remarkable was the fact +that Barbara’s countenance, when she took her place +at the early dinner, wore a look of pleasant anticipation +almost equalling that of her friend, very different from +the signs of anxiety and distress that had been visible +upon it during the earlier part of the day. Mrs. +Vanderstein had seen nothing of the weeping figure +which, after Joe’s dismissal, lay with its face buried in +the pillows on Barbara’s bed trying to stifle the great +sobs that shook it in spite of every effort, or even she, +preoccupied as she was, would have felt astonished at +so complete a recovery of spirits.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>The change, indeed, had been instantaneous and +coincided with the moment, when, in the midst of her +grief, a sudden idea had flashed into Barbara’s mind, +an inspiration, it seemed, that immediately smoothed +away all trouble and made plain the way by which +Sidney’s difficulties should be removed. How was it +possible that she had not thought of it before? The +knowledge that Joe would never agree to the means +she proposed to take, that the persuasions and +sophistries of yesterday would be of no use here, that +it would be impossible even to broach the subject to +him, she swept from her impetuously. There was no +need that he should ever suspect her hand in the matter. +Care must be taken; she must act with prudence and +caution, and all would be well. One thought only +held her mind to the exclusion of all else, the wish to +protect and save this boy whom she loved from the +consequences of his own folly. Nothing was worth +considering except this. No fear of the possible +effect on her own life shook her resolution, for what, +she thought, is life or for that matter death, if it does +not imply the prolongation on the one hand, or, on +the other, the cutting short of the ties of affection.</p> + +<p>She remembered the reckless air with which Joe had +said that this business would be the end of all for him, +and with a shudder she told herself that the words could +only have one meaning. If by sacrificing her life his +could be saved, she would not hesitate to give it. +Here plain to her eye was the opportunity to serve +him, and whatever the result might be to herself she +did not shrink from it. As she dressed for the evening, +Barbara smiled gladly to herself and sang softly a little +song. One thought disturbed her. Sidney was unaware +that his salvation was so near. She could not +bear to think of him now, worried and despairing. +Yet how could she reassure him without betraying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +herself and the great idea? With a little frown +Barbara mused over this question, as she stuck a +paste comb that Mrs. Vanderstein had given her into +the masses of her thick fair hair. Presently she +scrawled a few words upon a sheet of paper, and hastily +folding it into an envelope tucked it into the front of +her dress; then, fearing she was late, she ran down +the stairs.</p> + +<p>“Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones is out of town, ma’am,” +Blake was saying as she entered the room.</p> + +<p>“Oh well, never mind now,” said Mrs. Vanderstein.</p> + +<p>Dinner that evening was a silent meal. Mrs. +Vanderstein, gloriously arrayed, sat smiling abstractedly +at nothing from one end of the small table. So +preoccupied was she that she forgot to eat, and Blake +was obliged to ask her repeatedly whether she would +partake of a dish before she could be brought to notice +that it was being handed to her. Once, as, recalled +suddenly to the present, she brought her thoughts +back with a start from their wanderings and turned +with some trivial remark towards Barbara, she noticed +with a faint feeling of amusement that the girl was as +much engrossed in her own imaginings as she was +herself, and was sitting absently pulling a flower to +pieces, her great eyes fixed vacantly on the shining +pearls that swung suspended from the neck of her +friend.</p> + +<p>They started in good time, Barbara begging to be +allowed to stop for one minute at a post office on the +way.</p> + +<p>She had, she said, forgotten to reply to an invitation, +and thought that now it was so late she had better send +an answer by wire. She gave the message, which was +already written out and in a sealed envelope, to the +footman, together with some money, and told him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +hand it in as it was, and not to waste time in waiting +to see it accepted.</p> + +<p>The man was back in a minute, and they drove on, +to take their places a few minutes later in the long string +of motors and carriages which was slowly advancing +to the doors of the Covent Garden opera house.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Mr. Gimblet</span> lived in a flat in the neighbourhood +of Whitehall. It was a fad of his to +be more comfortably housed than most +solitary men. The situation was conveniently near to +Scotland Yard, where officials were much in the habit +of requiring to see him at odd moments. The view +from the windows, overlooking the river, was delightful +to one of cultivated and artistic propensities, and the +rooms, large and well-proportioned, were capable of +displaying to advantage the old and valuable pictures +and furniture with which it was the detective’s delight +to surround himself.</p> + +<p>Much of his time was spent in curiosity shops, and +he was among the first to discover that former happy +hunting ground of the bargain seeker—the Caledonian +market. Many an impatient member of the Force, +sent round from the “Yard” to ask Mr. Gimblet’s +assistance in some obscure case, had, after kicking his +heels for an hour or two in the hall, left the flat in +desperation, only to meet the detective coming up the +stairs with a dusky, dust-covered picture in his hand, +or hugging to his breast a piece of ancient china.</p> + +<p>The younger son of a Midland family, which had +moderately enriched itself in the course of the preceding +century by commercial transactions in which a certain +labour-saving machine for the weaving industries had +played a large part, Mr. Gimblet had received the +usual public school education, and had spent two or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +three subsequent years at Oxford. His artistic +propensities had always been strongly marked, but his +family showing much opposition to his becoming an +artist, and he himself having a modest idea of his own +genius and doubting his ability to make his way very +high up the ladder of success by the aid of talent which +he knew to be somewhat limited, he had ended by going +into an architect’s office, where he had worked with +interest and enjoyment for several more years. It was +by accident that he discovered his capacity for tracking +the most wary of criminals to his hiding place and for +discovering the authors of mysterious and deeply +plotted crimes. It happened that a workman employed +in the building of a house for which Gimblet had provided +the design was found murdered in circumstances +as peculiar as they were sinister. There appeared to be +no clue to the author of the deed, and after a week or +two the official investigators had confessed among +themselves that they were completely at a loss.</p> + +<p>To Gimblet, visiting the scene of the crime in his +capacity of architect—but not without an unwonted +and hitherto unknown quickening of the pulse—a piece +of board nailed upright where it should have been +horizontal had proved immediately suggestive; and +its removal had brought to light certain hastily +concealed objects, which with one or two previously +unnoticed trifles had resulted in the capture and +ultimate hanging of the murderer.</p> + +<p>This success had led the young man to feel an interest +in other mysterious affairs of the same nature; and it +was not long before he found the task of assisting the +police in such researches so much more profitable and +engrossing than his work as an architect, that he +gradually came to give more and more of his leisure to +the attempt to discover secrets and to solve problems +which at first sight seemed to offer no solution. By the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +time he was thirty there was scarcely a crime of any +importance that he was not called upon to assist in +bringing home to its perpetrator; and he had entirely +abandoned the pursuit of architectural learning for +that of criminal mankind.</p> + +<p>He refused an invitation to become attached to the +official staff, although this was conveyed in terms that +were in the highest degree flattering, preferring to be +at liberty to decide for himself whether or no he should +take up a case. It was the sensational and odd that +attracted him; and he found that quite enough of this +came his way to make his occupation an extremely +profitable one.</p> + +<p>Early on Tuesday afternoon Gimblet sat in his +dining-room, contemplating with some satisfaction a +large dish of strawberries and a pot of cream sent him +by a Devonshire friend. He was finishing a luncheon +which he considered well earned, as that morning he +had discovered in a narrow back street in Lambeth, and +purchased for a mere song, a little picture black with +age and dirt, in which his hopeful eye discerned a +crowd of small but masterfully painted figures footing +it to the strains of a fiddle upon the grass under a +spreading tree. Gimblet told himself that it was in all +probability from the brush of Teniers, and he had +propped it on the dining-room mantelpiece so that in +the intervals of eating he could refresh his eyes as well +as his body. Beside him lay the day’s paper which +he had hardly had time to read before going out that +morning. He heaped cream upon his strawberries, +sprinkled them with sugar, and took, in succession, a +spoonful of the mixture, a look at his picture, and a +glance at the paper. With a contented sigh he +repeated the process.</p> + +<p>At the moment he had no work in hand, and no one +more thoroughly enjoyed an occasional loaf.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was good, he felt, to have nothing to do for once; +to have time to idle; to eat greedily delicious food; +to spend as many hours as he chose in the dusty recesses +of second-hand shops; to do a little painting sometimes; +even to be able to arrange beforehand to play +a game of golf. Gimblet had an excellent eye, and had +been rather good at games in early days. He seldom +had time now and, if he did go down to a golf ground +occasionally in the afternoons, had to resign himself to +play with anyone he could find, as he never knew till +the last minute whether he would be able to get away.</p> + +<p>He thought of going this afternoon, and looked at +his watch. There would be a train from Waterloo in +half an hour. Just time to finish his strawberries and +catch it. That picture would look well when he had +cleaned it. He took up the paper again. It must have +been a fine sight last night at Covent Garden. And +what a list of singers. Gimblet, who loved music, +wished he had been there. “The Verterexes might +have asked me to their box,” he said to himself. +“Life is full of ingratitude. After all I did for +them.”</p> + +<p>And then it struck him that he had not done much +for the Verterexes after all, beyond nearly arresting +Mr. Verterex by mistake for a murder he had not +committed.</p> + +<p>Gimblet laughed.</p> + +<p>Then his thoughts reverted lazily to the pleasures of +loafing.</p> + +<p>“I think I shall give up work,” he said to himself. +“Why not? I have enough money put by to keep +me, with economy, in moderate comfort. Not quite +so many strawberries perhaps,” he added regretfully, +taking another mouthful, “but what I want is leisure. +Yes. I am decided I will do no more work. Let the +police catch its own burglars!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>He spoke aloud, and defiantly, addressing himself to +the picture.</p> + +<p>At that moment his servant came into the room.</p> + +<p>“A gentleman very anxious to see you, sir,” he said. +“I have shown him into the library.”</p> + +<p>“Ask him to come in here if he’s in a hurry,” said +Gimblet. “I haven’t finished lunch.”</p> + +<p>A minute later the man opened the door again, +announcing:</p> + +<p>“Major Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones.”</p> + +<p>Major Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones was a little man +with a pink complexion and a small brown moustache. +He was short and rather plumper than he could wish, +but carried himself very uprightly and with a great +sense of his own importance, glaring at those who +might be so obtuse as not immediately to recognise it +with such concentrated disapproval that it was usual +for the offenders to realise their mistake in the quickest +possible time. Behind a fussy, self-satisfied exterior +he hid a fund of kindness and good nature seldom to be +met with. Sir Gregory prided himself on his youthful +appearance, was, in his turn, a source of some pride +to one of the best tailors in London, took remarkable +interest in his ties and boots, trained his remaining hair +in the way it should go, and, though he was sixty-five, +flattered himself that he looked not a day over fifty-nine.</p> + +<p>“I am in luck to find you, Mr. Gimblet,” he said, +advancing with outstretched hand as Gimblet rose to +receive him. “But this is a sad occasion, a very sad +occasion, I fear.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me,” said Gimblet, “I’m sorry to hear that. +But won’t you sit down? I thought as my man said +you were in a hurry you would rather come in here than +wait for me. May I offer you some strawberries? +No? I’m sorry I can’t give you any wine, but I’m a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +teetotaller, you know. Don’t have any in the house. +Afraid you’ll think me faddy. And now that the +servant has gone, may I ask what is the sad event which +has given me the pleasure of seeing you?”</p> + +<p>“Bad habit, drinking water,” commented Sir +Gregory, seating himself in an arm-chair by the +fire-place. “But nowadays young men have no +heads. They can’t stand it, that’s what it is. Show +them three or four glasses of port and they say it +gives them a headache. Absurd, sir! The country +is rotten through and through. The men can’t eat, +they can’t drink, they can’t even dance! They stroll +about a ball-room now in a way that would make you +sick. In my days we used to valse properly. But +they don’t dance the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">deux-temps</i> any more, I’m told. +They say it makes them giddy! Giddy! Rotten +constitutions, that’s what we suffer from nowadays. +It’s the same with all this talk of reforming the army. +Compulsory service indeed,” the major snorted. +“What should we want compulsory service for? In +my day one Englishman was as good as twenty +Germans or any kind of foreigner. At least he would +have been if we’d had a European war, which as it +happened was not the case while I was in the Service. +But now there are actually people who think that if it +comes to a fight it would be an advantage for us to +have as many men as the enemy. They ought to be +ashamed of themselves, if there’s any truth in it. No, +no, the army doesn’t need reforming, take my word for +it. There are a few alterations which I could suggest +in the uniforms which would make all the difference in +the world, but except for that, what I say is, let +sleeping dogs lie.”</p> + +<p>Having delivered himself of these remarks, Sir +Gregory felt in his pocket, drew forth a cigar case, +selected a cigar and asked for a match.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Did you come to persuade me to your views on +compulsory service?” asked Gimblet pleasantly as he +continued to devour his strawberries, which were now +nearly all gone. “Because I’m afraid it’s no good. +You can’t possibly convince me that its adoption is not +a vital necessity to the nation.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry to hear you think that,” said the other, +“for I have the highest opinion of your intellect. +Believe me, when you discovered the frauds that were +being perpetrated at the Great Continental Bank last +year, I marked you down, Mr. Gimblet, as the man I +should consult in case of need. And it is to consult +you that I am here. I said it was a sad occasion. +Well, it is sad for me, but I am not yet, as a matter of +fact, quite sure whether or no it is desperately so. +What has happened, in a word, is this. A lady to +whom I am deeply attached has disappeared.”</p> + +<p>“Disappeared?” said Gimblet, pushing back his +chair. He had eaten the last of the strawberries. +“May I ask who the lady is—a relation of yours?”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly. She is a Mrs. Vanderstein, for whom, +as I have just said, I have a great regard, I may say an +affection. In fact,” said Sir Gregory, leaning forward +and speaking in confidential tones, “I don’t mind telling +you that she is the lady I have chosen to be the +future Lady Aberhyn Jones.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed. You are engaged to marry her?”</p> + +<p>“Not precisely engaged,” admitted Sir Gregory, +with a slightly troubled look.</p> + +<p>As a matter of strict accuracy, he had proposed to +Mrs. Vanderstein about three times a year ever since +the death of her husband; but Mrs. Vanderstein, +although tempted by his title, had already been the +wife of one man twice her age and did not intend to +repeat the experiment. Still, his friendship was dear +to her; he was the only baronet of her acquaintance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +and she liked to have him about the house. He had +been a director on the board of one of her husband’s +companies, and, when introduced by him, her pretty +face and amiable disposition had quite captured Sir +Gregory’s heart, so that he had cultivated Mr. Vanderstein’s +society to such good purpose as to become a +constant habitué of the house in Grosvenor Street.</p> + +<p>After Mr. Vanderstein’s death he lost no more time +than decency demanded in proposing to his widow; +and, though she refused to marry him, and refused +over and over again, yet she did it in so sympathetic a +manner and was so kind in spite of her obstinacy that +Sir Gregory believed her absence of alacrity in accepting +his hand to be prompted by anything rather than a +lack of affection. She treated him as her best friend +and consulted him on every question of business, to +the wise conduct of which her own shrewdness was a far +better guide, and had imperceptibly fallen into the +habit of never making a decision of any importance +without first threshing out the pros and cons in conversation +with him. Nothing so strengthened her +faith in the soundness of her own judgment as his +disapproval of any course she intended to adopt.</p> + +<p>“For some reason,” Sir Gregory continued after a +pause, “Mrs. Vanderstein has never consented to an +actual engagement. It is that which makes me so +uneasy now. Can it be—Mr. Gimblet, I give you my +word I feel ashamed of mentioning such a suspicion even +to you—but can it be that she has fled with another?”</p> + +<p>He uttered the last words in such a tragic tone that +Gimblet, though he felt inclined to smile, restrained the +impulse, and, summoning up all the sympathy at his +command, inquired again:</p> + +<p>“Will you not explain the circumstances to me a +little more fully? When did the lady vanish? Have +you any reason to think she did not go alone? Was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +there some kind of understanding between you, and +what did it amount to?”</p> + +<p>“I will be perfectly frank with you,” said Sir +Gregory, “much the best thing in these cases is to be +absolutely candid. You agree with me there? I +thought you would. At the same time where a lady is +concerned—you follow me? One must avoid anything +that looks like giving her away. But in this case there +is really no reason why I should conceal anything from +you. Mrs. Vanderstein has never accepted my proposals. +On the contrary she has refused to marry me +on each of the occasions when I have suggested it to +her. You ask me why? My dear sir, I cannot reply +to that question. Who can account for a woman’s +whims? Not I, sir, not I. Nor you either; if you will +allow me to say so.” Sir Gregory’s hands and eyes were +uplifted in bewilderment as he considered the inexplicable +behaviour of woman in general and of +Mrs. Vanderstein in particular. “But I have no +doubt that in time she would have reconsidered her +decision,” he went on puffing at his cigar, “that is to +say I <em>had</em> no doubt until this morning.”</p> + +<p>“And what happened then?” asked the detective.</p> + +<p>“I came up from Surrey, where I had been paying a +week-end visit,” pursued his visitor, “arriving at my +rooms at midday. My servant at once informed me +that Mrs. Vanderstein had sent a telephone message +yesterday evening, begging me to go immediately to +see her and adding that it was most important. I +only waited to change into London clothes, Mr. +Gimblet, before I hurried to her house in Grosvenor +Street. And when I got there, what did I hear? +’Pon my soul,” exclaimed Sir Gregory, taking his cigar +out of his mouth, “you might have knocked me down +with a feather!”</p> + +<p>“You heard that the lady had disappeared?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Exactly. Not been seen or heard of since last +night. Drove away from her own door, they tell me, +in her own motor car; and has never come back from +that hour to this.”</p> + +<p>“Did she leave no word as to where she was going?”</p> + +<p>“None whatever. She dined early, of course, on +account of the opera.”</p> + +<p>“The opera! In that case what makes you think +she didn’t go there?”</p> + +<p>“Of course she went. Didn’t I say so? She drove +off to Covent Garden and that’s the last that’s been +heard of her.”</p> + +<p>“You interest me,” said Gimblet. “Was she not +seen to leave the opera house?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that,” said Sir Gregory. “I +found the servants very much disturbed; and very +glad they were, I may say, to see me.”</p> + +<p>“She has probably met with some accident and has +been taken to a hospital,” suggested Gimblet. “Have +any inquiries been made?”</p> + +<p>“I rather think they have been telephoning to the +hospitals, but I told them not to communicate with +the police till I had seen you. Wouldn’t do, you +know. She would dislike it extremely, especially if it +turns out as I fear and she has gone off with some other +man.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t see why she should have done that,” said +Gimblet. “She was her own mistress, I suppose, and +had no need to conceal her movements. Depend on +it,” he went on, for the anxiety on Sir Gregory’s face +moved him to pity, “she will be found at one of the +hospitals; and I advise you to make inquiries at +them. A woman, alone as she was, would be carried +to one of them if she were taken ill or met with a slight +accident that prevented her for the moment from +giving her address.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>“But she was not alone,” urged Sir Gregory. “Miss +Turner, her companion, was with her, of course.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said Gimblet, “you said nothing of there +being anyone with her. And what has Miss Turner to +say on the subject?”</p> + +<p>“She’s not there. She’s vanished too.”</p> + +<p>“Really,” said the detective. “This is getting +interesting. That two ladies should set out for Covent +Garden opera house on a gala night and never return +from it, is, to say the least, slightly unconventional. +Now, before we go any further,” he went on quickly, +“what do you wish me to do in the matter?”</p> + +<p>“I want you to find Mrs. Vanderstein, naturally,” +returned Sir Gregory, staring at him in astonishment; +“I feel the greatest anxiety on her account, the more +so since you consider her likely to have met with an +accident.”</p> + +<p>“But if, as you seem to suspect, the lady has gone +off deliberately, will she not be annoyed at our seeking +her out? Will she not be angry with you for trying +to discover her movements if she wishes them unknown?”</p> + +<p>“I daresay she’d think it dashed impertinent. But +I can’t help that. She may be in need of me; in fact,” +cried Sir Gregory with sudden recollection, “I know she +is! Don’t I tell you she telephoned for me last night? +A most urgent message. That proves she wishes for +my help in some matter of importance to her, and how +can I assist her without knowing where she is?”</p> + +<p>“As you say,” said Gimblet, “it does look as if she +did not wish to leave you unacquainted with her +whereabouts. Well, I have nothing to do just now and +if you wish me to make inquiries I will do so with +pleasure, though I do not think it will prove to be an +affair altogether in my line.”</p> + +<p>“Thank ’ee. Thank ’ee,” mumbled the old soldier<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +with his cigar between his teeth. “That’s what I +want. Now, how are you going to set about it?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to ask you a few questions first. You +have not yet furnished me with that comprehensive +clear account in which the trivial details which look +so unimportant and may yet be of such moment are +never omitted: the lucid narrative so dear to the +detective’s heart. I do not think, if you will pardon +my saying so, that I am likely to get it from you, Sir +Gregory.”</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory glared, but said nothing; and Gimblet +continued, with a smile:</p> + +<p>“To begin with, who is Mrs. Vanderstein?”</p> + +<p>“The widow of a Jewish money-lender.” Sir +Gregory spoke somewhat shortly. He considered +Gimblet’s remarks disrespectful.</p> + +<p>“Rich, then?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Does she live alone in Grosvenor Street?”</p> + +<p>“A young lady, Miss Barbara Turner, lives with +her.”</p> + +<p>“And who is she?”</p> + +<p>“She is the daughter of an old pal of Vanderstein’s. +A man who used to train his racehorses at Newmarket. +He was a bad lot and had to fly the country long ago. +Dead now, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“Has Miss Turner any money of her own?”</p> + +<p>“Old Vanderstein left her a good large sum, £30,000 +I think it is, but Mrs. Vanderstein has a life interest in +it. The girl has nothing as long as she lives with Mrs. +Vanderstein, who, however, I have no doubt, is most +generous to her.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose you know Miss Turner well? What is +she like?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, she’s a very ordinary girl, rather pretty some +people think, apparently. I don’t admire the robust,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +muscular type that is fashionable nowadays. Mrs. +Vanderstein is very fond of her.”</p> + +<p>“That means you don’t like her yourself?”</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory hesitated. It was not in him, really, to +dislike anyone without very much provocation, but he +always had an idea that Barbara was laughing at him, +and he cherished his dignity.</p> + +<p>“I don’t suppose there’s any harm in the girl,” he +grunted at last.</p> + +<p>“Has Mrs. Vanderstein the full control of her +fortune?” asked Gimblet, after a quick look at him.</p> + +<p>“I believe she has, absolutely. But if you think I +was after her for her money,” exclaimed Sir Gregory +in an angry tone and half rising as he spoke, “you’re +dashed well mistaken!”</p> + +<p>Gimblet hastened to reassure him on this point and +he sat down again, still grumbling.</p> + +<p>“It was Vanderstein’s expressed wish that all the +money should ultimately be left to his nephew, young +Joe Sidney,” he explained, “and I am sure his widow +would not disregard his ideas on that point.”</p> + +<p>The dining-room faced south-west, and the afternoon +sun, creeping round, already shone full on the +small square panes of the casement windows, so that +the temperature of the room was rapidly rising to an +intolerable warmth. Gimblet thought of the train +that was to have carried him to the golf links. It +would have been unbearably hot in it, he told himself. +And the disappearance of a wealthy lady from her +house in London was sufficiently unusual to excite his +curiosity. Already his vivid imagination was seething +with guesses and speculations. His resolution to do +no more detective work was utterly forgotten.</p> + +<p>“What is Mrs. Vanderstein like to look at?” he +asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>“She is quite young,” began Sir Gregory, “about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +your own age, I should say. She is not very tall and +has dark hair and a perfect figure, not one of those +great maypoles of women one sees about so much now, +but beautifully proportioned and just right in every +way. She has wonderful brown eyes and a smile for +every one. I think she is most beautiful,” concluded +her old friend simply.</p> + +<p>Gimblet got up.</p> + +<p>“I will give instructions about having inquiries made +at the hospitals,” he said, “though it does seem hardly +likely that both ladies should have been hurt, without +some news of it having come before now. And then +let us go round to the house. I should like to see the +servants and hear what they may have to tell. I hope +there may, even now, be some tidings awaiting you +there.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">There</span> was no news of the missing ladies in +Grosvenor Street; but Gimblet interviewed +all the servants and heard several facts, +which gave him food for thought.</p> + +<p>It was from Blake, the butler, that he received most +information. It was Blake himself, looking heartily +scared, with half his usual pompousness driven out of +him by his anxiety, who opened the door to them and, +on hearing from Sir Gregory who it was that accompanied +him, begged Gimblet to allow him to speak to +him for a few moments. They went into the morning-room, +a cheerful white-walled apartment, gay with +books and flowers, and Blake addressed himself to the +detective.</p> + +<p>“I’m very glad you’ve come, sir, I am indeed. Sir +Gregory will have told you, sir, that Mrs. Vanderstein +and Miss Turner, who lives here with her, went out +last night to the opera and have not returned. I +have been very uneasy about them and at a loss to +know what to do, sir, for Mrs. Vanderstein mightn’t +like me to inform the police if so be that she’s gone +away on purpose. But I never knew her to go away +without informing me of the fact or without any luggage +and leaving no address, though she does go off very +sudden sometimes to spend a week or so in foreign +parts, Dieppe being her favourite, I may say.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said Gimblet, “was Mrs. Vanderstein in +the habit of going abroad at a moment’s notice?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>“She went very sudden, when the fancy took her, +sir, but not so sudden as this. I’ve known her say +at lunchtime to Miss Turner, ‘My dear, we will go to +Boulogne by the 2.20 from Charing Cross,’ which, +lunch being at one o’clock, didn’t leave much time for +packing, sir.”</p> + +<p>“No, it wouldn’t,” agreed Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“But in such cases,” continued Blake, “the maid +would often be left to follow with the luggage, the +ladies taking no more than what they required for the +night. But nothing was said to the maid yesterday on +the subject, and I can’t think Mrs. Vanderstein would +ever go off like that anywhere, sir, in her evening dress +and diamonds.”</p> + +<p>“Of course, it being a gala night at the opera, she +would be wearing jewels,” Gimblet assented.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, and that’s partly what makes me feel so +upset, sir; I’ve never known Mrs. Vanderstein to +wear so many jewels on one occasion. It would have +been well worth anyone’s while to rob her last night, +sir.”</p> + +<p>“Really. What was she wearing? Had she +valuable jewels?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, yes,” broke in Sir Gregory, “the Vanderstein +jewels were famous.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” repeated Blake; “beautiful jewellery +indeed. A great responsibility, sir, in a household. +But I have them always in a safe in the pantry, where +I sleep myself, and if I go out in the daytime it’s never +without one of the footmen stays in the room all the +time I’m away. At night we have a night watchman +always on the premises, sir, and it was him that first +alarmed me this morning. He came to my door about +five o’clock and knocked me up. ‘What’s the +matter?’ I called out, thinking at first what with sleep +and one thing and another that the house was on fire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +‘She haven’t come in yet,’ he said, and it was a few +minutes before I understood what he was driving at. +And then I didn’t really feel anxious; though we’d all +thought it very strange last night, when Thomas, the +second footman, who had gone with the motor to Covent +Garden, came back saying that he’d received orders +that the car wasn’t to go back to fetch the ladies at +all.”</p> + +<p>“What? the car was not to go back after the +performance?” exclaimed Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, orders were given to that effect. Still, I +thought possibly they were coming home with some +friends, and even this morning I said to myself that +perhaps they were staying the night at a friend’s house, +having for some reason not been able to get a cab home. +I had no doubt I should get a telephone message at any +moment, which would explain the whole of the circumstances. +But the morning passed away without our +hearing anything whatever, and by the time Sir +Gregory called I was just about getting ready to go +out and make inquiries at the police station.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet considered in silence for a few moments.</p> + +<p>“Have you noticed anything unusual of late,” he +asked, “in the habits or demeanour of anyone in the +house?”</p> + +<p>“No, nothing unusual beyond the fact that Mrs. +Vanderstein seemed to be enjoying uncommonly good +spirits. I also thought, but it might be it was only +my fancy, that you couldn’t say the same of Miss +Turner. Yesterday she appeared to be very much +down on her luck.”</p> + +<p>“Did the idea of an accident occur to you?” asked +Gimblet. “Have you inquired at any of the hospitals?” +“I telephoned to St. George’s, sir, but with no result. +I didn’t know where else to make inquiries.”</p> + +<p>“I understand,” said the detective presently, “that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +Mrs. Vanderstein has relatives and friends living in +London. Did you communicate with any of them this +morning?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I did not. I had already telephoned to Sir +Gregory last night and heard he was out of town.”</p> + +<p>“Is there no one else to whom you could have +appealed for advice? I understand that Mrs. Vanderstein +has a nephew or nephew by marriage. Does he +live in London?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, his regiment is quartered in the north of +England. But it is true,” Blake stammered, with +some appearance of reluctance, “that Mr. Sidney is +off and on in London, according as he is able to obtain +leave, and I believe he is up at the present moment.”</p> + +<p>“I should have thought you would have telephoned +to him to-day. Did it not occur to you to do so?”</p> + +<p>Blake hesitated again. He looked from Gimblet to +Sir Gregory, then let his eyes roam to the window and +round the room as if help might be hoped for from some +unlikely source. Finally, they once more encountered +those of the detective and, under that compelling gaze, +he spoke.</p> + +<p>“I did think of it,” he faltered, “I should have done +so if it had not been for one thing. Mr. Sidney came +to the house yesterday afternoon and, I don’t like to +mention it, sir, but I am afraid that he had words with +his aunt. I have no idea what it was about, sir, but he +only stayed a few minutes and as soon as he was gone +Mrs. Vanderstein called me and gave me strict orders +not to allow him to enter the house in future. She +seemed very much put out about something and I am +sure she wouldn’t like me to have any communications +with Mr. Sidney now. It isn’t my place to allude to +such a thing at all, but in the peculiar circumstances, +sirs, I hope you will excuse my saying that Mrs. Vanderstein +appeared to me to be very much put out indeed.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Quite so,” said Gimblet, “in the peculiar circumstances +your proper course is to tell me everything you +can, whether it bears on Mrs. Vanderstein’s failure to +return home or not. I shall be less likely to go astray +after some false scent if I have a thorough knowledge +of the private affairs of these ladies, and there is no +knowing what trifling detail may not turn out to be +useful. Now about these jewels, can you tell me what +your mistress wore last night? I should also like to +see the place you keep them in.”</p> + +<p>Blake conducted them to the pantry. A small safe +let into the wall contained a quantity of jewel cases, +for the most part empty. The butler gave Gimblet a +list of what they had contained.</p> + +<p>“I never knew Mrs. Vanderstein to wear so many +ornaments at once,” he repeated. “She would mostly +wear her pearls and a necklace and perhaps a tiara and +a few bracelets and rings, but last night besides these +she had the two diamond necklaces sewn on to her +dress, and the emerald set, which takes to pieces so as +to make one big ornament, was sewn on it too. I don’t +suppose there were many ladies at the gala performance,” +said Blake, with some pride, “who wore +better jewels than she did—unless it was the Queen +herself.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet requested to be taken over the house, and +in the various sitting-rooms he hunted for some evidence +of a documentary character to show that Mrs. Vanderstein +had not intended to return on the previous +evening. He looked on the mantelpieces for an +invitation which should have been stuck up there, on +the writing tables for something of the same kind. +But though cards for different entertainments were +not wanting—most of them bearing well-known Jewish +names and conveying invitations to musical parties—there +was nothing suggesting that the ladies were to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +attend one on Monday night. He noticed the subtle +odour that hung about the rooms, and his scrutinising +eyes noted with delight the many beautiful and rare +objects of Mr. Vanderstein’s collection.</p> + +<p>He would gladly have lingered to examine the +pictures that decorated the walls, and the priceless +china, which stood on cabinets against the white +panelling. But, deferring this pleasure, he continued +his methodical search in the expectant company of Sir +Gregory and the half-scandalised Blake, who could +not decide in his own mind whether he was doing +right in allowing a detective, even one so well known +as Mr. Gimblet, to turn over his mistress’ correspondence +in this unceremonious fashion. When the detective’s +search led him to the door of Mrs. Vanderstein’s +bedroom, Blake felt himself unable to remain with him +any longer, and summoning Amélie from her workroom +he turned over to her the duty of keeping an eye on +these doubtful proceedings.</p> + +<p>The news of the detective’s presence had spread +through the house like wildfire, and Amélie for her +part was burning to assist the great man. Quite +unhampered by such scruples as those which were felt +by the worthy butler, she dragged open drawers, threw +wide the doors of cupboards, thrust any letters she +could find into Gimblet’s hands and invited him to +verify for himself the information, or lack of it, which +she volubly imparted. She knew there was nothing +enlightening in the letters and did not hesitate to say +so. She had read them all long ago.</p> + +<p>“That poor lady,” she cried, “they have assassinated +her to rob her of her marvellous jewels. Ah, but of +that I am well convinced,” she declared, nodding her +head with gloomy satisfaction. “She wore too many—it +was to tempt Providence.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gimblet asked her for a list of the jewels and +received the same that he had had from Blake.</p> + +<p>“And will you describe to me what clothes Mrs. +Vanderstein wore,” he asked, “and also those of Miss +Turner?”</p> + +<p>“Madame had on a dress of white <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mousseline de +soie</i>, all <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">diamantée</i>,” Amélie told him, “ce qu’elle était +belle avec cette robe-là! Over it she wore a magnificent +cloak of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">crêpe de Chine</i> and silver lace. The cloak is +mauve in the daylight, but in the evening one would +say that it was pink. She had on silver shoes and white +stockings and carried an antique fan of great value.”</p> + +<p>“And Miss Turner?” Gimblet was writing down her +description in his notebook.</p> + +<p>“Mademoiselle also was dressed in white, but with a +dress much more simple. She had a cloak of flame-coloured +brocade that Madame gave her on her +birthday. It is lined with white chiffon; nothing can +be more chic.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke she glanced in surprise at Gimblet, +who was standing in the middle of the room, his head +thrown back, his nostrils expanding and contracting. +As each succeeding drawer had been pulled out he had +stood there, sniffing appreciation. The vague scent +that clung about the lower part of the house was more +penetrating here, and with each disturbance of Mrs. +Vanderstein’s belongings grew stronger. There were +flowers about the room, tea roses in many bowls of +shining glass; but their faint sweetness was drowned +beneath the more powerful smell that pervaded the +air.</p> + +<p>“Your mistress uses a delicious perfume,” said +the detective. “Did she always have the same one?”</p> + +<p>“It smells good in here, is it not?” said Amélie. +“Yes, Madame uses always the same perfume. See, +here it is on her table. It sells itself very expensive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +but with one drop one may perfume a whole dress. +Everything that Madame touches smells of it.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet went to the dressing-table and took up the +bottle she indicated; he lifted it to his nose and, +removing the stopper, took a long, deep sniff. Then +recorking the bottle he put it down again with a glance +at the label. “Arome de la Corse,” he read, and +below, the name of a French perfumery celebrated for +the excellence and high prices of its products.</p> + +<p>“Madame is an admirer of the great Napoléon,” +explained Amélie helpfully.</p> + +<p>“Who does not share her admiration?” rejoined +the detective. “And now may I see Miss Turner’s +room?”</p> + +<p>In Barbara’s chamber his stay was short. Here was +no arresting perfume, very little suggestion of feminine +personality. The room was more like that of a boy. +Photographs adorned the walls; a few books lay about. +A couple of letters were on the table; one was a bill. +The other, which Gimblet perused under the sympathetic +eyes of Amélie, ran as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="noi"> +“<span class="smcap">Dear Miss Turner</span>, +</p> + +<p class="in3">“I put the money on Averstone as you said. So +sorry he wasn’t placed. He got away badly and had +no luck from the start. In haste,</p> + +<p class="sgn"> +<span class="sp2">“Yours sincerely,</span><br /> +“<span class="smcap">J. Sidney.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>“Thanks, I think that is all I want just now,” said +Gimblet, and he turned to leave the room. But +Amélie was in no mind to let him go like that. She +had hoped for some confidences, that she might have +a theory to retail downstairs.</p> + +<p>“If Monsieur will listen to my idea,” she said, “I +will tell him what I believe has happened to Madame.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +She has been killed for the sake of her jewels. That is +what I think. And it would be prudent before making +so many inquiries that one should look for her on the +floor of her box at the opera. It is probable that she is +there, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">la pauvre</i>, just as they struck her down and left +her!”</p> + +<p>“Thank you for your suggestion,” replied Gimblet +gravely. “I assure you that I will not neglect to +visit the box. But I think that the bodies of two +ladies, ‘struck down’ in it, would have called forth +some expression of astonishment on the part of the +caretakers.”</p> + +<p>“Monsieur is laughing at me,” began Amélie in +injured tones, but Gimblet was already half-way down +the stairs.</p> + +<p>On the landing outside the drawing-room door Blake +was still hovering.</p> + +<p>“Ah, there you are,” Gimblet said. “Can I see the +second footman now? Thomas, I think you said he +was called.”</p> + +<p>Thomas, being summoned, proved to be a tall lad +possessing an honest and ingratiating smile, adorning +a fair and open countenance.</p> + +<p>“It was you, I think,” the detective said to him, +“who accompanied the motor last night when it left +here with the two ladies?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” said Thomas, “I did, sir.”</p> + +<p>“And you were told the car would not be required +again after the opera?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Can you remember Mrs. Vanderstein’s exact words +when she gave you the order not to return?”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t Mrs. Vanderstein who told me, sir,” said +Thomas, “it was Miss Turner. ‘Mrs. Vanderstein +says she won’t have the car again this evening,’ she +said, and, ‘do you understand, Wilcox?’ she says—that’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +the chauffeur, Wilcox is; she come running down +to speak to him just as he put the clutch in and we was +moving off—‘You’re not to come to fetch us to-night +after the opera,’ I heard every word of course as plain +as Wilcox did. ‘Very good, miss,’ he says, and she +ran back through the swing doors. Mrs. Vanderstein +had gone straight in and I didn’t see her again. We +was very surprised, Wilcox and me, as it was the first +time that Mrs. Vanderstein hadn’t had the motor +to bring her home that either of us could remember. +But orders is orders,” concluded Thomas with an +engaging smile at Mr. Gimblet, who ignored it.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, that will do for the present,” he said; +and, when Thomas had gone, turned once more to +Blake.</p> + +<p>“How long has Wilcox been in Mrs. Vanderstein’s +service?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“He was with Mr. Vanderstein before he married,” +replied Blake. “The same as I was myself, sir. +Wilcox was a groom in the old days, but they had him +taught to drive the motor some years ago. He’s a +most respectable, steady man, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks, I should like to see him,” said Gimblet.</p> + +<p>Wilcox, it appeared, was in the house at the moment, +having come round from the garage to hear if there was +any news, and Gimblet had him in and cross-examined +him. His story was the same as Thomas’, with one +small addition.</p> + +<p>“Was there anything that struck you as the least +unusual?” Gimblet asked him. “Did you notice +anything in the appearance of either of the ladies, or +overhear anything they said to each other as they got +in or out of the car, that was not perfectly natural?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I did not,” said Wilcox stolidly. He was +rather a fat man with a very horsey look. “Not that +I paid any heed to what they might be saying so long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +as it wasn’t to me they said it. As far as I remember, +Mrs. Vanderstein got into the car and Miss Turner after +her, and ‘To Covent Garden’ one of them says to +Thomas, and Miss Turner calls out, ‘Just stop at a +post office on the way.’ And so we did.”</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said Gimblet, “you stopped at a post office, +did you? Was that quite in the usual course? And +which post office did you stop at?”</p> + +<p>“It was not in the usual course,” admitted Wilcox, +“in fact, I don’t remember doing it on the way to the +opera before. But Miss Turner had a telegram to send. +We stopped in Piccadilly and she gave the form to +Thomas to take into the office. After that we drove +straight on to the opera house.”</p> + +<p>Thomas, recalled, remembered handing in the +telegram, certainly. Didn’t know why he hadn’t +thought of mentioning it before. Miss Turner gave +him a sealed envelope with “Telegram” written +outside it, and told him to give it with some money to +the young person in the office, and not to bother about +waiting for the change, as they were in a hurry. He did +as she said, and that was all he could tell about it.</p> + +<p>Not much information to be collected from Thomas. +Possibly Gimblet’s face showed a trace of disappointment, +for the footman added in a regretful tone:</p> + +<p>“I’m very sorry, sir, that I didn’t open the envelope +so as I could tell you what the telegram was, sir; but +the ladies being in a hurry I didn’t scarcely have time. +If I’d known it was important, or anyway if I’d had a +minute or two to myself, I’d have taken a look at it. +I’m very sorry indeed, sir.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet dismissed him somewhat peremptorily. +He felt that he was taking an unreasoning dislike for +the apologising Thomas, so anxious to ingratiate +himself.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">In</span> the morning-room he found Sir Gregory, who +had refrained, with an impatient delicacy, from +following him further than the drawing-room. +He was walking to and fro before the hearth, another +big cigar between his lips.</p> + +<p>“Well?” he asked, as the detective entered.</p> + +<p>Gimblet looked at him with a disapproving sternness.</p> + +<p>“If you intend to accompany me further in my +investigations, Sir Gregory,” he began, “I must warn +you that I can allow no smoking. The sense of smell +is as valuable to me in my work as it is to a questing +hound, and I cannot have red herrings like your cigars +dragged across the trail I might possibly be following.”</p> + +<p>“My cigars! Red herrings!” Sir Gregory stuttered. +“This, Mr. Gimblet, is the finest Havana!”</p> + +<p>“No doubt,” said Gimblet, “as tobacco it is good +enough. But if it came straight from Paradise I could +not let the strong smell of it interfere with my business. +I must keep my nose free from such gross odours, or it +will not serve me when I most need it. When we first +came into this room it was filled with a perfume all its +own. Now that I return I can smell nothing but the +taint of your cigar.”</p> + +<p>Though considerably incensed at Gimblet’s choice of +words—Sir Gregory nearly choked when he heard +them—he controlled his feelings of indignation as best +he could, for he was bent on seeing the detective at +work. “If the flavour of the best tobacco really<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +impedes you,” said he, swallowing his annoyance, “I +will defer the pleasure of smoking until you have +arrived at some conclusion. I suppose you have not +discovered anything of importance so far?”</p> + +<p>“I think I have added to my knowledge by this +visit,” returned Gimblet, “whether importantly or +not it is too soon to say. You did not mention to me, +by the way, that Miss Turner had inherited her father’s +partiality for horses.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I? I didn’t know it would interest you. +Yes; she seems very devoted to riding.”</p> + +<p>“And to racing,” added Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that. She’s never been near +a race-course, as far as I know. What makes you +think so? Have you been talking to Blake about +her?”</p> + +<p>“When a young lady’s room is full of pictures of +race-horses, and ‘Ruff’s Guide to the Turf’ occupies a +prominent position on her bookshelf,” said Gimblet +indifferently, “it is not really necessary to ask the +servants whether she takes an interest in racing. But +come, Sir Gregory, I think we have no more to do here. +Shall we go back to my flat and see if anything has +been heard at the hospitals?”</p> + +<p>With a farewell word to Blake they prepared to +leave the house, the butler hastening before them to +open the hall door. As he drew back the latch and +they stepped forth into the street, they were confronted +by a grey-haired man carrying a small black bag, who +stood with a hand already upon the bell.</p> + +<p>“Whom have we here?” said the detective to +himself, and taking Sir Gregory’s arm he drew him +back into the house, leaving Blake to parley with the +new-comer.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, Mrs. Vanderstein’s not at home,” they +could hear him saying.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>The two men retreated to the morning-room but +here in a few minutes Blake followed them.</p> + +<p>“If you please, sirs,” he said, “here is Mr. Chark, +Mrs. Vanderstein’s solicitor.”</p> + +<p>On his heels came the stranger.</p> + +<p>“You will excuse me coming to see you, gentlemen,” +said he, fixing his eyes, after a momentary hesitation, +upon the detective, “but hearing that Mr. Gimblet +was in the house”—here he bowed to that gentleman—“I +thought I had better seize the opportunity of +offering such help as I may be able to furnish in your +investigations. Very little, I fear, still possibly I am +in possession of a fact which may as yet be unknown to +you.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Chark, partner in the firm of D’Allby and +Chark, was a man of medium height, of medium age, +less than medium good looks, and medium intellect. +His face and hair were of different shades of grey and, +although clean-shaven, he conveyed the impression +that he wore side whiskers. His manner and movements +were precise and deliberate. He spoke slowly, +and as he did so his hands slowly revolved round each +other. It seemed as if he were grinding out each word +by some secret mill-like process differing from that of +ordinary speech.</p> + +<p>“I have just heard from the butler,” he continued, +after Gimblet and Sir Gregory had acknowledged his +greeting in suitable terms, “that my client, Mrs. +Vanderstein, is absent under circumstances I must be +permitted to designate as unusual. That, in short, +she went out last night, ‘on gaiety intent,’ he he! +and has not since been heard of. This is very startling +news, very strange news indeed. I think I can prove +to you, Mr. Gimblet, that Mrs. Vanderstein’s continued +absence is unintentional.”</p> + +<p>So saying Mr. Chark unlocked his black bag, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +he had placed on the floor between his feet as if fearing +that it might be surreptitiously removed if he did not +keep in touch with it, and drew from its dark recesses +a letter in a large mauve coloured envelope, which he +handed with another bow to Mr. Gimblet.</p> + +<p>The detective took it and lifted it to his nose with a +look of surprise.</p> + +<p>“This,” he cried, “is a letter from Mrs. Vanderstein +herself.”</p> + +<p>“Your surmise is correct,” said Mr. Chark. “I was +unaware that you and my client were acquainted, but +I see that you know her handwriting.”</p> + +<p>“I never saw it before,” Gimblet answered absently. +He was studying it now with a look of deep interest.</p> + +<p>“Indeed. Then, may I inquire your reason for +thinking that this document bore her inscription?” +Mr. Chark’s drawling tones were plainly sceptical.</p> + +<p>“Arome de la Corse,” murmured Gimblet, as he +handed the letter to Sir Gregory. “You, Sir Gregory, +know the lady’s writing, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Sir Gregory. “It is from her. Will +you not read it aloud? Without spectacles, I’m sorry +to say, I should find a difficulty in doing so,” and he +gave it back to Gimblet.</p> + +<p>The detective opened the envelope and unfolding +the sheet it contained read aloud what was written on +it:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +<span class="sp1">“Grosvenor Street:</span><br /> +“Monday Evening. +</p> + +<p class="noi"> +“<span class="smcap">Dear Sirs</span>, +</p> + +<p class="in3">“I shall be much obliged if one of your firm +will call on me to-morrow, Tuesday, between four +and five o’clock, for the purpose of altering my will. +Mr. Sidney has made it impossible for me to contemplate +longer the thought of his inheriting any portion +of my late husband’s fortune. If Mr. Vanderstein were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +alive I am sure he would agree with me on this point, +but as he is no more and has left the matter to my +discretion, it becomes a sacred duty with me utterly +to ignore the wishes he expressed, and to alter my will +immediately to that effect. Trusting you will make +it convenient to call at teatime to-morrow,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="sp8">“I remain,</span><br /> +<span class="sp4">“Yours faithfully,</span><br /> +“<span class="smcap">Ruth Vanderstein</span>.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>Gimblet folded the letter carefully, replaced it in +the envelope, and handed it back to Mr. Chark.</p> + +<p>“We heard something of a quarrel between Mrs. +Vanderstein and Mr. Sidney,” he said. “I wonder +whether she would have stuck to her threat of cutting +him off with a penny. People write this sort of letter +when they lose their tempers, but very often they +have calmed down by the following day.”</p> + +<p>“You do not know Mrs. Vanderstein, Mr. Gimblet,” +interrupted Sir Gregory. “She isn’t one of those +women who fly into a rage about nothing at all, or try +to frighten people with threats. She does not suffer +from nerves; her health is as excellent as her temper. +I am persuaded she wouldn’t have written that letter +unless she had the gravest reasons for doing so.”</p> + +<p>“That also is my view,” agreed Mr. Chark. “I can +endorse Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones’s opinion as regards +the character of my client, Mr. Gimblet; I can endorse +it thoroughly. Mrs. Vanderstein is a level-headed, +shrewd woman, far from being driven by every impulse.”</p> + +<p>“There is something decidedly womanly about the +way she considers it her sacred duty to ignore her +husband’s wishes,” commented Gimblet, and then, as +he saw the wrathful light flashing in Sir Gregory’s eyes, +he added quickly, “I hope that Mrs. Vanderstein +herself will be able to make everything clear in a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +hours’ time at the most. Sir Gregory and I, Mr. +Chark, were on our way to see if she had been heard +of at the hospitals, at the moment of your arrival. We +fear she may have met with some misadventure.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Chark was disappointed. Beneath his stiff, +outer shell there lurked a tiny spark of romantic fire, +which had never been entirely extinguished by the +stifling routine of the legal casuistries with which +D’Allby and Chark principally occupied themselves. +Mortgages, settlements of property, the continual +framing in a maze of words of those deeds which should +mystify any but creatures like himself, to whom their +lack of intelligibility meant profitable business; all +this systematic dullness had failed to choke that +imperceptible glimmer, and at the mere knowledge of +Gimblet’s presence in the house it had leapt on a +sudden to a hot and burning flame. All his life he had +cherished a secret regret that his way had not lain +along the precipitous bypaths of criminal law, and now +his excited imagination saw murder and violence +beckoning from all sides, with fingers redly fascinating. +He gave a stiff bow at the detective’s words, and spoke +with a feeling of irritation and a sensation of being +played with, which he was careful to conceal beneath +his usual precise and colourless tones.</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” he drawled, his hands revolving as ever +in their stroking movement. “I may venture to say +that my impression is a different one. Though no +detective, I am still, in my capacity of lawyer, able to +put two and two together. This letter”—he tapped +Mrs. Vanderstein’s note—“and the evidence of the +butler that a quarrel between my client and her nephew +did occur yesterday afternoon in this house, and +immediately preceded the writing of this letter; the +knowledge that the lady left her home intending to +return in two or three hours, but has actually failed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +do so in twenty—these facts, gentlemen, if they +convey nothing to you, appear to me to be eminently +suggestive.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet made no reply; but Sir Gregory, whose +face had been getting pinker and pinker till it resembled +a full-blown peony, burst out with a truculent snort:</p> + +<p>“And what do they suggest to you, sir?”</p> + +<p>“They suggest,” Mr. Chark resumed with apparent +calm, “that Mr. Joseph Sidney could very probably +inform us of his aunt’s whereabouts.”</p> + +<p>“I have the pleasure of Mr. Sidney’s acquaintance,” +exclaimed Sir Gregory, “and let me inform you, Mr. +Chark, if that is your name, that he is a gentleman +holding a commission in His Majesty’s army. I hope +it is unnecessary to say more. Your insinuations are +absurd.”</p> + +<p>“You cannot deny in the face of the facts that +matters look very black against this young gentleman,” +drawled the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“Black!” Sir Gregory seemed about to choke. “I +consider it black behaviour, sir, to come here and +make these libellous and scandalous assertions about +an officer and a gentleman. One who, moreover, is, +as I gather, entirely unknown to you. Do you know +him, sir, or do you not?” demanded Sir Gregory, +leaning forward and rapping out an accompaniment +to the words with the palm of his hand on a small table +which stood near him, so that the flower glasses on it +danced and jingled.</p> + +<p>“I do not know him, it is true,” admitted Mr. +Chark, “but I do know that he would benefit to the +extent of several hundred thousands of pounds, if Mrs. +Vanderstein should die before she found it possible to +revise her will. And I have no doubt that she told +him her intention of altering it.”</p> + +<p>“Die? What do you say?” Sir Gregory’s voice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +came faintly. The rosy colour faded from his cheeks. +The utmost horror and astonishment were depicted in +his countenance.</p> + +<p>Gimblet, at the sight, got up from his chair.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Chark,” he said severely, “you are letting +your imagination run away with you. You are, +indeed, talking like a halfpenny feuilleton. There is +no reason to take so melodramatic a view while Mrs. +Vanderstein’s absence still admits of some more or less +ordinary explanation. I am going now to ascertain if +she has not been discovered in the accident ward of +one of the hospitals. Are you coming, Sir Gregory?”</p> + +<p>With a word of farewell they left the house, cutting +short more observations on the part of Mr. Chark, who +followed them, deeply chagrined at being treated with +such scant ceremony.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory, as he drove with Gimblet in the direction +of Whitehall, returned nervously to the implication of +foul play.</p> + +<p>“What made him think of such a thing, d’ye think?” +he asked. “It is impossible that young Sidney would +harm her. A nice civil lad; I have always liked him. +Why should he? I’ll not believe it.” He spoke +disjointedly; the suggestion had shaken him.</p> + +<p>Gimblet did his best to reassure him, but when they +reached his flat, and found that the hospitals had been +drawn blank for news of the two ladies, he felt more +concerned than he liked to show. Still, the order that +had been given to the chauffeur, not to return to the +opera house, seemed to point to some intention other +than that of going back to Grosvenor Street, and it was +still to be hoped that any moment might bring tidings. +There were, however, other considerations not quite so +encouraging.</p> + +<p>Gimblet, who had left Sir Gregory below while he +ran up to his rooms, gave some instructions to Higgs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +the man who at times combined the duties of servant +with those of an assistant in the more tiresome but +necessary details of the detective’s work. Then he +went down again to break to the baronet, with reluctant +gravity, that there was no news.</p> + +<p>“We will go to Covent Garden now,” he said; and +they got into another taxi.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory had become very silent. His face was +drawn with anxiety. “What can have happened?” +he kept muttering to himself.</p> + +<p>To divert his thoughts, Gimblet recalled the suspicion +he had harboured at first—that Mrs. Vanderstein had +flown with some other admirer. But the fear that she +was in danger, or that worse had befallen her, had +taken hold of the man, and it was he who now pooh-poohed +the idea and found arguments to show its +improbability.</p> + +<p>“She had no need to run away,” he objected in his +turn, “she could marry whom she liked. And whoever +heard of a woman’s taking a friend on a wedding trip? +No, if it had been anything of the sort, Miss Turner +would have been left behind, we may be sure of that.”</p> + +<p>At Covent Garden they learnt very little. The box +had been cleaned out, and bore no sign of having been +used the night before. Gimblet went sniffing round it, +but could find no trace of lingering Arome de la Corse. +The box opener told them that Mrs. Vanderstein and +the young lady who generally came with her had +occupied it at the gala performance, and had left before +the end of the last scene. She hadn’t noticed anything +strange or otherwise about either of them, and as far +as she knew no one had visited the box during the +intervals.</p> + +<p>No one, it appeared, had observed their departure +from the doors of the theatre. One commissionaire +thought he remembered two ladies coming out early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +and driving off in a carriage, but he couldn’t say, he +was sure, what they were like. Might have been young +and lovely, or again, might have been old and ugly. +He had seen a powerful lot of ladies in the course of the +evening, and never had enjoyed what you might call a +memory for faces. If it had not been for the lack +of that useful talent, the commissionaire concluded +regretfully, he would, as likely as not, have been sitting +in the hall of a West End club at the present moment, +with no more to do than to answer the inquiries of one +gentleman for another gentleman. Never had been +what you might call the victim of good luck.</p> + +<p>They left him testing a shilling doubtfully with his +teeth, as if unwilling to believe that his fortune could +have changed sufficiently for the coin to be other than +a bad one.</p> + +<p>It was growing late, the doors of the theatres would +soon be open. Already shutters were up in front of +shop windows, and the crowds that still filled the streets +had no excuse for loitering now there was nothing to +look at, nowhere left for noses to be flattened. Instead, +every one seemed to be hurrying in one direction, the +direction of railway station or tram, or whatever would +carry them to their homes. The sinking sun had at +last left the streets full of shadows and, though the +pavements and walls still radiated heat, a cool breeze +had arisen and was rushing in from the river. In +open spaces, where the tall walls of houses did not +prevent a glimpse of the western sky, one could see a +cloud or two slowly climbing the heavens.</p> + +<p>The two men walked together in silence for a little +way, and then Gimblet stopped, holding out his hand.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think we can do any more to-night,” he +said. “Put away your anxieties for a few hours, Sir +Gregory; it does no good to worry. To-morrow, if +fresh tidings come, we must see what else can be done.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +I think perhaps you will be wise to consult the +police.”</p> + +<p>But at this Sir Gregory raised an outcry.</p> + +<p>“Well, we will see about that when to-morrow +comes,” said Gimblet. “In the meantime I must say +good night.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet saw Sir Gregory off in the direction of his +club, and then, after a moment’s hesitation, hailed a +taxi himself, and drove to the residence of the Postmaster-General. +He thought that at this hour he had +a good chance of finding that Minister at home, and he +was not mistaken.</p> + +<p>Sir James was in, said the footman who answered his +ring, but at the present moment engaged in dressing, +before dining early and going to the theatre. He would +take up Mr. Gimblet’s card.</p> + +<p>As luck had it, it had been Gimblet’s fortune to +render a considerable service to Sir James Mossing, +at a date in this gentleman’s career when his foot was +still insecurely placed on the first rung of the ladder he +subsequently climbed; and, as he rose in power, the +politician had never failed to show that he gratefully +remembered the obligation. The detective had only +to wait ten minutes before the man he had come to see +hurried into the room, with apologies for keeping him +waiting. Gimblet lost no time in explaining the object +of his visit, and had little difficulty in obtaining the +written order he wished for. Armed with this, he +detained the affable statesman no longer, but withdrew +quickly and turned his steps homeward.</p> + +<p>“Higgs,” he said, as his servant met him in the hall +of the flat. “I want you to go at once to the post +office in Piccadilly and get a telegram which was handed +in last evening by a footman. It was in a sealed +envelope, which also held the money for the message. +It may, or may not, be signed by Miss Barbara Turner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +It was certainly written by her. Here is an order from +the Postmaster-General, which will make things easy +for you. I have one or two things to do that ought to +have been finished this morning or I should go myself. +They will take me about an hour, and I hope you will +be back by that time.”</p> + +<p>In an hour Higgs was back. He looked pleased with +himself, and proffered the detective a sheet of paper.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, Higgs, you’ve been quick,” Gimblet +commended him.</p> + +<p>“They were a little while looking through the forms,” +said Higgs, “but luckily there was no fuss about +giving it to me after I’d shown your card and Sir +James’ order.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet was reading the paper. It was a telegraph +form addressed to Joseph Sidney, and contained a +short message:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Luck is coming your way at last expect to have +good news by Wednesday removing all difficulties.”</p></div> + +<p class="noi">There was no signature.</p> + +<p>“How do you know this is the right one?” Gimblet +asked sharply.</p> + +<p>“The young person at the office happened to +remember it, sir. It was handed in, enclosed in an +envelope, and when she opened it and saw there was +no signature she ran out after the footman, intending +to ask that the space at the back of the form, where +the name and address is requested for reference only, +should be filled in. She was only in time to see the +motor drive away. Still, it stamped the message on +her memory, especially as there was some change to +give back.”</p> + +<p>“She may easily be mistaken,” grumbled the +detective.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I thought you might not be satisfied, sir,” said +Higgs, “so I went on to Grosvenor Street and asked +the butler to let me have a specimen of Miss Turner’s +writing. I didn’t tell him why I wanted it, of course. +I just let him think a letter had been found and that +you wanted something to identify it by,” added Higgs, +with some pride. He produced a menu as he spoke, +written in a large round hand. “Miss Turner always +writes the menus in Grosvenor Street,” he explained.</p> + +<p>Gimblet took it and compared it with the telegram. +It was easy to see that both had been written by the +same person.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">The</span> next morning dawned grey and boisterous. +The English climate was giving an example +of that infinite variety to which custom +never reconciles the stranger within our gates. Julie +Querterot, whose life had been passed entirely in +London, suffered from an hereditary sensitiveness to +the changes of the weather, and was never able to +prevent her spirits from drooping as the barometer +fell. Rain and gloomy skies made her dismal even +when her whole day was spent within doors, and on +this Wednesday morning, when she had done with +the business of sweeping and cleaning about the house, +and took up her station in the little shop behind the +hair-pins and pomades, the view from the window must +have had more than its usual depressing effects upon +her, for if the unlooked for had happened and a +customer had chanced to enter he might have seen +that her eyelids were swollen as by the shedding of +many tears.</p> + +<p>Soon after midnight the storm that had been brewing +had burst over the empty streets; for hours the +lightning had torn the clouds and the tremendous +noise of the thunder had made sleep impossible. All +night torrents of rain had fallen, and people lying awake, +or at best dozing uneasily, had heard its constant +patter. Julie’s face, white and weary, looked as if to +her at least the night had brought no rest. Sitting in +the half-dusk of the shop she took up her work with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +slow deliberation; then letting it fall back to her knee +leant her chin upon her palm with a hopeless gesture. +She had had no breakfast, and hunger was combining +with fatigue to bring her to the point of exhaustion. +By her, on the counter where she had put it down, a +halfpenny paper lay spread out; and presently she +took it up, and glanced again at the prominent headlines, +which in large black type flaunted across the page.</p> + +<p class="hd1">“DISAPPEARANCE OF LADIES FROM THEIR<br /> +HOME IN WEST END.”</p> + +<p class="hd2">“Mystery of Missing Millionairess.”</p> + +<p>After a while Julie rose and put away her needlework. +Going up to her little bedroom, she took from +the cupboard a small black hat, and regardless of the +weather prepared to go out. Not that she made an +elaborate toilette. A neat coat of plainest black was +added to her blouse and skirt, a rather tawdry brooch +pinned where a button had been torn off, and another, +for pure ornament, in a place where it was not needed. +It has already been said that Julie was fond of trinkets, +and she seemed to derive some slight comfort from them +even this morning. Two or three bracelets jingled +already on either wrist, and when she had added a pair +of gloves her attire was complete. A few minutes +later the girl opened her umbrella and stepped into the +street; then, locking the shop door behind her, she set +her face westward. The rain was falling less heavily, +and before she had taken many turnings it ceased +altogether. Julie shut her umbrella with a sigh of +relief. Since leaving the house she had not been able +to put aside a minor, but still consuming, anxiety, as +to the fate of her hat.</p> + +<p class="tb">. . . . .</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>In his rooms in Whitehall, Gimblet was studying a +copy of the same newspaper that lay now neglected in +the Pimlico shop. One glance at the headlines had +told him to whom they referred, and the paragraph +that followed was still more explicit.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“We learn that anxiety is felt as to the whereabouts +of Mrs. Vanderstein, a lady residing at No. 90, Grosvenor +Street, W. Mrs. Vanderstein left her house on the +evening of Monday last for the purpose of attending the +gala performance at the Royal opera house at Covent +Garden. She was accompanied by a young lady, Miss +Barbara Turner, who lives at Grosvenor Street in the +capacity of friend and companion to Mrs. Vanderstein. +The two ladies drove to the opera in their private +motor car, and some surprise was felt by the servants +on being told at the door of the theatre that their +return after the performance was over was not desired. +No alarm, however, was experienced until yesterday +morning, when the household awoke to find that +neither of the ladies had returned.</p> + +<p>“Inquiry at the hospitals, where it was thought the +ladies might have been carried in the event of an accident +having occurred, were productive of no result, and +as the day passed without news of their whereabouts +being obtained it was deemed advisable to secure the +services of a detective. It is whispered that one of +London’s most celebrated criminal investigators has +consented to look into the matter. Rumours reach us +that differences between Mrs. Vanderstein and one of +her nearest relatives have more to do with her disappearance +than at first seems obvious. Mrs. Vanderstein +is the widow of the late Mr. Moses Vanderstein, +a financier well known in city circles. She is a lady +of remarkable personal attractions, and is a great +favourite in Jewish society. Miss Turner is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +daughter of the late Mr. William Turner, of Newmarket, +and is not much over twenty years of age. It is +believed that the police have a clue to the continued +absence of the two ladies, and that foul play is +apprehended.”</p> +</div> + +<p>“So,” said Gimblet to himself, “it appears that the +worthy Mr. Chark has been talking.”</p> + +<p>As he threw aside the paper, and took up another to +see if it also had something to say on the same subject, +the bell of the flat rang, and a moment later Higgs +announced Mr. Joseph Sidney.</p> + +<p>With a scarcely perceptible start Gimblet recognised +the young man he had observed in the Park on Sunday.</p> + +<p>“I hope I don’t disturb you,” Sidney said at once, +“but they told me in Grosvenor Street that you had +been up there asking questions, and so I suppose Sir +Gregory has engaged you to look into this business.”</p> + +<p>“That is so,” said Gimblet. “I hope you have +come to give me some assistance.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I wish to goodness I could,” said Sidney, +“but I never heard a word about it till I saw the paper +this morning; and then I couldn’t believe it. But I +rang up Grosvenor Street pretty quick, and old Blake, +my aunt’s butler, swears it’s gospel. It’s a queer +thing to happen, isn’t it? What can they have done +with themselves? Really, women ought not to be +allowed out alone. If my aunt couldn’t take care of +herself, I do think she might have made an effort to +look after Miss Turner!”</p> + +<p>“It’s a queer business indeed,” said Gimblet, “and +I’m afraid it looks stranger every minute, and very +much more serious than it did at first. For here’s +another night gone by and no news of either of the +ladies. And we have no clue, no idea where to hunt, +nor anything whatever to go on in our search. I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +in hopes you might have some information to offer me, +Mr. Sidney; you were, I believe, one of the last people +who spoke with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet looked narrowly at the young man, who, for +his part, seemed not altogether at his ease. He +hesitated, crossed to the window and drummed with +his fingers on the pane. In the detective’s ears was +echoing a sentence heard above the murmur of the +crowd: “I’m pretty desperate, I can tell you. There’s +nothing I wouldn’t do to get the money.”</p> + +<p>A second later Sidney turned; and, coming back to +where Gimblet sat impassively waiting, drew up a +chair upon which he sat himself down with an air of +resolution.</p> + +<p>“I did see my aunt on Monday, Mr. Gimblet, and to +tell you the truth I don’t like telling you what she said +to me then. One doesn’t care about confiding one’s +private family affairs to strangers. Still, if you think it +can be of any possible use.... Well, the fact is that I +had a frightful row with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday.”</p> + +<p>“What about?” asked Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“I,” Sidney hesitated again, and then continued +with a plunge, “I have been losing a great deal of +money lately; I am ashamed to say that I have lost +it on race-courses, and that it is a sum far larger than I +can afford. I went to my aunt to ask for help. I asked +her, in fact, to lend me some money to tide over my +difficulties for the present. She was very irate about +it. She can’t stand betting; and as soon as I told her +she got in a fearful rage and threw me out of the house. +That is all the conversation I had with her on Monday. +You can understand I don’t much like owning up to it, +as it’s not precisely to my credit.” Sidney ended with +a rueful laugh.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein absolutely refused to help you +in any way?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Said she’d see me damned first. Well, you know, +she mayn’t have put it exactly like that.”</p> + +<p>“Hardly, I should think. I’d rather have her own +words, if you can remember them, please.”</p> + +<p>Sidney searched his memory. “As far as I can +recollect, what she actually said was, ‘I will have +nothing whatever to do with a gambler like you. Not +only will I not give you money now, but you shall +never have a penny that is mine to use for that degrading +vice. I shall alter my will,’ she said, ‘and that +to-morrow. And never let me see you again. I’ll not +have you in my house.’ That’s what she said, and I +had nothing to do but to go out of the house like a +whipped dog. And I went.” Sidney’s voice was +bitter as he recalled his humiliation, but when he spoke +again he had recovered his normal good temper. +“Poor Aunt Ruth,” he said, “there’s a good deal to +be said on her side, you know, and just about nothing +at all on mine. However, I didn’t come to talk about +my own rotten affairs. I wonder where she can have +got to? There’s something uncommon fishy about her +vanishing this way, don’t you think? Hope to goodness +she’s not been knocked on the head for the sake of +her diamonds, you know.”</p> + +<p>His tone was light, but Gimblet seemed to perceive +a note of genuine anxiety underlying it.</p> + +<p>“I hope not, indeed,” he agreed gravely.</p> + +<p>“I really feel a bit worried about her—her and Miss +Turner,” went on the young man. “Hang it all, since +I’ve begun confiding in you I think I may as well make +a clean breast of the whole show. The fact is I’ve got +a beastly guilty conscience sort of feeling, because I +was on the verge, a day or two ago, of playing the +dickens of a shabby trick on Aunt Ruth. You can see +how badly I want this money, as I told you, to pay my +debts next week. Well, I as near as makes no difference<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +tried to get it out of my aunt by what I suppose you’d +call false pretences—which sounds a nice blackguardly +thing to do, don’t it? I don’t suppose anyone’s told +you that she had a craze for Royalty in any shape? +Well, I didn’t know it myself till lately, but it seems +there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to get in contact with +great people. A friend of mine suggested that we +should get another of my pals to impersonate some +royal prince, and that I should introduce him to my +aunt. The idea was that he should rather make up to +her, and then intercede on my behalf, or get the money +out of her in some way. I don’t think I should have +done it when it came to the point, because I saw very +plainly the next day what an impossible thing it was +to do. And if I’d gone as far as to ask my friend to +help, I haven’t the slightest doubt he would have told +me not to be an ass. But there you are—I did think +of it, and it sticks on my conscience now. I shall +never get the taste out of my mouth, I believe, and if +there’s anything you think I could do to be of any use, +now that she’s gone and mislaid herself, you can +understand that I’d do it all the more gladly since I +feel I owe her a good turn.”</p> + +<p>He ceased speaking, crossed one leg over the other, +and leant back, looking at Gimblet with an air half +ashamed, half ingenuous.</p> + +<p>The detective returned his gaze with interest.</p> + +<p>“Here,” he was saying to himself, “is a young man +either very innocent or beyond the common crafty.”</p> + +<p>“Who was it who suggested this questionable +proceeding in the first place?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I really can’t tell you that,” cried Sidney; +“it can’t have any importance, and I’m not so dead +to all sense of decency as you naturally think!”</p> + +<p>“You say you only contemplated it for a short +time. Did you tell your friend ultimately that, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +second thoughts, you didn’t like the idea and had +decided to give it up?”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t necessary. Before I could communicate +with my friend I got a message from her—him—my +friend, I mean——” Sidney grew scarlet as he realised +his slip, but continued hastily in the vain hope of +covering it, “a message to say that the plan was +ruined. I don’t know what had happened, but for +some reason, apparently, it was completely off, +irrespective of my jibbing.”</p> + +<p>“And so now,” said Gimblet, after a pause, “you +have no hope, I suppose, of paying your debts.”</p> + +<p>A shade crossed Sidney’s face as he replied sadly: +“Devil a hope.”</p> + +<p>“There has been no alteration in your prospects +since Monday then,” pursued the detective; “you have +had no better news to-day? Your difficulties have +not so far been removed?” He spoke with great +deliberation, while one hand, hidden in his pocket, +fingered the telegraph form that Barbara Turner had +omitted to sign.</p> + +<p>Sidney looked up suspiciously, but the little man’s +face wore no expression beyond one of calm inquiry.</p> + +<p>“No,” said he slowly, “everything is just as it was. +I have heard nothing at all and my prospects are as +bad as they can be.”</p> + +<p>There was something about Sidney that disarmed +suspicion, and Gimblet did not fail to be influenced by +it. In vain he reflected that the young man was +certainly refraining from telling him of Miss Turner’s +telegram, and deliberately, since Gimblet had purposely +reminded him of it by quoting words it actually contained. +As he sat considering what should be his next +move, the door opened, and Sir Gregory Aberhyn +Jones was announced.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Mr. Gimblet. Have you any news<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +for me? No, I see you have not; and there is none +in Grosvenor Street, as you doubtless know. Ah, +Sidney, how are you? This is a trying time for us all. +I am glad to see you, very.” He shook hands warmly +with the young man; and then, before Gimblet +guessed what he would be at, the harm was done. +“I’m more than glad to meet you, my dear boy,” Sir +Gregory was declaring, “so as to be able to tell you +that I don’t believe a word they may say against you. +I’m positive you never had a hand in this black +business, any more than I did myself. And all the +Charks and beastly rags of newspapers in London +shan’t convince me to the contrary.” Sir Gregory, +still holding Joe by the hand, shook it up and down +with extra and exaggerated heartiness.</p> + +<p>Sidney wrenched it away.</p> + +<p>“What the deuce are you talking about?” he +exclaimed. “Who’s been saying things about me?”</p> + +<p>“I tell you I don’t believe a word of it,” said Sir +Gregory soothingly. “But you must have seen it in +the papers. ‘It is believed,’ they say, ‘that a quarrel +took place between Mrs. Vanderstein and a near +relative, which has more to do with the unfortunate +ladies’ disappearance than seems plain at first.’ You +did quarrel with her, didn’t you? And Chark, her +lawyer, you know, is taken with the idea; in fact, he’s +been round telling me this morning that he’s ascertained +for a fact that you’re infernally hard up, which would +provide a motive, he says. Infernal nonsense, of +course.”</p> + +<p>“Infernal lies,” cried Sidney; “what the devil does +anyone mean by suggesting such things? Do they +imagine I’ve spirited away not only Aunt Ruth but +Miss Turner too, and am holding them for ransom, +or what? Or perhaps your friend Chark would rather +think that I was given to poisoning my relations? If<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +it comes to that, I’ll begin on him if he don’t look out. +Infernal ass.”</p> + +<p>He was furious. Gimblet, watching him with +interest, wondered whether his face was so red from +anger or from some other emotion.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory, for once, was silenced.</p> + +<p>“Where’s this newspaper editor?” demanded +Sidney. “I’m going to kick him, now, at once.”</p> + +<p>“You’d better wait till he gets up,” said Gimblet; +“at this hour he’s probably still in bed.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll soon get him out.”</p> + +<p>“Better not take any notice of it. More dignified +not to,” urged Sir Gregory, repenting too late his +well-meant assurances. “Best treat that sort of idiot +with contempt,” he went on. “Chark’s the worst. +It’s he that’s put them up to it.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Chark,” said Gimblet, “has a longing to be +mixed up in a sensational affair. I saw that yesterday. +He ought to know better than to indulge in libel, a +lawyer too! I daresay he’s frightened to death, now +that he has done it, and has time to think of the +consequences.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll frighten him,” said the young man.</p> + +<p>He calmed down, however, as the detective continued +to pour oil on the troubled waters, and was at +last persuaded to depart peacefully.</p> + +<p>Gimblet wrote out a short description of the missing +ladies, together with the promise of a reward to whosoever +should bring news of either of them, and this he +gave into Sidney’s keeping, charging him to have it +inserted in the evening papers, of which the early +editions were already appearing in the streets.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Sir Gregory</span> lingered. “I suppose there’s +nothing to do but wait?” he said, as the door +closed behind Sidney.</p> + +<p>“Not much, I’m afraid,” replied the detective. +“Believe me, I am doing what is possible, and now +that Chark has been talking to the press no doubt the +police, on their side, will do what they can. Did you +hear anything in Grosvenor Street?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Sir Gregory, “no one had been there. +They had seen no more of Mr. Chark. But no doubt +there will be folks calling to-day. I daresay the street +will be blocked by people wanting to know if what +they’ve seen in the papers is true. There’s plenty of +curiosity about. It was beginning already, from what +I could see, when I came away; there were three or +four idlers staring at the house. What they thought +they saw in it, don’t ask me. Expect the police soon +moved them on. Too much of this lazy loafing about; +I’d soon compel them to do some honest work, if I had +my way.”</p> + +<p>“And yet you’re against compelling them to be +trained for the defence of the country!” murmured +Gimblet. “Well, well! Just ordinary loafers, were +they?” he went on.</p> + +<p>“That’s all,” said Sir Gregory, after a moment, +during which he glared fiercely at Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“Except one young woman,” he continued, as an +afterthought. “Poor thing, she seemed really distressed;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +but more because she thought she’d never +see her money than on Mrs. Vanderstein’s account.”</p> + +<p>“One of the maidservants?” suggested the detective.</p> + +<p>“No, no, I think not. She came up just as I was +leaving the house. ‘Oh, sir,’ she cried, ‘can you tell +me if there’s any truth in what I’ve seen in the papers, +about the lady that lives here having disappeared? +Surely it’s not true?’ She seemed so much concerned +that I explained the state of affairs to her. ‘It is true,’ +I said, ‘that the ladies of this house went out on +Monday night, and have not yet come back. But I +hope we may find out where they are at any moment.’ +To my surprise no sooner had I said this than she +leant back against the door-post as if she were going +to faint or something, devilish ill she looked, poor +creature, and then quite suddenly covered her face with +her hands and burst into tears. I must own,” Sir +Gregory confessed, “that the sight of so much feeling +exhibited on Mrs. Vanderstein’s account moved me +considerably. A very little more and I should have +mingled my tears with those of the poor girl. ‘Don’t +cry, my dear child,’ I said, a good deal affected. ‘It +is natural that those who care for her should feel +anxious and upset, but we must show a brave face and +hope for the best.’ Still, in spite of all I could say, she +went on crying, and sobbed very piteously, poor +thing; till at last, on my asking her how it was that +she was so anxious about Mrs. Vanderstein, she +managed to regain control of herself, and said in a +doleful tone: ‘I’m only a poor girl, sir, and the lady +owes us money. If she is lost it means a great deal to +me.’ I own I was disappointed, having thought her +distress prompted by affection rather than mercenary +considerations; but people are all alike in this world; +self-interest, Mr. Gimblet, that’s the only motive that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +rules men’s actions nowadays. However, I did my +best to comfort her, and told her that whatever +happened Mrs. Vanderstein’s bills would not go unpaid. +I can’t say I was very successful in my efforts to reassure +her and she went off in the end looking dreadfully +woe-begone. ’Pon my word, I never saw such a +miserable, frightened-looking little creature! I didn’t +like to let her go without trying to help her in some +way, but I hardly knew what to do, for she didn’t look +the sort one could offer money to,” concluded Sir +Gregory, who had the kindest heart in the world.</p> + +<p>“What was she like?” asked Gimblet with a show +of interest.</p> + +<p>“A shop girl, I should say, but she had a foreign look +about her: a lot of dark hair, and big dark eyes to +match, and she was neatly dressed, trim and tidy. You +know the sort of way these French girls get themselves +up, but all in black or some dark colour. Very quiet +and respectable-looking girl. The only thing I thought +looked a bit flashy about her was that she wore a heap +of common jewellery, bracelets and brooches all over, +cheap and nasty; and I could see a string of great +beads round her neck under her blouse, imitation pearls +as big as marbles. I was astonished, I must say, at her +going in for that sort of thing, for in other ways she +seemed a very nice, quiet girl. Looked terribly ill, too, +poor thing.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder who she was,” said Gimblet. “Do you +say she wore her necklace under her blouse?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I could see it through the muslin or whatever +it was she had on. Some transparent stuff.”</p> + +<p>“That was rather curious. Girls of that class, who +are fond of decking themselves out with such cheap +ornaments, don’t generally hide their finery. It’s +generally quite on the surface, I think.”</p> + +<p>“I should think it was unusual,” agreed Sir Gregory.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +“She must have dressed in a hurry, and done it by +mistake; don’t you think so?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet did not answer. He had been wandering +about the room, in an aimless fashion, and now he +paused beside a table and offered Sir Gregory the +contents of a glass jar that stood upon it.</p> + +<p>“Have some barley sugar?” he suggested. And, as +Sir Gregory indignantly refused: “One must have a +pet vice, and after all, this is my only one,” said he, +putting a large piece into his mouth. But Sir Gregory +only shook his head mournfully and refused to smile.</p> + +<p>“I suppose,” he said after a moment, with a shamefaced +look, “that there can’t be anything in Chark’s +idea, can there?” His tone was that of one who +pleads to have a disturbing and discreditable doubt +utterly removed. Gimblet remembered the warmth +of the baronet’s protestations to Sidney, and suppressed +a smile.</p> + +<p>“I think we may hope for a solution less shocking +than Mr. Chark’s,” he said hopefully. “As for +whether his suspicions can have anything in them or +not, I can only say that they are nothing much more +than the wildest of surmises. They amount to this. +Mr. Sidney has lost money in a way disapproved of by +Mrs. Vanderstein, and, on appealing to her for assistance, +was met not only by reproaches but by threats +that he would be cut off from his inheritance. On the +other hand, Mrs. Vanderstein is not very much older +than her nephew, so that his expectations of enjoying +that inheritance could never be other than extremely +remote, since the lady enjoys the best of health. Mr. +Chark does not hesitate to hint that Sidney may have +taken his aunt’s life, in order that he may at once +inherit the money of which he is certainly in urgent +need. And if he could contemplate such a deed at all +there may be said to be this further inducement, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +in the event of Mrs. Vanderstein remaining alive she +would most likely marry again; when, if she had +children, she would probably—since she has full power +over it—leave most if not all her fortune to them, +whatever her late husband’s hopes may have been +regarding the disposal of it.</p> + +<p>“Chark takes these circumstances and finds in them a +motive; he then takes Mrs. Vanderstein’s disappearance +and proceeds to infer from that, that young +Sidney has made away with her. His motive may +exist, though it is a question whether such a motive is +strong enough to induce so terrible a crime in a young +man of Sidney’s class and upbringing, who is in normal +health, and we will presume, for the sake of argument, +sane. But Chark has not, as far as I know, a +shadow of evidence on which to assert that the lady has +been injured in any way; and I think any such +conjecture is ridiculous without more to support it; +while to suggest it publicly, as he has done, is quite +scandalous. It is still perfectly possible that Mrs. +Vanderstein or Miss Turner received some urgent +message while at the opera, which caused them to +leave before the end of the performance. It may +have been an appeal for help from some friend in +trouble, or something involving a certain secrecy of +procedure. There are thousands of possible situations +that might arise, to the conduct of which privacy would +be essential. Wait, Sir Gregory, at least to see if we +get an answer to our advertisements, before allowing +your imagination to follow headlong in the wake of +Mr. Chark’s speculations.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Late</span> in the afternoon, Gimblet, returning to +the flat in Whitehall, found a visitor awaiting +him there.</p> + +<p>Higgs, hearing his footstep in the hall, hurried out +to meet him and inform him of the fact.</p> + +<p>“A young lady, sir. She gave me this card, and +wants to see you on business. She’s been here about +ten minutes, and I’ve taken tea in to her, not knowing +how long you might be, sir.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet took the card and read: “Miss Seraphina +Finner, Inanity Theatre.” “Where is she?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“In the waiting-room,” replied Higgs; and Gimblet +went at once into the small sitting-room he set apart +to be used by people unknown to him.</p> + +<p>As he opened the door Gimblet checked himself for +a moment on the threshold with the sensation of +entering some one else’s room by mistake. His visitor +had pushed most of the furniture back against the +wall, and was, when he first caught sight of her, in the +act of pirouetting round in the middle of the floor, +with her skirts lifted high and one foot raised to the +level of the mantelpiece. Her back was towards him, +but at the sound of the opening door she twisted round +with a swinging movement, and confronted him with +a laugh.</p> + +<p>“They told me you were out,” said Miss Finner +gaily, and without any trace of embarrassment, “so I +just started doing a bit of practising to fill up the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +while the tea is standing. Waste not, want not, that’s +my motto,” she added.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” the detective +began; “won’t you sit down now?” And he +pulled out a chair she had piled with some others in a +corner, and offered it to her.</p> + +<p>“I suppose I may as well,” admitted the young +woman; “though it does seem a pity not to do a bit +of exercising now I’ve cleared the room. You see, I +dance in ‘The Jodeling Girl,’ and one has to keep +one’s limbs supple, or, if you aren’t up to the mark one +night, they put on somebody else. Fact is,” she added +confidentially, “that’s why they took me on. Dixie +Topping, who used to be one of the four of us that do +the dance I’m in, let herself get stiff, and one night +when it came to kicking William Tell’s apple off the +boy’s head, she missed it clean, and, as it’s got to be +done in time with the music, that put the conductor +out, so when she had another try, and missed it again, +he got so mad that they sacked her and put me on. +Ill wind that blows no one any good,” said Miss +Seraphina philosophically.</p> + +<p>Her belongings were strewn about the room: a great +bouquet of carnations lay on a chair, gloves and scarf +were thrown on the bookshelf, while an enormous hat +covered with flowers and ribbons was poised on a +cabinet. She had drawn a curtain across the window, +no doubt out of consideration for her complexion, as +Gimblet happened to have chosen for this room +hangings of a becoming rose colour; and the air was +filled with the reek of inexpensive scent. The detective +compared it mentally, and extremely unfavourably, +with the Arome de la Corse. Altogether he would +not have recognised his own room, to such an extent +had ten minutes of Miss Seraphina Finner’s occupation +removed all former traces of his own individuality. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +actually started as he suddenly noticed, perched on the +mantelpiece, a pair of small white animals: a smooth-haired +cat with eyes of a greenish yellow, and a dog +no bigger, but with a long, silky coat. It appeared to +be one of the tribe known to the unappreciative as +Fidos, and to the admiring owners as Toy Poms. It +stood at one end of the shelf, fidgeting and whining, but +not daring to jump. The cat had retired to the +extreme opposite corner, where it sat with its paws +very close together and its tail curled tightly round +them, surveying the restless behaviour of the dog with +a look of sleepy disdain. The feelings with which +Gimblet saw these two, but more especially the dog, +sharing this point of vantage with his best blue and +white china may be imagined. He was speechless; +and perhaps it was just as well.</p> + +<p>“I hope you don’t mind Nigger and Pompom,” +said Miss Finner, as she accepted a cup of tea, “lots +of lumps, please, and heaps of cream too. Seraphina’s +pets are her inseparable companions! Don’t they look +sweet up there? I put them there to be out of the +way while I was on my light fantastic. It bothers me +never to know when my foot will come down on one of +them, instead of the floor. Pompom seems to enjoy +being trampled on by the way he’s always in the middle +of the room.” She seized the woolly dog by the scruff +of the neck and deposited it in her lap. “Was you +frightened of falling on your heady peady, darling,” she +murmured, fondling it ecstatically. “No, no, you +mustn’t lick your auntie’s face; might give you a pain +in your little inside. Isn’t she a sweet little affectionate +thing?” she asked, raising her eyes for a moment to +Gimblet’s. “Yes,” she went on, as the little dog +danced on her knee in a frantic effort to make clear his +need to share the cake she had taken, “Pompom shall +have a cake too. His auntie wouldn’t let her darling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +go hungry, no, she wouldn’t! And Nigger shall have +some cream for a nice treat.”</p> + +<p>She poured some cream into a saucer and placed it +on the floor at her feet. The cat, which had watched +the attentions showered on Pompom with the cold eye +of indifference, now abandoned its pose of superiority, +and jumping lightly to the ground approached the +saucer on noiseless, unhurried tiptoes. It began to +lap the cream with a genteel, condescending air, and +with due regard for its whiskers, shaking its head +sharply if a drop adhered to one of their long, stiff hairs.</p> + +<p>Miss Finner contemplated the sight with admiring +delight.</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t it do your heart good to see how he likes +it?” she asked, “and aren’t his manners lovely? Oh, +Pompom, what an example he is to you, darling!” she +exclaimed, as Pompom snatched at a piece of cake and +swallowed it with one gulp. “Try and behave like +your brother does, my angel. He’s always the same,” +she went on, “I don’t care where you put him, Nigger +is always the perfect gentleman. Why! I took them +across to Paris at Easter. Didn’t know what a trouble +I should have smuggling Pompom home again, or I +should have left her behind in London. I tied feathers +all over her, though, and put her in a bonnet box, so +they took her for a hat, the darling. As if any hat +was half as beautiful! But, as I was saying, we had a +beast of a crossing. Oh my! that channel! And poor +Pompom was one of the first to feel it. And much +as I love her, I must say, she just gave way, and +never made the tiniest little effort to hide her feelings. +But Nigger! If you’ll believe me, that cat was so +ashamed of the way he felt he was going to behave +that the tears streamed down his face, and he just +mewed and mewed till I could have cried; only being +so sick myself I really didn’t care, as a matter of fact.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +But though he felt so bad he didn’t forget his manners +and he wouldn’t be sick, he simply wouldn’t, till I gave +him a basin. Then certainly. Oh Lord!” Miss Finner +stopped. The recollection was too much even for her; +she was also slightly out of breath.</p> + +<p>Gimblet listened to her with amusement. Though +he wondered vaguely what her business with him could +be, he let her run on, supposing that she would disclose +it in time. After a moment she resumed in serious +tones:</p> + +<p>“It’s a good thing, don’t you think, to have a fad of +some kind? It’s so hard to get noticed, isn’t it? +Expect you found that when you started looking for +thieves? People won’t see that one’s any different +to anyone else, do what you like. But manage to +have something really out of the common about you, +and you get your chance. That’s what I think. They +forget me all right, but they remember my white cat +and dog, and after a little they begin to notice me too. +I had a pretty hard time at first, I tell you,” Miss +Finner sighed. “But I’m getting on well now, thanks,” +she continued, with a return of her former vivacity. +“Of course I haven’t got a speaking part yet, but I’m +doing a dance, and that’s something at the Inanity. +Some one sent me a diamond brooch last week,” she +added with pride, pointing to an ugly little diamond +star. “What do you think of it? You’re a judge of +stones, I should think, being always in the society of +burglars, as one may say.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet examined and admired. “I’m afraid, +though, I’m not really a judge,” he said.</p> + +<p>“That’s your modesty. But, as you see, I’m +prosperous. And it isn’t after the reward that I’ve +come. Not that I’ll deny that the money would +always be useful. Still, it’s the ad. I’m thinking about. +Will you put my name in the paper now? ‘Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +Seraphina Finner of the Inanity brings news of the +missing ladies.’ That’s what I’d like to see, right +across a poster.”</p> + +<p>A flicker of interest showed itself for an instant on +Gimblet’s face. “So that’s it,” he said to himself.</p> + +<p>Aloud he answered: “I don’t know whether I can +promise you that just yet. It rather depends, you +know. But if I am called upon to send any communication +on the subject to the press, you may be +sure that, if possible, your name shall be inserted.”</p> + +<p>Seraphina pouted. “I call that stingy,” she complained. +“He might put us on a poster, Pompom, +mightn’t he? He’s an unkind, cruel man, he is.”</p> + +<p>“What do you know of the missing ladies?” asked +Gimblet, disregarding these observations.</p> + +<p>Miss Finner assumed an air of importance. “I +didn’t know anything about it till lunchtime,” she +said. “Not being what you’d call an early riser, it’s +not often I take a squint at the newspapers unless it’s +in the afternoon. But to-day a friend came to see me +and we had lunch together. By and by she begins +talking about one thing and another, and presently +she says: ‘Have you read about these ladies that +have disappeared?’ So I said no, what was it, and +she said: ‘What! haven’t you seen the paper? There’s +an exciting bit about them in this morning’s <cite>Crier</cite>.’ +When she’d told me all she could remember, I began +to get interested. I had a feeling, you know, as if +this was in my part. So I sent out for a paper, and +they brought in one of the evening editions which had +the reward and description of the ladies in it, as well as +everything, or so my friend said, that the <cite>Crier</cite> had. +I read it all out loud, and when I came to the part +about wearing a white dress with mauve cloak heavily +embroidered and a large amount of valuable jewellery, +I said to myself: ‘This, Seraphina, my dear, is where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +you walk on.’ By the time I’d finished the paragraph +I was certain sure. It was just a fluke,” said Miss +Finner reflectively, “that I ever saw that description or +heard anything about it at all, for, as I say, I don’t +look at the papers more than about once in a fortnight, +unless it’s the notices of a new show.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet’s murmured comment might have passed +for astonishment, agreement, or merely encouragement +to proceed. He thought it best to let her tell her story +in her own way.</p> + +<p>“It’s a funny thing,” she went on after a moment’s +silence; “it seems somehow as if it was meant to be, +doesn’t it? Well, the reason why I felt so excited, +when I read the description, was because I had seen +the ladies later than anyone else. I saw them on +Monday night, after they left the opera.”</p> + +<p>“And where did you see them?” asked Gimblet, +bending over the cat, which, having finished the +cream, was rubbing itself in a friendly fashion against +his leg, where it left a covering of white hairs on his +dark trousers. “Poor pussy,” he said, stroking it.</p> + +<p>“I was driving home from the theatre in a taxi,” +said Seraphina. “I live up in Carolina Road, N.W. I +don’t suppose you know it; up beyond Regent’s Park, +to the right, as you may say, of Maida Vale. It was a +very hot, sultry night, you remember, and I’d got the +cab open so as to get a little air. I was tired for some +reason—it’s not often you can tire me—and I put my +head back, and my feet on one of the back seats, and as +near as possible went off into a snooze. That’s why I +can’t tell you exactly which street it was in, and I’m +afraid that makes it very awkward.” Miss Finner’s +voice was full of regret.</p> + +<p>“Suddenly we swung round a corner with such a +bump that it roused me, and I sat up and took notice. +We were driving through a nice wide street, with trees<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +on each side, and good-sized houses set back in little +gardens, all separate from each other. Each garden +had two gates, and just room for a carriage to drive in +and out. There wasn’t a light to be seen in one of +them, and I thought how early the people in those +parts went to bye-bye. And then I caught sight of an +open doorway, with the light shining from it out into +the small yard or garden in front, and a street lamp +standing exactly in front of it; so that between the +two the place was well lit up. There was a carriage +just driving out through the gate, and there were no +shrubs or bushes in the garden, nothing but a little +yard it was, I think, so I could see the two ladies +standing in front of the door as plain as the nose on +your face.</p> + +<p>“I turned round when we’d passed and stared back +at them, for the street wasn’t crowded with people in +gorgeous opera cloaks and blazing with diamonds, like +one of these two was. I suppose it was Mrs. Vanderstein. +She was standing a little to one side, as if she’d +taken a step or two after the carriage, and was looking +after it still. She had on a white dress, all sparkling, +and a mauve or pink cloak thrown open and back on +her shoulders, so I could see the jewels flashing and +shining away all over her as right as rain, just like it +says in the papers. There was a tiara on the top of +her head as big as, as—” Seraphina gazed round +searchingly for a simile—“as big as that chandelier. +Oh, it can’t have been anyone else! And besides, +there was the other young lady; I didn’t look at her so +much, but I can swear she had a red cloak on. There +now! As soon as I read about them I remembered +what I’d seen on Monday night, and I said to my friend: +‘My dear, I’m going out to keep an appointment with +my photographer. Ta-ta.’ I wasn’t going to let on to +her, of course. She’s a bit of a cat, as a matter of fact.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Finner stopped, fixing on Gimblet a gaze full +of modest pride. But Gimblet sat, to all appearance, +lost in thought. Though his eye met hers, it was with +an abstracted look, and this in spite of the fact that +Miss Finner’s eyes were blue and darkly fringed. He +could not fail to observe her curls of gold, the pink +transparency of her cheek, the broad green and white +stripes of her silken gown. He could not fail to hear, +whenever she moved, the jingling of bracelets, of the +many charms that were suspended from the chain +around her white throat, and the merry peal of her +laugh; but all this seemed to be escaping his attention, +and Miss Finner could detect nowhere the glances of +admiration, which she considered the least that was +due to her.</p> + +<p>Instead, he had nothing but prosaic questions for her.</p> + +<p>“What time do you say this was?”</p> + +<p>“After the theatre. Nearly midnight. I was late +getting away.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t know the name of the street? Could +you find your way to it again?”</p> + +<p>“Afraid not, it’s not the way one generally goes. +I’ve no idea where it was, beyond what I’ve told you.”</p> + +<p>“And the house? Did you notice nothing about it +to distinguish it from its neighbours?”</p> + +<p>“No, I didn’t look at it specially. Yes, I did, +though; there was a board with ‘To Let’ on it, up on +the railings. The light from the lamp showed it very +clearly.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the only thing you can remember?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Seraphina.</p> + +<p>“You said the door was open. Could you see +anything of the inside of the house?”</p> + +<p>“No, or at least I didn’t notice anything. There +might have been some one standing in the hall. I don’t +know.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Try and remember,” urged Gimblet.</p> + +<p>Miss Finner shut her eyes, contracted her brows, and +gave herself up to reflection.</p> + +<p>“No good,” she remarked, after an interval in which +one might have counted twenty.</p> + +<p>“Did you notice the carriage which was driving +away?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t say I did. It was a brougham, I think. I +looked at the people on the pavement.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see lights in the house—in the windows, I +mean?”</p> + +<p>“No, I think the only light came from the door.”</p> + +<p>“Were you able to observe the expression on the +ladies’ faces?”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, we went by too quick for anything of that +sort. I didn’t notice their faces at all, except that I +believe they were both more or less young women.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t think of anything else, however trivial?”</p> + +<p>Miss Finner could not.</p> + +<p>“If anything else comes back to me, I’ll let you +know,” she said hopefully. “Don’t you think you +can find them from what I’ve told you?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think there ought to be much difficulty in +discovering the house, or at all events the street,” said +the detective, “thanks for your information, which +may prove most valuable. You must allow me to +present you with the reward offered in the papers.”</p> + +<p>After a slight show of protest she did allow him.</p> + +<p>“Well, I must be off now,” she said, after that +formality was accomplished, and proceeded to gather +her things together. “Thank you for the tea. But, I +say, don’t you want to know a little more of the +beauteous stranger who is the bearer of the good tidings? +You don’t even know my name.”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, Miss Finner, I do know it,” Gimblet +assured her. “You left a card in the hall; I saw it as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +I came in, but I should of course be delighted to know +more of you than that.”</p> + +<p>“Know then,” said Seraphina, speaking in high, +clear tones and with an assumption of affectation, +“know then that I am not what I seem. My name, +indeed, is a disguise, for my father, worthy man, was a +Fynner with a y, an obscure relation of the noble house +of Fynner of Loch Fyne. Though honest, he was +poor; and my beloved and beautiful mother came of a +line as well connected and impecunious as his own. +The marriage aroused the wrath of both families, and +the head of my father’s house, proud and haughty earl +that he was, would never be brought to acknowledge +his unhappy cousins. I was educated in a convent, and, +at the death of my parents, found myself at the age of +sixteen alone, and without a penny in the world. +Scorning to beg, I adopted the profession of the stage, +chiefly with a view to supporting an aged and suffering +relative, the aunt of my father’s cousin. Now you +know all there is to know about the innocent and +unfortunate daughter of a gallant gentleman, the +scion of a proud, but noble race.”</p> + +<p>Miss Finner tilted her nose skyward and drew +herself up haughtily. Then, with a disconcerting +suddenness, she winked at Gimblet, and burst into a +peal of laughter.</p> + +<p>“If you can’t detect something fishy in that story,” +she cried, “you’re not the detective you’re cracked up +to be! But I often say that piece about my family. +A poor chap I used to know in my young days, when I +was in the provinces, made it up for me. A poet, he +called himself, and was always making up things; +very pretty some of them were—if you like that sort +of thing. It was him that thought of my name, and +I’ve never regretted it really. But I never heard that +he got anyone else to take any notice of his composings,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +poor fellow.” Miss Finner sighed and looked rather +sadly out of the window. “He was a good sort,” she +added reminiscently; “one of the best. I put that +bit in myself about being educated in a convent,” she +concluded, pulling at her gloves. “It’s the usual +thing.”</p> + +<p>With a white dog under one arm and a white cat under +the other, Miss Seraphina Finner, of the Inanity, +talked herself out into the hall, and, after an interval +for the purpose of regaling Gimblet with an anecdote +of her earlier struggles, finally talked herself through +the door and out of the flat altogether.</p> + +<p>Gimblet, returning to the little room and absently +rearranging the displaced chairs and tables in their +habitual order, found it more silent and lonely than +before Seraphina had ever entered there, with her +incessant chatter, her boisterous mirth, and her happy +vulgarity. As he moved about the place, restoring to +it the appearance of every-day tidiness, his mind was +busy with the information she had brought and the +question of his next move. He decided on it quickly +as he was finishing his task, and only lingered to pull +back the curtain and throw open the window, so that +the odour of scent that Seraphina had bequeathed +might have an opportunity of dispersing. This he +did, and then taking his hat and a light overcoat, for +the evening was chilly and the weather had turned +afresh to rain, he went down to the street and hailed a +taxi.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></h2> + + +<p>“Drive to the Inanity,” said the detective as +he got into the cab; and when the man +stopped before the theatre: “Do you +know Carolina Road, North West?” he asked him, +leaning out of the window to do so.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” the driver said. “The other side of +Regent’s Park, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Then go there.” Gimblet drew his head back +and sat down as the man let in the clutch and the taxi +started again. It was almost seven o’clock and the +roads were comparatively clear of traffic, while the +pavement seemed still more deserted, the few people +who were to be seen walking quickly to get out of the +rain; but it appeared that for the most part the world +was within doors, resting after the day’s work, or +preparing for the entertainments of the evening.</p> + +<p>The taxi went swiftly, and in a short time had drawn +near to its destination. As they left the more fashionable +streets behind and passed northward into semi-suburban +districts, Gimblet leant eagerly forward, +noting every characteristic of the neighbourhood with +an observant eye and an expectant alertness.</p> + +<p>They soon came upon tree-lined roadways, bordered +by houses that boasted small plots of ground before +their doors. Railings enclosed these plots, and in +many cases a minute carriage drive circled from the +pavement to the entrance of the house; but as they +turned corner after corner and the same scene, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +slight variations, continually repeated itself, Gimblet’s +hopes gave way to an incredulous disappointment, for +of all these dwellings not one answered to the +description given by Miss Finner. She had mentioned +particularly that the house he was looking for stood +alone in its little garden; but in all the streets traversed +by the detective not so much as a cottage was to be +seen of the kind known technically as “detached.”</p> + +<p>They turned at length into Carolina Road and the +driver slowed up, looking round as he did so for +instructions.</p> + +<p>Again Gimblet’s head went out of the window.</p> + +<p>“Go back towards the theatre,” he said, “but go +another way,” and after much noise and backing—for +the street was a narrow one—the cab turned, and off +they started again.</p> + +<p>Rain was falling heavily by this time in a cold, +persistent downpour. The wind blew chill from the +west, and the detective, all a-shiver on this summer’s +evening, told himself, as he drew up the windward pane, +that there must be icebergs sailing down the North +Atlantic. He wrapped his coat closer around him, and +hugged himself in a corner of the taxi. Again they +splashed and bumped over the muddy, streaming +macadam; the water swished from the wheels; the +driver cowered under his shining waterproof screen; +and the car skidded unpleasantly as they swung round +corners and narrowly avoided collision with other +vehicles in the same plight.</p> + +<p>Gimblet kept a look-out no less sharp than before, +but with no better result. Here were houses, indeed, +in plenty, here were gardens and carriage gates, and +dripping trees; but here was no single detached +building of any shape or kind whatsoever. Another +drive Gimblet took, following devious ways. He felt +inclined to ring at Miss Finner’s door and reproach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +her with inaccuracy; but she had not told him the +number in Carolina Road of the house she lived in. +Besides, at this hour she would be at the theatre +preparing to remove the apple which young Tell was +undauntedly balancing.</p> + +<p>For an unpleasant moment the detective wondered +if she had merely made a mistake, or whether the whole +tale were a fabrication. He remembered uneasily the +readiness with which he had accepted it and his urgent +pressing upon the voluble lady of the reward offered in +the papers. No doubt she was laughing at his gullibility, +and regaling her friends with an embellished +account of how easily she had taken in the well-known +detective. Gimblet’s lips tightened as he thought of +it. Was he becoming unduly credulous in his old +age? There was the story Sidney had told him, too. +He had assured himself that he had kept an open mind +as to the truth of it, and had reserved his opinion till +proofs were offered him; but, as a matter of fact, as +he now acknowledged sardonically, he had believed +every word spoken by the young man, and allowed +himself to be absurdly influenced by an honest face and +an appearance of frank trustfulness.</p> + +<p>“A nice sort of detective you are!” said Gimblet to +his reflection in the little slip of looking-glass that +adorned the cab; and he cried to the driver to go +back to Whitehall.</p> + +<p>Higgs was waiting for him, and reported that he had +taken a second advertisement to the advertising agents, +and that he had also been to most of the principal taxi +garages, where he had made inquiries and posted +notices.</p> + +<p>“The man is sure to turn up to-morrow morning, +sir,” he said.</p> + +<p>In the morning there was no news. Gimblet telephoned +to Grosvenor Street and was himself called up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +by Sidney. To him he replied coldly that so far he had +nothing to report. Directly after breakfast Sir Gregory +arrived, panting. “I couldn’t get you on the telephone,” +he said. “Have you heard nothing?”</p> + +<p>“I had an answer to my advertisement,” replied +Gimblet, “but I am afraid the information brought me +was quite unreliable.”</p> + +<p>He told Sir Gregory in a few words of Miss Finner’s +visit.</p> + +<p>“I tested her story pretty severely yesterday,” he +said, “but there still remains a chance that the man +who drove her may appear, and be able to remember +the exact route by which he took her on Monday night. +There is no doubt her own account is so inaccurate as +to be worthless; and it is possible,” he added, owning +the secret dread he could not keep from his thoughts, +“that she was only indulging in a kind of practical +joke.”</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory was beginning to show the effect of his +days of anxiety. Though his face was still pink, the +lines on it seemed to have become deeper and more +numerous, and he had the weary, listless air of one to +whom sleep has denied herself. Gimblet was not +anxious for his company, but Sir Gregory would not +be shaken off. The detective said he had letters to +write and business that must be attended to; but was +met by a pleading request to be allowed to remain, in +case the taxi driver should make his appearance.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what to do with myself if I go +away,” said Sir Gregory miserably. “If I am here I +feel that, if any news does come, I shan’t have to wait +longer than is necessary for it. Nothing like being at +headquarters.”</p> + +<p>Finally Gimblet consented to his staying, and himself +withdrew into another room with a bundle of papers +that needed his attention. When he went back after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +an hour’s work to the library, where he had left Sir +Gregory surrounded by newspapers and books, he found +these cast aside or strewn on the floor and the baronet +himself standing by the telephone, in the act of +hanging up the receiver.</p> + +<p>“I got tired of reading,” he explained; “nothing of +interest in the papers, or I can’t take any interest in +them, whichever it is; so I just thought I’d call up +young Sidney, and tell him about the ladies having been +seen by that young woman. Relieve his anxiety, poor +chap, to have some one to talk about it to.” On the +incidental relief to his own feelings afforded by having +a listener into whose ears to pour them, Sir Gregory did +not think it necessary to expatiate.</p> + +<p>Gimblet showed his vexation.</p> + +<p>“Really, Sir Gregory, you might have known better +than to put him on his guard in that way! Supposing +there’s anything in Chark’s suspicions, don’t you see +that the more complete Sidney thinks our ignorance +and mystification, the better? While, as soon as he +knows us to be on the track, we lose any advantage we +may have?”</p> + +<p>“But—but you said you didn’t suspect him!” +stammered Sir Gregory, dumfounded.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say so. I said there was no reason to take +a tragic view or to suspect anyone at all at first. I +certainly do not accuse anyone now. But day after +day is passing, and the matter looks very much more +serious with each succeeding hour. It seems impossible, +if all were well, that the ladies should not +have communicated with their friends before now. +This is Thursday. They vanished on Monday. I +have been anxious to spare you, Sir Gregory. I know +you have been only too ready to imagine the worst, +and I did not wish to add to your fears; but this is +the third day without news, and it is impossible to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +disguise any longer that you have grave reason for +them.”</p> + +<p>Poor Sir Gregory’s last hopes flickered and were +extinguished.</p> + +<p>“You think—you think——” he murmured.</p> + +<p>“I think there is cause for grave anxiety, but that +is not to say that I am without hope. Far from it. +Still, it is necessary to act with caution; and it was +most imprudent of you to tell Sidney that we had +heard anything. It is true that what we have heard is +probably a mare’s nest, but in any case there is no +need to go blurting things out like that.”</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory paid little attention to what Gimblet +was saying. “So you do think Sidney may know more +of this business than he admits,” he repeated, half to +himself. “Well, perhaps it was a pity I spoke to him +just now, though I don’t see what harm it can do +either. The question is, what do you think he’s done +with her? Do you think”—Sir Gregory’s voice +seemed to fail him but he cleared his throat and +continued with a gulp—“he’s killed her?”</p> + +<p>The words came with a rush, and the question was +plainer than Gimblet cared to answer. “I don’t think +anything,” he replied, still rather testily, “but I must +consider everything and anything possible. At present +it is all mere suspicion, but things look rather black, +though not only against Sidney. As a matter of +personal opinion I incline to the idea that that young +man is innocent; still, I can’t admit his character +cleared on that account. I’ve no evidence worth +mentioning one way or the other.”</p> + +<p>“Who else are you thinking of, when you say things +look black against others than Sidney?” asked Sir +Gregory eagerly. “I have thought myself, that, +perhaps, the servants——”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein’s servants? I don’t think they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +can have anything to do with it. It would have been +impossible for one of them to have got rid of the two +ladies, while they were at home, without the knowledge +of the others. And we can hardly contemplate the +possibility of an organised conspiracy at present. +The chauffeur and footman, you think, may have +disposed of them by some means when they were +supposed to be driving to the opera? But the chauffeur +is an old and trusted servant, and, moreover, the box +opener says that the ladies occupied their box. There +is also the night watchman, who is an ex-corporal of the +Foot-guards, and whose character is of the best. Suppose +that, on their late return to the house, he let them in +quietly, as it was his business to do, and then killed +them both in order to possess himself of Mrs. Vanderstein’s +jewels. The difficulties that would then confront +him before he could dispose of the bodies would +be well nigh insurmountable, even if it were possible +for him to silence two women simultaneously so +effectively as to prevent anyone in the house from being +aroused. The probabilities are strongly against the +night watchman’s having anything to do with it; +and, indeed, I think all the servants may safely be left +out of the reckoning.”</p> + +<p>“Then who can have harmed them?” Sir Gregory +asked.</p> + +<p>“I hesitate to mention anything more to you, Sir +Gregory, after your recent injudicious conduct. However, +I don’t think you’d be able to warn the other +person upon whom suspicion may fall. It is odd that +it should not have occurred to our friend Chark that +Sidney is not the only one who would benefit by Mrs. +Vanderstein’s death,” said Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“Why, what do you mean; who would benefit?”</p> + +<p>“Surely you know. It was you that told me.”</p> + +<p>“I told you?” Sir Gregory looked the picture of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +bewilderment. “I don’t know anyone, except, of +course, Miss Turner, who would be a penny the better +if my dear friend should die.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly.” Gimblet, his chin on his hand, gazed +over Sir Gregory’s head at his newly-discovered +Teniers, which he had found time to hang up in a +central position. “A little further to the right, and +it would be still better,” he thought.</p> + +<p>But Sir Gregory was bounding in his chair. “Miss +Turner! Impossible! A young girl, sir! You don’t +know what you are saying.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you disliked her.” Gimblet was very +calm, almost indifferent.</p> + +<p>“That’s a very different thing from thinking her +capable ... surely it’s impossible.... What makes +you suspect her?” Sir Gregory finished by asking, his +curiosity getting the better of his incredulity.</p> + +<p>“I don’t say I suspect her,” Gimblet answered +patiently. “I say that suspicion might possibly fall +on her more reasonably than on Mr. Sidney, with whom, +by the way, I think she is in love.”</p> + +<p>“Really, how do you know that?”</p> + +<p>“I have evidence that she sympathised very deeply +with his troubles, and carried her sympathy to a length +unusual in young ladies for men to whom they are not +attached. I saw him last Sunday in the company of +a girl, who I think must have been she. If it was, there +is no doubt about the thing. Anyone could see it in +her face at a glance.”</p> + +<p>“Still, if that were so, I don’t see why she should +injure Mrs. Vanderstein.”</p> + +<p>“Love is a very common prompter of crime. I don’t +say it is likely, but it is not impossible that this young +woman, knowing Sidney to be in terrible straits for +want of money, his career threatened, heaven knows +what other threats on his tongue, should be prepared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +to go to desperate lengths to procure him what he +needs. You never can tell what they will do in such +cases; and the one piece of real evidence that I have +shows that she did not mean to sit by idle while her +lover went to his ruin.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet took Barbara’s telegraph form from his +notebook, and spread it on the table before him. +“Look at this,” he said; and Sir Gregory got up and +peered eagerly over his shoulder, eyeglasses on nose.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Luck is coming your way at last expect to have +good news by Wednesday removing all difficulties.”</p> +</div> + +<p>“There’s no signature. Who is it from?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“It is from Miss Turner. I was able to get this +form from the post office and to compare it with a +specimen of her handwriting,” said Gimblet. “The +absence of signature alone looks as if a good deal of +intimacy exists between her and Sidney, though the +name may possibly have been omitted accidentally.”</p> + +<p>“But what could she mean?”</p> + +<p>“Her meaning is plain enough. She promises +Sidney that the money he wants shall be forthcoming. +I do not know how much he requires, but he told me +that the sum is a large one. Now, how was she going +to get a large sum by Wednesday?”</p> + +<p>“She might raise something on the legacy from old +Vanderstein, in which his widow has a life interest,” +suggested the baronet.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know the exact conditions of the will; but, +supposing she dies before Mrs. Vanderstein, what +happens?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” Sir Gregory confessed.</p> + +<p>“If it reverts to Mrs. Vanderstein, there wouldn’t +be much security to borrow money on. In any case, +there is little difference between the ages of the two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +ladies, and rates would be very high. She might not +be able to raise nearly enough, even if she could get +any at all,” said Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“It would be too terrible if a girl like that so much +as lifted a finger against one who has been the soul of +kindness to her,” Sir Gregory repeated.</p> + +<p>“Ah, Sir Gregory, terrible indeed! But terrible +things happen every day. Let a crisis arise, and you +never know who may not surprise and horrify you by +showing the cloven hoof. I hope that Miss Turner is +entirely innocent of all knowledge of this affair, but +there are two points which are against her.”</p> + +<p>“And what are they?”</p> + +<p>“One is her parentage. I have been making +inquiries about her father, and find that William +Turner was a most unholy scoundrel, a man who would +shrink at nothing to gain his ends, always escaping the +penalties of the law by the skin of his teeth. He +slipped from beneath the hand of justice over and over +again, and finally bolted to South America, where he is +reported to have died. Suppose that there was no +truth in that rumour? Suppose he should in reality +have returned to Europe, that he is even now in +England, in London, his presence unknown to anyone +but his daughter? With such a man to instigate her +to crime, who can say what the girl might not venture? +In any case she has bad blood in her; and there is much +truth, Sir Gregory, in the old saying that ‘blood will +tell,’ despite the socialistic opinions to the contrary +which now prevail.”</p> + +<p>“True enough,” murmured the baronet. He was +leaning forward listening intently to Gimblet’s every +word. “But you said there were two points against +her.”</p> + +<p>“Yes. The second is what may have prevented you +from suspecting her before. It is the fact that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +appears to have been spirited away as well as Mrs. +Vanderstein. Well, if there has been foul play—which +heaven forbid, but we must consider all the possibilities +now—if, I say, the vanishing of these ladies has its +origin in crime, the disappearance of Miss Turner is +the most suspicious part of the whole affair. For why +in the world should she share with Mrs. Vanderstein +the attentions of any hypothetical criminal? She +had no diamonds to be robbed of; she did not go about +covered with jewels, having none of any value to +display. She could only be an additional danger, and +one that no ordinary robber would willingly burden +himself with, since her presence could be no possible +source of profit.</p> + +<p>“No, it seems clear that if Mrs. Vanderstein were to +be decoyed away and murdered for her jewels it would +be on an occasion when she was unattended by her +companion. So far, Sir Gregory, you may take that +as an encouragement to think that she is uninjured. It +is indeed a most hopeful sign, and one of the reasons +why I have refused, until to-day, to take a gloomy +view of the business. Still, why has the girl disappeared? +We are driven back on the supposition +that she did so of her own free will; and, if that was the +case, what was her purpose? Remember, all this is +the merest theory, which it would be ridiculous to +accept before we obtain further facts by which to test +it. At present we have a very insufficient acquaintance +with anything that does not involve these wild conjectures.” +As he finished speaking, Gimblet took out +his watch and gazed at it long and significantly.</p> + +<p>With a sigh, Sir Gregory was at last obliged to take +the hint. It was luncheon time: the footsteps of +Higgs as he journeyed between the kitchen and the +dining-room; the clatter of the dishes as he placed +them upon the table or sideboard; the delicious smell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +of pie that was wafted in whenever the door was +opened—all these proclaimed that the hour had +sounded on the stroke of which it was Gimblet’s +custom to take his place before the dining table, full of +the pleasantest anticipations. He was an eccentric +gourmet, devising for himself meals in which strange +dishes appeared in the menu, and he had an excellent +cook, who was content to humour his taste and to +labour secretly to prevent his poisoning himself +altogether; so that, when he ordered fried oysters and +Schwalbach <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">soufflé</i> for luncheon, or lobster and +chocolate ice for dinner, she would intersperse what +she considered more wholesome dishes, such as legs +of mutton and rice puddings, among those he had +chosen for himself, in the vain hope that they might +tempt him from his dangerous combinations. He gave +up remonstrating with her after a while, although he +refused to be coerced into eating what he did not like, +and his persistent neglect to partake of the rice puddings +caused such distress in the kitchen that Higgs fell into +the habit of removing a spoonful from them before he +cleared them away, and consumed it himself rather +than that the cook should what he called “take on.”</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, Sir Gregory was not without hope +that Gimblet would have asked him to stay to lunch; +but it was plain to the most sanguine that the detective +had no such intention, and with hesitating reluctance +the baronet was obliged to depart. He turned in the +doorway, however, to say firmly: “I shall come back +this afternoon,” and then hurried away before Gimblet +had time to put into words the objection his lips were +struggling to form.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory walked to his club, and regaled himself +on cold lamb and a glass of claret. He had no appetite, +and soon pushed away his plate and wandered into the +smoking-room, where he fidgeted about, disconsolate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +and dejected. Several members whom he knew, aware +of his friendship with the ladies whose mysterious +disappearance was by now arousing general interest +and, as a topic, shared the favour of the newspapers +with the preparations for the Royal function that +was to take place during the following week, came up +to him and tried to get him to talk about it. But if +they hoped to glean from him some grains of gossip +beyond the reach of common knowledge, too scandalous +possibly for a decorous press, wherewith they should +proceed to acquire a libellous popularity among their +acquaintances, these gentlemen were to know the +leaden flavour of disappointment. Sir Gregory, with +the sting of Gimblet’s reproaches fresh in his mind, +shut his mouth like a vice at any attempt to turn the +conversation in the forbidden direction, and scowled +as horribly at his friends as his naturally amiable cast +of countenance rendered practicable; so that they soon +moved off, telling each other that old Jones was +becoming a cantankerous old fool and seemed likely +to go off his head altogether, as far as they could judge.</p> + +<p>It happened in this way that the baronet found +himself more and more neglected and alone; till, after +standing it for a couple of hours, he could at last bear +no longer a state of things as disastrous to his nerves +as it was wearing to his temper. About half-past +four he put his pride in his pocket, and leaving the +smoking-room caught up his hat and hastened from the +building. Ten minutes later he was again ringing at +Gimblet’s door.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he been ushered into the detective’s +presence than the bell rang again, and Higgs came in +to say that a taxi driver had arrived in answer to an +advertisement, and asked to see Mr. Gimblet.</p> + +<p>To Sir Gregory’s despair Gimblet at once left him, +and called the man into the little waiting-room.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Good afternoon,” he said to the taxi man, an +intelligent looking fellow with a clean-shaven face, +who returned his greeting civilly as he followed him +into the room; “are you the man who drove a lady +from the Inanity on Monday night to a house in +Carolina Road?”</p> + +<p>“That’s me, sir,” answered the man, “leastways, +as you may say, I drove one of them there.”</p> + +<p>“What?” said Gimblet. “Was there more than +one?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, there was two young ladies when I took +them up, but only one of them went to Carolina Road.”</p> + +<p>“What happened to the other?”</p> + +<p>“I took her to another address first, sir,” said the +driver; “I forget the exact number, but somewhere +about half-way down Hilliard Street it was, and on the +right hand side as I went. That’s Maida Vale way, +Hilliard Street is.”</p> + +<p>“And you went there first,” cried the detective, +“why then, of course I see it all now; the lady only +told me she went from the theatre to Carolina Road, +and my not knowing of the detour you made on the +way has led me to some wrong conclusions.”</p> + +<p>“To Hilliard Street first. Those were the orders +they give me,” repeated the man.</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course,” said Gimblet. “Now, as you +drove on from there to Carolina Road, do you by any +chance remember seeing two ladies, very richly dressed, +standing in front of the open door of a house, which +had a small garden or yard between it and the +street?”</p> + +<p>“Now you’re asking me a riddle,” said the taxi man. +“I may have seen two ladies, or again I may have seen +a hundred of them, or I mayn’t have seen none at all. +That’s more than I could tell you.”</p> + +<p>“You didn’t happen to notice any particular two?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, sir, I did not. If I was to go driving about the +streets a-looking at all the pretty ladies I see about, +I’d be troubling the insurance people a bit too often. I +keep my eyes on what’s in the roadway and that takes +me all my time, I don’t think.”</p> + +<p>“Quite so,” said Gimblet. “Of course you are +perfectly right not to look about you. Well now, +perhaps you could tell me this. In going from Hilliard +Street to Carolina Road, would you pass through a +row of single detached houses on the way? Houses all +standing in their own gardens some little way apart +from each other?”</p> + +<p>The man considered, mumbling to himself the names +of the streets, as he made a mental journey along the +route the detective indicated. In a minute he looked +up.</p> + +<p>“There’s Scholefield Avenue,” he suggested, “that’s +all little places like what you say.”</p> + +<p>“Did you go by it on Monday?” asked Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“I did, sir. It’s about half-way. There isn’t no +other street on the road with the houses all separate +like that, so far’s I can recollect. I’ve got me cab down +at the door, sir; why don’t you jump in and let me +take you along to see for yourself?”</p> + +<p>“I think that’s exactly what I will do,” said Gimblet. +“You go down and I’ll follow in a moment.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet was all eagerness. Here at last he seemed +to be off on a definite scent, and he leapt to it all the +more keenly for last night’s check. The door had not +closed upon the driver of the taxi before the detective +had decided in his mind more than one question +requiring an answer. First, he would take Higgs, +secondly, he would not take Sir Gregory. He tiptoed +along the passage, and noiselessly turned the handle +of the pantry door.</p> + +<p>“Higgs,” he said, “I am going out to have a look<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +at a certain house. I may want you. Get ready to +come. I give you three minutes.”</p> + +<p>As quietly, he repaired to his own bedroom, and +going to a cupboard made a rapid selection of various +small articles, which he stuffed in his pockets. Then, +opening a drawer, he took out a Browning pistol, and +that also was stowed away. He stood an instant in +the middle of the room with his head on one side, +tugging absently at his ear. Had he forgotten +anything? Ah, he knew what it was, and springing +back to a shelf he seized and added to his collection a +box of chocolates. “One never knows when one will +get back from these sort of jaunts,” he said to himself, +“and I have been very hungry before now on my +hunting trips.”</p> + +<p>One more look round satisfied him that he had +everything he could imaginably need, and he returned +to the hall, where Higgs was waiting by the door.</p> + +<p>A minute more and they would have got clear away, +but at the very instant that Gimblet, hurrying quietly +towards his servant, snatched at his hat and lifted it +to his head, the library door opened, and Sir Gregory’s +pink and anxious countenance peered out on him.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Gimblet,” he cried, “where are you off to? +The taxi man brought news then; and you would go +without telling me! No, don’t let me delay you,” as +Gimblet paused, hesitating, “I will come with you +wherever you are going, and you shall tell me on the +way,” and grasping his hat and stick, the baronet +prepared to accompany the others.</p> + +<p>There was no help for it, and the detective surrendered +at once. Indeed, the anxious face reproached +him, and he knew he had been patently a little less +willing to endure Sir Gregory’s society than was, under +the circumstances, altogether charitable. The poor +man’s distress, though it made him rather a depressing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +companion, bore witness to the kindness of his heart +and was if anything a circumstance entirely to his +credit; and the accident that he bored Gimblet ought +not really to be allowed to prevent him from participating +in the rescue of his friends, if rescue there were +to be.</p> + +<p>“Come along, Sir Gregory,” said Gimblet.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Scholefield Avenue</span> was a short street of +moderate-sized houses, which, when they +were built, had stood at the extreme margin +of what was then a suburb; indeed, some of the +original tenants had called it the country. There was +considerable variety of appearance about them, but +they were alike in one respect: each stood apart from +its neighbours, in grounds that differed in extent from +a tiny yard to half an acre. Thus No. 1, at the south-eastern +corner, possessed a large kitchen garden running +back a long way, with outbuildings at the further end, +a stable, with a coach house on one side of the stable +gate, and a chicken house and run on the other. The +old lady who lived at No. 1 was very proud of the fact +that she supplied herself with vegetables, eggs, and +poultry all the year round, though, as she was fond of +saying, her house was within three miles of the Marble +Arch. She often thought of keeping a cow.</p> + +<p>No. 3, next door, had hardly any garden behind it at +all, the ground that should by rights have belonged to +it having been bought up by No. 1 in former days and +added to its own; and this caused an unneighbourly +feeling to exist between the two houses, which was +inherited by each successive occupier of No. 3. Most +of the other dwellings in the street were more equally +provided with land; and the row came to an end with +No. 17, a very small house surrounded by nothing more +interesting than an asphalt path, with a thin hedge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +laurel between it and the outer railings. Some of the +houses showed the large, high window of a studio. +On the opposite side of the road the same variety +existed.</p> + +<p>The taxi containing Gimblet, Sir Gregory, and Higgs +drove slowly down the street, and was more than halfway +along it when the detective caught sight of the +board “To Let” for which he was looking. It +adorned the railings of No. 6, which stood on the left +hand side as they went north.</p> + +<p>They stopped after they had turned the corner, and +got out of the cab. Gimblet paid and dismissed it, +and they walked back to No. 6.</p> + +<p>It did not look very promising, presenting a shuttered +and unbroken front to the spectator, and bearing marks +of age and disrepair. The gate swung on a broken +hinge, and, in the cold wind that was still blowing, a +door at the back banged every now and then with +uncontrolled and unprofitable violence.</p> + +<p>Higgs, at a sign from Gimblet, rang the bell and +stood aside, while they waited for some one to answer +it. For a few minutes they heard nothing but the +jar of the banging door and the rustle of the wind in +the trees that lined the street; then they were aware +of a slatternly woman, carrying a wooden bucket in +her hand, who was trying to attract their attention +from the steps of the house next door.</p> + +<p>“If you gentleman are a-ringing,” she began, +addressing them in a shout over the intervening +bushes, “a-thinking, as it might be, by so doing to get +into that there house, it ain’t no good; you can’t do +it. There ain’t no one in it.”</p> + +<p>“Who’s got the key?” Gimblet cried back to her.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got it meself. I’ll come round and unlock +the door.”</p> + +<p>Descending the steps as she spoke she proceeded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +to make her way into the street, and so in at the +swinging gate of No. 6.</p> + +<p>“‘Ave you got a horder from the hagents?” she +demanded when she arrived. “No? Well, I don’t +mind you having a look at the ’ouse all the same, if +you’re set on it. There ain’t much to see, I reckon, +but a lot of dirt and litter.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke she inserted the key in the lock, and +opened the door. Sir Gregory, who was nearest, was +about to enter, but Gimblet laid a hand upon his arm.</p> + +<p>“Please, Sir Gregory, I must pass before you to-day,” +he said, and putting him gently on one side he stepped +across the threshold. The woman was in the act of +following, but he motioned her back, and stood for a +moment staring at the floor. Then he turned to +her.</p> + +<p>“I see on the board that the house is to be let +unfurnished, or would be sold,” he said, “and I understand +it has been empty a considerable time. Can +you tell me how long it is since anyone has been to look +at it?”</p> + +<p>“It’s stood hempty more’n two years,” said the +woman, “so I’ve ’eard say. There ain’t been no one +come to look at it since I’ve been ’ere. I’m caretaking, +I am, for a party what live next door. ’E’s +away in foreign parts, that’s where ’e is, and time I’ve +been a-caretaking for ’im you’re the first what’s asked +to see the hinside of this yere ’ouse.”</p> + +<p>“And how long have you been caretaking here, do +you say?” Gimblet inquired.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been ’ere a matter of four months come next +Monday,” replied the woman.</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” said Gimblet; and turned again towards +the interior of the building. He bent down, and +looked close at the bare boards of the passage, on which +lay the dust and dirt that accumulates in an empty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +house. Then as an idea struck him he stood upright +again.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think we will bother to go over the house,” +he said to the woman. “I fear it wouldn’t suit me. +At all events, you can perhaps tell me one more thing +I am anxious to know,” he continued, coming out of +the house and facing the street. “There was another +board up in this street about a week ago, but I see they +have taken it down. Do you know which number it +was, and whether the house has been let?”</p> + +<p>“Why yes, sir, they ’ave been and took down the +board from No. 13,” said the caretaker, “took it down +beginning of the week, they did. But the ’ouse’s let, I +think; it won’t be no good your going after it. If +it’s a furnished ’ouse you’re looking for, I see a board +hup in the next street t’other day. Little Cumberland +Street.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you very much,” said Gimblet. “I’ll take +a look at it if I find No. 13 is let. Good morning, and +I’m sorry to have troubled you.”</p> + +<p>They left the woman to lock up the house and return +to her caretaking, and started off up the street.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory went reluctantly, visibly hanging back.</p> + +<p>“Look here,” he said to Gimblet, “why don’t you +go over that house? It wouldn’t take a minute. +Supposing they’ve got her shut up in an empty room +at the top somewhere. Much better make sure.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Sir Gregory, no one has been in that house +for months; the dust was deep on the floor and there +were no signs of its having been disturbed recently. +Do you think two women in long evening dresses could +go in without leaving some mark of their passage so +short a time ago. Their dresses would either have +swept away some of the dust or, if they held them high, +their footmarks would have remained. It is impossible +that No. 6 is the house, unless some one has spread fresh<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +dust in the hall since Monday. Besides, it is very +improbable that they should have gone to such a +deserted, filthy building, and, on the contrary, more +than likely that they should go to a house that had +just been let. I felt sure there must have been a +board up at another house in this street when Miss +Finner passed, as soon as I looked at the floor. Come, +here is No. 13, and I have a feeling that we shall find it +a more profitable hunting ground.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet opened, as he spoke, the gate of No. 13, +and took a rapid scrutiny of its exterior as he walked +quickly up the short distance that separated it from +the road.</p> + +<p>It showed a striking contrast to the forlorn and +gloomy front offered to the world by the house they +had just visited. No. 13 was spick and span; its +white walls and shutters shone with the brightness of +new paint; a neat grass plot, with a diminutive +carriage drive winding in a half-circle round it, divided +it from the railings of the street, the whole occupying +no more than a few square yards of space. On each +side of the flight of steps that led up to the front +door there was a little triangular flower bed, gay with +pansies, and, as the three men approached, the sun, +breaking for the first time that day through the dilatory +dispersal of the clouds, cast a shining beam about the +place and was caught and reflected from the surface of +the windows.</p> + +<p>The change in the day was not without its effect even +on Sir Gregory, and as he watched Higgs spring +forward to ring the bell a new and sudden inrush of +hope mounted to his heart.</p> + +<p>“I have an excuse by which we may get into the +house if they seem disinclined to admit us,” Gimblet +was murmuring in his ear. “Back me up in all I say, +but leave the chief part of the talking to me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>They waited eagerly, with eyes fixed on the door and +ears strained to catch the sound of footsteps; but +minutes passed and no such sound greeted them. +Higgs rang again; the loud pealing of the bell could be +heard jingling itself to a standstill in the basement, +and must surely be audible all over the house. Still +no one came, and he tried the area with no better +result. Leaving Higgs to continue his efforts, Gimblet +backed across the little lawn, and looked up at +the windows to see if he could detect any sign of +life.</p> + +<p>There were muslin curtains in the bedroom windows +and he tried in vain to catch sight of a pair of eyes +peeping from behind one of them; but not a movement +was visible anywhere. The shutters of the drawing-room +were closed, and the parapet of the broad balcony +shut them out from a searching inspection, which was +still further impeded by a wide wooden stand which +took up most of the balcony, and extended its whole +length. In it were planted flowers, tall daisies and +geraniums, which appeared somewhat withered and +neglected, and, with the closed shutters, contributed +the only hint of disorder in the clean and cheerful +aspect of the house.</p> + +<p>The detective made his way round to the back. +Here the ground fell away, and the basement appeared +on the surface instead of below the level of the ground. +Another and longer flight of iron steps led up to a door +used, no doubt, to give access to the garden. There +was no bell here, and the door, of which Gimblet tried +the handle, was locked. Through the windows of the +basement he could see into the kitchen, clean and +orderly as the outside of the house, with white tiled +walls and rows of shining stewpans. The table was +bare, he noticed, and no fire burnt in the grate; on a +summer’s evening such as this it might well have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +allowed to go out. On the other side of the steps he +looked into what must be the scullery, and beyond this +was a larder; over these was a small window into which +he could not see, while above the kitchen a large one +was hidden, like those of the drawing-room, by outside +shutters. The back window of the first floor, however, +and all the other windows at the back of the house +were without shutters, and veiled only by curtains of +white muslin.</p> + +<p>Gimblet took a hasty survey of the garden. It was +not large, extending back for some sixty or seventy +yards from the house, but bright with flowers and +green with lawn and leaf; trees surrounded it on all +sides, now golden in the rays of the descending sun; +and a high wall gave it privacy from an inquisitive +world. Here again the beds were dappled with +pansies; here were pinks and poppies, daisies and tall +larkspurs, with such other flowers as could be induced +to derive nourishment from the unrefreshing showers +of smuts, which was their daily portion. By the end +wall was a hut, of which the door yielded to Gimblet’s +touch, and disclosed a mowing machine in one corner, +some garden implements in another, and a potting +bench with boxes of mould and some packets of seeds; +by the door were stacked a few red pots. Gimblet +stood for a moment looking in, and then went back to +the front of the house.</p> + +<p>Here he found Sir Gregory engaged in conversation +with an elderly man, whose velvet coat and the paint +brush he carried stuck behind his ear suggested that +he was an artist. He introduced himself as the +detective came up.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Gimblet, I think,” said he; “my name is +Brampton. I live next door,” and he waved his hand +towards the south.</p> + +<p>Gimblet ground his teeth as he realised that Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +Gregory had given away his identity, but he replied +civilly that it was indeed he.</p> + +<p>“Although only a stay-at-home painter, I have heard +of you,” said the new-comer; “but of course I had +no idea who was ringing, when I came round. My +wife saw your friends at the door here, and suggested +that I should come and tell you that she believes there +is no one in the house. We heard that it was let, and +the other day a man came and took down the board, +but my wife says that no one has been seen to go in or +leave the house for several days; she and the servants +are of opinion that it is empty at the present moment, +and that the new tenant has not yet arrived.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said Gimblet, “I am grateful for your +information; but I have some reason to think that the +new tenant took possession some time ago.”</p> + +<p>“It can hardly be very long,” observed Brampton, +“for the Mills, to whom it belongs, only went away last +week.”</p> + +<p>“Really,” said Gimblet, “you interest me. Who +are the Mills? Do you know them at all?”</p> + +<p>“Most certainly I do. They are great friends of +ours, and their having to go away like this is a sad loss +to us. Arthur Mill is the son of an old acquaintance +of mine—a manufacturer of glass—and is employed in +his father’s business. His wife is a charming woman, +and we are devoted to them both. It was only lately +decided that he was to go abroad, to look after a branch +of the business in Italy, and they had very little time +to make arrangements about letting their house. +They only left on Friday last, and it was a great +surprise to us to hear on Monday that the house had +been let.”</p> + +<p>“Did you hear who had taken it?” inquired +Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“I think I did hear the man’s name, but I am afraid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +I have forgotten it. My wife saw a charwoman going +in on Monday morning whom she often employs +herself, so she ran in here, as she told me, to ask her +what she was doing, as the house had been all cleaned +up on Friday and Saturday after the Mills left. The +charwoman said she had been sent in by the house +agents to see if anything remained to be put in order, +as the new tenant, or so she understood, wanted to go +in at once. That is all we heard; but as no one has +been seen or heard about the place since that day it +looks as if they had changed their minds.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks very much,” said Gimblet. “If you could +tell me the name of the agents I think my best plan is +to go and try to get the key from them, as it seems +impossible to rouse anyone here.”</p> + +<p>“Ennidge and Pring are the agents; in Sentinel +Street, about ten minutes’ walk from here. You’ll +have to be quick, or you won’t catch them. They’re +sure to close at six.”</p> + +<p>“I will go now,” said Gimblet, and he drew Higgs +on one side. “Higgs,” he said, “keep an eye on the +front of the house, and if anyone comes out and you +fail to detain him, follow him, leaving Sir Gregory to +watch the house. In the meantime, let him watch the +back. I shall be back soon if I can get a taxi.”</p> + +<p>He started off, Mr. Brampton accompanying him as +far as his own door and pointing out the way to +Sentinel Street. At the gate they glanced back at +the shuttered first floor windows and the faded flowers +on the balcony.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Mill would be terribly upset if she saw how +her flowers are being neglected,” said Mr. Brampton. +“She is so very fond of her garden, and is always +watering and attending to her plants. A man is to +come once a week, on Saturday mornings, to look after +the garden and mow the lawn, and I shall tell him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +insist on watering the balcony boxes. That’s your +way now, up the street and bear to the left. Ah, +there’s a taxi.”</p> + +<p>A cab had indeed that moment turned into the +street, and Gimblet hailed it and drove rapidly to the +offices of Messrs. Ennidge and Pring, house agents.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Mr. Ennidge</span> was a short, middle-aged man, +with grey hair, and a mild, benignant eye, +which gazed at you vaguely through +gold-rimmed spectacles. Mr. Pring, his partner, tall, +thin, nervous and excitable, was the very antithesis of +him, and that is possibly why they got on so well +together. While Mr. Pring was always able to display +enthusiasm in regard to the properties he had to dispose +of, to the people who were inquiring for houses, and +was never at a loss when it was necessary to explain +that what the intending client took for geese were +really swans, he was apt to relapse into gloom when +called upon to deal with would-be sellers, or those who +had houses to let and were disappointed with the rent +obtainable, or the failure of Ennidge and Pring to +procure them a tenant at any price. He was then only +too likely, if left to himself, to disclose his plain and +truthful opinion as to their property. This was seldom +productive of good results, for, as a rule, the transference +of the property in question to the books of +another agent followed these outbursts; and, Ennidge +and Pring’s business being a small one, they could not +afford to lose customers.</p> + +<p>It was in such cases, however, that Mr. Ennidge was +seen at his best. It was he who, with friendly smile +and hopeful, encouraging word, cheered the downhearted +householder and sent him away with confidence +restored, convinced once more that a tenant would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +shortly be forthcoming to whom the absence of a +bath-room, of a back door, of gas or hot water laid on, +and the presence of blackened ceilings, wallpaper +hanging in strips, and dirt-encrusted paint, would if +anything prove a veritable inducement to clinch a +bargain most satisfactory to the landlord.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pring had already left the office when Gimblet +arrived on the scene, and in another quarter of an +hour he would have found it wholly deserted. He gave +his card to the only clerk of the establishment, who +took it in to the little inner room, where he was +immediately received by the smiling Mr. Ennidge; +and to him he quickly stated his business.</p> + +<p>“There can be no possible objection to my giving +you all the information in my power with regard to +the gentleman who has taken 13 Scholefield Avenue,” +said the house agent, “and since you cannot get an +answer at the house I will send down my clerk with +the key to let you in and assist, if necessary, in +explaining matters to the tenant, if he should be +discovered to be there after all. A very eccentric +gentleman, I fancy, and something of a recluse. I +could not, of course, take it on myself to use the spare +key, which the owner happens to have left with us, +at the request of a less well-known and responsible +person than yourself, if I may say so, Mr. Gimblet; +but since the capture of the forgers at the Great +Continental last year, your name, sir, has been in +every one’s mouth; and you will allow me to add that +I am, although hitherto unknown, one of your most +fervent admirers.”</p> + +<p>Thus was it ever Mr. Ennidge’s pleasant way to oil +the wheels of intercourse with his fellows.</p> + +<p>“The name of the tenant of No. 13,” he continued, +“is Mr. West, Mr. Henry West. He has taken the +house for a month with the option of taking it on for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +a year or longer; and I fancy he must be a man of +means, as the offer which he made appears to be an +unusually high one—unnecessarily so, I may say, +between you and me, Mr. Gimblet; but in the interests +of our client, the owner of the lease, I need hardly tell +you we did not quarrel with him on that account!”</p> + +<p>“What aged man is he?” inquired Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“I really can hardly tell you,” replied Mr. Ennidge. +“The fact is that I myself have not yet seen him. +Both I and my partner happened to be out when Mr. +West came to the office, and he made all the arrangements +with our clerk. Perhaps you would like him to +come in?”</p> + +<p>“I should be glad to ask him a few questions,” said +Gimblet.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ennidge put his head into the outer office.</p> + +<p>“Tremmels,” he called, with his hand on the door. +“Just come in here a moment.”</p> + +<p>The clerk appeared, a white-faced young Londoner, +showing very plainly the effects of an indoor life and +long, hot hours spent upon an office stool; he moved +languidly, as if every step were an exertion almost too +great to repeat, and stood before Gimblet in a drooping +attitude of fatigue.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Gimblet wants to hear about the tenant of No. +13 Scholefield Avenue,” Mr. Ennidge told him.</p> + +<p>The clerk straightened himself with a perceptible +effort, and stared fixedly at Gimblet, who had long +since become accustomed to the interest the mention +of his name commonly aroused. No doubt this youth +knew the detective by repute; but he had an expression +of such wooden stupidity, and withal looked so +terribly ill and exhausted, that Gimblet wondered if +he would be able to extract much sense from him.</p> + +<p>“It was you,” he said, “who let the house to Mr. +West?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the clerk. “He came in one day last +week.”</p> + +<p>“Friday,” interposed Mr. Ennidge.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he came in here last Friday morning, and said +he’d been over No. 13 Scholefield Avenue, having seen +the board ‘To Let’ in front of the house,” replied the +clerk. “The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Mill, had only gone +away that morning, and Mr. West was shown over by +a servant who had been left behind to clear up and +follow by a later train. He told me he required a +furnished house for a year. He said he was very fond +of solitude; that he had lived in India all his life and +didn’t care to meet strangers, but wanted a house with +a garden, where he could be private, so to speak. He +said he thought Scholefield Avenue would suit him +admirably, but that he wished to take it for a month +first to see how he liked it, and to have the option of +taking it on. I was uncertain whether Mr. Mill would +be agreeable to such an arrangement, and suggested +waiting till we could communicate with the owner, but +he wouldn’t hear of that; said he wished to go in +immediately, and would take some other house he’d +seen unless he could clinch the matter then and there. +He made an offer of fifteen guineas a week for the first +month, and eight for the rest of the year if he should +decide to take it on. This is such a very high price for +this part of London that I felt sure Mr. Ennidge or +Mr. Pring, if they had been here, would not have let +it escape, but would have hit the iron while it was hot, +if you take my meaning; and as I was aware that Mr. +Mill had left an absolute discretion to the firm with +regard to letting the house, and that he was very +anxious to do so as quickly as possible, I didn’t hesitate +any longer, but agreed to Mr. West’s conditions.</p> + +<p>“He said that he wished to have possession of the +house from midday of Monday last; told me to get a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +charwoman in on Monday morning, in case any +cleaning up remained to be done, and that he wished +me to meet him at the house on Monday for the purpose +of going over the inventory. Then he took out a +pocket book, which seemed to be stuffed full of bank +notes, paid me thirty guineas, the rent for half the first +month, and asked me to get the agreement for him to +sign. I got him two agreement forms such as we use, +as a rule, when letting furnished houses, and he signed +them both and put one in his pocket.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Mr. Gimblet would like to glance at our +copy,” said Mr. Ennidge, diving into a drawer. “Here +it is,” and he handed a paper to the detective, who +turned it over thoughtfully. There was nothing on it +beyond the ordinary printed clauses setting forth the +terms of the contract. At the end the tenant had +signed his name, “Henry West,” in large, sprawling +characters, the strokes of which seemed a trifle uncertain, +as if the hand that held the pen had not been +absolutely steady. Below, in a neat business-like +writing, was the clerk’s signature: “A. W. Tremmels, +for Messrs. Ennidge and Pring.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet put it in his pocket. “I may keep it for +the present, I suppose?” he asked Mr. Ennidge, who +looked rather as if he would have liked to object, but +on the whole decided not to.</p> + +<p>“Can you describe what Mr. West looked like?” +Gimblet asked the clerk. “But perhaps you had +better tell me that on the way to the house. Mr. +Ennidge has promised to send you down with me. One +thing, however, before we start: I should like to see the +inventory, if I may.”</p> + +<p>“By all means,” Mr. Ennidge replied. “Just get +it, Tremmels, and the key too. You know where they +are kept,” and as the clerk went into the outer office +he turned again to Gimblet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>“If you would like me to come myself?” he +suggested.</p> + +<p>“Oh no, thanks,” Gimblet answered, “do not +trouble to come. As the clerk is the only one who met +Mr. West, I think he will really be more useful to +me. I suppose he can stand a walk down to Scholefield +Avenue? He looks dreadfully ill, poor chap; +what’s wrong with him? Consumptive?”</p> + +<p>“He is ill, I’m afraid,” said Mr. Ennidge regretfully, +“but it will do him good to get a walk and a breath of +fresh air. The hot weather we had last week was very +trying; Tremmels certainly looks very bad since the +heat. I have told him to take a holiday to-morrow,” +he added kindly, “a day in the country will be the +best thing for him, and there is not very much to be +done in the office at this time of the year. Business is +very slack, Mr. Gimblet. I daresay, now, yours keeps +your nose to the grindstone, at one season as much as +another?”</p> + +<p>“Well, yes,” said Gimblet. “I’m afraid the criminal +classes aren’t very regular in their holiday-making. +It’s very inconsiderate of them, but I’m afraid they’re a +selfish lot.”</p> + +<p>The house agent’s ever-present smile broadened, and +at that moment young Tremmels made his reappearance +with the inventory. In an instant Gimblet’s keen +nose had told him that with the clerk there now entered +the room a pervading smell of brandy, and his quick +eye noted a tinge of colour in the pale cheek of the +young man, which had previously not been visible +there. “O-ho,” he said to himself, “so that’s the +trouble, is it?” Then, with a word of thanks to Mr. +Ennidge, Gimblet led the way out into the street, and +turned his steps towards Scholefield Avenue.</p> + +<p>“Now then,” he said to his companion as they +hurried along, “about this Mr. West. What is he +like?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>“He’s an elderly, rather horsey-looking gentleman, +and odd in his manner,” said the clerk. “What I +mean to say is, he has a very pleasant way of talking, +and yet somehow he doesn’t talk like an ordinary +gentleman might. Seems rather fond of what I may +term the habit of using bad language.”</p> + +<p>“What does he look like?”</p> + +<p>“He isn’t what you’d call a tall man; not that I +should call him short either; and thin, very thin. +Don’t know if I make myself clear?”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly,” said Gimblet patiently, “would you +know him again?”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes. He’s a very uncommon sort to meet +about. I’d know him anywhere. He’s got a leather +coloured face, which looks as if he’d been out in the +sun more than a few weeks, and a funny little bit of a +pointed beard on his chin. Tell you what he looks +like,” said Tremmels, with more show of animation +than he had so far exhibited, “he looks more like an +American than he does an Indian; and, come to think +of it, he’s got a nasty sort of voice, same as they have, +but not very strong.”</p> + +<p>“Anything else you can remember about him?” +Gimblet asked. He was listening with intense interest.</p> + +<p>“Well, he has got a way of standing with his legs +apart, and getting up on his tiptoes; and then down he +lets himself go with a jerk, if I make myself plain. +His wool is a bit grey and is commencing to get +baldish on the top. He seems to dislike seeing +strangers or making new acquaintances, as you may +say. He gave me to understand that he’s a scholar, +and going in for reading and what not when he’s +settled in Scholefield Avenue; says his health’s bad too, +but I shouldn’t wonder if it was more likely something +else. More this sort of thing.” The clerk made an +upward movement with his right arm and hand, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +which, as Gimblet was walking on his other side, the +significance was lost on him.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon?” he inquired doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Granted,” said Tremmels; “what I mean is, if +you understand me, I shouldn’t be surprised if anyone +was to tell me that he takes a drop too much. Rather +rosy about the beak, I thought, and when he left the +office I watched him go down the street till he was +nearly out of sight, when what should he do but nip +across into the private bar of the <i>Lion and Crown</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said Gimblet, “I observed a certain shakiness +in the signature of the lease.” In his own mind he +was thinking that it was more than probable that the +clerk had accompanied Mr. West to the <i>Lion and +Crown</i>. “Did you notice anything else?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I did,” said Tremmels thoughtfully. +“He wore ordinary sort of clothes. Gent’s +lounge suit with a large check pattern, brown boots, +and a very genteel diamond pin in the centre of his tie. +Altogether quite the gentleman, and very civil-spoken +and pleasant when not swearing. He told me that he +wouldn’t want any coals ordered in, as his cooking +would be done chiefly on the gas stove with which the +kitchen of No. 13 is fitted. There is every convenience, +as you may say,” concluded the clerk.</p> + +<p>As Gimblet pondered over what he had heard, and +reflected that the powers of observation that his +companion showed were greater than he had given +him credit for, they drew near to Scholefield Avenue +and passed beneath its lines of branching plane trees +to the gate of Mr. Mill’s house. Higgs was at his post +before it and reported that nothing had stirred during +the detective’s absence. Sir Gregory came from the +back of the house in the company of Mr. Brampton, +who had joined him there. The artist was plainly +excited.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Your friend tells me,” he said, as he came up to +Gimblet’s side, “that you think that the two ladies of +whose disappearance the papers are so full—Mrs. +Vanderstein and her companion—came to this house +on the night that they vanished. It will be the +greatest favour if you will allow me to witness your +methods of investigating this affair.”</p> + +<p>“By all means,” said Gimblet ungraciously, “why +shouldn’t the whole street come? I think it is very +probable that it will do so, since Sir Gregory Aberhyn +Jones appears to be perfectly incapable of keeping his +own counsel, no matter whether the safety of his +friends is endangered or not.” So saying he turned and +held out his hand for the key of the house to the +clerk, who, panting and gasping after his walk, now +leant against the door as if no longer able to support +himself unaided.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory and the artist, off whom Gimblet’s right +and left shots had glanced with a sting but produced no +permanent wounds, fell back silenced for the moment, +though unflinchingly determined to see anything there +was to be seen. The quick, searching eyes of Brampton +rested on the clerk, and he took in his woeful condition +with the rapidity of his trade.</p> + +<p>“That young fellow ought to be in bed,” he said, in +a low voice, in Sir Gregory’s ear, “but I suppose, like +the rest of us, he won’t be able to tear himself away from +this exciting spot.”</p> + +<p>They followed Gimblet, who had opened the door +and passed through it into the hall. He looked round +him in despair.</p> + +<p>“Really, gentleman,” he cried, “you must stay at +the door for the present. If this house has anything +to tell, it will never do so after you have trampled all +traces from the very floors with your innumerable feet. +I will just see if there is anyone here; and, if not, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +can come in after I have begun my thorough examination, +as long as you keep out of my way and do as I +tell you. Otherwise I warn you, Sir Gregory, that you +will ruin every chance of success.”</p> + +<p>“He talks as if we were centipedes,” murmured +Brampton.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory motioned him to silence, and they +remained obediently in the doorway while the +detective and Higgs ran over the house, opening all +the doors and glancing into the rooms to see if there +were anyone in them. Whatever secret might lurk +beneath that roof, for the moment at least there was +no visible human occupant to divulge it; and, if he +was to arrive at any answer to the problem of what had +taken place on Monday night after the arrival of the +ladies, it was clear to Gimblet that he must do so with +no help other than the dumb aid he might receive from +the inanimate objects still within the walls, or even +from the very walls themselves.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had completed the first hurried +general survey, the detective began a systematic +examination of the house, starting with the hall and +passage of the ground floor. The other men had to +move away from the steps while he was here, as their +figures crowding in the open doorway blocked the light, +and he wanted all he could get. There was no electric +light. In Scholefield Avenue, Brampton told Sir +Gregory, all the houses were dependent on gas for their +illumination. Gimblet knelt down and examined the +carpet of the hall on his hands and knees. He took +a small magnifying lens from his pocket, and applied +it to certain spots, which he lingered over longer than +the rest of the floor; at the foot of the stairs he picked +up a small object from under the corner of the mat; he +held it to the light for a moment between finger and +thumb, and then put it carefully away in a little box<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +like a pill-box, which he also produced from his pocket. +Then he stood up, and examined the furniture with the +same patient deliberation. Presently he spoke to the +clerk, who was standing before the door, a little apart +from the others.</p> + +<p>“Have you got that inventory?” he asked. “Just +read out the contents of the hall.”</p> + +<p>Tremmels came up the steps and opened the book he +carried.</p> + +<p>“Two oak chairs, one oak table, one mirror, one +mat,” he read. “One umbrella stand; two chairs on +landing, eight engravings in frames.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a bit,” interposed the detective, “we +haven’t got there yet.”</p> + +<p>He went to the door, and called to Sir Gregory and +Brampton.</p> + +<p>“I’ve finished the hall,” he said. “If you want to +come in, you can, as long as you stay behind me and +don’t bother me with talking.”</p> + +<p>Then he turned back to his search, and began to +subject each tread of the staircase to the same minute +examination as the hall had received. From time to +time he added another tiny object to the one he had +already placed in the pill-box; four or five were +deposited there before they reached the first +floor.</p> + +<p>In this way the party ascended, a step at a time, till +Brampton’s curiosity began to succumb to the boredom +of such ineffably slow, crawling, snail-like progress.</p> + +<p>“I think I’ll not inflict my presence any longer, Mr. +Gimblet,” said he, “it is time I dressed for dinner, or +my wife will have to wait for me.”</p> + +<p>Receiving no answer from Gimblet, who was now +absolutely absorbed in his work, he whispered to Sir +Gregory that he would come back after dinner, and +retired from the scene, escorted to the door by Higgs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +who let him out and shut it behind him before he +returned to his post at the foot of the staircase.</p> + +<p>At the top of the house Gimblet straightened +himself and turned to Sir Gregory and the clerk, who +were on the stairs a few steps below him.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory, who was nearly choking with pent-up +questions, seized the opportunity.</p> + +<p>“Have you found anything?” he cried, and +Tremmels, though he said nothing, was a living echo +of the words, as he strained forward behind Sir Gregory +to catch the reply.</p> + +<p>“Nothing definite as yet,” said Gimblet, “but I +may say it appears to me probable that, if Mrs. +Vanderstein did come here on Monday night, she did +not stay in the house long. I should say she went no +higher, at all events, than the drawing-room floor.” +And he proceeded to the examination of the rooms +working his way downwards.</p> + +<p>The bedrooms yielded no harvest; they wore the +dismal look of unoccupied rooms and had apparently +not been entered since, having been swept and cleaned +with great thoroughness, they had been left ready for +the use of the tenant. None of the beds were made, +there was no water in the jugs, there was absolutely +no indication of so much as one of them having been +used since the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Mill. Gimblet +did not spend so long over them as he had over the +staircase, but it was past eight o’clock when at length +he came out of the last one and descended to the first +floor.</p> + +<p>“I can always try upstairs again if there is nothing +conclusive here,” he said to Sir Gregory, as they went +down.</p> + +<p>With his hand on the knob of the drawing-room +door he paused an instant, looking with more sympathy +than he had lately shown at the anxious face of the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +soldier. A feeling crept over him that it would not be +good for Sir Gregory to enter this room; it was a vague +impalpable feeling, which he could not explain; and +in a moment it had passed. He opened the door and +went into the drawing-room, leaving the baronet, in +obedience to instructions received, faithfully standing +on the landing, the white face of the clerk showing over +his shoulder, framed in the square of the doorway +against the dusky shadows beyond.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">In</span> the preliminary hasty search over the house, it +had fallen to Higgs to reach the first floor earlier +than his master. Gimblet had left it to him to +examine, while he himself hurried to the upper stories; +so that he now entered the drawing-room for the first +time.</p> + +<p>He stood for a moment turning his head to right +and left, taking in the principal features of the apartment +with quick, comprehensive glances. Then, of a +sudden, the whole figure of the man stiffened; and it +was hard to recognise Mr. Gimblet, the dilettante, the +frequenter of curiosity shops, the lounger in picture +galleries, in the tense, motionless form of Gimblet, the +detective, at this moment. He stood, as a pointer +stands when it catches the wind of game, erect and +stiff, in an attitude of interrupted movement, one knee +still bent for the step he had been in the very act of +making; his whole form absolutely still, save for a +series of short, successive intakings of the breath, as, +with head thrown back and his eyes shining with the +keen, well-balanced excitement of the hunter, he sniffed +the air.</p> + +<p>What was it he smelt? Something so faint, so +indefinite, that after the first arresting instant he had +lost it altogether; and with it the knowledge of what +it was—which in that one second had seemed almost +his—slipped away and was gone, nor could his most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +strenuous effort recall it. Oh, for one more whiff of +that evasive, troubling odour! But sniff as he might +he could no longer detect anything, and slowly his +attitude relaxed, and he brought other senses to bear +upon the scene.</p> + +<p>The room was divided, by its shape, into a front and +back drawing-room, as is commonly the case in London +houses; but the two had been thrown into one and the +door led into the narrower back part, so that the light +from the window overlooking the garden, which was +obscured by trees, while it still illumined all that +lay on Gimblet’s right, hardly penetrated into the +front and larger portion of the place. There the +closed shutters of the three windows leading to the +balcony prevented the light from finding an entrance, +and it was very dark. The detective lit the gas and +looked around him.</p> + +<p>It was a cheerful, pleasant room; not overcrowded +with furniture, and showing taste and judgment in its +arrangement and decoration, though there was nothing +very original about it. On the walls, which were +covered with some light coloured paper, were hung +three or four good modern pictures; the mantelpiece +was an eighteenth century one, and on either side of +it was placed a Chippendale cabinet, with shelves for +china, of which some good pieces could be seen through +the small panes of the glass doors. At the opposite +end of the room was a long, low bookcase and, except +for a large writing bureau, the rest of the furniture +consisted of sofas and chairs, with one or two small +tables. It was a room at once dainty and desolate, +gay and forlorn. The empty flower vases which stood +on the tables, the absence of stray books, work, papers, +or other signs of human occupancy, gave it a look of +discomfort and dreariness; but it was plain, from the +bright chintzes and curtains and the soft luxury of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +carpet, that it only needed the presence of its owners +to assume a cheerful and lively aspect.</p> + +<p>Gimblet began his examination in his usual +methodical manner, working his way over the floor on +hands and knees, gazing at the carpet through his lens +at any place where there appeared a doubtful mark or +change in the appearance of its surface from that of the +surrounding parts. As he came to chairs or tables he +moved them to one side, and continued his quest on +the spot where they had stood. There were two small +Chesterfield sofas, one of which jutted out at right +angles to the fire-place before the right hand window +of the front part of the room, the other facing the door +with its back against the wall.</p> + +<p>When the detective came to the sofa by the fireplace, +he pushed it to one side as he had pushed each +piece of furniture in its turn, and as his eyes fell on the +floor beneath it a low whistle escaped him: there was +a patch of reddish stain on the green Wilton carpet, +about three inches in diameter, and a smaller spot or +two near by of the same rusty colour.</p> + +<p>With his head on one side, and his lips still pursed as +if to emit a whistling sound, but with no audible noise +issuing from them, Gimblet gazed at the stain on the +carpet; and the longer he looked the sterner his face +became; the whistling expression vanished, and he +opened and shut his mouth with a grinding sound as +the teeth met. He rubbed his finger over the marks, +and the patch seemed to crumble away at his touch, till +a hole appeared in the carpet and the white boards of +the flooring were exposed to view. He applied his lens +to the edges of the hole and plucked at the frayed wool +with his fingers. A small piece that he pulled off he +bestowed in one of the little specimen boxes with which +he had provided himself.</p> + +<p>Then he replaced the sofa in its original position, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +continued his examination of the floor. Under the +fender he discovered another of the little objects he had +picked up on the stairs, but nothing else did he find of +any interest till he began to turn his attention to the +furniture. Almost the first thing he looked at was the +sofa that concealed the hole in the carpet; he was +drawn back to it with an irresistible attraction. A +careful scrutiny, however, did not reveal much more +than the fact that the chintz cover was rather tumbled. +Gimblet dug his hand down at the back of the seat, and +pulled out the part of it which was tucked down. As +he did so he felt a little lump under his fingers, and +holding it up saw that it was yet another tiny shining +thing for his pill-box collection, and as he looked at the +piece of chintz he had pulled out he perceived several +more of the same kind.</p> + +<p>They glittered in the gaslight like little diamonds, +but had evidently come off the spangled tulle of a lady’s +dress. Gimblet remembered that Mrs. Vanderstein’s +dress had been described by her maid as “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">diamantée</i>”; +but then it was possible, indeed probable, that Mrs. +Mill, or her friends, possessed gowns of similar material. +Gimblet stooped again, and tugged up the rest of the +sofa covering from the depths behind the cushions. +This time he pulled it all up; the whole covering lay +spread before him in an untidy, unwieldy mass, and +from the end, as he plucked it out, there shot two small +objects, which fell to the floor at his feet. In a moment +he had lifted them from the ground and stood staring +at them: they were a piece of crushed and folded +paper and a minute powder puff.</p> + +<p>The detective unfolded the paper, and held it to the +light; it was a sheet of thick white notepaper, and on +it was embossed a crown and device in heavy gold +lettering. Below these was written in a fine, slanting +foreign hand</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Most adored, I count the hours, the minutes, till I +shall hear for the first time the sound of your voice. +Heaven be praised that I have not long to wait, and +you, whom heaven has sent to me, accept the thanks +of my grateful heart. I send this by Madame Q.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The signature that followed made Gimblet open his +eyes. “Felipe,” in conjunction with the crown at the +head of the paper and the foreign character of the +penmanship, could refer to one person only. Gimblet +was well aware that the Prince of Targona was honouring +London with his presence. He glanced carefully +round the room to make sure no one was near, folded +the paper carefully, and placed it in his notebook. +Then he turned his attention to the powder puff.</p> + +<p>It was an ordinary little powder puff of pink silk +and white down—very small, very dainty, if very +commonplace. Gimblet turned it over and over, but +could see nothing about it which stamped it as different +from other powder puffs. Not that it was a curio +in the peculiarities of which he was very well versed; +he could not help realising that in the matter of powder +puffs his education had been neglected. A French +detective, he told himself sadly, would have read a +whole history in this soft toy. He brushed it across +the back of his hand, but it left no mark; he shook it +into the palm, but no powder fell from it. It was +plain to him that, whatever uses it might have served +in the white hands that had formerly clasped it, it was +not of any use at all in his, and in his irritation he was +inclined to hurl it from him. But his methodical +habits prevailed and he felt in his coat for a box to +contain it. And suddenly, with what seemed like an +involuntary movement, he lifted the hand that held +the powder puff, and held it to his nose.</p> + +<p>“Ah,” he sighed, and it was a sigh of deep content.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +Then he stored away the precious fluffy thing, and put +it in his pocket. He finished the tour of the furniture +without further discovery; at the end of it he requested +Tremmels to read out the contents of the room from the +inventory, as he had done at the conclusion of his visits +to each room or landing, checking off each object as +the clerk read out its description.</p> + +<p>“I am in hopes,” he said to Sir Gregory, “of finding +something not mentioned in the inventory, which we +might take to be the property of Mr. West. But so far +there is nothing that can possibly be his, not so much +as a toothbrush. He certainly seems to be a leader of +the simple life.” Then he turned to Tremmels again. +“Is there no mention of the chair covers?” he asked. +But the young man only stared at him open-mouthed, +and he seized the book from his hand.</p> + +<p>“Let me see,” he murmured, running a finger down +the page. “Here we are. ‘Two Chesterfield sofas and +five arm-chairs with loose chintz covers.’ Might mean +anything. Look here!” he turned to the clerk again, +“you went over the inventory. What do you +remember about that sofa?” He pointed to the one +opposite the door, which, unlike the other sofas and +chairs, had no chintz covering. Tremmels was flurried +by the detective’s sharp tone.</p> + +<p>“I—I don’t remember anything at all,” he stammered.</p> + +<p>“What, don’t you remember that it had a cover?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet’s second question was still more sharply +spoken. The clerk shot a glance at him in which +suspicion, timidity, and bewilderment were oddly +mixed, and he answered stubbornly, repeating his +former words as if he imagined a trap were being laid +for him.</p> + +<p>“I don’t remember anything about it.” His pale +face wore an expression more wooden than ever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>The detective turned from him with an impatient +movement, and stood looking down at the sofa with a +frown on his face. It was exactly the same as the one +in the front part of the room, but, instead of a cover of +pink and white chintz, it displayed only the upholstery +with which it had been originally covered by the +makers: a kind of white tapestry with grey flowers and +flecks of red, in general colouring not unlike the chintz +on the other sofas and chairs, but tightly fitting and +leaving exposed the bare legs of brown varnished wood, +which were of a particularly ugly shape.</p> + +<p>“Come,” said Gimblet at last, “I must go downstairs.”</p> + +<p>“What did you find?” Sir Gregory asked him +anxiously as they went down, followed at a distance by +the clerk, “what did you find by the other sofa?”</p> + +<p>The detective hesitated an instant.</p> + +<p>“Sir Gregory,” he said, “there is something here, +some story to be read, if I can read it. The walls are +trying to speak to me, I believe, if I could only listen +rightly. There are things very plain that I can see, +but not enough of them, and there is something that I +don’t understand. But what I have seen points to +sinister things, and I must warn you that I don’t like +the look of them.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Gimblet!” cried Sir Gregory. “What do you +mean?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Sir Gregory,” said the detective. “I am +very much more—uneasy about your friend than I +have yet been. I fear that, when I am in a position +to give you news of her, it may be very bad. You may +have to stand a shock. Don’t you think it would be +best if you went home and waited till I came to you?”</p> + +<p>But, though on Sir Gregory’s face there crept a look +of terrified grief, he would not go.</p> + +<p>The dining-room told nothing, Gimblet’s researches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +there were vain, and he soon adjourned to the room +behind it, which seemed to be a library or smoking-room. +The shutters, as they had seen from the +garden, were fastened, but by this time the last of the +long summer twilight was fading and the night +promised to fall dark and windy. Gimblet’s first act +was to light the gas.</p> + +<p>It was a small room, this back room, where, no +doubt, Mr. Mill, when he was at home, was accustomed +to smoke his pipe and attend to his correspondence. +Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves; one side +was taken up by the window; and on the fourth, +opposite the door and above the fire-place, were hung +a quantity of mezzotints framed in sombre black. +They surrounded a small oil painting that filled the +place of honour immediately over the chimney piece, +and which caught Gimblet’s interested eye directly. +It appeared to be an example of the early Dutch school, +and he was seized with the desire to examine it more +closely. The fire-place below it was lined with old +blue and white tiles, and at these too he cast an envious +glance, but the feelings of the collector were subservient +just now to those of the detective, and he turned to +the more everyday furniture of the room.</p> + +<p>There was not very much in it: a couple of arm-chairs +stood one on each side of the fire-place, and before the +window was a large writing table with inkstand and +blotting book disposed upon it, together with a few +odds and ends. Even with these the table looked +empty; one missed the papers that by rights should +have been scattered there. As Gimblet stood beside +it, he was conscious of the cold draught that whistled +by his ear, and it was then that he first looked toward +the window.</p> + +<p>“It must be open,” he said to himself, and then, as he +looked closer: “By Jingo!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a sash window of the old-fashioned kind, with +a dozen or so wood-framed panes to each half of it, and +the usual metal catch holding the top and bottom in +position together when the window was shut. It +was shut now, and the cold air that pervaded the +place entered through cracks in the shutters, and +after that encountered no further obstacle, for the +top middle pane of the lower sash was destitute of +glass.</p> + +<p>Gimblet pushed away the table and examined the +empty framework carefully, touching the edges with +an incautious finger, which, however, he withdrew rather +hurriedly and transferred to his mouth. He looked at +the floor; and then, following his usual custom, knelt +down on it, lens in hand. The gaslight was obscured +by the shadow of the writing table, and he had recourse +to the aid of a pocket electric torch. He was satisfied +with what he saw, apparently, for he soon rose and +turned to the window again. He unfastened the +catch, and placing one hand on the framework sought +to raise the sash, but it stuck stiffly, and both hands and +a good deal of strength had to be exerted before he was +able to lift it.</p> + +<p>Then he flashed the light of the little torch on the +window sill, and took from it a splinter of broken +glass. After this he pursued his inspection of the room +and its contents. There was, as has been said, little +enough in it except books, but everything there was +came in for the usual close scrutiny; the waste paper +basket was not forgotten, nor were the empty grate and +coal scuttle. In the end, after comparing the things +mentioned in the inventory with those in the room, +Gimblet shut the door into the hall, and ran his lens +hastily over its woodwork. Apparently he saw on it +more than he expected, for he returned more slowly to +the task and spent several minutes examining some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +small spots of dirt, which were visible to the naked eye +on the white paint.</p> + +<p>At last he had done, and there only remained the +basement to be investigated. This took some time, +and the results disappointed him, with the exception of +a cupboard under the stairs where he discovered a +housemaid’s dustpan full of pieces of broken glass. He +seized on it with eager excitement, and examined the +surface of the tin very carefully with his lens; only to +put it down again with an irritated clicking of the +tongue.</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory watched these proceedings in a stricken +silence; his hopes had turned to lead at the words +Gimblet had addressed to him on leaving the drawing room; +as each successive door was thrown open he +felt a tightening of the heart and a sick fear of being +confronted with some terrible sight. Now he would +almost have preferred that the detective should find no +clue, so much he dreaded the solution to which he +instinctively felt that these small discoveries were +irresistibly leading.</p> + +<p>The face of the clerk, who equally shared the rôle of +silent onlooker, wore an expression of excited interest, +except when he was addressed, when it relaxed into its +usual wooden apathy. At other times he peered over +Sir Gregory’s shoulder with feverish, straining eyes, +evidently possessed by all the passion for sensation in +any form which is common to his class; though, that +he was as much in the dark as Sir Gregory, with regard +to the conclusions suggested to the detective by the +various objects he examined, was clear from the look of +something like elation with which he watched the +minute attention bestowed upon the unprofitable +dustpan.</p> + +<p>Gimblet returned this article to its place, and +drew out, one by one, the other things in the cupboard:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +a water-can, a bucket, a scrubbing brush, and other +odds and ends. The last thing he brought to light was +a crumpled ball of newspaper, stuffed away at the back +of some brooms and pails. This did not look interesting; +and, while Sir Gregory saw with relief the +handling of anything which gave him breathing space, +Tremmel’s face fell.</p> + +<p>Gimblet, however, was too methodical to ignore +anything, even so unpromising an object as an old +newspaper. He opened it out on the floor of the +passage, unrolling the crumpled pages and spreading +them flat on the boards. In the middle of the ball was +a small quantity of dust, or rather what looked more +like earth. Gimblet scooped it up in one hand and let +it fall through his fingers into the palm of the other; +it was black and fine, but gritty to the touch. With a +puzzled expression he stowed some of it away in one +of his little boxes, and put the rest in his pocket, +wrapped in a piece of the newspaper. Then he disappeared +into the coal cellar, which was the only place +left that he had not visited. He found nothing +there.</p> + +<p>By this time it was nearly ten o’clock.</p> + +<p>They went back into the hall and Gimblet opened +the door of the little library.</p> + +<p>“Sit down in here, Sir Gregory,” he said, “you have +been on your feet for hours”—and indeed the baronet +was dropping with fatigue—. “I am just going out +into the garden, and you may as well rest a little. +As for you,” he added to Tremmels, “you can go home +if you like. I’ve done with the inventory.”</p> + +<p>“There’s the key,” the clerk reminded him, “and, +if you don’t mind my sitting down here in the hall for +a few minutes before I go ... I’m feeling a bit tired +myself, sir.”</p> + +<p>He certainly looked it, but then he had looked so ill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +from the beginning that the effect of these hours of +standing about and the lack of food, which told heavily +upon Sir Gregory, hardly added to the miserable aspect +of Tremmels, whatever he might be feeling.</p> + +<p>Gimblet told him to sit down, and leaving them went +out into the garden. He walked round to the back, and +along the path which led to the toolshed. Going into +it he hunted, by the light of his torch, among the +implements that leant against the wall; but what he +sought was not there, and he retreated, unsatisfied. +As he returned slowly to the house, he moved his +lamp from side to side, so that the light shone on the +flower beds between which he walked and not on the +path beneath his feet; it was as if he hoped to find what +he wanted among the flowers.</p> + +<p>Turning the corner of the wall, he saw a dark +figure in the act of shutting the further gate; it +came towards him and he recognised the artist, +Brampton.</p> + +<p>“You work late, Mr. Gimblet,” he said, as he met +the detective. “Any discoveries?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet did not reply; he was looking at his watch.</p> + +<p>“It <em>is</em> late,” he said after a pause; and then half +to himself, “late! too late, and too dark,” he +murmured; and again, “perhaps it is just as well. It +will do Sir Gregory no harm to wait till to-morrow for +bad news.”</p> + +<p>“What,” said Brampton, “you have bad news for +him?”</p> + +<p>“I fear there will be bad news—to-morrow,” said +Gimblet.</p> + +<p>The night was very dark, for clouds had gathered +afresh, and the wind was getting up again. The leaves +of the trees in the street rustled loudly as if in protest; +from a distance the tinkle of a barrel organ sounded +fitfully in the intervals between gusts of wind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>“It’s as cold as winter,” grumbled Brampton.</p> + +<p>Gimblet was staring up at the front of the house, and +when he spoke Brampton was struck by the change in +his voice.</p> + +<p>“Of course!” he cried, “the crumpled newspaper! +What have I been about? Now, ah, now I +know! Mr. Brampton,” he said, moving, so that he +faced the other in the darkness, “there is something +very terrible here; something to be done that is quite +unfit for Sir Gregory to take part in. I am only too well +convinced that a crime has been committed in this +house, a gruesome and dastardly crime, which but for +the merest accident might not have been discovered for +weeks. No ordinary criminals have been at work here; +we have to deal with some scoundrel so cold-blooded +and resourceful, so prudent, and so full of forethought +and vile cunning, as I do not think I have ever +encountered before. What is your nerve like, Mr. +Brampton? I see you are muscularly a strong man, +and I shall have need of help. What do you say? +Can you give me the assistance I want, or shall I go +and find the policeman on this beat?”</p> + +<p>The solemn words of the detective, and still more +acutely the grave and urgent note in his voice, thrilled +the imagination of the artist, and awoke in him a +horrified perception of the seriousness of the situation, +which hitherto he had looked on with an eye, half +amused, half derisive, as we may contemplate a game +of Red Indians played by some earnest and dramatic +children. The spirit of adventure cried aloud in him, +and overcame the shrinking of a refined nature from +contact with the horrible.</p> + +<p>“You can rely on me,” was all he said, and thereupon +Gimblet ran up to the door, calling to Higgs to +open it.</p> + +<p>The other men were sitting as he had left them, Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +Gregory in an arm-chair by the library fire-place, and +the clerk in the hall; both drooped in attitudes of +extreme weariness.</p> + +<p>“Will you please stay where you are a little longer?” +Gimblet said to Sir Gregory. “I am going upstairs +with Mr. Brampton, to see if he can tell me one or two +things I want to know about the ordinary disposal of +the furniture; and after that we will go home, unless +you will be guided by me and do so at once. No? +Well, we shall not be long. We shall not want you,” +he added to Tremmels, who was struggling stiffly to +rise from his seat.</p> + +<p>At Gimblet’s words he sank back again, and leant +his head weakly against the wall.</p> + +<p>With a sign to Higgs and Brampton to follow him, +Gimblet went upstairs.</p> + +<p>The gas was still burning in the drawing-room, and +the door stood open as he had left it. Gimblet paused +on the threshold and drew Brampton’s attention to the +sofa opposite.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember,” he asked, “whether that sofa +had a cover like the other before Mr. Mill went away?”</p> + +<p>Brampton looked at it doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“I can’t say I do really,” he said. “I ought to +know, of course, but I don’t feel quite sure. You see, +the colouring is so much like that of the chintzes. One +might never notice it. Still, the legs are very ugly; +I think I should have observed them. And it is not +like Mrs. Mill to leave an ugly thing so plainly displayed. +But on the whole I’m not certain about it.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you feel,” said Gimblet, “that there is +something terrible, something fearful, in those shining +brown pieces of wood? Their ugliness should be +decently covered. Unfortunately, I am afraid I know +where to look for their covering.”</p> + +<p>He led the way to one of the French windows of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +front room and threw it open. Unfastening the +shutters, which still barred the way, he flung them +back and went out on to the balcony, followed by the +two men.</p> + +<p>It was, as he had seen from the ground, an unusually +broad one, and extended across the whole width of the +house. A low wall about nine inches high ran round +its edge, supporting a balustrade of stone. A large +green painted wooden box, or trough, about ten feet +long by a yard wide, and as tall as the balustrade, was +planted with flowers, which did not appear to be in a +very flourishing condition.</p> + +<p>By the light of the street lamp they could see that +the geraniums’ petals were turning black, and that the +marguerites hung their heads on stalks from which all +vigour seemed to have departed. Within the balustrade +the black shadows lay like a pool of ink, and the floor +of the balcony was quite invisible, except where the +open window through which they had stepped let out +a narrow stream of light.</p> + +<p>“Open the shutters of the other windows,” Gimblet +said to Higgs.</p> + +<p>When this was done they could see better. To +Brampton’s amazement Gimblet’s next act was to +grasp one of the geraniums and pull it up by the roots; +a daisy followed, and in a few minutes he had torn up +every plant. Brampton, as he stood watching, noticed +how easily they came up.</p> + +<p>Then Gimblet called to him.</p> + +<p>“Now, Mr. Brampton, if you and Higgs will take that +end of the box, I can manage this one. I want to tilt +it up a little.”</p> + +<p>It needed all the efforts of the three men to move the +box, full to the brim of soil as it was. Panting and +heaving, they shifted it first away from the balustrade, +and tilted it towards the wall of the house. The earth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +poured out as the angle increased, and in a minute the +floor was deep in it.</p> + +<p>“Gently, gently,” said Gimblet. “Look, what is +that?” and he pointed to something white, which was +poking out through the earth in the box.</p> + +<p>His electric torch flashed upon it, and the others, +balancing the tilted flower box on its edge, peered +in, and saw that it was a bit of pink and white +chintz.</p> + +<p>It seemed a long while before Gimblet spoke. He +stood as if turned to stone, and Brampton felt an +indefinable horror stealing over him, a dread of he knew +not what, but which he seemed to be conscious was in +some way a reflection or telepathic transference of the +other’s unspoken thoughts.</p> + +<p>At last with an obvious effort Gimblet straightened +himself.</p> + +<p>“We must tilt out a little more earth,” he said in a +low tone, “very carefully now.”</p> + +<p>Very cautiously they raised the side of the stand +again, and a rush of soil poured over the edge; the +little patch of white they had seen in a corner became a +large piece, and almostly instantly it was plain to them +all that the greater part of the box was full of it. +Leaving the others to manage the box, which was now +easily steadied, Gimblet ran round and knelt at its +side, scooping out handfuls of garden mould and +disclosing what looked like a very long, bulky bundle of +flowered chintz.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, in a voice hardly above a whisper, +Brampton broke the silence.</p> + +<p>“My God!” he said, pointing, and staring with +horrified eyes.</p> + +<p>From the corner of the wrapper a hand protruded, +half covered with earth; it was a white and shapely +hand, the hand of a woman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Do you see it?” whispered Brampton again, and +leant shaking against the wall.</p> + +<p>“It’s a hand,” said Higgs, troubled but stolid.</p> + +<p>Gimblet was very pale, and he took a quick breath +as he braced himself to lift the enveloping chintz. The +lighted windows cast three streaks of light out into +the darkness and threw grotesque distorted shadows of +the men upon the coping of the balcony. A sudden +gust of wind made the trees in the street moan and +shiver as though they had been swept by the passing +broom of some night-riding hag; all around them the +darkness gathered close like a wicked thing that would +if it dared swallow up the tiny protecting lights men +burn in self-defence.</p> + +<p>Gimblet felt himself struggling against some such +malevolent influences; half conscious fears, some +sensation of evil presences in the air, gibing, mocking, +clustering round to gloat over the results of earthly +villainy, seemed to paralyse him; and he had to call up +his reserves of will power before, after a moment’s +hesitation, he bent forward and unrolled the chintz +covering.</p> + +<p>Inside it was the body of a young woman. Long +black hair lay in masses on her shoulders and streamed +over the single white garment she wore. The face was +so terribly disfigured as to be quite unrecognisable.</p> + +<p>With a shudder Gimblet drew the wrapping over her +again.</p> + +<p>“Vitriol,” he muttered, and became aware, as he +spoke, of some one behind him in the opening of the +window.</p> + +<p>Before he could turn, a heartstricken cry sounded in +his ear, and he was not in time to catch Sir Gregory, +who staggered back in the embrasure, and from there +slid fainting to the ground. As Gimblet sprang to his +help, he had a fleeting vision of a ghastly face and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +crouching figure in the back of the drawing-room: it +was the face of Tremmels, the clerk, but so wild and +white with terror, so distorted by the shock of what he +had seen as to be almost like that of another man.</p> + +<p>Suspecting from the noise made by the opening +shutters, followed by the sudden and prolonged silence, +that something was happening on the floor above them, +and unable any longer to bear the suspense and curiosity +accentuated by waiting and inactivity, Sir Gregory, +followed by the clerk, had crept upstairs into the +drawing-room without attracting the attention of +Gimblet or his assistants, and the horror of what they +had seen was too much for both of them.</p> + +<p>As with the help of Higgs Gimblet lifted the inanimate +form of the baronet from where it had dropped, a +sudden loud noise from the street below made them +nearly let fall their burden; and it was a second before +any of them realised that the sound was only the first +jangling bar of a popular music hall tune. The barrel +organ they had heard a quarter of an hour earlier had +wandered into Scholefield Avenue, and, attracted +without doubt by the lighted windows, had thought fit +to draw up before No. 13 and there begin its headlong +plunge into melody. Half the rollicking air it was +playing had been thumped forth, with all the usual +din of banging bass and clanking scales, before any one +of those who stood above it in the grim presence of +death sufficiently recovered his presence of mind to +be able to stop it.</p> + +<p>Telling the clerk curtly not to be an ass, but to pull +himself together and follow them, Gimblet, with the +help of Higgs and Brampton, carried Sir Gregory out +of the fatal house and into No. 15, the home of the +artist. Here they gave him over to the care of Mrs. +Brampton, a capable, bustling woman with common-sense +written all over her, to whom her husband<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +explained in guarded terms as much of the situation as +was inevitable.</p> + +<p>“There has been a terrible tragedy next door, my +dear,” he told her. “This poor gentleman has fainted +on learning of the death of his friend,” and the kind-hearted, +sensible creature took charge of Sir Gregory +without wasting precious time in questions.</p> + +<p>At his request, Brampton conducted the detective to +the telephone, while Higgs was sent out to look for a +policeman.</p> + +<p>“Is that Scotland Yard?” Gimblet was asking, as +the artist shut the door on him and returned to his +wife.</p> + +<p>By the time the detective had finished telephoning, +Higgs was back with two policemen, the one he had +found in the next street having whistled for a comrade. +Gimblet went with them to No. 13, and together they +entered the silent drawing-room, where the gas was +still flaring and the windows stood open to the night +like three black doors to a villainous and tragic world. +With the help of the new-comers the body of the dead +woman was lifted out of the flower box and carried into +the house, where, still enveloped in the chintz cover, it +was gently deposited on one of the sofas. For a +moment they turned back the wrapping, while Gimblet +searched hastily for some clue that should have +inadvertently been enclosed in it, but there was +nothing besides the body and the one garment in which +it was clad.</p> + +<p>“See,” he murmured in a low voice, pointing to an +oblong incision at the edge of the chemise, “they have +cut away the linen there. No doubt the name, or +initial, was embroidered in that place. What fine +linen it is; and this lace trimming is as delicate as a +cobweb! If we had nothing else to go by, this would +show that the murdered woman was rich and luxury-loving.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +Most women, if they had such lace, would +keep it to adorn their dresses with.”</p> + +<p>He drew the covering over her again; and, going +back to the balcony, stood looking at the half-empty +box and the mound of earth that was heaped upon the +floor.</p> + +<p>“They must have had a job to clear away the +surplus soil,” he remarked to Higgs, who had followed +him. “I suspect it was carried down to the garden, +bucketful by bucketful, and the last handful or two +were swept up into a newspaper. I found some trace +of it in a cupboard downstairs.”</p> + +<p>Leaving the police to guard the house, they went in +search of Sir Gregory, and found him so far recovered as +to be sent home in a taxi in the care of Higgs. The +clerk also was seen safely started on the way to his +lodgings, where, Gimblet thought to himself, he would +probably take the brandy bottle to bed with him.</p> + +<p>“You will have to attend the inquest, you know,” he +said to him as he was departing. “It may be to-morrow +or the next day. Good evening, and don’t +stay awake all night.”</p> + +<p>After renewed thanks and apologies to the Bramptons, +Gimblet found another taxi, and, getting in, gave +the driver the address of Joe Sidney’s rooms.</p> + +<p>“I think,” he said to himself, “it’s just about time +I paid that young gentleman a visit.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">It</span> was close on eleven when the cab drew up before +the door of Sidney’s lodging in York Street, +St. James’s, and as luck would have it Sidney +himself was standing on the doorstep, in the act of +inserting his latch-key in the lock. Gimblet saw +himself recognised as he sprang out of the taxi, and +saw also a look of unmistakable pleasure in the +recognition.</p> + +<p>“This man is as innocent as I am,” he thought, as +the young soldier greeted him.</p> + +<p>“Come in, do,” Sidney said, “you’re the very man +I wanted to see. I went to your flat this evening, but +you’d just gone out, so the porter said. I am anxious +to hear if you have any news of my aunt and Miss +Turner.”</p> + +<p>He led the way upstairs as he spoke, and ushered the +detective into a sitting-room on the first floor, switching +on the light as he did so.</p> + +<p>Gimblet waited till the door was shut behind them, +and then turned a grave face to his host.</p> + +<p>“The news is very bad,” he said slowly, and waited +a moment to give time for the significance of the words +to sink in, and to prepare Sidney for what was to come.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” cried Sidney. “Are they +hurt? Is Miss Turner——”</p> + +<p>He stopped short, grasping the back of a chair.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what has happened to Miss Turner,” +Gimblet said, “but I have terrible news of your poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +aunt. Mrs. Vanderstein has been foully and cruelly +murdered. I come now from the discovery of her dead +body.”</p> + +<p>“Murdered!” cried Sidney, “murdered! Who +by? How? Where?” He sat down mechanically, +and stared at Gimblet. “And Miss Turner? Have +they killed her too?”</p> + +<p>The detective repeated that at present he knew +nothing of the younger lady.</p> + +<p>“Good God!” said Sidney, “what a dreadful +thing.”</p> + +<p>Leaning his elbows on the table, he hid his face in +his hands for a few minutes, and Gimblet sat silent +opposite him, waiting till he should recover from the +first shock of the news.</p> + +<p>When Sidney raised his head again the face he +disclosed was pale and drawn.</p> + +<p>“Poor Aunt Ruth,” he said. “Poor thing, poor +thing. To think that she should be dead. I can hardly +realise it, you know. She has been killed for her +jewels, I suppose, after all. The devils! You haven’t +caught them, have you?” and, as Gimblet only shook +his head: “How can such a thing be possible here in +civilised London? And to think of that beastly old +raven, Chark, going about croaking as he has been, and +hinting that I’d killed her! To think of his being +right after all! I don’t mean about my killing her,” +he added, “but there it is, she’s dead; and I come into +her money just in time to save me from ruin. I hate +the thought of it!” He was talking to himself more +than to his listener, and Gimblet let him talk. “I +almost wish she had altered her will,” he went on, “it’s +a beastly notion: her death being my profit, you know. +And I suppose they’ll say I’ve murdered her all the +more now?” He looked up interrogatively; then, +as he received no answer, his expression changed and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +he started up, alert and wide awake once more. “I +say,” said he, “do you think I did it, too?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet hesitated a moment before answering.</p> + +<p>“As a matter of fact,” he said at last, “I do not. I +don’t think so for a moment. But that is merely my +personal opinion and, to tell you the truth, I think it +will be just as well if you can account for your movements +since Monday to the satisfaction of more people +than myself. I ought to suspect you—it’s my business +to suspect every one—but, as I say, I don’t.”</p> + +<p>“I daresay things do look rather black against me,” +Sidney said; “it’s my fault for not having bothered to +defend myself. You see, it seems so eccentric to me +that anyone should think such a thing. It seems so +impossible, and absurd, if you don’t mind my saying so. +One forgets that other people don’t know what one is +capable of as one does oneself, and it never struck me +yesterday that you, or Sir Gregory either, might suspect +me. I did go and see the editor of the worst of the +newspapers, and explained things to him, and told him +to let old Chark know he was wrong. You may have +noticed he’s eaten his words in to-day’s paper. But I +didn’t think it necessary to say anything to anyone +else. You see, I’ve got what you call an alibi. I was +in the country from Monday evening till yesterday +morning. I met a pal almost on Aunt Ruth’s doorstep +when she turned me out of the house, and he got me to +go off with him down to his house near Ascot to play +golf, and I was down there till Wednesday. I had only +just come back, in fact, when I came to see you. I +didn’t know about my aunt’s disappearance till I read +it in the train coming up; my friend came up at the +same time and stayed with me till I left him at your +door. It’s waste of time suspecting me; I admit that it +looks as if I ought to have murdered the poor dear, but +in view of the facts that theory doesn’t hold water.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’m very glad to hear what you say,” said Gimblet, +“and I wish you’d told me before, though I never really +thought you had any direct knowledge of the affair. +Still, you must confess, Mr. Sidney, that you were not +quite open with me: there was something which you +knew, and which you kept to yourself when we talked +about it.”</p> + +<p>“I’m blessed if there was!” cried Sidney. “What +was it?”</p> + +<p>For answer Gimblet took Barbara’s telegraph form +out of his notebook and handed it to the young man.</p> + +<p>“You didn’t tell me you had received this telegram +from Miss Turner,” he said, “not even though I quoted +most of its contents to you by way of a hint.”</p> + +<p>Sidney took the form, and stared at it for a moment.</p> + +<p>“It is her writing,” he said at last. “I wonder what +the deuce she meant.”</p> + +<p>He, also, produced a folded paper from his pocket +and pushed it across the table to the detective.</p> + +<p>It was the message as he had received it.</p> + +<p>“You will observe,” he said, “that there is no +signature. How was I to know who it came from? As +a matter of fact, I guessed, or at least thought it +possible she had sent it, as no one else cares whether I +go to blazes or not. But I’ve no idea whatever why +she chose to think I should get some money or good +news on Wednesday. I need hardly say that I didn’t. +And I saw no reason to speak to you of what only +concerns a young lady and myself. It can have no +possible bearing on her disappearance, or that of my +aunt.”</p> + +<p>“You think not?” Gimblet looked at him oddly.</p> + +<p>“How could it? I can’t imagine what connection +there could be. But of course you’re the sort of fellow +who can read the secret of dark mysteries in anything, +from the Tower Bridge to a baked potato, aren’t you?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +So perhaps there’s some occult inference that I fail to +draw. By the way, you’ve not told me much yet. +How did you discover the murder, and where?”</p> + +<p>“I found the poor lady’s body buried in a house in +the north of London,” said Gimblet, “No. 13 Scholefield +Avenue. As to how I discovered it, it was by the +help of two or three facts from which I was able to +draw certain inferences.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you would tell me all about it.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Gimblet, “as Sir Gregory told you +over the telephone this morning, I heard, as a result of +the advertisement I gave you yesterday to have +inserted in the papers, that the two ladies were seen +by an actress on Monday night, standing under a +board ‘To Let,’ before a detached house in some street +on the way to Carolina Road. I was unable to find +that street yesterday, and it was not until I could get +hold of the cabman who had driven the actress that I +ascertained that Scholefield Avenue was the only +street he had passed through on Monday night which +contains detached houses. I went there at once +and found out that No. 13 had recently been let, the +board having been removed on Tuesday morning. I +rang the bell, but no one came to the door, so after +getting the name of the house agent from a neighbour +I went to the office and interviewed the agent. +From him I learnt that the house had only been let +since Monday, and that the tenant was a man named +West who had been ready to pay a high rent for +immediate possession, and who gave out that he was a +recluse, desiring nothing so much as solitude and +privacy. The agent happened to have a spare key of +No. 13 Scholefield Avenue and he sent his clerk down +with me to open the door.</p> + +<p>“As soon as I got in I ran over the house with my +servant, who as well as Sir Gregory had accompanied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +me, but there was no one to be seen in it, and so I +proceeded to make a careful and searching examination. +Not to weary you with details, I soon found a considerable +number of small paste spangles, or imitation +diamonds, such as are sewn on to the more elaborate +and gorgeous kinds of ladies’ evening dresses. As I +found several of these on the staircase between the +hall and the drawing-room and a good many more in +the drawing-room itself, but none in any other part of +the house, I thought it was likely that, if they came off +Mrs. Vanderstein’s gown, this was the only room she +had visited. There was, of course, the possibility that +they had fallen from the dress of some one who had been +in the room before the place was let, but I set against +this the improbability of the mistress of the house or +her friends being rich people who would wear such +expensively ornamented materials, and also the fact +that your aunt’s maid in describing her toilette to me +had spoken of it as ‘<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">diamantée</i>.’</p> + +<p>“The next discovery was a most alarming one. On +moving the sofa I saw beneath it a large stain in the +carpet, which various indications assured me was the +result of some acid that had been upset. From the +nature of the damage I was pretty certain that it had +been caused by sulphuric acid or vitriol. Now this is +a strange thing to find traces of in a lady’s drawing-room, +and when you find it in an empty house which a +young and beautiful lady has been seen to enter, but +which she has never been seen to leave, and when you +further reflect that the disappearance of this lady +appears to be complete, and on the fact that when last +seen she was wearing a fortune in jewellery, one of two +conclusions appears inevitable, unless you assume that +all these facts are entirely unconnected and the result of +pure coincidence. Assume them on the contrary to +be related to each other, and you are led, as I say, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +consider two possibilities. So I asked myself at once +whether Mrs. Vanderstein had been decoyed to the +house by some demented creature bent on assuaging a +mad jealousy by throwing vitriol at her, or whether +she had been induced to visit it to satisfy the still more +fatal greed of a robber. And the more I looked at it, +the more likely it seemed that the poor lady had been +murdered for her jewels and that the vitriol was used +to make the recognition of her body, if it should be +discovered, a negligible danger. A few minutes later +I came across a powder puff perfumed with the peculiar +scent your aunt was in the habit of using—I daresay +you know it—and this dispelled any doubts I still had +as to her having been in the room.</p> + +<p>“I still hoped against hope, however, that she might +have left it alive, and I found some evidence downstairs +which led me to think she had been locked in one +of the lower rooms for a time; but if so it must have +been before she was taken up to the drawing-room. In +the library a pane of the window was broken, no doubt +by some one trying to escape or attract attention, and +obviously it had been done by a woman, as a man +could have opened the window, which was so stiff as +to require more than a woman’s strength. The broken +glass had been carefully removed from the frame, so +that, but for the draught, it might well have passed +unnoticed.</p> + +<p>“That it had been broken since the letting of the +house was clear, since I found a dustpan full of broken +glass, which would not have been left so by the landlord’s +servants, or by the charwoman who cleaned up +after their departure. The sight of that dustpan filled +me with hopes that were doomed to disappointment. +Nothing offers a better ground for the impression and +retention of finger marks than a piece of shining metal, +and I expected to find a whole collection on the tin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +surface of the pan. But to my astonishment and +disgust I could not find a single one; and this +strengthened my opinion that I had to deal with +deliberate crime, and that of no ordinary stamp, for +it was plain that not only had some one cleaned and +polished the dustpan after using it, but that the person +who had done so had worn gloves. And it was the +same all over the house. Not a finger-print to be seen, +except in the room with the broken pane, on the white +painted door of which I found several distinct marks of +fingers. What more likely than that the poor lady, +finding herself locked into a strange room, should have +broken the window and beaten on the door with her +hands in a sudden panic? In the same cupboard as +the dustpan was an old newspaper crumpled into a ball, +which I found to contain a handful or so of what +appeared to be garden mould, and I could not at first +imagine why it should be there, though I can account +for it now. I had by this time been all over the house +and made the most thorough and exhaustive search, +but the only other clue I could discover was a negative +one.</p> + +<p>“I must tell you that I had made sure that there +was no article in the house belonging to the tenant, Mr. +West, as he called himself; everything was accounted +for in the inventory and belonged to Mr. Mill, the +owner. It became clear to me that West must have +taken the place for a definite purpose other than the +usual one of living in it, and since I knew that it had +been occupied on Monday evening, his object doubtless +fulfilled itself then in a terrible manner and he probably +fled from the scene of his crime the moment he had, to +the best of his ability, removed all traces of it. In his +haste he had left the little spangles which had scattered +themselves in the wake of his victim; and, though he +cleaned up the dustpan as if he feared it should tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +tales in spite of the precautionary gloves, he seemed to +have thought the broken glass could not betray him, or +else, perhaps, he had no time to dispose of it. But, if +he had left nothing behind him, it looked as if he had +taken something away.</p> + +<p>“The chairs and sofas in the drawing-room were +provided with loose chintz covers, with one exception. +There was a small sofa which stood opposite the door +naked and unashamed, in all the hideousness of the +original, ugly upholstery. Not only was the tapestry +which covered it of a meretricious nineteenth-century +design, quite out of keeping with the good taste +displayed all over the house in the choice of pattern +and decoration, but the legs and arms, which were very +much in evidence, were made of brown varnished wood +peculiarly objectionable in appearance. It seems to +me in the last degree unlikely that in a room so full of +beauty and quiet refinement this one thing should have +been allowed to flaunt its vulgarity, and hold the eye of +the visitor with an awful fascination. I felt convinced +that West was responsible for its nakedness, and it was +quite likely that he, a man doubtless devoid of any +artistic sense, would imagine that the absence of that +cover might pass unnoticed, as the tapestry resembled +the chintzes in general colouring.”</p> + +<p>“But why should he remove it? What could he +want with a loose chintz sofa cover?” asked Sidney, as +the detective paused.</p> + +<p>“I asked myself these questions,” continued Gimblet, +“and I saw that there were only two explanations +which met all the facts. It might be that the chintz +bore traces of his crime that at all costs must be +destroyed; it might be, for instance, stained with +blood. But in that case he would probably have +tried to burn it; that would be a difficult job, and there +was no sign of a fire having been lighted lately in any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +of the grates. No coal in the cellar and no firewood. +He would have needed brushes and blacking to make +all ship-shape again, and his grate cleaning would +probably have been amateurish. Or he might have had +a use for the chintz. It would be a handy thing to +wrap a dead body in before carrying it out to the grave +he would dig for it in the garden. For it seemed to +me certain that after killing his victim he would have +buried her in the garden. There was a toolshed at the +end of it, and I hunted there for a spade that should +show signs of recent use; but to my surprise there was +no spade at all.</p> + +<p>“By this time it was dark and late, and I returned to +the house with the intention of deferring till to-morrow +a search for the grave, which I felt sure of finding if it +was there. I had little hope that the poor lady had +escaped, but it was still quite possible that my theories +were mistaken, and that even the signs of vitriol having +been used were capable of some other interpretation; +and I gladly admitted to myself that I had no actual +proof of foul play. And then, just as I was on the +point of knocking off for the night, an elusive memory +that had been troubling me ever since I entered the +house suddenly flashed clearly into conscious recollection, +and I knew that I had made no mistake.</p> + +<p>“When I opened the drawing-room door for the first +time I had been aware of a faint odour, which I seemed +to catch a whiff of as it passed me, so to speak, and to +lose again immediately. During the second in which I +perceived it, its name was on my tongue, but before I +could utter it the smell was gone and with it my +knowledge of what it was. I racked my brains to +remember it without the least result; but, though I +gave up the attempt and concentrated every effort on +investigating what was apparent to my other senses, +the thing bothered me, and I did not entirely forget it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +As I stood in front of the house after my vain search +for a spade, it suddenly flashed into my mind what it +was that I had smelt: it was the never to be mistaken +smell of chloroform.</p> + +<p>“I was staring absently up at the balcony of the +drawing-room when the knowledge came to me, and in +an instant another light dawned on me with equal +suddenness. There was a great box or stand for plants +on the balcony, and the neighbour who had given me +some information as to the tenant had remarked that +the mistress of the house would be sad to see her flowers +so neglected. Indeed, they were all faded and withered, +and he had implied that it was for want of water. Now, +the thought that leapt into my brain as swift and as +illuminating as lightning was this one: Why should the +flowers die for want of water when we have had constant +rain for the last two days? Clearly it was not drought +that they were suffering from. But how if the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">soidisant</i> +West, having cruelly murdered your unfortunate +aunt, proceeded to uproot the flowers and to bury her, +wrapped in the sofa cover, in the flower stand? It +was quite large enough for such a purpose, and if he +had then replanted the flowers it was probable enough +that they would feel the effects of his attempt at +gardening.</p> + +<p>“I went up at once and put this theory to the test. +I am very sorry to say that it proved to be correct in +every detail.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet ceased speaking, and Sidney, who had listened +in sad silence, lifted his head, and asked a question.</p> + +<p>“The vitriol? They had used it—as you thought?” +His voice was hoarse, and his face stern and grim.</p> + +<p>“Alas, yes.”</p> + +<p>“Hanging is too good for such brutes; but I will +never rest till they hang for it. Have you any idea +who are the fiends who did this?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>“An idea? Say rather that I have a suspicion,” +returned Gimblet. “Surely you can see the direction +in which the circumstances point?”</p> + +<p>“Unless it was the chauffeur,” said Sidney, “I +can’t imagine who can have done it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think there is anything in the theory that +the chauffeur or any one of the servants had a hand in +it. There are several things which make that idea +hardly worth considering. But there is one person +against whom things look very black. Do you mean +to say you can’t see who it is?”</p> + +<p>“No, I can’t,” repeated Sidney.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Sidney,” said the detective slowly, “where do +you suppose Miss Turner is?”</p> + +<p>“I only wish I knew,” answered the young man; “it +is horrible not to know. Where do you think she can +possibly be? Tell me the truth, Mr. Gimblet: do you +believe she is dead?” He spoke harshly, and with +averted eyes.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Gimblet, “I don’t think she is dead.”</p> + +<p>Something in his tone made Sidney look up. Gimblet +was looking at him with a strange expression, and as +their eyes met he turned away uneasily. For a minute +Sidney stared at him wonderingly, and then an +incredulous enlightenment stole over him.</p> + +<p>“You can’t mean,” he said slowly, “that you +imagine she had any knowledge of the attack on my +aunt?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet was silent; and his silence was more +eloquent than words.</p> + +<p>“But it is impossible,” cried Sidney, “that anyone +out of a lunatic asylum should think such a thing. You +don’t know her, Mr. Gimblet, she is the sweetest, +dearest girl. The most unselfish, the most devoted, +the loyalest girl in the world! How can you hint at +it? Oh, I know it is your business to suspect people,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +but you go too far! I cannot hear a word against +her.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet turned and faced him.</p> + +<p>“Be reasonable, Mr. Sidney,” he said, “and accept +it as a fact that the young lady will be suspected. If +she is innocent it will be better to try and clear her +than to refuse to hear what there is to be said as to her +possible complicity. I understand your feelings, but +you must see that there is nothing to gain by disguising +the truth. It is because I thought it possible that you +might feel a keen interest in Miss Turner that I have +told you I suspect her. I hope you may be able to +help me to convince myself of her innocence, and surely +the best way to do that is to try and get at the truth.”</p> + +<p>“I will try and be reasonable, as you call it,” said +Sidney, after a pause, “and I suppose by that you mean +listening to your abominable accusations. Well, let’s +hear your evidence, and if I can prevent myself from +throttling you I will! More than that no man could +say,” he added, with an attempt at a smile. “And I +feel a beast even to allow you to speak of the thing.”</p> + +<p>“I am extremely sorry to have to do it,” said +Gimblet, “but no good ever came of shutting one’s +eyes to facts, and it’s facts that make me suspect Miss +Turner. In the first place, there is the fact that she +stands to profit by Mrs. Vanderstein’s death to the tune +of £30,000.”</p> + +<p>“That applies to me, too, only more so,” interrupted +Sidney.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I don’t think it of much importance,” +admitted the detective. “I mention it as one of the +points which is outside the region of speculation, and +therefore not negligible. The second fact is that you +were at your wits’ end for money.”</p> + +<p>“I daresay! But what that’s got to do with your +suspecting Miss Turner beats me,” cried Sidney.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>“It’s got this to do, though I’m afraid you will not +like my alluding to your most private affairs—Miss +Turner is in love with you. We may call that fact +No. 3.”</p> + +<p>“There is absolutely no foundation for that statement,” +said Sidney, flushing hotly, while he could not +but be conscious of a strange acceleration in the beating +of his heart.</p> + +<p>“Is there not?” asked Gimblet, looking at him +thoughtfully. “Well, we will waive that point if you +like. Let us say that Miss Turner has an unusually +friendly feeling for you. So friendly that she would +go to any length to provide you with the necessary +funds. You yourself have as good as told me so much. +You cannot deny that she was the person who urged +you to try to get the money by false pretences.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure she did not look at it in that light,” +protested Sidney, while inwardly he cursed himself for +the slip by which, on the previous day, he had allowed +the sex of his friend to escape him.</p> + +<p>“I saw you with her in the Park last Sunday, did I +not?” said the detective; “I noticed her expression. +I am rather an observant fellow in my way, you know. +I have only seen that look on the faces of people very +much in love. I find I must go back to that, after all, +in spite of your objection to the suggestion.”</p> + +<p>“I do object very much. Miss Turner has no such +feelings for me, I am sure, and I can’t let you impute +them to her.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid you must,” said Gimblet tranquilly. +“People who are madly in love,” he continued, “as I +believe her to be, are capable of any sacrifice, of any +heroism, or of any villainy. In that state of exaltation +they are apt to lose their sense of proportion, and to +confound extremes; they may see in the basest depths +of infamy only another aspect of noble heights of self-abnegation;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +if the object of their affections is in +danger, they may consider no expedient too shameful +if it can be made to provide a means of extricating +him.</p> + +<p>“There is nothing inherently impossible in imagining +that Miss Turner, conscious of nothing but your need, +blindly strove to supply it and was in no mood to +boggle at any feasible method. I don’t know if you +are aware of the character borne by her father. He +was a man of the worst reputation: an utterly merciless +and unscrupulous swindler. His daughter may not +have escaped the taint of heredity; it is, at all events, +conceivable that her principles suffered from her early +association with him. He is said to have died in South +America, where he was obliged to fly to escape his just +deserts, but there is no proof at all that he really did +die.</p> + +<p>“I know that I am for the moment dealing in theory, +if I say, suppose this man to be secretly in London and +in secret communication with his daughter. Suppose +she let him see how direly she needed money at this +moment. Might not a scoundrel of his description +seize the opportunity to persuade her to help him in +some such nefarious business as the robbery of Mrs. +Vanderstein, and secure her silence, if not her assistance, +in even a more dastardly business? To return to the +realm of fact; the order to the motor not to fetch the +ladies from the opera was given by Miss Turner. She +ran back alone to tell the chauffeur, after your aunt had +gone into the theatre. She had previously sent you +this wire, in which she was very positive that the +money you required would be forthcoming.</p> + +<p>“She was seen by Miss Finner standing at the door +of the house in Scholefield Avenue in the company of +your aunt, and it is not too much to presume that she +subsequently entered it with her. There would be no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +imaginable motive to induce a thief or gang of thieves +to decoy her to the house: she had no jewels to be +deprived of. There would be, on the contrary, every +reason why she should be prevented from going anywhere +near the place. Since, then, she assuredly went +there on her own initiative, it seems probable that Mrs. +Vanderstein was persuaded to accompany her by the +girl herself.</p> + +<p>“To go back for the moment to speculation, one +may imagine that it was old Turner who masqueraded +as West, the tenant, who is described as a horsey-looking +elderly man who had lived much in a hot +climate. This accords with a description of Turner +I took the trouble to obtain yesterday, with the +exception of the beard or imperial worn by West, which +he may easily have grown of late years. It may have +been the girl’s father, therefore, who opened the door +to the two women, and who, once he had her safe +inside, first locked your aunt in the library while he +finished his preparations upstairs, and then led her to +the drawing-room, as in times more in harmony with his +deeds he might have led her to the nearest tree.</p> + +<p>“Finally, in support of this theory, or at least of Miss +Turner’s complicity in the affair, we have the facts that +the two ladies were last seen together, and that, while +the one has been found robbed and murdered, the +other has departed without a word or a sign. It is only +too likely that she is half way to America. The ports +are being watched, but by now it is probably too late.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet finished speaking and sat watching the face +of the younger man. Sidney looked troubled, but his +manner was confident as he gave his opinion.</p> + +<p>“If she has not been heard of,” he said, “it is +because for some reason she is unable to communicate +with anyone. I have heard all your arguments +attentively, Mr. Gimblet, and I must confess that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +have not in the least convinced me that there is +anything in your idea. It all sounds very plausible, +no doubt, but if you knew the young lady as I have the +pleasure of doing you would see that the whole thing is +ridiculous. No one can be what she is and act in the +way you suggest. Her nature is such as to put it out +of the question. I can only repeat that the thing is +ludicrously impossible, and that if you knew her you +would be the first to see it. However, I agree with you +that the best way of proving what I say is to find the +real murderer. My only fear is that to-morrow you +may discover that she too has been killed and buried in +the garden.”</p> + +<p>“I am not afraid of that,” said Gimblet, “because, +as I tell you, if her presence had not been desirable +she would never have been near the place. She would +have been kept as unaware of its existence as you +were yourself. The first essential of such a plan as +the murderer must have concocted would be to get +hold of Mrs. Vanderstein alone and unsuspected by +anyone who was not a confederate.”</p> + +<p>Sidney made an impatient movement.</p> + +<p>“I am absolutely convinced that Miss Turner had +nothing whatever to do with it,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Well,” returned Gimblet as he rose to go, “I hope +you are right and that further investigations will lead +me to share your view. If we can lay hands on Mr. +West we shall get at the truth, and unless he is very +careful how he disposes of the jewels we are sure to +catch him. From what I hear, Mrs. Vanderstein’s rope +of pearls is well known to every jeweller in Europe; +and, if he tries to sell so much as one of them, he’ll find +a very different sort of rope around his neck. Now I +must be off; they are expecting me at Scotland Yard.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">It</span> was long past one when at last Gimblet got to bed. +He had had a long and tiring day, full of strain +and excitement, and his head was no sooner on +the pillow than he slept soundly and dreamlessly. +It seemed to him that he had only just shut his eyes +when Higgs awoke him the next morning by coming in +with his hot water. He rolled over yawning and +rubbing his eyes, as his servant pulled up the blinds and +laid ready his clothes. When he had finished and gone +away, the detective turned over again for another +snooze; but in a minute Higgs was back again.</p> + +<p>“The young man from Ennidge and Pring has called, +sir,” he said, “the clerk who came with the key last +evening, you know, sir. He wants to know if the +inquest is to be to-day, as, if not, he has been given a +holiday and is going to spend it in the country.”</p> + +<p>“He can go,” said Gimblet; “the inquest won’t be +till to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>He was thoroughly awakened by now, and went to +his bath as soon as Higgs had departed.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was on the table when he entered the +dining-room, and he helped himself to omelet and sat +down and poured out his tea before he took up the +morning paper, which lay beside his plate.</p> + +<p>As he folded back the sheet and cast his eye over the +page, he uttered a startled exclamation and sat staring +incredulously at the paper as he read:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">MYSTERY OF MISSING LADIES PROVES +MYTHICAL.</p> + +<p class="hd">Mrs. Vanderstein is Staying at Boulogne.</p> + +<p>“Our correspondent at Boulogne telegraphs that +Mrs. Vanderstein, of 90 Grosvenor Street, is staying at +the Hôtel de Douvres in that town. Having observed +her name in the visitors’ book of the hotel, our correspondent +inquired of the manager if the lady could be +she who had been reported missing for the last two or +three days, and learnt that, while the manager was +unaware of the anxiety which has been felt in England +on her account, it is certainly Mrs. Vanderstein, of 90 +Grosvenor Street, who is at present beneath his roof. +Further conversation with the affable and obliging host +of the Hôtel de Douvres elicited the information that +the lady arrived early on Tuesday morning with the +intention of staying for one night only. She complained +of feeling indisposed, however, and sent for a +doctor, who ordered complete rest; so that Mrs. +Vanderstein kept her room till this evening, when, her +health being improved, she dined in her apartment as +usual, but afterwards went out to the Casino.</p> + +<p>“As luck would have it, the manager was relating +these details to our correspondent at the very moment—about +11 p.m.—when a carriage drove up to the +door, and the lady herself re-entered the hotel. On +our correspondent’s introducing himself and explaining +that grave anxiety was being felt on her +behalf in this country, she expressed considerable +astonishment, and said that this explained the fact +that letters she had written had not been answered. +She conjectured further that they could not even have +been delivered, remarking that the French postal +system left much to be desired. In reply to further +questions, the lady proclaimed her aversion to being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +interviewed, and said merely that she would send some +telegrams in the morning; upon which our correspondent +withdrew, and she entered the lift and mounted +to the first floor, where she has a suite of rooms.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein, who appeared to be entirely +recovered in health, was elegantly dressed in a black +and white casino costume, with a rose coloured toque +trimmed with an osprey, which was very becoming to +her dark hair and superb complexion. She was wearing +some of the magnificent jewels with which rumour +has been so busy during the last few days.”</p></div> + +<p>Gimblet read the paragraph twice, and then pushing +back his chair walked restlessly about the room. His +appetite was gone for the time being; his eyes glowed +again with the excitement of a new problem. One +second he spared, in which to be glad that Mrs. Vanderstein +still lived; he was glad for Sir Gregory’s sake, and +for Sidney’s sake, and even a little for her own, though +he had never to his knowledge set eyes on her. But +from the first he had felt an indefinable sympathy for +the fastidious lady whose house was scented with the +delicate, delicious perfume that he associated with her +name. But, as a matter of fact, Mrs. Vanderstein, +alive and well and disporting herself at Boulogne, +slipped quickly out of the place in Gimblet’s +interest hitherto filled by Mrs. Vanderstein dead and +cruelly murdered. His mind now occupied itself +busily and eagerly with the questions raised by +this shifting of rôles in the tragedy of Scholefield +Avenue.</p> + +<p>If Mrs. Vanderstein had not played the piteous part +of the victim on that fatal Monday night, who had? +Not Miss Barbara Turner, for she was described as +having very fair hair, while that of the murdered woman +was very dark. And if Miss Turner were not flying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +from justice, where was she? Could she and Mrs. +Vanderstein have combined to kill their hostess, when +they visited the house hired by Mr. West of tropical +origin? In any case here was a tangled knot to +unravel, and a black crime to bring home to its +perpetrator. Gimblet saw that he was not likely to +solve the puzzle off-hand, and reflected that in the +meantime he had better fortify himself with food +while he had the opportunity. His breakfast was +rather cold by the time he again sat down to it.</p> + +<p>What, in heaven’s name, had Mrs. Vanderstein and +Miss Turner been doing in that house on Monday +night? Had Miss Finner been mistaken, after all, and +was it not they whom she had seen before the door? +If so, by what astounding coincidence had he been led +to search there of all places, by what incredible freak +had Fortune taken him to the scene of this black and +cold-blooded crime? His brain, while he ate, busied +itself with these and such-like riddles.</p> + +<p>Soon after breakfast a high official from the Yard +called for him in accordance with arrangements made +the night before, and they set forth together in a taxi +for Fianti’s.</p> + +<p>“For,” said the official, as they went, “whether it +was Mrs. Vanderstein or some one else whose body you +found, we want the man who did it equally badly, and +we want your help in finding him. I suppose your +commission from Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones dies a +natural death now?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” said Gimblet, “but I’ll see him +presently and let you know. There’s still Miss Turner +to account for, but I daresay she’s at Boulogne too.”</p> + +<p>“As likely as not,” agreed his companion. “It’s +just the sort of little detail they’d forget to mention.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we shall soon know,” was Gimblet’s only +comment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>At Fianti’s they sent up their cards by the detective +of the regular force who was always in attendance on +the Prince and Princess of Targona, with a request for +the favour of an audience. They had not long to wait, +and were very graciously received by Prince Felipe, +who listened with grave attention to the explanation of +the object of their visit, and read the note presented for +his inspection by Gimblet with a lively curiosity.</p> + +<p>No, His Highness was afraid he could not assist them +in this matter. The writing paper was certainly his—how +obtained he could offer no suggestion—the +writing was of course a forgery, if that could be called +a forgery which made absolutely no pretence of +resembling the original. He had no notion to whom +the appellation of Madame Q. might refer. No doubt +more than one lady whose name began with that +initial had been presented to him on different occasions, +but he could not for the moment recall.... Possibly +some of his suite could be of more assistance.</p> + +<p>But no one of the Prince’s household could give them +any help. In the matter of the writing paper, it was +suggested that the hotel servants might know something +as to how it was obtained, but nothing definite +could be found out about it.</p> + +<p>The Prince sent for them again before they left, but +it was only to say that they had his best wishes for the +success of their investigations, and to ask a few +questions as to points of English police procedure in +which he appeared to be interested.</p> + +<p>“Truly, a strange country!” he murmured from +time to time on receiving the answers to his inquiries.</p> + +<p>Before they were dismissed, Gimblet once more +produced the crumpled paper which bore the Targona +arms over the Prince’s name, and asked the +Prince if he could detect a certain odour which clung +about it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Delicious,” said Prince Felipe, when he had +pressed it to his nose, “a delicate, pungent fragrance! +But no, I do not know what it is.”</p> + +<p>The official parted from Gimblet at the door of +Fianti’s and while the one returned in a hurried taxi to +his sanctum at Scotland Yard, the other strolled +across the street to Mrs. Vanderstein’s house.</p> + +<p>He found a relieved and rejoicing household.</p> + +<p>“You’ve seen the news, of course, sir,” said Blake, +himself opening the door in answer to the detective’s +ring. “And we’ve had a telegram this morning. +Here it is.”</p> + +<p>He handed it to Gimblet, who read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Blake 90 Grosvenor Street London W. Think +letters must have missed am staying at Hotel de +Douvres Boulogne till further notice writing.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“<span class="smcap">Vanderstein.</span>” +</p> +</div> + +<p>The telegram had been sent off at 8.14 that morning.</p> + +<p>“I suppose Miss Turner is with her, sir,” Blake was +saying, as Gimblet gave him back the paper, “the +newspaper doesn’t mention her.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Gimblet. “Still, as you say, I daresay +she is there all the same. It is Mrs. Vanderstein, and +above all Mrs. Vanderstein’s jewels, that the public is +interested in.”</p> + +<p>He went back to his flat, where he found Sidney and +Sir Gregory, both radiant.</p> + +<p>“What splendid news!” Sir Gregory greeted him +as they met, with a joyful cry. “I could not believe +it at first; it seems too good to be true. But oh, Mr. +Gimblet! what a night I have spent! I shall send +that reporter man a fiver. These newspaper chaps +sometimes have their uses, after all!”</p> + +<p>“I hope you see now,” Sidney remarked, “what a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +mistake it is to suspect people of doing impossible +things.”</p> + +<p>Sir Gregory looked towards them with a puzzled +expression. Gimblet, however, merely smiled.</p> + +<p>“I am delighted to be in the wrong, Mr. Sidney,” +was all he said.</p> + +<p>“She will laugh when she hears what a fuss I’ve +been making,” resumed Sir Gregory, pursuing his own +thoughts. “I think I shall run over to Boulogne +to-morrow and see her. I assure you, Mr. Gimblet, +I feel ten years younger again. What a nightmare it +has been!”</p> + +<p>“I found a wire for me at the club,” put in Sidney; +“she says she is sorry we have been worried, and that +her letter must have missed the post. It’s jolly good of +her to wire to me; I didn’t think she meant to have +anything more to do with me when I last saw her.”</p> + +<p>“It looks as if she had forgiven you, doesn’t it?” +said Gimblet.</p> + +<p>He was thinking that it was not every young man in +Sidney’s position who would have looked so delighted +to hear that his aunt was alive after all, when all his +difficulties seemed removed by her supposed death.</p> + +<p>“She doesn’t say a word about Miss Turner,” Sidney +continued. “She might have, you’d think. Of course +she doesn’t realise in the least that we’ve been imagining +her murdered.”</p> + +<p>“I telegraphed this morning as soon as I’d seen the +paper,” said Sir Gregory, “and said we had been most +anxious and that I trusted they were both well. I +expect there will be an answer for me by the time I +get back. Must be going now in fact. You see she +has been ill; kept her room till last night, the hotel man +said.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a very odd business,” said Gimblet. “I have +done a little telegraphing on my own account, I may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +tell you, for I want to know whether Mrs. Vanderstein +did go to Scholefield Avenue, or whether Miss Finner +took some one else for her. I ought to get the reply +any minute. And the police are sending a man of +theirs over to see her, by the afternoon boat. They +want me to help them with investigations of the +tragedy we discovered yesterday. I suppose, Sir +Gregory, that I can be of no further use to you?”</p> + +<p>“Thankee, Mr. Gimblet, I hope I shan’t trouble you +any more.”</p> + +<p>After a little more mutual congratulation the two +visitors took themselves off, and Gimblet composed +himself to await the answer to his telegram, which was +now due.</p> + +<p>He was sitting contemplating his Teniers, the +beauties of which he had not had much leisure to gaze +at of late, and munching sweets as he mused, when the +expected ring came at the door of the flat; but instead +of the message he thought to receive it was Inspector +Jennins from Scotland Yard, an astute and good-humoured +officer, who had before now been his +associate in more than one important case.</p> + +<p>“I came round to tell you, Mr. Gimblet,” he +exclaimed as he was shown in, “that the young lady +has been found.”</p> + +<p>“What, Miss Turner?”</p> + +<p>“That’s it. She’s in the Middlesex Hospital and, +what’s more, has been there all the time.”</p> + +<p>“Then how in the world was it that no one knew +it? That was one of the first places I inquired at, and +I daresay you did too.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; she was brought in on Wednesday morning +about 3 a.m. by a police constable who had been on +night duty in Regent’s Park. He saw her knocked +down by a man, and picked her up unconscious, and +she has been so ever since. The man got away in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +dark, and at the hospital no one recognised the young +lady from the description given in the inquiries that +were made, as the account of the clothes she wore was +all wrong. But there have been a lot of photographs +of her and Mrs. Vanderstein in the papers to-day and +yesterday, and this morning one of the nurses who’d +been studying her portrait recognised the original in +spite of her wounds. The hospital authorities communicated +with us, and I’m off to the hospital now. I +thought perhaps you’d like to come.”</p> + +<p>“I should, certainly,” said Gimblet, and they were +soon on their way.</p> + +<p>“I have only once seen Miss Turner, and that was +only a passing glimpse,” Gimblet said as the taxi sped +along. “Don’t you think it would be a good plan to +take one of the Grosvenor Street servants with us to +identify the young lady? It is possible that the nurse +may be mistaken; people look so different in a +horizontal position. And their saying that her clothes +were wrongly described looks to me as if there were +some error somewhere.”</p> + +<p>“I think that’s a very good idea of yours,” agreed +Jennins, and putting his head out of the window he +told the driver to go to 90 Grosvenor Street.</p> + +<p>They called for Amélie, Mrs. Vanderstein’s maid, who +appeared after a few minutes, in high delight and +excitement at the prospect of assisting the police. She +looked rather reproachfully at Gimblet, as though she +would have liked to point out to him that it was to be +regretted that he had hitherto failed to appreciate how +valuable her co-operation might be. “Ah, cette pauvre +demoiselle,” she murmured as they got into the cab; +and her manner indicated that she would have liked +to add: “How different it would have been if you had +consulted me earlier.”</p> + +<p>At the hospital there was a little delay before they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +were led upstairs and handed over to the guidance of a +pleasant-faced nurse who led them to a ward full of +casualty cases, which had suffered various injuries at +the hands of Fortune.</p> + +<p>In one bed was a woman who had been knocked down +by a van; in the next a child who had fallen into the +kitchen fire; in the third a woman whose husband had +kicked her to the very verge of the grave; the fourth +held a girl with an arm crushed in the machinery of +the factory she worked in—so the nurse informed the +inspector.</p> + +<p>She led the party through the ward, keeping up a +running commentary as they advanced, till they +reached the end bed of all, in which lay a young girl +whose head was covered with bandages, and who lay +quiet and still as if asleep.</p> + +<p>“Here she is,” said their guide.</p> + +<p>Gimblet looked at Amélie.</p> + +<p>“Mais oui, monsieur,” she answered his unspoken +question. “C’est bien Mademoiselle Turner. Ah, +là là! the poor one, what have they done to her?”</p> + +<p>Barbara looked terribly white and fragile. Her +face had grown thin to emaciation, and there were deep +blue lines under her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Poor young lady,” said the nurse, “she’s got +concussion of the brain, and it must have been a +frightful blow that did it.”</p> + +<p>When they left the ward Gimblet asked: “How +was it Miss Turner was not recognised till to-day?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the nurse, “you see the pictures in +the papers aren’t very good, and her hair is so hidden +by the bandages that it’s rather hard to see the likeness. +But what really put us off here was the description of +the clothes she was supposed to have been wearing. Of +course no one ever thought of connecting her with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +young lady in a white evening dress and a red opera +cloak!”</p> + +<p>“Why,” asked Jennins, “were those not the colours +she wore?”</p> + +<p>“Just wait a moment,” said the nurse; “I’ll show +you her things.”</p> + +<p>She hurried away and returned in a minute with a +bundle of apparel.</p> + +<p>“Look at them,” she said, and held them up for +them to see. “Look at this old black coat and +skirt; do you see how threadbare and old-fashioned it +is? It isn’t even very clean. And this horrible hat,” +she pointed to a battered straw, “it is almost in +pieces; and the boots are, quite. Her underclothes +were of such coarse, stiff calico that you would take +them for workhouse things, and all darned and mended +till you could hardly see the original stuff. The +stockings weren’t even mended. They were just one +large hole. And there was no blouse under the coat at +all. Nothing but a chemise. How was one to imagine +that this was the young lady who was being inquired +for? There’s a tremendous amount in appearances, +and she appeared to be the poorest of the +poor.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet seized upon the miserable garments and +examined them eagerly. But they rendered him no +information. Nothing was marked, the boots were +odd ones and of a prehistoric age; there was no +distinctive feature about any of the things.</p> + +<p>With injunctions that they should be telephoned to +if Miss Turner awoke to consciousness, they left the +hospital and dismissed Amélie, who went back to +Grosvenor Street to pack and return to the hospital +with some of Barbara’s belongings, so that she might +find them there if they were needed.</p> + +<p>“Now what I want is to see the constable who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +brought that young lady into the hospital,” Gimblet +said to Jennins.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said the inspector. “He’s been sent for +and should be at the Yard by now,” and they drove off +in another taxi.</p> + +<p>Police-Constable Matterson of S division had already +arrived, and was awaiting them when they reached +Scotland Yard. Jennins called him into his private +office, and there, in response to their questions, he told +his story.</p> + +<p>“At about 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning,” said he, +“it being a dark, wet night, with the rain pouring down +like water out of a bucket, and the thunder claps as +near overhead, and as frequent, as ever I heard, I was +on duty near St. Mark’s Church just outside Regent’s +Park. There is a small bridge for foot passengers +across the canal opposite and I crossed it on my way to +the outer circle of the Park. I was just resting a +minute on the bridge, for I didn’t like to stay under the +trees more than I need with that storm so close, when +a flash of lightning that must have been almost over +me, it was that bright, showed up the canal below, as I +leant on the parapet, so clear that I could have counted +every blade of grass. There was the canal winding out +of sight, and the surface of it all jumping and hissing as +the rain-drops hit it; and there were the banks on either +side and the trunks of the trees lit up as light as day. +But the thing that caught my eye was the sight of two +people struggling on the bank, a few yards from the +water. It was a man and a woman, and he seemed to +be trying to catch hold of her round the neck, while +she was dodging and defending herself as best she +could. It was all very clear for half a second and then +the dark swallowed everything up again, and the +thunder burst, as it seemed, just on my head.</p> + +<p>“Apart from what I had seen it seemed to me that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +folks wouldn’t be out for any good in that weather, and +at that hour and place; and when the noise of the clap +rumbled away I caught the sound of the tail end of a +scream which made me sure of it. I turned my +lantern towards the place and hollered back, running +to get over the fence and down to the canal as I did so.</p> + +<p>“As I came near to where I’d seen the pair, two +successive flashes coming close one after the other +showed them up again no more than a few yards away, +and they saw me in the same instant. The man had +got a great spade in his hand, and when he caught sight +of me he lifted it up sideways and aimed a fearful blow +at the woman with the edge of it. She ducked and +dodged again—very active she was, poor thing—and +he missed, so that the blade glanced off her shoulder +and he as near as possible lost his balance. But he +recovered himself at once and threw up his arms again +with the spade clutched in both hands, as I saw by the +second flash, and brought it down with all his force +flat on the top of her head.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t see her go down, for the light went before +the blow had fallen, and in the dark I lost him, and he +got clear away.</p> + +<p>“While I was groping about with my lantern, I fell +over the body of the girl, lying where he had struck +her to the ground, and at the first start off I thought he +had done for her sure enough. So I let her lie for a +few minutes, while I blew my whistle and kept on +searching around for the scoundrel. Two more of our +men came up after a time and we had a regular hunt, +but he’d got a good start and we never saw him. On +turning our attention to the girl again, we found that +she was still alive, though unconscious, so we got an +ambulance and took her to the hospital. There was +nothing to show who she was, but from her clothes I +judged her to be one of the lowest and poorest class. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +reported the occurrence at the time, and made a further +search by daylight on the spot. I picked up the spade +near by, where the fellow had evidently dropped it as +he ran; it had a piece of stout cord attached to the +handle about four or five feet long, but was otherwise +without distinguishing mark of any kind. It’s outside, +if you wish to see it, sir.”</p> + +<p>Jennins told him to bring it in.</p> + +<p>“Of course,” he said to Gimblet, “no one ever +thought of connecting this story of violence and +brutality with the two missing ladies. The report +didn’t come my way, as it happens, but I don’t suppose +for a moment I should have been a scrap the wiser if it +had. Still, it makes one feel a bit foolish now, I’ll +own.”</p> + +<p>Matterson returned with the spade and cord, which +proved to be very ordinary; and Gimblet’s inquiring +lens could discover nothing about them in any way +remarkable.</p> + +<p>“What was the man like?” he asked the policeman.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t have much time to take notice, sir,” replied +Matterson, “but he was a dark fellow with a black +beard, and tall.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see if he wore gloves?”</p> + +<p>“Come to think of it, now you ask me, sir, I believe +he did. I saw his hands plain enough as he lifted the +spade, and I ought to know. But I couldn’t swear to it, +I’m afraid, though my impression is that he did, and +that it struck me as curious at the time, in the sort of +way a thing will strike you for a moment and then slip +out of your memory like a dream does.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></h2> + + +<p>“I bet it’s our man,” said Gimblet, as Jennins +dismissed the constable.</p> + +<p>“Well, he must have altered his appearance +if he is Mr. West, the gentleman from South America, +unless Matterson’s account is very wrong indeed,” was +Jennins’ only comment. “Aren’t you going a bit out +of your way, Mr. Gimblet,” he asked, “to see any +connection between this violent attempt on Miss +Turner’s life and the actual murder which has taken +place at 13 Scholefield Avenue? For my part I don’t +see any reason to think the two affairs have anything +to do with each other. I admit it looked as if Miss +Turner and Mrs. Vanderstein had been in the house, but +surely that theory is disposed of now and it is clear +that your friend the actress was mistaken in thinking +it was them she saw. Remember, she didn’t even know +them by sight, but merely guessed at their identity +from the description in the advertisement: two +ladies in white, one wearing a red cloak and the other +a mauve one. Why, there may have been dozens of +couples dressed in these colours going about London on +Monday, or any other night!”</p> + +<p>“But the jewels,” said Gimblet, “she saw them too, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein hasn’t a monopoly of diamonds. +And besides, at that distance, and at the pace Miss +Finner was going, she could only have received the +vaguest impression, in any case.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I suppose I have got my head full of Scholefield +Avenue,” said Gimblet. “I admit that I find it very +hard to remember that Mrs. Vanderstein, at all events, +is a very long way from that spot. And I daresay you +are right, and Miss Turner never was much nearer +to it. Still....” Gimblet fell into an introspective +silence from which he soon roused himself with a +start. “Tell me what you think, Jennins,” he said. +“Have you any theory?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any theory about the Scholefield Avenue +business,” replied Jennins reluctantly, “but there +doesn’t seem much mystery about the other affair, to +my way of thinking. Surely it is clear that when Mrs. +Vanderstein went off so secretly to Boulogne, for some +reason she wished it to appear that Miss Turner went +with her, while as a matter of fact the young lady +remained in London. Ten to one we shall find that +Mrs. Vanderstein had a more compromising companion +with her in France than she left in England. Miss +Turner, no doubt, retired to some secluded spot till +her presence should be again required, probably to +lodgings near Regent’s Park. Very likely she stayed +indoors all day for fear of meeting acquaintances who +might call for troublesome explanations as to her +presence there, and being in want of exercise and fresh +air went for a walk at night in order to procure them. +Is it surprising that this ruffian of whom Matterson +caught a glimpse, meeting her at such an hour and in +so lonely a place, should not have spared her his +unwelcome advances? Matterson saw him trying to +put an arm round her neck, and it was very natural +for her to scream in such circumstances. On our man +running up, the black-bearded loafer, thinking himself +caught, struck out at the girl in a fit of temper, and then +took to his heels just in time to save himself.”</p> + +<p>“All very fine, Jennins,” said Gimblet, “but I can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +pick holes in that theory till you’ll take it for a sieve. +To put aside the question whether such a young lady +as Miss Turner is said to be would lend herself to the +deception you suggest, is it conceivable that, if she did +go out to seek fresh air after dark, she should defer +doing so till two in the morning and then choose a +particularly violent thunderstorm to walk about in? +Would her desire for exercise have led her to stand +half way up the embankment of the canal when the +rain was falling in torrents, and had been doing so +since midnight? There is another thing as inexplicable, +and that is the attire in which she took this midnight +ramble. The clothes we saw at the hospital were +mere rags. It seems incredible that this young lady, +whom we know to have been clad on Monday night in +purple and fine linen, should have been going about on +Wednesday morning in garments which were not only +threadbare and indescribably ancient but actually +dirty. The battered state of the hat may be due to the +blow from the spade, and all the garments were of +course drenched by the rain, but there is something +beyond that in their repulsiveness. I can’t imagine +how she can have brought herself to wear such things.</p> + +<p>“Apart from this behaviour of hers, which is in +itself a mystery, what was the black-bearded one +doing in the same place and hour and in the same +unpropitious conditions? They could hardly both +have been wandering there for the innocuous purpose +you attribute to Miss Turner. And, mark you, the +man was no destitute waif devoid of the means of +procuring himself shelter from the rain. He carried a +good serviceable spade which would have got him the +price of a night’s lodging whenever he liked to pawn it. +Now the kind of rough you are thinking of does not +carry a spade or anything so suggestive of hard and +honest labour. On the other hand, who does use that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +implement in a town like this? A gardener might +have one, or a scavenger; or one or two other people. +I think one of the most likely, especially at night, +would be a gravedigger.”</p> + +<p>“There you go!” exclaimed Jennins; “your mind is +running on bodies buried in the flower pots! I suppose +you think this fellow was going to bury the girl in one +of the beds in the park!”</p> + +<p>“It’s all very strange,” mused Gimblet, unheeding +the inspector’s jeering tones. “The rope now. That +is a puzzle. What could he be going to do with a +rope? And why was it tied to a spade? Had he got +the thing in his hands when he was trying to put his +arms round Miss Turner’s neck? It must have +hampered him a good deal and perhaps helped her to +avoid his clutches.” Gimblet, with unseeing eyes, +stared fixedly at his companion, his mind busy with +the problem. Suddenly a light seemed to fall upon it. +“By Jove!” he cried, “I believe I see the whole +thing. If only Matterson were certain about the +gloves.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Jennins eagerly.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” said Gimblet. “It is too wild an idea at +present, though indeed I do not think I can be +mistaken. But you have all the facts before you, +Jennins, and are as able to come to the right conclusion +as myself. I will leave you to think over the puzzle, +while I go back to my flat and see if the answer to the +wire I sent to Mrs. Vanderstein has yet arrived. It +ought to be there by now.”</p> + +<p>But he found no telegram awaiting him. He was +annoyed and surprised at this, but the time taken by +foreign telegrams is always uncertain, and Mrs. +Vanderstein might have been out when his reached +Boulogne. Lunch was being kept warm for him, and he +made a hearty meal of Scotch woodcock and asparagus;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +with which he drank iced coffee and ate sponge cake +instead of bread. There were strawberries to finish up +with, and he left the dining-room with a peaceful smile +on his face.</p> + +<p>It was three o’clock, and the telegram was still +undelivered.</p> + +<p>Gimblet decided to wait in for it, and, having now +leisure to think of others, rang up Sidney on the +telephone and told him of the discovery of Barbara +Turner’s whereabouts.</p> + +<p>Incoherent questions came to him over the wire, but +after a minute or two Sidney said “good-bye” and +rang off hastily. The detective smiled as he hung +up the receiver. In his mind’s eye he saw the young +man dash out and drive swiftly in the direction of the +hospital, and indeed the picture his imagination drew +for him could not have been more accurate.</p> + +<p>The afternoon passed and the evening wore away, +and yet no wire came from Mrs. Vanderstein. It was +tiresome, and Gimblet felt irritated with the lady for +her lack of courtesy. Surely she might have replied +by now. He felt that she held the clue to many things +which perplexed him, and he could not understand her +failure to give it to him. His own telegram had been +very urgent. Well, the police were sending a man to +see her; he was to go over by the 2.20 from Charing +Cross, and by now he would be arriving at Boulogne. +There could not be much more delay, telegram or no +telegram.</p> + +<p>Gimblet gave up waiting and went out again. He +felt he must go to Scholefield Avenue once more. The +tragedy that had taken place there filled his thoughts; +and, being convinced in spite of Jennins’ contemptuous +incredulity that the two mysteries were in some +remote way connected, he was inclined to go and see +if there were not some trifling point about things at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +No. 13 which he had overlooked, instead of waiting +longer for the minute glimmer of light which Mrs. +Vanderstein might be able to throw upon the darkness +with which the whole affair was enveloped.</p> + +<p>Scholefield Avenue looked very quiet and peaceful +in the evening light; the few boys who still hovered +about the gate, survivals of the crowd which the +report of the murder had gathered there earlier in the +day, wore the tranquil air of those to whom time is no +object, and Gimblet, looking up and down the road, +where the shadows lay long and the air was cool in the +green twilight of the overhanging trees, thought again +what a good place the murderer had chosen for his +deed. Who would ever suspect evil in so calm and +bright an oasis among the mazes of dusty, traffic-worn +streets which surrounded it on every hand?</p> + +<p>The house was in charge of a couple of policemen, who +let Gimblet in without demur when he showed them his +card, and followed him with their eyes with looks in +which curiosity and admiration were blended. He +went over the garden again, examining half-obliterated +footmarks, and poking about between flowering plants +lest something should be thrust away there and had +escaped his notice. Then into the house, where he +renewed his search, but without result. He looked +into the drawing-room again, where all was as he had +left it except that the body had been removed to a +bedroom, then went into the library and gazed again +at the dirty finger marks on the white paint of the +door. Whose fingers were they, he wondered, which +had left so many imprints? Was it the murdered +woman who had been shut up in that room? Had +Mrs. Vanderstein and her companion been there too, +or was Jennins right, and their presence in that vicinity +on Monday night been a figment of Miss Finner’s excited +imagination?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>His thoughts reverted to the powder puff and the +forged note, and he took the folded paper from his +pocket book and sniffed at it again. The odour of +scent, now faint indeed, but still clinging sweetly to +the impassioned words, was unmistakably that which +hovered about the house in Grosvenor Street. Arome +de la Corse, it was called, he remembered, and Amélie +had said that Mrs. Vanderstein had it sent to her +direct from Paris. Such extraordinary things happen +every day that anything short of a miracle hardly +attracts attention, but surely it would be a strain on the +long arm of coincidence to suppose that, having +strayed on to the scene of a murder owing to the +mistaken idea that he was on the track of Mrs. Vanderstein, +he should then find that not only did the dead +woman resemble that lady and wear similar clothes +but that she even used the same uncommon perfume! +Gimblet’s whole soul revolted at such an impossibility. +In the name of common sense, he said to himself, it +must be Mrs. Vanderstein who had been seen on the +doorstep on Monday night, and none other, in spite of +all probability to the contrary; though what she was +doing in that <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">galère</i> certainly seemed incomprehensible +from nearly every point of view.</p> + +<p>No contingency was ever dismissed by Gimblet as +too wild for consideration, and the only reasonable +explanation of her presence, he felt, was that she was in +some way mixed up with the murder, an accomplice at +least, if not the actual author of the deed; but this +view involved so complete a shifting of ideas, that he +put it aside for further consideration in the light of the +information which the man sent by Scotland Yard to +Boulogne might be able to furnish. If only the walls +could speak! he thought, as he finally realised that +nothing more was to be gathered, and, before leaving +the room, strolled over to the mantelpiece in order to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +have a nearer look at the picture which hung there, and +which he had noticed the day before.</p> + +<p>It was a small oil painting, dark with dirt and age, +and much of the detail lost in a general blackness. +Still the figures, those of a man in blue and another in +greenish brown in the act of lighting a long pipe, could +be clearly enough distinguished, together with enough +of the background to make it plain that this represented +an interior. Gimblet studied it with the keenest +appreciation; it was just the class of picture he most +delighted in. A longing took him to remove it from its +nail and carry it to the light, and with rather a guilty +glance back at the door, which he had, however, shut +as he entered, he put up his hand and lifted it +off.</p> + +<p>As he delicately lowered his prize he caught sight of +something which made him very nearly drop it.</p> + +<p>On the square of wall paper which had been hidden +by the picture was some pencilled writing, scrawled +irregularly in a large round hand:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“I am locked in this room. I write this hoping it +may be the means of delivering these people to justice, +for I am sure they intend no good. I can see that by +the fact that the man with the black beard has +promised to help me to escape. Why should there be +need to escape? But I do not believe he will keep his +word. I have been here so long, I do not know how +long, but many hours, perhaps days, and God knows +what dreadful thing they are doing in the drawing-room +to Mr”</p> +</div> + +<p>The writing broke off abruptly about half way down +the square of darker colour, where the paper had been +prevented from fading by the protecting picture. +Gimblet gazed at it with all the emotions of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +scientist whose theory has stood the decisive test. +His hands fumbled in his excitement, as he hastily +snatched out his notebook, and sought in it for the +telegraph form Higgs had obtained from the Piccadilly +office. He flattened it against the wall below the +pencilled words, more in order to gloat over this proof +of the soundness of his deductions than for the sake of +comparing the two handwritings, for it had only +needed the first glance to make it plain to him that +they were one and the same. The writing on the wall +was larger; the letters followed each other unevenly, +and while some of the lines drooped lower and lower +as they advanced, others rose crookedly to meet them, +so that one or two actually overlapped and were rather +hard to decipher, but the essential character of the +hand was clearly identical with that of the telegram. +There was no mistaking the slant of the short line of +the h’s or the oval converging lines of the w’s and the +low crossing of the t’s, besides a hundred other small +points which left the trained eye in no doubt as to the +authorship of the message.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what Jennins will say to this,” thought +Gimblet, as he copied down the words on a page of his +notebook. “That Scholefield Avenue has got on my +brain, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>Excited as he was, he did not forget his original +purpose in taking down the painting, but carried it to +the window and examined it closely by the now +diminishing light. On nearer inspection it proved to +be of less interest than he had expected, and he hung +it up again with the less regret.</p> + +<p>“But even Jennins will have to admit that a leaning +towards Art comes in very useful sometimes,” he +thought, as he once more hid the scrawled message +from view.</p> + +<p>It was long past eight when the detective returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +to his flat, only to find that there was still no answer +to his telegram to Boulogne.</p> + +<p>“Nothing has come and no one has been to see us +since you went out, sir,” Higgs told him.</p> + +<p>Higgs always spoke of himself as “us” when he +was engaged on Gimblet’s affairs, just as he alluded, +with a fine impartiality, to matters in which his master +alone was concerned as “ours.”</p> + +<p>“They’ve been ringing us up from the Yard,” he +went on, “been ringing every few minutes for the last +half-hour, and said I was to ask you to speak to them +on the telephone the minute you come in. There they +go again,” he concluded, as the bell tinkled violently +in the library at the same moment as there came a +ring at the front door.</p> + +<p>Gimblet hurried to the instrument and Higgs went +to answer the door.</p> + +<p>“Are you there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, is that Mr. Gimblet? Hold the line, please, +sir.”</p> + +<p>In a moment Jennins’ voice sounded in his ear.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Gimblet, that you? Oh, Mr. Gimblet, our +man has wired from Boulogne and it appears that +things have taken a very unexpected turn. I daresay +you’ve seen an evening paper?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet had heard so much when the library door +burst open, and Sir Gregory rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>“Look at this,” he almost screamed, evidently +beside himself with some painful emotion. “Look at +this!”</p> + +<p>He waved an evening paper.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do go away, Sir Gregory,” said Gimblet; +“can’t you see I’m busy? Hullo, Jennins! Jennins, +are you there?”</p> + +<p>But Sir Gregory would not be denied. Seizing +Gimblet’s arm he tore him away from the telephone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +and holding the newspaper under his eyes pointed to it +with a shaking hand. He would have spoken, but +sobs choked his utterance, and, glancing at him for the +first time and in no very friendly humour, Gimblet +was surprised to see that tears were rolling down the +kindly pink face.</p> + +<p>“Why, what’s the matter?” he said, but Sir +Gregory only pointed to the unfolded sheet. The +detective’s eyes at last followed the outstretched +finger, and he read:</p> + +<p class="hd1">“Murder of Mrs. Vanderstein.</p> + +<p class="hd2">“Missing Lady Found Dead in Her Hotel at Boulogne.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></h2> + + +<p>“What do you think about going over to +Boulogne, Mr. Gimblet?”</p> + +<p>It was the following morning, and +Jennins was sitting in Gimblet’s rooms. He had come +round to talk matters over and discuss plans and +methods of carrying them out.</p> + +<p>“I think I may be more useful if I stay here,” +Gimblet said, in answer to his question. “Your +fellow, Burford, who is over there, is a good sound man +who will, at least, not overlook the obvious, and Bonnot, +the French detective, who is said to have been +summoned, is a master of his profession. These +murders are certainly the work of the same gang, and +it may be easier to trace them here in London, if it is, +as it appears to be, their starting point, than it will be +to do so in a foreign country. There is no more news +from Burford, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing new since last night. And no more than +the papers have, anyhow. These reporters are the +deuce.”</p> + +<p>“They are,” Gimblet agreed. “Let’s see again +what they say about it.” He took up a paper, turned +to the sinister headline, and read aloud:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“A startling sequel has followed the mysterious +disappearance of Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, +who left their home early in the week and whose +whereabouts were only yesterday discovered. One<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +of these ladies, Mrs. Vanderstein, who, it will be remembered, +we ascertained to be staying at Boulogne, was +found dead in her room at the Hôtel de Douvres +yesterday afternoon, and foul play is strongly suspected. +Traces of violence were plainly to be seen and +it is thought likely that the poor lady was strangled to +death. A curious feature of the affair is that though +Mrs. Vanderstein had with her a large quantity of her +valuable jewellery, some of which was actually lying +on the table at the time, so far as is at present known +none of it has been stolen.</p> + +<p>“A page in the service of the hotel reports that he +showed a visitor to Mrs. Vanderstein’s room soon after +luncheon, and this stranger, who is described as a tall +man with a black beard, left the hotel shortly before +three o’clock, after delivering a message from the lady +to the effect that she did not wish to be disturbed again +that day. The order was duly given to the domestics +of the hotel, and if a messenger from London had +not arrived by the five o’clock boat on important +business and insisted on penetrating to Mrs. Vanderstein’s +presence, it is probable that the murder would +not have been discovered until to-day. The authorities +are investigating the affair with the utmost energy, +and it is believed that they are on the track of the man +with the black beard.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Gimblet put down the paper. “There are various +other paragraphs saying the same thing in different +words,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>“It certainly looks as if you were right again,” +observed Jennins reflectively, “about all this being +the work of the same gang, I mean.”</p> + +<p>“There’s not a doubt of it,” said Gimblet. “I was +sure of it from the first, though I admit that I had not +much to go on. A mere whiff of perfume. Let us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +see how much we know now. To go back to Monday +night, Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner voluntarily +entered the house in Scholefield Avenue, though +whether in response to an invitation from the so-called +West or not we do not know, in spite of a theory I +have on the subject. They then presumably separated, +Miss Turner being imprisoned in the room on the +ground floor, very much against her will and to her +alarm since she broke a window in the hope of +escaping, and when that attempt failed wrote a despairing +message on the wall, in which she stated her fear +that something dreadful was being done to somebody +in the drawing-room. You will, I am sure, +agree with me that, though the message says that +her alarm was for ‘Mr’ and then stops, an s would +have been added if Miss Turner had not been +interrupted, and it was her intention to write ‘Mrs.’ +But whether this would have referred to the woman +who was buried in the flower stand or whether she was +thinking of her friend, Mrs. Vanderstein, is not clear.</p> + +<p>“Was Mrs. Vanderstein in the drawing-room at the +time of the murder, and if so what was her business +there, is the next question where our knowledge fails +us. We know she was in that room at some time or +other—I knew that the moment I smelt her perfume +on the powder puff and note—but whether or no she +was there at the moment of the crime we cannot +tell. In either case her subsequent proceedings are +extraordinary. If she was detained in the house +against her will and made her escape by some unknown +means, why did she fly to Boulogne, instead of to her +own house or to the nearest police station? Why, +when she got to Boulogne, did she not communicate +with her friends until yesterday? It is true she said +she had written previously, but it would have been +more natural if she had telegraphed, and if she received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +no reply had telegraphed again. Why did she display +no anxiety on Miss Turner’s account? Her actions +seem at present to be inexplicable and strange to the +last degree. Had she suddenly gone off her head? +That is the most probable solution, to my mind. If so, +it may well be that it was she who committed the +terrible crime I discovered in Scholefield Avenue, and +then, with the mixture of cunning and recklessness +common to lunatics of a criminal type, retired to +Boulogne to wait till the affair should have blown +over. There are, however, several drawbacks to such +a theory, and one of them is that it does not account +for the black-bearded man, unless he was a lover, +and indeed it seems most likely that he was.</p> + +<p>“We don’t know what was the part he played on +Monday night. Perhaps he helped Mrs. Vanderstein +to escape more effectually than he did Miss Turner, in +spite of his promise to her.</p> + +<p>“All we know is that he took the girl out of the house +on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning and that +they went together to the bank of the canal in Regent’s +Park, where Matterson came upon them. We know +that ‘black-beard’ carried a heavy spade with him. +What for? Not to use it as he did, I think; neither +was it to dig a grave with after Miss Turner had been +disposed of in some other way. Think, Jennins, there +was a cord attached to the handle, and the canal was +within a few yards of them. Do those two facts +suggest nothing to you? Surely it is obvious that his +intention was to throw the young lady into the water, +having previously tied the spade to her so as to make +sure she would sink. No doubt she guessed what was +in his mind, and that was why Matterson saw her +defending herself, poor girl, and heard her scream. +Such at least is my opinion.”</p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t wonder if you’ve hit the nail on the head<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +this time,” agreed the inspector. “The question is, +what’s the next thing to be done?”</p> + +<p>“It’s high time I followed up a clue contained in the +letter purporting to come from Prince Felipe,” replied +Gimblet. “I should have done so long ago, if I had +not waited for Mrs. Vanderstein’s version of the affair. +You remember a Madame Q. is mentioned as the bearer +of the note. Well, who is Madame Q.? I telegraphed +early yesterday to Mrs. Vanderstein saying, ‘Were you +at 13 Scholefield Avenue on Monday night, and who +else was present? Letter has been found there +apparently addressed to you by Prince F. mentioning +Madame Q. Please wire very fully, and give Madame +Q.’s full name and address. Very grave matters +involved.’ If the lady had replied to my wire we should +doubtless have been spared a lot of trouble, though we +might not have been able to save her life; but, as +things are, I propose to try and sift the question of +Madame Q.’s identity for myself.”</p> + +<p>Jennins went away; and Gimblet, after being detained +by a short visit from Sidney—who was on his +way to catch the eleven o’clock train to Boulogne—also +took up his hat and left the house.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later he was standing on the +doorstep of Mrs. Vanderstein’s Grosvenor Street house.</p> + +<p>He found, as was natural, a shocked and dislocated +household. The cook and Blake were seated in the +morning-room, where the cook was flourishing a handkerchief, +and reiterating observations to the effect +that she had always known something terrible was +going to happen ever since the second footman had +broken the looking-glass in the pantry; while the young +man referred to was standing just outside the door, +and putting his head into the room every few minutes +to remark defiantly, though with a certain uneasiness, +that it wasn’t in nature for so tremendous an event to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +be brought about by such an insignificant piece of +glass as the one he had had the “misfortune” with. +From the drawing-room came the penetrating shrillness +of Amélie’s voice, apparently filling in the newspaper +account of the murder, with all the embellishing detail +an unshrinkingly gruesome imagination could suggest, +for the benefit of the rest of the maids, whose chorusing +groans could also be distinguished. But, on the whole, +there was more perturbation as to the effect the tragedy +would be likely to have on their own futures than distress +at the dreadful fate of their mistress; and +Gimblet, if he had to listen to much lamentation, found +himself also beset with many anxious questions.</p> + +<p>It was some minutes before he was able to introduce +his own object in coming there; but at last he drew +Blake to one side, and asked him if Mrs. Vanderstein +had kept a visiting book with a list of the people she +called on.</p> + +<p>She had done so, and it was produced, but to +Gimblet’s disappointment contained no name beginning +with the letter Q. There were, however, the names of +two or three French ladies, and he wondered whether +Q were merely a cipher for Gerady or Kerigoet. Blake, +cross-questioned, could think of no foreign lady with +whom Mrs. Vanderstein was on familiar terms.</p> + +<p>Gimblet remembered Amélie’s thorough knowledge +in the matter of her mistress’ correspondence, and +called to her to come and speak to him.</p> + +<p>“Had Mrs. Vanderstein a friend of your nationality?” +he asked. “Was there any French lady whom +she knew well, and whose name, perhaps, began with +a Q?”</p> + +<p>“A lady? No,” said Amélie. “A friend? Hardly! +Il ne manquait plus que cela! But she was acquainted +with a French woman, whose name begins with Q. +Without doubt, it is of that Justine you speak.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Justine?”</p> + +<p>“Eh! Yes. Justine Querterot. Madame Querterot, +as she calls herself, though, for me, I never saw that +she had a husband. It is said that he shot himself, the +poor man, and I do not see what he could have done +better with a wife like that one! Ah, monsieur, a +nasty, bad woman!”</p> + +<p>“There are people like that,” Gimblet agreed diplomatically; +“but tell me, how did Mrs. Vanderstein +know this Madame Querterot?”</p> + +<p>“She came for a time to <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">coiffer</i> Madame, and to +rejuvenate her complexion, which needed nothing of +the kind, I assure you. But she had the idea to be +massaged, and for some months that woman was daily +in the house. Never did I comprehend how Mrs. +Vanderstein could tolerate her. A woman so vulgar, +so familiar, and who never ceased to talk and talk and +talk!”</p> + +<p>Amélie spoke with virtuous indignation, as one to +whom the gift of silence has been vouchsafed.</p> + +<p>“She is a masseuse, then?”</p> + +<p>“Not a real masseuse, though so she calls herself; +but, to say the truth, she is just a hairdresser who tries +to make people believe she knows something of the +care of the skin. For some reason she appeared to +amuse Madame, and I think it was chiefly for that +reason that she let her come.”</p> + +<p>“Did she come every day, and has she been here +since Mrs. Vanderstein left home?”</p> + +<p>“For two or three months she came every day,” +replied Amélie bitterly. “Indeed I thought she was +coming always, but only last Monday—the very day +Madame went away—I heard la Justine say that it +was her final visit; and, in truth, she has not been here +since, I am very happy to say it.”</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said Gimblet. “Well, I shall have to go and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +see her. Let me see, you said she is a tall, dark +woman, did you not?”</p> + +<p>“But no,” cried Amélie, “on the contrary she +is short, and has yellow hair in the worst possible +taste.”</p> + +<p>“What makes you dislike this woman so much? +Do you know anything against her, by any chance?”</p> + +<p>But it appeared that Amélie knew nothing against +Madame Querterot. Vague accusations and dark +charges of a general character were all she had to +bring; and, after listening to a tirade of this kind for +a considerable time, Gimblet cut it short by asking +for the masseuse’s address.</p> + +<p>“Your mistress left a letter for her,” he said, “which +has been sent over to us by the French police. It is +of no importance, and contains, I think, only a reference +to Madame Querterot’s account, but I am anxious +to deliver it; and, as the poor lady had got no further +with the address than Madame Q, without your +assistance it would have been a matter of some +difficulty.”</p> + +<p>It was unfortunate that the detective should have hit +upon this excuse to explain his interrogations, for the +idea that even death had not put a stop to intercourse +between Mrs. Vanderstein and her enemy nearly suffocated +Amélie, whose jealous suspicions woke again at +the challenge.</p> + +<p>“This is the address, monsieur,” she said, as she +gave it to him, “but I would not count on finding the +bird in the nest. It is in the neighbourhood of Boulogne +that you should look for that infamous woman. One +of her kind is capable of everything; and, in my +opinion, nothing is more probable than that it is she +who is the real assassin of my poor Madame! A +black beard, indeed! Is she not a hairdresser?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet fled before the storm of words he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +provoked, and hurried to the Pimlico address that +he had obtained.</p> + +<p>In spite of himself, Amélie’s words echoed in his ears: +“Is she not a hairdresser?” A black beard was a +simple enough disguise, and fair hair may be covered. +But he had been told also that the masseuse was a +short woman, and height is not so easily simulated. +Such were his thoughts as he turned the handle of the +shop door.</p> + +<p>There was no one inside, and Gimblet had time to +remark the empty shelves and forlorn look of the +window—which the waxen lady no longer graced with +her presence—before, in answer to the rapping of his +hand on the counter and his repeated cry of “Shop, +please,” the door leading to the back room opened and +Julie Querterot made her appearance.</p> + +<p>It was a sad enough figure she presented to him that +day: paler, thinner, more tired-looking than ever. +There was a scared look in her eyes now, and black +lines under them. She came forward slowly, almost +timidly.</p> + +<p>“Did you want anything?” she said. “I am afraid +our stock is nearly all—sold out.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” said Gimblet. “I called to see Madame +Querterot—is it possible that I am speaking to +her?”</p> + +<p>“Oh no,” said Julie with a little smile. “I am her +daughter. But I fear you cannot see my mother just +now. She is—out.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” returned Gimblet. “I will wait. +Perhaps she will be in by luncheon-time? I have a +message for her.”</p> + +<p>“I do not know when she will be back,” said the +girl. “Can you not leave the message with me?”</p> + +<p>“It is for her own ear,” said Gimblet. “If you +don’t mind, I will wait a little.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> + +<p>He sat down as he spoke, and Julie, after a hesitating +glance, went back to the inner room, leaving the door +ajar between the two.</p> + +<p>Gimblet, left to himself, was surprised to notice +again how very few were the articles exposed for sale. +Bare as the shop had looked when he first entered, he +now saw it to be even emptier than he had thought. +A tradesman’s almanack on one wall, a picture from +an illustrated paper on the other, two or three bottles +of hair-wash and a few packets of hair-pins seemed to +constitute the whole stock in trade.</p> + +<p>Gimblet was still wondering whether the massage +was in as bad a way as the hairdressing side of the +Querterot business, when a subdued sound coming +from the next room drew his attention.</p> + +<p>What was it, that sort of low, muffled panting?</p> + +<p>The detective got up softly, and stole to the +door.</p> + +<p>Peeping shamelessly through the crack, he saw that +a chair had been drawn up to the table and that Julie +sat there with her head bent and resting on her hands. +It was from her that the sound came which had caught +his ear, for her whole body was shaking with the sobs +which she tried in vain to stifle.</p> + +<p>Gimblet opened the door and passed boldly through.</p> + +<p>“I am so sorry,” he said, “to have come at a +time when you are unhappy. But won’t you tell +me all about it? Who knows, I may be able to help +you.”</p> + +<p>At sight of him the girl started up, with a renewed +effort to get the better of her grief; but the kind tone +of Gimblet’s voice put the finishing touch to her +emotions: losing all attempt at self-control, she laid +her head down on the table before her and gave way +to unrestrained and passionate tears.</p> + +<p>Gimblet let her weep for a while, then he sat down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +near her and tried to comfort her. He took one of +her hands and patted it gently, as if she had been a +child.</p> + +<p>“There, there,” he said, “don’t cry any more. Tell +me what’s the matter and let’s see if something can’t +be done about it.”</p> + +<p>Gradually her tears came more slowly; the convulsive +sobs that had shaken her died away, and she +sat up and dried her eyes, looking at him from time to +time with furtive shyness.</p> + +<p>“You are very kind, sir,” she said at last, succumbing +reluctantly to that feeling of confidence which +Gimblet always succeeded in inspiring if he tried. +“It was—it was only because you asked to see my +mother.”</p> + +<p>“How’s that?”</p> + +<p>“She—she—I don’t know where she is.”</p> + +<p>“No? But never mind. You will hear where she +has been when she comes home.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t understand. She hasn’t been home for +four days, and I have no idea when she is coming back. +She did not tell me anything.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” Gimblet looked grave. “When do +you say you saw her last?”</p> + +<p>“It was on Tuesday morning,” said Julie. “She +came and woke me very early; she seemed to have been +out, for she still wore her hat, and in her hand she had +a black bag. After that she went away. I heard her +moving about for some time, till at last she went downstairs +and I heard the front door slam. I jumped +out of bed and looked out of the window and saw her +going down the street with a big bag in each hand. +And I haven’t seen or heard anything of her since. +But I am sure, oh, I <em>know</em> she did not mean to come +back!”</p> + +<p>“How do you know that?” Gimblet asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I know it from what she said, and from what she +did, before she went.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t you tell me?”</p> + +<p>Julie looked at him doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Bert—that is a friend of mine—tried to make me +promise not to say anything about it, but I told him +I should go to the police if I didn’t hear soon. And +I feel I must tell some one, for something dreadful +may have happened to her,” Julie added, half to +herself. “Have you anything to do with the police?” +she asked.</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, I have, as a matter of fact; in an +indirect way.”</p> + +<p>“You will know what to do then, if I tell you. Bert +doesn’t seem to know what to do; he only rages. +Well, I think my mother has gone away for good, +because, before she went, she got a man to come to the +house and buy nearly every portable thing in it. +There is hardly anything left besides these chairs and +table, and my bed upstairs. Soon after she had gone +they came and took away the things.”</p> + +<p>“Did she leave you no money?”</p> + +<p>“No, but she left me the house, you see; only the +rent is due and I have nothing to pay it with. And +she told me to collect any bills that were due for her +services, and that she made me a present of the money. +So when she was gone I looked in the ledger and found +that everything owing to her had been paid up during +the last few days, except one account. It was that of +Mrs. Vanderstein, the poor lady who was murdered +at Boulogne yesterday, as perhaps you have seen in the +papers?”</p> + +<p>Gimblet inclined his head gravely, and she went on.</p> + +<p>“My mother used to go to massage the complexion +of Mrs. Vanderstein, and the amount owing was large, +over twenty pounds. I was grateful that such a sum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +should be given to me; but, when I saw the next +morning that the lady had disappeared, I made sure +it was because she was unable to pay her bills, and it +seemed likely that my mother had known this when +she was so generous to me. I made sure I should never +see a penny of that money, and I was in despair, as +I didn’t know what to do about the rent, or even how +to live in the meantime. I went up to Mrs. Vanderstein’s +house to see if she had really gone, and a kind +old gentleman told me the bill would be paid all the +same. That was a great comfort, but I knew it would +not be for some time, at any rate, and perhaps not till +I was starving. It did not really matter so very +much,” Julie added loyally, “for I am anxious to +enter a religious sisterhood, and they will take me, I +am sure, even if I have nothing to bring them. But I +can’t bear to go to them as a beggar, and I wish, I +wish she hadn’t left me quite destitute without any +warning,” she concluded, her eyes filling with tears +again.</p> + +<p>“Then what did she wake you up to say, early on +Tuesday morning?”</p> + +<p>“I told you she had a bag in her hand? She took +some clothes out of it and gave them to me. She told +me to burn them and that she would explain why +when she came back. But she said I might keep the +linings to make myself petticoats. Such fine petticoats +would be no use to me. Still, it was kind of her. +And then she took out this and gave it to me to take +care of”—Julie put her hand to her neck and pulled +out from under her blouse a long string of enormous +pearls. “She said that one of her customers had asked +her to look after them while she was travelling,” continued +the girl, lifting the necklace over her head +and holding it out to Gimblet. “I don’t know if +they are real, though she told me to be very careful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +of them and to wear them always. But I think if they +had been real she would not have left them.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet took the necklace without a word. He +was for the moment incapable of speaking.</p> + +<p>“That was all my mother said to me,” went on +Julie, “but she seemed very pleased about something; +and at the same time excited. When I looked out of +the window and saw her walking away, she was wearing +clothes I had never seen before; they must have +been quite new. They were simple, certainly, just a +coat and skirt and a small hat; but they were beautifully +made and fitted her so well, not at all like what +she generally wore. There is something about expensive +clothes that makes people look so different. +I should hardly have known her if it had not been for +a way she has of walking. I could only see the top of +her head, but the hat was a very smart one, with a +beautiful osprey in it. Somehow she had the air of a +person going to a wedding, and I can’t help thinking +that perhaps it was her own wedding she was going to. +She may have married some one above us in station +and not have wanted him to know of my existence. +That is what I think, but Bert says not.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet cleared his throat. “I wonder,” he said, +“if you would mind showing me the clothes you spoke +of that your mother gave you before she left.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I can’t,” said Julie. “I—you see I +had no money—I sold them to a second-hand clothes +shop in Victoria Street. Bert wanted to see them too. +He thinks my mother must have had some special +reason for saying they were to be burnt, but I don’t +believe she would have told me I could keep the linings +if they had been infectious.”</p> + +<p>“What were they like?” Gimblet asked. It needed +all his self-control to keep the eagerness out of his +voice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Two beautiful white evening dresses,” said Julie, +“and two opera cloaks of red and mauve silk all +covered with lovely embroidery and lace. Of course +I could never have worn them and it seemed a pity +to cut them up. I simply couldn’t have burned them. +The shop only gave me five pounds for the lot, but +that will keep me for some time till I have decided +what to do. Still, Bert says I ought not to have sold +them.”</p> + +<p>“By the way,” said Gimblet, “who is Bert?”</p> + +<p>The girl flushed. “He’s just a boy I know,” she +said. “He used to go to school with me, and he is +always good to me. I shouldn’t like to annoy him or +to hurt his feelings, and I ought not to have spoken +of him, because when he advised me not to go to the +police, and I wouldn’t promise, he said that I should +see that harm would come of it. And so I told him +that if my mother came back and blamed me for having +spoken of her absence, as he seems to think she would, +I would say that he had urged me not to. And then +he got quite angry and told me to do as I pleased, but +not to mix him up in it, and so I said of course I’d +never mention his name if he didn’t like; but now I’ve +done it.” She stopped, breathless.</p> + +<p>“Well, give Bert a message from me,” said Gimblet; +“tell him I agree with him so far, and think you have +no need to go to the police yet awhile. But you had +better not tell him I have anything to do with them, +as he seems to dislike them so much. Shall you see +him soon?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I expect he will come this evening when he +leaves off work; he generally does. And I think I +shan’t tell him anything about you. Really, it isn’t +his business and I don’t like being always lectured.”</p> + +<p>“I think you are quite right,” said Gimblet. “Now +one question. Have you any idea as to the man with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +whom you think your mother may have gone off? +Had you any suspicion before that she was thinking +of marrying again?”</p> + +<p>The girl hesitated a moment. “No,” she said, +“I have no idea at all who it could be.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Gimblet</span> was late for the inquest, which had +been fixed for two o’clock. By the time +he arrived the evidence of Higgs and the +policeman he had fetched, and that of Brampton, the +artist, and the house agents’ clerk had been already +taken, and there only remained his own and the doctor’s +to be heard.</p> + +<p>Nothing new was brought to light, and the jury returned +a verdict of “Wilful murder against some person +or persons unknown.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet did not judge it expedient to disclose the +theories he had formed on the subject of the crime. +As he walked away from the house in the company of +Jennins, whom he had found there when he arrived, +the inspector said to him:</p> + +<p>“An old-clothes dealer in Victoria Street has communicated +with us. They have bought what they +think, from the published description, to be the dresses +and cloaks worn by Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner +on Monday night. I am going to get that French maid +of theirs to go down to the place with me and see if +the people are right in their assumption. They say +they bought the things from a young woman who gave +an address in Pimlico and the name of Julie Querterot. +Can she be the Madame Q. of the note? If she is, it +is strange that she should not give a false name; but +everything about this case is mysterious.”</p> + +<p>“It is not she,” said Gimblet, “it was her mother.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +I have just been to their house and seen her. As for +mysteries, there is only one left as far as I am concerned, +and that is the whereabouts of West, and the question +whether he has not by this time exchanged his disguise +of a black beard for another in which it will be +harder to identify him. Everything else, I think, is +quite clear, with the exception of a few trifling details, +and I do not think it will be long before we may hope +to lay our hands on Mr. West himself.”</p> + +<p>Gimblet refused, however, to impart his lately +acquired information to Jennins, telling him, much to +the inspector’s disgust, that he would know all +about it soon enough.</p> + +<p>“And a tangled web you’ll find it, Jennins,” said +he.</p> + +<p>They were interrupted by a messenger, who informed +Jennins that Miss Turner was conscious and anxious +to make a statement.</p> + +<p>Gimblet and the inspector went together to the +hospital, where they found Barbara looking very much +better than the day before. She was recovering wonderfully, +they were told, but must not excite herself +more than could be avoided. Indeed, she would +not have been allowed to see them yet, if she had not +been fretting so much to tell her story that it was +thought best to let her do it. She must not, however, +be made aware of the death of her friend if it were +possible to conceal it from her for the next few days.</p> + +<p>She greeted the two men with a feeble smile. “I +hear that I was rescued by one of your men,” she said +to Jennins, “and I am more grateful to him than I can +say, though I do not remember very much after I +realised that that man was trying to tie his spade round +my neck.”</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky you were seen in time,” replied Jennins. +“We don’t want to bother you to-day, but at the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +time we are, of course, anxious to hear anything you +can tell us about the scoundrel you were with.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I want to tell you all about it so that you may +be able to catch him—and the woman too. I suppose +you haven’t got them yet?”</p> + +<p>Jennins shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I thought perhaps Mrs. Vanderstein had been +able to put you on the track. How glad I am that she +escaped. I was afraid—but no matter now. Has +she told you how she managed to get away?”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein went abroad immediately,” said +Gimblet evasively; “we have not heard any details +from her yet. But will you not tell us your adventures +from the beginning? How was it you found yourselves +in Scholefield Avenue?”</p> + +<p>Barbara looked at him blankly. “Scholefield +Avenue,” she repeated, “where is that?”</p> + +<p>“The house in which you were imprisoned is there,” +said Gimblet; “have you forgotten? You went there +with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday night after the +opera. I want you to tell us why you went to it.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know where it was,” said Barbara, “but +I don’t think I can tell you why we went. I don’t +think Mrs. Vanderstein would like me to do that.”</p> + +<p>“As you wish,” replied Gimblet; “but this will +show you that I already know something of your +friend’s private affairs.” He took out the sheet of +notepaper bearing the arms of Targona, and handed +it to her.</p> + +<p>“She gave you this!” cried the girl, and as Gimblet +remained silent: “Then she cannot mind my speaking +of it. Yes, it is true that we went to that house to +meet Prince Felipe, but I don’t know if he came there +or not.”</p> + +<p>“No, he did not go.”</p> + +<p>“Then the whole thing was false! I thought so at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +the beginning, but afterwards I was not sure. It was +on Monday morning that Mrs. Vanderstein spoke to +me about it. For a week she had been looking strange: +excited, pleased—I don’t know what exactly—happier, +younger, somehow different from her usual look. And +on Monday she came to my room and told me, blushing +and smiling, that it was her happiness to be loved by +Prince Felipe of Targona, and that in all probability +she was going to marry him. They had only seen each +other in the distance, she said, but it had been love +at first sight for both of them, and she was so happy, +so happy! And wouldn’t I say I was glad? I asked +her how she knew what he felt for her, if they had never +met, and she said she had had letters from him and had +written to him herself, and that she was going to meet +him that very night after the opera, at the house of a +friend of his. She said they could not meet in public, +or at his hotel, or in her own home, as he was surrounded +by his suite, and his mother, who was also with him, +watched his every movement, so that all his comings +and goings were seen and marked.</p> + +<p>“They were staying at Fianti’s Hotel just opposite +to us in Grosvenor Street, you know, so it would have +been rather difficult for the Prince to come to our +house without being noticed. It was intended that he +should marry for political reasons, and at any sign +of his affections being bestowed on a private individual +an outcry would have been raised, which would have +been hard to ignore. It was Prince Felipe’s plan, so +Mrs. Vanderstein told me, that they should be married +quietly and that he should then abdicate; to which +less objection would be made when it was known that +he was irretrievably disposed of from a matrimonial +point of view. The whole story appeared to me so +improbable and fantastic that I couldn’t help laughing +at it, which offended my friend very much, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +order to convince me she finally showed me some of the +Prince’s letters, including the one you have there. I +could not doubt any longer after I had seen them, +though I was surprised and, I must say, shocked to +hear that the go-between in the affair and the bearer +of all the notes was a Frenchwoman, a hairdresser +employed by Mrs. Vanderstein, and also, it seemed, by +one of the suite of Prince Felipe.</p> + +<p>“When I heard that Mrs. Vanderstein had no idea +where the house to which she was to go that night was +situated, but had left all details to Madame Querterot +and the Prince, I tried to convince her of the folly of +such an arrangement, but nothing I could say had any +effect. At last I told her that I should accompany her +on this escapade; and, though she didn’t like the idea +and even grew quite angry with me about it, I stuck +to my point, and was so firm on the subject that in +the end she gave in and said I could come if I liked. It +was, all the same, with serious misgivings that I set +forth with her that evening for Covent Garden, where +we were first to attend the gala performance. We had +hardly entered the theatre when Mrs. Vanderstein +told me to run back and tell the motor not to come to +fetch us. We were to go away in a carriage sent by the +Prince, she said.</p> + +<p>“I was too much worried to enjoy the opera. I +don’t know whether Mrs. Vanderstein did or not, but +she kept looking at her watch and fidgeting, so I think +her thoughts were elsewhere. Before the last act was +nearly over we left the box and went down into the +hall, which was nearly empty, and told a man to call +Mr. Targon’s carriage, for so it appeared the Prince +was to be alluded to on this occasion. In a few minutes +a brougham drove up, drawn by a dun coloured horse, +which dished badly and had an odd white blaze across +its nose and one eye. I noticed, too, that it was driven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +by a very odd-looking man, who wore a hat much +too large for him crammed down over his eyes and a +great scarf wrapped round his neck and high over his +chin and ears; though even so I could see that he wore +a beard, which is, to say the least of it, unusual in a +coachman.”</p> + +<p>“One moment,” Jennins interrupted; “do you think +you could recognise the horse, Miss Turner, if you should +see him again?”</p> + +<p>“I am nearly sure I should,” Barbara replied. +“There can’t be many with a blaze like that. I am +more sure of it than I am of the driver. He drove +very badly,” she went on, “pulling up under the arch +with a jerk and throwing up his hands, each of which +clutched at a rein, nearly over his head. ‘Surely +there is some mistake,’ I said. ‘Are you from Mr. +Targon?’ ‘I am from Mr. Targon,’ he answered +hoarsely, ‘but I think there is a mistake, as you say; I +was to fetch one lady, not two.’ ‘Oh, that’s all right,’ +said Mrs. Vanderstein hurriedly. ‘Jump in, Barbara.’ +And she got into the brougham herself, so that I had +no choice but to follow her, and we drove off.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, how badly that man drove! Luckily +there was hardly any traffic about, but we bumped +into three things before we got to the top of Regent +Street, and went over the curb at the corners I don’t +know how often. Once the carriage stopped and the +driver leant down and called through the window that +he had orders to fetch one lady, and that I must get +out. This I absolutely refused to do, and by this time +Mrs. Vanderstein was so much alarmed by the reckless +way in which he drove that I don’t think she would +have allowed me to leave her even if I had wished to do +so. After a heated dispute a small crowd began to +gather round us, and the coachman seeing, I fancy, +the shadow of an approaching policeman, suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +abandoned the contest, and whipping up his horse +we lurched forward again as the animal started with +a bound.</p> + +<p>“It was a long drive, and towards the end of it I +lost all notion of direction and had no idea where we +were going. At last, with a final bump and jolt, we +drove in at the gate of a little house, which seemed +to stand back from the road in a tiny garden, and +pulled up with a jerk before a flight of steps, at the +top of which a door was flung open the moment we +stopped, and I recognised the figure of Madame +Querterot standing back from it in the half light of the +passage.</p> + +<p>“We got out, and Mrs. Vanderstein, who is timid +driving at any time, began to abuse the man in a very +angry tone. She had been thoroughly frightened, +poor dear, and had sat holding my hand with a white +face all the way, as I could see from time to time in the +light of a passing lamp. ‘What do you mean by driving +like that?’ she called out from the pavement. +‘I think you are drunk. A nice thing, indeed. I +shall complain of you, do not fear. It is most disgraceful +to be in such a state. Never, never have I +been driven like that! It is a wonder we were not all +killed!’ The man flicked at the horse and drove away, +but Mrs. Vanderstein was so angry with him that she +actually made as if to follow. She only went a step +or two, however, and then with a laugh turned back, +and we went up the steps, into the house.</p> + +<p>“We were received by Madame Querterot, looking, +I must say, more tidy than usual, in a neat black dress +and a large apron, put on, I suppose, in keeping with +her part of parlourmaid. I was struck by the strange +expression on her face when she first caught sight of +me, and she murmured something to the effect that +Mrs. Vanderstein had promised to come alone; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +my friend, who was still flushed from her encounter +with the coachman, did not answer her at all and +marched on with her chin in the air. Madame Querterot +recovered her usual amiability in a moment, and +with many smiles and blandishments conducted us +up to the drawing-room, where she left us, saying that +His Highness had not yet arrived.</p> + +<p>“There we waited for what seemed a long time; +twenty minutes perhaps, or half an hour. My friend +was very nervous and could not sit still, but walked +up and down, up and down, restlessly, the whole time. +Now she would plump down on a sofa and arrange herself +in a graceful attitude; a minute later she would +jump to her feet and run to the looking-glass to pat +her curls into place, or dab her nose with powder. +‘How do I look?’ she asked me more than once, and +hardly seemed to hear me when I answered her.</p> + +<p>“At last there was a slight noise downstairs; the +front door shut, and I could catch the mumble of +voices talking low. After what seemed again an +interminable delay the door opened and Madame +Querterot came in. ‘If Mademoiselle will come with +me into another room for a short time,’ said she. +‘His Highness has just arrived.’ I only hesitated a +second. There was such an imploring look in Mrs. +Vanderstein’s eyes that I could not refuse to go, much +as I disapproved of the whole thing. I took her hand, +and kissed her encouragingly, and then left the room +without a word; for indeed there was something +pathetic about her emotion, and I was too much moved +by it myself to trust my voice.</p> + +<p>“Madame Querterot led me down to a small back +room that seemed to be a library, and left me, +shutting the door behind her. I heard feet ascending +the stairs, the drawing-room door open and shut, and +then all was still for a moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Suddenly, however, there came a noise from above. +Something seemed to have been knocked over, then +came a sound of running footsteps and finally a dragging +noise as if a heavy object were being pulled across the +floor overhead. I started up in alarm. What was +happening upstairs? Surely there was something +wrong! Without waiting to think, I rushed into the +hall and tore upstairs and in at the drawing-room door. +I found myself confronted by a tall man with a thick +black beard and a pale, blotchy face. Behind him at +the further end of the room I caught a glimpse of Mrs. +Vanderstein, apparently lying on a sofa, and Madame +Querterot bending over her. ‘What is it. Is she ill?’ +I cried. ‘Take her away, take her away,’ exclaimed +Madame Querterot, looking up over her shoulder, and +before I had time to speak again I was hustled out of +the room by the tall man and dragged downstairs +again to the library. I was so infuriated at his daring +to touch me that I could scarcely speak, but I managed +to stammer again: ‘Is she ill? Is Mrs. Vanderstein +ill?’ ‘She is not feeling quite well,’ he replied, ‘she +will be best without you.’</p> + +<p>“I looked at him curiously. I had seen Prince +Felipe, and this was not he. Indeed I thought I recognised +the driver of the brougham. He was a strange-looking +man, dressed in ordinary day clothes, and I +noticed with astonishment that he wore thick brown +leather gloves on both hands. ‘I think she will be +better with me,’ I said defiantly, and advanced towards +the door, but he barred the way. ‘You must stay +here,’ he said. ‘Must!’ I said; ‘what do you mean? +Let me go this instant.’ He didn’t answer, but just +stood with his back to the door, grinning in a foolish +way. ‘Let me out, let me out,’ I exclaimed, on the +point of tears by this time, I am afraid. ‘Let me +out or—or—I’ll set fire to the house!’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I caught up my scarf and held it towards the gas, +but the man leapt forward and, before I knew what he +was doing, had turned out the flame altogether, leaving +us in the dark. As I still stood, bewildered, I +heard the door open and in an instant he had vanished +through it and the key was turned in the lock outside.</p> + +<p>“This was followed by the sound of footsteps on the +stairs, and in the silence that succeeded it is no exaggeration +to say that the noise of my pulses throbbing +in my ears sounded as loud as the tramp of a whole +army on the march. I felt my way to a chair, and for a +time sat in a trembling silence, shaken and unstrung +by terror the most unnerving, if of the vaguest nature.</p> + +<p>“Why would they not let me go to Mrs. Vanderstein +if she was ill? What was the matter with her? +Why had Madame Querterot looked as she did when +she saw me on the doorstep? What was she doing, +kneeling by the sofa? And, above all, what was the +meaning of the man’s behaviour to me? It was, +I think, the touch of his hand, as he dragged me downstairs, +that took away my courage altogether.</p> + +<p>“I sat for a long while, immovable in the darkness. +From time to time sounds came from the room above, +but they did not convey any meaning to me. At +last I grew calmer, and indignation began to take the +place of my fears. I got up and moved about the +room, feeling my way as I went. In this manner I +soon had an idea of the position and character of the +furniture, even of the fire-place and the coal scuttle; +and I must have blacked my fingers nicely in the process. +I had a wild notion that it might be useful to +me to know where the poker was, though I had no +definite idea what I would do with it. Still, in one way +or another I was determined to escape from this imprisonment. +What did they mean by shutting me in +this room? They must, they should, let me out!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I began to cry for help. I felt my way to the +door and beat against it with my hands, but no answer +came. Then I had a brilliant thought—the room was +on the ground floor, surely I could get out of the window. +I reached it and tried to open it, but it was stiff and +heavy. In spite of all my efforts I could not raise the +sash. I groped for the poker again and, standing +back for fear of the splintering glass, I aimed a blow +at the place where I knew the window to be and heard +with delight the crash of a shattered pane. Even as +I delivered the blow, it struck me as curious that no +light came into the room from the night outside; and, +thrusting the poker through the hole I had broken, I +found to my dismay that there were strong wooden +shutters beyond it. But the noise I had made seemed +to have attracted some attention at last, for I heard +a door open and the sound of some one running down +the stairs.</p> + +<p>“A moment later the key was turned, and the door +opened just enough to let in the tall man, who shut it +behind him again as soon as he was inside. He had a +little electric torch, which he turned in my direction, +so that the glare blinded me and I couldn’t see him at +all. ‘It’s no good making all this row, Miss Turner,’ +he said, ‘no sort of earthly, kicking up such a shindy +as a young lady like you ought to be ashamed to raise. +Besides,’ he said, and now there was something in his +tone that turned me sick, ‘it isn’t <em>safe</em>. Do you +understand? It is not <em>safe</em>. Now, you see I don’t +mean you any harm or I simply shouldn’t bother to +warn you. But no, I like the look of you, and I’m +sorry to see you in this house, where I tell you again +it’s dangerous to stay. But be a sensible young lady +and do as I tell you, and I’m blowed if I don’t help +you to escape when the time comes. What do you say +to that? I can’t say fairer, can I?’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I suppose you will think me a dreadful coward, +but there was something about the man which frightened +me horribly. I think it was that he seemed to be +himself in the extremity of fear. How I gathered that +impression I am not sure. It may have been the low, +hurried agitation of his voice, or the way in which his +hand was shaking, so that the light behind which he +was concealed danced and wavered between us like +a will-o’-the-wisp; or perhaps it was the mere telepathic +infection of fear. At all events I was ready to +agree to anything he said, and jumped at the idea of +escape. ‘I’ll do anything, I’ll be as quiet as a mouse,’ +I cried beseechingly, ‘if you’ll only let me go away.’ +‘That’s right,’ he said approvingly. ‘I’ll help you, +never fear. And to show that I mean it,’ he went on, +‘here’s a change of clothes for you. You’d never +escape in that white and red costume, you know.’ +He threw down a bundle on the table. ‘Make haste +and get into these togs, and let me take away your +own things. I’ll leave you the lamp to change by, but +you must look sharp, and mind you change every +single thing, down to your shift.’</p> + +<p>“So saying he put down the lamp and left the room +again. No sooner was the door shut than I caught up +the lamp and ran to the window. Peering through +the glass, I tried to make out the fastening of the +shutters and to see if I could get at it by putting my +arm through the broken pane; but it was quite out +of reach and I realised that I could do nothing without +smashing more glass, and I did not dare do that now. +So I put down the lamp again, and fell to changing +my clothes as the man had suggested.</p> + +<p>“They were horrible clothes he had brought, and it +made me sick to put them on; but I felt he was right +in saying that I could not escape in my evening dress. +So, though I didn’t see why I should change all my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +under things, I thought there might be some reason +for that also, and anyhow I think I was too much +frightened not to do as I was told. It was soon done, +but not too soon, for without so much as a knock the +wretch walked in again as I was fastening the last +button of the shabby coat over a chemise so rough +that my skin prickled all over. He looked at me with +some satisfaction. ‘You must alter your hair,’ he +said; ‘do it up tight and plain, so that it won’t show +more than can be helped.’</p> + +<p>“With that, he gathered up my clothes and went +away, taking the lamp with him this time, and I saw +no more of him for a long while. There was no need +to twist my hair up so hurriedly, for after that was done +I sat down and waited for what seemed like days. It +was terrible, waiting, waiting, waiting in the darkness, +which my fears peopled with invisible presences, so +that I found myself holding my breath lest the door +handle should turn again, and some one, or some thing, +enter unheard by me. At the thought, I got up and +dragged a heavy chair across the room, where I sat +down on it with my back against the door, my anxiety +to get out quite forgotten and overwhelmed in the +awful possibility of not being certain whether or not I +were alone.</p> + +<p>“If only Mrs. Vanderstein had still been with me. +But, believe me, it was not only selfishly that I longed +for her: the vision of her, ill, and no doubt in danger +equal to mine as an inmate of this dreadful house, sat +on me like a nightmare; and, if I was frightened by +the peril of my own position, I trembled still more at +the danger to which my friend might be exposed. +Why was the man afraid? It was the recollection +of his terror that cowed me, so that I sat there rigid, +paralysed by the fear of I knew not what. From time +to time noises broke the silence, the noise of people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +moving in the room above; and presently some one +descended the stairs and approached the door against +which I crouched.</p> + +<p>“A violent trembling fit seized me and my teeth +chattered so convulsively that I could hardly hear +the footsteps outside; but they passed on, and I heard +a door opened at the end of the passage. A minute +later they returned, sounding loud on the linoleum of +the hall and muffled as they went up the stairs; only +to come down again in a few moments. Over and over +again this process was repeated: some one apparently +walking down the stairs, down the passage, and through +a door at the back of the house, then retracing his +steps, and in a minute or two beginning all over again. +This went on, I should think, for more than an hour, +and then after an interval I heard two people come +down and go to the door; soon it was gently shut and +only one pair of feet returned.</p> + +<p>“Presently another noise began—rather a comforting, +familiar noise—the sound of sweeping and brushing, +both on the stairs and in the room overhead. It seemed +as if a housemaid were about, beginning the morning’s +work, for by now I could see through a tiny space in the +shutters that it was daylight. I called out once: ‘Is +there anyone there?’ at which the noise of sweeping +ceased, and a warning ‘Hush’ was breathed at me +through the keyhole, close by my ear. After a time +all these sounds stopped altogether. The sweeper +passed my door again, and again went through the door +at the end of the passage. This time it was closed with +a snap of the lock, and then silence settled on the house. +I don’t know how long I sat there without hearing a +sound. I think I must have dozed. I know I began to +feel so stiff and tired that fear seemed a secondary +consideration, and I didn’t care what happened any +more. Heaven knows how long he left me there,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +dozing and waking, perhaps for hours, perhaps for +days. You know more about that than I do.</p> + +<p>“It was after what seemed like a week that the +storm began. It was that which definitely roused me +from the sort of stupor into which I had fallen, and +stirred me to rack my brains again for some means of +escape. It was dreadfully hot in that little room; the +atmosphere was close and stifling till it seemed to weigh +one down with an unbearable oppression, and if it +had not been for the glass I had broken—through +which an occasional breath of air penetrated by way of +a crack in the shutter—I suppose it would have been +even worse than it was. From time to time I had been +conscious of the distant rumbling of thunder, and +hoped dimly that it would clear the air, for before the +storm actually burst my head was like to split; and +it was with a certain relief that I heard the first large +drops of rain begin to fall. Soon afterwards there +was a tremendous clap of thunder.</p> + +<p>“I was appallingly hungry, and wondered if I were +being purposely left to die of starvation. With a +vague idea that I might find something edible I began +feeling about again around the room and considering +the possibility, if the worst came to the worst, of +eating my shoes, as I had heard of starving men being +forced to do. But I was not hungry enough for that +yet, and besides I wasn’t sure if the soles of my satin +slippers were of leather, or only <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">papier mâché</i>. On the +table my fingers came across a stump of pencil, and +that distracted my thoughts for a little while. I had +to feel it all over before I was sure what it was; it +was the point that made me almost certain, and I +began at once to ask myself whether I could not by +some means send a message to the outside world. I +could think of no way of doing so, however, and even +if I could have, I had nothing to write on. Then the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +idea came to me of writing on the wall. I thought +to myself that if the man meant to play me false, at +least I could leave a token of my presence, which +possibly at some future day might lead to the punishment +of these people. I knew there were pictures on +the walls, and feeling my way to the fire-place I lifted +up one hanging above it, so that by inserting my hand +under the frame I could write on that part of the wallpaper +which, as far as I could tell, lay behind.</p> + +<p>“I had only written a few words, when the key was +turned and the door opened. A rumbling of thunder +had prevented my hearing the sound of approaching +feet, and I had only just time to let the picture fall +back into its place and to move a few steps away from +the mantelpiece before the black-bearded man entered +the room. Fortunately, the chair I had pushed against +the door retarded its opening for a moment, or he +would have seen what I was doing. ‘Come,’ he said, +taking hold of my arm, ‘now is the time for you to +escape to a place of safety.’</p> + +<p>“Without further words he led me into the hall, and +along it to the front door. Here we paused, while he +opened it very cautiously and peered out. For my +part, I was more nervous with regard to dangers that +might lurk in the house behind us; but his inspection +of the outside world seemed to satisfy him, for picking +up, to my astonishment, a large garden spade that was +leaning against the wall he opened the door wide and +we passed through it together. I cannot tell you with +what feelings of gladness and thankfulness I hastened +down the steps and out into the street, nor with what +joy I felt my unrestrained feet splashing into the puddles, +and the free air of the night blow freshly on my face. +We had gone some hundreds of yards and turned more +than one corner before I dared speak. ‘What has +happened to my friend?’ I then said; ‘has she escaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +too?’ ‘She has gone,’ he answered evasively, and +still quickened his pace till I was half running to keep +up with him.</p> + +<p>“It was wild weather to be abroad: the storm was +still at its height and the flashes of lightning and the +thunder claps succeeded each other with increasing +frequency; rain was falling in torrents, the roads +and pavements were like seething rivers, and the gutters +ran a foot deep at the edge of the kerb, as I discovered +by stepping into one when we crossed the street. +There was not a soul to be seen except the black-cloaked +figure of an occasional policeman, and whenever we +approached one of these my companion gripped my arm +more tightly, and wheeled away in a new direction. +It was thus, with many turns and by circuitous routes, +that we progressed on our way. And, though I asked +more than once where we were going, not another word +did I extract from the black-bearded man; and I soon +fell the more readily into a like silence, as the rapid +pace at which we walked left me little breath for speech.</p> + +<p>“In this manner, and after we had hurried along +for at least half an hour, we made our way into an +enclosure, which I guessed to be Regent’s Park. The +first elation caused by leaving the house where I had +been imprisoned was wearing off and I had time to ask +myself whither I was being led, receiving in reply no +very comforting assurances. Was I being taken from +one place of incarceration to another? I wondered, and +at the thought I tried to shake off the hand that lay +upon my arm. ‘If you will let me go now,’ I said +timidly, ‘I shall be all right by myself. I shall never +forget that you helped me to escape, but now, if you +don’t mind, I—I had rather be alone.’ But I got no +answer, nor did the clutch on my arm relax. In a +fresh panic I made up my mind that the next time we +saw a policeman I would scream for help.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> + +<p>“It was not many minutes after I had taken this +decision that my companion paused in his rapid walk; +and after looking about him doubtfully seemed to +recognise some landmark in the darkness, and came to +a sudden halt. ‘Can you get over these railings?’ +he said. We had been following the line of an iron +fence that bordered the path, and I could feel rather +than see that it reached above the height of my waist +and was ornamented with spikes. ‘I think it is hardly +possible,’ I replied; ‘but why should I get over?’ +He did not answer, but seemed to consider. ‘I think +I can lift you over,’ he said at length, and before I could +object he had his arms around me, and with a tremendous +effort swung me up in the air and across the +railings. ‘Now you must help me,’ he said, holding +tightly to my arm as I landed safely on the other side. +And partly by my help, partly by holding on to a tree +that leant up against the fence near by, he managed +to scramble over.</p> + +<p>“Now, by the roughness of the ground under my feet, +I knew we were on the grass, even before a flash of +lightning showed me that we had wandered away from +the fence and were standing on the top of an embankment, +at the bottom of which I caught sight of a high +wooden paling. With instinctive reluctance, I hung +back as my companion began to descend the bank, +tugging me in his wake. At the bottom of the hill +we came to the high wall, which we followed for a little +way, and presently stopped before an opening through +which I saw the gleam of water. ‘We must get through +here,’ said the man. ‘There’s plenty of room where +these two boards have been torn off.’ There was, as +he said, a gap where some planks were missing and only +the cross pieces of wood remained. ‘Why should +we go this way?’ I asked again, full of misgivings. +‘Where are you taking me?’ ‘Where you will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +safe,’ said he. ‘Come on,’ and stepping before me +through the gap he dragged me roughly after him.</p> + +<p>“Then, for the first time, he suddenly removed the +hand that all this while had clutched me by the arm; +and as I stood there, bewildered, not knowing what to +do with my freedom, the scene was lighted up by a +tremendous flash, brighter than any that had gone +before, and I saw that he was fumbling with a cord +that was attached to the handle of the spade he carried. +His arms were stretched towards me, and before the +light had faded from the sky I realised that he was +trying to throw the end of the rope round my neck, +passing it from one hand to the other as he did +so.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I leapt too suddenly to a conclusion, or +perhaps—as I think more likely—my understanding was +quickened by fear, but in that instant I became as +certain of his intention as though he had explained +it to me in every detail. He was going to drown me +in the canal, first tying the heavy spade to me to make +sure that I should sink, never to rise again. I screamed +aloud and pushed him away with all my strength. +On that steeply sloping bank he was at a disadvantage, +the rain had made it slippery, and for a minute I +frustrated his purpose. Then came another flash, +and by it the man seemed to catch sight of something +behind me, which at the same time horrified and infuriated +him, for I saw his expression change, and with a +snarl of frightened rage he lifted up the spade and hit +at me with it. Somehow I managed to jump aside, +but I saw him raise it for another blow, and after that—after +that—I can remember no more.”</p> + +<p>Barbara’s story was finished. It had been told +slowly, and at intervals the girl lay back with closed +eyes, too weak to continue. But on any proposal +to defer her account to another day she had roused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +herself, and proceeded with it resolutely till she came +to the end.</p> + +<p>The shadows had time to grow long during the telling +of it, so that when at length, after they had finally +taken leave of the invalid and issued forth once more +from the doors of the hospital, the two men found +themselves again in the open air it was already dinnertime.</p> + +<p>“Come back with me, Jennins, and have something +to eat,” said Gimblet, as they walked away. “There +is sure to be food of sorts ready for me at the +flat.”</p> + +<p>But Jennins was bound elsewhere.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to have a try at hunting out that horse,” +he said. “Miss Turner thinks she’d know it again and, +as she says, the number of dun coloured beasts with +a decided dish and a peculiar crooked blaze of white +over the nose and one eye must be more or less limited. +Then, you remember, she thinks the driver was no other +than our friend West, and if, after he had set the ladies +down in Scholefield Avenue, he was less than half an +hour in making his reappearance, one may argue that +the stables were not half a mile away from No. 13. +Don’t you think I am right?”</p> + +<p>“I think your reasoning is perfectly sound,” said +Gimblet. “You ought to be able to find out something +about the horse without much trouble; and incidentally, +I hope, about the driver. Let me know as soon as +you have news. For my part I will try and see if I +can’t get some information about him also. In the +meantime, I’ve eaten nothing since breakfast, and +exhausted nature calls. I’m off to get some +dinner.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose,” Jennins called after him, “from what +you said to me this afternoon, that you have ascertained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +that this Madame Querterot is beyond our +reach for the moment?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Gimblet.</p> + +<p>“And do you think the girl, her daughter, has any +idea as to the woman’s whereabouts?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Gimblet gently, “I am sure she has +not.”</p> + +<p>In the flat Gimblet found a telegram awaiting him. +It was from Boulogne, and ran as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>“Murdered woman not my aunt Mrs. Vanderstein +or anyone known to me there is no clue to her identity.</p> + +<p class="sgn"> +“<span class="smcap">Sidney.</span>”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Gimblet crumpled it up and flung it into a waste-paper +basket.</p> + +<p>“A pity to squander five shillings,” he murmured, +“in telling me what I already knew.”</p> + +<p>Then he hastened hungrily to the dining-room.</p> + +<p>After a hearty meal he felt considerably better, and +when he presently pushed back his chair and strolled +over to the open window he was ready and eager for +more work. His mind, which had been busy during +the meal with attempts to devise a plan that should +bring him to closer quarters with the person he most +desired to meet, that should cause the phantom figure +of Mr. West of the black beard to materialise and +become a solid form discernible to the naked eye and +capable of wearing handcuffs, had not yet furnished +him with a method by which this desirable object might +be attained.</p> + +<p>“Surely,” he said to himself, “I must be able to +trace Madame Querterot’s meetings with this man. +It is impossible that she can have been on such terms +of intimacy with him without some one knowing +it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> + +<p>He looked at his watch, helped himself to a sweet +from a box which stood on the shelf, and decided +to go down to Pimlico and see if he could not find out +something more from Julie. It was half-past nine, +but she was not likely to have gone to bed yet, and he +wanted a specimen of her mother’s handwriting.</p> + +<p>He went out and took a taxi to Warwick Square, +where he dismissed it, and pursued his way on +foot.</p> + +<p>It was quite dark by now, with the soft blue darkness +of summer, for the weather had turned warm again +and the sun had gone down in a clear sky. There were +plenty of people about, as it was Saturday night; +many a small coin was being carried snug in its earner’s +pocket that would no longer be lying there in a +couple of hours’ time, and the tills of the publicans +were already flooded with the rise of the weekly tide.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the little shop in the gloomy, sordid +little street, the door of it opened suddenly and a man +came out and walked rapidly away. After a few steps +he paused; and, turning, gazed for a moment longingly +back at the window—from which a pale light shone +forth, so that the pavement beneath it was bathed in +a gentle radiance—before he swung round once more +and made off up the street. It happened that, as he +stood for that instant, hesitating perhaps whether or no +to return and make a final appeal to the girl he worshipped, +the light of the street lamp fell full upon his +white, haggard face; and Gimblet, with a start, +experienced the surprise of his life, as he realised that +he and Bert had met before.</p> + +<p>Everything was clear to him now, and, with a sigh +of something between relief and regret, he abandoned +his proposed visit to Julie and went about the ordering +of more important business.</p> + +<p class="tb">. . . . .</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> + +<p>An hour later, Albert Tremmels, clerk to Messrs. +Ennidge and Pring, house agents, was arrested in his +lodgings for the murders of Mrs. Vanderstein and Madame +Querterot, and for the attempted murder of Miss +Turner.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Bert</span> offered no resistance to the officers of the +law. Indeed, after the first moment, he +showed a kind of relief at his arrest, and went +with his captors almost gladly.</p> + +<p>“I knew you’d get me sooner or later,” he said, +although warned that his words would be used against +him, “and it’s best to get it over. Julie won’t ever +forgive me, let alone have anything to do with me, so +what have I got to live for? I can’t go on like this; +no one could. Still, mind you, I’m not so much to +blame as you think, and it’s my belief any one of you +chaps would have done the same as I did, in my place.”</p> + +<p>Bert had always been ready to justify himself.</p> + +<p>He was willing enough to confess, to the police, to +the prison chaplain, to anyone. He showed, indeed, +considerable satisfaction, not to say pride, in the +interest his story excited, and was not a little annoyed +with Gimblet when he found there was practically +nothing he could tell the detective of which he was not +already aware. Bert did not dilate so much on his +love for Julie, the one real thing about him and the +innocent incentive of all his crimes.</p> + +<p>It is perhaps best not to give the exact words in +which he poured forth the history of the dark deeds +in which he had been concerned, but to offer to the +reader a <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">résumé</i> of his tale in so far as it was corroborated +by the evidence.</p> + +<p>Albert Tremmel’s father was a West End dairyman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +who had the misfortune to marry above him, as the +saying is. He had a small shop in Hanover Street +and carried on a profitable business, but his wife despised +it from the first, and refused to allow their only child +to assist her husband when he became old enough to +do so. She wished him to be a clerk, and, as she had +a way of getting what she wanted, young Bert at the +age of eighteen had entered, in that capacity, the office +of Messrs. Ennidge and Pring, house and estate agents. +He was then, as later, a cadaverous, unpleasant-looking +youth, with a surly, combative temper and a strongly +marked tendency to look on most people as his natural +enemies. This in itself did not bring him friends, and +he made matters worse as often as he could by adopting +a dictatorial manner of speech and the habit of pointing +out to comparative strangers his opinion that they +erred in thinking they knew their own business. He +would also mention their duty as another thing they +were ignorant of. This line of conversation he varied +by assuring them that if it were true, as they would have +him believe, that they knew both better in any case +than he did, it was still more to be regretted that they +should mismanage the one and fail to do the other.</p> + +<p>Boys of his own age frankly refused to have anything +to do with him, and he found his most congenial surroundings +at a Socialistic Club, where all the members +shared his disapproval of the world in general, and +descanted as much as they pleased on the shameful +conduct and character of those who were not of their +own way of thinking. Here all ranks and parts of the +community were equally denounced, and if one could +hardly find words strong enough to censure the attitude +of the rich who wished to retain control of their own +wealth, neither could one sufficiently display one’s +anger and disgust at the behaviour of the poor who +showed themselves so regardless of the socialistic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +movement as to take benefits from the capitalist +classes. Fond as these young men were of employing +the words “give” and “take,” the meaning generally +conveyed by their joint use was peculiarly repugnant +to them. Take, in their view, should always come +first in any case, and a thing taken lost half its value +in their eyes if it came as a gift. They would have +abolished both generosity and gratitude from a world +that can ill afford the loss of those virtues.</p> + +<p>Bert drank in every tenet of this creed, and revelled +in the discussions and execrations as much as he +delighted in the wishy-washy sentimentalism. He was +an unhealthy, discontented, miserable boy, his hand +against every one; and his club was the only place +where he felt himself more or less at his ease.</p> + +<p>There was, however, one spot which he liked better +to be in, and that was the household of the Querterots.</p> + +<p>He had gone to school with Julie Querterot, for it so +happened that Bert’s father was a Lancashire man and +a Roman Catholic. It is true that when he died, as +he did when Bert was only thirteen, the boy’s mother +immediately removed him to another school and saw +to it that he imbibed her hatred of Rome; but he did +not take any more kindly to her own church, and +when she herself died five or six years later he was +going pretty much his own way, which was a way +devoid of religious belief of any kind. In spite of +this, he never lost touch with his little schoolfellow; +and, as the Querterots dealt at Tremmels’ shop and the +children were always together, the two families became +acquainted, and a certain friendship even sprang up +between Madame Querterot and Mrs. Tremmels. +These ladies drank tea together, and smiled over the +devotion of Bert for little Julie. This was in the days +when prosperity reigned in both houses.</p> + +<p>It was different after Mrs. Tremmels’ death, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +Bert discovered that the business, of which he had never +been allowed to learn the details, was on the verge of +bankruptcy, Mrs. Tremmels having conducted it since +her husband’s death with an eye more to her own aggrandisement +than to profit. She had opened two large +branches and started milk carts drawn by Shetland +ponies; and, having no capital, had borrowed money +to do it. Custom under her management had fallen +off; the branches had had to be closed; the smart +ponies sold; and, at the time of her death, she could +no longer find the interest on the borrowed money and +the mortgagees were at the point of foreclosing.</p> + +<p>Bert, who spent half his evenings in advocating +the redistribution of wealth, did not at all enter into +the spirit of the thing when he found himself quietly +set on one side while his own wealth, that is to say, +the competency to which he had always believed himself +heir, was redistributed without anyone consulting +him. He took it very ill indeed, and said things about +his dead mother which would have brought him his +dismissal from the office if they had come to the ears +of either Mr. Ennidge or Mr. Pring. He had been in +their employment about a year when she died, and +had done fairly well in it, for he was not a bad worker, +nor even without intelligence of a kind. Still, he only +kept his post by the skin of his teeth, for he had been +in the office more than long enough for Mr. Pring to +take a violent dislike to him, and if it had not been for +the extremely kind heart of Mr. Ennidge, who argued +that he could not dismiss the youth to whom Fortune +had already dealt so severe a blow, Bert would have +been sacked a dozen times a week. He had, however, +no idea of this, and considered himself indispensable +and miserably underpaid.</p> + +<p>He certainly was not paid a great deal, though more +than he was worth to Mr. Pring, at all events, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +Madame Querterot ceased abruptly to invite him to +her house. He continued, however, to visit it from +time to time, and a couple more years went by without +further event. Then came the sudden and tragic +failure of the Querterots. Eugène Querterot shot +himself; and in the fallen state of their fortunes the +two impoverished women he left behind him were glad +of any friend who stood by them. The sudden dropping +off of their old acquaintances created a new bond +of sympathy between them and the young man, and +when they moved to Pimlico and he was the only +person who ever went to see them, he received a much +warmer welcome, at all events from the mother, than +he had lately grown to expect.</p> + +<p>Gradually he went more and more often, until he +formed the habit of dropping in at least every other +evening. He had always been fond of Julie, and perhaps +of no one else in the world, since he had shown little +affection for his parents; now, as he saw her with +increasing frequency, his feelings for her became more +intense, till every day he seemed to see in her new and +more entrancing perfections, and even his enthusiasms +for Socialism faded under the continual protest of +her aversion to it. He admitted to himself with a +kind of thrill of self-defiance that Julie was so clever, +so sensible, so wonderfully reasonable and clear-sighted, +that her opinion on any subject could not be despised, +and it became more and more plain to him that if she +thought badly of Socialism that doctrine would find +difficulty in retaining his complete loyalty. To be +short, by the time she reached her eighteenth birthday +Bert was head over ears in love with the girl, and +had scarcely a thought in which she did not predominate. +Madame Querterot watched it all from beneath +her heavy eyelids. She said nothing, but the idea +that here was one who in time might be useful to her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +crept into her brain and took deep root there as the +weeks went by.</p> + +<p>Julie was pious and devout. It was about this time +that she began to speak about entering a religious +sisterhood, but the storm of reproach and upbraiding +that this desire provoked in her mother caused her to +relinquish the idea for the time being, and, more particularly, +not to talk of it any more. The only visible +effect of the suggestion was that Madame Querterot +welcomed Bert more effusively than usual, and now +often invited him to stay to supper.</p> + +<p>It may be judged how readily he accepted, and these +evenings were certainly the happiest hours in his life. +He used to come early and help Julie to lay the table, +and sometimes even to prepare the meal; and if her +sleeve chanced to brush against his shoulder as she +stooped over the fire or reached up to a shelf he would +be reduced to a state of speechless ecstasy, which +Madame Querterot found a pleasant change from the +usual aggressive torrent of his talk.</p> + +<p>In spite of her quiet and demure ways, Julie had a +girlish fondness for dress and finery, and the offerings +that from time to time Bert laid at her feet, of gloves +and trinkets, were a great source of innocent pleasure +to her. There was a time when he sallied forth from +his lodgings armed with the savings of months, and +the intention of buying a ring, which he should present +to her accompanied by a speech he prepared for the +occasion, in which the secret of his heart was to be +imparted, together with the request that the ring should +be a token of their engagement. But his courage +failed him at the jeweller’s counter; he felt suddenly +a conviction, amounting to a certainty, that Julie +would refuse; and, rather than risk knowing the worst, +he abandoned his project and spent his hoardings on +a brooch which he himself did not really admire, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +which Julie, when she received it, thought hideous. +The only person who was pleased was the jeweller, +who had had the thing in his shop two years and simply +loathed the sight of it.</p> + +<p>It was soon after this that the great plan, of which +Madame Querterot had had the elements incubating +in her mind for a long while, was hatched, and presented +itself to her in a complete and material form. +She knew from the first that she could not carry it out +alone; and, casting over in her thoughts for the help +she required, saw in Bert a tool made ready to her hand. +When she broached her idea to him she had her design +prepared, down to every detail.</p> + +<p>It was on the night when he had treated the two +women to the theatre, as has been related in an early +page of this narrative. Madame Querterot began by +telling the young man that she would never allow her +daughter to marry one so poor as himself, and added +quickly that she knew of a way by which he could +attain both money and the assistance of her influence +exerted on his behalf with Julie. Having excited his +curiosity and his hopes she bound him to secrecy and +disclosed her purpose to him.</p> + +<p>“It is yourself who gave me the good idea,” she +assured him. “It is your socialistic teaching, is it not, +to take from the rich? they have more than is reasonable, +those others!”</p> + +<p>They were walking up and down before the little +house in Pimlico where the Querterots lived in these +days of poverty; Julie had left them and gone to +bed; the glimmer of a candle came from behind a +blind in the room upstairs.</p> + +<p>“Of course they have,” Bert grunted. “But it’s +no use your thinking you can take their money from +them without further legislation. What price the +police?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ah, the police,” sighed Madame Querterot, “if +only they would not meddle in what is not their affair! +But, look you, there are cases which are exceptional. +There are cases which ought to receive immediate +attention, which cry out for treatment of the most +drastic. If the law is slow—and I grant you that the +law has great need of alteration—when a matter is +exceptionally urgent, I say, the good citizen must +take it in his own hands to see justice done. And if +while we render a service to humanity we do so with +profit to ourselves, it is clear that the ends of justice +are doubly served.”</p> + +<p>Bert could not help agreeing with these excellent +precepts. Indeed, Madame Querterot’s air of supernatural +wisdom would have impressed the most +sceptical.</p> + +<p>“It is not enough to talk, one must demonstrate +one’s faith in a theory. By the means I shall propose +you can prove how well Socialism will work in practice; +for here will the poor, as represented by us, be made +richer, and yet the rich person who will have changed +our fortunes need scarcely feel any deprivation. You +remember my talking to you at supper-time about a +lady, a very wealthy lady, one of my clientele?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Bert. “A Jewess, wasn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“It is true. A Jewess! And have not the Jews +for centuries ground the bones of the poor? Who +more fitted to be the first to contribute some of their +ill-gotten gains in return? Should they not be obliged +to restore some of that money which they never +earned?”</p> + +<p>“I daresay,” assented Bert; “but I wish you’d hurry +up and let’s see what you’re getting at, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“Eh bien! This woman, this Jewess, is enormously +rich, as I tell you. And what does she do with her +money? My friend, she covers herself with diamonds!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +It is those diamonds which I propose to myself to +deprive her of.”</p> + +<p>“What, steal them?” Bert’s tone was troubled, +although in his heart he had known from the first +whither her talk drifted.</p> + +<p>“Steal! What a word.” Impossible to convey +the contempt of Madame Querterot’s tone. “Is it +right then, that she should be permitted to have so +much when others starve? Is it right that she should +flaunt her jewels in the face of the hungry poor?”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot, who had a good memory, went +on to quote phrase after phrase she had at various +times heard fall from Bert’s own lips. She poured +his favourite catchwords into his ears, and strengthened +them with arguments of her own. She painted +the robbery she designed in such glowing colours that +you would have thought, to hear her, that it was a +sacrifice she was going to make for the good of humanity. +She passed imperceptibly to picturing the delight of +Julie when she should be presented with one of the less +easily identified jewels, to the readiness with which, at +the advice and with the glad consent of her mother, +she would accept the heart and hand of the prosperous +and enriched Albert, to the happiness of the young +couple ensconced in their charming house, surrounded +by motors, gramophones, champagne; in fine, all the +luxuries due to a girl of Julie’s perfections. Madame +Querterot did not stop till she came to her own prospective +joys, her grandchildren climbing on her knee. +It was enough for the blushing and intoxicated Bert. +He surrendered, agreed to all she proposed, put himself +entirely under her directions, and these his prospective +mother-in-law willingly proceeded to give him.</p> + +<p>She explained to him first at some length the character +of Mrs. Vanderstein, and the means by which +she hoped to play upon her weakness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + +<p>“There is,” said she, “a young Prince—the Prince +Felipe of Targona—now in London and staying at +Fianti’s Hotel in Grosvenor Street, which is situated +just opposite to the house of this Jewess. It so +happened to-day, as I was in the midst of my massaging, +that she jumped up and ran to the window to see this +young man pass, and I also looked out. Now by some +chance the Prince, as he drove by, happened to lift +his head and look straight into Mrs. Vanderstein’s +face. It was a most lucky occurrence, and I could not +have hoped for anything so providential to arrive. +One would say, indeed, that it is an omen for me, a +mandate to carry out my plan. Mrs. Vanderstein was +delighted at this encounter of the eyes, and did not +disguise her pleasure. Well, see how simple is now my +part. I have in the shop some tortoise-shell combs, +purchased at a ridiculous price by that poor Eugène +when we first started in business here in London. They +are very beautiful, of the finest workmanship, exquisitely +and intricately carved, but of a pattern antiquated +and <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">démodé</i>. We have never been able to sell them.</p> + +<p>“Now see, I shall take those combs, and present +myself at Fianti’s with a petition that I may see the +Princess of Targona, mother of Prince Felipe. For +her I have a story that my husband was of Targona, +and that the combs also come from that country. I +shall offer them to Her Highness as a present from a +humble and expatriated subject, and say that my late +husband refused to part with them out of patriotism, +and, when everything else he possessed had to be sold, +clung always to the only objects he had left to remind +him of his beloved Targona. It is quite probable that +the Princess will be affected by this touching history. +She may even make me a present; but that is by the +way. What is really of importance is that I should +be left alone in one of the apartments occupied by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +Royal party for a few minutes. If I can manage that—and +I think you may have confidence that I will do +so—I shall obtain some pieces of the Prince’s notepaper +on which his royal device or monogram is certainly +engraved; at all events it will bear some +distinguishing mark, and it will go hard if a few sheets +of it do not find their way into my bag.</p> + +<p>“The next step will be easy. I shall issue from the +hotel at a moment when I have ascertained, by peeping +from a window, that Mrs. Vanderstein is on her balcony, +where at a certain hour she very often goes to water +some flowers she has there. She will see me pass; +and, as she is very curious about all that goes on at +Fianti’s, she will remark on the incident. I shall tell +her that I have been called by the Prince of Targona, +who has fallen madly in love with her at first sight. +You may think she will not believe this, but trust me +to make it plausible; and she will be readier to credit +such an idea than you imagine, for in the first place +all beautiful women are ready to believe that their +attractions are irresistible—and she is beautiful, this +Jewess, not unlike what I was myself when I was +younger—and in the second place, Mrs. Vanderstein +is of a nature romantic to the point of ridicule, and is +always, I am convinced, fabricating for herself stories +of heroes and princes, with herself for the heroine of +these fables.</p> + +<p>“How do I know, you ask me? I tell you I know. +I am a judge of character; I have an aptitude for that. +Eh bien! I shall convince the Jewess that she is +adored by a reigning Prince, with frenzy, with devotion, +with passion; that he thinks of nothing but her; +that he would put his hand in the fire for her sake, +that he is ready to abdicate his throne, to give up the +government of his country. In short, that he wishes +to marry her, and that if she will not listen to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +addresses he has nothing further to live for in this world. +What is perhaps the weak point in my tale is the idea +that Prince Felipe should have chosen to make a confidante +of myself, but, believe me, my dear Bert, +I shall make even that appear not unnatural, and, as a +matter of fact, stranger things are done every day. +All this will take time, I do not know how long—days, +perhaps weeks. I must find out how long the Prince +stays in London,” added Madame Querterot, more to +herself than to her companion.</p> + +<p>It was the one thing she had forgotten.</p> + +<p>“I shall write her letters on the Royal notepaper, +and as she will send the answers by my hand, I shall +know their contents and be able to reply to them without +arousing any suspicions on her part. In his +impassioned epistles the Prince will beg for an interview; +he will lament the obstacles that prevent his +seeing her either at the hotel or in her own residence, +and he will finally, I am sure, persuade her to meet +him for the purpose of making his acquaintance, in a +house which he will indicate.</p> + +<p>“She will consent to all he proposes, or I am much +mistaken. It is at this point, my dear Bert, that +your assistance becomes so indispensable. You are +a house agent’s clerk. I shall require a house; and it +is you who must take it for me, in an assumed name, of +course, and without the knowledge of your employers.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how that can ever be done,” Bert +objected.</p> + +<p>They were still pacing slowly up and down the dingy +street. A policeman at the corner of the road looked +at them once or twice, decided they were harmless, +and ceased his attentions. The light in Julie’s bedroom +was long since extinguished.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot cleared her throat and began +again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span></p> + +<p>“There will be a gentleman from India, let us say,” +she resumed, “who will call at the office at an hour +when the two partners are out. No one will regret +this more than yourself, but in their absence you will +do your best to attend to the requirements of the +gentleman from India. He will want a house, and he +will want it immediately. He will desire to take it by +the week and he will be ready to pay a large rent. He +is somewhat eccentric, this gentleman, and dislikes +meeting strangers. He will tell you to see about getting +a charwoman to make the house ready for him, and he +will settle then and there on the terms, on the day he +is to take possession, and upon every necessary detail. +Then, having signed the agreement, he will pay you +the first week’s rent in advance—for which I will +provide the money—and he will walk out of the office. +You will tell Mr. Ennidge and Mr. Pring, when they +return, about the eccentric gentleman from India, +and they will not be suspicious about him since there +will be the money for the rent.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to act being this gentleman you’re +talking about?” asked Bert.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Madame Querterot. “He will not +exist at all; it is not necessary that he should ever +appear. But it may be very useful that he should +be thought to exist.”</p> + +<p>“Then who is to sign the lease?”</p> + +<p>“You will do that,” said the Frenchwoman, “you +must begin at once to practise writing with your left +hand. Choose a short name—we will call him Mr. +West—and write it over and over again many times on +a sheet of foolscap, which you will always burn when +you have covered it. Never forget to burn it, Bert. +You will find it quite easy in a few days, and it will +not in the least resemble your own hand.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t half like it,” Bert commented.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I promise you it will be all that is most simple. +The Indian gentleman will ask you personally to meet +him at the house on the day he takes possession, and +he will tell you to be sure to come yourself, as he dislikes +strangers and prefers not to do business with +more than one person. So you will get the house +ready for him and hand him the key and leave him in it. +That is all the trouble there will be about the house. +Not much to take, for the sake of gaining a fortune +and a charming wife, you must admit? The Vanderstein +will come to the house to meet Prince Felipe. She +will find us there, masked and unknown to her. We +shall relieve her of her jewels, which I shall have +arranged that she will wear; Prince Felipe is so fond of +jewellery, it is a perfect passion with him to see women +so adorned! So I shall tell her, and she will not fail +to bedeck herself with them. When all is done she +may return home; disappointed, I fear; but life +is full of disillusions, and the blame will rest on the +eccentric Mr. West from India.”</p> + +<p>It was all very plausible. Bert could pick no holes +in the plan. He tried to offer one or two objections, +but was quickly overruled, and finally said good +night and went home to bed committed to aid and abet +Madame Querterot in her purpose to the best of his +power.</p> + +<p>All went well. Madame Querterot succeeded even +beyond her expectations. The Vanderstein, as she +called her, was all a flutter of excitement and delight, +and Madame Querterot related to Bert at great length +and with huge enjoyment the scene in which she had +embarked upon the hoax, and the easy gullibility of +“la Juive.”</p> + +<p>“‘Figure to yourself,’ I said to her, ‘that this +morning I receive a summons to Fianti’s from a lady +in waiting on the Princess of Targona! What an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +honour! You can imagine my excitement! This +lady used formerly to stay much at her country’s +legation here, in London, and she was in the habit +of making herself <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">coiffée</i> by that poor Eugène. So it +appears that yesterday she sent for him; but, when +they told her that the poor dear was no longer on this +earth, she had the amiability to seek me out, having +heard of all our cruel misfortune, and asked that I +should present myself in his place. To-day, therefore, +I attended at the hotel, and had the pleasure of making +the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">coiffure</i> of a charming lady. Mais elle est charmante, +cette dame-là! But—and here follows the affair +that is of interest to you, madame—as I left the +apartment of the lady in waiting and was about to +descend the staircase, a voice called me back, and, +looking round, what was my surprise to perceive no +less a person than His Highness, Prince Felipe, who +appeared to be beckoning to me to join him in a dark +part of the passage.’</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein interrupted me with sparkling +eyes. ‘Do tell me,’ she cried, ‘the words that His +Highness spoke to you! Sit down, Madame Justine, +and tell me every single thing you can remember about +it.’ I drew a chair close to the sofa where Mrs. +Vanderstein was seated, and I continued my narrative +in a confidential undertone. ‘I could not imagine +what it was that Prince Felipe had to say to me, but I +thought for a moment that possibly his mother required +my services, and I was enchanted at the idea that perhaps +I was this day to dress the hair of a Royal personage. +But as soon as I drew near, the Prince began +to ask me questions of which at first I could not understand +the purport. Soon, however, I comprehended. +“You live in this street?” he asked. “No, monsieur,” +I replied; “I live far from here.” “But I saw you,” +he cried, “I am convinced that it was you I saw!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +“When did Your Highness see me?” I inquired. I was +indeed flattered that he should condescend to recognise +me. “I saw you yesterday. You were looking out +of the window of a house opposite this hotel,” said he +positively. “Ah yes, monsieur, it is true. I was in +the house of Mrs. Vanderstein, one of my clients, and +we had the good fortune to see you drive past.”</p> + +<p>“‘I began now to see why I was receiving the honour +of this interview. “Mrs. Vanderstein!” he exclaimed. +“Is that then her name? But,” he added, “there were +two ladies. Which was Mrs. Vanderstein?” “The +elder of the two, monsieur, the one whose hair is dark.” +“It is she,” he said. “Ah, how beautiful she is! In +all my life I have never seen a face that so haunts my +memory. It is the face I have dreamed of all these +years. But stay,” cried he in a different tone and with +a look of despair. “You call her Mrs. Vanderstein! +Am I to understand then that she is married? No +matter, her husband must perish! One of my gentlemen +may engage him in a duel. These things can +arrange themselves.” Such were his words. Ah, +madame! one sees that His Highness is not used to +opposition.’</p> + +<p>“The Vanderstein was transformed. Her eyes flashed +with unaccustomed fires. Her cheeks were flushed, +her lips parted, her breath came a little quickly. I +was astonished at the change. ‘She looks ten years +younger,’ I said to myself. ‘Is it the massage that +has had an effect after all?’ Aloud I continued my +tale. ‘I explained to the Prince that Mr. Vanderstein +had saved him the trouble of arranging a duel. “Then,” +cried he, “there is no obstacle! Except,” he added in +a different and depressed tone, “the wishes of my +mother, and of the government of Targona. They +are very decided that I must marry for reasons of +state, but I have told them again and again that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +will not do it. I will abdicate if they like, but I will +never marry except in accordance with the dictates of +my heart. And my heart has never before been +touched; so that I am sure now that there is but one +woman in the world for me. But how am I to meet her? +If anyone suspects my feelings, unimaginable difficulties +will be thrown in the way. And how can I ever win +the affections of the beautiful and adorable Mrs. Vanderstein, +if I cannot even imagine a means by which I +may make her acquaintance? One thing, however, +is sure. Without her I cannot live.”</p> + +<p>“‘Ah, madame,’ I said, ‘if you could have seen the +poor gentleman your heart would have ached for him. +On his face so sad an expression! He had an air so +miserable and disconsolate. One can see that he has +a tender nature! In his despair he strode up and down +the corridor, gesticulating with his hands, and rumpling +his hair—which is fine like silk—by tearing at it with +his fingers! Again and again he would clap his hand to +his forehead, or smite himself upon the breast, and, if +he abstained from bursting into actual tears, you may +be sure it was because the rigorous code, which forbids +any public display of feeling in persons of Royal blood, +would not allow him to show his emotion even in the +presence of so insignificant a person as myself. Ah, +the poor young man. I, madame, I, whom he noticed +as he would observe your looking-glass or your boot-lace, +felt myself ready to take him in my arms and to +embrace and comfort him like a mother.’</p> + +<p>“I paused for breath, and Mrs. Vanderstein cried: +‘Oh, Madame Justine, is it really possible that he +should feel like that after only seeing me once, and +that at a distance?’ ‘Love at first sight,’ I replied, +‘is not a thing of which one has never heard; and +assuredly he is in love, this poor Prince Felipe, or +I do not know what love is. Several times again he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +stopped in front of me, and cried out: “How, how am +I to arouse her interest, gain her respect, above all +how can I win her heart, when I have no chance of +making myself known to her? I cannot hope that +she will be attracted by my personal appearance. +With one of her mental and spiritual superiority—as +I can see at a glance—my rank and position will +scarcely avail; it is, then, only by learning the depth +and sincerity of my passion, only by realising the fond +and tender quality of my love for her, that she may in +time be prevailed on to look not altogether unfavourably +upon my suit.” And much more he said of the +same kind. As for me, madame, I assured him I +would, in a tactful way, convey to you some hints as +to the state of his feelings. He insisted that they should +be no more than hints, fearing that you would be +offended at his making of me a messenger; so if I +have, in my sympathy, overstepped the bounds of +discretion, you must judge the fault entirely my own +and not attribute it to any lack of manners on the part +of the Prince. His intentions are of the most perfect +correctness.</p> + +<p>“‘He questioned me closely as to your way of life, +your opinions and habits. “Ah,” he cried, “I see we +are made for one another, she and I. You say that +she likes to surround herself with pictures, flowers, +jewels, and the luxurious things of life. She is fond +of music and of the arts. Now remark this! I am a +collector of paintings and <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">objets d’art</i>. I, too, adore +music and roses. I, also, have a passion for precious +stones and personal adornment. Wherein do we differ? +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Hein!</i> It is plain that we have the same tastes, that +I shall be <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">sympathique</i> to her. Oh, we must meet! +Somehow, somewhere I will arrange, if she consents, +that we should meet. Not here. Impossible! Not +at her house. I should feel my mother’s eye on me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +I could not escape observation if I merely crossed the +road. No, neither here nor there, but in some other +place of which I will consider. In the meanwhile do +you, with the utmost delicacy, sound her feelings as +regards myself, and prepare her for a further expression +of my own.” I think, madame, that that is all that +passed between us, but I am to return to Fianti’s +to-morrow and report to him whether you appeared +displeased.’ It seemed that Mrs. Vanderstein was +not displeased. She spoke very little more, but I +could see, by the happy, excited air she wore under her +assumed calm, that my words were having all the +effect I could wish.”</p> + +<p>All this Madame Querterot retailed with many +details to the interested and amazed Bert, and each +succeeding day she had new accounts of her cleverness +and success to relate. She wrote impassioned, +but eminently “correct” letters on the royal notepaper +she had filched in accordance with her plan, and +carried them to Mrs. Vanderstein with a hidden, jeering +smile at that lady’s glad and confiding acceptance of +their authenticity.</p> + +<p>The night of the gala performance at the opera was +fixed on for the deed, and at their every meeting +Madame Querterot repeated to Bert her instructions +as to the part played by the gentleman from India. +She elaborated and filled in her first sketch of his +character and behaviour, till at last the young man +almost believed in the real existence of Mr. West, and +certainly knew far more about him than about most +of the people with whom he was actually in daily contact, +for, as a rule, he was unobservant to the last +degree. She saw also to his learning to write with his +left hand, and he was able in a couple of days to do +this to her satisfaction. By now Bert was as keen +about the project as she could have wished. An<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +evening spent at his club had strengthened and confirmed +his conviction that no one woman had a right +to the exclusive enjoyment of so much wealth; and +he was now well assured that he would deserve nothing +but commendation for trying to readjust the scales. +There were moments when, for the fraction of an otherwise +optimistical second, he beheld a vision of Julie +as she would look at him if she ever heard of what was +contemplated; and it was a vision that caused in him +a catching of the breath. But the idea for the most +part only hovered in the background of his thoughts, +so that, while he was always conscious of its neighbourhood, +so to speak, he was able with an effort to +turn away his mental eyes, and to avoid looking it in +the face; and it was then that he would seem to +Madame Querterot most eager, most impatient for +the night to arrive.</p> + +<p>The house in Scholefield Avenue was taken, and +Messrs. Ennidge and Pring showed themselves only +mildly interested in the mythical Mr. West, and that +chiefly on account of his readiness to pay a high rent. +Then a difficulty arose; and it was Bert, to his satisfaction +and pride, who suggested a way out of it.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot met him one evening with an +expression of dismay she made no attempt to conceal.</p> + +<p>“There is after all something I have forgotten,” +she cried. “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Nom d’un nom!</i> that I can have been so +stupid, so idiot! Listen, it is this. The Jewess must +drive from the opera to Scholefield Avenue. But in +what? It is impossible that she should go in her own +automobile, and if she takes a taxi we are equally +betrayed. <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Aïe, aïe!</i> what to do?”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">It</span> was then that Bert had his brilliant idea.</p> + +<p>To explain it, reference must be made again +to his family history. His father’s sister had +married a grocer at Richmond, named Stodder, she +having been cook in a family at Hampton Court +previous to this event.</p> + +<p>The pair had five children, and Bert, when a child, +was often taken down to visit his relations; in the hot +weather holidays the Stodders had him to stay with +them for most of the summer. The children hated +him, for he was a spoilt, ill-tempered little boy from the +start, but they had to put up with him, and he grew +up on familiar if rather quarrelsome terms with the +whole family.</p> + +<p>The eldest boy, Ned, after he left school, was employed +in driving his father’s cart about the neighbourhood +every day, in order to deliver orders received and +to collect fresh ones. It was Bert’s favourite occupation +to sit in the back of the van, his legs dangling, or +kicking against the backboard, while he watched the +white roads slip under him and the grocer’s dog trotting +with extended tongue beneath his drumming heels. +Ned was quite aware of the pleasure his cousin took +in this not very arduous form of exercise, and he soon +devised a way of turning it to his own profit. He +pointed out to Bert that he could not expect anyone +to put up with his company unless he did something +to make it worth their while, and that he for one would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +not suffer Bert’s company in the van unless he justified +his presence by cleaning it when they came home, and +by helping to look after the harness and the horse. +Bert disliked work, but he hated to be cut off from his +drives, and, as Ned was quite firm besides being older +and stronger than he was, he told himself that needs +must—and Ned that he was the devil—and took up +the duties of stable boy.</p> + +<p>Under his critical and unsparing master and to the +accompaniment of more than a few cuffs and kicks +when he tried to shirk his work, Bert became more +proficient in the care of the grocer’s steed than any less +well-adjusted mixture of pain and pleasure would have +been likely to result in.</p> + +<p>As a further reward, too, the stern Ned so far relented +as to allow him occasionally to take the reins. The +combination of discipline and fresh air did the Tremmels’ +boy a world of good, and that was a happy summer for +him. Unfortunately, when he returned to Hanover +Street his mother soon undid the good effects of Ned’s +cuffings; and the following summer when he found +himself again under his uncle’s hospitable roof Ned had +left it to enter private service in the stables, and his next +cousin had come out of school and succeeded to the +job of driving the van. Geoffrey was of a less good-humoured, +easy-going disposition than his brother Ned, +and Bert was at this age becoming more and more +objectionable; it was seldom that Geoffrey could be +induced to let him go with him on his rounds, but he +followed his brother’s example in forcing his cousin +to assist him with the horse and cart when he returned +with them. This only enraged and embittered Bert, +and of the good done the year before the last remnant +was now utterly destroyed.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, as the years went on, Ned grew up +a credit to his family, and a good and favoured servant.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +So rapid was his progress, and so astounding—as the +Tremmels said—his luck, that by the time he was three-and-twenty +he had risen to the situation of coachman to +an old lady named Mrs. Wilkinson, the aunt of his +former master. This lady kept only one horse and +a brougham, and with them drove out every afternoon, +in winter from three to five, in summer from four to +six. It was impossible to imagine an easier or more +comfortable place, and Bert often envied his cousin +the soft thing he had stepped into.</p> + +<p>Ned was the only one of his relations whom he ever +went near nowadays, but he used often to go round to +his stable during the luncheon hour and explain to +the young coachman how little he deserved his good +fortune.</p> + +<p>It was not till, for the first time, he beheld Madame +Querterot at a loss, not till he heard what in their great +plan she had forgotten to provide for, that he suddenly +realised that Ned’s good fortune was possibly his own +as well.</p> + +<p>“See here,” he said to the agitated Frenchwoman, +“I can manage that part.” And he told her of his +cousin the coachman.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Wilkinson, the lady he works for, has by the +rarest luck a house in the same street as the one I +have taken. She lives at No. 1 Scholefield Avenue, +only a few doors away from No. 13. More than that, it +happens that she has a large garden at the back of the +house, and the stable is situated at the end of it, quite +away from any other buildings. There’s luck for you!”</p> + +<p>“How is that?” cried Madame Querterot, “explain +yourself quick.” She was very nervous and excited, +and for the only time during the whole business her +calm confidence deserted her. It was so near the hour! +She had already smoothed away so many difficulties, +done the impossible; and if all her hopes were to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +shattered now, and by so small an obstacle, it would +be, she told herself, the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">comble</i>.</p> + +<p>“Why, this way,” Bert reassured her. “Ned is +always wanting to go home to Richmond, because the +young lady he’s keeping company with lives down +there, though he makes out to me that it’s his family +he wants to see. As if anyone wanted to see their +family! But his old lady drives out till six every day, +and by the time Ned has cleaned up and rubbed down +the horse, and fed him, and washed the brougham +and the rest of it, it’s too late to get a decent train +down to Richmond, for it’s a tidy way from Scholefield +Avenue to Gloucester Road, where the trains +connect.</p> + +<p>“Now suppose I go to Ned, and tell him I know he +wants an evening off, and that if he likes I don’t mind +doing his job for once, so as he can have it. I’ll offer +to be about on Monday, when he comes in from taking +old Mrs. Wilkinson out for her drive, and to look after +the horse and to put it to bye-bye. I’ve often done it +for him when I was a lad, so he knows I can manage, +though I don’t say he won’t be a bit surprised at my +offering, so to speak. I think perhaps I’d best say +I’ll do it for a consideration; he’ll be good for a bob +where his young lady’s concerned, I’ll bet. What’s +more, I’ll say I’ll feed the horse in the morning, so he +won’t have to catch the last train back, but can stay +down home for the night. After I’ve seen him off +the premises I’ll get inside his livery—he’s a bigger +man than me, though not so long in the leg—and I’ll +put the horse in again and drive down to Covent Garden +and fetch the lady up. We can say the Prince is sending +his own carriage for her.”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot nearly wept on Bert’s neck in +her joy and emotion.</p> + +<p>“You will save us, my dear friend!” she exclaimed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +pressing his hand, a demonstration that he resented +by snatching it savagely away. “What a mind, +what a genius, to think of so splendid, so heaven-given +a device! Let it be as you say. I am well assured +now that all will go well.”</p> + +<p>These last days were a busy time for Madame Querterot, +for there were certain personal details, essential +to the success of her plan, to be attended to: there +were bills to collect, sales to arrange, and purchases +to be made. At last all was done, everything ready, +and she stood in the hall of No. 13 Scholefield Avenue +awaiting, with only the least flicker of the nerves, the +sound of wheels before the door.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Early</span> as it was in the adventure, Bert was +already realising the difficulties of the part +he had to play. He had induced the gratified—though +suspicious and thankless—Ned to accept his +services in the matter of the horse; and, having seen +him depart with a small brown paper parcel—which +furnished the outward evidence of his intention to stay +the night with his people—had harnessed the animal +again in good time, arrayed himself in the livery +belonging to Ned, and adorned his chin with the false +beard provided by Madame Querterot, so that no time +should be wasted on his return. “I do look a guy,” +he said to himself, as he contemplated his reflection in +the strip of looking-glass in the harness-room.</p> + +<p>Nothing remained but to drive down to Covent +Garden, and take his place on the rank of waiting +vehicles. This, he was surprised to find, was not so +easy as he had expected. He discovered that attempting +to control Mrs. Wilkinson’s dun horse, which had a +willing spirit and a hard mouth, was a very different +affair from driving the old and sluggish beast that used +to meander between the shafts of his uncle’s van. +Their progress was erratic in the extreme, and he +several times narrowly avoided an accident. The +Providence which looks after bad drivers did not fail +him, however, and at length he found himself, a good +deal to his surprise—for at one period of the journey +hope had altogether deserted him—forming one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +the long string of motors and carriages that had +already drawn into line in the vicinity of the opera +house.</p> + +<p>Now began a time during which the fear that the +expected summons would never reach him alternated +with something very like hope that it would not. As +he sat on the box, while minute after minute passed, +and still no voice cried for Mr. Targon’s carriage, he +was beset with ever growing misgivings as to the +appearance he presented, and felt that his ill-fitting +livery and the false beard, which the scarf he had +wrapped round his neck and chin only partially concealed, +must be riveting upon him the eyes of every +beholder; so that not a look was cast in his direction +but he read in it distrust and suspicion.</p> + +<p>Even the most seemingly interminable suspense +comes to an end at last, and he had not endured these +torments more than a short half-hour before the +words for which he had been waiting fell upon his ear, +and making his way out of the line he succeeded in +guiding the dun horse beneath the portico of the +theatre.</p> + +<p>The safe accomplishment of this manœuvre, however, +fully occupied his every faculty, and it was only when +the carriage had come to a standstill before the doors +that he had time to glance in the direction of the lady +he was to carry off. With a shock of surprise and dismay +he saw that not one but two elegantly attired +women were about to enter the carriage.</p> + +<p>He had not the courage for more than a feeble +remonstrance; indeed, it needed all the courage he +could muster to lift up his voice at all in the presence +of the waiting attendants, and in the brilliant glare +of the lamps. After he had driven some way in increasing +perplexity and irresolution, he stopped, and +tried again to induce Barbara to get out; but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +attention the ensuing discussion aroused from the +passers-by and the sight of an approaching policeman +were too much for his nerves, and he decided hastily +to drive on and allow Madame Querterot to deal with +this unexpected complication. A glimpse of her face +when they arrived in Scholefield Avenue, and she saw +what had happened, did not add to his peace of mind. +He drove round to Mrs. Wilkinson’s stables, extinguished +the carriage lamps, and unharnessed the dun horse +by the light of his pocket electric torch as quietly and +quickly as he might, his heart sinking at the prospect +of what she would say to him when he returned. It +was lucky that the stable gate opened on to such a +lonely street as the one which ran at the back of the +gardens of the houses in Scholefield Avenue.</p> + +<p>A blank wall faced it across the road, studded at +intervals with the doors to the gardens at the back +of the houses in Westford Avenue, which lay beyond. +There was another stable some hundred yards further +down; but, unless some one were awake and about +in that direction, Bert knew that there was little +chance of his presence and movements being discovered. +Still he could not feel secure for a moment, and it +was not till he had put everything in some kind of +order and shut the door of the loose box behind him +that he breathed again. He hurried round to No. +13, seeing the fancied forms of lurking policemen behind +every tree and in every shadow, and it was with a hand +already shaking with agitation that he gave the three +taps on the door, with which it had been agreed that +he should signal his return to Madame Querterot.</p> + +<p>She greeted him, as he had feared she would, with +a storm of whispered reproaches. What had he been +thinking of to bring that girl to the house? Was he +mad? As she looked at him, however, in the light +of the gas jet which burned at the foot of the stairs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +she saw plainly enough that he was in a state of nervousness +which she had not expected; and that, if he was +to be of any use to her in the crisis that was upon them, +she had better employ herself in soothing rather than +adding to his distress of mind.</p> + +<p>“Well, well,” she interrupted her own words, “it +is perhaps of no such great consequence. A little more +trouble, possibly, for you; but of that we will talk +later. For the moment we must get to business. +These summer nights are short and we have much to +do before morning. Go into the dining-room, while +I prevail upon Miss Turner to leave her friend. I will +put her in the library, where she will be out of the way +for the present.”</p> + +<p>After a few minutes, during which Bert waited, +breathless, in the darkness of the dining-room, she was +back again, and announced in a whisper that all was +well. Barbara had been shown into the back room; +and upstairs Mrs. Vanderstein, alone and expectant, +awaited the coming of the Prince.</p> + +<p>“She has got on all her jewels,” sniggered the +Frenchwoman, drawing on her gloves. “And she +little thinks that there are here two people who +appreciate them as her Prince never could. Ah! +Bah! Are there imbeciles in the world? Now then, +my friend, you know what you have to do. We rush +into the room, you seize this fair creature and hold +her fast, while I administer a little whiff of chloroform +that shall keep her quiet and prevent any outcry, so +that we can remove from her the gems at our ease. +See, I have the bottle ready. Allons donc; à la +besogne!”</p> + +<p>They went softly and quickly up the stairs. Now +that the moment for action had arrived, Bert’s confidence +was in some measure restored. The sight of +the diamonds glittering in the light of the brougham<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +lamp, when Mrs. Vanderstein had stood upbraiding +him for his bad driving, had sharpened his appetite +for them, and the prospect of fingering the shining +things was a pleasant one. Inside the four walls of +the house, with the door bolted between them and the +interfering outside world, it seemed again safe and +desirable enough to take her jewels from this pampered +member of the idle rich, and afterwards to lead her +blindfolded to some sequestered place, as they had +planned, and there release her to find her own way +home. Even if she knew where the house was to which +she had been decoyed, it would be empty and discreetly +silent by the time she could bring to it the +avenging hosts of the police. He himself was so well +disguised that she never could recognise him again; +besides, she would only see him for one moment. True, +Madame Querterot was well known to her, but Madame +Querterot had her own plans for avoiding any unpleasant +consequences of their deed; so she had informed +him, and knowing her as he did, he never doubted +her intention and capacity of taking care of herself. +A medley of these thoughts was in his mind as they +mounted the stairs, and paused for an instant at the +drawing-room door. No sound came from behind +it, and with an encouraging whisper to her companion +Madame Querterot turned the handle and went in.</p> + +<p>From the end of the room Mrs. Vanderstein rose to +greet them, with a radiant, blushing countenance. +Always a beautiful woman, she had never been more +lovely than at this moment. The smile faded from her +lips as she realised that here was not the lover she +looked to see; but before she had time to speak +Bert was beside her, clutching her round the waist +and dragging her back towards the sofa, while over the +mouth she opened with a remonstrating cry were +clapped the plump hands of Madame Querterot,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +holding between them something that choked her +with its sickly, overwhelming odour.</p> + +<p>“See,” said Madame Querterot, after a short +interval, “see, she sleeps!” But still she continued +to hold the mouth of the bottle over Mrs. Vanderstein’s +mouth and nose.</p> + +<p>It was at this moment that the door was flung open, +and Barbara rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>Bert sprang to meet her, fully alive to the undesirability +of her presence. It hardly needed Madame +Querterot’s cry of “Take her away,” to make him +grasp her by the arms, and half push, half carry her +out on to the landing and down the narrow stairs to +the library, where he left her after a minute or two +safely locked in. He listened for a little while outside +the door, for he fancied the girl might raise the alarm +or do some unimagined, desperate thing which should +imperil their safety. She had already threatened to +set fire to the house, and he racked his brains to guess +what might be her next move. He was in no hurry +to return to the drawing-room, moreover, for his heart +was beating unpleasantly fast, and the sight of the +helpless lady they had so violently treated, sinking +quiet and motionless on to the sofa, had filled him with +vague discomfort.</p> + +<p>After all—the thought would not be kept away any +longer—what would Julie think of all this? Could +she ever be brought to care for a robber? Yes, that +was what he was—a robber. His fortifying socialistic +claptrap refused, somehow, to come to his aid in this +hour of need. What would Julie say? Already +misgivings undermined his unstable resolves. He sat +down half-way up the stairs and buried his face in his +hands.</p> + +<p>It was ten minutes before he could make up his mind +to go back to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span></p> + +<p>Madame Querterot looked up quickly as he entered; +she was on her knees beside the unconscious form of +Mrs. Vanderstein, engaged in unfastening the clasp +of a bracelet. A bright silk-covered cushion lay on +the floor beside her.</p> + +<p>“Where have you been?” she said. “Come and +help me to get these things off.”</p> + +<p>Bert went over and stood opposite her. As his eyes +rested on the figure that lay so still upon the sofa, a +horrible doubt leapt into his mind. How white, how +dreadful Mrs. Vanderstein looked! How quiet, how +motionless she was. Could she indeed be sleeping? +There was no movement to show that she breathed.</p> + +<p>Bert looked at Madame Querterot.</p> + +<p>“Madame Querterot!” was all he could find to say. +But there was a world of accusation in his hoarse tones, +and the Frenchwoman, looking up in reply to his words, +was unable to stand the fixed stare with which he +glared into her face, as if expecting to read the terrible +truth upon it. Poor innocent, to look for the truth +upon that face!</p> + +<p>Still, for once, she could not meet his eyes, and her +glance shifted furtively to one side.</p> + +<p>He knew now; and in the horror and rage which +fell upon him he would have struck her, if the sofa on +which Mrs. Vanderstein was stretched had not been +between them.</p> + +<p>With dropping jaw and eyes starting from his head +he thrust his face forward towards her.</p> + +<p>“You have killed her!” he whispered.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot laughed a little nervously +“It was an accident. I gave her a little more chloroform +than I had the intention.”</p> + +<p>“That is a lie. You meant to kill her all along. +That cushion! You have suffocated her! I see it +now. Oh! I see it in your face; murderess!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Bert, don’t be a fool!”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll see who’s a fool,” said he. “I am going +for the police!”</p> + +<p>“My good Bert, you are, as I say, a fool,” said +Madame Querterot, resuming with an effort her usual +assurance. “For what will you fetch the police? +What will you tell them, eh? That you brought this +woman here in some one else’s carriage, which you stole +for the purpose; and that I killed her, I suppose? A +likely story! When you are gone I shall scream and +run to Miss Turner, who knows me well; and her I +shall tell that you have done this thing, and that now +you would murder me, and her also. Do you think +the police would believe that I have done it? Why, +I am not stronger than Mrs. Vanderstein; it is impossible +that I could have done it alone, and they will see +that easily. But it is very possible that you could have +done it, and believe me, Bert, if you are not sensible +and do all that I tell you, it is you, and you alone, who +will dangle in the air as a sequel to this accident.”</p> + +<p>At this forecast, which he saw too plainly had a smack +of probability about it, Bert’s resolution, never a +dependable feature in his composition, wavered and +failed him. He flung himself down in a corner of the +room, bewailing his fate and cursing his companion +with impartial heartiness.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot waited till he had exhausted +his powers of recrimination, and busied herself in +transferring the jewels from the body of Mrs. Vanderstein +to the bag she had provided for the purpose.</p> + +<p>Then she had her turn.</p> + +<p>“What,” she cried, “did you actually suppose I was +sufficiently imbecile to contemplate allowing this +woman to live, when her first act would have been to +have me arrested? How do you suppose either of us +could have escaped, when it was I who made all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +arrangements with her that she should come to this +house, and when she knew as well as you do that it was +I that chloroformed her? I could not have done it +without your help, so that you are as responsible +as I; and more, for it was you who brought her to the +house. You brought the other girl too, you great, +stupid, whimpering baby, and she will have to die as +well before either you or I are safe. And that will be +entirely your doing, for if she had not come she could +have lived till Doomsday for all I cared. Now, what +you have to do is to get the spade which I brought this +afternoon from the tool house in the garden, and dig +a grave under the trees at the back of the house, where +you can hide this.” She patted the arm of Mrs. +Vanderstein with gruesome familiarity.</p> + +<p>But Bert, sick and faint with horror, absolutely +refused to do as he was told in this matter. To go +down into the starlit garden, to dig for interminable +hours in the open, with every shadow full of unknown +terrors, which would leap on him from out of the +darkness, pounce on him from behind, come creeping +and gibbering at him with every leaf that stirred or +every chance footfall in a distant street! No. Again, +it was a long job to dig a grave; he knew that. The +ground would be hard; he would want a pickaxe. +In any case he would not do it.</p> + +<p>Nothing Madame Querterot could say shook him in +this determination. She was growing really anxious, +for it wanted only two or three hours to dawn, and it +began to look as if the body must be left where it lay, +when, by a lucky inspiration, she thought of the flower +stand on the balcony. Would Bert help her there? +It would be quicker done and less dangerous if he would, +but if needs must, she said, she could manage that alone.</p> + +<p>With a furious, shuddering sulkiness, Bert consented +to help.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span></p> + +<p>He opened a window and undid the fastening of the +shutters. Then, after putting out the gas, they stepped +cautiously out on to the balcony, Madame Querterot +carrying the spade, and, stooping behind the balustrade, +peered anxiously up and down the deserted +street. There was no one to be seen or heard, and with +frenzied haste they began to pull up the plants which +adorned the flower box. At Madame Querterot’s +direction Bert ladled out shovelfuls of loose soil, till +the box was more than half empty and the balcony +was heaped high with black mould.</p> + +<p>They stole back to the drawing-room and Madame +Querterot took from a parcel that she had stored +away in a corner of the room a bundle of clothing, +which she told Bert to carry downstairs and give to +Miss Turner to put on.</p> + +<p>“It would never do,” she said, “for either of them +to be found with clothes on them that could be identified +as their own. It would be best that never should +they be found at all, but it is well to be prepared for +everything, and though I fear Mrs. Vanderstein is sure +to come to light sooner or later, I prefer to take even +more precautions with regard to Miss Turner, as I +shall be obliged to leave the disposal of her to your +scanty wits. Tell the girl, therefore, some cock and +bull story about intending to help her to escape, so +that she may readily attire herself in these clothes, +which I had intended for the Vanderstein. They are +all bought in different rag shops, and there is nothing +on any of them to identify them by. Tell her also +to undo her hair and to screw it up plainly so as to +hide it as much as possible. Now go and do as I say.”</p> + +<p>“But it is impossible,” cried Bert, “that that girl +should be killed too. I cannot, I will not let you +do it!”</p> + +<p>“So far from letting me do it, my dear Bert,” replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +Madame Querterot placidly, “it is probable that you +will have to do it yourself. But we will speak of that +again.”</p> + +<p>Bert went reluctantly on his mission, and by the +time he returned Madame Querterot had undressed +and decently enveloped the body in the chintz cover +of one of the sofas. Mrs. Vanderstein’s clothes lay in +a heap on a chair near by, and the Frenchwoman was +vainly trying, with a silken petticoat, to rub away some +large stains which appeared on the carpet, beside the +couch. As Bert came in she got up quickly, abandoning +her efforts.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” he asked, “what is that on the +floor?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing. Only something I spilt. Some of the +chloroform. It can easily be hidden.” And she pushed +the sofa over the place.</p> + +<p>She said nothing to Bert about the vitriol she had +used, nor did he suspect it till the following Thursday +night, when he was obliged to undergo the ghastly +ordeal of seeing the body unearthed by Mr. Gimblet.</p> + +<p>With a preliminary reconnaissance of the balcony +to make sure that no policeman was patrolling the +street below, the young man and the woman carried +out the body of their victim, laid it in the grave +they had made ready, and then fell in silence to the +task of restoring to the box the mound of earth that +was heaped upon the floor. When all was finished and +the flowers planted and blooming once more in their +former places, there still remained a quantity of soil +for which there was no room in the stand.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot fetched a couple of housemaid’s +pails and they carried the superfluous mould out by +the back door to the garden, where they scattered +it widely upon the flower beds. It was a slow +business and necessitated many journeys, but by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +now Bert, in a paroxysm of fear, which was in part +for his own neck and almost as much at the certainty +that he would irretrievably lose Julie if any trace +should ever be discovered of that night’s work, showed +himself more tractable, and by the time they had made +the place shipshape was ready to lend a receptive ear +to the proposals of his resourceful leader as to their +future conduct. At her suggestion they sat down +opposite to one another in the back of the drawing-room, +to talk over the best means of averting even a shadow +of suspicion.</p> + +<p>“We are safe enough,” Madame Querterot asserted +positively; “how is it you say? safe as a church! +Once the girl is disposed of, that is. Ah, my friend, +you made a mistake when you permitted the inclusion +of Miss Turner in the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">partie</i>, but it is not impossible +to remedy that error. Here is the chloroform. What +do you say? Shall we repeat the comedy which we +have just performed? For me, I am ready, for your +sake, to do my share.”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” cried Bert with a shiver, “not that, not +that! Besides,” he added weakly, “there is only one +flower box on the balcony.”</p> + +<p>“It is true,” mused the Frenchwoman, “that there +is no room there for another burial. And you still +refuse to dig a grave? Perhaps to-morrow night you +will have more courage?” she suggested hopefully.</p> + +<p>But of this Bert held out no hope. “It would take too +long,” he said. “I might screw myself up to commence +the job, but I simply couldn’t stick to it for an hour, +no more than I could fly. I’ll do what I can, Madame +Querterot; I don’t want to be hung for your beastly +murders, and if I can’t keep my neck out of a noose any +other way I suppose I’ve got to do what you say—within +reason, that is. It’s the girl’s life or mine +right enough, I believe, and I can’t be blamed for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +thinking of myself first in such a case,” said Bert, +nearly crying; “though as a matter of fact it’s not so +much myself I’m thinking of, in a manner of speaking, +as it’s Joolie. A nice thing for her it would be, to have +it said that her mother was hung! A fair treat, that +’ud be!”</p> + +<p>“It’s very considerate of you, I’m sure, Bert, to +take that view,” said Madame Querterot, with bitter +sarcasm, “but it’s no good talking like that if you +refuse to do anything to prevent such a scandal, which +I agree with you in thinking is one to be avoided if +possible. Here is another idea, though I think I am +too patient with you, and shall not waste much more +time in trying to assist you out of a danger you have +yourself brought upon us. Suppose you take the girl +out to a place where there is some deep water—there +is a canal near the Zoological Gardens, is there not?—and +push her in when she is walking beside it. She will +go with you willingly, if you let her think you are helping +her to escape, and you can find a pretext for attaching +something heavy to her first, so that she will not +trouble us by rising again to the surface. It should +be easy to do on a dark night, and there is no moon +now, as you know.”</p> + +<p>Bert had plenty of objections to raise to this plan, +and they discussed others with no better result. In +the end he was obliged to admit that drowning offered +the best and easiest solution to the difficulty, and she +wrung from him a promise that he would get rid of +the unfortunate young lady by this means on the +following night.</p> + +<p>In vain Madame Querterot urged the danger of delay, +and the perils which would attend on their keeping +Barbara in the house for the next twenty-four hours. +Bert was obstinately determined not to venture forth +with her at this hour, for it wanted but a short time to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +sunrise and any delay would mean that the culminating +act must be performed after the full darkness of +the night had been diluted by the coming dawn. +Even Madame Querterot was obliged to admit that +there was something in his argument, and it was finally +decided that he should wait till another day had +passed.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Frenchwoman, as had previously +been arranged, would lose no time in leaving +England, carrying with her the jewels, which, she +assured Bert, would be very easy for her to dispose +of in her own country without detection, as she had +old friends there who were “in that business.” She +promised faithfully to send him one-half of the proceeds +as soon as she received the money.</p> + +<p>“And then, mon cher,” said she, “you and Julie +will set up your little <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ménage</i>. I think you will find +my daughter less capricious when I am gone. She +will be lonely, the poor little one, without her mother.” +Madame Querterot’s voice quavered with emotion +at the thought, and she lifted her handkerchief to her +face to wipe away a tear—or was it to conceal a +smile?</p> + +<p>In spite of all assurances, she was unable to impart +to Bert her confidence in their safety from suspicion.</p> + +<p>“You’ll see, something will give the whole show +away,” he kept saying, half for the comfort of hearing +himself contradicted. “Murder will out; that’s well +known.”</p> + +<p>“It is impossible.” Madame Querterot spoke with +refreshing conviction. “Absolutely impossible if you +manage the canal affair with discretion. Consider. +You walk innocently along a public path by the +waterside, with a companion who, mon Dieu! is so +maladroit as to stumble and to fall in. If anyone should +be attracted by the splash, or she should scream and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +be heard, are you not doing your utmost to rescue +her?—though, if possible, at a different place on the +bank to the spot at which she displayed such unfortunate +clumsiness—but that is a remote chance, for with +proper care you will be able to manage so that the +contretemps occurs at a point from which no noise +will reach the ears of strangers.”</p> + +<p>“I know where there’s a gap in the fence that runs +along the park side of the canal,” Bert interrupted involuntarily.</p> + +<p>“Mourning her loss,” Madame Querterot went on, +“but silently, you understand, you continue your walk, +and the world hears no more of Miss Barbara Turner. +Even if her body is eventually found, there will be +nothing on it which can be recognised as belonging +to any particular person; and who would connect +the wearer of the clothes I have provided with the +fashionable young lady, who may, perchance, be +missing from her home in Grosvenor Street? No +one. I repeat, no one. With regard to Mrs. Vanderstein +we are even more entirely beyond suspicion. In +the first place nobody will even enter this house for +some weeks at least. When they do so it is unlikely +that the flower stand will be touched. Though the +plants will be renewed there will be no occasion, as far +as I can see, to disturb the soil to a regrettable depth. +But admitting that luck may go against us and the +body be discovered, it will not be identified. I cut +off the initials that were embroidered on her chemise, +and the rest of the clothing I will take home with me +now, and burn before I start on my journey. And I +have a still better idea for diverting any suspicion from +us. Listen to this.”</p> + +<p>And she expounded to Bert a plan, which made him +open his eyes in unwilling admiration of the coolness +and courage of the woman. Such a course as she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +proposed to adopt would have been entirely beyond +his powers, and well he knew it; indeed at first sight +it seemed to require an almost inhuman audacity +to carry it out successfully. Her intention was to go +to a large hotel at some French watering place, Boulogne +or Dieppe for choice, and there to pass herself off as +Mrs. Vanderstein for a day or two, not long enough +for the Jewess’ friends to discover that she was there, +but long enough to allow no doubt to exist of her having +really been there when the fact should subsequently +come to be known.</p> + +<p>“I shall be far away by the time inquiries begin to +reach to the other side of the channel,” she told Bert, +“and the proprietor of the hotel will answer all questions +to our satisfaction. I shall so contrive that it +is not I who write my name in the visitors’ book. The +manager will be so obliging as to do it for me when he +hears that I have slightly injured my finger. But I +shall not be feeling very well, I shall need repose after +the journey. I think, yes, I think that I shall send +for the doctor. When he is gone I shall give out that +he has told me to keep to my room for a few days, and +I shall therefore remain upstairs during the whole of +my visit. When I leave I shall have established +beyond doubt that the lady I impersonate was staying +in the hotel when she was being sought in London, +and after that she will be looked for abroad. Once +the police have got the idea fixed in their stupid heads +that Mrs. Vanderstein has left England, they may dig +up her body as soon as they like, and I, for one, shall +not feel a moment’s anxiety.”</p> + +<p>“But,” objected the startled Bert, “the people +at the hotel will describe you, and that will be a give +away.”</p> + +<p>“They will describe me,” said Madame Querterot +airily, “or they will describe Mrs. Vanderstein. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +will be the same thing. We are much alike, she and I. +That is,” she added hastily, “we were much alike. +In the matter of the colour of my hair, it is true, I +must make a great sacrifice. But I have resolved to +forget the value that not I alone have always attached +to the golden hue of my <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">chevelure</i>, and to dye it black +this same morning, before I start on my travels. You +see that I shrink at nothing! I promise you that, with +a dress such as the Vanderstein would have worn and +a trifling alteration in my colouring, you yourself +would have doubts as to who I am. There will be no +risk to speak of, though it is worth a little to cover my +retreat by a stratagem so masterly.”</p> + +<p>With Bert’s aid the clothes belonging to the two +ladies were folded and made into a tidy parcel, then with +a few more words of advice, and a special recommendation +never to come into the house without the precaution +of wearing gloves—for she was deeply impressed +with the dangers attendant on careless finger-prints—Madame +Querterot said a hasty farewell, the early +summer dawn being at hand, and in another moment +the back door of the house had shut behind her vanishing +figure.</p> + +<p>Bert, left alone without the support of the woman’s +ready resource and calm confidence, would have soon +sunk again into despair if his time had not been too +much occupied to admit of reflection. He was by now, +besides, so tired and exhausted with the emotions he +had undergone as to be incapable of coherent thought, +and he was more than content to give his whole mind +to carrying out the instructions he had received.</p> + +<p>His first business was to get a brush from the cupboard +under the stairs and to sweep and brush the +floor of the hall, and the carpets of the stairs and drawing-room. +He was awkward at the work, but made up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +in thoroughness what he lacked in skill. Little shining +pieces of paste off Mrs. Vanderstein’s dress were +scattered everywhere; he swept up quantities of them, +but still some, better concealed than others, escaped +his diligence.</p> + +<p>Then having set straight such of the furniture as +had been moved or disarranged, he quietly opened the +dining-room shutters and those of the back drawing-room, +for he did not wish the place to look uninhabited. +The shutters of the front drawing-room, however, +he could not bring himself to touch, though he seemed +to hear the words of scorn which Madame Querterot +would have used if she had still been present. He +listened at the door of the library for some time, but +not a sound came from within; at last, seeing no more +to do, he stole quietly out of the house and back to +his lodgings, where, in spite of the fears that pursued +him and the dreadful memory of the night’s work, he +soon slept the sleep of exhaustion.</p> + +<p>Not for long, however. In a couple of hours his +alarm clock awakened him, and he started up to face +the new terrors which the day would bring. He had +to feed the dun horse, he remembered; it would not +do to annoy Ned.</p> + +<p>After that came breakfast, for which he was surprised +to find he had a certain appetite, and soon +it was time to begin his daily routine at Ennidge and +Pring’s office.</p> + +<p>Every time the door opened that day, and on the +days that succeeded it, Bert expected to see a policeman +enter. But the evening came without any such +nightmare materialising, and he even managed to +snatch some more uneasy slumber during the evening, +before he once more assumed his disguising beard and +stealthily returned to the house in Scholefield Avenue, +knowing that before him lay far the worst part of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +whole business. He was too frightened for his own +safety, however, to hesitate.</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot had counted on that when she +mentally balanced his regard for his own neck against +what she would have designated his milksoppy squeamishness. +It was hard to stay in that house of death +alone and in the dark, waiting till the small hours, +when his project might be best entered upon.</p> + +<p>Bert was very, very sorry for himself as he sat, +trembling violently, in an arm-chair in the dining-room. +His pity did not extend to the other side of +the partition wall, where the girl whose life he was about +to take had sat in the same darkness and solitude for +the last twenty-four hours. For her, Bert, thoroughly +selfish by nature and education—as, cowering among +the shadows in the grim company of his fears, he +shuddered away the hours—was shaken from start to +finish by no disabling pang of sympathy. Though at +times his heart was like to burst with compassion, +it held barely enough to meet the urgent need of Albert +Tremmels; and when like her he heard the far-off +murmurs which heralded the approaching storm and +the angry boom of the thunder began to rumble closer +and closer, though he started at each clap as if it were +indeed the wrathful voice of the Avenger drawing near +to him, his whole being cried out in resentful protest +against this judgment that was being passed on him +in the heavens, and against the certainty that it would +be endorsed by mankind.</p> + +<p>His intention was to wait till two o’clock, but it +was not yet half-past one when he got to his feet, +unable to face his solitary vigil any longer. Better +get it over, he said to himself, like a patient in a dentist’s +room who has got to have a tooth out. Only this tooth +was not his. He had long since decided that the spade +would be the best thing to ensure the sinking of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +victim, and he had placed it, with a piece of cord tied +to it, ready by the door.</p> + +<p>Weighted with that heavy piece of iron, so he comforted +himself, there would be a single splash and all +would be over. He would be spared the sight of a +struggling figure rising to the surface, perhaps crying +to him for help or mercy, which above all things was +what he most dreaded.</p> + +<p>Fortifying himself with a mental vision, in which +Julie, the hangman, and the body in the flower stand +upstairs were all mingled, he unlocked the library door +and pushed it open.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary to tell again of his walk with +Barbara through the drenching rain and clamour of +the storm, which was more severe and prolonged than +any of those that burst over London during a year +remarkable for the number and fierceness of its +atmospheric disturbances. The horror with which, +at the last moment, as he was trying to tie the spade +to Barbara before pushing her into the water, he beheld +the running figure of the advancing policeman need not +be described. In a frenzy of disappointment, rage and +fear, he lifted the spade and struck at the girl again +and again, missing her the first time, and, as the handle +twisted in his weak grasp, bringing it down flat on the +top of her head at the second blow, instead of edgeways +as he was trying to do. He did not stay to see +the result, but throwing down the spade fled for dear +life.</p> + +<p>His legs were long, and he could run fast for a short +distance. In a few minutes he had lost himself and +his pursuer in the darkness, but he still ran blindly on, +till his utmost efforts would drag him no further, when +he threw himself at full length on one of the park seats +and endeavoured to still his panting, laboured breath. +If the policeman should come upon him now, he thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +his only chance lay in being able to simulate profound +slumber. Luckily the working powers of this plan +were not put to the test. Minutes passed, and no one +came near him. It was some time before he could +convince himself that he had eluded all pursuit for +the present. When he was at last sure of it the fact +heartened him wonderfully. If he could so easily +escape when caught in the actual perpetration of a +violent attack, it would bother the authorities indeed +to fasten on him as one of those concerned in a crime +so well concealed as that in which he had only unwillingly +assisted.</p> + +<p>It was when he remembered that he was quite +ignorant of the damage he had inflicted on Barbara that +doubts assailed him again. It seemed to him that he +must have killed her. But if not ... if not? Why +then, even though she could hardly denounce him, she +would not forget Madame Querterot. And Madame +Querterot’s first line of defence would be to accuse him, +as she herself had declared.</p> + +<p>Curse the woman, how he hated her! From first +to last everything was her doing; he wished, oh, how +he wished that it was she he had killed. If he had +thought of that sooner, he told himself savagely, all +these troubles would have been saved. As things were +he would probably be arrested that day.</p> + +<p>He did not lose his head, however, and went back +presently to Scholefield Avenue, where he cleared away +the broken glass in the library and put everything in +that room to rights, as he had already done upstairs. +Then he conquered his repugnance and went out on +to the balcony with his brush, and swept up a handful +or so of earth, which they had not been able to remove +with the spade.</p> + +<p>He did not know how to get rid of the broken glass, +as by now it was daylight and he did not dare go out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +to bury it in the garden; so he left it in the dustpan, +and swept the grains of soil into an old newspaper, which +he crumpled up and thrust into the back of the cupboard +in the basement. Then he closed the shutters +again, for he could not bear to be a moment in the room +without the friendly screen that interposed between +him and the flower stand. Finding, however, no more +to do upstairs, he went down, and knocked out the pieces +of the window pane in the library that still remained +stuck in the frame; he thought that the empty space +might well pass unobserved for a considerable time. +In doing this he cut his hand, through the glove he +was wearing in obedience to Madame Querterot’s +reiterated commands, and some drops of blood fell +on to the shining tin of the dustpan, but he wiped them +off carefully and polished the pan with his sleeve as +it had certainly never been polished since it left the +shop and entered into domestic service.</p> + +<p>At last his anxious mind could suggest nothing +further, and he surveyed the results of his efforts +with some complacency.</p> + +<p>“I’m bothered,” said Bert to himself, “if the brainiest +detective on this rotten earth could set his fingers on +a clue now.”</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">There</span> was no sleep for him that morning, +and he felt wretchedly ill and exhausted +when the time came to go to the office. Mr. +Ennidge, always kind, remarked sympathetically +upon his looks, and he replied that he had been kept +awake all night by the storm. The day passed without +the expected appearance of the policeman, though +he saw in the papers the first allusion to the disappearance +of Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, and felt a +horrified sinking at the heart when he read that +search was being made, even though he had of course +known all along that there must be a hue and cry.</p> + +<p>He could not find any reference to his exploit in +Regent’s Park, and he was afraid this meant that the +girl had survived, for if he had killed her surely there +would have been some mention of it. Yet if she were +alive it was strange that Miss Turner should still be +thought to be missing. Perhaps it was a dodge of the +police to fill him with false confidence. He could not +guess what it meant, anyhow, and at all events he was +thankful for one thing: that he had cleared up and +finished with Scholefield Avenue. If they thought +they would catch him there again they were jolly well +wrong. He would never set foot in the place again, +so help him!</p> + +<p>He supposed that his confederate had got clear away, +and after his work was over he went to see Julie, to +make sure that everything had gone well.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span></p> + +<p>He found her in despair at her mother’s departure, +or, rather, at the manner of it; and it was with the +utmost horror and indignation that he learned that +Julie—as she afterwards admitted to Gimblet—had +been left absolutely penniless. All his savings had been +willingly given to Madame Querterot to help her flight, +but he had things which could be pawned, and he +pressed Julie to accept his assistance. This she would +not do.</p> + +<p>Then she showed him the string of pearls, and he +recognised it at once as the necklace Mrs. Vanderstein +had worn. He had seen since, in the newspapers, +that these enormous pearls were well known to every +jeweller in Europe, and there had not been wanting +forecasts to the effect that, if they had been stolen, +an attempt to sell them would lead to the arrest of the +thieves. He had wondered if Madame Querterot +knew this, and reassured himself by thinking that, if +she did not, the friends she was to consult certainly +would. But now, with passionate resentment, he +realised that she had known it very well and had left +the necklace to Julie, careless of the suspicion that +might fall on her daughter if she should be tempted +to try and sell it. Nay, it seemed even possible that +she deliberately wished to cast suspicion upon Julie; +her action was otherwise unaccountable. But was it +possible that she would risk not only his safety but her +own, in order to gratify her spite against her daughter?</p> + +<p>Before he had fully grasped the meaning of this last +manœuvre on the part of the woman he hoped to call +his mother-in-law, Julie was telling him of the clothes +her mother had given her, and which she had already +sold to a second-hand dealer. In hoarse tones he +demanded a description of the garments, and, when he +had received it, burst forth into such raging comments +on the girl’s folly in selling them, and such furious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +imprecations at the wickedness and stupidity of her +mother, that Julie took offence, and in a fit of anger +as hot as his own, though less justly provoked, told him +to leave the house.</p> + +<p>He was all penitence in a moment, and she ended by +accepting his grovelling apologies. All the same, the +fire of his wrath was not extinguished, but smouldered +with a dull red heat in his heart, ready at any moment +to leap into a fierce flame, burning to consume and +devour.</p> + +<p>When the night came he could not sleep, in spite, or +perhaps because, of his extreme fatigue and harassed +nerves. Not till daylight did he drop at last into an +uneasy slumber, from which a nightmare sent him +leaping up in bed, disturbing the house with his cries. +His irate landlady appeared in his room, in extreme +deshabille, and her scathing references to delirium +tremens gave him the idea of the brandy bottle. He +bought one at the nearest public-house the moment he +was dressed, and drank a good wineglassful before +he opened the daily paper that he procured at the same +time.</p> + +<p>There was nothing new in it, however. Though it +contained plenty of allusions to the missing ladies +there was nothing about a girl being knocked on the +head in Regent’s Park; and to Bert’s fears this silence +appeared ominous as a denunciation. He found the +brandy very comforting, and took it to the office with +him. There his appearance—rendered still more +ghastly by want of sleep than it had been on the preceding +days—moved Mr. Ennidge to such genuine +concern that, Mr. Pring being away and not returning +till Monday, he told Bert he had better take a holiday +on the next day, which would be Friday.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon he was beginning to feel a little +better and to hope that after all things were going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +right for him somehow, when at the eleventh hour Mr. +Gimblet made his appearance upon the scene. From +the moment when Bert understood who he was and +what was his business, he gave himself up for lost. +Some unsuspected gleam of courage came to his aid +now, however—a sort of phantom of the real thing, +found, it may be imagined, in the brandy bottle—and +he made up his mind that, if he must be taken, it +should not be due, at all events, to any revelation of his +own.</p> + +<p>The agony of mind endured during the hours which +followed is not to be described in mere words. The +dread, the suspense, the feeling of physical weakness +which nearly overcame him as he witnessed the detective’s +search, and the final horrible moment when he +saw the body of the poor lady drawn from the grave +where he had thought it hidden for ever from his own, +if not from every other eye, would have strained the +nerve of any man. It was, indeed, a heaping of horror +upon horror.</p> + +<p>What unthinkable clairvoyance, what supernatural +omniscience had led Gimblet to pick out that house, +of all the dwellings in the great city and its suburbs, +for his investigations, was as much beyond Bert’s +imagination as the means by which he himself succeeded +in refraining from revealing, then and there, the +part he had taken in the ghastly business.</p> + +<p>To his almost incredulous astonishment no one +seemed to suspect him, and instead of being removed +in irons, as he expected, he found himself free to return +to his lodgings, there to recuperate from the shocks he +had sustained, in a deep, brandy induced sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning he was out early, and the first +poster gave him the news that Mrs. Vanderstein was +found, and staying at Boulogne. He bought the paper, +and, even as he read the paragraph in which the news<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +was related, made up his mind to spend the holiday +given him by Mr. Ennidge in running over to Boulogne +to see Madame Querterot. He had no definite idea +in doing so. But his rage at her treatment of her +daughter was still red-hot, and now was added to it a +furious resentment at her departure from the conduct +they had agreed she should observe. What possessed +her not to stay quietly in her room? It was madness +to have gone out; yes, actually to have gone to the +Casino, the place of all others where she was most +likely to be seen by some acquaintances of Mrs. Vanderstein’s. +Did she want to lose them all by her folly and +recklessness?</p> + +<p>And in any case he could not rest till he had told her +what he thought of her.</p> + +<p>He went out to a pawnbroker’s, and by pawning his +watch and some odds and ends of jewellery that had +belonged to his mother collected enough money for +the return journey. Then he took a taxi for the first +time in his life, and drove to Whitehall. He had seen +Gimblet’s address on the card he sent in to Mr. +Ennidge.</p> + +<p>Higgs told him, in answer to his inquiries, that the +inquest would not be till the next day, so that there +was nothing to prevent him from taking the ten o’clock +train from Charing Cross. There was time before it +started to put on his false beard, in an empty waiting-room, +and to gulp down a strong dose of brandy at the +bar of the refreshment-room. He felt safer when he +had taken these precautions, for he had been haunted +by an uneasy feeling that Higgs might have followed +him from the flat.</p> + +<p>The journey was uneventful, the sea as smooth as a +pond. He hardly knew how the time passed before +they arrived at Boulogne pier.</p> + +<p>He walked round the harbour, asking the way by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +simple repetition of the words “Hôtel de Douvres,” +and following the direction in which the fingers of those +who answered him were pointed.</p> + +<p>Soon he came upon the hotel on the Digue, facing +the sea. The name in golden letters a yard long +danced before his eyes, but with a great effort of the +will he steadied himself, and passed through the door +into the hall.</p> + +<p>As luck would have it there was no one about, and +the only person to come forward at his entrance was a +small page or lift boy.</p> + +<p>Yes, Madame Vanderstein was in her room. Would +Monsieur go up?</p> + +<p>Certainly Monsieur would; and he was ushered into +the lift and carried aloft.</p> + +<p>He heard Madame Querterot’s voice say “Come in” +in response to the boy’s knock, and in another minute +he was in the room, with the door closing behind him.</p> + +<p>For a moment he thought there must be some mistake, +and, if she had not spoken, would have turned and +fled. Surely he had never seen before the beautifully +dressed, dark-haired lady who was bending over a +box at the end of the room.</p> + +<p>But at the sound of her voice he knew her again, +though the difference in her appearance caused by her +dyed hair and painted complexion was truly marvellous. +She wore her elaborate dress with quiet +assurance, and jewels sparkled at her throat, in her +ears, on her fingers, her wrists.</p> + +<p>“What in the world are you doing here?” she said, +in a tone of the deepest disapproval.</p> + +<p>Bert’s voice shook as he took the paper from his +pocket and held it out to her.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen this?” he asked. “Every one in +London knows you are here. It is madness to stay.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I have seen it,” she answered coolly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +“And of course I shall not stay. I do but finish my +packing. In ten minutes I shall ring to have my +luggage taken downstairs. There is a train in half +an hour.”</p> + +<p>“You will never escape now,” he said gloomily. +“Do you know, too, that they have found the body of +Mrs. Vanderstein?”</p> + +<p>This time she was startled.</p> + +<p>“What do you say?” she cried. “What <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bêtise</i> +is this?”</p> + +<p>“It is true,” he said. “They found it last night. +I was there.”</p> + +<p>“You were there? Last night?” she repeated. +“And you were not arrested, not suspected? Why, +then, our star is indeed guarding us.”</p> + +<p>“No, I wasn’t arrested,” he said, watching her, +“and Joolie hasn’t been arrested yet, either.”</p> + +<p>She started, and for a moment her eyes shone with +the hatred and spite she cherished for her daughter. +Then they fell before his. “Julie,” she said; “why +should Julie be arrested?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you know?” he asked. “How is she to +account for the pearls, and for the dresses and opera +cloaks?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, the dresses. Hasn’t she burnt them? I told +her to. If she has not she must do so at once.”</p> + +<p>“And the pearls—was she to burn them too?” said +Bert quietly.</p> + +<p>“They looked so well round her neck, the dear +child. I left them as my wedding gift to you both.”</p> + +<p>“You left them because you knew you couldn’t +get rid of them. My God! I believe you meant to keep +the whole lot for yourself. But the pearls were too +dangerous, so you gave them to Joolie! You must +have meant suspicion to fall upon her!”</p> + +<p>“My dear Bert, you are absurd. Come and help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +me to fasten this portmanteau. I shall register the +luggage to Paris, and leave the train myself at Amiens. +From there I can go off in another direction, and you +will never hear of me again.”</p> + +<p>“Nor of the jewels either, no doubt.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t be afraid, you shall have the money +for the jewels!”</p> + +<p>Madame Querterot began to go on with her packing, +which for the moment she had abandoned. As she +bent over the trunk, filling up corners with crumpled +newspapers, she hummed a merry little tune, and the +implied disregard of his reproaches exasperated Bert +beyond endurance. He stood quite still, making a +violent effort at self-control, and looking about him +in an unconscious attempt to regain his balance by a +concentration of his attention upon some everyday +object.</p> + +<p>The fresh breeze off the water was fluttering the white +muslin blinds by the open window and, as Bert passed +his tongue over his parched lips, he tasted the salt +taste of the sea. The tide was up, and the room full +of the noise of the breaking waves, so that the rattle +of a cart passing on the road beneath was merged and +lost in the continuous volume of sound.</p> + +<p>On the table were several outspread pieces of blue +paper, and he read the typed messages from where he +stood. They were the telegrams which Sir Gregory, +Gimblet, and Sidney had dispatched that morning to +Mrs. Vanderstein.</p> + +<p>“Have you answered those?” he said, pointing to +them.</p> + +<p>“I answered Mr. Sidney’s, and I sent one to the +servants in Grosvenor Street,” Madame Querterot +broke off her tune to reply.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know who Aberhyn Jones is,” she +added, “nor where he lives, so I can’t answer him;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +and I haven’t quite decided what to say to the +detective.”</p> + +<p>She went on packing, and resumed her humming. +Bert did not speak for a minute, then he said very +quietly:</p> + +<p>“I took the girl to Regent’s Park, to the very edge +of the water; and then a policeman came up and prevented +me doing as we arranged.”</p> + +<p>“What!” Madame Querterot almost screamed.</p> + +<p>She stood erect and gazed at Bert in incredulous +dismay.</p> + +<p>“I hit her and ran,” he went on. “I don’t suppose +I did her much damage or I should have seen it mentioned +in the papers, and there has been nothing about +it.”</p> + +<p>“If she is alive I don’t understand how it is they +still believe Mrs. Vanderstein is here. But never +mind that now. The point is, the girl, if she lives, will +put them on my track. I shall not be able to escape +now so easily. Perhaps the best thing to do is to go +back and face it out. Better get my story in before +they have time to puzzle out the truth.”</p> + +<p>She spoke musingly, more to herself than to her +companion.</p> + +<p>“Your story!” Bert repeated, speaking only a +little above a whisper. His voice would not come out +somehow; he felt as if he were choking. “You mean +you will say that I did it! Why not say that you have +been hiding from me in fear of your own life, all these +days? That would round it off well!”</p> + +<p>“Not a bad suggestion, Bert,” she said. “I must +look after myself, you know. It would be a pity, +wouldn’t it, for people to say that Julie’s mother was +hanged?”</p> + +<p>She spoke with a sneer. She had not forgotten that +Bert had used those words to her, nor forgiven him. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +was not afraid to let him see that his guess at her +intentions was a good one; she felt for him a contempt +too complete and profound to dread anything he might +say or do.</p> + +<p>It is a common failing among clever rascals to despise +their dupes, but they often learn to their cost that +danger may come from the most unlikely quarter.</p> + +<p>The derisive note in her voice was the last straw on +Bert’s frayed nerves. His rage took hold of him so that +he no longer knew what he was about; he became a +tool in other hands than Madame Querterot’s.</p> + +<p>“Oh you fiend, you fiend!” he cried, and his voice +was high and cracked, “hanging would be too good for +a devil like you! You needn’t be afraid, people never +shall say that of Joolie’s mother. You would have let +her be hanged, you devil! Her and me, both of us. +Oh—oh——”</p> + +<p>The air was full of the murmur of the sea. It +mingled with a maddening noise that buzzed in his +ears and made thought impossible. A mist gathered +before his eyes—a dreadful red mist in which everything +swam and danced.</p> + +<p>He bounded upon the woman, holding his hands outstretched +before his face as though to fend off something +unspeakably hideous and terrifying. Then they +closed upon her throat and, with a sob, he shook her +to and fro as a dog shakes a rat that has bitten it badly.</p> + +<p>At last his rage spent itself. As it passed he became +conscious of what he was doing, and with an exclamation +of disgust loosened his grip.</p> + +<p>She fell backwards, with a crash, across the open lid +of the box she had been packing. The hinges snapped +under the impact and the lid broke off and dropped +to the floor with her. There she lay, head downwards, +in an untidy heap, one arm twisted at a curious angle +under her body.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bert never doubted that she was dead, and he felt +a glow of satisfaction stealing over him at the knowledge. +There were great livid marks on her neck where +his convulsive fingers had clutched at it, and he stooped +over her and looked at them with a gratified smile. +They were already turning black.</p> + +<p>A slight noise in the next room brought him to his +senses.</p> + +<p>He crept on tiptoe to the door and listened intently +with his ear to it. The sounds in the next room continued, +some one seemed to be opening and shutting +drawers; but there was no movement in the passage, +and after a moment he opened the door cautiously and +went out.</p> + +<p>No one was in sight, and as an afterthought he went +back, and removing the key locked the door on +the outside, as silently as he had opened it. Then +putting the key in his pocket he ran down the stairs. +The page who had shown him up was idling in the hall, +but no one else was about, though he caught a glimpse +of a seated figure in the bureau as he passed. Forcing +himself to pause as he passed the page, he said to him:</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Vanderstein has asked me to tell you that she +has a headache, and does not wish to be disturbed +again to-day. Do you understand?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I will give the message at the bureau. +They will tell the waiter and chambermaid.”</p> + +<p>The page spoke English perfectly, and Bert felt +assured that he would do his errand. To make sure, +he repeated his injunction and gave the boy a shilling +to impress it on his memory. Then he walked down +the steps with every outward appearance of calm.</p> + +<p>His impulse was to go back towards the harbour, +but as a precaution he started off in the opposite +direction and only approached the docks after several +turnings separated him from the sea-front. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +was no boat back to England, however, till past +seven, and he hung about the port for three whole hours +that seemed like three centuries. In a quiet corner +behind some empty trucks he got rid of his black +beard, and applying a match to it saw it frizzle up and +disappear in two or three seconds. He ground the +ashes into the earth with his heel, and with a recklessness +which surprised himself walked back past the +doorway of the Hôtel de Douvres, to see if he would +be known. The page was still lolling in the doorway, +and, to Bert’s satisfaction, stared at him as he passed +with a vacant eye. He felt certain he had not been +recognised, and went back to the harbour with a +lighter heart.</p> + +<p>There he watched the steamer from Folkestone +arrive and disembark her passengers, among whom—though +he did not know it—was the man sent by the +London police to interview Mrs. Vanderstein; and a +few minutes later it was time to go on board the boat, +which took him back to England.</p> + +<p>The next morning found him back in his place at +the house agents’ office, and as the day passed without +event he began to feel a sense of security to which he +had lately been a stranger. After all, he had passed +hours in the company of London’s greatest detective +without arousing any suspicion; and every hour, he +believed, added to his safety.</p> + +<p>He was comparatively cheerful when he went down +to Pimlico that evening to see Julie.</p> + +<p>But he found her in a harder mood than usual; and +when, with exceeding want of discretion, he chose that +most unpropitious moment to urge his suit, she told +him very plainly that she would never consent to be +his wife.</p> + +<p>She had no intention of marrying, she said; she was +going to enter the convent as she had always wished.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +But, she added, with unnecessary cruelty—for she was +still angry with him for his behaviour a day or two +before—in no case would she have married him. She +did not reciprocate his feelings, and she considered +that he and she were quite unsuited to each other; +he had much better never think of her again.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that he went away in the blackest +depths of misery and despair, so that when the police +rapped at his door an hour later they found a man +broken and unstrung to such a point as to hail their +coming with something like relief.</p> + +<p>Such was the gist of Albert Tremmels’ story; and, as +it never varied in the smallest detail in the course of +its many repetitions, it may be imagined that it was +true in substance.</p> + +<p>Whether this would have been the opinion expressed +by a jury cannot now be known, for Bert died in prison +while awaiting his trial. His constitution, always +frail, had not been able to withstand the bodily fatigues, +and more especially those torments of the mind which +he had endured during that week of stress, and a latent +tendency to disease was not slow to take advantage +of his weakened condition. Its rapid development +was perhaps due, in part, to the fact that he made little +effort to get well, and seemed to have no wish to live. +What, indeed, as he said, had he to live for?</p> + +<p>He showed no repentance for his attack on Miss +Turner, beyond saying that it would have been unnecessary +if he had had the sense to kill Madame Querterot +first, but he maintained with his last breath that the +idea was not his, any more than the thought of murdering +Mrs. Vanderstein, which he persisted in affirming +had never crossed his mind. He gloried in the death +of his confederate, however, nor could all the efforts +of the prison chaplain move him to a better frame of +mind with regard to his deed. On the contrary, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> +did not cease to gloat over the remembrance of it. +Not even when he heard that Julie piously refused +him her forgiveness, in spite of her mother’s designs +upon herself, would Bert admit that he regretted that +which he had done. It is a cynical freak of circumstance +that his love for the girl, which was pure and unselfish +and the only creditable part of his whole nature, should +from first to last have been the inspiring source from +which his crimes proceeded.</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">It</span> was a few days before Joe Sidney was allowed +to see Barbara. The news of her friend’s death +had been broken to her by the doctor, and though +her grief was profound she bore the shock better than +they had feared likely, and continued to make good +progress towards recovery.</p> + +<p>It was on the day following that on which she learnt +the truth, or rather a bowdlerised version of it, that +Sidney refused to be longer denied, and practically +forced his way into the private room at the hospital +to which she had been moved.</p> + +<p>At sight of her sad, tear-stained face, framed in +bandages, and wearing such a different aspect from +when he had last looked on it, the little speech he had +prepared to greet her with died on his lips, and he could +only take her hand in silence and gaze at her without +a word till the door had shut behind the nurse, who, +dearly as she would have liked to remain, was luckily +prevented from doing so by an urgent summons to +attend on the house surgeon elsewhere.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my dear, I thought you were dead,” he +stammered.</p> + +<p>She was very weak still, and while the tenderness +in his voice, still more than the words themselves, +brought a feeble little smile of the purest content to +play a moment round the corners of her mouth, they +also caused the blood to rush to her face in a hot, +embarrassing wave, so that she turned her head away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> +and lay facing the wall with no conscious wish except +to hide from him.</p> + +<p>Then the flush died away, leaving her very white +and still and silent, with eyes tightly shut. She knew +that if she opened them or tried to speak she would +not be able to help crying.</p> + +<p>Sidney did not understand her stillness. A dreadful +fear came upon him that she had fainted, and he looked +round for the bell. It was just out of reach; but, +when he tried to withdraw the hand which still held +hers, her clasp gently tightened on it, and would not +let him go.</p> + +<p>With a muffled exclamation he fell on his knees beside +the pillow.</p> + +<p>“Barbara, Barbara,” he cried, “will you always +go hand in hand with me now?”</p> + +<p>And with face still averted she murmured: “Always, +always!”</p> + +<p>It was half an hour later that he asked her about +the unsigned telegram she had sent him. What had +she meant by saying good luck was coming his way?</p> + +<p>She reluctantly confessed her determination to provide +him with the money he needed.</p> + +<p>“Of course I always knew you were clever and dear +enough to manage even that,” he said. “That’s why +I didn’t bother unnecessarily over the mess I’d got +into.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried Barbara, “how dare you say that! +Why, you were desperate; I was terrified by the things +you hinted at.”</p> + +<p>“It was disgraceful of me to talk in that way,” he +admitted, ashamed. “But you haven’t told me how +you intended to provide me with money. As if I’d +have taken it from you! I didn’t know you were a +millionaire.”</p> + +<p>“You know Mr. Vanderstein left me £30,000, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +I was to have if poor Mrs. Vanderstein died? I shall +get it now, I suppose,” said Barbara, her eyes filling +with tears.</p> + +<p>Joe stroked her hand in silent sympathy, and with +a quaver in her voice she went on.</p> + +<p>“Well, I meant to borrow £10,000 on the strength of +my prospects, and place it anonymously to your credit +at Cox’s. So you see you would have had to take it!” +she concluded triumphantly. “You wouldn’t have +known who it was from.”</p> + +<p>“I should have known perfectly well,” he said. +“Who else could good luck come to me from if not +from you? I knew you sent the telegram, you see.”</p> + +<p>“You couldn’t have proved it, and you’d have had +to take the money, because there would have been no +one to send it back to.”</p> + +<p>“It was like you to think of it,” Joe said, “but +I don’t believe you could have raised the money anyhow. +Aunt Ruth’s life was nearly as good as yours +then, and you hadn’t really any security to offer, you +silly darling.”</p> + +<p>Barbara’s face fell. “I didn’t think of that, but +surely I could have got £10,000 when I would have +offered £30,000 in exchange,” she said sadly. “But +it doesn’t matter now, does it?”</p> + +<p>He hastened to reassure and comfort her.</p> + +<p>“And you will never bet again?” she asked +presently.</p> + +<p>“I have sworn that I never will,” Joe answered. +“I’ve had a lesson more severe than even I needed, I +think.”</p> + +<p>“If ever you want to have a teeny tiny bet,” she +smiled, “I can do it for you, perhaps, if you’re good.”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” he said seriously, “you must give it up +too. I shall want you to help me to stick to my resolutions. +Promise!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Very well,” she said, seeing how grave he looked; +“I promise faithfully never to gamble again in any +way, as long as I live.”</p> + +<p>“Now we are safe!” he cried. “Indeed, I have used +up all the luck one man can scrape together in a lifetime +in winning you, and I shall think of that, if I am +ever again tempted to stake anything on the chance +of further kindness at the hands of Fortune.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be foolish,” Barbara urged; “there is heaps +and heaps more luck in store for you.”</p> + +<p>And so, in their serene confidence of the happy future +which awaits them, we will leave these two young +people, who, if any more dangers lie unsuspected in +the path down which they are to travel through the +years, will brave them no longer in solitary isolation, +but strengthened and reinforced by an enduring love.</p> + + +<p class="end">THE END</p> + +<hr class="l1" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span></p> + + + + +<p class="hd2"><span class="u">JOHN LANE’S LIST OF FICTION</span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Ads"> +<tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY ARTHUR H. ADAMS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">GALAHAD JONES</span> <span class="smcap">A Tragic Farce</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">With 16 full-page Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Norman Lindsay</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">A TOUCH OF FANTASY</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Romance For Those who are Lucky Enough to Wear Glasses</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY W. M. ARDAGH</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE MAGADA</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE KNIGHTLY YEARS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY WILLIAM ARKWRIGHT</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE TREND</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY H. F. PREVOST BATTERSBY</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE SILENCE OF MEN</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE LAST RESORT</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY GERARD BENDALL</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE ILLUSIONS OF MR. & MRS. BRESSINGHAM</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE PROGRESS OF MRS. CRIPPS-MIDDLEMORE</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY PAUL BERTRAM</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE SHADOW OF POWER</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Third Thousand</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE FIFTH TRUMPET</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY WALTER BLOEM</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE IRON YEAR</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Translated from the German by <span class="smcap">Stella Bloch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MRS. CHARLES BRYCE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">MRS. VANDERSTEIN’S JEWELS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY JAMES BRYCE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE STORY OF A PLOUGH BOY</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3">An Autobiography</td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY WILLIAM CAINE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE IRRESISTIBLE INTRUDER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">HOFFMAN’S CHANCE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY DANIEL CHAUCER</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE SIMPLE LIFE LIMITED</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE NEW HUMPTY DUMPTY</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MAUD CRUTTWELL</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">FIRE AND FROST</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY SIDNEY DARK</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT BE KING</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MARION FOX</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE BOUNTIFUL HOUR</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">THE WORKS OF ANATOLE FRANCE<br /> + <span class="f8">IN ENGLISH</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">Edited by <span class="smcap">Frederic Chapman</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Demy 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE ANGELS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Alfred Allinson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE OPINIONS OF JERÔME COIGNARD</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by Mrs. <span class="smcap">Wilfrid Jackson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">ON LIFE AND LETTERS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">A. W. Evans.</span> Vols. 2, 3, and 4.</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE GODS ARE ATHIRST</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Alfred Allinson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">MY FRIEND’S BOOK</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">J. Lewis May</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">JOCASTA AND THE FAMISHED CAT</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by Mrs. <span class="smcap">Farley</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE ASPERATIONS OF JEAN SERVIEN</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Alfred Allinson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">AT THE SIGN OF THE REINE PÉDAUQUE</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by Mrs. <span class="smcap">Wilfrid Jackson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">ON LIFE AND LETTERS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">A. W. Evans.</span> Vol. 1.</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE RED LILY</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Winifred Stephens</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">MOTHER OF PEARL</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by the <span class="smcap">Editor</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE CRIME OE SYLVESTRE BONNARD</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Lafcadio Hearn</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE GARDEN OF EPICURUS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Alfred Allinson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE WELL OF ST. CLAIRE</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Alfred Allinson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">BALTHASAR</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by Mrs. <span class="smcap">John Lane</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THAÏS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Robert B. Douglas</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE WHITE STONE</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">C. E. Roche</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">PENGUIN ISLAND</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">A. W. Evans</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE MERRIE TALES OF JACQUES TOURNE-BROCHE.</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">Alfred Allinson</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE ELM TREE ON THE MALL</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">M. P. Willcocks</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE WICKER-WORK WOMAN</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Translation by <span class="smcap">M. P. Willcocks</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY A. R. GORING-THOMAS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">WAYWARD FEET</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE STRONG HEART</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">MRS. GRAMERCY PARK</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE LASS WITH THE DELICATE AIR</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY CYRIL HARCOURT</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE WORLD’S DAUGHTER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY HENRY HARLAND</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE CARDINAL’S SNUFF BOX</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">G. G. Wilmhurst</span></td> + <td class="col4">165th Thousand</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">MY FRIEND PROSPERO</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span><span class="sp4"> </span><span class="smcap">Third Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4">6s</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE LADY PARAMOUNT</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span><span class="sp4"> </span><span class="smcap">55th Thousand</span></td> + <td class="col4">6s</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">COMEDIES AND ERRORS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span><span class="sp4"> </span><span class="smcap">Third Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4">6s</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">GREY ROSES</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span><span class="sp4"> </span><span class="smcap">Fourth Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4">3s 6d net</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">MADEMOISELLE MISS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span><span class="sp4"> </span><span class="smcap">Third Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4">3s 6d</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY FRANK HARRIS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">GREAT DAYS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">UNPATH’D WATERS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">MONTES THE MATADOR</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ELDER CONKLIN</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY CROSBY HEATH</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">HENRIETTA TAKING NOTES</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY BERTAL HEENEY</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">PICKANOCK</span>: A Tale of Settlement Days in Olden Canada</td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY ALICE HERBERT</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">GARDEN OATS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE MEASURE OF OUR YOUTH</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MURIEL HINE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE MAN WITH THE DOUBLE HEART</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">APRIL PANHASARD</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">HALF IN EARNEST</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">EARTH</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY ADELAIDE HOLT</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">OUTSIDE THE ARK</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE VALLEY OF REGRET</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MRS. JOHN LANE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">KITWYK</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">A Story with numerous Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Howard Pyle</span>, + <span class="smcap">Albert Sterner</span> and <span class="smcap">George Wharton Edwards</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE CHAMPAGNE STANDARD</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ACCORDING TO MARIA</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">BALTHASAR AND OTHER STORIES</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Translated by Mrs. <span class="smcap">John Lane</span> from the French of + Anatole France</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">TALK O’ THE TOWN</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY STEPHEN LEACOCK</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">BEHIND THE BEYOND</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">With Illustrations by <span class="smcap">A. H. Fish</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">SUNSHINE SKETCHES OF A LITTLE TOWN</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Fifth Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">NONSENSE NOVELS</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Fifth Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">LITERARY LAPSES</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3"><span class="smcap">Fifth Edition</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY WILLIAM J. LOCKE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE FORTUNATE YOUTH</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">STELLA MARIS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE JOYOUS ADVENTURES OF ARISTIDE + PUJOL</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3">With Illustrations by <span class="smcap">Alec Ball</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">DERELICTS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">IDOLS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">A STUDY IN SHADOWS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">THE WHITE DOVE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">THE USURPER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE DEMAGOGUE AND LADY PHAYRE</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp3a">3s 6d</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">WHERE LOVE IS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE MORALS OF MARCUS ORDEYNE</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2">*<span class="u">THE BELOVED VAGABOND</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">SIMON THE JESTER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE GLORY OF CLEMENTINA WING</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="sp1a">*Also Bound in Cloth with Illustrated paper wrapper 1s net.</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY CECIL CHAMPAIN LOWIS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">FASCINATION</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY LAURA BOGUE LUFFMAN</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">A QUESTION OF LATITUDE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY A. NEIL LYONS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">SIMPLE SIMON</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">With Illustrations by <span class="smcap">G. E. Peto</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ARTHUR’S</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">SIXPENNY PIECES</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">COTTAGE PIE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">CLARA; SOME CHAPTERS IN THE LIFE OF A + HUSSY</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY ALLAN MCAULAY</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE EAGLE’S NEST</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">BEGGARS AND SORNERS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY KARIN MICHAELIS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE DANGEROUS AGE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Translated from the Danish</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ELSIE LINDTNER</span> <span class="smcap">A Sequel</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE GOVERNOR</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp2a">3s 6d net</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY IRENE MILLER</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">SEKHET</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY HECTOR H. MUNRO (Saki)</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">WHEN WILLIAM CAME</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE UNBEARABLE BASSINGTON</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE CHRONICLES OF CLOVIS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY LOUIS N. PARKER</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">POMANDER WALK</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Author of “Rosemary,” etc. With numerous Illustrations + by <span class="smcap">J. Scott Williams</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY JOHN PARKINSON</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">OTHER LAWS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY F. INGLIS POWELL</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE SNAKE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY F. J. RANDALL</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">SOMEBODY’S LUGGAGE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">LOVE AND THE IRONMONGER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE BERMONDSEY TWIN</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY SIDNEY SCHIFF</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">CONCESSIONS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY HUGH DE SÉLINCOURT</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">A FAIR HOUSE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Author of “A Boy’s Marriage,” “The Way Things + Happen,” “The Strongest Plume”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY DORIS SOMERVILLE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">GREEN CHALK</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY GEORGE STEVENSON</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">JENNY CARTWRIGHT</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">TOPHAM’S FOLLY</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY HERMANN SUDERMANN</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE SONG OF SONGS</span> (Das Hohe Lied)</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3">A new Translation by Beatrice Marshall</td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE INDIAN LILY</span> and other Stories.</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3">Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn, M.A.</td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY SIR FRANK SWETTENHAM</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ALSO AND PERHAPS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Author of “Unaddressed Letters,” “British Malaya,” etc.</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MARGELLE TINAYRE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">MADELEINE AT HER MIRROR</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE SHADOW OF LOVE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MRS. HORACE TREMLETT</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">CURING CHRISTOPHER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY GEORGE VANE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE LIFTED LATCH</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE LOVE DREAM</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY CLARA VIEBIG</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE SON OF HIS MOTHER</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Translated by <span class="smcap">H. Raahauge</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ABSOLUTION</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">OUR DAILY BREAD</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE TOMBOY AND OTHERS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY H. G. WELLS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE NEW MACHIAVELLI</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp3a">3s 6d</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col3" colspan="2">Also Bound in Cloth with Illustrated paper wrapper 1s net</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY MARGARET WESTRUP</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">ELIZABETH’S CHILDREN</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">HELEN ALLISTON</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE YOUNG O’BRIENS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">PHYLLIS IN MIDDLEWYCH</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY EDITH WHERRY</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2" colspan="2"><span class="u">THE RED LANTERN:</span> Being the Story of the Goddess + of the Red Light</td> +</tr><tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY M. P. WILLCOCKS</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">WIDDICOMBE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE WINGLESS VICTORY</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">A MAN OF GENIUS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE WAY UP</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">WINGS OF DESIRE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col1" colspan="2">BY F. E. MILLS YOUNG</td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">THE PURPLE MISTS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">MYLES CALTHORPE, I.D.B.</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">GRIT LAWLESS</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">SAM’S KID</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">MISTAKEN MARRIAGE</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="u">CHIP</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr><tr> + <td class="col2"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span><span class="u">ATONEMENT</span></td> + <td class="col4"><span class="smcap">Crown 8vo</span> <span class="sp1a">6s</span></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + +<p class="hd3">POPULAR CHEAP EDITIONS</p> + +<p class="hd2">Bound in Cloth with Illustrated Coloured Wrapper.<br /> +Crown 8vo. 1s net</p> + +<ul class="lsoff"> +<li class="wrt1">BY H. G. WELLS</li> + +<li class="sub1">THE NEW MACHIAVELLI</li> + + +<li class="wrt1">BY GERTRUDE ATHERTON</li> + +<li class="sub1">THE ARISTOCRATS</li> + + +<li class="wrt1">BY MRS. JOHN LANE</li> + +<li class="sub1">ACCORDING TO MARIA</li> + + +<li class="wrt2">NOVELS BY WILLIAM J. LOCKE</li> + +<li class="sub1">DERELICTS</li> +<li class="sub1">THE USURPER</li> +<li class="sub1">WHERE LOVE IS</li> +<li class="sub1">THE WHITE DOVE</li> +<li class="sub1">THE MORALS OF MARCUS ORDEYNE</li> +<li class="sub1">AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA</li> +<li class="sub1">IDOLS</li> +<li class="sub1">A STUDY IN SHADOWS</li> +<li class="sub1">THE BELOVED VAGABOND</li> +</ul> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="hd4">THE NEW<br /> +<span class="f12">POCKET LIBRARY</span></p> + +<p class="hd5">Printed from a clear type, upon a specially thin +and opaque paper manufactured for the Series</p> + +<p class="hd5">Pott 8vo (6 x 3¾ in.)</p> + +<p class="hd5"> +Bound in Cloth <span class="sp4a">Price 1s net</span><br /> +Bound in Leather <span class="sp1a">Price 2s net</span><br /> +</p> + + +<ul class="lsoff"> +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By THE EARL OF +BEACONSFIELD</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Sybil</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Tancred</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Venetia</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Contarini Fleming</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Coningsby</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Henrietta Temple</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Vivian Grey</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Young Duke, etc.</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Alroy, etc.</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By HENRY BROOKE</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Fool of Quality</span> (2 vols.)</li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By GEORGE BORROW</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Lavengro</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Romany Rye</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Bible in Spain</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Zincali</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Wild Wales</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By GEORGE ELIOT</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Adam Bede</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Scenes of Clerical Life</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Mill on the Floss</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Silas Marner</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By EDWARD +FITZGERALD</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Euphranor</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By NATHANIEL +HAWTHORNE</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Scarlet Letter</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The House of the Seven Gables</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By HERMAN +MELVILLE</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Typee</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Omoo</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By CAPTAIN +MARRYAT</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Mr. Midshipman Easy</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Peter Simple</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The King’s Own</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Phantom Ship</span></li> + + +<li class="wrt3"><span class="smcap">By ANTHONY +TROLLOPE</span></li> + +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Dr. Thorne</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Warden</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Barchester Towers</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Framley Parsonage</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Bertrams</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Three Clerks</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Castle Richmond</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The MacDermots of Ballycloran</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Orley Farm</span> (2 vols.)</li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">Rachel Ray</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Kellys and the O’Kellys</span></li> +<li class="sub2"><span class="smcap">The Small House at Allington</span> (2 vols.)</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="l5" /> + +<p class="edt">LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD</p> + + +<div id="tnote"> +<p id="tn">Transcriber’s note</p> + + +<p>A table of Contents with links to the chapters has been added.</p> + +<p>A few missing periods were added, also the following corrections were +made, on page<br /> + +82 “Vande stein” changed to “Vanderstein” (that Mrs. +Vanderstein had sent a telephone message)<br /> + +168 “st aightened” changed to “straightened” (The clerk +straightened himself with a perceptible effort)<br /> + +347 “OE” changed to “OF” (<span class="u">THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD</span>)<br /> + +349 underlining added (<span class="u">HENRIETTA TAKING NOTES</span>)<br /> + +354 “Transtated” changed to “Translated” (Translated from the +Danish).</p> + +<p>Otherwise the original has been preserved.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels, by Mrs. Charles Bryce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS *** + +***** This file should be named 42813-h.htm or 42813-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/8/1/42813/ + +Produced by eagkw, Clarity and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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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: Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels + +Author: Mrs. Charles Bryce + +Release Date: May 26, 2013 [EBook #42813] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS *** + + + + +Produced by eagkw, Clarity and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS + + + + + MRS. + VANDERSTEIN'S + JEWELS + + BY MRS. CHARLES BRYCE + + + [Illustration] + + + LONDON: JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD + NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY + TORONTO: BELL & COCKBURN MCMXIV + + + + +THE ANCHOR PRESS, LTD., TIPTREE, ESSEX. + + + + +MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The room looked very cool in the afternoon light. A few bowls of white +roses that were arranged about it seemed to lend it an aspect of more +than usual specklessness. + +To Madame Querterot, a person of no taste, who made no pretension +of being fastidious, and who had, moreover, little sympathy with a +passion for cleanliness when this was carried to exaggeration, the airy +lightness of the place suggested the convent school of her youthful +days; and, bringing again before her the figure of a stern sister +superior who had been accustomed in those vanished times to deal out +severe penalties to the youthful but constantly erring Justine, caused +her invariably to enter Mrs. Vanderstein's bedroom after a quick intake +of the breath on the threshold, as if she were about to plunge into an +icy bath. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, ever the essence of punctuality, was ready for her on +this particular evening, as she always was. + +Wrapped in some diaphanous white garment, which she would perhaps have +called a dressing-gown, she lay on a silk covered sofa and lazily +watched Madame Querterot unpacking the little bag in which she carried +the accessories of her profession, that of a hairdresser and beauty +specialist. + +"You must make me very beautiful to-night, Madame Justine," she said, +with a smile. "We are going to hear _La Boheme_, and the Queen will +be there. My box is nearly opposite the Royal box, and in case Her +Majesty's eyes fall in my direction I wish to look my best." + +"All eyes will not fail to be directed to your side of the theatre, +madame," replied Madame Querterot, taking out her collection of pomade +pots, powder boxes and washes, and arranging them in a semicircle upon a +Louis XVI table. "Royalties know the use of opera glasses as well as any +citizen. As for making you beautiful, the good God has occupied Himself +with that! I can only preserve what I find. I can make your beauty +endure, madame. More than that one must not ask of me. I am not the +good God, me!" and Madame Querterot's plump shoulders shook with easy +merriment. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, too, smiled. She did not suffer from any affectation +of modesty as far as her obvious good looks were concerned. But she was +obliged to own regretfully--though only to herself--that she was no +longer as young as she had been; and the masseuse's assurances that her +youthful appearance could be indefinitely preserved fell on her ears +as melodiously as if they were indeed a prelude to the magic strains +that would presently rise to charm her through the envied, if stuffy +atmosphere of Covent Garden. + +"You are a flatterer, Madame Justine," she murmured. Then, before she +laid her head back against the cushions and gave herself up to Madame +Querterot's ministrations, she called to a figure that was seated in the +window, half hidden among the muslin curtains that fluttered before it: +"Barbara, be sure and tell me if you see anything interesting." + +Barbara Turner answered without looking round: + +"Nothing has come yet, but I am keeping a good look-out." + +Mrs. Vanderstein closed her eyes, and Madame Querterot, after turning up +her sleeves and arraying herself in an apron, began to pass her short +fingers over the placid features and smooth skin of the lady's face. For +a time nothing else stirred in the big room. + +A ray of sunlight passed very slowly across a portion of the grey +panelled walls, and coming to a gilded mirror climbed cautiously over +the carved frame, only to be caught and held a while on the flashing +surface of the looking-glass. + +On every side the subdued gold of ancient frames, surrounding priceless +pictures that had been acquired by the help of the excellent judgment +and long purse of the late Mr. Vanderstein, shone softly and pleasantly. + +The furniture, of the best period of the reign of Louis XVI--as was +the case all over the house--had been collected by the same unerring +connoisseur, and each piece would have been welcomed with tears of joy +by many an eager director of museums. + +The thick carpet that covered the floor exactly matched the pale grey +tone of the walls and upholstery, and the extreme lightness of these +imparted that air of great luxury which the lavish use of fragile +colours, in a town as dirty as London, does more to convey than any more +ostentatious sign of extravagance. + +Through the open casements many noises rose from the street, for the +bedroom was at the front of the house, which stood in a street in +Mayfair immediately opposite to a great hotel where the overflow of +foreign Royalty is frequently sheltered at times of Court festivals, +when the hospitable walls of the Palace are filled to bursting point. + +The coming and going of these distinguished guests was always a source +of the most unquenchable interest to Mrs. Vanderstein, to whom every +trivial action, if it were performed by any sort of a Highness, was +brimming with thrilling suggestion. + +At the period of which I speak, London was astir with preparations for +a great function, and representatives of the Courts of Europe were +arriving by every train from the Continent. + +Mrs. Vanderstein could hear the sounds of a constant stream of carriages +and motors stopping or starting below her window, and knew that it +was not to her door that they crowded, but across the road under the +magnificent stucco portico of Fianti's Hotel. + +"Barbara, has no one interesting appeared?" she called again after a few +minutes. + +"Not yet," was the reply. "There's a victoria driving along the street +now, though, which looks something like a Royal turnout. Rather a nice +looking pair in it." + +"Is it a pair of foreign looking gentlemen?" asked Mrs. Vanderstein +excitedly. + +"No, a pair of Cleveland bays. I hate them as a rule, but from here they +don't look bad. All back, though, of course." + +"My dear girl, do tell me about the people. I don't want to hear about +your horrid horses. I believe all sorts of celebrities go in and out of +Fianti's while I am lying here, and you never even notice them." + +"Yes, yes, I do," said Barbara. "I will call you directly any one passes +who looks as if he might be accustomed to wield the sceptre, or who is +wearing a crown over his top hat." + +Mrs. Vanderstein made a little impatient movement. It annoyed her that +her companion did not take her duties more seriously--did not, in fact, +seem to understand how much more important was this task of keeping a +good look-out in the wide bow of the window than any of the others that +she was apt to approach in a quite admirable spirit of thoroughness. +Why, wondered Mrs. Vanderstein, could the girl not do as she was asked +in this matter, without making those attempts to be facetious which +appeared so ill-advised, and which fell so extremely flat, as a moment's +observation would have made apparent to her? She did not make jokes +about the flowers while she arranged them, nor about Mrs. Vanderstein's +correspondence, to which it was her business to attend. She was able +to answer the telephone or order the carriage without indulging in +unseemly giggles. Why then, in heaven's name, couldn't she take up her +post of observation at the window without finding in it an excuse for +pleasantries as dull as they were pointless? + +Mrs. Vanderstein sighed deeply and wriggled her head deeper in the +cushions. + +Madame Querterot saw the cloud and guessed very easily what had caused +it: she had often noticed similar disturbances of her customer's +otherwise easy-going temper. Knowing with remarkable accuracy on which +side of her bread the butter was applied, she at once set herself to +calm the troubled waters. + +"You did not see me to-day, madame," she began, "but me, I have already +seen you. I passed in Piccadilly where your auto was stopped in a block +before the Ritz." + +"Yes, we were kept there quite a long time, but I did not see you, +Madame Justine," said Mrs. Vanderstein indifferently. + +"How should you have seen me? I was in a bus. It's not there that you +would look for your acquaintances. That understands itself! But I was +not the only one to see you, and what I heard said of you then will +make you smile. I said to myself at the moment, 'It is quite natural, +Justine, but it will make her laugh all the same.'" + +"What was it? Who can have said anything of me in an omnibus?" + +"Ah, madame! Even in buses people do not cease to talk. One hears things +to make one twist with laughter! But one hears the truth too, sometimes, +and this young man, even if he made a mistake, one cannot surprise +oneself at that!" + +"But you do not tell me what you heard," cried Mrs. Vanderstein. + +"It was this young man of whom I speak to you. He was a nice smart +looking young gentleman, and he had with him a lady, well dressed and +very chic. What they did in that _galere_ I know not, but as we passed +the Ritz he touched his companion on the arm and pointed out of the +window. 'Look, Alice,' said he, 'you see the dark lady in that motor? +It is the Russian Princess they talk so much about, Princess Sonia. Is +she not handsome? She was pointed out to me last night at the Foreign +Office reception.' The lady he called Alice looked where he pointed and +every one in the bus looked also. I, too, turned round and followed +the eyes of the others. And who did I see, madame? Can you not guess? +It was at you they looked, as you sat there in your beautiful car with +Mademoiselle Turner beside you. You, with your flowers and your pretty +hat with the long white feather, and your wonderful pearls. And your +face, madame! But I must not permit myself to speak of that!" + +"You talk great nonsense, and I do not believe a word you say," said +Mrs. Vanderstein gaily, her good-humour more than restored. "No one +could mistake me for a moment for the beautiful Princess Sonia." + +"Nevertheless, madame, it happened as I say. And I see nothing strange +about it. It was a very natural mistake, as anyone who has seen both +you and the Princess will readily agree." + +Madame Querterot had not seen the Princess herself, but she had studied +her photograph in the illustrated papers and devoutly hoped that Mrs. +Vanderstein had not herself met the lady at closer quarters. + +"The poor young man was not near enough to observe my wrinkles and my +double chin, Madame Justine!" + +"Bah! You will have forgotten the word wrinkle, which is not +_d'ailleurs_ a pretty one, by the time I have finished giving you my +course of treatment. And as for a double chin, look at me, madame! I +assure you that, in my time, I have developed no less than five double +chins. And I have rubbed them all away. Do you suppose, then, that I +shall allow you to have one?" + +Mrs. Vanderstein looked as she was bidden. Indeed she lost no +opportunity of studying the countenance of the little Frenchwoman, who, +on her own admission, was at least ten years older than herself, but +whose face was as smooth and unlined as that of a girl, though there +was an indefinable something in the expression, an experienced glimmer, +perhaps, in the eyes, that prevented her appearance from being entirely +youthful. + +Still, she might very well have been taken for Mrs. Vanderstein's +junior, even for her younger sister, possibly, if she had been as well +dressed, for there was a certain resemblance between the two women. Both +were short and plump, both had long oval faces and brown eyes set rather +near together beneath arched, well-marked eyebrows, and, though Madame +Querterot had not a drop of Jewish blood in her veins and her nose did +not assume the Hebraic droop that in Mrs. Vanderstein betrayed her +race, yet it was distinctly of the hooked variety and gave her a family +likeness to the children of Israel, on which fact her relations and +friends had frequently considered it entertaining to dwell. Her hair, +however, was golden and fluffy, curling about her head with a juvenile +abandon; while Mrs. Vanderstein's dark, straight locks were simply and +severely dressed at the back, and concealed on her forehead by a large, +flat curled fringe in the manner affected by the English Royal ladies. + +Mrs. Vanderstein at all events was sincere in her admirations. + +"If you can make me look as young as you do," she said now, "I ask +nothing better. But indeed London in this hot weather is very wearing, +and I see myself grow older every morning. To-day it was oppressive to +drive even in an open motor." + +To drive? Ah! Madame Querterot was not imaginative, but a vision of the +crowded bus in which she went about her business floated before her, +side by side with one of a rushing motor car; and she paused in her work +for a minute and looked around her. + +An electric fan revolved tirelessly above the window, and on a table +at the foot of the bed was placed a large block of ice, half hidden in +flowers and ferns. She raised herself, inhaling the cool air in long, +deep breaths. + +"It has been hot, very hot, these last days," she admitted. "It reminds +me of our beautiful Paris, and of much in my young days that I would be +content to forget," she added, with a laugh. "Ah, the room in that city, +in which as a girl I used to work; the little dark room where I learnt +my trade! It was hot in that room in the summer. But, madame, I could +not tell you how hot it was. I remember one of the girls who used to +pray quite seriously to die, because, she explained to us, wherever she +went in another world it could not fail to be more cool. It was over a +baker's kitchen and had no window except one which gave on to a sort of +shaft that ran up the middle of the house, so that we had the gas always +burning. Oh, la, la!" + +"How dreadful!" murmured Mrs. Vanderstein comfortably. "I wonder it was +allowed." + +"Allowed? Ah, madame, there are plenty of worse workrooms than that in +Paris. I wonder what you would say if you could see your dresses made! +We liked it very well in the winter, for there were no stairs, and it +was agreeable then to shut the window and profit by the warmth from the +kitchen. That was all long ago, before I married that poor Eugene and +came to live in London. They were, all the same, not so bad, those days. +Ah, la jeunesse, la belle jeunesse, which one does not know how to enjoy +when one has it." + +Madame Querterot crossed over to the table and laid her hands on the +block of ice, casting a glance over her shoulder to the window where +Barbara sat at her sentry post. The motionless, silent figure annoyed +Madame Querterot. To be conscious that all her chatter was overheard +by that quiet listener got on her nerves and sometimes made her, as +she said, feel as if her own words would suffocate her. There was so +much she could have said to Mrs. Vanderstein from time to time if they +had been alone--much that she instinctively felt would have been very +acceptable to that lady--but in the presence of Miss Turner, even though +nothing of her were visible except the back of her head, there were, it +appeared, lengths of flattery to which Madame Querterot found herself +incapable of proceeding. Thus did a feeling of awkwardness, some sense +of restraint, cast a certain gloom over hours that should have been the +brightest in the day. + +"These roses, madame, how fine they are," she murmured, bending towards +a bowl that stood on the table, and unconsciously her voice took on a +note of defiance as she faced the window. "They are as beautiful as if +they were artificial. One would say they were made of silk!" + +Mrs. Vanderstein laughed tolerantly, but Barbara, her face turned to the +street, made a naughty face. + +Madame Querterot, with hands ice cool, went back to her massage, and for +a little while again no one spoke. + +Suddenly Barbara turned. + +"Here comes a Royal carriage," she said. "I think it is Prince Felipe of +Targona and his mother." + +"Oh I must see them," cried Mrs. Vanderstein, jumping up, and brushing +Madame Querterot unceremoniously aside. "Where are they?" She ran to the +window. + +The masseuse followed more slowly, and three heads were thrust out over +the street. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +A carriage was driving up to the steps of Fianti's. + +To allow it to approach, a waiting motor was obliged to move away, +and in the short interval that elapsed while this was being wound up +and started off the carriage paused almost immediately opposite the +window of Mrs. Vanderstein's bedroom; she had thus a better view of its +occupants than it had ever previously been her fortune to obtain. + +On the right of the barouche sat an elderly lady, with grey hair piled +high under a very small black hat. She sat very upright and stiff, +giving a little nervous start when the horses moved forward impatiently +and were drawn up with a jerk by the coachman. + +"That is the Princess," said Barbara, whose head was touching Mrs. +Vanderstein's. + +Prince Felipe sat beside his mother, a middle-aged young man of forty +with a black upturned moustache and an eyeglass. He had a cigarette in +his hand and, as they looked, he turned round and gazed after a smartly +dressed woman who was driving by. + +On the back seat of the carriage sat two other men--gentlemen in +waiting, no doubt. + +Mrs. Vanderstein's eyes were, however, fully occupied with the Princess +and her son. + +"Isn't he handsome?" she whispered to Barbara, as if there were a danger +of being overheard above the rattle and din of the busy roadway. + +But it almost seemed as if the words reached the ears of the man she was +watching, for, the motor in the portico having at last got under way and +left the road clear for Their Highnesses, the Prince threw back his head +as the carriage moved on, and looking up met Mrs. Vanderstein's eyes +fixed admiringly on him. + +She drew back her head in some confusion, but the Prince was still +looking up when the barouche disappeared in the shade of the portico. + +"Madame! Son Altesse vous a reconnue!" cried Madame Querterot, her face +wreathed in smiles. + +"He never saw me before," replied Mrs. Vanderstein, retreating into the +room. "How odd that he should have looked up just then! What a charming +face he has." And she subsided once more on the sofa, her own face aglow +with excitement and pleasure. + +"Don't move from the window, Barbara, whatever you do," she said. "Just +think if we had missed them!" + +As Madame Querterot resumed her rubbing, a knock came at the door, and +Mrs. Vanderstein's maid entered bearing the jewels her mistress intended +wearing that night at the opera. As she set the cases down on the +dressing-table and busied herself in laying out the various garments of +her mistress' evening toilet, she cast from time to time disapproving +glances in the direction of Madame Querterot, whom, although a +compatriot, she disliked very heartily, considering that in the privacy +of Mrs. Vanderstein's chamber any ministrations besides her own were +unnecessary, and having altogether a strong tendency to look upon her +countrywoman as an interloper, who had possibly an eye to a share in +various perquisites for which Amelie preferred to see no other candidate +in the field. + +She took an elaborate gown from the wardrobe and spread it out upon the +bed together with divers other articles of attire. She placed a jug of +hot water in the basin and a jar of aromatic salts beside it. + +She straightened several objects on the dressing-table, which had no +need of being made straight; tilted the looking-glass forward and +tilted it back again; lifted up a chair and set it down with a thud; +and finally, despairing of ever witnessing the departure of her dreaded +rival, was about to leave the room when her mistress' voice called her +back. + +"Amelie," she said, "just show me what necklace you have brought up for +me to-night. Is it the one with the flower pendants or the stone drops?" + +Amelie carried all the cases over to the sofa; and Madame Querterot left +off rubbing while Mrs. Vanderstein sat up and opened them one by one. + +In the largest a magnificent diamond necklace, imitating a garland +of wild roses and their leaves, glistened against its blue velvet +background. The other cases, when opened, displayed bracelets and a +diamond tiara, as well as rings and a pair of ear-rings formed of +immense single stones. + +Mrs. Vanderstein shut them all up again and handed them back to Amelie. + +"Take them down again to Blake," she said, "and tell him I have changed +my mind and will wear the emeralds instead. They go better with that +dress." + +"Ah, madame," sighed Madame Querterot, as Amelie departed with the +jewels, "what marvellous diamonds! Wherever one goes one hears the +jewels of Mrs. Vanderstein spoken of." + +"It is true," said Mrs. Vanderstein, "that my jewels are very good. My +dear husband had a passion for them and collected stones as another +man collects bric-a-brac. He never made a mistake, they say, and my +ornaments are rather out of the way in consequence. For myself I feel +it an extravagance to lock up such a vast amount of capital in mere +gewgaws." + +"My poor Eugene," said Madame Querterot, "had also this same enthusiasm +for precious stones. He loved so to adorn his wife with diamonds, that +dear soul! But with him it was, alas, more than an extravagance. It was +our ruin; for he was not a connoisseur, like monsieur votre mari, and +when the crisis came and we would have turned my jewellery back into +money, behold, we were told that we had been cheated in our purchases, +and that, for the most part, the stones were without value. Ah, the sad +day! As you know, madame, bankruptcy followed, and we had to give up our +beautiful _etablissement_ in Bond Street. It broke the heart of that +poor Eugene. He never recovered from the blow and soon left me, I trust +for a happier world, by way, it goes without saying, of purgatory," +added the masseuse, crossing herself like a good Catholic. "Since that +day I have faced the troubles of this life alone, without friendship, +without sympathy." + +Here her emotion overcame Madame Querterot, and she turned away for a +moment with a display of her handkerchief. She had omitted from her +affecting narrative the fact that "that poor Eugene" had perished by +his own hand, on discovering the state of his affairs; and she slightly +trifled with the truth when she asserted that it was his unfortunate +craze for covering his wife with jewels which had brought about such a +disastrous state of things. It was Madame Querterot's own passion for +the adornment of her person that had resulted in the dissipation of +Eugene's savings, and brought him, at the last, to see with despair the +total disappearance of the business, which she had neglected and ruined. + +Mrs. Vanderstein's kind heart was touched. + +She had heard vaguely the reason of the Querterots' removal from their +gorgeous Bond Street rooms after the death of Eugene, the incomparable +hairdresser, and it was from a creditable desire not to desert the +unfortunate that she continued to employ the little Frenchwoman since +the day of the catastrophe. But no details of the affair had reached +her, and she now heard for the first time, and not without being +sincerely moved, the sad story of a man who, having spent his all in +lavishing tokens of affection on his wife, had in the end reduced her to +a state of poverty bordering on want, and even left her to confront this +terror in solitude, as a result of his misdirected tenderness. + +Considerably affected, she tried to speak words of comfort to the poor +woman. + +"It is dreadfully sad," she murmured. "Poor Madame Justine, how sorry I +am. Your poor husband, I see well how he must have adored you and that +what he did was all for the best. But you are not absolutely alone in +the world, are you? Have you not a daughter?" + +"Yes, it is true, madame, that I have a daughter," replied Madame +Querterot, wiping her eyes and resuming her work. + +"And she is no doubt a great comfort to you?" + +"Children, madame, are at once a joy and a trouble," returned the +masseuse evasively. + +"I hope your daughter has not caused you much trouble." + +"She has given me nothing but worry since the day she was born. Her +childhood, her education, her illnesses! Measles, chicken pox, whooping +cough, mumps, scarlet fever; she has had them all one after the other." + +"But not while you have been coming to see me!" cried Mrs. Vanderstein, +alarmed. + +"Ah no, madame, all that is long finished," replied Madame Querterot, +"but since then I have been obliged to provide for her education, and +every year she has become more expensive. Now she is eighteen, and you +would imagine her anxious to repay some of the expense and _ennuis_ she +has caused me during all these years." + +"Yes, no doubt," agreed Mrs. Vanderstein, "she will be a great help to +you now." + +"So one would think. But figure to yourself, madame, what this young +girl proposes to me to do with her life. She desires to enter a convent +and to spend her days in good works rather than be of assistance to her +mother!" and Madame Querterot laughed bitterly. + +"I think she ought not to take such a decisive step at present," said +Mrs. Vanderstein; "at the age of eighteen she can hardly know if a +religious life is really her vocation." + +"She is obstinate like a donkey, madame. Just think of it, a young girl, +healthy, not ugly; already she has had offers of marriage. There is a +young man, very _bien_, very _comme il faut_, who demands her hand and +who thinks of nothing but her. But will she take him? No. Not at all. We +prefer to be a religious; and _voila_!" + +Madame Querterot, having finished her massaging, was repacking the brown +bag in which she had brought her apparatus. + +"I hope that you will amuse yourself at the opera, madame," she went on, +folding her apron and laying it on top of the other things in the bag, +the lock of which clicked as she shut it down with an impatient snap. + +"A demain, mesdames," she concluded, taking up the bag by the handle +and giving it a shake as if she only wished she could so shake her +unsatisfactory child. "A cette heure-ci, n'est-ce pas?" + +And with that she bowed herself from the room. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Mrs. Vanderstein and Barbara hurried over their dinner and were early in +their places in Covent Garden. Mrs. Vanderstein always arrived before +the orchestra had tuned up. She had, like many of her race, a great +appreciation of music and did not like to miss a bar of the overture, +even though she had already heard the opera that was being given so +often that she knew it by heart. + +She felt very much in a mood to enjoy herself that evening, and till the +first act was over leant back in her chair with half-closed eyes, hardly +moving at all, and absolutely absorbed in listening to the wonderful +singers who were that night interpreting Puccini's melodious work. Even +the Royal box opposite barely distracted her attention for more than a +few moments. + +Barbara Turner was not musical, but she, too, was always pleased to +go to the opera. She liked the sensation of luxury, which enveloped +her there even more than elsewhere; she liked the feeling that the +entertainment offered them was costing a huge amount of money, and +therefore could only be witnessed by a privileged few. Although she +laughed at Mrs. Vanderstein's passion for Royalty, she shared her +simple satisfaction in the knowledge that the box in which they were +now sitting was sandwiched between that occupied by the Duke of +Mellinborough on their left, and the one tenanted by Sir Ian Fyves, the +sporting Scotch millionaire. + +Barbara rejoiced in the exclusiveness obtainable by the rich, therein +differing from some other people who depreciate the advantages of wealth +on the grounds that the largest fortunes may be made and handled by +the most vulgar, and that banking accounts are not in these days the +exclusive property of the refined, or even of the intellectual. + +Mrs. Vanderstein made no secret of the benefit to her health derived +from hours spent in the closest proximity to the aristocracy, the air +inhaled by a duchess being separated from that which filled her own +lungs merely by the thinnest of partitions. She invariably occupied the +chair on the left-hand side of the box, so that the space between her +and her unseen neighbours might be thought of in terms of inches; and +it cannot be denied that Barbara herself relished the thought of the +company of the great who surrounded her, heedless though they might be +of the pleasure they were providing. It was not really to be expected, +besides, that the nearness of Sir Ian Fyves, whose horse had already +so easily won the Derby the year before, and who was again the lucky +owner of the favourite for the coming contest, should leave unmoved the +daughter of Bill Turner, the trainer. + +All Barbara's childhood had been passed at Newmarket, and the talk of +the racing men with whom her father associated had been the first to +fall on her infantile ears. The horses in his charge had grown to be +her chief interest in life, as they were that of every one she was +brought in contact with; and at the age of ten she knew as much about +them--their points, prowess, value, and chances--as any stable boy on +the place. On a small but truculent pony she followed her father and +his friends to the heath in the early mornings and watched the morning +gallops with a critical eye; with the same edifying companions she +pottered about the stableyard during most of the rest of the day, and +only when bed-time came--and it came at eight o'clock, for on that one +point her father was firm--was she reluctantly torn away. + +All Mr. Vanderstein's horses were trained by her father, and many a time +the childish eyes followed them to victory. + +In earlier days, before Barbara had made her bow upon the scene, Turner +had been associated in various affairs of business with Mr. Vanderstein, +then plain Mr. Moses Stein, familiarly known to his intimates of those +days by the endearing nickname of Nosey Stein; sometimes in moments of +rare affection, when some particularly brilliant _coup_ had just been +brought off, he was alluded to as Nosey Posey. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, then Miss Ruth Hengersohn, had changed all this. The +name of Stein was repugnant to her, though it seems a good enough sort +of appellation in its way; Nosey or Nosey Posey she could only think +of with a shudder; while the idea of being herself known as Mrs. Nosey +filled her with a burning determination, which, as it cooled, hardened +to the inflexible consistency of chilled steel. + +Before their marriage took place, Mr. Stein, who always admiringly +recognised, when he met it, a will more adamant than his own, had at +great trouble, inconvenience, and expense changed his name for that of +Vanderstein, by which he was afterwards known. + +The enterprises, chiefly connected with the promotion of companies, +in which this gentleman had, in his early, forgotten--and best +forgotten--youth, the assistance and co-operation of Mr. William Turner, +were in their nature precarious and not a source, unfortunately, of the +profit foreseen by those who set out upon them. + +At the conclusion of one of them, indeed, things took on a very +unexpected complexion, assuming in the twinkling of an eye so +disagreeable a hue, that the directors of the company, whose management +was suddenly the centre of attraction and which was in danger of +receiving a most unwelcome, if flattering, attention from the +public prosecutor, thought it best to disappear with a rapidity and +unobtrusiveness highly creditable to a modest desire for self-effacement +at a moment when free advertisement was within the grasp of each of +them. + +Luckily for Mr. Stein, his name did not appear among those who sat on +the board of this particular company and he was able to pursue his way +in a retiring and profitable manner; but it was otherwise with his less +fortunate friend, Bill Turner. + +It was to the search for this worthy though too incautious person +that the efforts of the authorities were principally directed; and it +was only by returning once more, under an assumed name, to the racing +circles which he had during a short interval forsaken for the city, +and still further owing to the absence of the chief witness for the +prosecution, whose whereabouts could not for a long time be ascertained, +that Turner was able to escape the fate which ought assuredly to have +been his. + +He settled finally at Newmarket, and married the daughter of a +neighbouring squire, who never spoke again to a child who could so far +forget her father's position and ignore his commands as to unite herself +to the more than questionable William. + +The poor lady, however, took her revenge on her relations, and her leave +of a world in which she had found time to suffer some disillusions, on +the day that saw Barbara ushered into the light; so that the little girl +was left to grow up entirely in that odour of the stables which her +father preferred, in his heart, to any more delicate perfume. + +It was not until she was ten years old that Turner began to suffer +from the attentions of blackmailers, but these, having once discovered +him, saw in him a mine of gold which they fondly expected to prove +inexhaustible. Such, however, was not the case. After a year's +persecution the wretched man found himself penniless, and on the advice +of Vanderstein, the only one of his old pals who did not ignore him in +his trouble, he left the country with precipitation and secrecy. + +So little was his intention suspected that he eluded all further +detection and bolted successfully to South America, where he remained +untraced by undesirable acquaintances and finally drank himself to death +after several years of the most gratifying obscurity. + +Turner's only regret at leaving England was that he could not take with +him his little girl; but hampered by the company of a child escape would +have been impossible, and he sorrowfully yielded to the representations +of Vanderstein on that point. + +The Jew promised to take charge of Barbara in the future, and assured +Turner with every mark of solemnity that as long as he or his wife lived +the girl should not lack a home. Turner, who knew that Vanderstein never +ceased to chafe under a sense of obligations incurred in the early days +of their struggles, placed every confidence in the words, and had no +doubt that his friend would live up to his promises. + +And Vanderstein did not fail to do so. + +Barbara, whose grief at parting from her father was intense and +pathetic, was comforted as best might be and sent to school at the +select academy of the Misses Yorke Brown at Brighton. Here she received +the best of educations in the company of about thirty other young +ladies, the daughters of well-to-do middle class people. In their +society she obtained a nodding acquaintance with algebra, history, +science, and literature; with them she attended dancing classes, learnt +a little French and German, and disported herself on the tennis court +and hockey field. She roller-skated and played golf, became proficient +in the art of swimming, and with a chosen and fortunate few rode daily +on the downs. + +At the end of six or seven years she had grown into a self-possessed, +capable young woman, a little old for her years perhaps, as was obvious +to those who knew her well, but to outward appearance still a mere +child, easily amused at trifles, and with a rare capacity for enjoying +life, which made her a delightful companion. + +Her face had an innocent and helpless expression at variance with her +real nature, which was eminently self-reliant and independent. She would +never forgive her mother's relations who had despised her father, and at +any mention of them her large blue eyes would always flash resentfully. + +Her relatives for their part made no effort to seek her out and were +quite content to leave her to the Vandersteins' tender mercies. + +Before Barbara left school Mr. Vanderstein died, leaving in his will a +provision to the effect that his widow was to continue the care of his +friend's daughter, either making her an annual allowance of L500 a year +or taking her to live with her as friend and companion. There was a +further bequest of L30,000 to Barbara, which was to become hers on Mrs. +Vanderstein's death. + +This was not the only thing in the will which filled Mrs. Vanderstein +with indignation. + +She found to her disgust that half the fortune, which she had formed +the habit of considering hers, was left to young Joe Sidney, the son +of her husband's sister. This lady had committed the horrid offence of +marrying a Christian, and to her, during her lifetime, the orthodox and +scandalised Moses never alluded. Her death occurred a year or two before +his own, and after it Mr. Vanderstein had displayed a certain interest +in his nephew, but not enough to prepare his wife for his preposterous +action in regard to the division of his money. Indeed, he expressed in +the will his wish that after her death it should all go to Joe, though +he left the final decision on this point to her judgment. + +Old Vanderstein had amassed considerably over half a million sterling +during the latter and most prosperous portion of his career, so that his +widow was not altogether the pauper she was fond of declaring herself; +but in the first shock of seeing her income divide itself by two she +decided to save the L500 provided for Barbara and to submit instead to +the infliction of her presence. + +She had never seen the girl, who had, indeed, been a subject of +disagreement between her husband and herself, but she was so easy-going +and good-natured at heart that a very short period of Barbara's +society had sufficed to change her prejudices and distrust into a warm +affection, and she soon looked on her as she might have done on a +younger sister. + +There were occasions certainly when, if anything annoyed her, she would +not refrain from pointing out to Barbara how much had been done for her +and how exaggerated had been Mr. Vanderstein's views in this direction. + +"My dear husband," she would exclaim, "would have ruined himself, +if he had lived longer, by his own unbounded philanthropy. He was +constitutionally unable to say 'no' to anyone, and goodness knows in +what difficulties he would have landed himself if time had only been +afforded him. How often he would admit to me that certain people had +tried to borrow from him and that he had let them have what they +wanted. In vain I begged him to be more firm. He would make me promises, +but I would soon discover that he had been doing the same thing again. +'My dear,' he would reply to my reproaches, 'I have really not the heart +to refuse to help these poor young men.'" + +Mr. Vanderstein did not bother his wife with details of his private +affairs, holding that women have no concern with business; and he +decidedly never thought it necessary to mention that he used a +certain discretion in his benevolence, steeling himself against more +supplications than she suspected. + +It was true, however, that he never refused to lend money to such +poor young men as were heirs to entailed estates or could offer other +satisfactory security for the repayment of his kindness, and it was by +these unobtrusive charities that his fortune was collected. + +Mrs. Vanderstein's prejudices against Joe Sidney had also decreased +very rapidly when she became acquainted with that young man, as she +did shortly after his mother's death, and by the time this story +begins--that is to say, three years after she herself had been left a +widow--he had become a great favourite of hers, although there were +still moments when she thought a little bitterly of the large sums he +had deprived her of by the fact of his existence. However, she liked him +well enough to let him know that it was her intention to comply with Mr. +Vanderstein's wishes in regard to the ultimate disposal of his fortune, +and that her will constituted Sidney her sole legatee. + +As she was only a few years older than himself and of a robust health, +there was every likelihood that this provision would not affect his +fortunes for many years to come, or even that she might survive him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +When that night, during the interval between the first and second acts +of the opera, the door of the box opened and Sidney made his appearance, +Mrs. Vanderstein greeted him with a beaming smile and the most sincere +pleasure. + +"How nice to see you, dear Joe," she said. "I didn't know you were in +London." + +"I only came up from York last night," said her nephew, "or I should +have been to see you before. The Garringdons asked me to their box, +which is more or less under this, so I couldn't see if you were here, +but I thought you would be." + +He sat down and began to talk about his doings and to ask questions +about theirs, Mrs. Vanderstein looking at him meanwhile with a feeling +of gratification at the decorative effect on her box of this good +looking youth. She hoped the audience, or at least some members of +it, had noticed his entrance, and she thought to herself that even +inconvenient nephews had their uses. + +Joe Sidney was twenty-five years of age and his father's son. The late +Mr. Sidney had been a very tall, fair individual, and Joe resembled +him, showing the merest trace of the Jew in the droop of his nose, +which, however, was not very marked. His eyes too, perhaps--but why pick +to pieces a young man who really was, taken altogether, a very fine +specimen of his kind? Though he had not, or scarcely had, inherited the +appearance of his mother's race, he showed much of its sympathy with +art and music; and his intelligence was equalled by his prepossessing +manner, which had made him a favourite since his boyhood with nearly +all with whom he came in contact, and, combined with his wealth, +rendered him extremely popular in the cavalry regiment in which he +was a subaltern. He knew a great many smart people whose acquaintance +Mrs. Vanderstein would have given her ears to make, and from time to +time he invited her to meet one or two of them at a restaurant dinner +or theatre, quite unconscious of the pleasure he was giving; for the +very intensity of her longing made Mrs. Vanderstein shy of letting this +superior young relative guess at it, and Barbara had never hinted to him +at the weakness of his uncle's widow. + +Poor Mrs. Vanderstein! One pities her when one reflects that if the good +Moses had survived a few years, till the advent of a Radical government +which was extremely short of sympathisers in the Upper House, she might +have lived to hear him called "My Lord," and have answered with beating +heart to the delicious salutation of "My Lady." + +She seized the opportunity afforded by Sidney's presence now to gather +information about the occupants of the boxes facing them. Did Joe see +anyone he knew? Of course she knew by sight every one in the Royal box, +except that man behind the Queen. Who was that? Sidney thought it was +the Italian ambassador. What a distinguished looking man! And in the +next box? Sidney didn't know. And the one beyond that? He didn't know +either. Mrs. Vanderstein was disappointed in him. Well, who did he know? +Couldn't he tell her anyone? + +"Really," said Sidney, "I don't see many, but there are one or two. +That woman with the red face and the purple dress is Lady Generflex, +and the man two boxes off hers on the right is Sir William Delaplage. +Then that girl in pink who has just taken up her opera glasses is Lady +Vivienne Shaw, and the man in the same box is Tom Cartwright, who was at +Eton with me. Down in the stalls there are one or two men I know, and I +think that's all. Of course there's old Fyves, next door. You know him, +don't you?" + +Mrs. Vanderstein gazed with intent interest at the people he pointed +out; and then let her attention wander back to the Royal box while +Sidney talked to Barbara. + +"Have you been racing?" she asked him soon. + +"Off and on. I went to see my horse, Benfar, run the other day. He came +in easily last." + +"I don't think that man can ride him well. He's a good horse. I saw him +as a two-year-old." + +"There's something wrong somewhere, that's certain. If I don't +have better luck this year than I had last I shall give up keeping +race-horses," said Sidney with decision. + +"Oh, you mustn't do that," cried Barbara in a tone of so much distress +that Sidney laughed. + +"Why do you care?" he asked. + +"I care a lot. I never see anything of racing people nowadays, or meet +anyone except you who knows a horse from a centipede. If you give up +racing I shall feel that my last link of connection with the turf is +severed." + +"Why don't you get my aunt to bring you down to Epsom to-morrow?" + +"Oh, she wouldn't like it a bit," said Barbara regretfully. + +"I daresay she'd enjoy it enormously. Aunt Ruth, why don't you come +racing with me sometimes? Miss Turner and I will show you the ropes and +you'll probably be plunging wildly by this time next week." + +"I hate spending a hot day walking from the stand to the paddock and +back again," said Mrs. Vanderstein. "I hate horses and I hate seeing +their heels waving round my head on every side, which seemed to me to be +the case the only time I went to a race meeting. Nasty vicious animals. +The way they are led about among the crowd by people who can't control +them is most dangerous, I consider." + +"I expect you saw one let off a kick or two out of sheer lightness of +heart," said Barbara. "Horses are darlings, really; I wish you knew them +as well as I do." + +Mrs. Vanderstein not only disliked horses herself, but she strongly +disapproved of Barbara's fondness for them. The career of the late Mr. +Turner had been unedifying to such a point that even Mr. Vanderstein +had been unable to disguise entirely from his wife some of its more +notorious features, and Mrs. Vanderstein would have been better pleased +if she could have persuaded herself that the girl had forgotten all +about the days of her companionship with so undesirable a father. + +She had, moreover, no sympathy for speculation in any form, and +especially mistrusted that which took the shape of gambling on the +turf. Her greatest friend had married a man who had entirely ruined +himself by the practice of backing losers; and the sight of the misery +and privation that had, in this manner, been brought on a woman for +whom she felt a sincere affection left on Mrs. Vanderstein one of those +deep impressions that determine many of our strongest opinions and +prejudices throughout life. To Mrs. Vanderstein betting was one of the +most unpardonable sins. It was true that Mr. Vanderstein had kept a +racing-stable and she had never really forgiven him for not giving it +up at her request. But he had always assured her that he never betted. + +She turned away without answering, and Barbara's conscience--for she +knew how much her friend disliked the subject of the turf--made her +think she detected an impatient expression in the back of the white +shoulders and told her it would be better to change the conversation. +The temptation was too strong, however, and she continued, dropping her +voice to a murmur: + +"You are going to Epsom to-morrow yourself?" + +"Yes," said Sidney, wondering why she leant so confidentially towards +him. + +"Well, I wonder if you would be very kind and put a little money on a +horse for me. Would it be too much trouble?" + +"Not a bit. What horse is it?" + +"It's a tip Ned Foster sent me. He was one of my father's grooms, +you know, and I hear of him sometimes. He used to be very good to me +when I was a child. I had a letter from him to-day begging me to back +Averstone. He says he's absolutely certain to romp in on Wednesday." + +"How much do you want me to put on him?" asked Sidney. + +"I haven't got much, I'm afraid," said Barbara ruefully, "but I've saved +a little out of the pocket money your aunt gives me. It's only L20. I +wish it was more." + +"Are you going to risk your entire fortune?" said Sidney. "You're a +pretty rash young lady, aren't you?" + +"Oh, I must have a flutter. Besides, it's a dead certainty. I'd put a +thousand on if I had it." + +"What a fearful gambler! When you've lost as much as I have you'll go a +bit slower." + +"Have you lost much?" asked Barbara sympathetically. "I'm so sorry. Just +lately?" + +"Well, yes, since you ask me I don't mind telling you that I have had +some rather nasty blows during the last few months. That brute, Benfar, +has a lot to answer for, my word!" + +"He'll turn out a winner yet," said Barbara hopefully. + +"He might come in first if all the other starters tumbled down," said +Sidney, with an effort to treat the subject lightly, "but I'm afraid +before that happens I shall have to shut up shop. Things can't go on +like this. I lost L10,000 over the Lincolnshire meeting, and that's only +a drop in the ocean. But I don't know why I'm bothering you with my +troubles," he concluded, pulling himself up abruptly. + +"I am glad you tell me," she replied simply. "I am so very sorry that +you have had such rotten luck. You'd better change it by backing my tip. +Ned Foster would never have advised me to put my all on Averstone unless +he knew it was a sure thing. He really has a regard for me, I believe, +and he often used to say that the day would come when he'd make my +fortune and his own. He doesn't approve of betting as a general thing. +He's a most steady, cautious kind of individual." + +"I wonder," said Sidney. "I think perhaps I'll have a last fling. What +are the odds?" + +"They're long. Averstone's not supposed to have a ghost of a chance. I +think it's about 40 to 1 against him." + +"My word, just think if one had a few thousands on him and it came off!" +said Sidney. "The bookies would all die on the spot." + +"It would be rather annoying for some one," laughed Barbara. "I hope it +will come off." + +"I'm afraid it would be too good to be true," said Sidney gloomily, +"but it would certainly save the situation if it did. If I lost a very +little more I'd have to leave the army." + +"Is it as bad as that?" asked Barbara, for the first time realising the +graveness of the position for Sidney. "How dreadful. I _am_ sorry!" + +The young man laughed awkwardly. + +"It's awfully good of you," he said. "I've been a perfect ass, of +course. If I could win back half what I've lost, I swear I'd never back +a horse again!" + +"I expect your luck will turn," repeated Barbara hopefully. She had all +a gambler's instinct of optimism. + +But Sidney only laughed again rather recklessly as he got up to go. The +interval was over and the people were hurrying back to their seats. + +"As the orchestra seems to be going to make another effort," he said, +"I must get back to the Garringdons' box. Good night, Miss Turner; good +night, Aunt Ruth; I'll come and look you up in a day or two, if I get +over to-morrow without being obliged to put a sudden end to my career." + +"What did Joe mean by his last remark?" Mrs. Vanderstein asked as the +door shut behind the young man's vanishing form. "I don't understand +what he meant about putting an end to his career." + +"He was telling me he has lost a lot of money lately, racing," Barbara +murmured rather reluctantly, for she was not sure if Sidney would like +her to repeat what he had said. Still, she thought, it was surely absurd +for her to imagine that he would confide in her anything he would +hesitate to tell a relation. "I suppose he was trying to joke about +that." + +"It's nothing to joke about," said Mrs. Vanderstein severely. "Not that +I saw anything like a joke. I think it's disgraceful, and I shall alter +my opinion of him very seriously if he really has been betting. But +hush, the music is going to begin." + +And she was soon entirely engrossed in listening to it. + +But Barbara, to whose ear any but the most elementary tunes presented +nothing but a confused medley of noises, wriggled rather impatiently on +her chair from time to time, as she waited for the act to come to an +end. Recollections that had lain dormant for a long time, put away on +some high shelf of the wardrobe of memory, had been awakened again by +her conversation with Sidney and the letter she had that day received +from the old stableman. How happy her childhood seemed when viewed now +through the flattering medium of the intervening years, which obscured +all that had been disagreeable, and magnified the delights of her +unrestrained wanderings and of the free and easy company of her father +and her father's delightfully jocular friends. + +How they used to laugh at each other's witty remarks, and how she, +too, had laughed, joining in the mirth without understanding in the +least what aroused it but with enjoyment none the less complete on +that account. With closed eyes she leant back against the wall of the +box, her lips curved in a smile and her head a little to one side in +an attitude of listening. But it was not the voices of the singers she +heard. Instead, the thud, thud of galloping hoofs sounded in her ears, +coming nearer and nearer, and, mixed with the creaking of leather, the +excited snorts of her pony and the jingling of bits. She seemed to see +around her the bare, open spaces of the heath and the figures of the +watchers, among them herself, crouching low in the saddle with her back +to the bitter east winds that sweep across the bleak Newmarket country +in the spring. Splendid bracing air, her father used to say, and for her +part she had never given a thought to the weather. Happy, happy times! +Oh, that they could return. Why could not Mrs. Vanderstein give her that +L500 a year, thought Barbara, and let her take a cottage, however tiny, +within reach of a race-course and within hail of a training stable? If +only she had a little money of her own. Money was everything, after all. +It meant liberty. If Averstone won his race it would be something to the +good. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, turning to catch her eye at a point in the music +which, even more than the rest, gave her a pleasure that asked to be +shared, saw only the closed lids and the smiling lips, and with a +sensation of gratified surprise said to herself that Barbara was at last +developing an appreciation of music. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +When Madame Querterot left the cool, airy house, which reminded her +so unpleasantly of one which was associated principally in her inmost +consciousness with the sensation of corporal punishment applied in no +niggardly spirit, she turned her steps towards her own home, which was +situated in the remotest part of Pimlico. + +By the time she got off her bus and set out on foot into the dreary +labyrinth of dingy streets, in one of which she lived, the shadows were +lengthening fast and the pavement was losing some of the blistering heat +accumulated during the day. Madame Querterot climbed rather wearily the +flight of steps before her door. When she entered the little shop where +Julie sat sewing behind the counter, she passed through it without a +word to her daughter, and going into the tiny room, which served as a +sitting-room, threw herself into the one arm-chair with something like a +groan. + +Julie, whose smile of welcome had faded on her lips when she saw the +expression on her mother's face, bent again over her work, and for a +little while all was still in the tiny, two-storied house. + +There was not room for many customers in the shop. Julie often wondered +what she would do if more than two came in at the same time, but such an +embarrassing contingency had not so far occurred. Quite half the space +was taken up by the counter, on which stood a tray containing hair-pins +and hair-nets. In one corner a space was curtained off for such clients +as should wish to have their hair dressed or washed. No one had as yet +requested this last service. In the window Madame Querterot displayed a +few superior articles which had survived the wreck of the Bond Street +establishment. + +There was a waxen lady, with fair hair wonderfully curled and twisted, +who obscured the light a good deal as she stood with her shoulders +disdainfully turned to the interior of the room and her snow white +nose close against the plate glass, which separated her from the +street. Plainly she felt it a come-down to look out on to this gloomy +Pimlico roadway. Around her were strewn combs and brushes, bottles +of brillantine and china pots containing creams for the complexion, +curls and tails of false hair--in some cases attached to gruesome +scalps of pink wax--and half a dozen elaborately carved tortoise-shell +combs, which the luckless Eugene had invested in in a fit of mistaken +enthusiasm shortly after his arrival in England, but which had never +received so much as a comment or an inquiry as to price from any of +those who had since looked on them. + +They had remained, however, a source of pride to Madame Querterot, who +would often remark to Julie what an air they bestowed. + +Presently, after a glance at the clock, Julie put down her work and came +to the door between the two rooms. + +"You are back, mother," she said, looking at her gravely. + +"So it appears," snapped her mother without raising her eyes. + +"I am afraid you must be tired," went on Julie calmly. "The day has been +so hot. Will you not take a glass of lemonade before supper?" + +"Have you got a lemon?" asked Madame Querterot somewhat less crossly. + +"Yes," said Julie. + +She opened the cupboard and taking out a lemon, a tumbler, and a lemon +squeezer, went about the business of preparing a cool drink for her +heated parent. + +"Has anyone bought anything to-day?" Madame Querterot asked when after a +few minutes the beverage was handed to her. "Put a little more sugar in +the glass." + +"A boy came in for a bottle of hair-oil," replied Julie, "and a few +women have bought hair-pins and hair-curlers. It has been a dull day." + +"We shall soon be in the street at this rate," said Madame Querterot +despairingly. "One cannot live on a few packets of hair-pins and a +bottle of hair-oil. No. If only we could move to a fashionable locality. +Here no one ever comes and we have but to die of hunger." + +"We haven't been here very long. We may do better presently. It is the +customers whom you massage that keep us from starvation." Julie propped +open the door into the shop and taking up her work sat down by the table +in the parlour. + +"Bah! Who knows how long they will continue? They have the skin of +crocodiles, all of them. What can I do with it? Nothing. And in time +they will find that out, and I shall be put to the door. What will +happen then? You, I suppose, think you will be safe in your religious +house. And your poor mother, you will be able to mock yourself of her +then, _hein_!" + +"Mother, you know I shall not leave you while you want me. I have not +spoken of becoming a nun since father died, have I?" + +"Your father!" exclaimed Madame Querterot with emotion. "Your father was +a poltroon. No sooner did I need his assistance than he deserted me!" + +"Mother!" cried Julie, and there was that in her tone which made Madame +Querterot's lamentations die away into inaudible mumblings. + +The girl did not say any more, but went on quietly with her sewing, till +after a while her mother rose to go upstairs. + +At the door she paused. + +"Bert is coming to supper," she said over her shoulder. "You have not +forgotten that it is to-night we go with him to the theatre? He will be +here soon, I should think," and she went on up the narrow stairs without +waiting for an answer. + +Half an hour later, when they sat down to a cold meal, which Julie had +carefully prepared--for Madame Querterot was particularly fond of eating +and had seen that her daughter early acquired the principles of good +cookery--they had been joined by the guest to whom she had alluded. + +This was a young man of anaemic aspect, with fair hair that lay rather +untidily across a high, narrow forehead. His face, which was pale and +thin, was not at first sight particularly prepossessing. The contour +of it was unusually pointed, though the chin receded so much that it +could hardly be said to exhibit a point. The mouth was weak and large +and always half open, so that the teeth, stained brown by the smoking of +continuous cigarettes, were not completely hidden when he talked under +the straggling little moustache, the end of which he had an unpleasant +habit of chewing. The nose was prominent and looked too large for the +rest of his face, the eyes, dark and deep-set, seemed to flash with +unsuspected fires when talk turned on a subject that interested him. It +was they that redeemed the whole man from total insignificance. They +were the eyes of an enthusiast, almost of a fanatic. He did not talk +much, but seemed content to devour the food set before him and to gaze +untiringly at Julie who sat opposite him at the small square table. + +Julie was a very good-looking girl in her way, which was not at all +an English way, although the English language came more naturally to +her lips than her mother tongue. To tell the truth, she was not very +proficient in that, her mother and father having both found it easier, +after she began to go to school, to talk to her in broken English. +Indeed, after twenty years or so of residence in London that language +became as natural to them as their own tongue, and Madame Querterot's +French had by now grown quite as anglicised as that of many linguists +in her adopted country. She found, however, that many of her customers +preferred her to talk in broken English; they liked to feel that here +was some one come straight from the gay city to do their pleasure. + +Her daughter inherited her mother's oval face and arched eyebrows, but +there the likeness ceased. Julie was tall while Madame Querterot was +short; she was dark, while her mother was fair, and of a fairness that +owed nothing to art. Julie had a straight, short nose and a little +rosebud of a mouth, her skin was dark but glowing with health, and the +brown eyes, set far apart under the low brow, had a wide-open look +of sorrowful surprise as if she found herself in a world that failed +continually to come up to her expectations. Bert, it was plain to see, +found all this very much to his liking, and was so taken up with the +contemplation of it that a great deal of Madame Querterot's conversation +fell unheeded on his ears, and his answers, when he made any, were for +the most part quite irrelevant. + +Madame Querterot had by this time completely recovered her good temper, +or at all events displayed the amiability habitual to her in intercourse +with strangers. She prattled away about the weather, the letter she had +that day received from her relations in Paris, asked about Bert's work, +and showed, and possibly felt, great interest in his meagre replies. +Presently she began to talk about the occupation of her own day. + +"There is an old lady whom I visit for the massage," she said, "who +would make you laugh to see. She is ugly, she is fat, she has the +complexion of a turkey! Yet there is no one so anxious as she to become +young again. Was she ever beautiful? I do not know; but it is certain +that she will not be so again. Every day I find her with a mirror in her +hand and every day as I leave her she takes it up again to see if there +is any improvement. For all I know she sits like that, gazing at her +unsympathetic reflection till the next day when I come once more." + +Madame Querterot paused and took a draught of her lemonade. + +"A little more sugar, Julie, my cherished, and it would be better +still," she said. "In this country sugar is less dear and you are +unnecessarily careful of it. If we were in France I would not say so; +there, there are _impots_. But this, one must admit it, is the cheapest +place one can live in. That is why one finds here so many Jews. Bah! the +Jews! Why does one suffer them? In England as in France one sees nothing +else; but even more in England since l'affaire Dreyfus. There is one +lady to whom I go daily who would gladly live in France, I think, if it +had not become less disagreeable for her race here since that business. +But perhaps it is not only on that account that she stays here, now +that I reflect. She is not one of those who amuse themselves well in a +republic." + +"How is that, mother?" asked Julie without much interest, while their +guest, for his part, merely grunted indifferently. + +"She is more than a Royalist," said Madame Querterot; "she loves to see +a head which knows how it feels to wear a crown. She goes every day to +watch the Queen drive through the park. Mon Dieu! I think she lives only +for that. To-day a Prince passed below her window, and as chance had it +he looked up at her as he went. She was mad with joy; one would have +said it was the happiest hour of her existence. She said nothing, but +I have my eyes! And it is a woman who has everything to make her enjoy +life. She is not bad-looking, not at all bad-looking; for a Jewess, even +handsome; she is still young, and rich. Oh, but rich!" + +Madame Querterot put down her knife and fork and raised both hands in +the air to convey the extent of the wealth enjoyed by the lucky Jewess. + +For the first time Bert displayed some interest in the conversation, or +monologue, as one might more properly call it. + +"It's disgraceful," he said, "it ought to be put a stop to. These +people! They suck the blood of the poor!" + +"The Jews, yes; it is their _metier_," agreed Madame Querterot. + +"I don't refer to the Jew especially. What I'm alluding to at the +present moment is all these useless rich folk. The drones of the hive, +as you may say. These bloated capitalists who occupy the land that ought +by rights to jolly well belong to the people. They'd better look out for +themselves, I can tell them. There's a day coming when society won't +stand it any longer. In other words, we're going to drive them out. Tax +them out of their very existence. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" + +Bert glared triumphantly round as he brought his hand down on the table +with a conclusive emphasis which made the glasses on the table jump +nervously. + +"This Mrs. Vanderstein of whom I speak," resumed Madame Querterot +composedly, "has no land so far as I know. She has only a house in +London. But she is rich all the same. One sees it at each step. In the +house, what luxury! Such pictures! such furniture! such flowers! And +automobiles, and boxes at the opera! Such dresses! And above all, such +jewels! Oh, she is very rich, that one." + +"It's all the same," declared Bert, "whether she spends her money on +land, or on clothes, or what not. The point I want to impress on you is +that she does spend it, and that while she's living on the fat of the +land the rest of us may starve!" + +He helped himself as he spoke to another plateful of _oeufs a la neige_. + +Julie watched him, the shadow of a smile playing about her mouth. + +"Have you seen this lady's jewels, mother?" she asked. "I adore precious +stones." + +"I have seen some of them," said her mother. "To-night her maid brought +to her a necklace and bracelets of diamonds, besides a coiffure and +rings of great beauty, no doubt without price. But she sent them away +again, saying that she would wear others. Those I did not see, but it +is certain that she has many, and all wonderful. Every day she wears +different ones and, constantly, a string of enormous pearls. Without +those last I have never seen her. They are as large as marbles and, to +tell the truth, not much more pretty, for my taste. When I tell you that +she employs a night watchman, whose sole duty is to patrol the house +every night, you will understand that the value of what it contains must +be large." + +"That's just what these capitalists do," cried Bert excitedly. "They +lock away thousands of pounds like that when the money ought to be out +in the world paying just and equal wages. I should like to see it made +a criminal offence to wear jewellery." + +"But what would happen to the people who make it?" asked Julie. "They +would all lose their means of earning a livelihood, is it not so? What +would the pearl fisher do, or those who dig precious stones out of +the earth? And the polishers and setters? Every industry has a host +depending on it for a demand for its labour." + +"There would be less need for labour," said Bert more gently, as was +always the case when he spoke to her, "if the money was taken from the +capitalists and divided among the people." + +"Still----" objected Julie again. + +Madame Querterot, however, did not propose to listen to an argument on +the benefits to be expected from Socialism; she had frequently heard +all that Bert had to say on the subject, and it had bored her very +considerably. She pushed back her chair and stood up. + +"It is half-past seven," she said, "we must put on our hats for the +theatre. It begins at nine, but we shall take twenty minutes getting +there, and I want to have good places. Come and get ready, Julie." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The two women went upstairs; Bert lit a cigarette, and retired to smoke +in the tiny yard behind the house. Soon he heard footsteps descending, +and hastily throwing away his cigarette he entered the little room again +just as Julie came into it. She had been quicker than her mother. + +Bert did not waste time in preambles. He knew he only had a few minutes +at the best. + +"Joolie," he began hurriedly, "why do you never let me see you alone? +Will you never be any nicer to me?" + +"Aren't I nice to you, Bertie? I don't mean not to be." + +"You know quite well what I mean. I want you to like me better. Oh, +Joolie, you haven't a notion how fond I am of you. It seemed to come +over me all of a sudden that day we walked in the Park, when your mother +for once didn't come with us. And since then I haven't had a moment's +peace. Not a single solitary moment. Wherever I look, whether it's going +to the office, or at my work, or after it's done, I seem to see nothing +but you, Joolie, and I don't want to see anything else either." + +He moved closer to her and she retreated instinctively. + +"Don't be afraid! I won't touch you," he said with a certain bitterness. +"I know you can't bear the sight of me, but I'd give my life to make you +happy." + +"Oh, Bert," she said, and her tone was full of contrition. "It isn't +true that I can't bear the sight of you. I like you very much, I do +indeed. We are such old friends. And it is so nice of you to like me so +much, but why can't we go on just being friends?" + +"Joolie, Joolie," cried the young man. "You don't understand. I love +you, Joolie. I love you so much, dear! Don't you think you could marry +me some day? There, I didn't mean to ask you now," he went on quickly, +seeing the look on the girl's face, "don't answer me now. I know what +you're going to say and I can't bear to hear it. Wait a while and +perhaps I shall be able to get you to care for me in time." + +Before she could reply Madame Querterot's foot was on the stair, and in +another moment she came in smiling and arrayed in her best. + +They set out without further delay and proceeded by a succession of +buses to the Strand. Descending there, they made their way into one of +the neighbouring streets and took their places in a queue of people who +were already waiting for the doors of the theatre to open. + +Though not by any means the first to enter, they secured good places +in the pit and settled down in them to await the beginning of the +performance, each of them, in his or her different way, prepared to +enjoy the evening to the utmost. + +When at length the curtain rose they followed the fortunes of the +characters with a breathless intensity of interest, and the play itself +formed the subject of a heated discussion afterwards, which lasted +all the way home, Julie maintaining that an honest course was always +desirable whatever excuses might be adduced for other conduct. + +Bert and Madame Querterot held, it appeared, more elastic opinions, Bert +declaring that there were people it was a sin to leave in possession of +their ill-gotten gains, and Madame Querterot inclining to the view that +if anyone was so stupid as not to be able to keep what they had, small +blame need attach to those who were clever enough to take it from them. + +She upheld this contention by pointing out that no one did blame the +gentleman burglar who formed the central figure of the play; the heroine +herself, who was assuredly in a high degree the pattern of all the +virtues, had easily forgiven his little lapses, slips which had been +made entirely for her sake. + +"For my part," she asserted, "I admire a man of that sort. Not that it +is common to find one like him. Most men have too high a regard for the +safety of their own skins. But one must admit that the young girl, for +whom this brave man took all those risks, was of no ordinary beauty. It +is possible that if there were more like her there would also be more +lovers, young and ardent, ready to chance prison and the gallows to +win the wealth that should make her theirs. Ah, there is no chivalry +nowadays," and Madame Querterot heaved a heavy sigh. Possibly she was +thinking of the base way in which Eugene had deserted her in the hour of +need. + +"Wealth is not always enough," said Bert disconsolately, "and, anyhow, +wealth is an abomination and a snare. In the ideal socialistic state +there won't be any such thing. All riches will be equally divided and +every one will have enough to live on, but no more. Anyone who wants +luxuries will just have to work for them." + +"You look too far ahead, my young friend," returned Madame Querterot +philosophically. They were walking up the dark streets that led to her +house, Bert having insisted on seeing them home in spite of protests as +to the lateness of the hour and the necessity for his getting up early +next morning. + +"You have brains," she continued, "and you use them, which is not too +general. But in this world it is a mistake to show that one is clever. +The stupid only dislike one for differing from them in a way that they +cannot understand, and clever people actually hate others who dare in +this manner to resemble them. If you wish to be loved it is best to +appear foolish. No one desires a lover too intelligent to care for their +opinions. If you wish to obtain respect do not show yourself unusually +brilliant. You will only be thought eccentric or even mad. And finally +if you want to make money never allow anyone to suspect that you are not +perfectly an idiot. People will be on their guard if they think they +have to do with a clever man, but if they think you a fool precautions +will seem unnecessary and it will be very easy for you to deal with them +to your own advantage." + +Bert listened to these remarks with more attention than he usually +displayed. + +"Do you really think a man has more chance with a girl if he is foolish +and rich?" he asked in a low tone. They were walking behind Julie, the +pavement having narrowed so as to make it impossible to continue three +abreast. + +Madame Querterot slackened her pace and fell back a little. + +"Run on, Julie, my angel," she called out, "and prepare me a cup of +coffee. I feel a kind of faintness and will walk more slowly if Bertie +will give me his arm." + +Bert made a gesture of annoyance, and would have left her in pursuit of +Julie, who hurried on as she was told, but Madame Querterot clutched at +his arm and held him back. + +"Stay with me, I wish to speak to you," she said, clinging so tightly to +him that without roughness he could not have shaken her off. + +"What is it? I want to speak to Joolie," he said crossly. + +"You can speak to her any time; listen to me now. You asked me a minute +ago if I thought one had more chance with a girl if one was rich." + +"Yes." He spoke with returning interest. "You do think so, I suppose?" + +"Bert, let me speak. I must tell you that for some time I have seen +clearly that you have a tenderness for my daughter. You wish to marry +her, is it not so?" + +"It is the only wish of my life." + +"It is easy to see. You show it in each word, in your whole manner +towards her. But let me tell you, my friend, that in my country it +is not only the consent of a young girl that is sought by a would-be +husband. It would have been more _convenable_ if you had approached me, +her mother, in this matter." + +"Madame Querterot, will you help me? Joolie doesn't seem to care about +me. Is there any other man?" + +"There is no other man. Julie has an absurd idea of entering into a +religious house, but she is a dutiful daughter and will not go against +my wishes in that or any other matter. As regards this question of +marriage she will, I am convinced, be guided by me. Ah, how she loves +me, that child! There is nothing she would not do to please me. I say to +you that Julie is not a girl. She is an angel!" + +"I know that," grunted Bert; "if you'll help me with her, Madame +Querterot, and there's ever anything I can do to show my gratitude, why, +you can take it that I'll do it, that's all." + +"Ah, Bert, now is the time to prove that. Words, words, words! But if it +came to the point what would you do, not to show gratitude, but to win +the hand of Julie? That is what I ask myself." + +"I'd do anything. By Jove, I believe there's nothing I would stick at." + +"Very well. Now, with me as your friend and ally I think you might make +certain that my daughter will consent to the marriage. But I, Bert, will +never agree to her marrying a poor man. I have other ideas for her, I +assure you." + +"You know I am poor," said Bert. "I despise riches, but for Joolie I +wouldn't raise an objection to them if they were in my reach. But you +know very well I shall always be poor as long as this beastly capitalist +government has its own way. Some day perhaps things will change." + +"Bert," said Madame Querterot, dropping her voice, "it is yourself who +have suggested to me a way by which one might become rich. Supposing +I were to tell you that I had a plan; that I knew a way by which in a +flash you might gain both riches and Julie, and at the same time show +your faith in the truth of your own gospel? What then, Bert? Have you a +little courage, my boy? Girls do not understand your modern ideas, that +every one should be of an equal poverty; they like to have money, they +like what money can give them. Did you not hear Julie say this evening +that she adored jewels?" + +They had reached the door of the shop and Bert turned towards it without +answering. But Madame Querterot made as if to continue their walk, and +after a moment's hesitation he turned and paced beside her. + +"I would give her all the diamonds in the world," he said, "if she +wanted them and I could get them for her. What do you suppose I care for +my ideas, as you call them? Nothing! Oh, nothing matters beside Joolie! +Still, I'm hanged," said Bert, "if I can see what you're driving at." + +"I see a way," replied his companion, "of doing a little good business. +For it I need the assistance that a young man like yourself can +give. Some one with courage, with determination, and who will not be +discouraged by a few apparent difficulties. But to succeed the affair +must be kept secret. It is indeed of the most private character. Before +I say more, swear to me by your love for Julie that you will die before +you repeat a word of what I am going to tell you." + +"I swear it," said Bert solemnly. + +Madame Querterot gave one more quick, penetrating glance at his pale +face and, apparently reassured by the light that burned in the dark +eyes, began to talk again in low, persuasive tones as they paced up and +down before the little house. + +Julie came to the door and cried to them that the coffee was ready; then +despairing of an answer she retired to her bedroom, where a light burned +for a little while; presently it was extinguished, and Julie in a few +minutes was peacefully asleep. + +But still her mother and her lover walked and turned on the pavement +beneath her window. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The next day, Mrs. Vanderstein, busy with a watering-can among the pots +of roses that during the season adorned her balcony, and keeping a sharp +look-out on the entrance to Fianti's opposite, was disappointed not to +catch another glimpse of Prince Felipe of Targona whom she thought every +minute to see issue from beneath the portico. + +"What can keep him indoors on so fine a day?" she asked herself +repeatedly, for again the sun smote down on the city out of a cloudless +azure. + +Having spent the hour immediately after luncheon in this vain +expectancy, at the imminent risk of both sunstroke and indigestion, she +began to despair of her hopes ever being fulfilled, and went back into +the drawing-room, where she threw herself dejectedly into a chair. + +"If this weather goes on," she said to Barbara, "we might run over to +Dieppe for a few days." + +Mrs. Vanderstein was very much in the habit of making sudden excursions +to the other side of the Channel; whenever she was bored at home she +would dash off at a moment's notice to Dieppe or Ostend. + +Barbara enjoyed these trips, but sometimes wished Mrs. Vanderstein would +not make up her mind to depart quite at the last minute, as she nearly +always did. It was awkward occasionally to have only half an hour given +one in which to pack. + +"Will you go to-day?" she asked, with a shade of anxiety in her voice. + +"Oh, I don't know," Mrs. Vanderstein answered wearily. "I daresay I +may." + +Barbara walked over to the open window. + +"There's Madame Justine coming out of Fianti's," she remarked presently. + +"Really?" said Mrs. Vanderstein, getting up and going to Barbara's side. +"I wonder what she can have been doing there?" + +Madame Querterot was hurrying along the pavement, bag in hand. She +looked up at the balcony and made a little smiling bow in response to +Mrs. Vanderstein's friendly nod. Then she rounded a corner and was out +of sight. + +"What a good kind face she has," Mrs. Vanderstein said as she turned +back into the house. "It would cheer up anyone, that delightful smile. +It always does me good to see Madame Justine." + +"I can't think why you like her so much," said Barbara, as she also came +back into the room. "I don't think she looks particularly nice." + +"Ah, Barbara," said Mrs. Vanderstein, "at your age you are no judge +of character. Now I know a good woman when I see one, and I do admire +that one. Look at the way she works day and night to support her idle, +ungrateful daughter." + +"I don't suppose she's so ungrateful as her mother makes out," said +Barbara. She seemed determined to see no good in poor Madame Querterot. + +In the cool of the afternoon the two ladies drove in the Park and +visited one or two of the houses of their friends. It was past six when +they returned home, and for once the masseuse was waiting for them. +She came forward as Mrs. Vanderstein entered, and her manner showed +some excitement. In the background hovered Amelie, who would have died +sooner than allow Madame Querterot to remain alone in her mistress' +room, hinting darkly, if vaguely, to the other servants that mysterious +and terrible results would have to be expected if such a liberty were +accidentally permitted. + +"Oh, madame," cried Madame Querterot, "I have such amusing news. At all +events I hope that you will laugh and not be offended if I repeat it to +you." + +"What is it, Madame Justine?" + +"Figure to yourself, madame, that this morning I received a +summons--but, madame," said Madame Querterot, checking herself on a +sudden and casting a look of scarcely veiled malice towards the other +occupants of the bedroom, "what I have to tell you is of a nature +somewhat private. Is it possible that you permit that I speak with you +alone?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Vanderstein; "why not, if you wish. Amelie, I will +ring when I want you, please. Barbara, do you mind going away till I +call you? Thanks so much. I must hear this amusing story of Madame +Justine's." + +Barbara and the maid lost no time in obeying, and left the room; but +while the one did so with alacrity, her pride preventing her from +showing any curiosity, even for a moment, as to what Madame Querterot +might have to relate, Amelie was at no pains to conceal the dislike, +almost amounting to hatred, which shone in her eyes as she fixed them +in an angry stare on her compatriot before she slowly moved towards the +door. Some day she hoped to be revenged on this woman, this odious, +talkative bourgeoise, for the way in which she had wormed herself, if +not into her mistress' confidence, at all events into such familiar +impertinent terms with her; when, if Mrs. Vanderstein could but be +brought to feel about her, in her bones, as Amelie felt, she would +recognise her for a person to whom an honest woman, let alone a lady at +all _comme il faut_, would scorn to address herself. + +Her rage and indignation continued to augment as the minutes passed and +no bell summoned her back to her duties. Though no fonder of work than +her fellows, Amelie's whole soul rose in revolt against the idea that +she could be dispensed with. And when at last, after an hour's waiting, +both she and Miss Turner were recalled to the bedroom, one of them at +least re-entered it with murderous feelings in her heart, which she +vented by making faces at the masseuse behind the ladies' backs and +vowing to herself that the day of vengeance could not be much longer +delayed. + +As for Barbara, she was struck immediately she returned to her friend +by a suppressed excitement, a restlessness of manner, which seemed to +betray that there had been something of personal interest in Madame +Querterot's confidences. She did not like, however, to ask what the +Frenchwoman had had to tell in private, and as Mrs. Vanderstein did not +volunteer any information, but was very silent all the evening, fully +occupied apparently with her own thoughts, Barbara was not sorry when +bedtime came. + +"Do you still think of running over to Dieppe?" she asked, as she said +good night. + +"To Dieppe!" cried her friend, "good gracious, no! I have all kinds of +engagements, and you have forgotten that my box is taken for the gala +performance of the opera on Monday. I shall certainly stay in London for +the present!" + +Clearly Mrs. Vanderstein had forgotten the half-formed intention of the +afternoon. + +Well, that would not prevent her changing her mind again, thought +Barbara, and they might be off across the Channel in a day or two in +spite of to-night's decision. + +But days elapsed and no more was said on the subject. Every evening saw +Madame Querterot arrive as usual; but now there was always a private +interview between her and Mrs. Vanderstein, which left that lady flushed +and smiling. + +Barbara could not imagine what was happening to cause all these changes. +She disliked Madame Querterot and vaguely resented the secret that she +felt was being kept from her. Why should Mrs. Vanderstein have secrets +with this horrid little Frenchwoman and leave her out in the cold? How +could she allow the woman's familiarity? Barbara was both piqued and +disgusted at the whole trend of the matter. + +On Sunday they walked in the Park with a certain Mrs. Britterwerth, a +friend of Mrs. Vanderstein. + +After a day or two of clouds and rain, during which people shivered and +said it was like winter, the weather had cleared again to the radiant +brightness which distinguished that summer from those preceding and +following it. The Park was gay with light dresses and brilliant coloured +parasols. The flowers, too, were at their best--the rain had come at the +right moment for them and the beds were a vision of beauty--but they +received scanty attention, as usual, people flocking to the other side +of the road, where, to tell the truth, it was very pleasant on the green +lawns beneath the trees. + +The three ladies strolled up and down in the shade. Mrs. Vanderstein +called it taking exercise, and did it once a week for the sake of her +figure. Mrs. Britterwerth was really stout and would gladly have sat +down after a turn or two, but was not allowed to by her more energetic +friend. + +"Consider, my dear, what a lot of good it does us," said Mrs. +Vanderstein. + +Here, presently, they were joined by Joseph Sidney, and soon Barbara +found herself walking on ahead with him, while the two others followed +them at a little distance. + +She had not seen him since the night at Covent Garden, and she noticed +with concern that he looked worn and worried. + +"I saw that Averstone did no good," she said, as soon as they were out +of earshot. + +"No," said Sidney shortly. + +"Did you back him?" she asked, and knew the answer before he spoke. + +"Oh yes," he said, "I backed him all right. He'd have won, I daresay, if +I hadn't spoilt his chance with my rotten luck." + +Barbara walked on in silence for a minute. + +"I'm sorry," she said at length. "It was my fault. I gave you the tip." + +"Nonsense," he answered almost roughly. "Your money's gone too." + +"Did you lose much last week?" she asked abruptly. + +"So much," he replied, "that it's no good trying to hide it from you. +It's bound to come out in a few days. The truth is that I've lost every +penny my uncle left me and every sixpence I had before. Worse than that! +I've lost money I can't pay, and I shall not only have to leave the +regiment, but----" he broke off bitterly and slashed with his stick at +the grass. "Well, you know what it means," he finished lamely. + +"Oh, it can't be as bad as that!" cried Barbara. "Tell Mrs. Vanderstein. +She will help you. How I wish I had some money!" + +"Do you think she would help me?" asked Sidney. "She would let me +blow my brains out first. You don't realise, perhaps, what a violent +prejudice she has against betting. Look at this letter. I got it the +day after I saw you at the opera." He pulled from his pocket a large +sheet of blue writing paper on which Barbara at once recognised Mrs. +Vanderstein's unmistakable handwriting. + + "MY DEAR JOSEPH," it ran, + + "I hope there is no truth in what I hear about your betting on + race-horses. It is a practice I deplore with all my heart and I should + be very sorry to see you descend to such unprincipled depths. Without + entering upon a long dissertation, I must tell you that, unless you + henceforward sever all connection with bookmakers and their kind, I + shall think it my duty to depart from your uncle's wishes and leave my + money away from you altogether. It pains me to write like this and I + trust it is unnecessary, but it is best to have things understood. + + "Your affectionate aunt, + "RUTH VANDERSTEIN." + +Barbara read the letter in horror-struck silence. + +"That's the sort of help I should get from her," said Sidney, as she +gave it back to him. + +"Something must be done," she repeated dully; "can't you borrow from +some one?" + +"I've been losing steadily for three years," replied the young man, +"and I had to go to the money-lenders long ago. I can't get another +penny from them. It's rather funny if you think of how my uncle made his +money, isn't it? But perhaps you don't know," he went on hastily, seeing +the blank look on Barbara's face. "So that's how it is," he started +afresh. "It's all up with me, you see. I'm absolutely done for unless +I can get L10,000 by next week. I'm pretty desperate, I can tell you. +There's nothing I wouldn't do to get the money." + +He spoke in emphatic tones, and several of the passing crowd turned +their heads to see who it was who so loudly published the unfortunate +state of his financial affairs. Sidney was quick to realise the +attention he was attracting, and lowered his voice to a more +confidential pitch. Neither he nor his companion specially remarked +one among those who glanced up at them on hearing the outspoken words, +a small spare man with a clean-shaven face and brown hair fading to a +premature greyness. Nor if they had done so would either of them have +recognised in this correctly dressed, spick and span Londoner, whose +well-fitting morning coat and patent leather boots so exactly resembled +those worn by Sidney himself and nearly every smart young man to be +met with in the Park that day, the well-known private detective, Mr. +Gimblet, the man most dreaded by the criminal class of the entire +kingdom. + +Walking at a more rapid pace than they, he was in the act of overtaking +the couple as they strolled along, when something in Sidney's voice, a +note of despairing recklessness more than the words themselves that he +uttered, aroused his interest and wakened his ever ready curiosity. He +continued to walk on without slackening his speed, and did not look back +until he had advanced some fifty yards. Then he hesitated, loitered a +moment, and finally sat down on one of the green chairs, which stood +conveniently unoccupied, just before Sidney and Barbara strolled +unconcernedly by. + +Before they had passed, Gimblet had made a quick survey of the young +man's face, on which signs of worry and anxiety were very plainly to be +noted. + +"I wonder who it is," he thought; and continued, when they had gone on, +to gaze meditatively after the young people. + +In his turn he failed to observe two ladies who came up in the opposite +direction to that in which his head was turned. Mrs. Vanderstein +observed his intent expression as she approached, and following the +direction of his eyes murmured to her friend: + +"Do you see that man staring at Barbara? He looks quite moonstruck. She +attracts a great deal of attention. Such a dear girl, I don't know what +I should do without her." + +"You are so good to her," murmured her companion. "The question +is rather, what would she do without you? But she is certainly an +attractive young person, especially to men. I wonder that you are not +afraid to let that delightful nephew of yours see so much of her." + +To Barbara, walking mechanically by Sidney's side, it seemed suddenly as +if some strange darkness hung over the face of nature. The lightness of +heart with which she had gone forth out of the house, the high spirits +natural to her that constituted the only legacy of any value which +she had inherited from her father, deserted her now to make place for +distress on the young man's account. Nor was it only at the thought of +the trouble that had fallen on him that she recoiled horror-struck and +that the sunlight took on a quality of gloom, which made the present +hour such a dismal one and those of the future to appear encircled in +a dusk that deepened, as it receded, till it merged into that utter +obscurity over whose boundaries Joe seemed already to be slipping and +vanishing. It was the effect of his disaster on her own life that +chiefly terrified and shocked her. What would she do without the only +man friend of anything like her own age whom she knew in London and +whose tastes so much resembled her own? She would hear no more sporting +gossip, be cut off from her one remaining link with the racing world. +What would she do without him if he disappeared as he threatened? What +would she do without the only person in the world she cared to see? The +only person in the world she cared for.... The knowledge came to her +suddenly like a revelation and she stumbled for a moment in her walk as +she realised with a flash of self-comprehension the full meaning of her +dread. + +In that instant she saw and realised that to lose Joe Sidney would be, +for her, to lose all. + +He, occupied in a recital of his troubles, noticed nothing beyond his +own almost unconscious relief in speaking at length of the worries he +had for so long kept to himself. It was a comfort to have so sympathetic +a listener. + +Still, not much comfort could be extracted even from that, with the +crisis in his life so real and so near at hand, and he was soon +repeating his earlier assertions that it was no use talking, and that +there was no hope for him of anything but absolute ruin. + +"Your aunt. She must, oh, she must help you!" Barbara heard herself +saying again. + +Again Sidney shook his head. + +"You don't understand her. She will act in accordance with her ideas. +We Jews----" + +"You are not a Jew!" Her voice was indignant. + +"My mother was a Jewess. You don't suppose I am ashamed of it? We Jews +have stronger convictions--opinions--principles--call them what you +like--than Christians are in the habit of hampering themselves with. We +are more apt, I should say, to live up to our theories. My aunt looks +on gambling as the most deadly of sins. Where you or I perceive a green +track and a few bookies, she sees, I do believe, a personage with horns +and a tail, brandishing a pitchfork. I'm not at all sure she isn't +right. I am at least quite sure that if I could get out of this mess +I'd never go near a race-course or have so much as a look at the odds +again as long as I lived. It's not much use saying that now, is it? But +believe me, help from Aunt Ruth is out of the question. You may scratch +it. This is the end of all for me. I shall just have to go. Drop out, as +many better men have had to do before me." + +"Oh don't talk like that," cried Barbara. She had pulled herself +together, and was thinking clearly and rapidly. "Listen to me. If +you can't go to Mrs. Vanderstein with the truth, can't you go to her +with"--she hesitated--"something else?" + +"A lie," said Joe bluntly. "I don't wonder you think I'd not be above +a lie if it could save me. But can you suggest one with which I could +go to her and ask for L10,000? If you can, let's hear it, for goodness' +sake. But of course you can't. She's not an absolute fool!" He laughed +again, a short, hard laugh. + +"You don't know Mrs. Vanderstein as well as I do, though you are a +relation," said Barbara. "She has weak points, you know. At least she +has one weakness. I wonder if you know what it is?" + +They had come to the Corner and paused by the rails. Instinctively +Barbara turned about, looking to see if Mrs. Vanderstein were within +earshot. + +"Why, look at her now," she cried. + +Sidney, too, turned, and followed the direction of her gaze. + +His aunt and her friend had reached a point some fifty yards behind +them. Mrs. Vanderstein's face was radiant. A rosy colour dyed her +cheeks. Her eyes sparkled, when for a moment she lifted them and glanced +in the direction of the roadway. But for the most part they seemed to be +modestly cast down and Mrs. Vanderstein appeared interested solely in +the toes of her shoes; these, though of the most pleasing aspect, did +not entirely justify the delight the lady seemed to feel in them. She +may, perhaps, have been wondering whether or no they touched the ground, +for so lightly did she tread that a mere spectator might have felt very +grave doubts on the subject. She looked, indeed, to be walking upon air. +Even Sidney, unobservant as he commonly was of the expressions of people +to whom he was not at the moment talking, could not help noticing her +unusual demeanour. Indeed she looked the incarnation of happiness. + +"What's the matter with her?" he asked, turning again to the girl beside +him. + +For answer she made a movement of her hand towards the road. + +"Do you see that?" she inquired. + +There was very little traffic in the Park on that Sunday evening. A +motor or two rolled through, but they were few and far between. Joe saw +nothing remarkable or that could, to his thinking, in any way account +for his aunt's strange looks. One carriage only was driving by, a +barouche occupied by an elderly lady and three foreign-looking men. +There was nothing about them to attract attention. + +"What in the world is there to see?" he said, in bewilderment. + +"In that carriage are Prince Felipe of Targona and his mother," said +Barbara, "and Mrs. Vanderstein gets as excited as that whenever she sees +any kind of a Royal personage. I don't think," she added truthfully, +"that I ever saw her show it quite so plainly, but you can see the +effect they have on her. Royalty is what really interests her most in +life. You wouldn't believe how much she is thrilled by it. It is an +infatuation, almost a craze." + +"I had no notion she was like that," said Joe, with an air of some +disgust. "I should never have thought she was such a frightful snob." + +"I don't think it is snobbishness with Mrs. Vanderstein," said Barbara. +"It's more a sort of romanticness. But I don't suppose you understand. +The point is that there's nothing she wouldn't do to meet any kind of +a little princeling. And if she once met him, there's nothing he could +ask she wouldn't give. After all," she went on in an argumentative tone, +"she ought not to let you be ruined. I am sure Mr. Vanderstein never +would have. And L10,000 is really so little to her. Why, her pearls +alone are worth far more. What does a sum like that matter? It's only +four or five hundred a year. She wouldn't miss it a bit." + +"I daresay," said Sidney, "but I don't see what good that does me." + +"Have you got a friend you can trust who would stretch a point to help +you?" + +"Not a decimal point as far as cash is concerned. In other ways, I +daresay I have got one or two. They'd help me all right, poor chaps, if +they'd got any money themselves." + +"It's not money. I mean some one who would take a little trouble." + +"Oh yes, I think I can raise one of that sort. For that matter," said +Sidney, "if you don't mind my calling you a friend, I think no one could +want a better one. It's no end good of you to be so sympathetic and let +me bore you with my rotten affairs." + +The girl turned away her face. + +"Of course I am a friend," she said, "but you will want a man, if my +idea is any good. Now listen, I have got a plan." + +Barbara hesitated. She was very conscious that the idea which had come +to her was not one which would commend itself to Joe. A few hours before +she would have scornfully rejected the suggestion that she herself +could ever be brought to tolerate such an expedient, but now everything +was changed and all her convictions of right and wrong were shaken and +tottering, if not entirely swept aside by the fear of the imminent +danger to the man she loved. Her one feeling now was that at any cost +the peril must be averted, and the question of the moment was how to +represent her design in such terms as would prevail on him to see in it +a path that a man might conceivably follow and yet retain some remnant +of self-esteem. + +Very carefully, choosing her words with deliberation, she disclosed to +Sidney the plan that to her seemed to offer the only chance of setting +his affairs in order. As she expected, he refused at first to entertain +the idea at all; undismayed, she returned to the attack and persisted, +with Jesuitical reasonings and syllogisms, in showing him that in the +method she proposed lay his only hope of obtaining the necessary money. +Very slowly and reluctantly he allowed himself to be persuaded. No one +could have listened for half an hour to Barbara's cajolements without +giving way. + +At the first sign of his weakening she redoubled her efforts, and as she +talked, refusing to allow herself to be discouraged by Joe's objections +and the difficulties he pointed out, he gradually succumbed to her +wheedling, and once he had thrust his scruples into the background +became nearly as enthusiastic as she was herself. + +Before they parted the plan was worked out in every point. It remained +but to take the faithful necessary friend of Joe's into their +confidence. This, Joe told her, had better be a subaltern in his +regiment, by name Baines, luckily in London at the present moment. + +"As long," he said with a return to former doubts, "as old Baines is +equal to the job. There's not much he'd stick at, though." + +"Yes," said Barbara, and was silent a minute during which the +difficulties of carrying out her plan successfully seemed to swarm +around her with quite a new vigour. "If anything should turn up," she +faltered, "to make this idea impossible, you will try telling Mrs. +Vanderstein the truth, won't you? It is a chance, after all." + +"Well, it can't make things worse, I suppose," he agreed. "I hope +it won't come to that. I don't think it will now; but if it does, I +promise, if it pleases you, that I will make a clean breast of it to +her." + +"Thank you," she murmured; and then as they turned, "there she is now, +making signs that we should go back." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +When they had driven away Sidney wandered off beyond the outskirts of +the crowd to a lonely spot among the trees, where he walked up and down, +whistling softly to himself and pausing from time to time to aim a blow +at the head of an unoffending daisy with his stick. + +"What an ass I am," he exclaimed presently in heartfelt tones, but a +listener who had fancied he was alluding to his foolish gambling on the +turf would have been mistaken. His thoughts were engaged on quite a +different and much pleasanter subject. + +How lovely she had looked! How sorry she had seemed! What sympathy had +shone in her eyes as she listened to his discreditable troubles. How +determined she had been to find a way out; surely she could not show +such interest in the concerns of all her acquaintances. + +The way out, by the by, now that he thought of it dispassionately, was +hardly, perhaps, quite one that a man could take after all and keep the +little self-respect left to him; but it was overwhelmingly sweet that +she should have lost sight so completely of all considerations except +the one of retrieving his fortunes. + +He had always liked and admired her, of course, but never till to-day +had he realised what a loyal, brave spirit dwelt behind those sea-blue, +childish eyes. There was no girl in the world like her, and was it +unduly conceited of him to think she must like him a little to show +such agitation at the tale of his misfortunes? And here he frowned and +pulled himself up short. What business had he, a ruined gambler, a man +whose career was, to all intents and purposes, at an end, to think twice +about any girl, much less to feel so absurdly happy? He determined +heroically to banish Barbara from his thoughts, and in pursuance of +that excellent resolution walked off across the Park at such a tearing +speed that little boys whom he passed asked derisively where the other +competitors in the race had got to. + + * * * * * + +It was on the following morning that Mrs. Vanderstein made certain +confidences to Barbara, thereby dashing to earth the high hopes she +had built of rescuing Sidney from the ruinous meshes in which he had +entangled himself. + +To that which Mrs. Vanderstein told her the girl listened at first with +incredulity, but a scoffing comment was received with such extreme +disfavour that she dared not venture another; and finally, as she heard +more and fuller accounts and Mrs. Vanderstein, chafing under a sense of +her friend's disbelief, went so far as to produce written evidence of +the truth of the story, Barbara was no longer able to deny to herself +that the astounding tale was undoubtedly not the joke she had taken it +for, but represented the plain facts of the case. + +With increasing dismay she heard all that Mrs. Vanderstein had to tell +her, seeing her hopes for Joe vanish more completely at each new piece +of information; and when at the end of the tale her friend reproached +her for her lack of sympathy she had much ado to prevent herself from +bursting into unavailing tears. + +She was able, however, to summon enough self-control to find some words +of affection, which seemed to fill the requirements of the situation; at +all events they seemed to satisfy Mrs. Vanderstein. The girl only made +one stipulation, and on this point remained obstinate till the elder +lady, failing to shake her determination, was at last obliged to yield a +reluctant consent. + +As soon as she could escape, Barbara, making the first excuse that +occurred to her, ran to her room, where she pinned on a hat without +so much as waiting to glance in the looking-glass. Then, snatching up +a latch key, she let herself out of the hall door and hurried to the +nearest post office. + +Several telegraph forms were filled in, only to be torn up and discarded +before she worded the message to her satisfaction; and even when she +handed it in under the barrier--which protects young ladies of the post +office from too close contact with a public who might, were it not for +these precautions, be exasperated into showing signs of violence--she +was still regarding it doubtfully, and her fingers lingered on the paper +as if reluctant to let it go. + +It was addressed to Joseph Sidney, and covered more than one form. + + "Plan completely spoilt will explain meanwhile try telling your aunt + the truth as you promised she will be in at teatime and it will be + best to get it over one way or another." + +Would he come? she asked herself, as she went back to the house; and +all the afternoon the same question echoed in her mind. Would he come? +And, if he came and did not succeed in enlisting Mrs. Vanderstein's +sympathies, what then? + +There seemed no other possible course. In vain, as she sat beside her +friend in the motor, she racked her brains to imagine some way in which +Joe could still raise the money if this attempt failed. But she had his +assurance that he had already exhausted all practicable means. + +Mrs. Vanderstein wished to visit a shop in the Strand, and their way to +it led them past the theatre that Madame Querterot had visited a week +before, in the company of her daughter and her daughter's suitor. + +Large placards ornamented the front of the house, depicting some of the +more thrilling episodes of the play. These were varied by photographs +of the young actor who played the principal role. He was portrayed in +immaculate evening dress and in the act of opening the safe; another +picture showed him snapping his fingers at the officers of the law; and +yet a third displayed him as he took--in the fourth act--the heroine to +his arms. + +Mrs. Vanderstein and Barbara had seen the play, which was making a +roaring success, on more than one occasion. Mrs. Vanderstein smiled as +she observed the posters. + +"That is a good play," she said to her companion. "I can hardly help +screaming when he escapes by the window as the police burst into the +room. It is almost too exciting. And he, the gentleman burglar, you +know, is so good-looking. One can't help being on his side, can one? And +of course one is intended to be. All the honest people are so terribly +dull. Besides, of course, he was a count and quite charming really. I +don't wonder the heroine forgave him." She put down her parasol, as +they turned into a shady street. "Do you know, Barbara," she went on, +"I think that sort of play might do a lot of harm. It can't be right to +make dishonesty appear so attractive." + +Barbara made no reply, and Mrs. Vanderstein, glancing at her in +surprise, was still more astonished at the strange look in the girl's +eyes. + +"What do you think about it?" she asked again. + +"It depends on what you call harm," Barbara answered slowly, and as they +pulled up at their destination the conversation came to an end. + +They went home early and had barely finished tea when Sidney was +announced. He looked rather pale and shook hands with Barbara without +speaking as she made a hasty excuse and left the room. Going into +another sitting-room, she waited in an agony of suspense till the +drawing-room door should open and the interview be over for good or ill. + +She had not long to wait. + +Five minutes had scarcely passed before she heard the sound of hurried +footsteps descending the stairs, and a moment later the front door +banged behind Sidney's retreating figure. At the same time a bell pealed +violently and, before it could be answered, Barbara caught the sound of +the swish of silken skirts and the light tread of Mrs. Vanderstein's +feet as she ran down a few steps and called over the banisters to the +butler. + +"Blake," she called, as that portly person emerged from the door leading +to the basement. "Is that you, Blake?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Blake, I am not at home in future to Mr. Joseph Sidney. You are never +to let him come into this house again. Do you understand?" + +"Very good, ma'am." Blake's tones were as imperturbed as if he were +receiving an order to post a letter. + +"And tell the footmen. I will not see him again on any account whatever. +Let it be clearly understood. And, Blake, please telephone at once to +Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones and say, if it is convenient to him, I should +like to see him immediately. Ask him to come at once; or to come to +dinner; or to the opera. No," she corrected herself, "not to the opera +to-night. But ask him to come and see me before I start if he possibly +can. It is most important." + +"Yes, ma'am." Blake showed no surprise: in moments of distress his +mistress always telephoned to Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones. + +Mrs. Vanderstein, still in a state of great agitation, retreated to +write a letter before dressing for the opera, a matter that demanded, +to-night of all nights, both time and undistracted attention. + +When she descended to the dining-room all traces of the disturbance +caused by Sidney's visit had vanished from her face; and her expression +was again one of joyful expectation, as it had been throughout the day. +After writing a hurried note, she had entirely dismissed all memory of +her husband's nephew. + +It was natural that, in the contest with other interests so enthralling +as those which that evening filled the mind of his uncle's widow, Sidney +should cease to occupy a place in Mrs. Vanderstein's thoughts; should +become, as he would have expressed it, an "also ran." What was more +remarkable was the fact that Barbara's countenance, when she took her +place at the early dinner, wore a look of pleasant anticipation almost +equalling that of her friend, very different from the signs of anxiety +and distress that had been visible upon it during the earlier part +of the day. Mrs. Vanderstein had seen nothing of the weeping figure +which, after Joe's dismissal, lay with its face buried in the pillows +on Barbara's bed trying to stifle the great sobs that shook it in spite +of every effort, or even she, preoccupied as she was, would have felt +astonished at so complete a recovery of spirits. + +The change, indeed, had been instantaneous and coincided with the +moment, when, in the midst of her grief, a sudden idea had flashed into +Barbara's mind, an inspiration, it seemed, that immediately smoothed +away all trouble and made plain the way by which Sidney's difficulties +should be removed. How was it possible that she had not thought of +it before? The knowledge that Joe would never agree to the means she +proposed to take, that the persuasions and sophistries of yesterday +would be of no use here, that it would be impossible even to broach the +subject to him, she swept from her impetuously. There was no need that +he should ever suspect her hand in the matter. Care must be taken; she +must act with prudence and caution, and all would be well. One thought +only held her mind to the exclusion of all else, the wish to protect and +save this boy whom she loved from the consequences of his own folly. +Nothing was worth considering except this. No fear of the possible +effect on her own life shook her resolution, for what, she thought, is +life or for that matter death, if it does not imply the prolongation +on the one hand, or, on the other, the cutting short of the ties of +affection. + +She remembered the reckless air with which Joe had said that this +business would be the end of all for him, and with a shudder she told +herself that the words could only have one meaning. If by sacrificing +her life his could be saved, she would not hesitate to give it. Here +plain to her eye was the opportunity to serve him, and whatever the +result might be to herself she did not shrink from it. As she dressed +for the evening, Barbara smiled gladly to herself and sang softly a +little song. One thought disturbed her. Sidney was unaware that his +salvation was so near. She could not bear to think of him now, worried +and despairing. Yet how could she reassure him without betraying +herself and the great idea? With a little frown Barbara mused over this +question, as she stuck a paste comb that Mrs. Vanderstein had given her +into the masses of her thick fair hair. Presently she scrawled a few +words upon a sheet of paper, and hastily folding it into an envelope +tucked it into the front of her dress; then, fearing she was late, she +ran down the stairs. + +"Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones is out of town, ma'am," Blake was saying as +she entered the room. + +"Oh well, never mind now," said Mrs. Vanderstein. + +Dinner that evening was a silent meal. Mrs. Vanderstein, gloriously +arrayed, sat smiling abstractedly at nothing from one end of the small +table. So preoccupied was she that she forgot to eat, and Blake was +obliged to ask her repeatedly whether she would partake of a dish before +she could be brought to notice that it was being handed to her. Once, +as, recalled suddenly to the present, she brought her thoughts back +with a start from their wanderings and turned with some trivial remark +towards Barbara, she noticed with a faint feeling of amusement that the +girl was as much engrossed in her own imaginings as she was herself, and +was sitting absently pulling a flower to pieces, her great eyes fixed +vacantly on the shining pearls that swung suspended from the neck of her +friend. + +They started in good time, Barbara begging to be allowed to stop for one +minute at a post office on the way. + +She had, she said, forgotten to reply to an invitation, and thought that +now it was so late she had better send an answer by wire. She gave the +message, which was already written out and in a sealed envelope, to the +footman, together with some money, and told him to hand it in as it +was, and not to waste time in waiting to see it accepted. + +The man was back in a minute, and they drove on, to take their places a +few minutes later in the long string of motors and carriages which was +slowly advancing to the doors of the Covent Garden opera house. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Mr. Gimblet lived in a flat in the neighbourhood of Whitehall. It was +a fad of his to be more comfortably housed than most solitary men. The +situation was conveniently near to Scotland Yard, where officials were +much in the habit of requiring to see him at odd moments. The view from +the windows, overlooking the river, was delightful to one of cultivated +and artistic propensities, and the rooms, large and well-proportioned, +were capable of displaying to advantage the old and valuable pictures +and furniture with which it was the detective's delight to surround +himself. + +Much of his time was spent in curiosity shops, and he was among the +first to discover that former happy hunting ground of the bargain +seeker--the Caledonian market. Many an impatient member of the Force, +sent round from the "Yard" to ask Mr. Gimblet's assistance in some +obscure case, had, after kicking his heels for an hour or two in the +hall, left the flat in desperation, only to meet the detective coming up +the stairs with a dusky, dust-covered picture in his hand, or hugging to +his breast a piece of ancient china. + +The younger son of a Midland family, which had moderately enriched +itself in the course of the preceding century by commercial transactions +in which a certain labour-saving machine for the weaving industries had +played a large part, Mr. Gimblet had received the usual public school +education, and had spent two or three subsequent years at Oxford. His +artistic propensities had always been strongly marked, but his family +showing much opposition to his becoming an artist, and he himself having +a modest idea of his own genius and doubting his ability to make his way +very high up the ladder of success by the aid of talent which he knew to +be somewhat limited, he had ended by going into an architect's office, +where he had worked with interest and enjoyment for several more years. +It was by accident that he discovered his capacity for tracking the most +wary of criminals to his hiding place and for discovering the authors +of mysterious and deeply plotted crimes. It happened that a workman +employed in the building of a house for which Gimblet had provided the +design was found murdered in circumstances as peculiar as they were +sinister. There appeared to be no clue to the author of the deed, and +after a week or two the official investigators had confessed among +themselves that they were completely at a loss. + +To Gimblet, visiting the scene of the crime in his capacity of +architect--but not without an unwonted and hitherto unknown quickening +of the pulse--a piece of board nailed upright where it should have +been horizontal had proved immediately suggestive; and its removal had +brought to light certain hastily concealed objects, which with one +or two previously unnoticed trifles had resulted in the capture and +ultimate hanging of the murderer. + +This success had led the young man to feel an interest in other +mysterious affairs of the same nature; and it was not long before he +found the task of assisting the police in such researches so much +more profitable and engrossing than his work as an architect, that he +gradually came to give more and more of his leisure to the attempt to +discover secrets and to solve problems which at first sight seemed to +offer no solution. By the time he was thirty there was scarcely a crime +of any importance that he was not called upon to assist in bringing +home to its perpetrator; and he had entirely abandoned the pursuit of +architectural learning for that of criminal mankind. + +He refused an invitation to become attached to the official staff, +although this was conveyed in terms that were in the highest degree +flattering, preferring to be at liberty to decide for himself whether +or no he should take up a case. It was the sensational and odd that +attracted him; and he found that quite enough of this came his way to +make his occupation an extremely profitable one. + +Early on Tuesday afternoon Gimblet sat in his dining-room, contemplating +with some satisfaction a large dish of strawberries and a pot of cream +sent him by a Devonshire friend. He was finishing a luncheon which he +considered well earned, as that morning he had discovered in a narrow +back street in Lambeth, and purchased for a mere song, a little picture +black with age and dirt, in which his hopeful eye discerned a crowd +of small but masterfully painted figures footing it to the strains of +a fiddle upon the grass under a spreading tree. Gimblet told himself +that it was in all probability from the brush of Teniers, and he had +propped it on the dining-room mantelpiece so that in the intervals of +eating he could refresh his eyes as well as his body. Beside him lay +the day's paper which he had hardly had time to read before going out +that morning. He heaped cream upon his strawberries, sprinkled them with +sugar, and took, in succession, a spoonful of the mixture, a look at his +picture, and a glance at the paper. With a contented sigh he repeated +the process. + +At the moment he had no work in hand, and no one more thoroughly enjoyed +an occasional loaf. + +It was good, he felt, to have nothing to do for once; to have time to +idle; to eat greedily delicious food; to spend as many hours as he chose +in the dusty recesses of second-hand shops; to do a little painting +sometimes; even to be able to arrange beforehand to play a game of golf. +Gimblet had an excellent eye, and had been rather good at games in early +days. He seldom had time now and, if he did go down to a golf ground +occasionally in the afternoons, had to resign himself to play with +anyone he could find, as he never knew till the last minute whether he +would be able to get away. + +He thought of going this afternoon, and looked at his watch. There +would be a train from Waterloo in half an hour. Just time to finish his +strawberries and catch it. That picture would look well when he had +cleaned it. He took up the paper again. It must have been a fine sight +last night at Covent Garden. And what a list of singers. Gimblet, who +loved music, wished he had been there. "The Verterexes might have asked +me to their box," he said to himself. "Life is full of ingratitude. +After all I did for them." + +And then it struck him that he had not done much for the Verterexes +after all, beyond nearly arresting Mr. Verterex by mistake for a murder +he had not committed. + +Gimblet laughed. + +Then his thoughts reverted lazily to the pleasures of loafing. + +"I think I shall give up work," he said to himself. "Why not? I have +enough money put by to keep me, with economy, in moderate comfort. +Not quite so many strawberries perhaps," he added regretfully, taking +another mouthful, "but what I want is leisure. Yes. I am decided I will +do no more work. Let the police catch its own burglars!" + +He spoke aloud, and defiantly, addressing himself to the picture. + +At that moment his servant came into the room. + +"A gentleman very anxious to see you, sir," he said. "I have shown him +into the library." + +"Ask him to come in here if he's in a hurry," said Gimblet. "I haven't +finished lunch." + +A minute later the man opened the door again, announcing: + +"Major Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones." + +Major Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones was a little man with a pink complexion +and a small brown moustache. He was short and rather plumper than he +could wish, but carried himself very uprightly and with a great sense +of his own importance, glaring at those who might be so obtuse as not +immediately to recognise it with such concentrated disapproval that it +was usual for the offenders to realise their mistake in the quickest +possible time. Behind a fussy, self-satisfied exterior he hid a fund +of kindness and good nature seldom to be met with. Sir Gregory prided +himself on his youthful appearance, was, in his turn, a source of some +pride to one of the best tailors in London, took remarkable interest in +his ties and boots, trained his remaining hair in the way it should go, +and, though he was sixty-five, flattered himself that he looked not a +day over fifty-nine. + +"I am in luck to find you, Mr. Gimblet," he said, advancing with +outstretched hand as Gimblet rose to receive him. "But this is a sad +occasion, a very sad occasion, I fear." + +"Dear me," said Gimblet, "I'm sorry to hear that. But won't you sit +down? I thought as my man said you were in a hurry you would rather come +in here than wait for me. May I offer you some strawberries? No? I'm +sorry I can't give you any wine, but I'm a teetotaller, you know. Don't +have any in the house. Afraid you'll think me faddy. And now that the +servant has gone, may I ask what is the sad event which has given me the +pleasure of seeing you?" + +"Bad habit, drinking water," commented Sir Gregory, seating himself in +an arm-chair by the fire-place. "But nowadays young men have no heads. +They can't stand it, that's what it is. Show them three or four glasses +of port and they say it gives them a headache. Absurd, sir! The country +is rotten through and through. The men can't eat, they can't drink, they +can't even dance! They stroll about a ball-room now in a way that would +make you sick. In my days we used to valse properly. But they don't +dance the _deux-temps_ any more, I'm told. They say it makes them giddy! +Giddy! Rotten constitutions, that's what we suffer from nowadays. It's +the same with all this talk of reforming the army. Compulsory service +indeed," the major snorted. "What should we want compulsory service +for? In my day one Englishman was as good as twenty Germans or any kind +of foreigner. At least he would have been if we'd had a European war, +which as it happened was not the case while I was in the Service. But +now there are actually people who think that if it comes to a fight it +would be an advantage for us to have as many men as the enemy. They +ought to be ashamed of themselves, if there's any truth in it. No, no, +the army doesn't need reforming, take my word for it. There are a few +alterations which I could suggest in the uniforms which would make all +the difference in the world, but except for that, what I say is, let +sleeping dogs lie." + +Having delivered himself of these remarks, Sir Gregory felt in his +pocket, drew forth a cigar case, selected a cigar and asked for a match. + +"Did you come to persuade me to your views on compulsory service?" asked +Gimblet pleasantly as he continued to devour his strawberries, which +were now nearly all gone. "Because I'm afraid it's no good. You can't +possibly convince me that its adoption is not a vital necessity to the +nation." + +"I'm sorry to hear you think that," said the other, "for I have the +highest opinion of your intellect. Believe me, when you discovered the +frauds that were being perpetrated at the Great Continental Bank last +year, I marked you down, Mr. Gimblet, as the man I should consult in +case of need. And it is to consult you that I am here. I said it was +a sad occasion. Well, it is sad for me, but I am not yet, as a matter +of fact, quite sure whether or no it is desperately so. What has +happened, in a word, is this. A lady to whom I am deeply attached has +disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" said Gimblet, pushing back his chair. He had eaten the +last of the strawberries. "May I ask who the lady is--a relation of +yours?" + +"Not exactly. She is a Mrs. Vanderstein, for whom, as I have just said, +I have a great regard, I may say an affection. In fact," said Sir +Gregory, leaning forward and speaking in confidential tones, "I don't +mind telling you that she is the lady I have chosen to be the future +Lady Aberhyn Jones." + +"Indeed. You are engaged to marry her?" + +"Not precisely engaged," admitted Sir Gregory, with a slightly troubled +look. + +As a matter of strict accuracy, he had proposed to Mrs. Vanderstein +about three times a year ever since the death of her husband; but Mrs. +Vanderstein, although tempted by his title, had already been the wife +of one man twice her age and did not intend to repeat the experiment. +Still, his friendship was dear to her; he was the only baronet of +her acquaintance and she liked to have him about the house. He had +been a director on the board of one of her husband's companies, and, +when introduced by him, her pretty face and amiable disposition had +quite captured Sir Gregory's heart, so that he had cultivated Mr. +Vanderstein's society to such good purpose as to become a constant +habitue of the house in Grosvenor Street. + +After Mr. Vanderstein's death he lost no more time than decency demanded +in proposing to his widow; and, though she refused to marry him, and +refused over and over again, yet she did it in so sympathetic a manner +and was so kind in spite of her obstinacy that Sir Gregory believed her +absence of alacrity in accepting his hand to be prompted by anything +rather than a lack of affection. She treated him as her best friend and +consulted him on every question of business, to the wise conduct of +which her own shrewdness was a far better guide, and had imperceptibly +fallen into the habit of never making a decision of any importance +without first threshing out the pros and cons in conversation with him. +Nothing so strengthened her faith in the soundness of her own judgment +as his disapproval of any course she intended to adopt. + +"For some reason," Sir Gregory continued after a pause, "Mrs. +Vanderstein has never consented to an actual engagement. It is that +which makes me so uneasy now. Can it be--Mr. Gimblet, I give you my word +I feel ashamed of mentioning such a suspicion even to you--but can it be +that she has fled with another?" + +He uttered the last words in such a tragic tone that Gimblet, though he +felt inclined to smile, restrained the impulse, and, summoning up all +the sympathy at his command, inquired again: + +"Will you not explain the circumstances to me a little more fully? When +did the lady vanish? Have you any reason to think she did not go alone? +Was there some kind of understanding between you, and what did it +amount to?" + +"I will be perfectly frank with you," said Sir Gregory, "much the +best thing in these cases is to be absolutely candid. You agree with +me there? I thought you would. At the same time where a lady is +concerned--you follow me? One must avoid anything that looks like +giving her away. But in this case there is really no reason why I +should conceal anything from you. Mrs. Vanderstein has never accepted +my proposals. On the contrary she has refused to marry me on each of +the occasions when I have suggested it to her. You ask me why? My dear +sir, I cannot reply to that question. Who can account for a woman's +whims? Not I, sir, not I. Nor you either; if you will allow me to say +so." Sir Gregory's hands and eyes were uplifted in bewilderment as he +considered the inexplicable behaviour of woman in general and of Mrs. +Vanderstein in particular. "But I have no doubt that in time she would +have reconsidered her decision," he went on puffing at his cigar, "that +is to say I _had_ no doubt until this morning." + +"And what happened then?" asked the detective. + +"I came up from Surrey, where I had been paying a week-end visit," +pursued his visitor, "arriving at my rooms at midday. My servant at once +informed me that Mrs. Vanderstein had sent a telephone message yesterday +evening, begging me to go immediately to see her and adding that it +was most important. I only waited to change into London clothes, Mr. +Gimblet, before I hurried to her house in Grosvenor Street. And when I +got there, what did I hear? 'Pon my soul," exclaimed Sir Gregory, taking +his cigar out of his mouth, "you might have knocked me down with a +feather!" + +"You heard that the lady had disappeared?" + +"Exactly. Not been seen or heard of since last night. Drove away from +her own door, they tell me, in her own motor car; and has never come +back from that hour to this." + +"Did she leave no word as to where she was going?" + +"None whatever. She dined early, of course, on account of the opera." + +"The opera! In that case what makes you think she didn't go there?" + +"Of course she went. Didn't I say so? She drove off to Covent Garden and +that's the last that's been heard of her." + +"You interest me," said Gimblet. "Was she not seen to leave the opera +house?" + +"I don't know about that," said Sir Gregory. "I found the servants very +much disturbed; and very glad they were, I may say, to see me." + +"She has probably met with some accident and has been taken to a +hospital," suggested Gimblet. "Have any inquiries been made?" + +"I rather think they have been telephoning to the hospitals, but I told +them not to communicate with the police till I had seen you. Wouldn't +do, you know. She would dislike it extremely, especially if it turns out +as I fear and she has gone off with some other man." + +"I can't see why she should have done that," said Gimblet. "She was +her own mistress, I suppose, and had no need to conceal her movements. +Depend on it," he went on, for the anxiety on Sir Gregory's face moved +him to pity, "she will be found at one of the hospitals; and I advise +you to make inquiries at them. A woman, alone as she was, would be +carried to one of them if she were taken ill or met with a slight +accident that prevented her for the moment from giving her address." + +"But she was not alone," urged Sir Gregory. "Miss Turner, her companion, +was with her, of course." + +"Indeed," said Gimblet, "you said nothing of there being anyone with +her. And what has Miss Turner to say on the subject?" + +"She's not there. She's vanished too." + +"Really," said the detective. "This is getting interesting. That two +ladies should set out for Covent Garden opera house on a gala night and +never return from it, is, to say the least, slightly unconventional. +Now, before we go any further," he went on quickly, "what do you wish me +to do in the matter?" + +"I want you to find Mrs. Vanderstein, naturally," returned Sir Gregory, +staring at him in astonishment; "I feel the greatest anxiety on her +account, the more so since you consider her likely to have met with an +accident." + +"But if, as you seem to suspect, the lady has gone off deliberately, +will she not be annoyed at our seeking her out? Will she not be angry +with you for trying to discover her movements if she wishes them +unknown?" + +"I daresay she'd think it dashed impertinent. But I can't help that. +She may be in need of me; in fact," cried Sir Gregory with sudden +recollection, "I know she is! Don't I tell you she telephoned for me +last night? A most urgent message. That proves she wishes for my help +in some matter of importance to her, and how can I assist her without +knowing where she is?" + +"As you say," said Gimblet, "it does look as if she did not wish to +leave you unacquainted with her whereabouts. Well, I have nothing to +do just now and if you wish me to make inquiries I will do so with +pleasure, though I do not think it will prove to be an affair altogether +in my line." + +"Thank 'ee. Thank 'ee," mumbled the old soldier with his cigar between +his teeth. "That's what I want. Now, how are you going to set about it?" + +"I am going to ask you a few questions first. You have not yet furnished +me with that comprehensive clear account in which the trivial details +which look so unimportant and may yet be of such moment are never +omitted: the lucid narrative so dear to the detective's heart. I do not +think, if you will pardon my saying so, that I am likely to get it from +you, Sir Gregory." + +Sir Gregory glared, but said nothing; and Gimblet continued, with a +smile: + +"To begin with, who is Mrs. Vanderstein?" + +"The widow of a Jewish money-lender." Sir Gregory spoke somewhat +shortly. He considered Gimblet's remarks disrespectful. + +"Rich, then?" + +"Yes." + +"Does she live alone in Grosvenor Street?" + +"A young lady, Miss Barbara Turner, lives with her." + +"And who is she?" + +"She is the daughter of an old pal of Vanderstein's. A man who used to +train his racehorses at Newmarket. He was a bad lot and had to fly the +country long ago. Dead now, I believe." + +"Has Miss Turner any money of her own?" + +"Old Vanderstein left her a good large sum, L30,000 I think it is, but +Mrs. Vanderstein has a life interest in it. The girl has nothing as long +as she lives with Mrs. Vanderstein, who, however, I have no doubt, is +most generous to her." + +"I suppose you know Miss Turner well? What is she like?" + +"Oh, she's a very ordinary girl, rather pretty some people think, +apparently. I don't admire the robust, muscular type that is +fashionable nowadays. Mrs. Vanderstein is very fond of her." + +"That means you don't like her yourself?" + +Sir Gregory hesitated. It was not in him, really, to dislike anyone +without very much provocation, but he always had an idea that Barbara +was laughing at him, and he cherished his dignity. + +"I don't suppose there's any harm in the girl," he grunted at last. + +"Has Mrs. Vanderstein the full control of her fortune?" asked Gimblet, +after a quick look at him. + +"I believe she has, absolutely. But if you think I was after her for her +money," exclaimed Sir Gregory in an angry tone and half rising as he +spoke, "you're dashed well mistaken!" + +Gimblet hastened to reassure him on this point and he sat down again, +still grumbling. + +"It was Vanderstein's expressed wish that all the money should +ultimately be left to his nephew, young Joe Sidney," he explained, "and +I am sure his widow would not disregard his ideas on that point." + +The dining-room faced south-west, and the afternoon sun, creeping round, +already shone full on the small square panes of the casement windows, so +that the temperature of the room was rapidly rising to an intolerable +warmth. Gimblet thought of the train that was to have carried him to the +golf links. It would have been unbearably hot in it, he told himself. +And the disappearance of a wealthy lady from her house in London +was sufficiently unusual to excite his curiosity. Already his vivid +imagination was seething with guesses and speculations. His resolution +to do no more detective work was utterly forgotten. + +"What is Mrs. Vanderstein like to look at?" he asked abruptly. + +"She is quite young," began Sir Gregory, "about your own age, I should +say. She is not very tall and has dark hair and a perfect figure, not +one of those great maypoles of women one sees about so much now, but +beautifully proportioned and just right in every way. She has wonderful +brown eyes and a smile for every one. I think she is most beautiful," +concluded her old friend simply. + +Gimblet got up. + +"I will give instructions about having inquiries made at the hospitals," +he said, "though it does seem hardly likely that both ladies should have +been hurt, without some news of it having come before now. And then let +us go round to the house. I should like to see the servants and hear +what they may have to tell. I hope there may, even now, be some tidings +awaiting you there." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +There was no news of the missing ladies in Grosvenor Street; but Gimblet +interviewed all the servants and heard several facts, which gave him +food for thought. + +It was from Blake, the butler, that he received most information. It was +Blake himself, looking heartily scared, with half his usual pompousness +driven out of him by his anxiety, who opened the door to them and, +on hearing from Sir Gregory who it was that accompanied him, begged +Gimblet to allow him to speak to him for a few moments. They went into +the morning-room, a cheerful white-walled apartment, gay with books and +flowers, and Blake addressed himself to the detective. + +"I'm very glad you've come, sir, I am indeed. Sir Gregory will have told +you, sir, that Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, who lives here with +her, went out last night to the opera and have not returned. I have been +very uneasy about them and at a loss to know what to do, sir, for Mrs. +Vanderstein mightn't like me to inform the police if so be that she's +gone away on purpose. But I never knew her to go away without informing +me of the fact or without any luggage and leaving no address, though +she does go off very sudden sometimes to spend a week or so in foreign +parts, Dieppe being her favourite, I may say." + +"Indeed," said Gimblet, "was Mrs. Vanderstein in the habit of going +abroad at a moment's notice?" + +"She went very sudden, when the fancy took her, sir, but not so sudden +as this. I've known her say at lunchtime to Miss Turner, 'My dear, we +will go to Boulogne by the 2.20 from Charing Cross,' which, lunch being +at one o'clock, didn't leave much time for packing, sir." + +"No, it wouldn't," agreed Gimblet. + +"But in such cases," continued Blake, "the maid would often be left +to follow with the luggage, the ladies taking no more than what they +required for the night. But nothing was said to the maid yesterday on +the subject, and I can't think Mrs. Vanderstein would ever go off like +that anywhere, sir, in her evening dress and diamonds." + +"Of course, it being a gala night at the opera, she would be wearing +jewels," Gimblet assented. + +"Yes, sir, and that's partly what makes me feel so upset, sir; I've +never known Mrs. Vanderstein to wear so many jewels on one occasion. It +would have been well worth anyone's while to rob her last night, sir." + +"Really. What was she wearing? Had she valuable jewels?" + +"Indeed, yes," broke in Sir Gregory, "the Vanderstein jewels were +famous." + +"Yes, sir," repeated Blake; "beautiful jewellery indeed. A great +responsibility, sir, in a household. But I have them always in a safe in +the pantry, where I sleep myself, and if I go out in the daytime it's +never without one of the footmen stays in the room all the time I'm +away. At night we have a night watchman always on the premises, sir, +and it was him that first alarmed me this morning. He came to my door +about five o'clock and knocked me up. 'What's the matter?' I called out, +thinking at first what with sleep and one thing and another that the +house was on fire. 'She haven't come in yet,' he said, and it was a few +minutes before I understood what he was driving at. And then I didn't +really feel anxious; though we'd all thought it very strange last night, +when Thomas, the second footman, who had gone with the motor to Covent +Garden, came back saying that he'd received orders that the car wasn't +to go back to fetch the ladies at all." + +"What? the car was not to go back after the performance?" exclaimed +Gimblet. + +"No, sir, orders were given to that effect. Still, I thought possibly +they were coming home with some friends, and even this morning I said +to myself that perhaps they were staying the night at a friend's house, +having for some reason not been able to get a cab home. I had no doubt +I should get a telephone message at any moment, which would explain the +whole of the circumstances. But the morning passed away without our +hearing anything whatever, and by the time Sir Gregory called I was just +about getting ready to go out and make inquiries at the police station." + +Gimblet considered in silence for a few moments. + +"Have you noticed anything unusual of late," he asked, "in the habits or +demeanour of anyone in the house?" + +"No, nothing unusual beyond the fact that Mrs. Vanderstein seemed to be +enjoying uncommonly good spirits. I also thought, but it might be it was +only my fancy, that you couldn't say the same of Miss Turner. Yesterday +she appeared to be very much down on her luck." + +"Did the idea of an accident occur to you?" asked Gimblet. "Have you +inquired at any of the hospitals?" "I telephoned to St. George's, sir, +but with no result. I didn't know where else to make inquiries." + +"I understand," said the detective presently, "that Mrs. Vanderstein +has relatives and friends living in London. Did you communicate with any +of them this morning?" + +"No, sir, I did not. I had already telephoned to Sir Gregory last night +and heard he was out of town." + +"Is there no one else to whom you could have appealed for advice? I +understand that Mrs. Vanderstein has a nephew or nephew by marriage. +Does he live in London?" + +"No, sir, his regiment is quartered in the north of England. But it is +true," Blake stammered, with some appearance of reluctance, "that Mr. +Sidney is off and on in London, according as he is able to obtain leave, +and I believe he is up at the present moment." + +"I should have thought you would have telephoned to him to-day. Did it +not occur to you to do so?" + +Blake hesitated again. He looked from Gimblet to Sir Gregory, then let +his eyes roam to the window and round the room as if help might be hoped +for from some unlikely source. Finally, they once more encountered those +of the detective and, under that compelling gaze, he spoke. + +"I did think of it," he faltered, "I should have done so if it had not +been for one thing. Mr. Sidney came to the house yesterday afternoon +and, I don't like to mention it, sir, but I am afraid that he had words +with his aunt. I have no idea what it was about, sir, but he only stayed +a few minutes and as soon as he was gone Mrs. Vanderstein called me and +gave me strict orders not to allow him to enter the house in future. She +seemed very much put out about something and I am sure she wouldn't like +me to have any communications with Mr. Sidney now. It isn't my place to +allude to such a thing at all, but in the peculiar circumstances, sirs, +I hope you will excuse my saying that Mrs. Vanderstein appeared to me to +be very much put out indeed." + +"Quite so," said Gimblet, "in the peculiar circumstances your proper +course is to tell me everything you can, whether it bears on Mrs. +Vanderstein's failure to return home or not. I shall be less likely to +go astray after some false scent if I have a thorough knowledge of the +private affairs of these ladies, and there is no knowing what trifling +detail may not turn out to be useful. Now about these jewels, can you +tell me what your mistress wore last night? I should also like to see +the place you keep them in." + +Blake conducted them to the pantry. A small safe let into the wall +contained a quantity of jewel cases, for the most part empty. The butler +gave Gimblet a list of what they had contained. + +"I never knew Mrs. Vanderstein to wear so many ornaments at once," +he repeated. "She would mostly wear her pearls and a necklace and +perhaps a tiara and a few bracelets and rings, but last night besides +these she had the two diamond necklaces sewn on to her dress, and the +emerald set, which takes to pieces so as to make one big ornament, was +sewn on it too. I don't suppose there were many ladies at the gala +performance," said Blake, with some pride, "who wore better jewels than +she did--unless it was the Queen herself." + +Gimblet requested to be taken over the house, and in the various +sitting-rooms he hunted for some evidence of a documentary character to +show that Mrs. Vanderstein had not intended to return on the previous +evening. He looked on the mantelpieces for an invitation which should +have been stuck up there, on the writing tables for something of the +same kind. But though cards for different entertainments were not +wanting--most of them bearing well-known Jewish names and conveying +invitations to musical parties--there was nothing suggesting that the +ladies were to attend one on Monday night. He noticed the subtle odour +that hung about the rooms, and his scrutinising eyes noted with delight +the many beautiful and rare objects of Mr. Vanderstein's collection. + +He would gladly have lingered to examine the pictures that decorated +the walls, and the priceless china, which stood on cabinets against +the white panelling. But, deferring this pleasure, he continued his +methodical search in the expectant company of Sir Gregory and the +half-scandalised Blake, who could not decide in his own mind whether he +was doing right in allowing a detective, even one so well known as Mr. +Gimblet, to turn over his mistress' correspondence in this unceremonious +fashion. When the detective's search led him to the door of Mrs. +Vanderstein's bedroom, Blake felt himself unable to remain with him any +longer, and summoning Amelie from her workroom he turned over to her the +duty of keeping an eye on these doubtful proceedings. + +The news of the detective's presence had spread through the house like +wildfire, and Amelie for her part was burning to assist the great man. +Quite unhampered by such scruples as those which were felt by the worthy +butler, she dragged open drawers, threw wide the doors of cupboards, +thrust any letters she could find into Gimblet's hands and invited him +to verify for himself the information, or lack of it, which she volubly +imparted. She knew there was nothing enlightening in the letters and did +not hesitate to say so. She had read them all long ago. + +"That poor lady," she cried, "they have assassinated her to rob her +of her marvellous jewels. Ah, but of that I am well convinced," she +declared, nodding her head with gloomy satisfaction. "She wore too +many--it was to tempt Providence." + +Gimblet asked her for a list of the jewels and received the same that he +had had from Blake. + +"And will you describe to me what clothes Mrs. Vanderstein wore," he +asked, "and also those of Miss Turner?" + +"Madame had on a dress of white _mousseline de soie_, all _diamantee_," +Amelie told him, "ce qu'elle etait belle avec cette robe-la! Over it she +wore a magnificent cloak of _crepe de Chine_ and silver lace. The cloak +is mauve in the daylight, but in the evening one would say that it was +pink. She had on silver shoes and white stockings and carried an antique +fan of great value." + +"And Miss Turner?" Gimblet was writing down her description in his +notebook. + +"Mademoiselle also was dressed in white, but with a dress much more +simple. She had a cloak of flame-coloured brocade that Madame gave her +on her birthday. It is lined with white chiffon; nothing can be more +chic." + +As she spoke she glanced in surprise at Gimblet, who was standing in the +middle of the room, his head thrown back, his nostrils expanding and +contracting. As each succeeding drawer had been pulled out he had stood +there, sniffing appreciation. The vague scent that clung about the lower +part of the house was more penetrating here, and with each disturbance +of Mrs. Vanderstein's belongings grew stronger. There were flowers about +the room, tea roses in many bowls of shining glass; but their faint +sweetness was drowned beneath the more powerful smell that pervaded the +air. + +"Your mistress uses a delicious perfume," said the detective. "Did she +always have the same one?" + +"It smells good in here, is it not?" said Amelie. "Yes, Madame uses +always the same perfume. See, here it is on her table. It sells itself +very expensive, but with one drop one may perfume a whole dress. +Everything that Madame touches smells of it." + +Gimblet went to the dressing-table and took up the bottle she indicated; +he lifted it to his nose and, removing the stopper, took a long, deep +sniff. Then recorking the bottle he put it down again with a glance at +the label. "Arome de la Corse," he read, and below, the name of a French +perfumery celebrated for the excellence and high prices of its products. + +"Madame is an admirer of the great Napoleon," explained Amelie +helpfully. + +"Who does not share her admiration?" rejoined the detective. "And now +may I see Miss Turner's room?" + +In Barbara's chamber his stay was short. Here was no arresting perfume, +very little suggestion of feminine personality. The room was more like +that of a boy. Photographs adorned the walls; a few books lay about. A +couple of letters were on the table; one was a bill. The other, which +Gimblet perused under the sympathetic eyes of Amelie, ran as follows: + + "DEAR MISS TURNER, + + "I put the money on Averstone as you said. So sorry he wasn't + placed. He got away badly and had no luck from the start. In haste, + + "Yours sincerely, + "J. SIDNEY." + +"Thanks, I think that is all I want just now," said Gimblet, and he +turned to leave the room. But Amelie was in no mind to let him go like +that. She had hoped for some confidences, that she might have a theory +to retail downstairs. + +"If Monsieur will listen to my idea," she said, "I will tell him what I +believe has happened to Madame. She has been killed for the sake of her +jewels. That is what I think. And it would be prudent before making so +many inquiries that one should look for her on the floor of her box at +the opera. It is probable that she is there, _la pauvre_, just as they +struck her down and left her!" + +"Thank you for your suggestion," replied Gimblet gravely. "I assure you +that I will not neglect to visit the box. But I think that the bodies of +two ladies, 'struck down' in it, would have called forth some expression +of astonishment on the part of the caretakers." + +"Monsieur is laughing at me," began Amelie in injured tones, but Gimblet +was already half-way down the stairs. + +On the landing outside the drawing-room door Blake was still hovering. + +"Ah, there you are," Gimblet said. "Can I see the second footman now? +Thomas, I think you said he was called." + +Thomas, being summoned, proved to be a tall lad possessing an honest and +ingratiating smile, adorning a fair and open countenance. + +"It was you, I think," the detective said to him, "who accompanied the +motor last night when it left here with the two ladies?" + +"Yes, sir," said Thomas, "I did, sir." + +"And you were told the car would not be required again after the opera?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Can you remember Mrs. Vanderstein's exact words when she gave you the +order not to return?" + +"It wasn't Mrs. Vanderstein who told me, sir," said Thomas, "it was +Miss Turner. 'Mrs. Vanderstein says she won't have the car again this +evening,' she said, and, 'do you understand, Wilcox?' she says--that's +the chauffeur, Wilcox is; she come running down to speak to him just as +he put the clutch in and we was moving off--'You're not to come to fetch +us to-night after the opera,' I heard every word of course as plain as +Wilcox did. 'Very good, miss,' he says, and she ran back through the +swing doors. Mrs. Vanderstein had gone straight in and I didn't see her +again. We was very surprised, Wilcox and me, as it was the first time +that Mrs. Vanderstein hadn't had the motor to bring her home that either +of us could remember. But orders is orders," concluded Thomas with an +engaging smile at Mr. Gimblet, who ignored it. + +"Thank you, that will do for the present," he said; and, when Thomas had +gone, turned once more to Blake. + +"How long has Wilcox been in Mrs. Vanderstein's service?" he asked. + +"He was with Mr. Vanderstein before he married," replied Blake. "The +same as I was myself, sir. Wilcox was a groom in the old days, but +they had him taught to drive the motor some years ago. He's a most +respectable, steady man, sir." + +"Thanks, I should like to see him," said Gimblet. + +Wilcox, it appeared, was in the house at the moment, having come round +from the garage to hear if there was any news, and Gimblet had him in +and cross-examined him. His story was the same as Thomas', with one +small addition. + +"Was there anything that struck you as the least unusual?" Gimblet asked +him. "Did you notice anything in the appearance of either of the ladies, +or overhear anything they said to each other as they got in or out of +the car, that was not perfectly natural?" + +"No, sir, I did not," said Wilcox stolidly. He was rather a fat man with +a very horsey look. "Not that I paid any heed to what they might be +saying so long as it wasn't to me they said it. As far as I remember, +Mrs. Vanderstein got into the car and Miss Turner after her, and 'To +Covent Garden' one of them says to Thomas, and Miss Turner calls out, +'Just stop at a post office on the way.' And so we did." + +"Ah," said Gimblet, "you stopped at a post office, did you? Was that +quite in the usual course? And which post office did you stop at?" + +"It was not in the usual course," admitted Wilcox, "in fact, I don't +remember doing it on the way to the opera before. But Miss Turner had +a telegram to send. We stopped in Piccadilly and she gave the form to +Thomas to take into the office. After that we drove straight on to the +opera house." + +Thomas, recalled, remembered handing in the telegram, certainly. Didn't +know why he hadn't thought of mentioning it before. Miss Turner gave him +a sealed envelope with "Telegram" written outside it, and told him to +give it with some money to the young person in the office, and not to +bother about waiting for the change, as they were in a hurry. He did as +she said, and that was all he could tell about it. + +Not much information to be collected from Thomas. Possibly Gimblet's +face showed a trace of disappointment, for the footman added in a +regretful tone: + +"I'm very sorry, sir, that I didn't open the envelope so as I could tell +you what the telegram was, sir; but the ladies being in a hurry I didn't +scarcely have time. If I'd known it was important, or anyway if I'd had +a minute or two to myself, I'd have taken a look at it. I'm very sorry +indeed, sir." + +Gimblet dismissed him somewhat peremptorily. He felt that he was taking +an unreasoning dislike for the apologising Thomas, so anxious to +ingratiate himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +In the morning-room he found Sir Gregory, who had refrained, with an +impatient delicacy, from following him further than the drawing-room. He +was walking to and fro before the hearth, another big cigar between his +lips. + +"Well?" he asked, as the detective entered. + +Gimblet looked at him with a disapproving sternness. + +"If you intend to accompany me further in my investigations, Sir +Gregory," he began, "I must warn you that I can allow no smoking. The +sense of smell is as valuable to me in my work as it is to a questing +hound, and I cannot have red herrings like your cigars dragged across +the trail I might possibly be following." + +"My cigars! Red herrings!" Sir Gregory stuttered. "This, Mr. Gimblet, is +the finest Havana!" + +"No doubt," said Gimblet, "as tobacco it is good enough. But if it came +straight from Paradise I could not let the strong smell of it interfere +with my business. I must keep my nose free from such gross odours, or it +will not serve me when I most need it. When we first came into this room +it was filled with a perfume all its own. Now that I return I can smell +nothing but the taint of your cigar." + +Though considerably incensed at Gimblet's choice of words--Sir Gregory +nearly choked when he heard them--he controlled his feelings of +indignation as best he could, for he was bent on seeing the detective at +work. "If the flavour of the best tobacco really impedes you," said he, +swallowing his annoyance, "I will defer the pleasure of smoking until +you have arrived at some conclusion. I suppose you have not discovered +anything of importance so far?" + +"I think I have added to my knowledge by this visit," returned Gimblet, +"whether importantly or not it is too soon to say. You did not mention +to me, by the way, that Miss Turner had inherited her father's +partiality for horses." + +"Didn't I? I didn't know it would interest you. Yes; she seems very +devoted to riding." + +"And to racing," added Gimblet. + +"I don't know about that. She's never been near a race-course, as far as +I know. What makes you think so? Have you been talking to Blake about +her?" + +"When a young lady's room is full of pictures of race-horses, and +'Ruff's Guide to the Turf' occupies a prominent position on her +bookshelf," said Gimblet indifferently, "it is not really necessary to +ask the servants whether she takes an interest in racing. But come, Sir +Gregory, I think we have no more to do here. Shall we go back to my flat +and see if anything has been heard at the hospitals?" + +With a farewell word to Blake they prepared to leave the house, the +butler hastening before them to open the hall door. As he drew back +the latch and they stepped forth into the street, they were confronted +by a grey-haired man carrying a small black bag, who stood with a hand +already upon the bell. + +"Whom have we here?" said the detective to himself, and taking Sir +Gregory's arm he drew him back into the house, leaving Blake to parley +with the new-comer. + +"No, sir, Mrs. Vanderstein's not at home," they could hear him saying. + +The two men retreated to the morning-room but here in a few minutes +Blake followed them. + +"If you please, sirs," he said, "here is Mr. Chark, Mrs. Vanderstein's +solicitor." + +On his heels came the stranger. + +"You will excuse me coming to see you, gentlemen," said he, fixing his +eyes, after a momentary hesitation, upon the detective, "but hearing +that Mr. Gimblet was in the house"--here he bowed to that gentleman--"I +thought I had better seize the opportunity of offering such help as I +may be able to furnish in your investigations. Very little, I fear, +still possibly I am in possession of a fact which may as yet be unknown +to you." + +Mr. Chark, partner in the firm of D'Allby and Chark, was a man of +medium height, of medium age, less than medium good looks, and medium +intellect. His face and hair were of different shades of grey and, +although clean-shaven, he conveyed the impression that he wore side +whiskers. His manner and movements were precise and deliberate. He spoke +slowly, and as he did so his hands slowly revolved round each other. It +seemed as if he were grinding out each word by some secret mill-like +process differing from that of ordinary speech. + +"I have just heard from the butler," he continued, after Gimblet and +Sir Gregory had acknowledged his greeting in suitable terms, "that +my client, Mrs. Vanderstein, is absent under circumstances I must be +permitted to designate as unusual. That, in short, she went out last +night, 'on gaiety intent,' he he! and has not since been heard of. +This is very startling news, very strange news indeed. I think I can +prove to you, Mr. Gimblet, that Mrs. Vanderstein's continued absence is +unintentional." + +So saying Mr. Chark unlocked his black bag, which he had placed on the +floor between his feet as if fearing that it might be surreptitiously +removed if he did not keep in touch with it, and drew from its dark +recesses a letter in a large mauve coloured envelope, which he handed +with another bow to Mr. Gimblet. + +The detective took it and lifted it to his nose with a look of surprise. + +"This," he cried, "is a letter from Mrs. Vanderstein herself." + +"Your surmise is correct," said Mr. Chark. "I was unaware that you and +my client were acquainted, but I see that you know her handwriting." + +"I never saw it before," Gimblet answered absently. He was studying it +now with a look of deep interest. + +"Indeed. Then, may I inquire your reason for thinking that this +document bore her inscription?" Mr. Chark's drawling tones were plainly +sceptical. + +"Arome de la Corse," murmured Gimblet, as he handed the letter to Sir +Gregory. "You, Sir Gregory, know the lady's writing, I suppose?" + +"Yes," said Sir Gregory. "It is from her. Will you not read it aloud? +Without spectacles, I'm sorry to say, I should find a difficulty in +doing so," and he gave it back to Gimblet. + +The detective opened the envelope and unfolding the sheet it contained +read aloud what was written on it: + + "Grosvenor Street: + "Monday Evening. + + "DEAR SIRS, + + "I shall be much obliged if one of your firm will call on me + to-morrow, Tuesday, between four and five o'clock, for the purpose + of altering my will. Mr. Sidney has made it impossible for me to + contemplate longer the thought of his inheriting any portion of my + late husband's fortune. If Mr. Vanderstein were alive I am sure he + would agree with me on this point, but as he is no more and has left + the matter to my discretion, it becomes a sacred duty with me utterly + to ignore the wishes he expressed, and to alter my will immediately to + that effect. Trusting you will make it convenient to call at teatime + to-morrow, + + "I remain, + "Yours faithfully, + "RUTH VANDERSTEIN." + +Gimblet folded the letter carefully, replaced it in the envelope, and +handed it back to Mr. Chark. + +"We heard something of a quarrel between Mrs. Vanderstein and Mr. +Sidney," he said. "I wonder whether she would have stuck to her threat +of cutting him off with a penny. People write this sort of letter when +they lose their tempers, but very often they have calmed down by the +following day." + +"You do not know Mrs. Vanderstein, Mr. Gimblet," interrupted Sir +Gregory. "She isn't one of those women who fly into a rage about nothing +at all, or try to frighten people with threats. She does not suffer from +nerves; her health is as excellent as her temper. I am persuaded she +wouldn't have written that letter unless she had the gravest reasons for +doing so." + +"That also is my view," agreed Mr. Chark. "I can endorse Sir Gregory +Aberhyn Jones's opinion as regards the character of my client, +Mr. Gimblet; I can endorse it thoroughly. Mrs. Vanderstein is a +level-headed, shrewd woman, far from being driven by every impulse." + +"There is something decidedly womanly about the way she considers it +her sacred duty to ignore her husband's wishes," commented Gimblet, and +then, as he saw the wrathful light flashing in Sir Gregory's eyes, he +added quickly, "I hope that Mrs. Vanderstein herself will be able to +make everything clear in a few hours' time at the most. Sir Gregory and +I, Mr. Chark, were on our way to see if she had been heard of at the +hospitals, at the moment of your arrival. We fear she may have met with +some misadventure." + +Mr. Chark was disappointed. Beneath his stiff, outer shell there +lurked a tiny spark of romantic fire, which had never been entirely +extinguished by the stifling routine of the legal casuistries with +which D'Allby and Chark principally occupied themselves. Mortgages, +settlements of property, the continual framing in a maze of words of +those deeds which should mystify any but creatures like himself, to +whom their lack of intelligibility meant profitable business; all this +systematic dullness had failed to choke that imperceptible glimmer, and +at the mere knowledge of Gimblet's presence in the house it had leapt +on a sudden to a hot and burning flame. All his life he had cherished a +secret regret that his way had not lain along the precipitous bypaths +of criminal law, and now his excited imagination saw murder and +violence beckoning from all sides, with fingers redly fascinating. He +gave a stiff bow at the detective's words, and spoke with a feeling of +irritation and a sensation of being played with, which he was careful to +conceal beneath his usual precise and colourless tones. + +"Indeed," he drawled, his hands revolving as ever in their stroking +movement. "I may venture to say that my impression is a different one. +Though no detective, I am still, in my capacity of lawyer, able to +put two and two together. This letter"--he tapped Mrs. Vanderstein's +note--"and the evidence of the butler that a quarrel between my client +and her nephew did occur yesterday afternoon in this house, and +immediately preceded the writing of this letter; the knowledge that the +lady left her home intending to return in two or three hours, but has +actually failed to do so in twenty--these facts, gentlemen, if they +convey nothing to you, appear to me to be eminently suggestive." + +Gimblet made no reply; but Sir Gregory, whose face had been getting +pinker and pinker till it resembled a full-blown peony, burst out with a +truculent snort: + +"And what do they suggest to you, sir?" + +"They suggest," Mr. Chark resumed with apparent calm, "that Mr. Joseph +Sidney could very probably inform us of his aunt's whereabouts." + +"I have the pleasure of Mr. Sidney's acquaintance," exclaimed Sir +Gregory, "and let me inform you, Mr. Chark, if that is your name, that +he is a gentleman holding a commission in His Majesty's army. I hope it +is unnecessary to say more. Your insinuations are absurd." + +"You cannot deny in the face of the facts that matters look very black +against this young gentleman," drawled the lawyer. + +"Black!" Sir Gregory seemed about to choke. "I consider it black +behaviour, sir, to come here and make these libellous and scandalous +assertions about an officer and a gentleman. One who, moreover, is, as I +gather, entirely unknown to you. Do you know him, sir, or do you not?" +demanded Sir Gregory, leaning forward and rapping out an accompaniment +to the words with the palm of his hand on a small table which stood near +him, so that the flower glasses on it danced and jingled. + +"I do not know him, it is true," admitted Mr. Chark, "but I do know +that he would benefit to the extent of several hundred thousands of +pounds, if Mrs. Vanderstein should die before she found it possible to +revise her will. And I have no doubt that she told him her intention of +altering it." + +"Die? What do you say?" Sir Gregory's voice came faintly. The rosy +colour faded from his cheeks. The utmost horror and astonishment were +depicted in his countenance. + +Gimblet, at the sight, got up from his chair. + +"Mr. Chark," he said severely, "you are letting your imagination run +away with you. You are, indeed, talking like a halfpenny feuilleton. +There is no reason to take so melodramatic a view while Mrs. +Vanderstein's absence still admits of some more or less ordinary +explanation. I am going now to ascertain if she has not been discovered +in the accident ward of one of the hospitals. Are you coming, Sir +Gregory?" + +With a word of farewell they left the house, cutting short more +observations on the part of Mr. Chark, who followed them, deeply +chagrined at being treated with such scant ceremony. + +Sir Gregory, as he drove with Gimblet in the direction of Whitehall, +returned nervously to the implication of foul play. + +"What made him think of such a thing, d'ye think?" he asked. "It is +impossible that young Sidney would harm her. A nice civil lad; I +have always liked him. Why should he? I'll not believe it." He spoke +disjointedly; the suggestion had shaken him. + +Gimblet did his best to reassure him, but when they reached his flat, +and found that the hospitals had been drawn blank for news of the two +ladies, he felt more concerned than he liked to show. Still, the order +that had been given to the chauffeur, not to return to the opera house, +seemed to point to some intention other than that of going back to +Grosvenor Street, and it was still to be hoped that any moment might +bring tidings. There were, however, other considerations not quite so +encouraging. + +Gimblet, who had left Sir Gregory below while he ran up to his rooms, +gave some instructions to Higgs, the man who at times combined the +duties of servant with those of an assistant in the more tiresome but +necessary details of the detective's work. Then he went down again to +break to the baronet, with reluctant gravity, that there was no news. + +"We will go to Covent Garden now," he said; and they got into another +taxi. + +Sir Gregory had become very silent. His face was drawn with anxiety. +"What can have happened?" he kept muttering to himself. + +To divert his thoughts, Gimblet recalled the suspicion he had harboured +at first--that Mrs. Vanderstein had flown with some other admirer. But +the fear that she was in danger, or that worse had befallen her, had +taken hold of the man, and it was he who now pooh-poohed the idea and +found arguments to show its improbability. + +"She had no need to run away," he objected in his turn, "she could marry +whom she liked. And whoever heard of a woman's taking a friend on a +wedding trip? No, if it had been anything of the sort, Miss Turner would +have been left behind, we may be sure of that." + +At Covent Garden they learnt very little. The box had been cleaned out, +and bore no sign of having been used the night before. Gimblet went +sniffing round it, but could find no trace of lingering Arome de la +Corse. The box opener told them that Mrs. Vanderstein and the young lady +who generally came with her had occupied it at the gala performance, and +had left before the end of the last scene. She hadn't noticed anything +strange or otherwise about either of them, and as far as she knew no one +had visited the box during the intervals. + +No one, it appeared, had observed their departure from the doors of the +theatre. One commissionaire thought he remembered two ladies coming +out early and driving off in a carriage, but he couldn't say, he was +sure, what they were like. Might have been young and lovely, or again, +might have been old and ugly. He had seen a powerful lot of ladies in +the course of the evening, and never had enjoyed what you might call a +memory for faces. If it had not been for the lack of that useful talent, +the commissionaire concluded regretfully, he would, as likely as not, +have been sitting in the hall of a West End club at the present moment, +with no more to do than to answer the inquiries of one gentleman for +another gentleman. Never had been what you might call the victim of good +luck. + +They left him testing a shilling doubtfully with his teeth, as if +unwilling to believe that his fortune could have changed sufficiently +for the coin to be other than a bad one. + +It was growing late, the doors of the theatres would soon be open. +Already shutters were up in front of shop windows, and the crowds that +still filled the streets had no excuse for loitering now there was +nothing to look at, nowhere left for noses to be flattened. Instead, +every one seemed to be hurrying in one direction, the direction of +railway station or tram, or whatever would carry them to their homes. +The sinking sun had at last left the streets full of shadows and, though +the pavements and walls still radiated heat, a cool breeze had arisen +and was rushing in from the river. In open spaces, where the tall walls +of houses did not prevent a glimpse of the western sky, one could see a +cloud or two slowly climbing the heavens. + +The two men walked together in silence for a little way, and then +Gimblet stopped, holding out his hand. + +"I don't think we can do any more to-night," he said. "Put away your +anxieties for a few hours, Sir Gregory; it does no good to worry. +To-morrow, if fresh tidings come, we must see what else can be done. I +think perhaps you will be wise to consult the police." + +But at this Sir Gregory raised an outcry. + +"Well, we will see about that when to-morrow comes," said Gimblet. "In +the meantime I must say good night." + +Gimblet saw Sir Gregory off in the direction of his club, and then, +after a moment's hesitation, hailed a taxi himself, and drove to the +residence of the Postmaster-General. He thought that at this hour he had +a good chance of finding that Minister at home, and he was not mistaken. + +Sir James was in, said the footman who answered his ring, but at the +present moment engaged in dressing, before dining early and going to the +theatre. He would take up Mr. Gimblet's card. + +As luck had it, it had been Gimblet's fortune to render a considerable +service to Sir James Mossing, at a date in this gentleman's career when +his foot was still insecurely placed on the first rung of the ladder +he subsequently climbed; and, as he rose in power, the politician had +never failed to show that he gratefully remembered the obligation. The +detective had only to wait ten minutes before the man he had come to see +hurried into the room, with apologies for keeping him waiting. Gimblet +lost no time in explaining the object of his visit, and had little +difficulty in obtaining the written order he wished for. Armed with +this, he detained the affable statesman no longer, but withdrew quickly +and turned his steps homeward. + +"Higgs," he said, as his servant met him in the hall of the flat. "I +want you to go at once to the post office in Piccadilly and get a +telegram which was handed in last evening by a footman. It was in a +sealed envelope, which also held the money for the message. It may, or +may not, be signed by Miss Barbara Turner. It was certainly written +by her. Here is an order from the Postmaster-General, which will make +things easy for you. I have one or two things to do that ought to have +been finished this morning or I should go myself. They will take me +about an hour, and I hope you will be back by that time." + +In an hour Higgs was back. He looked pleased with himself, and proffered +the detective a sheet of paper. + +"That's right, Higgs, you've been quick," Gimblet commended him. + +"They were a little while looking through the forms," said Higgs, "but +luckily there was no fuss about giving it to me after I'd shown your +card and Sir James' order." + +Gimblet was reading the paper. It was a telegraph form addressed to +Joseph Sidney, and contained a short message: + + "Luck is coming your way at last expect to have good news by + Wednesday removing all difficulties." + +There was no signature. + +"How do you know this is the right one?" Gimblet asked sharply. + +"The young person at the office happened to remember it, sir. It was +handed in, enclosed in an envelope, and when she opened it and saw +there was no signature she ran out after the footman, intending to ask +that the space at the back of the form, where the name and address is +requested for reference only, should be filled in. She was only in +time to see the motor drive away. Still, it stamped the message on her +memory, especially as there was some change to give back." + +"She may easily be mistaken," grumbled the detective. + +"I thought you might not be satisfied, sir," said Higgs, "so I went on +to Grosvenor Street and asked the butler to let me have a specimen of +Miss Turner's writing. I didn't tell him why I wanted it, of course. I +just let him think a letter had been found and that you wanted something +to identify it by," added Higgs, with some pride. He produced a menu as +he spoke, written in a large round hand. "Miss Turner always writes the +menus in Grosvenor Street," he explained. + +Gimblet took it and compared it with the telegram. It was easy to see +that both had been written by the same person. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The next morning dawned grey and boisterous. The English climate was +giving an example of that infinite variety to which custom never +reconciles the stranger within our gates. Julie Querterot, whose +life had been passed entirely in London, suffered from an hereditary +sensitiveness to the changes of the weather, and was never able to +prevent her spirits from drooping as the barometer fell. Rain and gloomy +skies made her dismal even when her whole day was spent within doors, +and on this Wednesday morning, when she had done with the business of +sweeping and cleaning about the house, and took up her station in the +little shop behind the hair-pins and pomades, the view from the window +must have had more than its usual depressing effects upon her, for if +the unlooked for had happened and a customer had chanced to enter he +might have seen that her eyelids were swollen as by the shedding of many +tears. + +Soon after midnight the storm that had been brewing had burst over the +empty streets; for hours the lightning had torn the clouds and the +tremendous noise of the thunder had made sleep impossible. All night +torrents of rain had fallen, and people lying awake, or at best dozing +uneasily, had heard its constant patter. Julie's face, white and weary, +looked as if to her at least the night had brought no rest. Sitting in +the half-dusk of the shop she took up her work with slow deliberation; +then letting it fall back to her knee leant her chin upon her palm with +a hopeless gesture. She had had no breakfast, and hunger was combining +with fatigue to bring her to the point of exhaustion. By her, on the +counter where she had put it down, a halfpenny paper lay spread out; and +presently she took it up, and glanced again at the prominent headlines, +which in large black type flaunted across the page. + + "DISAPPEARANCE OF LADIES FROM THEIR HOME IN WEST END." + + "Mystery of Missing Millionairess." + +After a while Julie rose and put away her needlework. Going up to her +little bedroom, she took from the cupboard a small black hat, and +regardless of the weather prepared to go out. Not that she made an +elaborate toilette. A neat coat of plainest black was added to her +blouse and skirt, a rather tawdry brooch pinned where a button had been +torn off, and another, for pure ornament, in a place where it was not +needed. It has already been said that Julie was fond of trinkets, and +she seemed to derive some slight comfort from them even this morning. +Two or three bracelets jingled already on either wrist, and when she +had added a pair of gloves her attire was complete. A few minutes +later the girl opened her umbrella and stepped into the street; then, +locking the shop door behind her, she set her face westward. The rain +was falling less heavily, and before she had taken many turnings it +ceased altogether. Julie shut her umbrella with a sigh of relief. Since +leaving the house she had not been able to put aside a minor, but still +consuming, anxiety, as to the fate of her hat. + + * * * * * + +In his rooms in Whitehall, Gimblet was studying a copy of the same +newspaper that lay now neglected in the Pimlico shop. One glance at the +headlines had told him to whom they referred, and the paragraph that +followed was still more explicit. + + "We learn that anxiety is felt as to the whereabouts of Mrs. + Vanderstein, a lady residing at No. 90, Grosvenor Street, W. Mrs. + Vanderstein left her house on the evening of Monday last for the + purpose of attending the gala performance at the Royal opera house + at Covent Garden. She was accompanied by a young lady, Miss Barbara + Turner, who lives at Grosvenor Street in the capacity of friend and + companion to Mrs. Vanderstein. The two ladies drove to the opera in + their private motor car, and some surprise was felt by the servants + on being told at the door of the theatre that their return after + the performance was over was not desired. No alarm, however, was + experienced until yesterday morning, when the household awoke to find + that neither of the ladies had returned. + + "Inquiry at the hospitals, where it was thought the ladies might + have been carried in the event of an accident having occurred, were + productive of no result, and as the day passed without news of their + whereabouts being obtained it was deemed advisable to secure the + services of a detective. It is whispered that one of London's most + celebrated criminal investigators has consented to look into the + matter. Rumours reach us that differences between Mrs. Vanderstein and + one of her nearest relatives have more to do with her disappearance + than at first seems obvious. Mrs. Vanderstein is the widow of the late + Mr. Moses Vanderstein, a financier well known in city circles. She is + a lady of remarkable personal attractions, and is a great favourite in + Jewish society. Miss Turner is the daughter of the late Mr. William + Turner, of Newmarket, and is not much over twenty years of age. It is + believed that the police have a clue to the continued absence of the + two ladies, and that foul play is apprehended." + +"So," said Gimblet to himself, "it appears that the worthy Mr. Chark has +been talking." + +As he threw aside the paper, and took up another to see if it also had +something to say on the same subject, the bell of the flat rang, and a +moment later Higgs announced Mr. Joseph Sidney. + +With a scarcely perceptible start Gimblet recognised the young man he +had observed in the Park on Sunday. + +"I hope I don't disturb you," Sidney said at once, "but they told me in +Grosvenor Street that you had been up there asking questions, and so I +suppose Sir Gregory has engaged you to look into this business." + +"That is so," said Gimblet. "I hope you have come to give me some +assistance." + +"Why, I wish to goodness I could," said Sidney, "but I never heard a +word about it till I saw the paper this morning; and then I couldn't +believe it. But I rang up Grosvenor Street pretty quick, and old Blake, +my aunt's butler, swears it's gospel. It's a queer thing to happen, +isn't it? What can they have done with themselves? Really, women ought +not to be allowed out alone. If my aunt couldn't take care of herself, I +do think she might have made an effort to look after Miss Turner!" + +"It's a queer business indeed," said Gimblet, "and I'm afraid it looks +stranger every minute, and very much more serious than it did at first. +For here's another night gone by and no news of either of the ladies. +And we have no clue, no idea where to hunt, nor anything whatever to go +on in our search. I was in hopes you might have some information to +offer me, Mr. Sidney; you were, I believe, one of the last people who +spoke with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday." + +Gimblet looked narrowly at the young man, who, for his part, seemed not +altogether at his ease. He hesitated, crossed to the window and drummed +with his fingers on the pane. In the detective's ears was echoing a +sentence heard above the murmur of the crowd: "I'm pretty desperate, I +can tell you. There's nothing I wouldn't do to get the money." + +A second later Sidney turned; and, coming back to where Gimblet sat +impassively waiting, drew up a chair upon which he sat himself down with +an air of resolution. + +"I did see my aunt on Monday, Mr. Gimblet, and to tell you the truth I +don't like telling you what she said to me then. One doesn't care about +confiding one's private family affairs to strangers. Still, if you +think it can be of any possible use.... Well, the fact is that I had a +frightful row with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday." + +"What about?" asked Gimblet. + +"I," Sidney hesitated again, and then continued with a plunge, "I have +been losing a great deal of money lately; I am ashamed to say that I +have lost it on race-courses, and that it is a sum far larger than I +can afford. I went to my aunt to ask for help. I asked her, in fact, to +lend me some money to tide over my difficulties for the present. She was +very irate about it. She can't stand betting; and as soon as I told her +she got in a fearful rage and threw me out of the house. That is all the +conversation I had with her on Monday. You can understand I don't much +like owning up to it, as it's not precisely to my credit." Sidney ended +with a rueful laugh. + +"Mrs. Vanderstein absolutely refused to help you in any way?" + +"Said she'd see me damned first. Well, you know, she mayn't have put it +exactly like that." + +"Hardly, I should think. I'd rather have her own words, if you can +remember them, please." + +Sidney searched his memory. "As far as I can recollect, what she +actually said was, 'I will have nothing whatever to do with a gambler +like you. Not only will I not give you money now, but you shall never +have a penny that is mine to use for that degrading vice. I shall +alter my will,' she said, 'and that to-morrow. And never let me see +you again. I'll not have you in my house.' That's what she said, and I +had nothing to do but to go out of the house like a whipped dog. And I +went." Sidney's voice was bitter as he recalled his humiliation, but +when he spoke again he had recovered his normal good temper. "Poor Aunt +Ruth," he said, "there's a good deal to be said on her side, you know, +and just about nothing at all on mine. However, I didn't come to talk +about my own rotten affairs. I wonder where she can have got to? There's +something uncommon fishy about her vanishing this way, don't you think? +Hope to goodness she's not been knocked on the head for the sake of her +diamonds, you know." + +His tone was light, but Gimblet seemed to perceive a note of genuine +anxiety underlying it. + +"I hope not, indeed," he agreed gravely. + +"I really feel a bit worried about her--her and Miss Turner," went on +the young man. "Hang it all, since I've begun confiding in you I think I +may as well make a clean breast of the whole show. The fact is I've got +a beastly guilty conscience sort of feeling, because I was on the verge, +a day or two ago, of playing the dickens of a shabby trick on Aunt Ruth. +You can see how badly I want this money, as I told you, to pay my debts +next week. Well, I as near as makes no difference tried to get it out +of my aunt by what I suppose you'd call false pretences--which sounds a +nice blackguardly thing to do, don't it? I don't suppose anyone's told +you that she had a craze for Royalty in any shape? Well, I didn't know +it myself till lately, but it seems there's nothing she wouldn't do to +get in contact with great people. A friend of mine suggested that we +should get another of my pals to impersonate some royal prince, and that +I should introduce him to my aunt. The idea was that he should rather +make up to her, and then intercede on my behalf, or get the money out of +her in some way. I don't think I should have done it when it came to the +point, because I saw very plainly the next day what an impossible thing +it was to do. And if I'd gone as far as to ask my friend to help, I +haven't the slightest doubt he would have told me not to be an ass. But +there you are--I did think of it, and it sticks on my conscience now. +I shall never get the taste out of my mouth, I believe, and if there's +anything you think I could do to be of any use, now that she's gone and +mislaid herself, you can understand that I'd do it all the more gladly +since I feel I owe her a good turn." + +He ceased speaking, crossed one leg over the other, and leant back, +looking at Gimblet with an air half ashamed, half ingenuous. + +The detective returned his gaze with interest. + +"Here," he was saying to himself, "is a young man either very innocent +or beyond the common crafty." + +"Who was it who suggested this questionable proceeding in the first +place?" he asked. + +"Oh, I really can't tell you that," cried Sidney; "it can't have any +importance, and I'm not so dead to all sense of decency as you naturally +think!" + +"You say you only contemplated it for a short time. Did you tell your +friend ultimately that, on second thoughts, you didn't like the idea +and had decided to give it up?" + +"It wasn't necessary. Before I could communicate with my friend I got a +message from her--him--my friend, I mean----" Sidney grew scarlet as he +realised his slip, but continued hastily in the vain hope of covering +it, "a message to say that the plan was ruined. I don't know what had +happened, but for some reason, apparently, it was completely off, +irrespective of my jibbing." + +"And so now," said Gimblet, after a pause, "you have no hope, I suppose, +of paying your debts." + +A shade crossed Sidney's face as he replied sadly: "Devil a hope." + +"There has been no alteration in your prospects since Monday then," +pursued the detective; "you have had no better news to-day? Your +difficulties have not so far been removed?" He spoke with great +deliberation, while one hand, hidden in his pocket, fingered the +telegraph form that Barbara Turner had omitted to sign. + +Sidney looked up suspiciously, but the little man's face wore no +expression beyond one of calm inquiry. + +"No," said he slowly, "everything is just as it was. I have heard +nothing at all and my prospects are as bad as they can be." + +There was something about Sidney that disarmed suspicion, and Gimblet +did not fail to be influenced by it. In vain he reflected that the young +man was certainly refraining from telling him of Miss Turner's telegram, +and deliberately, since Gimblet had purposely reminded him of it by +quoting words it actually contained. As he sat considering what should +be his next move, the door opened, and Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones was +announced. + +"Good morning, Mr. Gimblet. Have you any news for me? No, I see you +have not; and there is none in Grosvenor Street, as you doubtless know. +Ah, Sidney, how are you? This is a trying time for us all. I am glad +to see you, very." He shook hands warmly with the young man; and then, +before Gimblet guessed what he would be at, the harm was done. "I'm more +than glad to meet you, my dear boy," Sir Gregory was declaring, "so as +to be able to tell you that I don't believe a word they may say against +you. I'm positive you never had a hand in this black business, any more +than I did myself. And all the Charks and beastly rags of newspapers +in London shan't convince me to the contrary." Sir Gregory, still +holding Joe by the hand, shook it up and down with extra and exaggerated +heartiness. + +Sidney wrenched it away. + +"What the deuce are you talking about?" he exclaimed. "Who's been saying +things about me?" + +"I tell you I don't believe a word of it," said Sir Gregory soothingly. +"But you must have seen it in the papers. 'It is believed,' they say, +'that a quarrel took place between Mrs. Vanderstein and a near relative, +which has more to do with the unfortunate ladies' disappearance than +seems plain at first.' You did quarrel with her, didn't you? And Chark, +her lawyer, you know, is taken with the idea; in fact, he's been round +telling me this morning that he's ascertained for a fact that you're +infernally hard up, which would provide a motive, he says. Infernal +nonsense, of course." + +"Infernal lies," cried Sidney; "what the devil does anyone mean by +suggesting such things? Do they imagine I've spirited away not only +Aunt Ruth but Miss Turner too, and am holding them for ransom, or what? +Or perhaps your friend Chark would rather think that I was given to +poisoning my relations? If it comes to that, I'll begin on him if he +don't look out. Infernal ass." + +He was furious. Gimblet, watching him with interest, wondered whether +his face was so red from anger or from some other emotion. + +Sir Gregory, for once, was silenced. + +"Where's this newspaper editor?" demanded Sidney. "I'm going to kick +him, now, at once." + +"You'd better wait till he gets up," said Gimblet; "at this hour he's +probably still in bed." + +"I'll soon get him out." + +"Better not take any notice of it. More dignified not to," urged Sir +Gregory, repenting too late his well-meant assurances. "Best treat that +sort of idiot with contempt," he went on. "Chark's the worst. It's he +that's put them up to it." + +"Mr. Chark," said Gimblet, "has a longing to be mixed up in a +sensational affair. I saw that yesterday. He ought to know better than +to indulge in libel, a lawyer too! I daresay he's frightened to death, +now that he has done it, and has time to think of the consequences." + +"I'll frighten him," said the young man. + +He calmed down, however, as the detective continued to pour oil on the +troubled waters, and was at last persuaded to depart peacefully. + +Gimblet wrote out a short description of the missing ladies, together +with the promise of a reward to whosoever should bring news of either of +them, and this he gave into Sidney's keeping, charging him to have it +inserted in the evening papers, of which the early editions were already +appearing in the streets. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Sir Gregory lingered. "I suppose there's nothing to do but wait?" he +said, as the door closed behind Sidney. + +"Not much, I'm afraid," replied the detective. "Believe me, I am doing +what is possible, and now that Chark has been talking to the press no +doubt the police, on their side, will do what they can. Did you hear +anything in Grosvenor Street?" + +"No," said Sir Gregory, "no one had been there. They had seen no more of +Mr. Chark. But no doubt there will be folks calling to-day. I daresay +the street will be blocked by people wanting to know if what they've +seen in the papers is true. There's plenty of curiosity about. It was +beginning already, from what I could see, when I came away; there were +three or four idlers staring at the house. What they thought they saw in +it, don't ask me. Expect the police soon moved them on. Too much of this +lazy loafing about; I'd soon compel them to do some honest work, if I +had my way." + +"And yet you're against compelling them to be trained for the defence of +the country!" murmured Gimblet. "Well, well! Just ordinary loafers, were +they?" he went on. + +"That's all," said Sir Gregory, after a moment, during which he glared +fiercely at Gimblet. + +"Except one young woman," he continued, as an afterthought. "Poor thing, +she seemed really distressed; but more because she thought she'd never +see her money than on Mrs. Vanderstein's account." + +"One of the maidservants?" suggested the detective. + +"No, no, I think not. She came up just as I was leaving the house. 'Oh, +sir,' she cried, 'can you tell me if there's any truth in what I've seen +in the papers, about the lady that lives here having disappeared? Surely +it's not true?' She seemed so much concerned that I explained the state +of affairs to her. 'It is true,' I said, 'that the ladies of this house +went out on Monday night, and have not yet come back. But I hope we may +find out where they are at any moment.' To my surprise no sooner had I +said this than she leant back against the door-post as if she were going +to faint or something, devilish ill she looked, poor creature, and then +quite suddenly covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. I +must own," Sir Gregory confessed, "that the sight of so much feeling +exhibited on Mrs. Vanderstein's account moved me considerably. A very +little more and I should have mingled my tears with those of the poor +girl. 'Don't cry, my dear child,' I said, a good deal affected. 'It is +natural that those who care for her should feel anxious and upset, but +we must show a brave face and hope for the best.' Still, in spite of all +I could say, she went on crying, and sobbed very piteously, poor thing; +till at last, on my asking her how it was that she was so anxious about +Mrs. Vanderstein, she managed to regain control of herself, and said in +a doleful tone: 'I'm only a poor girl, sir, and the lady owes us money. +If she is lost it means a great deal to me.' I own I was disappointed, +having thought her distress prompted by affection rather than mercenary +considerations; but people are all alike in this world; self-interest, +Mr. Gimblet, that's the only motive that rules men's actions nowadays. +However, I did my best to comfort her, and told her that whatever +happened Mrs. Vanderstein's bills would not go unpaid. I can't say I +was very successful in my efforts to reassure her and she went off in +the end looking dreadfully woe-begone. 'Pon my word, I never saw such a +miserable, frightened-looking little creature! I didn't like to let her +go without trying to help her in some way, but I hardly knew what to do, +for she didn't look the sort one could offer money to," concluded Sir +Gregory, who had the kindest heart in the world. + +"What was she like?" asked Gimblet with a show of interest. + +"A shop girl, I should say, but she had a foreign look about her: +a lot of dark hair, and big dark eyes to match, and she was neatly +dressed, trim and tidy. You know the sort of way these French girls get +themselves up, but all in black or some dark colour. Very quiet and +respectable-looking girl. The only thing I thought looked a bit flashy +about her was that she wore a heap of common jewellery, bracelets and +brooches all over, cheap and nasty; and I could see a string of great +beads round her neck under her blouse, imitation pearls as big as +marbles. I was astonished, I must say, at her going in for that sort +of thing, for in other ways she seemed a very nice, quiet girl. Looked +terribly ill, too, poor thing." + +"I wonder who she was," said Gimblet. "Do you say she wore her necklace +under her blouse?" + +"Yes, I could see it through the muslin or whatever it was she had on. +Some transparent stuff." + +"That was rather curious. Girls of that class, who are fond of decking +themselves out with such cheap ornaments, don't generally hide their +finery. It's generally quite on the surface, I think." + +"I should think it was unusual," agreed Sir Gregory. "She must have +dressed in a hurry, and done it by mistake; don't you think so?" + +Gimblet did not answer. He had been wandering about the room, in an +aimless fashion, and now he paused beside a table and offered Sir +Gregory the contents of a glass jar that stood upon it. + +"Have some barley sugar?" he suggested. And, as Sir Gregory indignantly +refused: "One must have a pet vice, and after all, this is my only one," +said he, putting a large piece into his mouth. But Sir Gregory only +shook his head mournfully and refused to smile. + +"I suppose," he said after a moment, with a shamefaced look, "that there +can't be anything in Chark's idea, can there?" His tone was that of one +who pleads to have a disturbing and discreditable doubt utterly removed. +Gimblet remembered the warmth of the baronet's protestations to Sidney, +and suppressed a smile. + +"I think we may hope for a solution less shocking than Mr. Chark's," +he said hopefully. "As for whether his suspicions can have anything in +them or not, I can only say that they are nothing much more than the +wildest of surmises. They amount to this. Mr. Sidney has lost money in +a way disapproved of by Mrs. Vanderstein, and, on appealing to her for +assistance, was met not only by reproaches but by threats that he would +be cut off from his inheritance. On the other hand, Mrs. Vanderstein +is not very much older than her nephew, so that his expectations of +enjoying that inheritance could never be other than extremely remote, +since the lady enjoys the best of health. Mr. Chark does not hesitate to +hint that Sidney may have taken his aunt's life, in order that he may +at once inherit the money of which he is certainly in urgent need. And +if he could contemplate such a deed at all there may be said to be this +further inducement, that in the event of Mrs. Vanderstein remaining +alive she would most likely marry again; when, if she had children, she +would probably--since she has full power over it--leave most if not all +her fortune to them, whatever her late husband's hopes may have been +regarding the disposal of it. + +"Chark takes these circumstances and finds in them a motive; he then +takes Mrs. Vanderstein's disappearance and proceeds to infer from that, +that young Sidney has made away with her. His motive may exist, though +it is a question whether such a motive is strong enough to induce so +terrible a crime in a young man of Sidney's class and upbringing, who is +in normal health, and we will presume, for the sake of argument, sane. +But Chark has not, as far as I know, a shadow of evidence on which to +assert that the lady has been injured in any way; and I think any such +conjecture is ridiculous without more to support it; while to suggest +it publicly, as he has done, is quite scandalous. It is still perfectly +possible that Mrs. Vanderstein or Miss Turner received some urgent +message while at the opera, which caused them to leave before the end of +the performance. It may have been an appeal for help from some friend in +trouble, or something involving a certain secrecy of procedure. There +are thousands of possible situations that might arise, to the conduct of +which privacy would be essential. Wait, Sir Gregory, at least to see if +we get an answer to our advertisements, before allowing your imagination +to follow headlong in the wake of Mr. Chark's speculations." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Late in the afternoon, Gimblet, returning to the flat in Whitehall, +found a visitor awaiting him there. + +Higgs, hearing his footstep in the hall, hurried out to meet him and +inform him of the fact. + +"A young lady, sir. She gave me this card, and wants to see you on +business. She's been here about ten minutes, and I've taken tea in to +her, not knowing how long you might be, sir." + +Gimblet took the card and read: "Miss Seraphina Finner, Inanity +Theatre." "Where is she?" he asked. + +"In the waiting-room," replied Higgs; and Gimblet went at once into the +small sitting-room he set apart to be used by people unknown to him. + +As he opened the door Gimblet checked himself for a moment on the +threshold with the sensation of entering some one else's room by +mistake. His visitor had pushed most of the furniture back against +the wall, and was, when he first caught sight of her, in the act of +pirouetting round in the middle of the floor, with her skirts lifted +high and one foot raised to the level of the mantelpiece. Her back was +towards him, but at the sound of the opening door she twisted round with +a swinging movement, and confronted him with a laugh. + +"They told me you were out," said Miss Finner gaily, and without any +trace of embarrassment, "so I just started doing a bit of practising to +fill up the time while the tea is standing. Waste not, want not, that's +my motto," she added. + +"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," the detective began; "won't you +sit down now?" And he pulled out a chair she had piled with some others +in a corner, and offered it to her. + +"I suppose I may as well," admitted the young woman; "though it does +seem a pity not to do a bit of exercising now I've cleared the room. You +see, I dance in 'The Jodeling Girl,' and one has to keep one's limbs +supple, or, if you aren't up to the mark one night, they put on somebody +else. Fact is," she added confidentially, "that's why they took me on. +Dixie Topping, who used to be one of the four of us that do the dance +I'm in, let herself get stiff, and one night when it came to kicking +William Tell's apple off the boy's head, she missed it clean, and, as +it's got to be done in time with the music, that put the conductor out, +so when she had another try, and missed it again, he got so mad that +they sacked her and put me on. Ill wind that blows no one any good," +said Miss Seraphina philosophically. + +Her belongings were strewn about the room: a great bouquet of carnations +lay on a chair, gloves and scarf were thrown on the bookshelf, while an +enormous hat covered with flowers and ribbons was poised on a cabinet. +She had drawn a curtain across the window, no doubt out of consideration +for her complexion, as Gimblet happened to have chosen for this room +hangings of a becoming rose colour; and the air was filled with the +reek of inexpensive scent. The detective compared it mentally, and +extremely unfavourably, with the Arome de la Corse. Altogether he would +not have recognised his own room, to such an extent had ten minutes of +Miss Seraphina Finner's occupation removed all former traces of his own +individuality. He actually started as he suddenly noticed, perched on +the mantelpiece, a pair of small white animals: a smooth-haired cat with +eyes of a greenish yellow, and a dog no bigger, but with a long, silky +coat. It appeared to be one of the tribe known to the unappreciative +as Fidos, and to the admiring owners as Toy Poms. It stood at one end +of the shelf, fidgeting and whining, but not daring to jump. The cat +had retired to the extreme opposite corner, where it sat with its paws +very close together and its tail curled tightly round them, surveying +the restless behaviour of the dog with a look of sleepy disdain. The +feelings with which Gimblet saw these two, but more especially the dog, +sharing this point of vantage with his best blue and white china may be +imagined. He was speechless; and perhaps it was just as well. + +"I hope you don't mind Nigger and Pompom," said Miss Finner, as she +accepted a cup of tea, "lots of lumps, please, and heaps of cream too. +Seraphina's pets are her inseparable companions! Don't they look sweet +up there? I put them there to be out of the way while I was on my light +fantastic. It bothers me never to know when my foot will come down on +one of them, instead of the floor. Pompom seems to enjoy being trampled +on by the way he's always in the middle of the room." She seized the +woolly dog by the scruff of the neck and deposited it in her lap. "Was +you frightened of falling on your heady peady, darling," she murmured, +fondling it ecstatically. "No, no, you mustn't lick your auntie's +face; might give you a pain in your little inside. Isn't she a sweet +little affectionate thing?" she asked, raising her eyes for a moment to +Gimblet's. "Yes," she went on, as the little dog danced on her knee in a +frantic effort to make clear his need to share the cake she had taken, +"Pompom shall have a cake too. His auntie wouldn't let her darling go +hungry, no, she wouldn't! And Nigger shall have some cream for a nice +treat." + +She poured some cream into a saucer and placed it on the floor at +her feet. The cat, which had watched the attentions showered on +Pompom with the cold eye of indifference, now abandoned its pose of +superiority, and jumping lightly to the ground approached the saucer on +noiseless, unhurried tiptoes. It began to lap the cream with a genteel, +condescending air, and with due regard for its whiskers, shaking its +head sharply if a drop adhered to one of their long, stiff hairs. + +Miss Finner contemplated the sight with admiring delight. + +"Doesn't it do your heart good to see how he likes it?" she asked, "and +aren't his manners lovely? Oh, Pompom, what an example he is to you, +darling!" she exclaimed, as Pompom snatched at a piece of cake and +swallowed it with one gulp. "Try and behave like your brother does, my +angel. He's always the same," she went on, "I don't care where you put +him, Nigger is always the perfect gentleman. Why! I took them across +to Paris at Easter. Didn't know what a trouble I should have smuggling +Pompom home again, or I should have left her behind in London. I tied +feathers all over her, though, and put her in a bonnet box, so they took +her for a hat, the darling. As if any hat was half as beautiful! But, +as I was saying, we had a beast of a crossing. Oh my! that channel! And +poor Pompom was one of the first to feel it. And much as I love her, I +must say, she just gave way, and never made the tiniest little effort +to hide her feelings. But Nigger! If you'll believe me, that cat was +so ashamed of the way he felt he was going to behave that the tears +streamed down his face, and he just mewed and mewed till I could have +cried; only being so sick myself I really didn't care, as a matter of +fact. But though he felt so bad he didn't forget his manners and he +wouldn't be sick, he simply wouldn't, till I gave him a basin. Then +certainly. Oh Lord!" Miss Finner stopped. The recollection was too much +even for her; she was also slightly out of breath. + +Gimblet listened to her with amusement. Though he wondered vaguely what +her business with him could be, he let her run on, supposing that she +would disclose it in time. After a moment she resumed in serious tones: + +"It's a good thing, don't you think, to have a fad of some kind? It's so +hard to get noticed, isn't it? Expect you found that when you started +looking for thieves? People won't see that one's any different to +anyone else, do what you like. But manage to have something really out +of the common about you, and you get your chance. That's what I think. +They forget me all right, but they remember my white cat and dog, and +after a little they begin to notice me too. I had a pretty hard time at +first, I tell you," Miss Finner sighed. "But I'm getting on well now, +thanks," she continued, with a return of her former vivacity. "Of course +I haven't got a speaking part yet, but I'm doing a dance, and that's +something at the Inanity. Some one sent me a diamond brooch last week," +she added with pride, pointing to an ugly little diamond star. "What do +you think of it? You're a judge of stones, I should think, being always +in the society of burglars, as one may say." + +Gimblet examined and admired. "I'm afraid, though, I'm not really a +judge," he said. + +"That's your modesty. But, as you see, I'm prosperous. And it isn't +after the reward that I've come. Not that I'll deny that the money would +always be useful. Still, it's the ad. I'm thinking about. Will you put +my name in the paper now? 'Miss Seraphina Finner of the Inanity brings +news of the missing ladies.' That's what I'd like to see, right across a +poster." + +A flicker of interest showed itself for an instant on Gimblet's face. +"So that's it," he said to himself. + +Aloud he answered: "I don't know whether I can promise you that just +yet. It rather depends, you know. But if I am called upon to send any +communication on the subject to the press, you may be sure that, if +possible, your name shall be inserted." + +Seraphina pouted. "I call that stingy," she complained. "He might put us +on a poster, Pompom, mightn't he? He's an unkind, cruel man, he is." + +"What do you know of the missing ladies?" asked Gimblet, disregarding +these observations. + +Miss Finner assumed an air of importance. "I didn't know anything about +it till lunchtime," she said. "Not being what you'd call an early riser, +it's not often I take a squint at the newspapers unless it's in the +afternoon. But to-day a friend came to see me and we had lunch together. +By and by she begins talking about one thing and another, and presently +she says: 'Have you read about these ladies that have disappeared?' +So I said no, what was it, and she said: 'What! haven't you seen the +paper? There's an exciting bit about them in this morning's _Crier_.' +When she'd told me all she could remember, I began to get interested. I +had a feeling, you know, as if this was in my part. So I sent out for +a paper, and they brought in one of the evening editions which had the +reward and description of the ladies in it, as well as everything, or so +my friend said, that the _Crier_ had. I read it all out loud, and when +I came to the part about wearing a white dress with mauve cloak heavily +embroidered and a large amount of valuable jewellery, I said to myself: +'This, Seraphina, my dear, is where you walk on.' By the time I'd +finished the paragraph I was certain sure. It was just a fluke," said +Miss Finner reflectively, "that I ever saw that description or heard +anything about it at all, for, as I say, I don't look at the papers more +than about once in a fortnight, unless it's the notices of a new show." + +Gimblet's murmured comment might have passed for astonishment, +agreement, or merely encouragement to proceed. He thought it best to let +her tell her story in her own way. + +"It's a funny thing," she went on after a moment's silence; "it seems +somehow as if it was meant to be, doesn't it? Well, the reason why I +felt so excited, when I read the description, was because I had seen the +ladies later than anyone else. I saw them on Monday night, after they +left the opera." + +"And where did you see them?" asked Gimblet, bending over the cat, +which, having finished the cream, was rubbing itself in a friendly +fashion against his leg, where it left a covering of white hairs on his +dark trousers. "Poor pussy," he said, stroking it. + +"I was driving home from the theatre in a taxi," said Seraphina. "I +live up in Carolina Road, N.W. I don't suppose you know it; up beyond +Regent's Park, to the right, as you may say, of Maida Vale. It was a +very hot, sultry night, you remember, and I'd got the cab open so as to +get a little air. I was tired for some reason--it's not often you can +tire me--and I put my head back, and my feet on one of the back seats, +and as near as possible went off into a snooze. That's why I can't tell +you exactly which street it was in, and I'm afraid that makes it very +awkward." Miss Finner's voice was full of regret. + +"Suddenly we swung round a corner with such a bump that it roused me, +and I sat up and took notice. We were driving through a nice wide +street, with trees on each side, and good-sized houses set back in +little gardens, all separate from each other. Each garden had two gates, +and just room for a carriage to drive in and out. There wasn't a light +to be seen in one of them, and I thought how early the people in those +parts went to bye-bye. And then I caught sight of an open doorway, with +the light shining from it out into the small yard or garden in front, +and a street lamp standing exactly in front of it; so that between the +two the place was well lit up. There was a carriage just driving out +through the gate, and there were no shrubs or bushes in the garden, +nothing but a little yard it was, I think, so I could see the two ladies +standing in front of the door as plain as the nose on your face. + +"I turned round when we'd passed and stared back at them, for the street +wasn't crowded with people in gorgeous opera cloaks and blazing with +diamonds, like one of these two was. I suppose it was Mrs. Vanderstein. +She was standing a little to one side, as if she'd taken a step or two +after the carriage, and was looking after it still. She had on a white +dress, all sparkling, and a mauve or pink cloak thrown open and back on +her shoulders, so I could see the jewels flashing and shining away all +over her as right as rain, just like it says in the papers. There was +a tiara on the top of her head as big as, as--" Seraphina gazed round +searchingly for a simile--"as big as that chandelier. Oh, it can't have +been anyone else! And besides, there was the other young lady; I didn't +look at her so much, but I can swear she had a red cloak on. There now! +As soon as I read about them I remembered what I'd seen on Monday night, +and I said to my friend: 'My dear, I'm going out to keep an appointment +with my photographer. Ta-ta.' I wasn't going to let on to her, of +course. She's a bit of a cat, as a matter of fact." + +Miss Finner stopped, fixing on Gimblet a gaze full of modest pride. But +Gimblet sat, to all appearance, lost in thought. Though his eye met +hers, it was with an abstracted look, and this in spite of the fact that +Miss Finner's eyes were blue and darkly fringed. He could not fail to +observe her curls of gold, the pink transparency of her cheek, the broad +green and white stripes of her silken gown. He could not fail to hear, +whenever she moved, the jingling of bracelets, of the many charms that +were suspended from the chain around her white throat, and the merry +peal of her laugh; but all this seemed to be escaping his attention, and +Miss Finner could detect nowhere the glances of admiration, which she +considered the least that was due to her. + +Instead, he had nothing but prosaic questions for her. + +"What time do you say this was?" + +"After the theatre. Nearly midnight. I was late getting away." + +"You don't know the name of the street? Could you find your way to it +again?" + +"Afraid not, it's not the way one generally goes. I've no idea where it +was, beyond what I've told you." + +"And the house? Did you notice nothing about it to distinguish it from +its neighbours?" + +"No, I didn't look at it specially. Yes, I did, though; there was a +board with 'To Let' on it, up on the railings. The light from the lamp +showed it very clearly." + +"That's the only thing you can remember?" + +"Yes," said Seraphina. + +"You said the door was open. Could you see anything of the inside of the +house?" + +"No, or at least I didn't notice anything. There might have been some +one standing in the hall. I don't know." + +"Try and remember," urged Gimblet. + +Miss Finner shut her eyes, contracted her brows, and gave herself up to +reflection. + +"No good," she remarked, after an interval in which one might have +counted twenty. + +"Did you notice the carriage which was driving away?" + +"Can't say I did. It was a brougham, I think. I looked at the people on +the pavement." + +"Did you see lights in the house--in the windows, I mean?" + +"No, I think the only light came from the door." + +"Were you able to observe the expression on the ladies' faces?" + +"Oh no, we went by too quick for anything of that sort. I didn't notice +their faces at all, except that I believe they were both more or less +young women." + +"You can't think of anything else, however trivial?" + +Miss Finner could not. + +"If anything else comes back to me, I'll let you know," she said +hopefully. "Don't you think you can find them from what I've told you?" + +"I don't think there ought to be much difficulty in discovering the +house, or at all events the street," said the detective, "thanks for +your information, which may prove most valuable. You must allow me to +present you with the reward offered in the papers." + +After a slight show of protest she did allow him. + +"Well, I must be off now," she said, after that formality was +accomplished, and proceeded to gather her things together. "Thank you +for the tea. But, I say, don't you want to know a little more of the +beauteous stranger who is the bearer of the good tidings? You don't even +know my name." + +"Oh yes, Miss Finner, I do know it," Gimblet assured her. "You left a +card in the hall; I saw it as I came in, but I should of course be +delighted to know more of you than that." + +"Know then," said Seraphina, speaking in high, clear tones and with an +assumption of affectation, "know then that I am not what I seem. My +name, indeed, is a disguise, for my father, worthy man, was a Fynner +with a y, an obscure relation of the noble house of Fynner of Loch +Fyne. Though honest, he was poor; and my beloved and beautiful mother +came of a line as well connected and impecunious as his own. The +marriage aroused the wrath of both families, and the head of my father's +house, proud and haughty earl that he was, would never be brought to +acknowledge his unhappy cousins. I was educated in a convent, and, at +the death of my parents, found myself at the age of sixteen alone, and +without a penny in the world. Scorning to beg, I adopted the profession +of the stage, chiefly with a view to supporting an aged and suffering +relative, the aunt of my father's cousin. Now you know all there is to +know about the innocent and unfortunate daughter of a gallant gentleman, +the scion of a proud, but noble race." + +Miss Finner tilted her nose skyward and drew herself up haughtily. Then, +with a disconcerting suddenness, she winked at Gimblet, and burst into a +peal of laughter. + +"If you can't detect something fishy in that story," she cried, "you're +not the detective you're cracked up to be! But I often say that piece +about my family. A poor chap I used to know in my young days, when I +was in the provinces, made it up for me. A poet, he called himself, and +was always making up things; very pretty some of them were--if you like +that sort of thing. It was him that thought of my name, and I've never +regretted it really. But I never heard that he got anyone else to take +any notice of his composings, poor fellow." Miss Finner sighed and +looked rather sadly out of the window. "He was a good sort," she added +reminiscently; "one of the best. I put that bit in myself about being +educated in a convent," she concluded, pulling at her gloves. "It's the +usual thing." + +With a white dog under one arm and a white cat under the other, Miss +Seraphina Finner, of the Inanity, talked herself out into the hall, and, +after an interval for the purpose of regaling Gimblet with an anecdote +of her earlier struggles, finally talked herself through the door and +out of the flat altogether. + +Gimblet, returning to the little room and absently rearranging the +displaced chairs and tables in their habitual order, found it more +silent and lonely than before Seraphina had ever entered there, with her +incessant chatter, her boisterous mirth, and her happy vulgarity. As +he moved about the place, restoring to it the appearance of every-day +tidiness, his mind was busy with the information she had brought and the +question of his next move. He decided on it quickly as he was finishing +his task, and only lingered to pull back the curtain and throw open the +window, so that the odour of scent that Seraphina had bequeathed might +have an opportunity of dispersing. This he did, and then taking his hat +and a light overcoat, for the evening was chilly and the weather had +turned afresh to rain, he went down to the street and hailed a taxi. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +"Drive to the Inanity," said the detective as he got into the cab; and +when the man stopped before the theatre: "Do you know Carolina Road, +North West?" he asked him, leaning out of the window to do so. + +"Yes," the driver said. "The other side of Regent's Park, isn't it?" + +"Then go there." Gimblet drew his head back and sat down as the man let +in the clutch and the taxi started again. It was almost seven o'clock +and the roads were comparatively clear of traffic, while the pavement +seemed still more deserted, the few people who were to be seen walking +quickly to get out of the rain; but it appeared that for the most part +the world was within doors, resting after the day's work, or preparing +for the entertainments of the evening. + +The taxi went swiftly, and in a short time had drawn near to its +destination. As they left the more fashionable streets behind and passed +northward into semi-suburban districts, Gimblet leant eagerly forward, +noting every characteristic of the neighbourhood with an observant eye +and an expectant alertness. + +They soon came upon tree-lined roadways, bordered by houses that boasted +small plots of ground before their doors. Railings enclosed these plots, +and in many cases a minute carriage drive circled from the pavement to +the entrance of the house; but as they turned corner after corner and +the same scene, with slight variations, continually repeated itself, +Gimblet's hopes gave way to an incredulous disappointment, for of all +these dwellings not one answered to the description given by Miss +Finner. She had mentioned particularly that the house he was looking for +stood alone in its little garden; but in all the streets traversed by +the detective not so much as a cottage was to be seen of the kind known +technically as "detached." + +They turned at length into Carolina Road and the driver slowed up, +looking round as he did so for instructions. + +Again Gimblet's head went out of the window. + +"Go back towards the theatre," he said, "but go another way," and after +much noise and backing--for the street was a narrow one--the cab turned, +and off they started again. + +Rain was falling heavily by this time in a cold, persistent downpour. +The wind blew chill from the west, and the detective, all a-shiver on +this summer's evening, told himself, as he drew up the windward pane, +that there must be icebergs sailing down the North Atlantic. He wrapped +his coat closer around him, and hugged himself in a corner of the taxi. +Again they splashed and bumped over the muddy, streaming macadam; the +water swished from the wheels; the driver cowered under his shining +waterproof screen; and the car skidded unpleasantly as they swung round +corners and narrowly avoided collision with other vehicles in the same +plight. + +Gimblet kept a look-out no less sharp than before, but with no better +result. Here were houses, indeed, in plenty, here were gardens and +carriage gates, and dripping trees; but here was no single detached +building of any shape or kind whatsoever. Another drive Gimblet took, +following devious ways. He felt inclined to ring at Miss Finner's door +and reproach her with inaccuracy; but she had not told him the number +in Carolina Road of the house she lived in. Besides, at this hour she +would be at the theatre preparing to remove the apple which young Tell +was undauntedly balancing. + +For an unpleasant moment the detective wondered if she had merely made +a mistake, or whether the whole tale were a fabrication. He remembered +uneasily the readiness with which he had accepted it and his urgent +pressing upon the voluble lady of the reward offered in the papers. No +doubt she was laughing at his gullibility, and regaling her friends with +an embellished account of how easily she had taken in the well-known +detective. Gimblet's lips tightened as he thought of it. Was he becoming +unduly credulous in his old age? There was the story Sidney had told +him, too. He had assured himself that he had kept an open mind as to +the truth of it, and had reserved his opinion till proofs were offered +him; but, as a matter of fact, as he now acknowledged sardonically, he +had believed every word spoken by the young man, and allowed himself +to be absurdly influenced by an honest face and an appearance of frank +trustfulness. + +"A nice sort of detective you are!" said Gimblet to his reflection in +the little slip of looking-glass that adorned the cab; and he cried to +the driver to go back to Whitehall. + +Higgs was waiting for him, and reported that he had taken a second +advertisement to the advertising agents, and that he had also been to +most of the principal taxi garages, where he had made inquiries and +posted notices. + +"The man is sure to turn up to-morrow morning, sir," he said. + +In the morning there was no news. Gimblet telephoned to Grosvenor Street +and was himself called up by Sidney. To him he replied coldly that +so far he had nothing to report. Directly after breakfast Sir Gregory +arrived, panting. "I couldn't get you on the telephone," he said. "Have +you heard nothing?" + +"I had an answer to my advertisement," replied Gimblet, "but I am afraid +the information brought me was quite unreliable." + +He told Sir Gregory in a few words of Miss Finner's visit. + +"I tested her story pretty severely yesterday," he said, "but there +still remains a chance that the man who drove her may appear, and be +able to remember the exact route by which he took her on Monday night. +There is no doubt her own account is so inaccurate as to be worthless; +and it is possible," he added, owning the secret dread he could not keep +from his thoughts, "that she was only indulging in a kind of practical +joke." + +Sir Gregory was beginning to show the effect of his days of anxiety. +Though his face was still pink, the lines on it seemed to have become +deeper and more numerous, and he had the weary, listless air of one to +whom sleep has denied herself. Gimblet was not anxious for his company, +but Sir Gregory would not be shaken off. The detective said he had +letters to write and business that must be attended to; but was met by a +pleading request to be allowed to remain, in case the taxi driver should +make his appearance. + +"I don't know what to do with myself if I go away," said Sir Gregory +miserably. "If I am here I feel that, if any news does come, I shan't +have to wait longer than is necessary for it. Nothing like being at +headquarters." + +Finally Gimblet consented to his staying, and himself withdrew into +another room with a bundle of papers that needed his attention. When he +went back after an hour's work to the library, where he had left Sir +Gregory surrounded by newspapers and books, he found these cast aside or +strewn on the floor and the baronet himself standing by the telephone, +in the act of hanging up the receiver. + +"I got tired of reading," he explained; "nothing of interest in the +papers, or I can't take any interest in them, whichever it is; so I +just thought I'd call up young Sidney, and tell him about the ladies +having been seen by that young woman. Relieve his anxiety, poor chap, to +have some one to talk about it to." On the incidental relief to his own +feelings afforded by having a listener into whose ears to pour them, Sir +Gregory did not think it necessary to expatiate. + +Gimblet showed his vexation. + +"Really, Sir Gregory, you might have known better than to put him on his +guard in that way! Supposing there's anything in Chark's suspicions, +don't you see that the more complete Sidney thinks our ignorance and +mystification, the better? While, as soon as he knows us to be on the +track, we lose any advantage we may have?" + +"But--but you said you didn't suspect him!" stammered Sir Gregory, +dumfounded. + +"I didn't say so. I said there was no reason to take a tragic view or +to suspect anyone at all at first. I certainly do not accuse anyone +now. But day after day is passing, and the matter looks very much more +serious with each succeeding hour. It seems impossible, if all were +well, that the ladies should not have communicated with their friends +before now. This is Thursday. They vanished on Monday. I have been +anxious to spare you, Sir Gregory. I know you have been only too ready +to imagine the worst, and I did not wish to add to your fears; but this +is the third day without news, and it is impossible to disguise any +longer that you have grave reason for them." + +Poor Sir Gregory's last hopes flickered and were extinguished. + +"You think--you think----" he murmured. + +"I think there is cause for grave anxiety, but that is not to say that +I am without hope. Far from it. Still, it is necessary to act with +caution; and it was most imprudent of you to tell Sidney that we had +heard anything. It is true that what we have heard is probably a mare's +nest, but in any case there is no need to go blurting things out like +that." + +Sir Gregory paid little attention to what Gimblet was saying. "So you +do think Sidney may know more of this business than he admits," he +repeated, half to himself. "Well, perhaps it was a pity I spoke to him +just now, though I don't see what harm it can do either. The question +is, what do you think he's done with her? Do you think"--Sir Gregory's +voice seemed to fail him but he cleared his throat and continued with a +gulp--"he's killed her?" + +The words came with a rush, and the question was plainer than Gimblet +cared to answer. "I don't think anything," he replied, still rather +testily, "but I must consider everything and anything possible. At +present it is all mere suspicion, but things look rather black, though +not only against Sidney. As a matter of personal opinion I incline to +the idea that that young man is innocent; still, I can't admit his +character cleared on that account. I've no evidence worth mentioning one +way or the other." + +"Who else are you thinking of, when you say things look black against +others than Sidney?" asked Sir Gregory eagerly. "I have thought myself, +that, perhaps, the servants----" + +"Mrs. Vanderstein's servants? I don't think they can have anything to +do with it. It would have been impossible for one of them to have got +rid of the two ladies, while they were at home, without the knowledge +of the others. And we can hardly contemplate the possibility of an +organised conspiracy at present. The chauffeur and footman, you think, +may have disposed of them by some means when they were supposed to be +driving to the opera? But the chauffeur is an old and trusted servant, +and, moreover, the box opener says that the ladies occupied their +box. There is also the night watchman, who is an ex-corporal of the +Foot-guards, and whose character is of the best. Suppose that, on their +late return to the house, he let them in quietly, as it was his business +to do, and then killed them both in order to possess himself of Mrs. +Vanderstein's jewels. The difficulties that would then confront him +before he could dispose of the bodies would be well nigh insurmountable, +even if it were possible for him to silence two women simultaneously so +effectively as to prevent anyone in the house from being aroused. The +probabilities are strongly against the night watchman's having anything +to do with it; and, indeed, I think all the servants may safely be left +out of the reckoning." + +"Then who can have harmed them?" Sir Gregory asked. + +"I hesitate to mention anything more to you, Sir Gregory, after your +recent injudicious conduct. However, I don't think you'd be able to warn +the other person upon whom suspicion may fall. It is odd that it should +not have occurred to our friend Chark that Sidney is not the only one +who would benefit by Mrs. Vanderstein's death," said Gimblet. + +"Why, what do you mean; who would benefit?" + +"Surely you know. It was you that told me." + +"I told you?" Sir Gregory looked the picture of bewilderment. "I don't +know anyone, except, of course, Miss Turner, who would be a penny the +better if my dear friend should die." + +"Exactly." Gimblet, his chin on his hand, gazed over Sir Gregory's head +at his newly-discovered Teniers, which he had found time to hang up in a +central position. "A little further to the right, and it would be still +better," he thought. + +But Sir Gregory was bounding in his chair. "Miss Turner! Impossible! A +young girl, sir! You don't know what you are saying." + +"I thought you disliked her." Gimblet was very calm, almost indifferent. + +"That's a very different thing from thinking her capable ... surely it's +impossible.... What makes you suspect her?" Sir Gregory finished by +asking, his curiosity getting the better of his incredulity. + +"I don't say I suspect her," Gimblet answered patiently. "I say that +suspicion might possibly fall on her more reasonably than on Mr. Sidney, +with whom, by the way, I think she is in love." + +"Really, how do you know that?" + +"I have evidence that she sympathised very deeply with his troubles, and +carried her sympathy to a length unusual in young ladies for men to whom +they are not attached. I saw him last Sunday in the company of a girl, +who I think must have been she. If it was, there is no doubt about the +thing. Anyone could see it in her face at a glance." + +"Still, if that were so, I don't see why she should injure Mrs. +Vanderstein." + +"Love is a very common prompter of crime. I don't say it is likely, but +it is not impossible that this young woman, knowing Sidney to be in +terrible straits for want of money, his career threatened, heaven knows +what other threats on his tongue, should be prepared to go to desperate +lengths to procure him what he needs. You never can tell what they will +do in such cases; and the one piece of real evidence that I have shows +that she did not mean to sit by idle while her lover went to his ruin." + +Gimblet took Barbara's telegraph form from his notebook, and spread it +on the table before him. "Look at this," he said; and Sir Gregory got up +and peered eagerly over his shoulder, eyeglasses on nose. + + "Luck is coming your way at last expect to have good news by + Wednesday removing all difficulties." + +"There's no signature. Who is it from?" he asked. + +"It is from Miss Turner. I was able to get this form from the post +office and to compare it with a specimen of her handwriting," said +Gimblet. "The absence of signature alone looks as if a good deal of +intimacy exists between her and Sidney, though the name may possibly +have been omitted accidentally." + +"But what could she mean?" + +"Her meaning is plain enough. She promises Sidney that the money he +wants shall be forthcoming. I do not know how much he requires, but he +told me that the sum is a large one. Now, how was she going to get a +large sum by Wednesday?" + +"She might raise something on the legacy from old Vanderstein, in which +his widow has a life interest," suggested the baronet. + +"I don't know the exact conditions of the will; but, supposing she dies +before Mrs. Vanderstein, what happens?" + +"I don't know," Sir Gregory confessed. + +"If it reverts to Mrs. Vanderstein, there wouldn't be much security to +borrow money on. In any case, there is little difference between the +ages of the two ladies, and rates would be very high. She might not be +able to raise nearly enough, even if she could get any at all," said +Gimblet. + +"It would be too terrible if a girl like that so much as lifted a finger +against one who has been the soul of kindness to her," Sir Gregory +repeated. + +"Ah, Sir Gregory, terrible indeed! But terrible things happen every day. +Let a crisis arise, and you never know who may not surprise and horrify +you by showing the cloven hoof. I hope that Miss Turner is entirely +innocent of all knowledge of this affair, but there are two points which +are against her." + +"And what are they?" + +"One is her parentage. I have been making inquiries about her father, +and find that William Turner was a most unholy scoundrel, a man who +would shrink at nothing to gain his ends, always escaping the penalties +of the law by the skin of his teeth. He slipped from beneath the hand +of justice over and over again, and finally bolted to South America, +where he is reported to have died. Suppose that there was no truth in +that rumour? Suppose he should in reality have returned to Europe, that +he is even now in England, in London, his presence unknown to anyone +but his daughter? With such a man to instigate her to crime, who can +say what the girl might not venture? In any case she has bad blood in +her; and there is much truth, Sir Gregory, in the old saying that 'blood +will tell,' despite the socialistic opinions to the contrary which now +prevail." + +"True enough," murmured the baronet. He was leaning forward listening +intently to Gimblet's every word. "But you said there were two points +against her." + +"Yes. The second is what may have prevented you from suspecting her +before. It is the fact that she appears to have been spirited away +as well as Mrs. Vanderstein. Well, if there has been foul play--which +heaven forbid, but we must consider all the possibilities now--if, +I say, the vanishing of these ladies has its origin in crime, the +disappearance of Miss Turner is the most suspicious part of the whole +affair. For why in the world should she share with Mrs. Vanderstein +the attentions of any hypothetical criminal? She had no diamonds to be +robbed of; she did not go about covered with jewels, having none of +any value to display. She could only be an additional danger, and one +that no ordinary robber would willingly burden himself with, since her +presence could be no possible source of profit. + +"No, it seems clear that if Mrs. Vanderstein were to be decoyed away +and murdered for her jewels it would be on an occasion when she was +unattended by her companion. So far, Sir Gregory, you may take that +as an encouragement to think that she is uninjured. It is indeed a +most hopeful sign, and one of the reasons why I have refused, until +to-day, to take a gloomy view of the business. Still, why has the girl +disappeared? We are driven back on the supposition that she did so of +her own free will; and, if that was the case, what was her purpose? +Remember, all this is the merest theory, which it would be ridiculous to +accept before we obtain further facts by which to test it. At present +we have a very insufficient acquaintance with anything that does not +involve these wild conjectures." As he finished speaking, Gimblet took +out his watch and gazed at it long and significantly. + +With a sigh, Sir Gregory was at last obliged to take the hint. It was +luncheon time: the footsteps of Higgs as he journeyed between the +kitchen and the dining-room; the clatter of the dishes as he placed them +upon the table or sideboard; the delicious smell of pie that was wafted +in whenever the door was opened--all these proclaimed that the hour +had sounded on the stroke of which it was Gimblet's custom to take his +place before the dining table, full of the pleasantest anticipations. +He was an eccentric gourmet, devising for himself meals in which +strange dishes appeared in the menu, and he had an excellent cook, who +was content to humour his taste and to labour secretly to prevent his +poisoning himself altogether; so that, when he ordered fried oysters +and Schwalbach _souffle_ for luncheon, or lobster and chocolate ice for +dinner, she would intersperse what she considered more wholesome dishes, +such as legs of mutton and rice puddings, among those he had chosen for +himself, in the vain hope that they might tempt him from his dangerous +combinations. He gave up remonstrating with her after a while, although +he refused to be coerced into eating what he did not like, and his +persistent neglect to partake of the rice puddings caused such distress +in the kitchen that Higgs fell into the habit of removing a spoonful +from them before he cleared them away, and consumed it himself rather +than that the cook should what he called "take on." + +To tell the truth, Sir Gregory was not without hope that Gimblet would +have asked him to stay to lunch; but it was plain to the most sanguine +that the detective had no such intention, and with hesitating reluctance +the baronet was obliged to depart. He turned in the doorway, however, to +say firmly: "I shall come back this afternoon," and then hurried away +before Gimblet had time to put into words the objection his lips were +struggling to form. + +Sir Gregory walked to his club, and regaled himself on cold lamb and a +glass of claret. He had no appetite, and soon pushed away his plate and +wandered into the smoking-room, where he fidgeted about, disconsolate +and dejected. Several members whom he knew, aware of his friendship with +the ladies whose mysterious disappearance was by now arousing general +interest and, as a topic, shared the favour of the newspapers with the +preparations for the Royal function that was to take place during the +following week, came up to him and tried to get him to talk about it. +But if they hoped to glean from him some grains of gossip beyond the +reach of common knowledge, too scandalous possibly for a decorous press, +wherewith they should proceed to acquire a libellous popularity among +their acquaintances, these gentlemen were to know the leaden flavour +of disappointment. Sir Gregory, with the sting of Gimblet's reproaches +fresh in his mind, shut his mouth like a vice at any attempt to turn +the conversation in the forbidden direction, and scowled as horribly +at his friends as his naturally amiable cast of countenance rendered +practicable; so that they soon moved off, telling each other that old +Jones was becoming a cantankerous old fool and seemed likely to go off +his head altogether, as far as they could judge. + +It happened in this way that the baronet found himself more and more +neglected and alone; till, after standing it for a couple of hours, he +could at last bear no longer a state of things as disastrous to his +nerves as it was wearing to his temper. About half-past four he put his +pride in his pocket, and leaving the smoking-room caught up his hat and +hastened from the building. Ten minutes later he was again ringing at +Gimblet's door. + +Scarcely had he been ushered into the detective's presence than the bell +rang again, and Higgs came in to say that a taxi driver had arrived in +answer to an advertisement, and asked to see Mr. Gimblet. + +To Sir Gregory's despair Gimblet at once left him, and called the man +into the little waiting-room. + +"Good afternoon," he said to the taxi man, an intelligent looking fellow +with a clean-shaven face, who returned his greeting civilly as he +followed him into the room; "are you the man who drove a lady from the +Inanity on Monday night to a house in Carolina Road?" + +"That's me, sir," answered the man, "leastways, as you may say, I drove +one of them there." + +"What?" said Gimblet. "Was there more than one?" + +"Yes, sir, there was two young ladies when I took them up, but only one +of them went to Carolina Road." + +"What happened to the other?" + +"I took her to another address first, sir," said the driver; "I forget +the exact number, but somewhere about half-way down Hilliard Street +it was, and on the right hand side as I went. That's Maida Vale way, +Hilliard Street is." + +"And you went there first," cried the detective, "why then, of course +I see it all now; the lady only told me she went from the theatre to +Carolina Road, and my not knowing of the detour you made on the way has +led me to some wrong conclusions." + +"To Hilliard Street first. Those were the orders they give me," repeated +the man. + +"Yes, of course," said Gimblet. "Now, as you drove on from there to +Carolina Road, do you by any chance remember seeing two ladies, very +richly dressed, standing in front of the open door of a house, which had +a small garden or yard between it and the street?" + +"Now you're asking me a riddle," said the taxi man. "I may have seen two +ladies, or again I may have seen a hundred of them, or I mayn't have +seen none at all. That's more than I could tell you." + +"You didn't happen to notice any particular two?" + +"No, sir, I did not. If I was to go driving about the streets a-looking +at all the pretty ladies I see about, I'd be troubling the insurance +people a bit too often. I keep my eyes on what's in the roadway and that +takes me all my time, I don't think." + +"Quite so," said Gimblet. "Of course you are perfectly right not to +look about you. Well now, perhaps you could tell me this. In going from +Hilliard Street to Carolina Road, would you pass through a row of single +detached houses on the way? Houses all standing in their own gardens +some little way apart from each other?" + +The man considered, mumbling to himself the names of the streets, as +he made a mental journey along the route the detective indicated. In a +minute he looked up. + +"There's Scholefield Avenue," he suggested, "that's all little places +like what you say." + +"Did you go by it on Monday?" asked Gimblet. + +"I did, sir. It's about half-way. There isn't no other street on the +road with the houses all separate like that, so far's I can recollect. +I've got me cab down at the door, sir; why don't you jump in and let me +take you along to see for yourself?" + +"I think that's exactly what I will do," said Gimblet. "You go down and +I'll follow in a moment." + +Gimblet was all eagerness. Here at last he seemed to be off on a +definite scent, and he leapt to it all the more keenly for last night's +check. The door had not closed upon the driver of the taxi before the +detective had decided in his mind more than one question requiring an +answer. First, he would take Higgs, secondly, he would not take Sir +Gregory. He tiptoed along the passage, and noiselessly turned the handle +of the pantry door. + +"Higgs," he said, "I am going out to have a look at a certain house. I +may want you. Get ready to come. I give you three minutes." + +As quietly, he repaired to his own bedroom, and going to a cupboard +made a rapid selection of various small articles, which he stuffed in +his pockets. Then, opening a drawer, he took out a Browning pistol, and +that also was stowed away. He stood an instant in the middle of the room +with his head on one side, tugging absently at his ear. Had he forgotten +anything? Ah, he knew what it was, and springing back to a shelf he +seized and added to his collection a box of chocolates. "One never knows +when one will get back from these sort of jaunts," he said to himself, +"and I have been very hungry before now on my hunting trips." + +One more look round satisfied him that he had everything he could +imaginably need, and he returned to the hall, where Higgs was waiting by +the door. + +A minute more and they would have got clear away, but at the very +instant that Gimblet, hurrying quietly towards his servant, snatched +at his hat and lifted it to his head, the library door opened, and Sir +Gregory's pink and anxious countenance peered out on him. + +"Mr. Gimblet," he cried, "where are you off to? The taxi man brought +news then; and you would go without telling me! No, don't let me delay +you," as Gimblet paused, hesitating, "I will come with you wherever you +are going, and you shall tell me on the way," and grasping his hat and +stick, the baronet prepared to accompany the others. + +There was no help for it, and the detective surrendered at once. Indeed, +the anxious face reproached him, and he knew he had been patently a +little less willing to endure Sir Gregory's society than was, under the +circumstances, altogether charitable. The poor man's distress, though it +made him rather a depressing companion, bore witness to the kindness +of his heart and was if anything a circumstance entirely to his credit; +and the accident that he bored Gimblet ought not really to be allowed to +prevent him from participating in the rescue of his friends, if rescue +there were to be. + +"Come along, Sir Gregory," said Gimblet. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Scholefield Avenue was a short street of moderate-sized houses, which, +when they were built, had stood at the extreme margin of what was then a +suburb; indeed, some of the original tenants had called it the country. +There was considerable variety of appearance about them, but they were +alike in one respect: each stood apart from its neighbours, in grounds +that differed in extent from a tiny yard to half an acre. Thus No. 1, at +the south-eastern corner, possessed a large kitchen garden running back +a long way, with outbuildings at the further end, a stable, with a coach +house on one side of the stable gate, and a chicken house and run on the +other. The old lady who lived at No. 1 was very proud of the fact that +she supplied herself with vegetables, eggs, and poultry all the year +round, though, as she was fond of saying, her house was within three +miles of the Marble Arch. She often thought of keeping a cow. + +No. 3, next door, had hardly any garden behind it at all, the ground +that should by rights have belonged to it having been bought up by No. 1 +in former days and added to its own; and this caused an unneighbourly +feeling to exist between the two houses, which was inherited by each +successive occupier of No. 3. Most of the other dwellings in the street +were more equally provided with land; and the row came to an end with +No. 17, a very small house surrounded by nothing more interesting than +an asphalt path, with a thin hedge of laurel between it and the outer +railings. Some of the houses showed the large, high window of a studio. +On the opposite side of the road the same variety existed. + +The taxi containing Gimblet, Sir Gregory, and Higgs drove slowly down +the street, and was more than halfway along it when the detective caught +sight of the board "To Let" for which he was looking. It adorned the +railings of No. 6, which stood on the left hand side as they went north. + +They stopped after they had turned the corner, and got out of the cab. +Gimblet paid and dismissed it, and they walked back to No. 6. + +It did not look very promising, presenting a shuttered and unbroken +front to the spectator, and bearing marks of age and disrepair. The gate +swung on a broken hinge, and, in the cold wind that was still blowing, +a door at the back banged every now and then with uncontrolled and +unprofitable violence. + +Higgs, at a sign from Gimblet, rang the bell and stood aside, while they +waited for some one to answer it. For a few minutes they heard nothing +but the jar of the banging door and the rustle of the wind in the trees +that lined the street; then they were aware of a slatternly woman, +carrying a wooden bucket in her hand, who was trying to attract their +attention from the steps of the house next door. + +"If you gentleman are a-ringing," she began, addressing them in a shout +over the intervening bushes, "a-thinking, as it might be, by so doing +to get into that there house, it ain't no good; you can't do it. There +ain't no one in it." + +"Who's got the key?" Gimblet cried back to her. + +"I've got it meself. I'll come round and unlock the door." + +Descending the steps as she spoke she proceeded to make her way into +the street, and so in at the swinging gate of No. 6. + +"'Ave you got a horder from the hagents?" she demanded when she arrived. +"No? Well, I don't mind you having a look at the 'ouse all the same, if +you're set on it. There ain't much to see, I reckon, but a lot of dirt +and litter." + +As she spoke she inserted the key in the lock, and opened the door. Sir +Gregory, who was nearest, was about to enter, but Gimblet laid a hand +upon his arm. + +"Please, Sir Gregory, I must pass before you to-day," he said, and +putting him gently on one side he stepped across the threshold. The +woman was in the act of following, but he motioned her back, and stood +for a moment staring at the floor. Then he turned to her. + +"I see on the board that the house is to be let unfurnished, or would be +sold," he said, "and I understand it has been empty a considerable time. +Can you tell me how long it is since anyone has been to look at it?" + +"It's stood hempty more'n two years," said the woman, "so I've 'eard +say. There ain't been no one come to look at it since I've been 'ere. +I'm caretaking, I am, for a party what live next door. 'E's away in +foreign parts, that's where 'e is, and time I've been a-caretaking for +'im you're the first what's asked to see the hinside of this yere +'ouse." + +"And how long have you been caretaking here, do you say?" Gimblet +inquired. + +"I've been 'ere a matter of four months come next Monday," replied the +woman. + +"Thanks," said Gimblet; and turned again towards the interior of the +building. He bent down, and looked close at the bare boards of the +passage, on which lay the dust and dirt that accumulates in an empty +house. Then as an idea struck him he stood upright again. + +"I don't think we will bother to go over the house," he said to the +woman. "I fear it wouldn't suit me. At all events, you can perhaps tell +me one more thing I am anxious to know," he continued, coming out of the +house and facing the street. "There was another board up in this street +about a week ago, but I see they have taken it down. Do you know which +number it was, and whether the house has been let?" + +"Why yes, sir, they 'ave been and took down the board from No. 13," said +the caretaker, "took it down beginning of the week, they did. But the +'ouse's let, I think; it won't be no good your going after it. If it's a +furnished 'ouse you're looking for, I see a board hup in the next street +t'other day. Little Cumberland Street." + +"Thank you very much," said Gimblet. "I'll take a look at it if I find +No. 13 is let. Good morning, and I'm sorry to have troubled you." + +They left the woman to lock up the house and return to her caretaking, +and started off up the street. + +Sir Gregory went reluctantly, visibly hanging back. + +"Look here," he said to Gimblet, "why don't you go over that house? It +wouldn't take a minute. Supposing they've got her shut up in an empty +room at the top somewhere. Much better make sure." + +"My dear Sir Gregory, no one has been in that house for months; the +dust was deep on the floor and there were no signs of its having been +disturbed recently. Do you think two women in long evening dresses could +go in without leaving some mark of their passage so short a time ago. +Their dresses would either have swept away some of the dust or, if they +held them high, their footmarks would have remained. It is impossible +that No. 6 is the house, unless some one has spread fresh dust in the +hall since Monday. Besides, it is very improbable that they should +have gone to such a deserted, filthy building, and, on the contrary, +more than likely that they should go to a house that had just been +let. I felt sure there must have been a board up at another house in +this street when Miss Finner passed, as soon as I looked at the floor. +Come, here is No. 13, and I have a feeling that we shall find it a more +profitable hunting ground." + +Gimblet opened, as he spoke, the gate of No. 13, and took a rapid +scrutiny of its exterior as he walked quickly up the short distance that +separated it from the road. + +It showed a striking contrast to the forlorn and gloomy front offered +to the world by the house they had just visited. No. 13 was spick and +span; its white walls and shutters shone with the brightness of new +paint; a neat grass plot, with a diminutive carriage drive winding in +a half-circle round it, divided it from the railings of the street, +the whole occupying no more than a few square yards of space. On each +side of the flight of steps that led up to the front door there was a +little triangular flower bed, gay with pansies, and, as the three men +approached, the sun, breaking for the first time that day through the +dilatory dispersal of the clouds, cast a shining beam about the place +and was caught and reflected from the surface of the windows. + +The change in the day was not without its effect even on Sir Gregory, +and as he watched Higgs spring forward to ring the bell a new and sudden +inrush of hope mounted to his heart. + +"I have an excuse by which we may get into the house if they seem +disinclined to admit us," Gimblet was murmuring in his ear. "Back me up +in all I say, but leave the chief part of the talking to me." + +They waited eagerly, with eyes fixed on the door and ears strained to +catch the sound of footsteps; but minutes passed and no such sound +greeted them. Higgs rang again; the loud pealing of the bell could be +heard jingling itself to a standstill in the basement, and must surely +be audible all over the house. Still no one came, and he tried the area +with no better result. Leaving Higgs to continue his efforts, Gimblet +backed across the little lawn, and looked up at the windows to see if he +could detect any sign of life. + +There were muslin curtains in the bedroom windows and he tried in vain +to catch sight of a pair of eyes peeping from behind one of them; but +not a movement was visible anywhere. The shutters of the drawing-room +were closed, and the parapet of the broad balcony shut them out from +a searching inspection, which was still further impeded by a wide +wooden stand which took up most of the balcony, and extended its whole +length. In it were planted flowers, tall daisies and geraniums, which +appeared somewhat withered and neglected, and, with the closed shutters, +contributed the only hint of disorder in the clean and cheerful aspect +of the house. + +The detective made his way round to the back. Here the ground fell away, +and the basement appeared on the surface instead of below the level of +the ground. Another and longer flight of iron steps led up to a door +used, no doubt, to give access to the garden. There was no bell here, +and the door, of which Gimblet tried the handle, was locked. Through +the windows of the basement he could see into the kitchen, clean and +orderly as the outside of the house, with white tiled walls and rows +of shining stewpans. The table was bare, he noticed, and no fire burnt +in the grate; on a summer's evening such as this it might well have +been allowed to go out. On the other side of the steps he looked into +what must be the scullery, and beyond this was a larder; over these was +a small window into which he could not see, while above the kitchen +a large one was hidden, like those of the drawing-room, by outside +shutters. The back window of the first floor, however, and all the other +windows at the back of the house were without shutters, and veiled only +by curtains of white muslin. + +Gimblet took a hasty survey of the garden. It was not large, extending +back for some sixty or seventy yards from the house, but bright with +flowers and green with lawn and leaf; trees surrounded it on all sides, +now golden in the rays of the descending sun; and a high wall gave it +privacy from an inquisitive world. Here again the beds were dappled +with pansies; here were pinks and poppies, daisies and tall larkspurs, +with such other flowers as could be induced to derive nourishment from +the unrefreshing showers of smuts, which was their daily portion. By +the end wall was a hut, of which the door yielded to Gimblet's touch, +and disclosed a mowing machine in one corner, some garden implements +in another, and a potting bench with boxes of mould and some packets +of seeds; by the door were stacked a few red pots. Gimblet stood for a +moment looking in, and then went back to the front of the house. + +Here he found Sir Gregory engaged in conversation with an elderly man, +whose velvet coat and the paint brush he carried stuck behind his ear +suggested that he was an artist. He introduced himself as the detective +came up. + +"Mr. Gimblet, I think," said he; "my name is Brampton. I live next +door," and he waved his hand towards the south. + +Gimblet ground his teeth as he realised that Sir Gregory had given away +his identity, but he replied civilly that it was indeed he. + +"Although only a stay-at-home painter, I have heard of you," said the +new-comer; "but of course I had no idea who was ringing, when I came +round. My wife saw your friends at the door here, and suggested that I +should come and tell you that she believes there is no one in the house. +We heard that it was let, and the other day a man came and took down +the board, but my wife says that no one has been seen to go in or leave +the house for several days; she and the servants are of opinion that +it is empty at the present moment, and that the new tenant has not yet +arrived." + +"Indeed," said Gimblet, "I am grateful for your information; but I have +some reason to think that the new tenant took possession some time ago." + +"It can hardly be very long," observed Brampton, "for the Mills, to whom +it belongs, only went away last week." + +"Really," said Gimblet, "you interest me. Who are the Mills? Do you know +them at all?" + +"Most certainly I do. They are great friends of ours, and their having +to go away like this is a sad loss to us. Arthur Mill is the son of an +old acquaintance of mine--a manufacturer of glass--and is employed in +his father's business. His wife is a charming woman, and we are devoted +to them both. It was only lately decided that he was to go abroad, to +look after a branch of the business in Italy, and they had very little +time to make arrangements about letting their house. They only left on +Friday last, and it was a great surprise to us to hear on Monday that +the house had been let." + +"Did you hear who had taken it?" inquired Gimblet. + +"I think I did hear the man's name, but I am afraid I have forgotten +it. My wife saw a charwoman going in on Monday morning whom she often +employs herself, so she ran in here, as she told me, to ask her what she +was doing, as the house had been all cleaned up on Friday and Saturday +after the Mills left. The charwoman said she had been sent in by the +house agents to see if anything remained to be put in order, as the new +tenant, or so she understood, wanted to go in at once. That is all we +heard; but as no one has been seen or heard about the place since that +day it looks as if they had changed their minds." + +"Thanks very much," said Gimblet. "If you could tell me the name of the +agents I think my best plan is to go and try to get the key from them, +as it seems impossible to rouse anyone here." + +"Ennidge and Pring are the agents; in Sentinel Street, about ten +minutes' walk from here. You'll have to be quick, or you won't catch +them. They're sure to close at six." + +"I will go now," said Gimblet, and he drew Higgs on one side. "Higgs," +he said, "keep an eye on the front of the house, and if anyone comes out +and you fail to detain him, follow him, leaving Sir Gregory to watch the +house. In the meantime, let him watch the back. I shall be back soon if +I can get a taxi." + +He started off, Mr. Brampton accompanying him as far as his own door +and pointing out the way to Sentinel Street. At the gate they glanced +back at the shuttered first floor windows and the faded flowers on the +balcony. + +"Mrs. Mill would be terribly upset if she saw how her flowers are being +neglected," said Mr. Brampton. "She is so very fond of her garden, and +is always watering and attending to her plants. A man is to come once a +week, on Saturday mornings, to look after the garden and mow the lawn, +and I shall tell him to insist on watering the balcony boxes. That's +your way now, up the street and bear to the left. Ah, there's a taxi." + +A cab had indeed that moment turned into the street, and Gimblet hailed +it and drove rapidly to the offices of Messrs. Ennidge and Pring, house +agents. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +Mr. Ennidge was a short, middle-aged man, with grey hair, and a +mild, benignant eye, which gazed at you vaguely through gold-rimmed +spectacles. Mr. Pring, his partner, tall, thin, nervous and excitable, +was the very antithesis of him, and that is possibly why they got on so +well together. While Mr. Pring was always able to display enthusiasm in +regard to the properties he had to dispose of, to the people who were +inquiring for houses, and was never at a loss when it was necessary to +explain that what the intending client took for geese were really swans, +he was apt to relapse into gloom when called upon to deal with would-be +sellers, or those who had houses to let and were disappointed with the +rent obtainable, or the failure of Ennidge and Pring to procure them a +tenant at any price. He was then only too likely, if left to himself, to +disclose his plain and truthful opinion as to their property. This was +seldom productive of good results, for, as a rule, the transference of +the property in question to the books of another agent followed these +outbursts; and, Ennidge and Pring's business being a small one, they +could not afford to lose customers. + +It was in such cases, however, that Mr. Ennidge was seen at his best. It +was he who, with friendly smile and hopeful, encouraging word, cheered +the downhearted householder and sent him away with confidence restored, +convinced once more that a tenant would shortly be forthcoming to whom +the absence of a bath-room, of a back door, of gas or hot water laid on, +and the presence of blackened ceilings, wallpaper hanging in strips, and +dirt-encrusted paint, would if anything prove a veritable inducement to +clinch a bargain most satisfactory to the landlord. + +Mr. Pring had already left the office when Gimblet arrived on the +scene, and in another quarter of an hour he would have found it wholly +deserted. He gave his card to the only clerk of the establishment, who +took it in to the little inner room, where he was immediately received +by the smiling Mr. Ennidge; and to him he quickly stated his business. + +"There can be no possible objection to my giving you all the information +in my power with regard to the gentleman who has taken 13 Scholefield +Avenue," said the house agent, "and since you cannot get an answer at +the house I will send down my clerk with the key to let you in and +assist, if necessary, in explaining matters to the tenant, if he should +be discovered to be there after all. A very eccentric gentleman, I +fancy, and something of a recluse. I could not, of course, take it on +myself to use the spare key, which the owner happens to have left with +us, at the request of a less well-known and responsible person than +yourself, if I may say so, Mr. Gimblet; but since the capture of the +forgers at the Great Continental last year, your name, sir, has been +in every one's mouth; and you will allow me to add that I am, although +hitherto unknown, one of your most fervent admirers." + +Thus was it ever Mr. Ennidge's pleasant way to oil the wheels of +intercourse with his fellows. + +"The name of the tenant of No. 13," he continued, "is Mr. West, Mr. +Henry West. He has taken the house for a month with the option of +taking it on for a year or longer; and I fancy he must be a man of +means, as the offer which he made appears to be an unusually high +one--unnecessarily so, I may say, between you and me, Mr. Gimblet; but +in the interests of our client, the owner of the lease, I need hardly +tell you we did not quarrel with him on that account!" + +"What aged man is he?" inquired Gimblet. + +"I really can hardly tell you," replied Mr. Ennidge. "The fact is that I +myself have not yet seen him. Both I and my partner happened to be out +when Mr. West came to the office, and he made all the arrangements with +our clerk. Perhaps you would like him to come in?" + +"I should be glad to ask him a few questions," said Gimblet. + +Mr. Ennidge put his head into the outer office. + +"Tremmels," he called, with his hand on the door. "Just come in here a +moment." + +The clerk appeared, a white-faced young Londoner, showing very plainly +the effects of an indoor life and long, hot hours spent upon an office +stool; he moved languidly, as if every step were an exertion almost too +great to repeat, and stood before Gimblet in a drooping attitude of +fatigue. + +"Mr. Gimblet wants to hear about the tenant of No. 13 Scholefield +Avenue," Mr. Ennidge told him. + +The clerk straightened himself with a perceptible effort, and stared +fixedly at Gimblet, who had long since become accustomed to the interest +the mention of his name commonly aroused. No doubt this youth knew the +detective by repute; but he had an expression of such wooden stupidity, +and withal looked so terribly ill and exhausted, that Gimblet wondered +if he would be able to extract much sense from him. + +"It was you," he said, "who let the house to Mr. West?" + +"Yes," said the clerk. "He came in one day last week." + +"Friday," interposed Mr. Ennidge. + +"Yes, he came in here last Friday morning, and said he'd been over No. +13 Scholefield Avenue, having seen the board 'To Let' in front of the +house," replied the clerk. "The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Mill, had only +gone away that morning, and Mr. West was shown over by a servant who +had been left behind to clear up and follow by a later train. He told +me he required a furnished house for a year. He said he was very fond +of solitude; that he had lived in India all his life and didn't care +to meet strangers, but wanted a house with a garden, where he could +be private, so to speak. He said he thought Scholefield Avenue would +suit him admirably, but that he wished to take it for a month first +to see how he liked it, and to have the option of taking it on. I was +uncertain whether Mr. Mill would be agreeable to such an arrangement, +and suggested waiting till we could communicate with the owner, but he +wouldn't hear of that; said he wished to go in immediately, and would +take some other house he'd seen unless he could clinch the matter then +and there. He made an offer of fifteen guineas a week for the first +month, and eight for the rest of the year if he should decide to take +it on. This is such a very high price for this part of London that I +felt sure Mr. Ennidge or Mr. Pring, if they had been here, would not +have let it escape, but would have hit the iron while it was hot, if you +take my meaning; and as I was aware that Mr. Mill had left an absolute +discretion to the firm with regard to letting the house, and that he +was very anxious to do so as quickly as possible, I didn't hesitate any +longer, but agreed to Mr. West's conditions. + +"He said that he wished to have possession of the house from midday of +Monday last; told me to get a charwoman in on Monday morning, in case +any cleaning up remained to be done, and that he wished me to meet him +at the house on Monday for the purpose of going over the inventory. +Then he took out a pocket book, which seemed to be stuffed full of bank +notes, paid me thirty guineas, the rent for half the first month, and +asked me to get the agreement for him to sign. I got him two agreement +forms such as we use, as a rule, when letting furnished houses, and he +signed them both and put one in his pocket." + +"Perhaps Mr. Gimblet would like to glance at our copy," said Mr. +Ennidge, diving into a drawer. "Here it is," and he handed a paper to +the detective, who turned it over thoughtfully. There was nothing on +it beyond the ordinary printed clauses setting forth the terms of the +contract. At the end the tenant had signed his name, "Henry West," +in large, sprawling characters, the strokes of which seemed a trifle +uncertain, as if the hand that held the pen had not been absolutely +steady. Below, in a neat business-like writing, was the clerk's +signature: "A. W. Tremmels, for Messrs. Ennidge and Pring." + +Gimblet put it in his pocket. "I may keep it for the present, I +suppose?" he asked Mr. Ennidge, who looked rather as if he would have +liked to object, but on the whole decided not to. + +"Can you describe what Mr. West looked like?" Gimblet asked the clerk. +"But perhaps you had better tell me that on the way to the house. Mr. +Ennidge has promised to send you down with me. One thing, however, +before we start: I should like to see the inventory, if I may." + +"By all means," Mr. Ennidge replied. "Just get it, Tremmels, and the key +too. You know where they are kept," and as the clerk went into the outer +office he turned again to Gimblet. + +"If you would like me to come myself?" he suggested. + +"Oh no, thanks," Gimblet answered, "do not trouble to come. As the clerk +is the only one who met Mr. West, I think he will really be more useful +to me. I suppose he can stand a walk down to Scholefield Avenue? He +looks dreadfully ill, poor chap; what's wrong with him? Consumptive?" + +"He is ill, I'm afraid," said Mr. Ennidge regretfully, "but it will do +him good to get a walk and a breath of fresh air. The hot weather we had +last week was very trying; Tremmels certainly looks very bad since the +heat. I have told him to take a holiday to-morrow," he added kindly, +"a day in the country will be the best thing for him, and there is not +very much to be done in the office at this time of the year. Business is +very slack, Mr. Gimblet. I daresay, now, yours keeps your nose to the +grindstone, at one season as much as another?" + +"Well, yes," said Gimblet. "I'm afraid the criminal classes aren't very +regular in their holiday-making. It's very inconsiderate of them, but +I'm afraid they're a selfish lot." + +The house agent's ever-present smile broadened, and at that moment +young Tremmels made his reappearance with the inventory. In an instant +Gimblet's keen nose had told him that with the clerk there now entered +the room a pervading smell of brandy, and his quick eye noted a tinge of +colour in the pale cheek of the young man, which had previously not been +visible there. "O-ho," he said to himself, "so that's the trouble, is +it?" Then, with a word of thanks to Mr. Ennidge, Gimblet led the way out +into the street, and turned his steps towards Scholefield Avenue. + +"Now then," he said to his companion as they hurried along, "about this +Mr. West. What is he like?" + +"He's an elderly, rather horsey-looking gentleman, and odd in his +manner," said the clerk. "What I mean to say is, he has a very pleasant +way of talking, and yet somehow he doesn't talk like an ordinary +gentleman might. Seems rather fond of what I may term the habit of using +bad language." + +"What does he look like?" + +"He isn't what you'd call a tall man; not that I should call him short +either; and thin, very thin. Don't know if I make myself clear?" + +"Perfectly," said Gimblet patiently, "would you know him again?" + +"Oh yes. He's a very uncommon sort to meet about. I'd know him anywhere. +He's got a leather coloured face, which looks as if he'd been out in the +sun more than a few weeks, and a funny little bit of a pointed beard on +his chin. Tell you what he looks like," said Tremmels, with more show of +animation than he had so far exhibited, "he looks more like an American +than he does an Indian; and, come to think of it, he's got a nasty sort +of voice, same as they have, but not very strong." + +"Anything else you can remember about him?" Gimblet asked. He was +listening with intense interest. + +"Well, he has got a way of standing with his legs apart, and getting +up on his tiptoes; and then down he lets himself go with a jerk, if +I make myself plain. His wool is a bit grey and is commencing to get +baldish on the top. He seems to dislike seeing strangers or making new +acquaintances, as you may say. He gave me to understand that he's a +scholar, and going in for reading and what not when he's settled in +Scholefield Avenue; says his health's bad too, but I shouldn't wonder +if it was more likely something else. More this sort of thing." The +clerk made an upward movement with his right arm and hand, of which, as +Gimblet was walking on his other side, the significance was lost on him. + +"I beg your pardon?" he inquired doubtfully. + +"Granted," said Tremmels; "what I mean is, if you understand me, I +shouldn't be surprised if anyone was to tell me that he takes a drop too +much. Rather rosy about the beak, I thought, and when he left the office +I watched him go down the street till he was nearly out of sight, when +what should he do but nip across into the private bar of the _Lion and +Crown_." + +"Ah," said Gimblet, "I observed a certain shakiness in the signature +of the lease." In his own mind he was thinking that it was more than +probable that the clerk had accompanied Mr. West to the _Lion and +Crown_. "Did you notice anything else?" + +"I don't know that I did," said Tremmels thoughtfully. "He wore ordinary +sort of clothes. Gent's lounge suit with a large check pattern, brown +boots, and a very genteel diamond pin in the centre of his tie. +Altogether quite the gentleman, and very civil-spoken and pleasant when +not swearing. He told me that he wouldn't want any coals ordered in, +as his cooking would be done chiefly on the gas stove with which the +kitchen of No. 13 is fitted. There is every convenience, as you may +say," concluded the clerk. + +As Gimblet pondered over what he had heard, and reflected that the +powers of observation that his companion showed were greater than he had +given him credit for, they drew near to Scholefield Avenue and passed +beneath its lines of branching plane trees to the gate of Mr. Mill's +house. Higgs was at his post before it and reported that nothing had +stirred during the detective's absence. Sir Gregory came from the back +of the house in the company of Mr. Brampton, who had joined him there. +The artist was plainly excited. + +"Your friend tells me," he said, as he came up to Gimblet's side, "that +you think that the two ladies of whose disappearance the papers are so +full--Mrs. Vanderstein and her companion--came to this house on the +night that they vanished. It will be the greatest favour if you will +allow me to witness your methods of investigating this affair." + +"By all means," said Gimblet ungraciously, "why shouldn't the whole +street come? I think it is very probable that it will do so, since Sir +Gregory Aberhyn Jones appears to be perfectly incapable of keeping his +own counsel, no matter whether the safety of his friends is endangered +or not." So saying he turned and held out his hand for the key of the +house to the clerk, who, panting and gasping after his walk, now leant +against the door as if no longer able to support himself unaided. + +Sir Gregory and the artist, off whom Gimblet's right and left shots +had glanced with a sting but produced no permanent wounds, fell back +silenced for the moment, though unflinchingly determined to see anything +there was to be seen. The quick, searching eyes of Brampton rested on +the clerk, and he took in his woeful condition with the rapidity of his +trade. + +"That young fellow ought to be in bed," he said, in a low voice, in Sir +Gregory's ear, "but I suppose, like the rest of us, he won't be able to +tear himself away from this exciting spot." + +They followed Gimblet, who had opened the door and passed through it +into the hall. He looked round him in despair. + +"Really, gentleman," he cried, "you must stay at the door for the +present. If this house has anything to tell, it will never do so after +you have trampled all traces from the very floors with your innumerable +feet. I will just see if there is anyone here; and, if not, you can +come in after I have begun my thorough examination, as long as you keep +out of my way and do as I tell you. Otherwise I warn you, Sir Gregory, +that you will ruin every chance of success." + +"He talks as if we were centipedes," murmured Brampton. + +Sir Gregory motioned him to silence, and they remained obediently in +the doorway while the detective and Higgs ran over the house, opening +all the doors and glancing into the rooms to see if there were anyone +in them. Whatever secret might lurk beneath that roof, for the moment +at least there was no visible human occupant to divulge it; and, if he +was to arrive at any answer to the problem of what had taken place on +Monday night after the arrival of the ladies, it was clear to Gimblet +that he must do so with no help other than the dumb aid he might receive +from the inanimate objects still within the walls, or even from the very +walls themselves. + +As soon as he had completed the first hurried general survey, the +detective began a systematic examination of the house, starting with the +hall and passage of the ground floor. The other men had to move away +from the steps while he was here, as their figures crowding in the open +doorway blocked the light, and he wanted all he could get. There was no +electric light. In Scholefield Avenue, Brampton told Sir Gregory, all +the houses were dependent on gas for their illumination. Gimblet knelt +down and examined the carpet of the hall on his hands and knees. He +took a small magnifying lens from his pocket, and applied it to certain +spots, which he lingered over longer than the rest of the floor; at the +foot of the stairs he picked up a small object from under the corner of +the mat; he held it to the light for a moment between finger and thumb, +and then put it carefully away in a little box like a pill-box, which +he also produced from his pocket. Then he stood up, and examined the +furniture with the same patient deliberation. Presently he spoke to the +clerk, who was standing before the door, a little apart from the others. + +"Have you got that inventory?" he asked. "Just read out the contents of +the hall." + +Tremmels came up the steps and opened the book he carried. + +"Two oak chairs, one oak table, one mirror, one mat," he read. "One +umbrella stand; two chairs on landing, eight engravings in frames." + +"Wait a bit," interposed the detective, "we haven't got there yet." + +He went to the door, and called to Sir Gregory and Brampton. + +"I've finished the hall," he said. "If you want to come in, you can, as +long as you stay behind me and don't bother me with talking." + +Then he turned back to his search, and began to subject each tread of +the staircase to the same minute examination as the hall had received. +From time to time he added another tiny object to the one he had already +placed in the pill-box; four or five were deposited there before they +reached the first floor. + +In this way the party ascended, a step at a time, till Brampton's +curiosity began to succumb to the boredom of such ineffably slow, +crawling, snail-like progress. + +"I think I'll not inflict my presence any longer, Mr. Gimblet," said he, +"it is time I dressed for dinner, or my wife will have to wait for me." + +Receiving no answer from Gimblet, who was now absolutely absorbed in his +work, he whispered to Sir Gregory that he would come back after dinner, +and retired from the scene, escorted to the door by Higgs, who let him +out and shut it behind him before he returned to his post at the foot of +the staircase. + +At the top of the house Gimblet straightened himself and turned to Sir +Gregory and the clerk, who were on the stairs a few steps below him. + +Sir Gregory, who was nearly choking with pent-up questions, seized the +opportunity. + +"Have you found anything?" he cried, and Tremmels, though he said +nothing, was a living echo of the words, as he strained forward behind +Sir Gregory to catch the reply. + +"Nothing definite as yet," said Gimblet, "but I may say it appears to +me probable that, if Mrs. Vanderstein did come here on Monday night, +she did not stay in the house long. I should say she went no higher, +at all events, than the drawing-room floor." And he proceeded to the +examination of the rooms working his way downwards. + +The bedrooms yielded no harvest; they wore the dismal look of unoccupied +rooms and had apparently not been entered since, having been swept and +cleaned with great thoroughness, they had been left ready for the use of +the tenant. None of the beds were made, there was no water in the jugs, +there was absolutely no indication of so much as one of them having been +used since the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Mill. Gimblet did not spend +so long over them as he had over the staircase, but it was past eight +o'clock when at length he came out of the last one and descended to the +first floor. + +"I can always try upstairs again if there is nothing conclusive here," +he said to Sir Gregory, as they went down. + +With his hand on the knob of the drawing-room door he paused an instant, +looking with more sympathy than he had lately shown at the anxious face +of the old soldier. A feeling crept over him that it would not be good +for Sir Gregory to enter this room; it was a vague impalpable feeling, +which he could not explain; and in a moment it had passed. He opened the +door and went into the drawing-room, leaving the baronet, in obedience +to instructions received, faithfully standing on the landing, the white +face of the clerk showing over his shoulder, framed in the square of the +doorway against the dusky shadows beyond. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +In the preliminary hasty search over the house, it had fallen to Higgs +to reach the first floor earlier than his master. Gimblet had left it to +him to examine, while he himself hurried to the upper stories; so that +he now entered the drawing-room for the first time. + +He stood for a moment turning his head to right and left, taking in +the principal features of the apartment with quick, comprehensive +glances. Then, of a sudden, the whole figure of the man stiffened; and +it was hard to recognise Mr. Gimblet, the dilettante, the frequenter +of curiosity shops, the lounger in picture galleries, in the tense, +motionless form of Gimblet, the detective, at this moment. He stood, as +a pointer stands when it catches the wind of game, erect and stiff, in +an attitude of interrupted movement, one knee still bent for the step +he had been in the very act of making; his whole form absolutely still, +save for a series of short, successive intakings of the breath, as, +with head thrown back and his eyes shining with the keen, well-balanced +excitement of the hunter, he sniffed the air. + +What was it he smelt? Something so faint, so indefinite, that after +the first arresting instant he had lost it altogether; and with it the +knowledge of what it was--which in that one second had seemed almost +his--slipped away and was gone, nor could his most strenuous effort +recall it. Oh, for one more whiff of that evasive, troubling odour! But +sniff as he might he could no longer detect anything, and slowly his +attitude relaxed, and he brought other senses to bear upon the scene. + +The room was divided, by its shape, into a front and back drawing-room, +as is commonly the case in London houses; but the two had been thrown +into one and the door led into the narrower back part, so that the +light from the window overlooking the garden, which was obscured by +trees, while it still illumined all that lay on Gimblet's right, hardly +penetrated into the front and larger portion of the place. There the +closed shutters of the three windows leading to the balcony prevented +the light from finding an entrance, and it was very dark. The detective +lit the gas and looked around him. + +It was a cheerful, pleasant room; not overcrowded with furniture, and +showing taste and judgment in its arrangement and decoration, though +there was nothing very original about it. On the walls, which were +covered with some light coloured paper, were hung three or four good +modern pictures; the mantelpiece was an eighteenth century one, and +on either side of it was placed a Chippendale cabinet, with shelves +for china, of which some good pieces could be seen through the small +panes of the glass doors. At the opposite end of the room was a long, +low bookcase and, except for a large writing bureau, the rest of the +furniture consisted of sofas and chairs, with one or two small tables. +It was a room at once dainty and desolate, gay and forlorn. The empty +flower vases which stood on the tables, the absence of stray books, +work, papers, or other signs of human occupancy, gave it a look of +discomfort and dreariness; but it was plain, from the bright chintzes +and curtains and the soft luxury of the carpet, that it only needed the +presence of its owners to assume a cheerful and lively aspect. + +Gimblet began his examination in his usual methodical manner, working +his way over the floor on hands and knees, gazing at the carpet through +his lens at any place where there appeared a doubtful mark or change in +the appearance of its surface from that of the surrounding parts. As +he came to chairs or tables he moved them to one side, and continued +his quest on the spot where they had stood. There were two small +Chesterfield sofas, one of which jutted out at right angles to the +fire-place before the right hand window of the front part of the room, +the other facing the door with its back against the wall. + +When the detective came to the sofa by the fireplace, he pushed it to +one side as he had pushed each piece of furniture in its turn, and as +his eyes fell on the floor beneath it a low whistle escaped him: there +was a patch of reddish stain on the green Wilton carpet, about three +inches in diameter, and a smaller spot or two near by of the same rusty +colour. + +With his head on one side, and his lips still pursed as if to emit a +whistling sound, but with no audible noise issuing from them, Gimblet +gazed at the stain on the carpet; and the longer he looked the sterner +his face became; the whistling expression vanished, and he opened and +shut his mouth with a grinding sound as the teeth met. He rubbed his +finger over the marks, and the patch seemed to crumble away at his +touch, till a hole appeared in the carpet and the white boards of the +flooring were exposed to view. He applied his lens to the edges of the +hole and plucked at the frayed wool with his fingers. A small piece that +he pulled off he bestowed in one of the little specimen boxes with which +he had provided himself. + +Then he replaced the sofa in its original position, and continued his +examination of the floor. Under the fender he discovered another of +the little objects he had picked up on the stairs, but nothing else +did he find of any interest till he began to turn his attention to +the furniture. Almost the first thing he looked at was the sofa that +concealed the hole in the carpet; he was drawn back to it with an +irresistible attraction. A careful scrutiny, however, did not reveal +much more than the fact that the chintz cover was rather tumbled. +Gimblet dug his hand down at the back of the seat, and pulled out the +part of it which was tucked down. As he did so he felt a little lump +under his fingers, and holding it up saw that it was yet another tiny +shining thing for his pill-box collection, and as he looked at the piece +of chintz he had pulled out he perceived several more of the same kind. + +They glittered in the gaslight like little diamonds, but had evidently +come off the spangled tulle of a lady's dress. Gimblet remembered +that Mrs. Vanderstein's dress had been described by her maid as +"_diamantee_"; but then it was possible, indeed probable, that Mrs. +Mill, or her friends, possessed gowns of similar material. Gimblet +stooped again, and tugged up the rest of the sofa covering from the +depths behind the cushions. This time he pulled it all up; the whole +covering lay spread before him in an untidy, unwieldy mass, and from the +end, as he plucked it out, there shot two small objects, which fell to +the floor at his feet. In a moment he had lifted them from the ground +and stood staring at them: they were a piece of crushed and folded paper +and a minute powder puff. + +The detective unfolded the paper, and held it to the light; it was a +sheet of thick white notepaper, and on it was embossed a crown and +device in heavy gold lettering. Below these was written in a fine, +slanting foreign hand + + "Most adored, I count the hours, the minutes, till I shall hear for + the first time the sound of your voice. Heaven be praised that I have + not long to wait, and you, whom heaven has sent to me, accept the + thanks of my grateful heart. I send this by Madame Q." + +The signature that followed made Gimblet open his eyes. "Felipe," in +conjunction with the crown at the head of the paper and the foreign +character of the penmanship, could refer to one person only. Gimblet +was well aware that the Prince of Targona was honouring London with his +presence. He glanced carefully round the room to make sure no one was +near, folded the paper carefully, and placed it in his notebook. Then he +turned his attention to the powder puff. + +It was an ordinary little powder puff of pink silk and white down--very +small, very dainty, if very commonplace. Gimblet turned it over and +over, but could see nothing about it which stamped it as different +from other powder puffs. Not that it was a curio in the peculiarities +of which he was very well versed; he could not help realising that in +the matter of powder puffs his education had been neglected. A French +detective, he told himself sadly, would have read a whole history in +this soft toy. He brushed it across the back of his hand, but it left +no mark; he shook it into the palm, but no powder fell from it. It was +plain to him that, whatever uses it might have served in the white +hands that had formerly clasped it, it was not of any use at all in +his, and in his irritation he was inclined to hurl it from him. But his +methodical habits prevailed and he felt in his coat for a box to contain +it. And suddenly, with what seemed like an involuntary movement, he +lifted the hand that held the powder puff, and held it to his nose. + +"Ah," he sighed, and it was a sigh of deep content. Then he stored +away the precious fluffy thing, and put it in his pocket. He finished +the tour of the furniture without further discovery; at the end of +it he requested Tremmels to read out the contents of the room from +the inventory, as he had done at the conclusion of his visits to each +room or landing, checking off each object as the clerk read out its +description. + +"I am in hopes," he said to Sir Gregory, "of finding something not +mentioned in the inventory, which we might take to be the property +of Mr. West. But so far there is nothing that can possibly be his, +not so much as a toothbrush. He certainly seems to be a leader of the +simple life." Then he turned to Tremmels again. "Is there no mention +of the chair covers?" he asked. But the young man only stared at him +open-mouthed, and he seized the book from his hand. + +"Let me see," he murmured, running a finger down the page. "Here we are. +'Two Chesterfield sofas and five arm-chairs with loose chintz covers.' +Might mean anything. Look here!" he turned to the clerk again, "you went +over the inventory. What do you remember about that sofa?" He pointed to +the one opposite the door, which, unlike the other sofas and chairs, had +no chintz covering. Tremmels was flurried by the detective's sharp tone. + +"I--I don't remember anything at all," he stammered. + +"What, don't you remember that it had a cover?" + +Gimblet's second question was still more sharply spoken. The clerk shot +a glance at him in which suspicion, timidity, and bewilderment were +oddly mixed, and he answered stubbornly, repeating his former words as +if he imagined a trap were being laid for him. + +"I don't remember anything about it." His pale face wore an expression +more wooden than ever. + +The detective turned from him with an impatient movement, and stood +looking down at the sofa with a frown on his face. It was exactly the +same as the one in the front part of the room, but, instead of a cover +of pink and white chintz, it displayed only the upholstery with which +it had been originally covered by the makers: a kind of white tapestry +with grey flowers and flecks of red, in general colouring not unlike +the chintz on the other sofas and chairs, but tightly fitting and +leaving exposed the bare legs of brown varnished wood, which were of a +particularly ugly shape. + +"Come," said Gimblet at last, "I must go downstairs." + +"What did you find?" Sir Gregory asked him anxiously as they went down, +followed at a distance by the clerk, "what did you find by the other +sofa?" + +The detective hesitated an instant. + +"Sir Gregory," he said, "there is something here, some story to be read, +if I can read it. The walls are trying to speak to me, I believe, if I +could only listen rightly. There are things very plain that I can see, +but not enough of them, and there is something that I don't understand. +But what I have seen points to sinister things, and I must warn you that +I don't like the look of them." + +"Mr. Gimblet!" cried Sir Gregory. "What do you mean?" + +"Yes, Sir Gregory," said the detective. "I am very much more--uneasy +about your friend than I have yet been. I fear that, when I am in a +position to give you news of her, it may be very bad. You may have to +stand a shock. Don't you think it would be best if you went home and +waited till I came to you?" + +But, though on Sir Gregory's face there crept a look of terrified grief, +he would not go. + +The dining-room told nothing, Gimblet's researches there were vain, and +he soon adjourned to the room behind it, which seemed to be a library +or smoking-room. The shutters, as they had seen from the garden, were +fastened, but by this time the last of the long summer twilight was +fading and the night promised to fall dark and windy. Gimblet's first +act was to light the gas. + +It was a small room, this back room, where, no doubt, Mr. Mill, when +he was at home, was accustomed to smoke his pipe and attend to his +correspondence. Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves; one side +was taken up by the window; and on the fourth, opposite the door and +above the fire-place, were hung a quantity of mezzotints framed in +sombre black. They surrounded a small oil painting that filled the place +of honour immediately over the chimney piece, and which caught Gimblet's +interested eye directly. It appeared to be an example of the early Dutch +school, and he was seized with the desire to examine it more closely. +The fire-place below it was lined with old blue and white tiles, and at +these too he cast an envious glance, but the feelings of the collector +were subservient just now to those of the detective, and he turned to +the more everyday furniture of the room. + +There was not very much in it: a couple of arm-chairs stood one on each +side of the fire-place, and before the window was a large writing table +with inkstand and blotting book disposed upon it, together with a few +odds and ends. Even with these the table looked empty; one missed the +papers that by rights should have been scattered there. As Gimblet stood +beside it, he was conscious of the cold draught that whistled by his +ear, and it was then that he first looked toward the window. + +"It must be open," he said to himself, and then, as he looked closer: +"By Jingo!" + +It was a sash window of the old-fashioned kind, with a dozen or so +wood-framed panes to each half of it, and the usual metal catch holding +the top and bottom in position together when the window was shut. It +was shut now, and the cold air that pervaded the place entered through +cracks in the shutters, and after that encountered no further obstacle, +for the top middle pane of the lower sash was destitute of glass. + +Gimblet pushed away the table and examined the empty framework +carefully, touching the edges with an incautious finger, which, however, +he withdrew rather hurriedly and transferred to his mouth. He looked +at the floor; and then, following his usual custom, knelt down on it, +lens in hand. The gaslight was obscured by the shadow of the writing +table, and he had recourse to the aid of a pocket electric torch. He was +satisfied with what he saw, apparently, for he soon rose and turned to +the window again. He unfastened the catch, and placing one hand on the +framework sought to raise the sash, but it stuck stiffly, and both hands +and a good deal of strength had to be exerted before he was able to lift +it. + +Then he flashed the light of the little torch on the window sill, and +took from it a splinter of broken glass. After this he pursued his +inspection of the room and its contents. There was, as has been said, +little enough in it except books, but everything there was came in for +the usual close scrutiny; the waste paper basket was not forgotten, nor +were the empty grate and coal scuttle. In the end, after comparing the +things mentioned in the inventory with those in the room, Gimblet shut +the door into the hall, and ran his lens hastily over its woodwork. +Apparently he saw on it more than he expected, for he returned more +slowly to the task and spent several minutes examining some small spots +of dirt, which were visible to the naked eye on the white paint. + +At last he had done, and there only remained the basement to be +investigated. This took some time, and the results disappointed him, +with the exception of a cupboard under the stairs where he discovered a +housemaid's dustpan full of pieces of broken glass. He seized on it with +eager excitement, and examined the surface of the tin very carefully +with his lens; only to put it down again with an irritated clicking of +the tongue. + +Sir Gregory watched these proceedings in a stricken silence; his +hopes had turned to lead at the words Gimblet had addressed to him on +leaving the drawing room; as each successive door was thrown open he +felt a tightening of the heart and a sick fear of being confronted +with some terrible sight. Now he would almost have preferred that the +detective should find no clue, so much he dreaded the solution to which +he instinctively felt that these small discoveries were irresistibly +leading. + +The face of the clerk, who equally shared the role of silent onlooker, +wore an expression of excited interest, except when he was addressed, +when it relaxed into its usual wooden apathy. At other times he peered +over Sir Gregory's shoulder with feverish, straining eyes, evidently +possessed by all the passion for sensation in any form which is common +to his class; though, that he was as much in the dark as Sir Gregory, +with regard to the conclusions suggested to the detective by the +various objects he examined, was clear from the look of something like +elation with which he watched the minute attention bestowed upon the +unprofitable dustpan. + +Gimblet returned this article to its place, and drew out, one by one, +the other things in the cupboard: a water-can, a bucket, a scrubbing +brush, and other odds and ends. The last thing he brought to light was +a crumpled ball of newspaper, stuffed away at the back of some brooms +and pails. This did not look interesting; and, while Sir Gregory saw +with relief the handling of anything which gave him breathing space, +Tremmel's face fell. + +Gimblet, however, was too methodical to ignore anything, even so +unpromising an object as an old newspaper. He opened it out on the floor +of the passage, unrolling the crumpled pages and spreading them flat on +the boards. In the middle of the ball was a small quantity of dust, or +rather what looked more like earth. Gimblet scooped it up in one hand +and let it fall through his fingers into the palm of the other; it was +black and fine, but gritty to the touch. With a puzzled expression he +stowed some of it away in one of his little boxes, and put the rest in +his pocket, wrapped in a piece of the newspaper. Then he disappeared +into the coal cellar, which was the only place left that he had not +visited. He found nothing there. + +By this time it was nearly ten o'clock. + +They went back into the hall and Gimblet opened the door of the little +library. + +"Sit down in here, Sir Gregory," he said, "you have been on your feet +for hours"--and indeed the baronet was dropping with fatigue--. "I am +just going out into the garden, and you may as well rest a little. As +for you," he added to Tremmels, "you can go home if you like. I've done +with the inventory." + +"There's the key," the clerk reminded him, "and, if you don't mind my +sitting down here in the hall for a few minutes before I go ... I'm +feeling a bit tired myself, sir." + +He certainly looked it, but then he had looked so ill from the +beginning that the effect of these hours of standing about and the +lack of food, which told heavily upon Sir Gregory, hardly added to the +miserable aspect of Tremmels, whatever he might be feeling. + +Gimblet told him to sit down, and leaving them went out into the +garden. He walked round to the back, and along the path which led to +the toolshed. Going into it he hunted, by the light of his torch, among +the implements that leant against the wall; but what he sought was not +there, and he retreated, unsatisfied. As he returned slowly to the +house, he moved his lamp from side to side, so that the light shone on +the flower beds between which he walked and not on the path beneath his +feet; it was as if he hoped to find what he wanted among the flowers. + +Turning the corner of the wall, he saw a dark figure in the act of +shutting the further gate; it came towards him and he recognised the +artist, Brampton. + +"You work late, Mr. Gimblet," he said, as he met the detective. "Any +discoveries?" + +Gimblet did not reply; he was looking at his watch. + +"It _is_ late," he said after a pause; and then half to himself, "late! +too late, and too dark," he murmured; and again, "perhaps it is just +as well. It will do Sir Gregory no harm to wait till to-morrow for bad +news." + +"What," said Brampton, "you have bad news for him?" + +"I fear there will be bad news--to-morrow," said Gimblet. + +The night was very dark, for clouds had gathered afresh, and the wind +was getting up again. The leaves of the trees in the street rustled +loudly as if in protest; from a distance the tinkle of a barrel organ +sounded fitfully in the intervals between gusts of wind. + +"It's as cold as winter," grumbled Brampton. + +Gimblet was staring up at the front of the house, and when he spoke +Brampton was struck by the change in his voice. + +"Of course!" he cried, "the crumpled newspaper! What have I been about? +Now, ah, now I know! Mr. Brampton," he said, moving, so that he faced +the other in the darkness, "there is something very terrible here; +something to be done that is quite unfit for Sir Gregory to take part +in. I am only too well convinced that a crime has been committed in this +house, a gruesome and dastardly crime, which but for the merest accident +might not have been discovered for weeks. No ordinary criminals have +been at work here; we have to deal with some scoundrel so cold-blooded +and resourceful, so prudent, and so full of forethought and vile +cunning, as I do not think I have ever encountered before. What is your +nerve like, Mr. Brampton? I see you are muscularly a strong man, and I +shall have need of help. What do you say? Can you give me the assistance +I want, or shall I go and find the policeman on this beat?" + +The solemn words of the detective, and still more acutely the grave and +urgent note in his voice, thrilled the imagination of the artist, and +awoke in him a horrified perception of the seriousness of the situation, +which hitherto he had looked on with an eye, half amused, half derisive, +as we may contemplate a game of Red Indians played by some earnest +and dramatic children. The spirit of adventure cried aloud in him, +and overcame the shrinking of a refined nature from contact with the +horrible. + +"You can rely on me," was all he said, and thereupon Gimblet ran up to +the door, calling to Higgs to open it. + +The other men were sitting as he had left them, Sir Gregory in an +arm-chair by the library fire-place, and the clerk in the hall; both +drooped in attitudes of extreme weariness. + +"Will you please stay where you are a little longer?" Gimblet said to +Sir Gregory. "I am going upstairs with Mr. Brampton, to see if he can +tell me one or two things I want to know about the ordinary disposal of +the furniture; and after that we will go home, unless you will be guided +by me and do so at once. No? Well, we shall not be long. We shall not +want you," he added to Tremmels, who was struggling stiffly to rise from +his seat. + +At Gimblet's words he sank back again, and leant his head weakly against +the wall. + +With a sign to Higgs and Brampton to follow him, Gimblet went upstairs. + +The gas was still burning in the drawing-room, and the door stood open +as he had left it. Gimblet paused on the threshold and drew Brampton's +attention to the sofa opposite. + +"Do you remember," he asked, "whether that sofa had a cover like the +other before Mr. Mill went away?" + +Brampton looked at it doubtfully. + +"I can't say I do really," he said. "I ought to know, of course, but +I don't feel quite sure. You see, the colouring is so much like that +of the chintzes. One might never notice it. Still, the legs are very +ugly; I think I should have observed them. And it is not like Mrs. Mill +to leave an ugly thing so plainly displayed. But on the whole I'm not +certain about it." + +"Don't you feel," said Gimblet, "that there is something terrible, +something fearful, in those shining brown pieces of wood? Their ugliness +should be decently covered. Unfortunately, I am afraid I know where to +look for their covering." + +He led the way to one of the French windows of the front room and threw +it open. Unfastening the shutters, which still barred the way, he flung +them back and went out on to the balcony, followed by the two men. + +It was, as he had seen from the ground, an unusually broad one, and +extended across the whole width of the house. A low wall about nine +inches high ran round its edge, supporting a balustrade of stone. A +large green painted wooden box, or trough, about ten feet long by a yard +wide, and as tall as the balustrade, was planted with flowers, which did +not appear to be in a very flourishing condition. + +By the light of the street lamp they could see that the geraniums' +petals were turning black, and that the marguerites hung their heads +on stalks from which all vigour seemed to have departed. Within the +balustrade the black shadows lay like a pool of ink, and the floor of +the balcony was quite invisible, except where the open window through +which they had stepped let out a narrow stream of light. + +"Open the shutters of the other windows," Gimblet said to Higgs. + +When this was done they could see better. To Brampton's amazement +Gimblet's next act was to grasp one of the geraniums and pull it up by +the roots; a daisy followed, and in a few minutes he had torn up every +plant. Brampton, as he stood watching, noticed how easily they came up. + +Then Gimblet called to him. + +"Now, Mr. Brampton, if you and Higgs will take that end of the box, I +can manage this one. I want to tilt it up a little." + +It needed all the efforts of the three men to move the box, full to the +brim of soil as it was. Panting and heaving, they shifted it first away +from the balustrade, and tilted it towards the wall of the house. The +earth poured out as the angle increased, and in a minute the floor was +deep in it. + +"Gently, gently," said Gimblet. "Look, what is that?" and he pointed to +something white, which was poking out through the earth in the box. + +His electric torch flashed upon it, and the others, balancing the tilted +flower box on its edge, peered in, and saw that it was a bit of pink and +white chintz. + +It seemed a long while before Gimblet spoke. He stood as if turned to +stone, and Brampton felt an indefinable horror stealing over him, a +dread of he knew not what, but which he seemed to be conscious was in +some way a reflection or telepathic transference of the other's unspoken +thoughts. + +At last with an obvious effort Gimblet straightened himself. + +"We must tilt out a little more earth," he said in a low tone, "very +carefully now." + +Very cautiously they raised the side of the stand again, and a rush of +soil poured over the edge; the little patch of white they had seen in a +corner became a large piece, and almostly instantly it was plain to them +all that the greater part of the box was full of it. Leaving the others +to manage the box, which was now easily steadied, Gimblet ran round and +knelt at its side, scooping out handfuls of garden mould and disclosing +what looked like a very long, bulky bundle of flowered chintz. + +Suddenly, in a voice hardly above a whisper, Brampton broke the silence. + +"My God!" he said, pointing, and staring with horrified eyes. + +From the corner of the wrapper a hand protruded, half covered with +earth; it was a white and shapely hand, the hand of a woman. + +"Do you see it?" whispered Brampton again, and leant shaking against the +wall. + +"It's a hand," said Higgs, troubled but stolid. + +Gimblet was very pale, and he took a quick breath as he braced himself +to lift the enveloping chintz. The lighted windows cast three streaks +of light out into the darkness and threw grotesque distorted shadows of +the men upon the coping of the balcony. A sudden gust of wind made the +trees in the street moan and shiver as though they had been swept by the +passing broom of some night-riding hag; all around them the darkness +gathered close like a wicked thing that would if it dared swallow up the +tiny protecting lights men burn in self-defence. + +Gimblet felt himself struggling against some such malevolent influences; +half conscious fears, some sensation of evil presences in the air, +gibing, mocking, clustering round to gloat over the results of earthly +villainy, seemed to paralyse him; and he had to call up his reserves +of will power before, after a moment's hesitation, he bent forward and +unrolled the chintz covering. + +Inside it was the body of a young woman. Long black hair lay in masses +on her shoulders and streamed over the single white garment she wore. +The face was so terribly disfigured as to be quite unrecognisable. + +With a shudder Gimblet drew the wrapping over her again. + +"Vitriol," he muttered, and became aware, as he spoke, of some one +behind him in the opening of the window. + +Before he could turn, a heartstricken cry sounded in his ear, and he was +not in time to catch Sir Gregory, who staggered back in the embrasure, +and from there slid fainting to the ground. As Gimblet sprang to his +help, he had a fleeting vision of a ghastly face and a crouching figure +in the back of the drawing-room: it was the face of Tremmels, the clerk, +but so wild and white with terror, so distorted by the shock of what he +had seen as to be almost like that of another man. + +Suspecting from the noise made by the opening shutters, followed by the +sudden and prolonged silence, that something was happening on the floor +above them, and unable any longer to bear the suspense and curiosity +accentuated by waiting and inactivity, Sir Gregory, followed by the +clerk, had crept upstairs into the drawing-room without attracting the +attention of Gimblet or his assistants, and the horror of what they had +seen was too much for both of them. + +As with the help of Higgs Gimblet lifted the inanimate form of the +baronet from where it had dropped, a sudden loud noise from the street +below made them nearly let fall their burden; and it was a second before +any of them realised that the sound was only the first jangling bar of +a popular music hall tune. The barrel organ they had heard a quarter of +an hour earlier had wandered into Scholefield Avenue, and, attracted +without doubt by the lighted windows, had thought fit to draw up before +No. 13 and there begin its headlong plunge into melody. Half the +rollicking air it was playing had been thumped forth, with all the usual +din of banging bass and clanking scales, before any one of those who +stood above it in the grim presence of death sufficiently recovered his +presence of mind to be able to stop it. + +Telling the clerk curtly not to be an ass, but to pull himself together +and follow them, Gimblet, with the help of Higgs and Brampton, carried +Sir Gregory out of the fatal house and into No. 15, the home of the +artist. Here they gave him over to the care of Mrs. Brampton, a capable, +bustling woman with common-sense written all over her, to whom her +husband explained in guarded terms as much of the situation as was +inevitable. + +"There has been a terrible tragedy next door, my dear," he told her. +"This poor gentleman has fainted on learning of the death of his +friend," and the kind-hearted, sensible creature took charge of Sir +Gregory without wasting precious time in questions. + +At his request, Brampton conducted the detective to the telephone, while +Higgs was sent out to look for a policeman. + +"Is that Scotland Yard?" Gimblet was asking, as the artist shut the door +on him and returned to his wife. + +By the time the detective had finished telephoning, Higgs was back with +two policemen, the one he had found in the next street having whistled +for a comrade. Gimblet went with them to No. 13, and together they +entered the silent drawing-room, where the gas was still flaring and the +windows stood open to the night like three black doors to a villainous +and tragic world. With the help of the new-comers the body of the dead +woman was lifted out of the flower box and carried into the house, +where, still enveloped in the chintz cover, it was gently deposited on +one of the sofas. For a moment they turned back the wrapping, while +Gimblet searched hastily for some clue that should have inadvertently +been enclosed in it, but there was nothing besides the body and the one +garment in which it was clad. + +"See," he murmured in a low voice, pointing to an oblong incision at +the edge of the chemise, "they have cut away the linen there. No doubt +the name, or initial, was embroidered in that place. What fine linen +it is; and this lace trimming is as delicate as a cobweb! If we had +nothing else to go by, this would show that the murdered woman was rich +and luxury-loving. Most women, if they had such lace, would keep it to +adorn their dresses with." + +He drew the covering over her again; and, going back to the balcony, +stood looking at the half-empty box and the mound of earth that was +heaped upon the floor. + +"They must have had a job to clear away the surplus soil," he remarked +to Higgs, who had followed him. "I suspect it was carried down to the +garden, bucketful by bucketful, and the last handful or two were swept +up into a newspaper. I found some trace of it in a cupboard downstairs." + +Leaving the police to guard the house, they went in search of Sir +Gregory, and found him so far recovered as to be sent home in a taxi in +the care of Higgs. The clerk also was seen safely started on the way to +his lodgings, where, Gimblet thought to himself, he would probably take +the brandy bottle to bed with him. + +"You will have to attend the inquest, you know," he said to him as he +was departing. "It may be to-morrow or the next day. Good evening, and +don't stay awake all night." + +After renewed thanks and apologies to the Bramptons, Gimblet found +another taxi, and, getting in, gave the driver the address of Joe +Sidney's rooms. + +"I think," he said to himself, "it's just about time I paid that young +gentleman a visit." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +It was close on eleven when the cab drew up before the door of Sidney's +lodging in York Street, St. James's, and as luck would have it Sidney +himself was standing on the doorstep, in the act of inserting his +latch-key in the lock. Gimblet saw himself recognised as he sprang +out of the taxi, and saw also a look of unmistakable pleasure in the +recognition. + +"This man is as innocent as I am," he thought, as the young soldier +greeted him. + +"Come in, do," Sidney said, "you're the very man I wanted to see. I went +to your flat this evening, but you'd just gone out, so the porter said. +I am anxious to hear if you have any news of my aunt and Miss Turner." + +He led the way upstairs as he spoke, and ushered the detective into a +sitting-room on the first floor, switching on the light as he did so. + +Gimblet waited till the door was shut behind them, and then turned a +grave face to his host. + +"The news is very bad," he said slowly, and waited a moment to give time +for the significance of the words to sink in, and to prepare Sidney for +what was to come. + +"What has happened?" cried Sidney. "Are they hurt? Is Miss Turner----" + +He stopped short, grasping the back of a chair. + +"I don't know what has happened to Miss Turner," Gimblet said, "but I +have terrible news of your poor aunt. Mrs. Vanderstein has been foully +and cruelly murdered. I come now from the discovery of her dead body." + +"Murdered!" cried Sidney, "murdered! Who by? How? Where?" He sat down +mechanically, and stared at Gimblet. "And Miss Turner? Have they killed +her too?" + +The detective repeated that at present he knew nothing of the younger +lady. + +"Good God!" said Sidney, "what a dreadful thing." + +Leaning his elbows on the table, he hid his face in his hands for a few +minutes, and Gimblet sat silent opposite him, waiting till he should +recover from the first shock of the news. + +When Sidney raised his head again the face he disclosed was pale and +drawn. + +"Poor Aunt Ruth," he said. "Poor thing, poor thing. To think that she +should be dead. I can hardly realise it, you know. She has been killed +for her jewels, I suppose, after all. The devils! You haven't caught +them, have you?" and, as Gimblet only shook his head: "How can such a +thing be possible here in civilised London? And to think of that beastly +old raven, Chark, going about croaking as he has been, and hinting that +I'd killed her! To think of his being right after all! I don't mean +about my killing her," he added, "but there it is, she's dead; and +I come into her money just in time to save me from ruin. I hate the +thought of it!" He was talking to himself more than to his listener, and +Gimblet let him talk. "I almost wish she had altered her will," he went +on, "it's a beastly notion: her death being my profit, you know. And I +suppose they'll say I've murdered her all the more now?" He looked up +interrogatively; then, as he received no answer, his expression changed +and he started up, alert and wide awake once more. "I say," said he, +"do you think I did it, too?" + +Gimblet hesitated a moment before answering. + +"As a matter of fact," he said at last, "I do not. I don't think so +for a moment. But that is merely my personal opinion and, to tell you +the truth, I think it will be just as well if you can account for your +movements since Monday to the satisfaction of more people than myself. I +ought to suspect you--it's my business to suspect every one--but, as I +say, I don't." + +"I daresay things do look rather black against me," Sidney said; "it's +my fault for not having bothered to defend myself. You see, it seems +so eccentric to me that anyone should think such a thing. It seems so +impossible, and absurd, if you don't mind my saying so. One forgets that +other people don't know what one is capable of as one does oneself, and +it never struck me yesterday that you, or Sir Gregory either, might +suspect me. I did go and see the editor of the worst of the newspapers, +and explained things to him, and told him to let old Chark know he was +wrong. You may have noticed he's eaten his words in to-day's paper. +But I didn't think it necessary to say anything to anyone else. You +see, I've got what you call an alibi. I was in the country from Monday +evening till yesterday morning. I met a pal almost on Aunt Ruth's +doorstep when she turned me out of the house, and he got me to go off +with him down to his house near Ascot to play golf, and I was down there +till Wednesday. I had only just come back, in fact, when I came to see +you. I didn't know about my aunt's disappearance till I read it in the +train coming up; my friend came up at the same time and stayed with me +till I left him at your door. It's waste of time suspecting me; I admit +that it looks as if I ought to have murdered the poor dear, but in view +of the facts that theory doesn't hold water." + +"I'm very glad to hear what you say," said Gimblet, "and I wish you'd +told me before, though I never really thought you had any direct +knowledge of the affair. Still, you must confess, Mr. Sidney, that you +were not quite open with me: there was something which you knew, and +which you kept to yourself when we talked about it." + +"I'm blessed if there was!" cried Sidney. "What was it?" + +For answer Gimblet took Barbara's telegraph form out of his notebook and +handed it to the young man. + +"You didn't tell me you had received this telegram from Miss Turner," he +said, "not even though I quoted most of its contents to you by way of a +hint." + +Sidney took the form, and stared at it for a moment. + +"It is her writing," he said at last. "I wonder what the deuce she +meant." + +He, also, produced a folded paper from his pocket and pushed it across +the table to the detective. + +It was the message as he had received it. + +"You will observe," he said, "that there is no signature. How was I +to know who it came from? As a matter of fact, I guessed, or at least +thought it possible she had sent it, as no one else cares whether I +go to blazes or not. But I've no idea whatever why she chose to think +I should get some money or good news on Wednesday. I need hardly +say that I didn't. And I saw no reason to speak to you of what only +concerns a young lady and myself. It can have no possible bearing on her +disappearance, or that of my aunt." + +"You think not?" Gimblet looked at him oddly. + +"How could it? I can't imagine what connection there could be. But +of course you're the sort of fellow who can read the secret of dark +mysteries in anything, from the Tower Bridge to a baked potato, aren't +you? So perhaps there's some occult inference that I fail to draw. By +the way, you've not told me much yet. How did you discover the murder, +and where?" + +"I found the poor lady's body buried in a house in the north of London," +said Gimblet, "No. 13 Scholefield Avenue. As to how I discovered it, +it was by the help of two or three facts from which I was able to draw +certain inferences." + +"I wish you would tell me all about it." + +"Well," said Gimblet, "as Sir Gregory told you over the telephone +this morning, I heard, as a result of the advertisement I gave you +yesterday to have inserted in the papers, that the two ladies were seen +by an actress on Monday night, standing under a board 'To Let,' before +a detached house in some street on the way to Carolina Road. I was +unable to find that street yesterday, and it was not until I could get +hold of the cabman who had driven the actress that I ascertained that +Scholefield Avenue was the only street he had passed through on Monday +night which contains detached houses. I went there at once and found +out that No. 13 had recently been let, the board having been removed +on Tuesday morning. I rang the bell, but no one came to the door, so +after getting the name of the house agent from a neighbour I went to the +office and interviewed the agent. From him I learnt that the house had +only been let since Monday, and that the tenant was a man named West +who had been ready to pay a high rent for immediate possession, and who +gave out that he was a recluse, desiring nothing so much as solitude and +privacy. The agent happened to have a spare key of No. 13 Scholefield +Avenue and he sent his clerk down with me to open the door. + +"As soon as I got in I ran over the house with my servant, who as well +as Sir Gregory had accompanied me, but there was no one to be seen in +it, and so I proceeded to make a careful and searching examination. Not +to weary you with details, I soon found a considerable number of small +paste spangles, or imitation diamonds, such as are sewn on to the more +elaborate and gorgeous kinds of ladies' evening dresses. As I found +several of these on the staircase between the hall and the drawing-room +and a good many more in the drawing-room itself, but none in any other +part of the house, I thought it was likely that, if they came off Mrs. +Vanderstein's gown, this was the only room she had visited. There was, +of course, the possibility that they had fallen from the dress of some +one who had been in the room before the place was let, but I set against +this the improbability of the mistress of the house or her friends being +rich people who would wear such expensively ornamented materials, and +also the fact that your aunt's maid in describing her toilette to me had +spoken of it as '_diamantee_.' + +"The next discovery was a most alarming one. On moving the sofa I saw +beneath it a large stain in the carpet, which various indications +assured me was the result of some acid that had been upset. From the +nature of the damage I was pretty certain that it had been caused by +sulphuric acid or vitriol. Now this is a strange thing to find traces +of in a lady's drawing-room, and when you find it in an empty house +which a young and beautiful lady has been seen to enter, but which she +has never been seen to leave, and when you further reflect that the +disappearance of this lady appears to be complete, and on the fact +that when last seen she was wearing a fortune in jewellery, one of two +conclusions appears inevitable, unless you assume that all these facts +are entirely unconnected and the result of pure coincidence. Assume them +on the contrary to be related to each other, and you are led, as I say, +to consider two possibilities. So I asked myself at once whether Mrs. +Vanderstein had been decoyed to the house by some demented creature bent +on assuaging a mad jealousy by throwing vitriol at her, or whether she +had been induced to visit it to satisfy the still more fatal greed of +a robber. And the more I looked at it, the more likely it seemed that +the poor lady had been murdered for her jewels and that the vitriol was +used to make the recognition of her body, if it should be discovered, +a negligible danger. A few minutes later I came across a powder puff +perfumed with the peculiar scent your aunt was in the habit of using--I +daresay you know it--and this dispelled any doubts I still had as to her +having been in the room. + +"I still hoped against hope, however, that she might have left it +alive, and I found some evidence downstairs which led me to think she +had been locked in one of the lower rooms for a time; but if so it must +have been before she was taken up to the drawing-room. In the library +a pane of the window was broken, no doubt by some one trying to escape +or attract attention, and obviously it had been done by a woman, as a +man could have opened the window, which was so stiff as to require more +than a woman's strength. The broken glass had been carefully removed +from the frame, so that, but for the draught, it might well have passed +unnoticed. + +"That it had been broken since the letting of the house was clear, since +I found a dustpan full of broken glass, which would not have been left +so by the landlord's servants, or by the charwoman who cleaned up after +their departure. The sight of that dustpan filled me with hopes that +were doomed to disappointment. Nothing offers a better ground for the +impression and retention of finger marks than a piece of shining metal, +and I expected to find a whole collection on the tin surface of the +pan. But to my astonishment and disgust I could not find a single one; +and this strengthened my opinion that I had to deal with deliberate +crime, and that of no ordinary stamp, for it was plain that not only had +some one cleaned and polished the dustpan after using it, but that the +person who had done so had worn gloves. And it was the same all over the +house. Not a finger-print to be seen, except in the room with the broken +pane, on the white painted door of which I found several distinct marks +of fingers. What more likely than that the poor lady, finding herself +locked into a strange room, should have broken the window and beaten +on the door with her hands in a sudden panic? In the same cupboard as +the dustpan was an old newspaper crumpled into a ball, which I found to +contain a handful or so of what appeared to be garden mould, and I could +not at first imagine why it should be there, though I can account for +it now. I had by this time been all over the house and made the most +thorough and exhaustive search, but the only other clue I could discover +was a negative one. + +"I must tell you that I had made sure that there was no article in +the house belonging to the tenant, Mr. West, as he called himself; +everything was accounted for in the inventory and belonged to Mr. Mill, +the owner. It became clear to me that West must have taken the place for +a definite purpose other than the usual one of living in it, and since I +knew that it had been occupied on Monday evening, his object doubtless +fulfilled itself then in a terrible manner and he probably fled from +the scene of his crime the moment he had, to the best of his ability, +removed all traces of it. In his haste he had left the little spangles +which had scattered themselves in the wake of his victim; and, though he +cleaned up the dustpan as if he feared it should tell tales in spite +of the precautionary gloves, he seemed to have thought the broken glass +could not betray him, or else, perhaps, he had no time to dispose of it. +But, if he had left nothing behind him, it looked as if he had taken +something away. + +"The chairs and sofas in the drawing-room were provided with loose +chintz covers, with one exception. There was a small sofa which stood +opposite the door naked and unashamed, in all the hideousness of the +original, ugly upholstery. Not only was the tapestry which covered +it of a meretricious nineteenth-century design, quite out of keeping +with the good taste displayed all over the house in the choice of +pattern and decoration, but the legs and arms, which were very much in +evidence, were made of brown varnished wood peculiarly objectionable in +appearance. It seems to me in the last degree unlikely that in a room +so full of beauty and quiet refinement this one thing should have been +allowed to flaunt its vulgarity, and hold the eye of the visitor with +an awful fascination. I felt convinced that West was responsible for +its nakedness, and it was quite likely that he, a man doubtless devoid +of any artistic sense, would imagine that the absence of that cover +might pass unnoticed, as the tapestry resembled the chintzes in general +colouring." + +"But why should he remove it? What could he want with a loose chintz +sofa cover?" asked Sidney, as the detective paused. + +"I asked myself these questions," continued Gimblet, "and I saw that +there were only two explanations which met all the facts. It might be +that the chintz bore traces of his crime that at all costs must be +destroyed; it might be, for instance, stained with blood. But in that +case he would probably have tried to burn it; that would be a difficult +job, and there was no sign of a fire having been lighted lately in any +of the grates. No coal in the cellar and no firewood. He would have +needed brushes and blacking to make all ship-shape again, and his grate +cleaning would probably have been amateurish. Or he might have had a +use for the chintz. It would be a handy thing to wrap a dead body in +before carrying it out to the grave he would dig for it in the garden. +For it seemed to me certain that after killing his victim he would have +buried her in the garden. There was a toolshed at the end of it, and I +hunted there for a spade that should show signs of recent use; but to my +surprise there was no spade at all. + +"By this time it was dark and late, and I returned to the house with the +intention of deferring till to-morrow a search for the grave, which I +felt sure of finding if it was there. I had little hope that the poor +lady had escaped, but it was still quite possible that my theories were +mistaken, and that even the signs of vitriol having been used were +capable of some other interpretation; and I gladly admitted to myself +that I had no actual proof of foul play. And then, just as I was on the +point of knocking off for the night, an elusive memory that had been +troubling me ever since I entered the house suddenly flashed clearly +into conscious recollection, and I knew that I had made no mistake. + +"When I opened the drawing-room door for the first time I had been aware +of a faint odour, which I seemed to catch a whiff of as it passed me, +so to speak, and to lose again immediately. During the second in which +I perceived it, its name was on my tongue, but before I could utter it +the smell was gone and with it my knowledge of what it was. I racked +my brains to remember it without the least result; but, though I gave +up the attempt and concentrated every effort on investigating what +was apparent to my other senses, the thing bothered me, and I did not +entirely forget it. As I stood in front of the house after my vain +search for a spade, it suddenly flashed into my mind what it was that I +had smelt: it was the never to be mistaken smell of chloroform. + +"I was staring absently up at the balcony of the drawing-room when the +knowledge came to me, and in an instant another light dawned on me with +equal suddenness. There was a great box or stand for plants on the +balcony, and the neighbour who had given me some information as to the +tenant had remarked that the mistress of the house would be sad to see +her flowers so neglected. Indeed, they were all faded and withered, +and he had implied that it was for want of water. Now, the thought +that leapt into my brain as swift and as illuminating as lightning was +this one: Why should the flowers die for want of water when we have +had constant rain for the last two days? Clearly it was not drought +that they were suffering from. But how if the _soidisant_ West, having +cruelly murdered your unfortunate aunt, proceeded to uproot the flowers +and to bury her, wrapped in the sofa cover, in the flower stand? It was +quite large enough for such a purpose, and if he had then replanted the +flowers it was probable enough that they would feel the effects of his +attempt at gardening. + +"I went up at once and put this theory to the test. I am very sorry to +say that it proved to be correct in every detail." + +Gimblet ceased speaking, and Sidney, who had listened in sad silence, +lifted his head, and asked a question. + +"The vitriol? They had used it--as you thought?" His voice was hoarse, +and his face stern and grim. + +"Alas, yes." + +"Hanging is too good for such brutes; but I will never rest till they +hang for it. Have you any idea who are the fiends who did this?" + +"An idea? Say rather that I have a suspicion," returned Gimblet. "Surely +you can see the direction in which the circumstances point?" + +"Unless it was the chauffeur," said Sidney, "I can't imagine who can +have done it." + +"I don't think there is anything in the theory that the chauffeur or +any one of the servants had a hand in it. There are several things +which make that idea hardly worth considering. But there is one person +against whom things look very black. Do you mean to say you can't see +who it is?" + +"No, I can't," repeated Sidney. + +"Mr. Sidney," said the detective slowly, "where do you suppose Miss +Turner is?" + +"I only wish I knew," answered the young man; "it is horrible not to +know. Where do you think she can possibly be? Tell me the truth, Mr. +Gimblet: do you believe she is dead?" He spoke harshly, and with averted +eyes. + +"No," said Gimblet, "I don't think she is dead." + +Something in his tone made Sidney look up. Gimblet was looking at +him with a strange expression, and as their eyes met he turned away +uneasily. For a minute Sidney stared at him wonderingly, and then an +incredulous enlightenment stole over him. + +"You can't mean," he said slowly, "that you imagine she had any +knowledge of the attack on my aunt?" + +Gimblet was silent; and his silence was more eloquent than words. + +"But it is impossible," cried Sidney, "that anyone out of a lunatic +asylum should think such a thing. You don't know her, Mr. Gimblet, she +is the sweetest, dearest girl. The most unselfish, the most devoted, the +loyalest girl in the world! How can you hint at it? Oh, I know it is +your business to suspect people, but you go too far! I cannot hear a +word against her." + +Gimblet turned and faced him. + +"Be reasonable, Mr. Sidney," he said, "and accept it as a fact that the +young lady will be suspected. If she is innocent it will be better to +try and clear her than to refuse to hear what there is to be said as to +her possible complicity. I understand your feelings, but you must see +that there is nothing to gain by disguising the truth. It is because I +thought it possible that you might feel a keen interest in Miss Turner +that I have told you I suspect her. I hope you may be able to help me to +convince myself of her innocence, and surely the best way to do that is +to try and get at the truth." + +"I will try and be reasonable, as you call it," said Sidney, after a +pause, "and I suppose by that you mean listening to your abominable +accusations. Well, let's hear your evidence, and if I can prevent myself +from throttling you I will! More than that no man could say," he added, +with an attempt at a smile. "And I feel a beast even to allow you to +speak of the thing." + +"I am extremely sorry to have to do it," said Gimblet, "but no good +ever came of shutting one's eyes to facts, and it's facts that make me +suspect Miss Turner. In the first place, there is the fact that she +stands to profit by Mrs. Vanderstein's death to the tune of L30,000." + +"That applies to me, too, only more so," interrupted Sidney. + +"Yes, and I don't think it of much importance," admitted the detective. +"I mention it as one of the points which is outside the region of +speculation, and therefore not negligible. The second fact is that you +were at your wits' end for money." + +"I daresay! But what that's got to do with your suspecting Miss Turner +beats me," cried Sidney. + +"It's got this to do, though I'm afraid you will not like my alluding to +your most private affairs--Miss Turner is in love with you. We may call +that fact No. 3." + +"There is absolutely no foundation for that statement," said Sidney, +flushing hotly, while he could not but be conscious of a strange +acceleration in the beating of his heart. + +"Is there not?" asked Gimblet, looking at him thoughtfully. "Well, we +will waive that point if you like. Let us say that Miss Turner has an +unusually friendly feeling for you. So friendly that she would go to +any length to provide you with the necessary funds. You yourself have +as good as told me so much. You cannot deny that she was the person who +urged you to try to get the money by false pretences." + +"I am sure she did not look at it in that light," protested Sidney, +while inwardly he cursed himself for the slip by which, on the previous +day, he had allowed the sex of his friend to escape him. + +"I saw you with her in the Park last Sunday, did I not?" said the +detective; "I noticed her expression. I am rather an observant fellow in +my way, you know. I have only seen that look on the faces of people very +much in love. I find I must go back to that, after all, in spite of your +objection to the suggestion." + +"I do object very much. Miss Turner has no such feelings for me, I am +sure, and I can't let you impute them to her." + +"I am afraid you must," said Gimblet tranquilly. "People who are +madly in love," he continued, "as I believe her to be, are capable +of any sacrifice, of any heroism, or of any villainy. In that state +of exaltation they are apt to lose their sense of proportion, and to +confound extremes; they may see in the basest depths of infamy only +another aspect of noble heights of self-abnegation; if the object +of their affections is in danger, they may consider no expedient too +shameful if it can be made to provide a means of extricating him. + +"There is nothing inherently impossible in imagining that Miss Turner, +conscious of nothing but your need, blindly strove to supply it and was +in no mood to boggle at any feasible method. I don't know if you are +aware of the character borne by her father. He was a man of the worst +reputation: an utterly merciless and unscrupulous swindler. His daughter +may not have escaped the taint of heredity; it is, at all events, +conceivable that her principles suffered from her early association with +him. He is said to have died in South America, where he was obliged to +fly to escape his just deserts, but there is no proof at all that he +really did die. + +"I know that I am for the moment dealing in theory, if I say, suppose +this man to be secretly in London and in secret communication with +his daughter. Suppose she let him see how direly she needed money +at this moment. Might not a scoundrel of his description seize the +opportunity to persuade her to help him in some such nefarious business +as the robbery of Mrs. Vanderstein, and secure her silence, if not her +assistance, in even a more dastardly business? To return to the realm of +fact; the order to the motor not to fetch the ladies from the opera was +given by Miss Turner. She ran back alone to tell the chauffeur, after +your aunt had gone into the theatre. She had previously sent you this +wire, in which she was very positive that the money you required would +be forthcoming. + +"She was seen by Miss Finner standing at the door of the house in +Scholefield Avenue in the company of your aunt, and it is not too much +to presume that she subsequently entered it with her. There would be +no imaginable motive to induce a thief or gang of thieves to decoy +her to the house: she had no jewels to be deprived of. There would be, +on the contrary, every reason why she should be prevented from going +anywhere near the place. Since, then, she assuredly went there on her +own initiative, it seems probable that Mrs. Vanderstein was persuaded to +accompany her by the girl herself. + +"To go back for the moment to speculation, one may imagine that it +was old Turner who masqueraded as West, the tenant, who is described +as a horsey-looking elderly man who had lived much in a hot climate. +This accords with a description of Turner I took the trouble to obtain +yesterday, with the exception of the beard or imperial worn by West, +which he may easily have grown of late years. It may have been the +girl's father, therefore, who opened the door to the two women, and +who, once he had her safe inside, first locked your aunt in the library +while he finished his preparations upstairs, and then led her to the +drawing-room, as in times more in harmony with his deeds he might have +led her to the nearest tree. + +"Finally, in support of this theory, or at least of Miss Turner's +complicity in the affair, we have the facts that the two ladies were +last seen together, and that, while the one has been found robbed and +murdered, the other has departed without a word or a sign. It is only +too likely that she is half way to America. The ports are being watched, +but by now it is probably too late." + +Gimblet finished speaking and sat watching the face of the younger man. +Sidney looked troubled, but his manner was confident as he gave his +opinion. + +"If she has not been heard of," he said, "it is because for some +reason she is unable to communicate with anyone. I have heard all your +arguments attentively, Mr. Gimblet, and I must confess that you have +not in the least convinced me that there is anything in your idea. It +all sounds very plausible, no doubt, but if you knew the young lady +as I have the pleasure of doing you would see that the whole thing is +ridiculous. No one can be what she is and act in the way you suggest. +Her nature is such as to put it out of the question. I can only repeat +that the thing is ludicrously impossible, and that if you knew her you +would be the first to see it. However, I agree with you that the best +way of proving what I say is to find the real murderer. My only fear is +that to-morrow you may discover that she too has been killed and buried +in the garden." + +"I am not afraid of that," said Gimblet, "because, as I tell you, if +her presence had not been desirable she would never have been near the +place. She would have been kept as unaware of its existence as you were +yourself. The first essential of such a plan as the murderer must have +concocted would be to get hold of Mrs. Vanderstein alone and unsuspected +by anyone who was not a confederate." + +Sidney made an impatient movement. + +"I am absolutely convinced that Miss Turner had nothing whatever to do +with it," he said. + +"Well," returned Gimblet as he rose to go, "I hope you are right and +that further investigations will lead me to share your view. If we can +lay hands on Mr. West we shall get at the truth, and unless he is very +careful how he disposes of the jewels we are sure to catch him. From +what I hear, Mrs. Vanderstein's rope of pearls is well known to every +jeweller in Europe; and, if he tries to sell so much as one of them, +he'll find a very different sort of rope around his neck. Now I must be +off; they are expecting me at Scotland Yard." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +It was long past one when at last Gimblet got to bed. He had had a long +and tiring day, full of strain and excitement, and his head was no +sooner on the pillow than he slept soundly and dreamlessly. It seemed to +him that he had only just shut his eyes when Higgs awoke him the next +morning by coming in with his hot water. He rolled over yawning and +rubbing his eyes, as his servant pulled up the blinds and laid ready his +clothes. When he had finished and gone away, the detective turned over +again for another snooze; but in a minute Higgs was back again. + +"The young man from Ennidge and Pring has called, sir," he said, "the +clerk who came with the key last evening, you know, sir. He wants to +know if the inquest is to be to-day, as, if not, he has been given a +holiday and is going to spend it in the country." + +"He can go," said Gimblet; "the inquest won't be till to-morrow." + +He was thoroughly awakened by now, and went to his bath as soon as Higgs +had departed. + +Breakfast was on the table when he entered the dining-room, and he +helped himself to omelet and sat down and poured out his tea before he +took up the morning paper, which lay beside his plate. + +As he folded back the sheet and cast his eye over the page, he uttered +a startled exclamation and sat staring incredulously at the paper as he +read: + + MYSTERY OF MISSING LADIES PROVES MYTHICAL. + + Mrs. Vanderstein is Staying at Boulogne. + + "Our correspondent at Boulogne telegraphs that Mrs. Vanderstein, + of 90 Grosvenor Street, is staying at the Hotel de Douvres in that + town. Having observed her name in the visitors' book of the hotel, + our correspondent inquired of the manager if the lady could be she + who had been reported missing for the last two or three days, and + learnt that, while the manager was unaware of the anxiety which has + been felt in England on her account, it is certainly Mrs. Vanderstein, + of 90 Grosvenor Street, who is at present beneath his roof. Further + conversation with the affable and obliging host of the Hotel de + Douvres elicited the information that the lady arrived early on + Tuesday morning with the intention of staying for one night only. She + complained of feeling indisposed, however, and sent for a doctor, + who ordered complete rest; so that Mrs. Vanderstein kept her room + till this evening, when, her health being improved, she dined in her + apartment as usual, but afterwards went out to the Casino. + + "As luck would have it, the manager was relating these details to + our correspondent at the very moment--about 11 p.m.--when a carriage + drove up to the door, and the lady herself re-entered the hotel. On + our correspondent's introducing himself and explaining that grave + anxiety was being felt on her behalf in this country, she expressed + considerable astonishment, and said that this explained the fact + that letters she had written had not been answered. She conjectured + further that they could not even have been delivered, remarking that + the French postal system left much to be desired. In reply to further + questions, the lady proclaimed her aversion to being interviewed, and + said merely that she would send some telegrams in the morning; upon + which our correspondent withdrew, and she entered the lift and mounted + to the first floor, where she has a suite of rooms. + + "Mrs. Vanderstein, who appeared to be entirely recovered in health, + was elegantly dressed in a black and white casino costume, with a + rose coloured toque trimmed with an osprey, which was very becoming + to her dark hair and superb complexion. She was wearing some of the + magnificent jewels with which rumour has been so busy during the last + few days." + +Gimblet read the paragraph twice, and then pushing back his chair walked +restlessly about the room. His appetite was gone for the time being; his +eyes glowed again with the excitement of a new problem. One second he +spared, in which to be glad that Mrs. Vanderstein still lived; he was +glad for Sir Gregory's sake, and for Sidney's sake, and even a little +for her own, though he had never to his knowledge set eyes on her. But +from the first he had felt an indefinable sympathy for the fastidious +lady whose house was scented with the delicate, delicious perfume that +he associated with her name. But, as a matter of fact, Mrs. Vanderstein, +alive and well and disporting herself at Boulogne, slipped quickly out +of the place in Gimblet's interest hitherto filled by Mrs. Vanderstein +dead and cruelly murdered. His mind now occupied itself busily and +eagerly with the questions raised by this shifting of roles in the +tragedy of Scholefield Avenue. + +If Mrs. Vanderstein had not played the piteous part of the victim on +that fatal Monday night, who had? Not Miss Barbara Turner, for she was +described as having very fair hair, while that of the murdered woman was +very dark. And if Miss Turner were not flying from justice, where was +she? Could she and Mrs. Vanderstein have combined to kill their hostess, +when they visited the house hired by Mr. West of tropical origin? In +any case here was a tangled knot to unravel, and a black crime to bring +home to its perpetrator. Gimblet saw that he was not likely to solve +the puzzle off-hand, and reflected that in the meantime he had better +fortify himself with food while he had the opportunity. His breakfast +was rather cold by the time he again sat down to it. + +What, in heaven's name, had Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner been doing +in that house on Monday night? Had Miss Finner been mistaken, after all, +and was it not they whom she had seen before the door? If so, by what +astounding coincidence had he been led to search there of all places, by +what incredible freak had Fortune taken him to the scene of this black +and cold-blooded crime? His brain, while he ate, busied itself with +these and such-like riddles. + +Soon after breakfast a high official from the Yard called for him in +accordance with arrangements made the night before, and they set forth +together in a taxi for Fianti's. + +"For," said the official, as they went, "whether it was Mrs. Vanderstein +or some one else whose body you found, we want the man who did it +equally badly, and we want your help in finding him. I suppose your +commission from Sir Gregory Aberhyn Jones dies a natural death now?" + +"I suppose so," said Gimblet, "but I'll see him presently and let you +know. There's still Miss Turner to account for, but I daresay she's at +Boulogne too." + +"As likely as not," agreed his companion. "It's just the sort of little +detail they'd forget to mention." + +"Well, we shall soon know," was Gimblet's only comment. + +At Fianti's they sent up their cards by the detective of the regular +force who was always in attendance on the Prince and Princess of +Targona, with a request for the favour of an audience. They had not +long to wait, and were very graciously received by Prince Felipe, who +listened with grave attention to the explanation of the object of their +visit, and read the note presented for his inspection by Gimblet with a +lively curiosity. + +No, His Highness was afraid he could not assist them in this matter. +The writing paper was certainly his--how obtained he could offer no +suggestion--the writing was of course a forgery, if that could be called +a forgery which made absolutely no pretence of resembling the original. +He had no notion to whom the appellation of Madame Q. might refer. No +doubt more than one lady whose name began with that initial had been +presented to him on different occasions, but he could not for the moment +recall.... Possibly some of his suite could be of more assistance. + +But no one of the Prince's household could give them any help. In the +matter of the writing paper, it was suggested that the hotel servants +might know something as to how it was obtained, but nothing definite +could be found out about it. + +The Prince sent for them again before they left, but it was only to say +that they had his best wishes for the success of their investigations, +and to ask a few questions as to points of English police procedure in +which he appeared to be interested. + +"Truly, a strange country!" he murmured from time to time on receiving +the answers to his inquiries. + +Before they were dismissed, Gimblet once more produced the crumpled +paper which bore the Targona arms over the Prince's name, and asked the +Prince if he could detect a certain odour which clung about it. + +"Delicious," said Prince Felipe, when he had pressed it to his nose, "a +delicate, pungent fragrance! But no, I do not know what it is." + +The official parted from Gimblet at the door of Fianti's and while the +one returned in a hurried taxi to his sanctum at Scotland Yard, the +other strolled across the street to Mrs. Vanderstein's house. + +He found a relieved and rejoicing household. + +"You've seen the news, of course, sir," said Blake, himself opening the +door in answer to the detective's ring. "And we've had a telegram this +morning. Here it is." + +He handed it to Gimblet, who read: + + "Blake 90 Grosvenor Street London W. Think letters must have missed + am staying at Hotel de Douvres Boulogne till further notice writing. + + "VANDERSTEIN." + +The telegram had been sent off at 8.14 that morning. + +"I suppose Miss Turner is with her, sir," Blake was saying, as Gimblet +gave him back the paper, "the newspaper doesn't mention her." + +"No," said Gimblet. "Still, as you say, I daresay she is there all the +same. It is Mrs. Vanderstein, and above all Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels, +that the public is interested in." + +He went back to his flat, where he found Sidney and Sir Gregory, both +radiant. + +"What splendid news!" Sir Gregory greeted him as they met, with a +joyful cry. "I could not believe it at first; it seems too good to be +true. But oh, Mr. Gimblet! what a night I have spent! I shall send that +reporter man a fiver. These newspaper chaps sometimes have their uses, +after all!" + +"I hope you see now," Sidney remarked, "what a mistake it is to suspect +people of doing impossible things." + +Sir Gregory looked towards them with a puzzled expression. Gimblet, +however, merely smiled. + +"I am delighted to be in the wrong, Mr. Sidney," was all he said. + +"She will laugh when she hears what a fuss I've been making," resumed +Sir Gregory, pursuing his own thoughts. "I think I shall run over to +Boulogne to-morrow and see her. I assure you, Mr. Gimblet, I feel ten +years younger again. What a nightmare it has been!" + +"I found a wire for me at the club," put in Sidney; "she says she is +sorry we have been worried, and that her letter must have missed the +post. It's jolly good of her to wire to me; I didn't think she meant to +have anything more to do with me when I last saw her." + +"It looks as if she had forgiven you, doesn't it?" said Gimblet. + +He was thinking that it was not every young man in Sidney's position who +would have looked so delighted to hear that his aunt was alive after +all, when all his difficulties seemed removed by her supposed death. + +"She doesn't say a word about Miss Turner," Sidney continued. "She might +have, you'd think. Of course she doesn't realise in the least that we've +been imagining her murdered." + +"I telegraphed this morning as soon as I'd seen the paper," said Sir +Gregory, "and said we had been most anxious and that I trusted they were +both well. I expect there will be an answer for me by the time I get +back. Must be going now in fact. You see she has been ill; kept her room +till last night, the hotel man said." + +"It's a very odd business," said Gimblet. "I have done a little +telegraphing on my own account, I may tell you, for I want to know +whether Mrs. Vanderstein did go to Scholefield Avenue, or whether Miss +Finner took some one else for her. I ought to get the reply any minute. +And the police are sending a man of theirs over to see her, by the +afternoon boat. They want me to help them with investigations of the +tragedy we discovered yesterday. I suppose, Sir Gregory, that I can be +of no further use to you?" + +"Thankee, Mr. Gimblet, I hope I shan't trouble you any more." + +After a little more mutual congratulation the two visitors took +themselves off, and Gimblet composed himself to await the answer to his +telegram, which was now due. + +He was sitting contemplating his Teniers, the beauties of which he had +not had much leisure to gaze at of late, and munching sweets as he +mused, when the expected ring came at the door of the flat; but instead +of the message he thought to receive it was Inspector Jennins from +Scotland Yard, an astute and good-humoured officer, who had before now +been his associate in more than one important case. + +"I came round to tell you, Mr. Gimblet," he exclaimed as he was shown +in, "that the young lady has been found." + +"What, Miss Turner?" + +"That's it. She's in the Middlesex Hospital and, what's more, has been +there all the time." + +"Then how in the world was it that no one knew it? That was one of the +first places I inquired at, and I daresay you did too." + +"Yes; she was brought in on Wednesday morning about 3 a.m. by a police +constable who had been on night duty in Regent's Park. He saw her +knocked down by a man, and picked her up unconscious, and she has been +so ever since. The man got away in the dark, and at the hospital no one +recognised the young lady from the description given in the inquiries +that were made, as the account of the clothes she wore was all wrong. +But there have been a lot of photographs of her and Mrs. Vanderstein +in the papers to-day and yesterday, and this morning one of the nurses +who'd been studying her portrait recognised the original in spite of her +wounds. The hospital authorities communicated with us, and I'm off to +the hospital now. I thought perhaps you'd like to come." + +"I should, certainly," said Gimblet, and they were soon on their way. + +"I have only once seen Miss Turner, and that was only a passing +glimpse," Gimblet said as the taxi sped along. "Don't you think it would +be a good plan to take one of the Grosvenor Street servants with us to +identify the young lady? It is possible that the nurse may be mistaken; +people look so different in a horizontal position. And their saying that +her clothes were wrongly described looks to me as if there were some +error somewhere." + +"I think that's a very good idea of yours," agreed Jennins, and putting +his head out of the window he told the driver to go to 90 Grosvenor +Street. + +They called for Amelie, Mrs. Vanderstein's maid, who appeared after a +few minutes, in high delight and excitement at the prospect of assisting +the police. She looked rather reproachfully at Gimblet, as though she +would have liked to point out to him that it was to be regretted that he +had hitherto failed to appreciate how valuable her co-operation might +be. "Ah, cette pauvre demoiselle," she murmured as they got into the +cab; and her manner indicated that she would have liked to add: "How +different it would have been if you had consulted me earlier." + +At the hospital there was a little delay before they were led upstairs +and handed over to the guidance of a pleasant-faced nurse who led them +to a ward full of casualty cases, which had suffered various injuries at +the hands of Fortune. + +In one bed was a woman who had been knocked down by a van; in the next a +child who had fallen into the kitchen fire; in the third a woman whose +husband had kicked her to the very verge of the grave; the fourth held +a girl with an arm crushed in the machinery of the factory she worked +in--so the nurse informed the inspector. + +She led the party through the ward, keeping up a running commentary as +they advanced, till they reached the end bed of all, in which lay a +young girl whose head was covered with bandages, and who lay quiet and +still as if asleep. + +"Here she is," said their guide. + +Gimblet looked at Amelie. + +"Mais oui, monsieur," she answered his unspoken question. "C'est bien +Mademoiselle Turner. Ah, la la! the poor one, what have they done to +her?" + +Barbara looked terribly white and fragile. Her face had grown thin to +emaciation, and there were deep blue lines under her eyes. + +"Poor young lady," said the nurse, "she's got concussion of the brain, +and it must have been a frightful blow that did it." + +When they left the ward Gimblet asked: "How was it Miss Turner was not +recognised till to-day?" + +"Well," said the nurse, "you see the pictures in the papers aren't very +good, and her hair is so hidden by the bandages that it's rather hard to +see the likeness. But what really put us off here was the description of +the clothes she was supposed to have been wearing. Of course no one ever +thought of connecting her with a young lady in a white evening dress +and a red opera cloak!" + +"Why," asked Jennins, "were those not the colours she wore?" + +"Just wait a moment," said the nurse; "I'll show you her things." + +She hurried away and returned in a minute with a bundle of apparel. + +"Look at them," she said, and held them up for them to see. "Look +at this old black coat and skirt; do you see how threadbare and +old-fashioned it is? It isn't even very clean. And this horrible hat," +she pointed to a battered straw, "it is almost in pieces; and the boots +are, quite. Her underclothes were of such coarse, stiff calico that you +would take them for workhouse things, and all darned and mended till you +could hardly see the original stuff. The stockings weren't even mended. +They were just one large hole. And there was no blouse under the coat +at all. Nothing but a chemise. How was one to imagine that this was the +young lady who was being inquired for? There's a tremendous amount in +appearances, and she appeared to be the poorest of the poor." + +Gimblet seized upon the miserable garments and examined them eagerly. +But they rendered him no information. Nothing was marked, the boots were +odd ones and of a prehistoric age; there was no distinctive feature +about any of the things. + +With injunctions that they should be telephoned to if Miss Turner awoke +to consciousness, they left the hospital and dismissed Amelie, who went +back to Grosvenor Street to pack and return to the hospital with some +of Barbara's belongings, so that she might find them there if they were +needed. + +"Now what I want is to see the constable who brought that young lady +into the hospital," Gimblet said to Jennins. + +"So do I," said the inspector. "He's been sent for and should be at the +Yard by now," and they drove off in another taxi. + +Police-Constable Matterson of S division had already arrived, and was +awaiting them when they reached Scotland Yard. Jennins called him into +his private office, and there, in response to their questions, he told +his story. + +"At about 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning," said he, "it being a dark, wet +night, with the rain pouring down like water out of a bucket, and the +thunder claps as near overhead, and as frequent, as ever I heard, I +was on duty near St. Mark's Church just outside Regent's Park. There +is a small bridge for foot passengers across the canal opposite and I +crossed it on my way to the outer circle of the Park. I was just resting +a minute on the bridge, for I didn't like to stay under the trees more +than I need with that storm so close, when a flash of lightning that +must have been almost over me, it was that bright, showed up the canal +below, as I leant on the parapet, so clear that I could have counted +every blade of grass. There was the canal winding out of sight, and the +surface of it all jumping and hissing as the rain-drops hit it; and +there were the banks on either side and the trunks of the trees lit up +as light as day. But the thing that caught my eye was the sight of two +people struggling on the bank, a few yards from the water. It was a man +and a woman, and he seemed to be trying to catch hold of her round the +neck, while she was dodging and defending herself as best she could. +It was all very clear for half a second and then the dark swallowed +everything up again, and the thunder burst, as it seemed, just on my +head. + +"Apart from what I had seen it seemed to me that folks wouldn't be out +for any good in that weather, and at that hour and place; and when the +noise of the clap rumbled away I caught the sound of the tail end of a +scream which made me sure of it. I turned my lantern towards the place +and hollered back, running to get over the fence and down to the canal +as I did so. + +"As I came near to where I'd seen the pair, two successive flashes +coming close one after the other showed them up again no more than a +few yards away, and they saw me in the same instant. The man had got a +great spade in his hand, and when he caught sight of me he lifted it up +sideways and aimed a fearful blow at the woman with the edge of it. She +ducked and dodged again--very active she was, poor thing--and he missed, +so that the blade glanced off her shoulder and he as near as possible +lost his balance. But he recovered himself at once and threw up his arms +again with the spade clutched in both hands, as I saw by the second +flash, and brought it down with all his force flat on the top of her +head. + +"I didn't see her go down, for the light went before the blow had +fallen, and in the dark I lost him, and he got clear away. + +"While I was groping about with my lantern, I fell over the body of the +girl, lying where he had struck her to the ground, and at the first +start off I thought he had done for her sure enough. So I let her lie +for a few minutes, while I blew my whistle and kept on searching around +for the scoundrel. Two more of our men came up after a time and we had a +regular hunt, but he'd got a good start and we never saw him. On turning +our attention to the girl again, we found that she was still alive, +though unconscious, so we got an ambulance and took her to the hospital. +There was nothing to show who she was, but from her clothes I judged her +to be one of the lowest and poorest class. I reported the occurrence at +the time, and made a further search by daylight on the spot. I picked up +the spade near by, where the fellow had evidently dropped it as he ran; +it had a piece of stout cord attached to the handle about four or five +feet long, but was otherwise without distinguishing mark of any kind. +It's outside, if you wish to see it, sir." + +Jennins told him to bring it in. + +"Of course," he said to Gimblet, "no one ever thought of connecting this +story of violence and brutality with the two missing ladies. The report +didn't come my way, as it happens, but I don't suppose for a moment I +should have been a scrap the wiser if it had. Still, it makes one feel a +bit foolish now, I'll own." + +Matterson returned with the spade and cord, which proved to be very +ordinary; and Gimblet's inquiring lens could discover nothing about them +in any way remarkable. + +"What was the man like?" he asked the policeman. + +"I didn't have much time to take notice, sir," replied Matterson, "but +he was a dark fellow with a black beard, and tall." + +"Did you see if he wore gloves?" + +"Come to think of it, now you ask me, sir, I believe he did. I saw his +hands plain enough as he lifted the spade, and I ought to know. But I +couldn't swear to it, I'm afraid, though my impression is that he did, +and that it struck me as curious at the time, in the sort of way a thing +will strike you for a moment and then slip out of your memory like a +dream does." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +"I bet it's our man," said Gimblet, as Jennins dismissed the constable. + +"Well, he must have altered his appearance if he is Mr. West, the +gentleman from South America, unless Matterson's account is very wrong +indeed," was Jennins' only comment. "Aren't you going a bit out of your +way, Mr. Gimblet," he asked, "to see any connection between this violent +attempt on Miss Turner's life and the actual murder which has taken +place at 13 Scholefield Avenue? For my part I don't see any reason to +think the two affairs have anything to do with each other. I admit it +looked as if Miss Turner and Mrs. Vanderstein had been in the house, but +surely that theory is disposed of now and it is clear that your friend +the actress was mistaken in thinking it was them she saw. Remember, she +didn't even know them by sight, but merely guessed at their identity +from the description in the advertisement: two ladies in white, one +wearing a red cloak and the other a mauve one. Why, there may have been +dozens of couples dressed in these colours going about London on Monday, +or any other night!" + +"But the jewels," said Gimblet, "she saw them too, you know." + +"Mrs. Vanderstein hasn't a monopoly of diamonds. And besides, at that +distance, and at the pace Miss Finner was going, she could only have +received the vaguest impression, in any case." + +"I suppose I have got my head full of Scholefield Avenue," said Gimblet. +"I admit that I find it very hard to remember that Mrs. Vanderstein, at +all events, is a very long way from that spot. And I daresay you are +right, and Miss Turner never was much nearer to it. Still...." Gimblet +fell into an introspective silence from which he soon roused himself +with a start. "Tell me what you think, Jennins," he said. "Have you any +theory?" + +"I haven't any theory about the Scholefield Avenue business," replied +Jennins reluctantly, "but there doesn't seem much mystery about the +other affair, to my way of thinking. Surely it is clear that when Mrs. +Vanderstein went off so secretly to Boulogne, for some reason she wished +it to appear that Miss Turner went with her, while as a matter of fact +the young lady remained in London. Ten to one we shall find that Mrs. +Vanderstein had a more compromising companion with her in France than +she left in England. Miss Turner, no doubt, retired to some secluded +spot till her presence should be again required, probably to lodgings +near Regent's Park. Very likely she stayed indoors all day for fear of +meeting acquaintances who might call for troublesome explanations as to +her presence there, and being in want of exercise and fresh air went +for a walk at night in order to procure them. Is it surprising that +this ruffian of whom Matterson caught a glimpse, meeting her at such an +hour and in so lonely a place, should not have spared her his unwelcome +advances? Matterson saw him trying to put an arm round her neck, and it +was very natural for her to scream in such circumstances. On our man +running up, the black-bearded loafer, thinking himself caught, struck +out at the girl in a fit of temper, and then took to his heels just in +time to save himself." + +"All very fine, Jennins," said Gimblet, "but I can pick holes in that +theory till you'll take it for a sieve. To put aside the question +whether such a young lady as Miss Turner is said to be would lend +herself to the deception you suggest, is it conceivable that, if she +did go out to seek fresh air after dark, she should defer doing so till +two in the morning and then choose a particularly violent thunderstorm +to walk about in? Would her desire for exercise have led her to stand +half way up the embankment of the canal when the rain was falling in +torrents, and had been doing so since midnight? There is another thing +as inexplicable, and that is the attire in which she took this midnight +ramble. The clothes we saw at the hospital were mere rags. It seems +incredible that this young lady, whom we know to have been clad on +Monday night in purple and fine linen, should have been going about +on Wednesday morning in garments which were not only threadbare and +indescribably ancient but actually dirty. The battered state of the hat +may be due to the blow from the spade, and all the garments were of +course drenched by the rain, but there is something beyond that in their +repulsiveness. I can't imagine how she can have brought herself to wear +such things. + +"Apart from this behaviour of hers, which is in itself a mystery, what +was the black-bearded one doing in the same place and hour and in the +same unpropitious conditions? They could hardly both have been wandering +there for the innocuous purpose you attribute to Miss Turner. And, mark +you, the man was no destitute waif devoid of the means of procuring +himself shelter from the rain. He carried a good serviceable spade which +would have got him the price of a night's lodging whenever he liked to +pawn it. Now the kind of rough you are thinking of does not carry a +spade or anything so suggestive of hard and honest labour. On the other +hand, who does use that implement in a town like this? A gardener might +have one, or a scavenger; or one or two other people. I think one of the +most likely, especially at night, would be a gravedigger." + +"There you go!" exclaimed Jennins; "your mind is running on bodies +buried in the flower pots! I suppose you think this fellow was going to +bury the girl in one of the beds in the park!" + +"It's all very strange," mused Gimblet, unheeding the inspector's +jeering tones. "The rope now. That is a puzzle. What could he be going +to do with a rope? And why was it tied to a spade? Had he got the thing +in his hands when he was trying to put his arms round Miss Turner's +neck? It must have hampered him a good deal and perhaps helped her to +avoid his clutches." Gimblet, with unseeing eyes, stared fixedly at his +companion, his mind busy with the problem. Suddenly a light seemed to +fall upon it. "By Jove!" he cried, "I believe I see the whole thing. If +only Matterson were certain about the gloves." + +"What is it?" asked Jennins eagerly. + +"No, no," said Gimblet. "It is too wild an idea at present, though +indeed I do not think I can be mistaken. But you have all the facts +before you, Jennins, and are as able to come to the right conclusion as +myself. I will leave you to think over the puzzle, while I go back to my +flat and see if the answer to the wire I sent to Mrs. Vanderstein has +yet arrived. It ought to be there by now." + +But he found no telegram awaiting him. He was annoyed and surprised +at this, but the time taken by foreign telegrams is always uncertain, +and Mrs. Vanderstein might have been out when his reached Boulogne. +Lunch was being kept warm for him, and he made a hearty meal of Scotch +woodcock and asparagus; with which he drank iced coffee and ate sponge +cake instead of bread. There were strawberries to finish up with, and he +left the dining-room with a peaceful smile on his face. + +It was three o'clock, and the telegram was still undelivered. + +Gimblet decided to wait in for it, and, having now leisure to think of +others, rang up Sidney on the telephone and told him of the discovery of +Barbara Turner's whereabouts. + +Incoherent questions came to him over the wire, but after a minute or +two Sidney said "good-bye" and rang off hastily. The detective smiled +as he hung up the receiver. In his mind's eye he saw the young man dash +out and drive swiftly in the direction of the hospital, and indeed the +picture his imagination drew for him could not have been more accurate. + +The afternoon passed and the evening wore away, and yet no wire came +from Mrs. Vanderstein. It was tiresome, and Gimblet felt irritated with +the lady for her lack of courtesy. Surely she might have replied by now. +He felt that she held the clue to many things which perplexed him, and +he could not understand her failure to give it to him. His own telegram +had been very urgent. Well, the police were sending a man to see her; he +was to go over by the 2.20 from Charing Cross, and by now he would be +arriving at Boulogne. There could not be much more delay, telegram or no +telegram. + +Gimblet gave up waiting and went out again. He felt he must go to +Scholefield Avenue once more. The tragedy that had taken place there +filled his thoughts; and, being convinced in spite of Jennins' +contemptuous incredulity that the two mysteries were in some remote +way connected, he was inclined to go and see if there were not some +trifling point about things at No. 13 which he had overlooked, instead +of waiting longer for the minute glimmer of light which Mrs. Vanderstein +might be able to throw upon the darkness with which the whole affair was +enveloped. + +Scholefield Avenue looked very quiet and peaceful in the evening light; +the few boys who still hovered about the gate, survivals of the crowd +which the report of the murder had gathered there earlier in the day, +wore the tranquil air of those to whom time is no object, and Gimblet, +looking up and down the road, where the shadows lay long and the air +was cool in the green twilight of the overhanging trees, thought again +what a good place the murderer had chosen for his deed. Who would ever +suspect evil in so calm and bright an oasis among the mazes of dusty, +traffic-worn streets which surrounded it on every hand? + +The house was in charge of a couple of policemen, who let Gimblet in +without demur when he showed them his card, and followed him with their +eyes with looks in which curiosity and admiration were blended. He +went over the garden again, examining half-obliterated footmarks, and +poking about between flowering plants lest something should be thrust +away there and had escaped his notice. Then into the house, where he +renewed his search, but without result. He looked into the drawing-room +again, where all was as he had left it except that the body had been +removed to a bedroom, then went into the library and gazed again at the +dirty finger marks on the white paint of the door. Whose fingers were +they, he wondered, which had left so many imprints? Was it the murdered +woman who had been shut up in that room? Had Mrs. Vanderstein and her +companion been there too, or was Jennins right, and their presence in +that vicinity on Monday night been a figment of Miss Finner's excited +imagination? + +His thoughts reverted to the powder puff and the forged note, and he +took the folded paper from his pocket book and sniffed at it again. The +odour of scent, now faint indeed, but still clinging sweetly to the +impassioned words, was unmistakably that which hovered about the house +in Grosvenor Street. Arome de la Corse, it was called, he remembered, +and Amelie had said that Mrs. Vanderstein had it sent to her direct +from Paris. Such extraordinary things happen every day that anything +short of a miracle hardly attracts attention, but surely it would be a +strain on the long arm of coincidence to suppose that, having strayed +on to the scene of a murder owing to the mistaken idea that he was on +the track of Mrs. Vanderstein, he should then find that not only did the +dead woman resemble that lady and wear similar clothes but that she even +used the same uncommon perfume! Gimblet's whole soul revolted at such an +impossibility. In the name of common sense, he said to himself, it must +be Mrs. Vanderstein who had been seen on the doorstep on Monday night, +and none other, in spite of all probability to the contrary; though what +she was doing in that _galere_ certainly seemed incomprehensible from +nearly every point of view. + +No contingency was ever dismissed by Gimblet as too wild for +consideration, and the only reasonable explanation of her presence, +he felt, was that she was in some way mixed up with the murder, an +accomplice at least, if not the actual author of the deed; but this +view involved so complete a shifting of ideas, that he put it aside for +further consideration in the light of the information which the man +sent by Scotland Yard to Boulogne might be able to furnish. If only the +walls could speak! he thought, as he finally realised that nothing more +was to be gathered, and, before leaving the room, strolled over to the +mantelpiece in order to have a nearer look at the picture which hung +there, and which he had noticed the day before. + +It was a small oil painting, dark with dirt and age, and much of the +detail lost in a general blackness. Still the figures, those of a man +in blue and another in greenish brown in the act of lighting a long +pipe, could be clearly enough distinguished, together with enough of the +background to make it plain that this represented an interior. Gimblet +studied it with the keenest appreciation; it was just the class of +picture he most delighted in. A longing took him to remove it from its +nail and carry it to the light, and with rather a guilty glance back at +the door, which he had, however, shut as he entered, he put up his hand +and lifted it off. + +As he delicately lowered his prize he caught sight of something which +made him very nearly drop it. + +On the square of wall paper which had been hidden by the picture was +some pencilled writing, scrawled irregularly in a large round hand: + + "I am locked in this room. I write this hoping it may be the means + of delivering these people to justice, for I am sure they intend no + good. I can see that by the fact that the man with the black beard has + promised to help me to escape. Why should there be need to escape? But + I do not believe he will keep his word. I have been here so long, I do + not know how long, but many hours, perhaps days, and God knows what + dreadful thing they are doing in the drawing-room to Mr" + +The writing broke off abruptly about half way down the square of darker +colour, where the paper had been prevented from fading by the protecting +picture. Gimblet gazed at it with all the emotions of the scientist +whose theory has stood the decisive test. His hands fumbled in his +excitement, as he hastily snatched out his notebook, and sought in it +for the telegraph form Higgs had obtained from the Piccadilly office. +He flattened it against the wall below the pencilled words, more in +order to gloat over this proof of the soundness of his deductions than +for the sake of comparing the two handwritings, for it had only needed +the first glance to make it plain to him that they were one and the +same. The writing on the wall was larger; the letters followed each +other unevenly, and while some of the lines drooped lower and lower as +they advanced, others rose crookedly to meet them, so that one or two +actually overlapped and were rather hard to decipher, but the essential +character of the hand was clearly identical with that of the telegram. +There was no mistaking the slant of the short line of the h's or the +oval converging lines of the w's and the low crossing of the t's, +besides a hundred other small points which left the trained eye in no +doubt as to the authorship of the message. + +"I wonder what Jennins will say to this," thought Gimblet, as he copied +down the words on a page of his notebook. "That Scholefield Avenue has +got on my brain, I suppose." + +Excited as he was, he did not forget his original purpose in taking down +the painting, but carried it to the window and examined it closely by +the now diminishing light. On nearer inspection it proved to be of less +interest than he had expected, and he hung it up again with the less +regret. + +"But even Jennins will have to admit that a leaning towards Art comes +in very useful sometimes," he thought, as he once more hid the scrawled +message from view. + +It was long past eight when the detective returned to his flat, only to +find that there was still no answer to his telegram to Boulogne. + +"Nothing has come and no one has been to see us since you went out, +sir," Higgs told him. + +Higgs always spoke of himself as "us" when he was engaged on Gimblet's +affairs, just as he alluded, with a fine impartiality, to matters in +which his master alone was concerned as "ours." + +"They've been ringing us up from the Yard," he went on, "been ringing +every few minutes for the last half-hour, and said I was to ask you to +speak to them on the telephone the minute you come in. There they go +again," he concluded, as the bell tinkled violently in the library at +the same moment as there came a ring at the front door. + +Gimblet hurried to the instrument and Higgs went to answer the door. + +"Are you there?" + +"Yes, is that Mr. Gimblet? Hold the line, please, sir." + +In a moment Jennins' voice sounded in his ear. + +"Mr. Gimblet, that you? Oh, Mr. Gimblet, our man has wired from Boulogne +and it appears that things have taken a very unexpected turn. I daresay +you've seen an evening paper?" + +Gimblet had heard so much when the library door burst open, and Sir +Gregory rushed into the room. + +"Look at this," he almost screamed, evidently beside himself with some +painful emotion. "Look at this!" + +He waved an evening paper. + +"Oh, do go away, Sir Gregory," said Gimblet; "can't you see I'm busy? +Hullo, Jennins! Jennins, are you there?" + +But Sir Gregory would not be denied. Seizing Gimblet's arm he tore him +away from the telephone, and holding the newspaper under his eyes +pointed to it with a shaking hand. He would have spoken, but sobs choked +his utterance, and, glancing at him for the first time and in no very +friendly humour, Gimblet was surprised to see that tears were rolling +down the kindly pink face. + +"Why, what's the matter?" he said, but Sir Gregory only pointed to the +unfolded sheet. The detective's eyes at last followed the outstretched +finger, and he read: + + "Murder of Mrs. Vanderstein. + "Missing Lady Found Dead in Her Hotel at Boulogne." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +"What do you think about going over to Boulogne, Mr. Gimblet?" + +It was the following morning, and Jennins was sitting in Gimblet's +rooms. He had come round to talk matters over and discuss plans and +methods of carrying them out. + +"I think I may be more useful if I stay here," Gimblet said, in answer +to his question. "Your fellow, Burford, who is over there, is a good +sound man who will, at least, not overlook the obvious, and Bonnot, the +French detective, who is said to have been summoned, is a master of his +profession. These murders are certainly the work of the same gang, and +it may be easier to trace them here in London, if it is, as it appears +to be, their starting point, than it will be to do so in a foreign +country. There is no more news from Burford, I suppose?" + +"Nothing new since last night. And no more than the papers have, anyhow. +These reporters are the deuce." + +"They are," Gimblet agreed. "Let's see again what they say about it." He +took up a paper, turned to the sinister headline, and read aloud: + + "A startling sequel has followed the mysterious disappearance of + Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, who left their home early in the + week and whose whereabouts were only yesterday discovered. One + of these ladies, Mrs. Vanderstein, who, it will be remembered, we + ascertained to be staying at Boulogne, was found dead in her room at + the Hotel de Douvres yesterday afternoon, and foul play is strongly + suspected. Traces of violence were plainly to be seen and it is + thought likely that the poor lady was strangled to death. A curious + feature of the affair is that though Mrs. Vanderstein had with her a + large quantity of her valuable jewellery, some of which was actually + lying on the table at the time, so far as is at present known none of + it has been stolen. + + "A page in the service of the hotel reports that he showed a visitor + to Mrs. Vanderstein's room soon after luncheon, and this stranger, who + is described as a tall man with a black beard, left the hotel shortly + before three o'clock, after delivering a message from the lady to the + effect that she did not wish to be disturbed again that day. The order + was duly given to the domestics of the hotel, and if a messenger from + London had not arrived by the five o'clock boat on important business + and insisted on penetrating to Mrs. Vanderstein's presence, it is + probable that the murder would not have been discovered until to-day. + The authorities are investigating the affair with the utmost energy, + and it is believed that they are on the track of the man with the + black beard." + +Gimblet put down the paper. "There are various other paragraphs saying +the same thing in different words," he remarked. + +"It certainly looks as if you were right again," observed Jennins +reflectively, "about all this being the work of the same gang, I mean." + +"There's not a doubt of it," said Gimblet. "I was sure of it from the +first, though I admit that I had not much to go on. A mere whiff of +perfume. Let us see how much we know now. To go back to Monday night, +Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner voluntarily entered the house in +Scholefield Avenue, though whether in response to an invitation from the +so-called West or not we do not know, in spite of a theory I have on the +subject. They then presumably separated, Miss Turner being imprisoned +in the room on the ground floor, very much against her will and to her +alarm since she broke a window in the hope of escaping, and when that +attempt failed wrote a despairing message on the wall, in which she +stated her fear that something dreadful was being done to somebody in +the drawing-room. You will, I am sure, agree with me that, though the +message says that her alarm was for 'Mr' and then stops, an s would +have been added if Miss Turner had not been interrupted, and it was her +intention to write 'Mrs.' But whether this would have referred to the +woman who was buried in the flower stand or whether she was thinking of +her friend, Mrs. Vanderstein, is not clear. + +"Was Mrs. Vanderstein in the drawing-room at the time of the murder, +and if so what was her business there, is the next question where +our knowledge fails us. We know she was in that room at some time +or other--I knew that the moment I smelt her perfume on the powder +puff and note--but whether or no she was there at the moment of the +crime we cannot tell. In either case her subsequent proceedings are +extraordinary. If she was detained in the house against her will and +made her escape by some unknown means, why did she fly to Boulogne, +instead of to her own house or to the nearest police station? Why, when +she got to Boulogne, did she not communicate with her friends until +yesterday? It is true she said she had written previously, but it would +have been more natural if she had telegraphed, and if she received no +reply had telegraphed again. Why did she display no anxiety on Miss +Turner's account? Her actions seem at present to be inexplicable and +strange to the last degree. Had she suddenly gone off her head? That is +the most probable solution, to my mind. If so, it may well be that it +was she who committed the terrible crime I discovered in Scholefield +Avenue, and then, with the mixture of cunning and recklessness common +to lunatics of a criminal type, retired to Boulogne to wait till the +affair should have blown over. There are, however, several drawbacks +to such a theory, and one of them is that it does not account for the +black-bearded man, unless he was a lover, and indeed it seems most +likely that he was. + +"We don't know what was the part he played on Monday night. Perhaps he +helped Mrs. Vanderstein to escape more effectually than he did Miss +Turner, in spite of his promise to her. + +"All we know is that he took the girl out of the house on Tuesday night +or Wednesday morning and that they went together to the bank of the +canal in Regent's Park, where Matterson came upon them. We know that +'black-beard' carried a heavy spade with him. What for? Not to use it as +he did, I think; neither was it to dig a grave with after Miss Turner +had been disposed of in some other way. Think, Jennins, there was a +cord attached to the handle, and the canal was within a few yards of +them. Do those two facts suggest nothing to you? Surely it is obvious +that his intention was to throw the young lady into the water, having +previously tied the spade to her so as to make sure she would sink. No +doubt she guessed what was in his mind, and that was why Matterson saw +her defending herself, poor girl, and heard her scream. Such at least is +my opinion." + +"I shouldn't wonder if you've hit the nail on the head this time," +agreed the inspector. "The question is, what's the next thing to be +done?" + +"It's high time I followed up a clue contained in the letter purporting +to come from Prince Felipe," replied Gimblet. "I should have done so +long ago, if I had not waited for Mrs. Vanderstein's version of the +affair. You remember a Madame Q. is mentioned as the bearer of the +note. Well, who is Madame Q.? I telegraphed early yesterday to Mrs. +Vanderstein saying, 'Were you at 13 Scholefield Avenue on Monday night, +and who else was present? Letter has been found there apparently +addressed to you by Prince F. mentioning Madame Q. Please wire very +fully, and give Madame Q.'s full name and address. Very grave matters +involved.' If the lady had replied to my wire we should doubtless have +been spared a lot of trouble, though we might not have been able to save +her life; but, as things are, I propose to try and sift the question of +Madame Q.'s identity for myself." + +Jennins went away; and Gimblet, after being detained by a short visit +from Sidney--who was on his way to catch the eleven o'clock train to +Boulogne--also took up his hat and left the house. + +A quarter of an hour later he was standing on the doorstep of Mrs. +Vanderstein's Grosvenor Street house. + +He found, as was natural, a shocked and dislocated household. The +cook and Blake were seated in the morning-room, where the cook was +flourishing a handkerchief, and reiterating observations to the effect +that she had always known something terrible was going to happen ever +since the second footman had broken the looking-glass in the pantry; +while the young man referred to was standing just outside the door, and +putting his head into the room every few minutes to remark defiantly, +though with a certain uneasiness, that it wasn't in nature for so +tremendous an event to be brought about by such an insignificant +piece of glass as the one he had had the "misfortune" with. From +the drawing-room came the penetrating shrillness of Amelie's voice, +apparently filling in the newspaper account of the murder, with all the +embellishing detail an unshrinkingly gruesome imagination could suggest, +for the benefit of the rest of the maids, whose chorusing groans could +also be distinguished. But, on the whole, there was more perturbation as +to the effect the tragedy would be likely to have on their own futures +than distress at the dreadful fate of their mistress; and Gimblet, if he +had to listen to much lamentation, found himself also beset with many +anxious questions. + +It was some minutes before he was able to introduce his own object in +coming there; but at last he drew Blake to one side, and asked him if +Mrs. Vanderstein had kept a visiting book with a list of the people she +called on. + +She had done so, and it was produced, but to Gimblet's disappointment +contained no name beginning with the letter Q. There were, however, the +names of two or three French ladies, and he wondered whether Q were +merely a cipher for Gerady or Kerigoet. Blake, cross-questioned, could +think of no foreign lady with whom Mrs. Vanderstein was on familiar +terms. + +Gimblet remembered Amelie's thorough knowledge in the matter of her +mistress' correspondence, and called to her to come and speak to him. + +"Had Mrs. Vanderstein a friend of your nationality?" he asked. "Was +there any French lady whom she knew well, and whose name, perhaps, began +with a Q?" + +"A lady? No," said Amelie. "A friend? Hardly! Il ne manquait plus que +cela! But she was acquainted with a French woman, whose name begins with +Q. Without doubt, it is of that Justine you speak." + +"Justine?" + +"Eh! Yes. Justine Querterot. Madame Querterot, as she calls herself, +though, for me, I never saw that she had a husband. It is said that he +shot himself, the poor man, and I do not see what he could have done +better with a wife like that one! Ah, monsieur, a nasty, bad woman!" + +"There are people like that," Gimblet agreed diplomatically; "but tell +me, how did Mrs. Vanderstein know this Madame Querterot?" + +"She came for a time to _coiffer_ Madame, and to rejuvenate her +complexion, which needed nothing of the kind, I assure you. But she had +the idea to be massaged, and for some months that woman was daily in the +house. Never did I comprehend how Mrs. Vanderstein could tolerate her. A +woman so vulgar, so familiar, and who never ceased to talk and talk and +talk!" + +Amelie spoke with virtuous indignation, as one to whom the gift of +silence has been vouchsafed. + +"She is a masseuse, then?" + +"Not a real masseuse, though so she calls herself; but, to say the +truth, she is just a hairdresser who tries to make people believe she +knows something of the care of the skin. For some reason she appeared to +amuse Madame, and I think it was chiefly for that reason that she let +her come." + +"Did she come every day, and has she been here since Mrs. Vanderstein +left home?" + +"For two or three months she came every day," replied Amelie bitterly. +"Indeed I thought she was coming always, but only last Monday--the very +day Madame went away--I heard la Justine say that it was her final +visit; and, in truth, she has not been here since, I am very happy to +say it." + +"Ah," said Gimblet. "Well, I shall have to go and see her. Let me see, +you said she is a tall, dark woman, did you not?" + +"But no," cried Amelie, "on the contrary she is short, and has yellow +hair in the worst possible taste." + +"What makes you dislike this woman so much? Do you know anything against +her, by any chance?" + +But it appeared that Amelie knew nothing against Madame Querterot. Vague +accusations and dark charges of a general character were all she had to +bring; and, after listening to a tirade of this kind for a considerable +time, Gimblet cut it short by asking for the masseuse's address. + +"Your mistress left a letter for her," he said, "which has been sent +over to us by the French police. It is of no importance, and contains, I +think, only a reference to Madame Querterot's account, but I am anxious +to deliver it; and, as the poor lady had got no further with the address +than Madame Q, without your assistance it would have been a matter of +some difficulty." + +It was unfortunate that the detective should have hit upon this excuse +to explain his interrogations, for the idea that even death had not put +a stop to intercourse between Mrs. Vanderstein and her enemy nearly +suffocated Amelie, whose jealous suspicions woke again at the challenge. + +"This is the address, monsieur," she said, as she gave it to him, +"but I would not count on finding the bird in the nest. It is in the +neighbourhood of Boulogne that you should look for that infamous woman. +One of her kind is capable of everything; and, in my opinion, nothing is +more probable than that it is she who is the real assassin of my poor +Madame! A black beard, indeed! Is she not a hairdresser?" + +Gimblet fled before the storm of words he had provoked, and hurried to +the Pimlico address that he had obtained. + +In spite of himself, Amelie's words echoed in his ears: "Is she not a +hairdresser?" A black beard was a simple enough disguise, and fair hair +may be covered. But he had been told also that the masseuse was a short +woman, and height is not so easily simulated. Such were his thoughts as +he turned the handle of the shop door. + +There was no one inside, and Gimblet had time to remark the empty +shelves and forlorn look of the window--which the waxen lady no longer +graced with her presence--before, in answer to the rapping of his hand +on the counter and his repeated cry of "Shop, please," the door leading +to the back room opened and Julie Querterot made her appearance. + +It was a sad enough figure she presented to him that day: paler, +thinner, more tired-looking than ever. There was a scared look in her +eyes now, and black lines under them. She came forward slowly, almost +timidly. + +"Did you want anything?" she said. "I am afraid our stock is nearly +all--sold out." + +"Thanks," said Gimblet. "I called to see Madame Querterot--is it +possible that I am speaking to her?" + +"Oh no," said Julie with a little smile. "I am her daughter. But I fear +you cannot see my mother just now. She is--out." + +"Never mind," returned Gimblet. "I will wait. Perhaps she will be in by +luncheon-time? I have a message for her." + +"I do not know when she will be back," said the girl. "Can you not leave +the message with me?" + +"It is for her own ear," said Gimblet. "If you don't mind, I will wait a +little." + +He sat down as he spoke, and Julie, after a hesitating glance, went back +to the inner room, leaving the door ajar between the two. + +Gimblet, left to himself, was surprised to notice again how very few +were the articles exposed for sale. Bare as the shop had looked when he +first entered, he now saw it to be even emptier than he had thought. A +tradesman's almanack on one wall, a picture from an illustrated paper +on the other, two or three bottles of hair-wash and a few packets of +hair-pins seemed to constitute the whole stock in trade. + +Gimblet was still wondering whether the massage was in as bad a way as +the hairdressing side of the Querterot business, when a subdued sound +coming from the next room drew his attention. + +What was it, that sort of low, muffled panting? + +The detective got up softly, and stole to the door. + +Peeping shamelessly through the crack, he saw that a chair had been +drawn up to the table and that Julie sat there with her head bent and +resting on her hands. It was from her that the sound came which had +caught his ear, for her whole body was shaking with the sobs which she +tried in vain to stifle. + +Gimblet opened the door and passed boldly through. + +"I am so sorry," he said, "to have come at a time when you are unhappy. +But won't you tell me all about it? Who knows, I may be able to help +you." + +At sight of him the girl started up, with a renewed effort to get the +better of her grief; but the kind tone of Gimblet's voice put the +finishing touch to her emotions: losing all attempt at self-control, she +laid her head down on the table before her and gave way to unrestrained +and passionate tears. + +Gimblet let her weep for a while, then he sat down near her and tried +to comfort her. He took one of her hands and patted it gently, as if she +had been a child. + +"There, there," he said, "don't cry any more. Tell me what's the matter +and let's see if something can't be done about it." + +Gradually her tears came more slowly; the convulsive sobs that had +shaken her died away, and she sat up and dried her eyes, looking at him +from time to time with furtive shyness. + +"You are very kind, sir," she said at last, succumbing reluctantly to +that feeling of confidence which Gimblet always succeeded in inspiring +if he tried. "It was--it was only because you asked to see my mother." + +"How's that?" + +"She--she--I don't know where she is." + +"No? But never mind. You will hear where she has been when she comes +home." + +"You don't understand. She hasn't been home for four days, and I have no +idea when she is coming back. She did not tell me anything." + +"Dear me!" Gimblet looked grave. "When do you say you saw her last?" + +"It was on Tuesday morning," said Julie. "She came and woke me very +early; she seemed to have been out, for she still wore her hat, and in +her hand she had a black bag. After that she went away. I heard her +moving about for some time, till at last she went downstairs and I heard +the front door slam. I jumped out of bed and looked out of the window +and saw her going down the street with a big bag in each hand. And I +haven't seen or heard anything of her since. But I am sure, oh, I _know_ +she did not mean to come back!" + +"How do you know that?" Gimblet asked. + +"I know it from what she said, and from what she did, before she went." + +"Won't you tell me?" + +Julie looked at him doubtfully. + +"Bert--that is a friend of mine--tried to make me promise not to say +anything about it, but I told him I should go to the police if I didn't +hear soon. And I feel I must tell some one, for something dreadful may +have happened to her," Julie added, half to herself. "Have you anything +to do with the police?" she asked. + +"Well, yes, I have, as a matter of fact; in an indirect way." + +"You will know what to do then, if I tell you. Bert doesn't seem to know +what to do; he only rages. Well, I think my mother has gone away for +good, because, before she went, she got a man to come to the house and +buy nearly every portable thing in it. There is hardly anything left +besides these chairs and table, and my bed upstairs. Soon after she had +gone they came and took away the things." + +"Did she leave you no money?" + +"No, but she left me the house, you see; only the rent is due and I have +nothing to pay it with. And she told me to collect any bills that were +due for her services, and that she made me a present of the money. So +when she was gone I looked in the ledger and found that everything owing +to her had been paid up during the last few days, except one account. It +was that of Mrs. Vanderstein, the poor lady who was murdered at Boulogne +yesterday, as perhaps you have seen in the papers?" + +Gimblet inclined his head gravely, and she went on. + +"My mother used to go to massage the complexion of Mrs. Vanderstein, and +the amount owing was large, over twenty pounds. I was grateful that such +a sum should be given to me; but, when I saw the next morning that the +lady had disappeared, I made sure it was because she was unable to pay +her bills, and it seemed likely that my mother had known this when she +was so generous to me. I made sure I should never see a penny of that +money, and I was in despair, as I didn't know what to do about the rent, +or even how to live in the meantime. I went up to Mrs. Vanderstein's +house to see if she had really gone, and a kind old gentleman told me +the bill would be paid all the same. That was a great comfort, but I +knew it would not be for some time, at any rate, and perhaps not till +I was starving. It did not really matter so very much," Julie added +loyally, "for I am anxious to enter a religious sisterhood, and they +will take me, I am sure, even if I have nothing to bring them. But I +can't bear to go to them as a beggar, and I wish, I wish she hadn't left +me quite destitute without any warning," she concluded, her eyes filling +with tears again. + +"Then what did she wake you up to say, early on Tuesday morning?" + +"I told you she had a bag in her hand? She took some clothes out of it +and gave them to me. She told me to burn them and that she would explain +why when she came back. But she said I might keep the linings to make +myself petticoats. Such fine petticoats would be no use to me. Still, +it was kind of her. And then she took out this and gave it to me to +take care of"--Julie put her hand to her neck and pulled out from under +her blouse a long string of enormous pearls. "She said that one of her +customers had asked her to look after them while she was travelling," +continued the girl, lifting the necklace over her head and holding it +out to Gimblet. "I don't know if they are real, though she told me to be +very careful of them and to wear them always. But I think if they had +been real she would not have left them." + +Gimblet took the necklace without a word. He was for the moment +incapable of speaking. + +"That was all my mother said to me," went on Julie, "but she seemed +very pleased about something; and at the same time excited. When I +looked out of the window and saw her walking away, she was wearing +clothes I had never seen before; they must have been quite new. They +were simple, certainly, just a coat and skirt and a small hat; but they +were beautifully made and fitted her so well, not at all like what she +generally wore. There is something about expensive clothes that makes +people look so different. I should hardly have known her if it had not +been for a way she has of walking. I could only see the top of her +head, but the hat was a very smart one, with a beautiful osprey in it. +Somehow she had the air of a person going to a wedding, and I can't help +thinking that perhaps it was her own wedding she was going to. She may +have married some one above us in station and not have wanted him to +know of my existence. That is what I think, but Bert says not." + +Gimblet cleared his throat. "I wonder," he said, "if you would mind +showing me the clothes you spoke of that your mother gave you before she +left." + +"I'm afraid I can't," said Julie. "I--you see I had no money--I sold +them to a second-hand clothes shop in Victoria Street. Bert wanted to +see them too. He thinks my mother must have had some special reason for +saying they were to be burnt, but I don't believe she would have told me +I could keep the linings if they had been infectious." + +"What were they like?" Gimblet asked. It needed all his self-control to +keep the eagerness out of his voice. + +"Two beautiful white evening dresses," said Julie, "and two opera cloaks +of red and mauve silk all covered with lovely embroidery and lace. Of +course I could never have worn them and it seemed a pity to cut them up. +I simply couldn't have burned them. The shop only gave me five pounds +for the lot, but that will keep me for some time till I have decided +what to do. Still, Bert says I ought not to have sold them." + +"By the way," said Gimblet, "who is Bert?" + +The girl flushed. "He's just a boy I know," she said. "He used to go +to school with me, and he is always good to me. I shouldn't like to +annoy him or to hurt his feelings, and I ought not to have spoken of +him, because when he advised me not to go to the police, and I wouldn't +promise, he said that I should see that harm would come of it. And so +I told him that if my mother came back and blamed me for having spoken +of her absence, as he seems to think she would, I would say that he had +urged me not to. And then he got quite angry and told me to do as I +pleased, but not to mix him up in it, and so I said of course I'd never +mention his name if he didn't like; but now I've done it." She stopped, +breathless. + +"Well, give Bert a message from me," said Gimblet; "tell him I agree +with him so far, and think you have no need to go to the police yet +awhile. But you had better not tell him I have anything to do with them, +as he seems to dislike them so much. Shall you see him soon?" + +"Yes, I expect he will come this evening when he leaves off work; he +generally does. And I think I shan't tell him anything about you. +Really, it isn't his business and I don't like being always lectured." + +"I think you are quite right," said Gimblet. "Now one question. Have +you any idea as to the man with whom you think your mother may have +gone off? Had you any suspicion before that she was thinking of marrying +again?" + +The girl hesitated a moment. "No," she said, "I have no idea at all who +it could be." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +Gimblet was late for the inquest, which had been fixed for two o'clock. +By the time he arrived the evidence of Higgs and the policeman he had +fetched, and that of Brampton, the artist, and the house agents' clerk +had been already taken, and there only remained his own and the doctor's +to be heard. + +Nothing new was brought to light, and the jury returned a verdict of +"Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown." + +Gimblet did not judge it expedient to disclose the theories he had +formed on the subject of the crime. As he walked away from the house in +the company of Jennins, whom he had found there when he arrived, the +inspector said to him: + +"An old-clothes dealer in Victoria Street has communicated with us. They +have bought what they think, from the published description, to be the +dresses and cloaks worn by Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner on Monday +night. I am going to get that French maid of theirs to go down to the +place with me and see if the people are right in their assumption. They +say they bought the things from a young woman who gave an address in +Pimlico and the name of Julie Querterot. Can she be the Madame Q. of the +note? If she is, it is strange that she should not give a false name; +but everything about this case is mysterious." + +"It is not she," said Gimblet, "it was her mother. I have just been +to their house and seen her. As for mysteries, there is only one left +as far as I am concerned, and that is the whereabouts of West, and the +question whether he has not by this time exchanged his disguise of a +black beard for another in which it will be harder to identify him. +Everything else, I think, is quite clear, with the exception of a few +trifling details, and I do not think it will be long before we may hope +to lay our hands on Mr. West himself." + +Gimblet refused, however, to impart his lately acquired information to +Jennins, telling him, much to the inspector's disgust, that he would +know all about it soon enough. + +"And a tangled web you'll find it, Jennins," said he. + +They were interrupted by a messenger, who informed Jennins that Miss +Turner was conscious and anxious to make a statement. + +Gimblet and the inspector went together to the hospital, where they +found Barbara looking very much better than the day before. She was +recovering wonderfully, they were told, but must not excite herself more +than could be avoided. Indeed, she would not have been allowed to see +them yet, if she had not been fretting so much to tell her story that it +was thought best to let her do it. She must not, however, be made aware +of the death of her friend if it were possible to conceal it from her +for the next few days. + +She greeted the two men with a feeble smile. "I hear that I was rescued +by one of your men," she said to Jennins, "and I am more grateful to him +than I can say, though I do not remember very much after I realised that +that man was trying to tie his spade round my neck." + +"It's lucky you were seen in time," replied Jennins. "We don't want to +bother you to-day, but at the same time we are, of course, anxious to +hear anything you can tell us about the scoundrel you were with." + +"Oh, I want to tell you all about it so that you may be able to catch +him--and the woman too. I suppose you haven't got them yet?" + +Jennins shook his head. + +"I thought perhaps Mrs. Vanderstein had been able to put you on the +track. How glad I am that she escaped. I was afraid--but no matter now. +Has she told you how she managed to get away?" + +"Mrs. Vanderstein went abroad immediately," said Gimblet evasively; +"we have not heard any details from her yet. But will you not tell us +your adventures from the beginning? How was it you found yourselves in +Scholefield Avenue?" + +Barbara looked at him blankly. "Scholefield Avenue," she repeated, +"where is that?" + +"The house in which you were imprisoned is there," said Gimblet; "have +you forgotten? You went there with Mrs. Vanderstein on Monday night +after the opera. I want you to tell us why you went to it." + +"I didn't know where it was," said Barbara, "but I don't think I can +tell you why we went. I don't think Mrs. Vanderstein would like me to do +that." + +"As you wish," replied Gimblet; "but this will show you that I already +know something of your friend's private affairs." He took out the sheet +of notepaper bearing the arms of Targona, and handed it to her. + +"She gave you this!" cried the girl, and as Gimblet remained silent: +"Then she cannot mind my speaking of it. Yes, it is true that we went to +that house to meet Prince Felipe, but I don't know if he came there or +not." + +"No, he did not go." + +"Then the whole thing was false! I thought so at the beginning, +but afterwards I was not sure. It was on Monday morning that Mrs. +Vanderstein spoke to me about it. For a week she had been looking +strange: excited, pleased--I don't know what exactly--happier, younger, +somehow different from her usual look. And on Monday she came to my room +and told me, blushing and smiling, that it was her happiness to be loved +by Prince Felipe of Targona, and that in all probability she was going +to marry him. They had only seen each other in the distance, she said, +but it had been love at first sight for both of them, and she was so +happy, so happy! And wouldn't I say I was glad? I asked her how she knew +what he felt for her, if they had never met, and she said she had had +letters from him and had written to him herself, and that she was going +to meet him that very night after the opera, at the house of a friend +of his. She said they could not meet in public, or at his hotel, or in +her own home, as he was surrounded by his suite, and his mother, who was +also with him, watched his every movement, so that all his comings and +goings were seen and marked. + +"They were staying at Fianti's Hotel just opposite to us in Grosvenor +Street, you know, so it would have been rather difficult for the Prince +to come to our house without being noticed. It was intended that he +should marry for political reasons, and at any sign of his affections +being bestowed on a private individual an outcry would have been raised, +which would have been hard to ignore. It was Prince Felipe's plan, so +Mrs. Vanderstein told me, that they should be married quietly and that +he should then abdicate; to which less objection would be made when it +was known that he was irretrievably disposed of from a matrimonial point +of view. The whole story appeared to me so improbable and fantastic that +I couldn't help laughing at it, which offended my friend very much, and +in order to convince me she finally showed me some of the Prince's +letters, including the one you have there. I could not doubt any longer +after I had seen them, though I was surprised and, I must say, shocked +to hear that the go-between in the affair and the bearer of all the +notes was a Frenchwoman, a hairdresser employed by Mrs. Vanderstein, and +also, it seemed, by one of the suite of Prince Felipe. + +"When I heard that Mrs. Vanderstein had no idea where the house to which +she was to go that night was situated, but had left all details to +Madame Querterot and the Prince, I tried to convince her of the folly of +such an arrangement, but nothing I could say had any effect. At last I +told her that I should accompany her on this escapade; and, though she +didn't like the idea and even grew quite angry with me about it, I stuck +to my point, and was so firm on the subject that in the end she gave in +and said I could come if I liked. It was, all the same, with serious +misgivings that I set forth with her that evening for Covent Garden, +where we were first to attend the gala performance. We had hardly +entered the theatre when Mrs. Vanderstein told me to run back and tell +the motor not to come to fetch us. We were to go away in a carriage sent +by the Prince, she said. + +"I was too much worried to enjoy the opera. I don't know whether Mrs. +Vanderstein did or not, but she kept looking at her watch and fidgeting, +so I think her thoughts were elsewhere. Before the last act was nearly +over we left the box and went down into the hall, which was nearly +empty, and told a man to call Mr. Targon's carriage, for so it appeared +the Prince was to be alluded to on this occasion. In a few minutes a +brougham drove up, drawn by a dun coloured horse, which dished badly and +had an odd white blaze across its nose and one eye. I noticed, too, that +it was driven by a very odd-looking man, who wore a hat much too large +for him crammed down over his eyes and a great scarf wrapped round his +neck and high over his chin and ears; though even so I could see that he +wore a beard, which is, to say the least of it, unusual in a coachman." + +"One moment," Jennins interrupted; "do you think you could recognise the +horse, Miss Turner, if you should see him again?" + +"I am nearly sure I should," Barbara replied. "There can't be many with +a blaze like that. I am more sure of it than I am of the driver. He +drove very badly," she went on, "pulling up under the arch with a jerk +and throwing up his hands, each of which clutched at a rein, nearly +over his head. 'Surely there is some mistake,' I said. 'Are you from +Mr. Targon?' 'I am from Mr. Targon,' he answered hoarsely, 'but I think +there is a mistake, as you say; I was to fetch one lady, not two.' 'Oh, +that's all right,' said Mrs. Vanderstein hurriedly. 'Jump in, Barbara.' +And she got into the brougham herself, so that I had no choice but to +follow her, and we drove off. + +"Oh dear, how badly that man drove! Luckily there was hardly any traffic +about, but we bumped into three things before we got to the top of +Regent Street, and went over the curb at the corners I don't know how +often. Once the carriage stopped and the driver leant down and called +through the window that he had orders to fetch one lady, and that I +must get out. This I absolutely refused to do, and by this time Mrs. +Vanderstein was so much alarmed by the reckless way in which he drove +that I don't think she would have allowed me to leave her even if I had +wished to do so. After a heated dispute a small crowd began to gather +round us, and the coachman seeing, I fancy, the shadow of an approaching +policeman, suddenly abandoned the contest, and whipping up his horse we +lurched forward again as the animal started with a bound. + +"It was a long drive, and towards the end of it I lost all notion of +direction and had no idea where we were going. At last, with a final +bump and jolt, we drove in at the gate of a little house, which seemed +to stand back from the road in a tiny garden, and pulled up with a jerk +before a flight of steps, at the top of which a door was flung open +the moment we stopped, and I recognised the figure of Madame Querterot +standing back from it in the half light of the passage. + +"We got out, and Mrs. Vanderstein, who is timid driving at any time, +began to abuse the man in a very angry tone. She had been thoroughly +frightened, poor dear, and had sat holding my hand with a white face +all the way, as I could see from time to time in the light of a passing +lamp. 'What do you mean by driving like that?' she called out from +the pavement. 'I think you are drunk. A nice thing, indeed. I shall +complain of you, do not fear. It is most disgraceful to be in such a +state. Never, never have I been driven like that! It is a wonder we +were not all killed!' The man flicked at the horse and drove away, but +Mrs. Vanderstein was so angry with him that she actually made as if to +follow. She only went a step or two, however, and then with a laugh +turned back, and we went up the steps, into the house. + +"We were received by Madame Querterot, looking, I must say, more tidy +than usual, in a neat black dress and a large apron, put on, I suppose, +in keeping with her part of parlourmaid. I was struck by the strange +expression on her face when she first caught sight of me, and she +murmured something to the effect that Mrs. Vanderstein had promised to +come alone; but my friend, who was still flushed from her encounter +with the coachman, did not answer her at all and marched on with her +chin in the air. Madame Querterot recovered her usual amiability in a +moment, and with many smiles and blandishments conducted us up to the +drawing-room, where she left us, saying that His Highness had not yet +arrived. + +"There we waited for what seemed a long time; twenty minutes perhaps, or +half an hour. My friend was very nervous and could not sit still, but +walked up and down, up and down, restlessly, the whole time. Now she +would plump down on a sofa and arrange herself in a graceful attitude; +a minute later she would jump to her feet and run to the looking-glass +to pat her curls into place, or dab her nose with powder. 'How do I +look?' she asked me more than once, and hardly seemed to hear me when I +answered her. + +"At last there was a slight noise downstairs; the front door shut, and +I could catch the mumble of voices talking low. After what seemed again +an interminable delay the door opened and Madame Querterot came in. 'If +Mademoiselle will come with me into another room for a short time,' said +she. 'His Highness has just arrived.' I only hesitated a second. There +was such an imploring look in Mrs. Vanderstein's eyes that I could not +refuse to go, much as I disapproved of the whole thing. I took her hand, +and kissed her encouragingly, and then left the room without a word; for +indeed there was something pathetic about her emotion, and I was too +much moved by it myself to trust my voice. + +"Madame Querterot led me down to a small back room that seemed to be +a library, and left me, shutting the door behind her. I heard feet +ascending the stairs, the drawing-room door open and shut, and then all +was still for a moment. + +"Suddenly, however, there came a noise from above. Something seemed +to have been knocked over, then came a sound of running footsteps and +finally a dragging noise as if a heavy object were being pulled across +the floor overhead. I started up in alarm. What was happening upstairs? +Surely there was something wrong! Without waiting to think, I rushed +into the hall and tore upstairs and in at the drawing-room door. I +found myself confronted by a tall man with a thick black beard and a +pale, blotchy face. Behind him at the further end of the room I caught +a glimpse of Mrs. Vanderstein, apparently lying on a sofa, and Madame +Querterot bending over her. 'What is it. Is she ill?' I cried. 'Take her +away, take her away,' exclaimed Madame Querterot, looking up over her +shoulder, and before I had time to speak again I was hustled out of the +room by the tall man and dragged downstairs again to the library. I was +so infuriated at his daring to touch me that I could scarcely speak, but +I managed to stammer again: 'Is she ill? Is Mrs. Vanderstein ill?' 'She +is not feeling quite well,' he replied, 'she will be best without you.' + +"I looked at him curiously. I had seen Prince Felipe, and this was not +he. Indeed I thought I recognised the driver of the brougham. He was +a strange-looking man, dressed in ordinary day clothes, and I noticed +with astonishment that he wore thick brown leather gloves on both hands. +'I think she will be better with me,' I said defiantly, and advanced +towards the door, but he barred the way. 'You must stay here,' he said. +'Must!' I said; 'what do you mean? Let me go this instant.' He didn't +answer, but just stood with his back to the door, grinning in a foolish +way. 'Let me out, let me out,' I exclaimed, on the point of tears by +this time, I am afraid. 'Let me out or--or--I'll set fire to the house!' + +"I caught up my scarf and held it towards the gas, but the man leapt +forward and, before I knew what he was doing, had turned out the flame +altogether, leaving us in the dark. As I still stood, bewildered, I +heard the door open and in an instant he had vanished through it and the +key was turned in the lock outside. + +"This was followed by the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and in the +silence that succeeded it is no exaggeration to say that the noise of +my pulses throbbing in my ears sounded as loud as the tramp of a whole +army on the march. I felt my way to a chair, and for a time sat in a +trembling silence, shaken and unstrung by terror the most unnerving, if +of the vaguest nature. + +"Why would they not let me go to Mrs. Vanderstein if she was ill? What +was the matter with her? Why had Madame Querterot looked as she did when +she saw me on the doorstep? What was she doing, kneeling by the sofa? +And, above all, what was the meaning of the man's behaviour to me? It +was, I think, the touch of his hand, as he dragged me downstairs, that +took away my courage altogether. + +"I sat for a long while, immovable in the darkness. From time to time +sounds came from the room above, but they did not convey any meaning to +me. At last I grew calmer, and indignation began to take the place of +my fears. I got up and moved about the room, feeling my way as I went. +In this manner I soon had an idea of the position and character of the +furniture, even of the fire-place and the coal scuttle; and I must have +blacked my fingers nicely in the process. I had a wild notion that it +might be useful to me to know where the poker was, though I had no +definite idea what I would do with it. Still, in one way or another I +was determined to escape from this imprisonment. What did they mean by +shutting me in this room? They must, they should, let me out! + +"I began to cry for help. I felt my way to the door and beat against it +with my hands, but no answer came. Then I had a brilliant thought--the +room was on the ground floor, surely I could get out of the window. I +reached it and tried to open it, but it was stiff and heavy. In spite of +all my efforts I could not raise the sash. I groped for the poker again +and, standing back for fear of the splintering glass, I aimed a blow +at the place where I knew the window to be and heard with delight the +crash of a shattered pane. Even as I delivered the blow, it struck me as +curious that no light came into the room from the night outside; and, +thrusting the poker through the hole I had broken, I found to my dismay +that there were strong wooden shutters beyond it. But the noise I had +made seemed to have attracted some attention at last, for I heard a door +open and the sound of some one running down the stairs. + +"A moment later the key was turned, and the door opened just enough to +let in the tall man, who shut it behind him again as soon as he was +inside. He had a little electric torch, which he turned in my direction, +so that the glare blinded me and I couldn't see him at all. 'It's no +good making all this row, Miss Turner,' he said, 'no sort of earthly, +kicking up such a shindy as a young lady like you ought to be ashamed to +raise. Besides,' he said, and now there was something in his tone that +turned me sick, 'it isn't _safe_. Do you understand? It is not _safe_. +Now, you see I don't mean you any harm or I simply shouldn't bother to +warn you. But no, I like the look of you, and I'm sorry to see you in +this house, where I tell you again it's dangerous to stay. But be a +sensible young lady and do as I tell you, and I'm blowed if I don't help +you to escape when the time comes. What do you say to that? I can't say +fairer, can I?' + +"I suppose you will think me a dreadful coward, but there was something +about the man which frightened me horribly. I think it was that he +seemed to be himself in the extremity of fear. How I gathered that +impression I am not sure. It may have been the low, hurried agitation +of his voice, or the way in which his hand was shaking, so that the +light behind which he was concealed danced and wavered between us like +a will-o'-the-wisp; or perhaps it was the mere telepathic infection of +fear. At all events I was ready to agree to anything he said, and jumped +at the idea of escape. 'I'll do anything, I'll be as quiet as a mouse,' +I cried beseechingly, 'if you'll only let me go away.' 'That's right,' +he said approvingly. 'I'll help you, never fear. And to show that I +mean it,' he went on, 'here's a change of clothes for you. You'd never +escape in that white and red costume, you know.' He threw down a bundle +on the table. 'Make haste and get into these togs, and let me take away +your own things. I'll leave you the lamp to change by, but you must look +sharp, and mind you change every single thing, down to your shift.' + +"So saying he put down the lamp and left the room again. No sooner was +the door shut than I caught up the lamp and ran to the window. Peering +through the glass, I tried to make out the fastening of the shutters and +to see if I could get at it by putting my arm through the broken pane; +but it was quite out of reach and I realised that I could do nothing +without smashing more glass, and I did not dare do that now. So I put +down the lamp again, and fell to changing my clothes as the man had +suggested. + +"They were horrible clothes he had brought, and it made me sick to put +them on; but I felt he was right in saying that I could not escape in my +evening dress. So, though I didn't see why I should change all my under +things, I thought there might be some reason for that also, and anyhow +I think I was too much frightened not to do as I was told. It was soon +done, but not too soon, for without so much as a knock the wretch walked +in again as I was fastening the last button of the shabby coat over a +chemise so rough that my skin prickled all over. He looked at me with +some satisfaction. 'You must alter your hair,' he said; 'do it up tight +and plain, so that it won't show more than can be helped.' + +"With that, he gathered up my clothes and went away, taking the lamp +with him this time, and I saw no more of him for a long while. There was +no need to twist my hair up so hurriedly, for after that was done I sat +down and waited for what seemed like days. It was terrible, waiting, +waiting, waiting in the darkness, which my fears peopled with invisible +presences, so that I found myself holding my breath lest the door handle +should turn again, and some one, or some thing, enter unheard by me. At +the thought, I got up and dragged a heavy chair across the room, where +I sat down on it with my back against the door, my anxiety to get out +quite forgotten and overwhelmed in the awful possibility of not being +certain whether or not I were alone. + +"If only Mrs. Vanderstein had still been with me. But, believe me, it +was not only selfishly that I longed for her: the vision of her, ill, +and no doubt in danger equal to mine as an inmate of this dreadful +house, sat on me like a nightmare; and, if I was frightened by the peril +of my own position, I trembled still more at the danger to which my +friend might be exposed. Why was the man afraid? It was the recollection +of his terror that cowed me, so that I sat there rigid, paralysed by the +fear of I knew not what. From time to time noises broke the silence, +the noise of people moving in the room above; and presently some one +descended the stairs and approached the door against which I crouched. + +"A violent trembling fit seized me and my teeth chattered so +convulsively that I could hardly hear the footsteps outside; but they +passed on, and I heard a door opened at the end of the passage. A +minute later they returned, sounding loud on the linoleum of the hall +and muffled as they went up the stairs; only to come down again in a +few moments. Over and over again this process was repeated: some one +apparently walking down the stairs, down the passage, and through a door +at the back of the house, then retracing his steps, and in a minute or +two beginning all over again. This went on, I should think, for more +than an hour, and then after an interval I heard two people come down +and go to the door; soon it was gently shut and only one pair of feet +returned. + +"Presently another noise began--rather a comforting, familiar noise--the +sound of sweeping and brushing, both on the stairs and in the room +overhead. It seemed as if a housemaid were about, beginning the +morning's work, for by now I could see through a tiny space in the +shutters that it was daylight. I called out once: 'Is there anyone +there?' at which the noise of sweeping ceased, and a warning 'Hush' was +breathed at me through the keyhole, close by my ear. After a time all +these sounds stopped altogether. The sweeper passed my door again, and +again went through the door at the end of the passage. This time it was +closed with a snap of the lock, and then silence settled on the house. I +don't know how long I sat there without hearing a sound. I think I must +have dozed. I know I began to feel so stiff and tired that fear seemed +a secondary consideration, and I didn't care what happened any more. +Heaven knows how long he left me there, dozing and waking, perhaps for +hours, perhaps for days. You know more about that than I do. + +"It was after what seemed like a week that the storm began. It was that +which definitely roused me from the sort of stupor into which I had +fallen, and stirred me to rack my brains again for some means of escape. +It was dreadfully hot in that little room; the atmosphere was close and +stifling till it seemed to weigh one down with an unbearable oppression, +and if it had not been for the glass I had broken--through which an +occasional breath of air penetrated by way of a crack in the shutter--I +suppose it would have been even worse than it was. From time to time I +had been conscious of the distant rumbling of thunder, and hoped dimly +that it would clear the air, for before the storm actually burst my head +was like to split; and it was with a certain relief that I heard the +first large drops of rain begin to fall. Soon afterwards there was a +tremendous clap of thunder. + +"I was appallingly hungry, and wondered if I were being purposely left +to die of starvation. With a vague idea that I might find something +edible I began feeling about again around the room and considering the +possibility, if the worst came to the worst, of eating my shoes, as +I had heard of starving men being forced to do. But I was not hungry +enough for that yet, and besides I wasn't sure if the soles of my satin +slippers were of leather, or only _papier mache_. On the table my +fingers came across a stump of pencil, and that distracted my thoughts +for a little while. I had to feel it all over before I was sure what it +was; it was the point that made me almost certain, and I began at once +to ask myself whether I could not by some means send a message to the +outside world. I could think of no way of doing so, however, and even if +I could have, I had nothing to write on. Then the idea came to me of +writing on the wall. I thought to myself that if the man meant to play +me false, at least I could leave a token of my presence, which possibly +at some future day might lead to the punishment of these people. I knew +there were pictures on the walls, and feeling my way to the fire-place I +lifted up one hanging above it, so that by inserting my hand under the +frame I could write on that part of the wallpaper which, as far as I +could tell, lay behind. + +"I had only written a few words, when the key was turned and the door +opened. A rumbling of thunder had prevented my hearing the sound of +approaching feet, and I had only just time to let the picture fall back +into its place and to move a few steps away from the mantelpiece before +the black-bearded man entered the room. Fortunately, the chair I had +pushed against the door retarded its opening for a moment, or he would +have seen what I was doing. 'Come,' he said, taking hold of my arm, 'now +is the time for you to escape to a place of safety.' + +"Without further words he led me into the hall, and along it to the +front door. Here we paused, while he opened it very cautiously and +peered out. For my part, I was more nervous with regard to dangers that +might lurk in the house behind us; but his inspection of the outside +world seemed to satisfy him, for picking up, to my astonishment, a large +garden spade that was leaning against the wall he opened the door wide +and we passed through it together. I cannot tell you with what feelings +of gladness and thankfulness I hastened down the steps and out into the +street, nor with what joy I felt my unrestrained feet splashing into +the puddles, and the free air of the night blow freshly on my face. We +had gone some hundreds of yards and turned more than one corner before +I dared speak. 'What has happened to my friend?' I then said; 'has +she escaped too?' 'She has gone,' he answered evasively, and still +quickened his pace till I was half running to keep up with him. + +"It was wild weather to be abroad: the storm was still at its height +and the flashes of lightning and the thunder claps succeeded each +other with increasing frequency; rain was falling in torrents, the +roads and pavements were like seething rivers, and the gutters ran a +foot deep at the edge of the kerb, as I discovered by stepping into +one when we crossed the street. There was not a soul to be seen except +the black-cloaked figure of an occasional policeman, and whenever we +approached one of these my companion gripped my arm more tightly, and +wheeled away in a new direction. It was thus, with many turns and by +circuitous routes, that we progressed on our way. And, though I asked +more than once where we were going, not another word did I extract from +the black-bearded man; and I soon fell the more readily into a like +silence, as the rapid pace at which we walked left me little breath for +speech. + +"In this manner, and after we had hurried along for at least half an +hour, we made our way into an enclosure, which I guessed to be Regent's +Park. The first elation caused by leaving the house where I had been +imprisoned was wearing off and I had time to ask myself whither I was +being led, receiving in reply no very comforting assurances. Was I being +taken from one place of incarceration to another? I wondered, and at the +thought I tried to shake off the hand that lay upon my arm. 'If you will +let me go now,' I said timidly, 'I shall be all right by myself. I shall +never forget that you helped me to escape, but now, if you don't mind, +I--I had rather be alone.' But I got no answer, nor did the clutch on my +arm relax. In a fresh panic I made up my mind that the next time we saw +a policeman I would scream for help. + +"It was not many minutes after I had taken this decision that my +companion paused in his rapid walk; and after looking about him +doubtfully seemed to recognise some landmark in the darkness, and came +to a sudden halt. 'Can you get over these railings?' he said. We had +been following the line of an iron fence that bordered the path, and I +could feel rather than see that it reached above the height of my waist +and was ornamented with spikes. 'I think it is hardly possible,' I +replied; 'but why should I get over?' He did not answer, but seemed to +consider. 'I think I can lift you over,' he said at length, and before +I could object he had his arms around me, and with a tremendous effort +swung me up in the air and across the railings. 'Now you must help me,' +he said, holding tightly to my arm as I landed safely on the other side. +And partly by my help, partly by holding on to a tree that leant up +against the fence near by, he managed to scramble over. + +"Now, by the roughness of the ground under my feet, I knew we were +on the grass, even before a flash of lightning showed me that we +had wandered away from the fence and were standing on the top of an +embankment, at the bottom of which I caught sight of a high wooden +paling. With instinctive reluctance, I hung back as my companion began +to descend the bank, tugging me in his wake. At the bottom of the +hill we came to the high wall, which we followed for a little way, +and presently stopped before an opening through which I saw the gleam +of water. 'We must get through here,' said the man. 'There's plenty +of room where these two boards have been torn off.' There was, as he +said, a gap where some planks were missing and only the cross pieces +of wood remained. 'Why should we go this way?' I asked again, full of +misgivings. 'Where are you taking me?' 'Where you will be safe,' said +he. 'Come on,' and stepping before me through the gap he dragged me +roughly after him. + +"Then, for the first time, he suddenly removed the hand that all this +while had clutched me by the arm; and as I stood there, bewildered, +not knowing what to do with my freedom, the scene was lighted up by a +tremendous flash, brighter than any that had gone before, and I saw that +he was fumbling with a cord that was attached to the handle of the spade +he carried. His arms were stretched towards me, and before the light had +faded from the sky I realised that he was trying to throw the end of the +rope round my neck, passing it from one hand to the other as he did so. + +"Perhaps I leapt too suddenly to a conclusion, or perhaps--as I think +more likely--my understanding was quickened by fear, but in that instant +I became as certain of his intention as though he had explained it to +me in every detail. He was going to drown me in the canal, first tying +the heavy spade to me to make sure that I should sink, never to rise +again. I screamed aloud and pushed him away with all my strength. On +that steeply sloping bank he was at a disadvantage, the rain had made it +slippery, and for a minute I frustrated his purpose. Then came another +flash, and by it the man seemed to catch sight of something behind me, +which at the same time horrified and infuriated him, for I saw his +expression change, and with a snarl of frightened rage he lifted up +the spade and hit at me with it. Somehow I managed to jump aside, but +I saw him raise it for another blow, and after that--after that--I can +remember no more." + +Barbara's story was finished. It had been told slowly, and at intervals +the girl lay back with closed eyes, too weak to continue. But on any +proposal to defer her account to another day she had roused herself, +and proceeded with it resolutely till she came to the end. + +The shadows had time to grow long during the telling of it, so that +when at length, after they had finally taken leave of the invalid and +issued forth once more from the doors of the hospital, the two men found +themselves again in the open air it was already dinnertime. + +"Come back with me, Jennins, and have something to eat," said Gimblet, +as they walked away. "There is sure to be food of sorts ready for me at +the flat." + +But Jennins was bound elsewhere. + +"I'm going to have a try at hunting out that horse," he said. "Miss +Turner thinks she'd know it again and, as she says, the number of dun +coloured beasts with a decided dish and a peculiar crooked blaze of +white over the nose and one eye must be more or less limited. Then, +you remember, she thinks the driver was no other than our friend West, +and if, after he had set the ladies down in Scholefield Avenue, he was +less than half an hour in making his reappearance, one may argue that +the stables were not half a mile away from No. 13. Don't you think I am +right?" + +"I think your reasoning is perfectly sound," said Gimblet. "You ought to +be able to find out something about the horse without much trouble; and +incidentally, I hope, about the driver. Let me know as soon as you have +news. For my part I will try and see if I can't get some information +about him also. In the meantime, I've eaten nothing since breakfast, and +exhausted nature calls. I'm off to get some dinner." + +"I suppose," Jennins called after him, "from what you said to me this +afternoon, that you have ascertained that this Madame Querterot is +beyond our reach for the moment?" + +"Yes," said Gimblet. + +"And do you think the girl, her daughter, has any idea as to the woman's +whereabouts?" + +"No," said Gimblet gently, "I am sure she has not." + +In the flat Gimblet found a telegram awaiting him. It was from Boulogne, +and ran as follows: + + "Murdered woman not my aunt Mrs. Vanderstein or anyone known to me + there is no clue to her identity. + + "SIDNEY." + +Gimblet crumpled it up and flung it into a waste-paper basket. + +"A pity to squander five shillings," he murmured, "in telling me what I +already knew." + +Then he hastened hungrily to the dining-room. + +After a hearty meal he felt considerably better, and when he presently +pushed back his chair and strolled over to the open window he was ready +and eager for more work. His mind, which had been busy during the meal +with attempts to devise a plan that should bring him to closer quarters +with the person he most desired to meet, that should cause the phantom +figure of Mr. West of the black beard to materialise and become a solid +form discernible to the naked eye and capable of wearing handcuffs, had +not yet furnished him with a method by which this desirable object might +be attained. + +"Surely," he said to himself, "I must be able to trace Madame +Querterot's meetings with this man. It is impossible that she can have +been on such terms of intimacy with him without some one knowing it." + +He looked at his watch, helped himself to a sweet from a box which stood +on the shelf, and decided to go down to Pimlico and see if he could not +find out something more from Julie. It was half-past nine, but she was +not likely to have gone to bed yet, and he wanted a specimen of her +mother's handwriting. + +He went out and took a taxi to Warwick Square, where he dismissed it, +and pursued his way on foot. + +It was quite dark by now, with the soft blue darkness of summer, for +the weather had turned warm again and the sun had gone down in a clear +sky. There were plenty of people about, as it was Saturday night; many a +small coin was being carried snug in its earner's pocket that would no +longer be lying there in a couple of hours' time, and the tills of the +publicans were already flooded with the rise of the weekly tide. + +As he drew near the little shop in the gloomy, sordid little street, the +door of it opened suddenly and a man came out and walked rapidly away. +After a few steps he paused; and, turning, gazed for a moment longingly +back at the window--from which a pale light shone forth, so that the +pavement beneath it was bathed in a gentle radiance--before he swung +round once more and made off up the street. It happened that, as he +stood for that instant, hesitating perhaps whether or no to return and +make a final appeal to the girl he worshipped, the light of the street +lamp fell full upon his white, haggard face; and Gimblet, with a start, +experienced the surprise of his life, as he realised that he and Bert +had met before. + +Everything was clear to him now, and, with a sigh of something between +relief and regret, he abandoned his proposed visit to Julie and went +about the ordering of more important business. + + * * * * * + +An hour later, Albert Tremmels, clerk to Messrs. Ennidge and Pring, +house agents, was arrested in his lodgings for the murders of Mrs. +Vanderstein and Madame Querterot, and for the attempted murder of Miss +Turner. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Bert offered no resistance to the officers of the law. Indeed, after the +first moment, he showed a kind of relief at his arrest, and went with +his captors almost gladly. + +"I knew you'd get me sooner or later," he said, although warned that his +words would be used against him, "and it's best to get it over. Julie +won't ever forgive me, let alone have anything to do with me, so what +have I got to live for? I can't go on like this; no one could. Still, +mind you, I'm not so much to blame as you think, and it's my belief any +one of you chaps would have done the same as I did, in my place." + +Bert had always been ready to justify himself. + +He was willing enough to confess, to the police, to the prison chaplain, +to anyone. He showed, indeed, considerable satisfaction, not to say +pride, in the interest his story excited, and was not a little annoyed +with Gimblet when he found there was practically nothing he could tell +the detective of which he was not already aware. Bert did not dilate +so much on his love for Julie, the one real thing about him and the +innocent incentive of all his crimes. + +It is perhaps best not to give the exact words in which he poured +forth the history of the dark deeds in which he had been concerned, +but to offer to the reader a _resume_ of his tale in so far as it was +corroborated by the evidence. + +Albert Tremmel's father was a West End dairyman who had the misfortune +to marry above him, as the saying is. He had a small shop in Hanover +Street and carried on a profitable business, but his wife despised it +from the first, and refused to allow their only child to assist her +husband when he became old enough to do so. She wished him to be a +clerk, and, as she had a way of getting what she wanted, young Bert at +the age of eighteen had entered, in that capacity, the office of Messrs. +Ennidge and Pring, house and estate agents. He was then, as later, a +cadaverous, unpleasant-looking youth, with a surly, combative temper +and a strongly marked tendency to look on most people as his natural +enemies. This in itself did not bring him friends, and he made matters +worse as often as he could by adopting a dictatorial manner of speech +and the habit of pointing out to comparative strangers his opinion that +they erred in thinking they knew their own business. He would also +mention their duty as another thing they were ignorant of. This line of +conversation he varied by assuring them that if it were true, as they +would have him believe, that they knew both better in any case than he +did, it was still more to be regretted that they should mismanage the +one and fail to do the other. + +Boys of his own age frankly refused to have anything to do with him, and +he found his most congenial surroundings at a Socialistic Club, where +all the members shared his disapproval of the world in general, and +descanted as much as they pleased on the shameful conduct and character +of those who were not of their own way of thinking. Here all ranks and +parts of the community were equally denounced, and if one could hardly +find words strong enough to censure the attitude of the rich who wished +to retain control of their own wealth, neither could one sufficiently +display one's anger and disgust at the behaviour of the poor who showed +themselves so regardless of the socialistic movement as to take +benefits from the capitalist classes. Fond as these young men were of +employing the words "give" and "take," the meaning generally conveyed by +their joint use was peculiarly repugnant to them. Take, in their view, +should always come first in any case, and a thing taken lost half its +value in their eyes if it came as a gift. They would have abolished both +generosity and gratitude from a world that can ill afford the loss of +those virtues. + +Bert drank in every tenet of this creed, and revelled in the +discussions and execrations as much as he delighted in the wishy-washy +sentimentalism. He was an unhealthy, discontented, miserable boy, his +hand against every one; and his club was the only place where he felt +himself more or less at his ease. + +There was, however, one spot which he liked better to be in, and that +was the household of the Querterots. + +He had gone to school with Julie Querterot, for it so happened that +Bert's father was a Lancashire man and a Roman Catholic. It is true that +when he died, as he did when Bert was only thirteen, the boy's mother +immediately removed him to another school and saw to it that he imbibed +her hatred of Rome; but he did not take any more kindly to her own +church, and when she herself died five or six years later he was going +pretty much his own way, which was a way devoid of religious belief +of any kind. In spite of this, he never lost touch with his little +schoolfellow; and, as the Querterots dealt at Tremmels' shop and the +children were always together, the two families became acquainted, and +a certain friendship even sprang up between Madame Querterot and Mrs. +Tremmels. These ladies drank tea together, and smiled over the devotion +of Bert for little Julie. This was in the days when prosperity reigned +in both houses. + +It was different after Mrs. Tremmels' death, when Bert discovered that +the business, of which he had never been allowed to learn the details, +was on the verge of bankruptcy, Mrs. Tremmels having conducted it since +her husband's death with an eye more to her own aggrandisement than to +profit. She had opened two large branches and started milk carts drawn +by Shetland ponies; and, having no capital, had borrowed money to do it. +Custom under her management had fallen off; the branches had had to be +closed; the smart ponies sold; and, at the time of her death, she could +no longer find the interest on the borrowed money and the mortgagees +were at the point of foreclosing. + +Bert, who spent half his evenings in advocating the redistribution +of wealth, did not at all enter into the spirit of the thing when he +found himself quietly set on one side while his own wealth, that is to +say, the competency to which he had always believed himself heir, was +redistributed without anyone consulting him. He took it very ill indeed, +and said things about his dead mother which would have brought him his +dismissal from the office if they had come to the ears of either Mr. +Ennidge or Mr. Pring. He had been in their employment about a year when +she died, and had done fairly well in it, for he was not a bad worker, +nor even without intelligence of a kind. Still, he only kept his post +by the skin of his teeth, for he had been in the office more than long +enough for Mr. Pring to take a violent dislike to him, and if it had +not been for the extremely kind heart of Mr. Ennidge, who argued that +he could not dismiss the youth to whom Fortune had already dealt so +severe a blow, Bert would have been sacked a dozen times a week. He +had, however, no idea of this, and considered himself indispensable and +miserably underpaid. + +He certainly was not paid a great deal, though more than he was worth +to Mr. Pring, at all events, and Madame Querterot ceased abruptly to +invite him to her house. He continued, however, to visit it from time to +time, and a couple more years went by without further event. Then came +the sudden and tragic failure of the Querterots. Eugene Querterot shot +himself; and in the fallen state of their fortunes the two impoverished +women he left behind him were glad of any friend who stood by them. The +sudden dropping off of their old acquaintances created a new bond of +sympathy between them and the young man, and when they moved to Pimlico +and he was the only person who ever went to see them, he received a much +warmer welcome, at all events from the mother, than he had lately grown +to expect. + +Gradually he went more and more often, until he formed the habit of +dropping in at least every other evening. He had always been fond of +Julie, and perhaps of no one else in the world, since he had shown +little affection for his parents; now, as he saw her with increasing +frequency, his feelings for her became more intense, till every day +he seemed to see in her new and more entrancing perfections, and even +his enthusiasms for Socialism faded under the continual protest of +her aversion to it. He admitted to himself with a kind of thrill of +self-defiance that Julie was so clever, so sensible, so wonderfully +reasonable and clear-sighted, that her opinion on any subject could +not be despised, and it became more and more plain to him that if she +thought badly of Socialism that doctrine would find difficulty in +retaining his complete loyalty. To be short, by the time she reached +her eighteenth birthday Bert was head over ears in love with the girl, +and had scarcely a thought in which she did not predominate. Madame +Querterot watched it all from beneath her heavy eyelids. She said +nothing, but the idea that here was one who in time might be useful to +her crept into her brain and took deep root there as the weeks went by. + +Julie was pious and devout. It was about this time that she began to +speak about entering a religious sisterhood, but the storm of reproach +and upbraiding that this desire provoked in her mother caused her to +relinquish the idea for the time being, and, more particularly, not to +talk of it any more. The only visible effect of the suggestion was that +Madame Querterot welcomed Bert more effusively than usual, and now often +invited him to stay to supper. + +It may be judged how readily he accepted, and these evenings were +certainly the happiest hours in his life. He used to come early and help +Julie to lay the table, and sometimes even to prepare the meal; and if +her sleeve chanced to brush against his shoulder as she stooped over +the fire or reached up to a shelf he would be reduced to a state of +speechless ecstasy, which Madame Querterot found a pleasant change from +the usual aggressive torrent of his talk. + +In spite of her quiet and demure ways, Julie had a girlish fondness +for dress and finery, and the offerings that from time to time Bert +laid at her feet, of gloves and trinkets, were a great source of +innocent pleasure to her. There was a time when he sallied forth from +his lodgings armed with the savings of months, and the intention of +buying a ring, which he should present to her accompanied by a speech he +prepared for the occasion, in which the secret of his heart was to be +imparted, together with the request that the ring should be a token of +their engagement. But his courage failed him at the jeweller's counter; +he felt suddenly a conviction, amounting to a certainty, that Julie +would refuse; and, rather than risk knowing the worst, he abandoned his +project and spent his hoardings on a brooch which he himself did not +really admire, and which Julie, when she received it, thought hideous. +The only person who was pleased was the jeweller, who had had the thing +in his shop two years and simply loathed the sight of it. + +It was soon after this that the great plan, of which Madame Querterot +had had the elements incubating in her mind for a long while, was +hatched, and presented itself to her in a complete and material form. +She knew from the first that she could not carry it out alone; and, +casting over in her thoughts for the help she required, saw in Bert a +tool made ready to her hand. When she broached her idea to him she had +her design prepared, down to every detail. + +It was on the night when he had treated the two women to the theatre, as +has been related in an early page of this narrative. Madame Querterot +began by telling the young man that she would never allow her daughter +to marry one so poor as himself, and added quickly that she knew of +a way by which he could attain both money and the assistance of her +influence exerted on his behalf with Julie. Having excited his curiosity +and his hopes she bound him to secrecy and disclosed her purpose to him. + +"It is yourself who gave me the good idea," she assured him. "It is your +socialistic teaching, is it not, to take from the rich? they have more +than is reasonable, those others!" + +They were walking up and down before the little house in Pimlico where +the Querterots lived in these days of poverty; Julie had left them and +gone to bed; the glimmer of a candle came from behind a blind in the +room upstairs. + +"Of course they have," Bert grunted. "But it's no use your thinking you +can take their money from them without further legislation. What price +the police?" + +"Ah, the police," sighed Madame Querterot, "if only they would not +meddle in what is not their affair! But, look you, there are cases +which are exceptional. There are cases which ought to receive immediate +attention, which cry out for treatment of the most drastic. If the law +is slow--and I grant you that the law has great need of alteration--when +a matter is exceptionally urgent, I say, the good citizen must take it +in his own hands to see justice done. And if while we render a service +to humanity we do so with profit to ourselves, it is clear that the ends +of justice are doubly served." + +Bert could not help agreeing with these excellent precepts. Indeed, +Madame Querterot's air of supernatural wisdom would have impressed the +most sceptical. + +"It is not enough to talk, one must demonstrate one's faith in a theory. +By the means I shall propose you can prove how well Socialism will work +in practice; for here will the poor, as represented by us, be made +richer, and yet the rich person who will have changed our fortunes +need scarcely feel any deprivation. You remember my talking to you at +supper-time about a lady, a very wealthy lady, one of my clientele?" + +"Yes," said Bert. "A Jewess, wasn't it?" + +"It is true. A Jewess! And have not the Jews for centuries ground the +bones of the poor? Who more fitted to be the first to contribute some of +their ill-gotten gains in return? Should they not be obliged to restore +some of that money which they never earned?" + +"I daresay," assented Bert; "but I wish you'd hurry up and let's see +what you're getting at, that's all." + +"Eh bien! This woman, this Jewess, is enormously rich, as I tell you. +And what does she do with her money? My friend, she covers herself with +diamonds! It is those diamonds which I propose to myself to deprive her +of." + +"What, steal them?" Bert's tone was troubled, although in his heart he +had known from the first whither her talk drifted. + +"Steal! What a word." Impossible to convey the contempt of Madame +Querterot's tone. "Is it right then, that she should be permitted to +have so much when others starve? Is it right that she should flaunt her +jewels in the face of the hungry poor?" + +Madame Querterot, who had a good memory, went on to quote phrase after +phrase she had at various times heard fall from Bert's own lips. She +poured his favourite catchwords into his ears, and strengthened them +with arguments of her own. She painted the robbery she designed in +such glowing colours that you would have thought, to hear her, that +it was a sacrifice she was going to make for the good of humanity. +She passed imperceptibly to picturing the delight of Julie when she +should be presented with one of the less easily identified jewels, to +the readiness with which, at the advice and with the glad consent of +her mother, she would accept the heart and hand of the prosperous and +enriched Albert, to the happiness of the young couple ensconced in +their charming house, surrounded by motors, gramophones, champagne; in +fine, all the luxuries due to a girl of Julie's perfections. Madame +Querterot did not stop till she came to her own prospective joys, her +grandchildren climbing on her knee. It was enough for the blushing +and intoxicated Bert. He surrendered, agreed to all she proposed, +put himself entirely under her directions, and these his prospective +mother-in-law willingly proceeded to give him. + +She explained to him first at some length the character of Mrs. +Vanderstein, and the means by which she hoped to play upon her weakness. + +"There is," said she, "a young Prince--the Prince Felipe of Targona--now +in London and staying at Fianti's Hotel in Grosvenor Street, which is +situated just opposite to the house of this Jewess. It so happened +to-day, as I was in the midst of my massaging, that she jumped up and +ran to the window to see this young man pass, and I also looked out. Now +by some chance the Prince, as he drove by, happened to lift his head +and look straight into Mrs. Vanderstein's face. It was a most lucky +occurrence, and I could not have hoped for anything so providential to +arrive. One would say, indeed, that it is an omen for me, a mandate to +carry out my plan. Mrs. Vanderstein was delighted at this encounter of +the eyes, and did not disguise her pleasure. Well, see how simple is now +my part. I have in the shop some tortoise-shell combs, purchased at a +ridiculous price by that poor Eugene when we first started in business +here in London. They are very beautiful, of the finest workmanship, +exquisitely and intricately carved, but of a pattern antiquated and +_demode_. We have never been able to sell them. + +"Now see, I shall take those combs, and present myself at Fianti's +with a petition that I may see the Princess of Targona, mother of +Prince Felipe. For her I have a story that my husband was of Targona, +and that the combs also come from that country. I shall offer them to +Her Highness as a present from a humble and expatriated subject, and +say that my late husband refused to part with them out of patriotism, +and, when everything else he possessed had to be sold, clung always to +the only objects he had left to remind him of his beloved Targona. It +is quite probable that the Princess will be affected by this touching +history. She may even make me a present; but that is by the way. What +is really of importance is that I should be left alone in one of the +apartments occupied by the Royal party for a few minutes. If I can +manage that--and I think you may have confidence that I will do so--I +shall obtain some pieces of the Prince's notepaper on which his royal +device or monogram is certainly engraved; at all events it will bear +some distinguishing mark, and it will go hard if a few sheets of it do +not find their way into my bag. + +"The next step will be easy. I shall issue from the hotel at a moment +when I have ascertained, by peeping from a window, that Mrs. Vanderstein +is on her balcony, where at a certain hour she very often goes to water +some flowers she has there. She will see me pass; and, as she is very +curious about all that goes on at Fianti's, she will remark on the +incident. I shall tell her that I have been called by the Prince of +Targona, who has fallen madly in love with her at first sight. You may +think she will not believe this, but trust me to make it plausible; +and she will be readier to credit such an idea than you imagine, for +in the first place all beautiful women are ready to believe that their +attractions are irresistible--and she is beautiful, this Jewess, not +unlike what I was myself when I was younger--and in the second place, +Mrs. Vanderstein is of a nature romantic to the point of ridicule, and +is always, I am convinced, fabricating for herself stories of heroes and +princes, with herself for the heroine of these fables. + +"How do I know, you ask me? I tell you I know. I am a judge of +character; I have an aptitude for that. Eh bien! I shall convince the +Jewess that she is adored by a reigning Prince, with frenzy, with +devotion, with passion; that he thinks of nothing but her; that he would +put his hand in the fire for her sake, that he is ready to abdicate his +throne, to give up the government of his country. In short, that he +wishes to marry her, and that if she will not listen to his addresses +he has nothing further to live for in this world. What is perhaps the +weak point in my tale is the idea that Prince Felipe should have chosen +to make a confidante of myself, but, believe me, my dear Bert, I shall +make even that appear not unnatural, and, as a matter of fact, stranger +things are done every day. All this will take time, I do not know how +long--days, perhaps weeks. I must find out how long the Prince stays in +London," added Madame Querterot, more to herself than to her companion. + +It was the one thing she had forgotten. + +"I shall write her letters on the Royal notepaper, and as she will send +the answers by my hand, I shall know their contents and be able to reply +to them without arousing any suspicions on her part. In his impassioned +epistles the Prince will beg for an interview; he will lament the +obstacles that prevent his seeing her either at the hotel or in her own +residence, and he will finally, I am sure, persuade her to meet him +for the purpose of making his acquaintance, in a house which he will +indicate. + +"She will consent to all he proposes, or I am much mistaken. It is at +this point, my dear Bert, that your assistance becomes so indispensable. +You are a house agent's clerk. I shall require a house; and it is you +who must take it for me, in an assumed name, of course, and without the +knowledge of your employers." + +"I don't see how that can ever be done," Bert objected. + +They were still pacing slowly up and down the dingy street. A policeman +at the corner of the road looked at them once or twice, decided they +were harmless, and ceased his attentions. The light in Julie's bedroom +was long since extinguished. + +Madame Querterot cleared her throat and began again. + +"There will be a gentleman from India, let us say," she resumed, "who +will call at the office at an hour when the two partners are out. No +one will regret this more than yourself, but in their absence you will +do your best to attend to the requirements of the gentleman from India. +He will want a house, and he will want it immediately. He will desire +to take it by the week and he will be ready to pay a large rent. He is +somewhat eccentric, this gentleman, and dislikes meeting strangers. +He will tell you to see about getting a charwoman to make the house +ready for him, and he will settle then and there on the terms, on the +day he is to take possession, and upon every necessary detail. Then, +having signed the agreement, he will pay you the first week's rent in +advance--for which I will provide the money--and he will walk out of the +office. You will tell Mr. Ennidge and Mr. Pring, when they return, about +the eccentric gentleman from India, and they will not be suspicious +about him since there will be the money for the rent." + +"Are you going to act being this gentleman you're talking about?" asked +Bert. + +"No," replied Madame Querterot. "He will not exist at all; it is not +necessary that he should ever appear. But it may be very useful that he +should be thought to exist." + +"Then who is to sign the lease?" + +"You will do that," said the Frenchwoman, "you must begin at once to +practise writing with your left hand. Choose a short name--we will call +him Mr. West--and write it over and over again many times on a sheet of +foolscap, which you will always burn when you have covered it. Never +forget to burn it, Bert. You will find it quite easy in a few days, and +it will not in the least resemble your own hand." + +"I don't half like it," Bert commented. + +"I promise you it will be all that is most simple. The Indian gentleman +will ask you personally to meet him at the house on the day he takes +possession, and he will tell you to be sure to come yourself, as he +dislikes strangers and prefers not to do business with more than one +person. So you will get the house ready for him and hand him the key and +leave him in it. That is all the trouble there will be about the house. +Not much to take, for the sake of gaining a fortune and a charming wife, +you must admit? The Vanderstein will come to the house to meet Prince +Felipe. She will find us there, masked and unknown to her. We shall +relieve her of her jewels, which I shall have arranged that she will +wear; Prince Felipe is so fond of jewellery, it is a perfect passion +with him to see women so adorned! So I shall tell her, and she will not +fail to bedeck herself with them. When all is done she may return home; +disappointed, I fear; but life is full of disillusions, and the blame +will rest on the eccentric Mr. West from India." + +It was all very plausible. Bert could pick no holes in the plan. He +tried to offer one or two objections, but was quickly overruled, and +finally said good night and went home to bed committed to aid and abet +Madame Querterot in her purpose to the best of his power. + +All went well. Madame Querterot succeeded even beyond her expectations. +The Vanderstein, as she called her, was all a flutter of excitement and +delight, and Madame Querterot related to Bert at great length and with +huge enjoyment the scene in which she had embarked upon the hoax, and +the easy gullibility of "la Juive." + +"'Figure to yourself,' I said to her, 'that this morning I receive a +summons to Fianti's from a lady in waiting on the Princess of Targona! +What an honour! You can imagine my excitement! This lady used formerly +to stay much at her country's legation here, in London, and she was in +the habit of making herself _coiffee_ by that poor Eugene. So it appears +that yesterday she sent for him; but, when they told her that the poor +dear was no longer on this earth, she had the amiability to seek me +out, having heard of all our cruel misfortune, and asked that I should +present myself in his place. To-day, therefore, I attended at the hotel, +and had the pleasure of making the _coiffure_ of a charming lady. Mais +elle est charmante, cette dame-la! But--and here follows the affair that +is of interest to you, madame--as I left the apartment of the lady in +waiting and was about to descend the staircase, a voice called me back, +and, looking round, what was my surprise to perceive no less a person +than His Highness, Prince Felipe, who appeared to be beckoning to me to +join him in a dark part of the passage.' + +"Mrs. Vanderstein interrupted me with sparkling eyes. 'Do tell me,' +she cried, 'the words that His Highness spoke to you! Sit down, Madame +Justine, and tell me every single thing you can remember about it.' I +drew a chair close to the sofa where Mrs. Vanderstein was seated, and +I continued my narrative in a confidential undertone. 'I could not +imagine what it was that Prince Felipe had to say to me, but I thought +for a moment that possibly his mother required my services, and I was +enchanted at the idea that perhaps I was this day to dress the hair +of a Royal personage. But as soon as I drew near, the Prince began to +ask me questions of which at first I could not understand the purport. +Soon, however, I comprehended. "You live in this street?" he asked. +"No, monsieur," I replied; "I live far from here." "But I saw you," he +cried, "I am convinced that it was you I saw!" "When did Your Highness +see me?" I inquired. I was indeed flattered that he should condescend to +recognise me. "I saw you yesterday. You were looking out of the window +of a house opposite this hotel," said he positively. "Ah yes, monsieur, +it is true. I was in the house of Mrs. Vanderstein, one of my clients, +and we had the good fortune to see you drive past." + +"'I began now to see why I was receiving the honour of this interview. +"Mrs. Vanderstein!" he exclaimed. "Is that then her name? But," he +added, "there were two ladies. Which was Mrs. Vanderstein?" "The elder +of the two, monsieur, the one whose hair is dark." "It is she," he said. +"Ah, how beautiful she is! In all my life I have never seen a face that +so haunts my memory. It is the face I have dreamed of all these years. +But stay," cried he in a different tone and with a look of despair. "You +call her Mrs. Vanderstein! Am I to understand then that she is married? +No matter, her husband must perish! One of my gentlemen may engage him +in a duel. These things can arrange themselves." Such were his words. +Ah, madame! one sees that His Highness is not used to opposition.' + +"The Vanderstein was transformed. Her eyes flashed with unaccustomed +fires. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted, her breath came a +little quickly. I was astonished at the change. 'She looks ten years +younger,' I said to myself. 'Is it the massage that has had an effect +after all?' Aloud I continued my tale. 'I explained to the Prince that +Mr. Vanderstein had saved him the trouble of arranging a duel. "Then," +cried he, "there is no obstacle! Except," he added in a different and +depressed tone, "the wishes of my mother, and of the government of +Targona. They are very decided that I must marry for reasons of state, +but I have told them again and again that I will not do it. I will +abdicate if they like, but I will never marry except in accordance with +the dictates of my heart. And my heart has never before been touched; +so that I am sure now that there is but one woman in the world for me. +But how am I to meet her? If anyone suspects my feelings, unimaginable +difficulties will be thrown in the way. And how can I ever win the +affections of the beautiful and adorable Mrs. Vanderstein, if I cannot +even imagine a means by which I may make her acquaintance? One thing, +however, is sure. Without her I cannot live." + +"'Ah, madame,' I said, 'if you could have seen the poor gentleman your +heart would have ached for him. On his face so sad an expression! He had +an air so miserable and disconsolate. One can see that he has a tender +nature! In his despair he strode up and down the corridor, gesticulating +with his hands, and rumpling his hair--which is fine like silk--by +tearing at it with his fingers! Again and again he would clap his hand +to his forehead, or smite himself upon the breast, and, if he abstained +from bursting into actual tears, you may be sure it was because the +rigorous code, which forbids any public display of feeling in persons +of Royal blood, would not allow him to show his emotion even in the +presence of so insignificant a person as myself. Ah, the poor young man. +I, madame, I, whom he noticed as he would observe your looking-glass or +your boot-lace, felt myself ready to take him in my arms and to embrace +and comfort him like a mother.' + +"I paused for breath, and Mrs. Vanderstein cried: 'Oh, Madame Justine, +is it really possible that he should feel like that after only seeing me +once, and that at a distance?' 'Love at first sight,' I replied, 'is not +a thing of which one has never heard; and assuredly he is in love, this +poor Prince Felipe, or I do not know what love is. Several times again +he stopped in front of me, and cried out: "How, how am I to arouse her +interest, gain her respect, above all how can I win her heart, when I +have no chance of making myself known to her? I cannot hope that she +will be attracted by my personal appearance. With one of her mental and +spiritual superiority--as I can see at a glance--my rank and position +will scarcely avail; it is, then, only by learning the depth and +sincerity of my passion, only by realising the fond and tender quality +of my love for her, that she may in time be prevailed on to look not +altogether unfavourably upon my suit." And much more he said of the same +kind. As for me, madame, I assured him I would, in a tactful way, convey +to you some hints as to the state of his feelings. He insisted that they +should be no more than hints, fearing that you would be offended at his +making of me a messenger; so if I have, in my sympathy, overstepped +the bounds of discretion, you must judge the fault entirely my own and +not attribute it to any lack of manners on the part of the Prince. His +intentions are of the most perfect correctness. + +"'He questioned me closely as to your way of life, your opinions and +habits. "Ah," he cried, "I see we are made for one another, she and +I. You say that she likes to surround herself with pictures, flowers, +jewels, and the luxurious things of life. She is fond of music and of +the arts. Now remark this! I am a collector of paintings and _objets +d'art_. I, too, adore music and roses. I, also, have a passion for +precious stones and personal adornment. Wherein do we differ? _Hein!_ +It is plain that we have the same tastes, that I shall be _sympathique_ +to her. Oh, we must meet! Somehow, somewhere I will arrange, if she +consents, that we should meet. Not here. Impossible! Not at her house. I +should feel my mother's eye on me. I could not escape observation if I +merely crossed the road. No, neither here nor there, but in some other +place of which I will consider. In the meanwhile do you, with the utmost +delicacy, sound her feelings as regards myself, and prepare her for a +further expression of my own." I think, madame, that that is all that +passed between us, but I am to return to Fianti's to-morrow and report +to him whether you appeared displeased.' It seemed that Mrs. Vanderstein +was not displeased. She spoke very little more, but I could see, by the +happy, excited air she wore under her assumed calm, that my words were +having all the effect I could wish." + +All this Madame Querterot retailed with many details to the interested +and amazed Bert, and each succeeding day she had new accounts of her +cleverness and success to relate. She wrote impassioned, but eminently +"correct" letters on the royal notepaper she had filched in accordance +with her plan, and carried them to Mrs. Vanderstein with a hidden, +jeering smile at that lady's glad and confiding acceptance of their +authenticity. + +The night of the gala performance at the opera was fixed on for the +deed, and at their every meeting Madame Querterot repeated to Bert +her instructions as to the part played by the gentleman from India. +She elaborated and filled in her first sketch of his character and +behaviour, till at last the young man almost believed in the real +existence of Mr. West, and certainly knew far more about him than about +most of the people with whom he was actually in daily contact, for, +as a rule, he was unobservant to the last degree. She saw also to his +learning to write with his left hand, and he was able in a couple of +days to do this to her satisfaction. By now Bert was as keen about +the project as she could have wished. An evening spent at his club +had strengthened and confirmed his conviction that no one woman had a +right to the exclusive enjoyment of so much wealth; and he was now well +assured that he would deserve nothing but commendation for trying to +readjust the scales. There were moments when, for the fraction of an +otherwise optimistical second, he beheld a vision of Julie as she would +look at him if she ever heard of what was contemplated; and it was a +vision that caused in him a catching of the breath. But the idea for the +most part only hovered in the background of his thoughts, so that, while +he was always conscious of its neighbourhood, so to speak, he was able +with an effort to turn away his mental eyes, and to avoid looking it in +the face; and it was then that he would seem to Madame Querterot most +eager, most impatient for the night to arrive. + +The house in Scholefield Avenue was taken, and Messrs. Ennidge and Pring +showed themselves only mildly interested in the mythical Mr. West, and +that chiefly on account of his readiness to pay a high rent. Then a +difficulty arose; and it was Bert, to his satisfaction and pride, who +suggested a way out of it. + +Madame Querterot met him one evening with an expression of dismay she +made no attempt to conceal. + +"There is after all something I have forgotten," she cried. "_Nom d'un +nom!_ that I can have been so stupid, so idiot! Listen, it is this. The +Jewess must drive from the opera to Scholefield Avenue. But in what? It +is impossible that she should go in her own automobile, and if she takes +a taxi we are equally betrayed. _Aie, aie!_ what to do?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +It was then that Bert had his brilliant idea. + +To explain it, reference must be made again to his family history. His +father's sister had married a grocer at Richmond, named Stodder, she +having been cook in a family at Hampton Court previous to this event. + +The pair had five children, and Bert, when a child, was often taken down +to visit his relations; in the hot weather holidays the Stodders had him +to stay with them for most of the summer. The children hated him, for he +was a spoilt, ill-tempered little boy from the start, but they had to +put up with him, and he grew up on familiar if rather quarrelsome terms +with the whole family. + +The eldest boy, Ned, after he left school, was employed in driving his +father's cart about the neighbourhood every day, in order to deliver +orders received and to collect fresh ones. It was Bert's favourite +occupation to sit in the back of the van, his legs dangling, or kicking +against the backboard, while he watched the white roads slip under him +and the grocer's dog trotting with extended tongue beneath his drumming +heels. Ned was quite aware of the pleasure his cousin took in this not +very arduous form of exercise, and he soon devised a way of turning +it to his own profit. He pointed out to Bert that he could not expect +anyone to put up with his company unless he did something to make it +worth their while, and that he for one would not suffer Bert's company +in the van unless he justified his presence by cleaning it when they +came home, and by helping to look after the harness and the horse. Bert +disliked work, but he hated to be cut off from his drives, and, as Ned +was quite firm besides being older and stronger than he was, he told +himself that needs must--and Ned that he was the devil--and took up the +duties of stable boy. + +Under his critical and unsparing master and to the accompaniment of +more than a few cuffs and kicks when he tried to shirk his work, Bert +became more proficient in the care of the grocer's steed than any less +well-adjusted mixture of pain and pleasure would have been likely to +result in. + +As a further reward, too, the stern Ned so far relented as to allow him +occasionally to take the reins. The combination of discipline and fresh +air did the Tremmels' boy a world of good, and that was a happy summer +for him. Unfortunately, when he returned to Hanover Street his mother +soon undid the good effects of Ned's cuffings; and the following summer +when he found himself again under his uncle's hospitable roof Ned had +left it to enter private service in the stables, and his next cousin had +come out of school and succeeded to the job of driving the van. Geoffrey +was of a less good-humoured, easy-going disposition than his brother +Ned, and Bert was at this age becoming more and more objectionable; it +was seldom that Geoffrey could be induced to let him go with him on his +rounds, but he followed his brother's example in forcing his cousin to +assist him with the horse and cart when he returned with them. This only +enraged and embittered Bert, and of the good done the year before the +last remnant was now utterly destroyed. + +In the meantime, as the years went on, Ned grew up a credit to his +family, and a good and favoured servant. So rapid was his progress, +and so astounding--as the Tremmels said--his luck, that by the time +he was three-and-twenty he had risen to the situation of coachman to +an old lady named Mrs. Wilkinson, the aunt of his former master. This +lady kept only one horse and a brougham, and with them drove out every +afternoon, in winter from three to five, in summer from four to six. It +was impossible to imagine an easier or more comfortable place, and Bert +often envied his cousin the soft thing he had stepped into. + +Ned was the only one of his relations whom he ever went near nowadays, +but he used often to go round to his stable during the luncheon hour and +explain to the young coachman how little he deserved his good fortune. + +It was not till, for the first time, he beheld Madame Querterot at a +loss, not till he heard what in their great plan she had forgotten to +provide for, that he suddenly realised that Ned's good fortune was +possibly his own as well. + +"See here," he said to the agitated Frenchwoman, "I can manage that +part." And he told her of his cousin the coachman. + +"Mrs. Wilkinson, the lady he works for, has by the rarest luck a +house in the same street as the one I have taken. She lives at No. 1 +Scholefield Avenue, only a few doors away from No. 13. More than that, +it happens that she has a large garden at the back of the house, and +the stable is situated at the end of it, quite away from any other +buildings. There's luck for you!" + +"How is that?" cried Madame Querterot, "explain yourself quick." She +was very nervous and excited, and for the only time during the whole +business her calm confidence deserted her. It was so near the hour! She +had already smoothed away so many difficulties, done the impossible; and +if all her hopes were to be shattered now, and by so small an obstacle, +it would be, she told herself, the _comble_. + +"Why, this way," Bert reassured her. "Ned is always wanting to go home +to Richmond, because the young lady he's keeping company with lives down +there, though he makes out to me that it's his family he wants to see. +As if anyone wanted to see their family! But his old lady drives out +till six every day, and by the time Ned has cleaned up and rubbed down +the horse, and fed him, and washed the brougham and the rest of it, it's +too late to get a decent train down to Richmond, for it's a tidy way +from Scholefield Avenue to Gloucester Road, where the trains connect. + +"Now suppose I go to Ned, and tell him I know he wants an evening off, +and that if he likes I don't mind doing his job for once, so as he can +have it. I'll offer to be about on Monday, when he comes in from taking +old Mrs. Wilkinson out for her drive, and to look after the horse and to +put it to bye-bye. I've often done it for him when I was a lad, so he +knows I can manage, though I don't say he won't be a bit surprised at +my offering, so to speak. I think perhaps I'd best say I'll do it for a +consideration; he'll be good for a bob where his young lady's concerned, +I'll bet. What's more, I'll say I'll feed the horse in the morning, so +he won't have to catch the last train back, but can stay down home for +the night. After I've seen him off the premises I'll get inside his +livery--he's a bigger man than me, though not so long in the leg--and +I'll put the horse in again and drive down to Covent Garden and fetch +the lady up. We can say the Prince is sending his own carriage for her." + +Madame Querterot nearly wept on Bert's neck in her joy and emotion. + +"You will save us, my dear friend!" she exclaimed, pressing his hand, +a demonstration that he resented by snatching it savagely away. "What a +mind, what a genius, to think of so splendid, so heaven-given a device! +Let it be as you say. I am well assured now that all will go well." + +These last days were a busy time for Madame Querterot, for there were +certain personal details, essential to the success of her plan, to +be attended to: there were bills to collect, sales to arrange, and +purchases to be made. At last all was done, everything ready, and she +stood in the hall of No. 13 Scholefield Avenue awaiting, with only the +least flicker of the nerves, the sound of wheels before the door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Early as it was in the adventure, Bert was already realising +the difficulties of the part he had to play. He had induced the +gratified--though suspicious and thankless--Ned to accept his services +in the matter of the horse; and, having seen him depart with a small +brown paper parcel--which furnished the outward evidence of his +intention to stay the night with his people--had harnessed the animal +again in good time, arrayed himself in the livery belonging to Ned, and +adorned his chin with the false beard provided by Madame Querterot, +so that no time should be wasted on his return. "I do look a guy," he +said to himself, as he contemplated his reflection in the strip of +looking-glass in the harness-room. + +Nothing remained but to drive down to Covent Garden, and take his place +on the rank of waiting vehicles. This, he was surprised to find, was not +so easy as he had expected. He discovered that attempting to control +Mrs. Wilkinson's dun horse, which had a willing spirit and a hard mouth, +was a very different affair from driving the old and sluggish beast that +used to meander between the shafts of his uncle's van. Their progress +was erratic in the extreme, and he several times narrowly avoided an +accident. The Providence which looks after bad drivers did not fail +him, however, and at length he found himself, a good deal to his +surprise--for at one period of the journey hope had altogether deserted +him--forming one of the long string of motors and carriages that had +already drawn into line in the vicinity of the opera house. + +Now began a time during which the fear that the expected summons would +never reach him alternated with something very like hope that it would +not. As he sat on the box, while minute after minute passed, and still +no voice cried for Mr. Targon's carriage, he was beset with ever +growing misgivings as to the appearance he presented, and felt that his +ill-fitting livery and the false beard, which the scarf he had wrapped +round his neck and chin only partially concealed, must be riveting upon +him the eyes of every beholder; so that not a look was cast in his +direction but he read in it distrust and suspicion. + +Even the most seemingly interminable suspense comes to an end at last, +and he had not endured these torments more than a short half-hour before +the words for which he had been waiting fell upon his ear, and making +his way out of the line he succeeded in guiding the dun horse beneath +the portico of the theatre. + +The safe accomplishment of this manoeuvre, however, fully occupied +his every faculty, and it was only when the carriage had come to a +standstill before the doors that he had time to glance in the direction +of the lady he was to carry off. With a shock of surprise and dismay he +saw that not one but two elegantly attired women were about to enter the +carriage. + +He had not the courage for more than a feeble remonstrance; indeed, it +needed all the courage he could muster to lift up his voice at all in +the presence of the waiting attendants, and in the brilliant glare of +the lamps. After he had driven some way in increasing perplexity and +irresolution, he stopped, and tried again to induce Barbara to get out; +but the attention the ensuing discussion aroused from the passers-by +and the sight of an approaching policeman were too much for his nerves, +and he decided hastily to drive on and allow Madame Querterot to deal +with this unexpected complication. A glimpse of her face when they +arrived in Scholefield Avenue, and she saw what had happened, did not +add to his peace of mind. He drove round to Mrs. Wilkinson's stables, +extinguished the carriage lamps, and unharnessed the dun horse by the +light of his pocket electric torch as quietly and quickly as he might, +his heart sinking at the prospect of what she would say to him when he +returned. It was lucky that the stable gate opened on to such a lonely +street as the one which ran at the back of the gardens of the houses in +Scholefield Avenue. + +A blank wall faced it across the road, studded at intervals with the +doors to the gardens at the back of the houses in Westford Avenue, +which lay beyond. There was another stable some hundred yards further +down; but, unless some one were awake and about in that direction, Bert +knew that there was little chance of his presence and movements being +discovered. Still he could not feel secure for a moment, and it was not +till he had put everything in some kind of order and shut the door of +the loose box behind him that he breathed again. He hurried round to No. +13, seeing the fancied forms of lurking policemen behind every tree and +in every shadow, and it was with a hand already shaking with agitation +that he gave the three taps on the door, with which it had been agreed +that he should signal his return to Madame Querterot. + +She greeted him, as he had feared she would, with a storm of whispered +reproaches. What had he been thinking of to bring that girl to the +house? Was he mad? As she looked at him, however, in the light of the +gas jet which burned at the foot of the stairs, she saw plainly enough +that he was in a state of nervousness which she had not expected; and +that, if he was to be of any use to her in the crisis that was upon +them, she had better employ herself in soothing rather than adding to +his distress of mind. + +"Well, well," she interrupted her own words, "it is perhaps of no such +great consequence. A little more trouble, possibly, for you; but of +that we will talk later. For the moment we must get to business. These +summer nights are short and we have much to do before morning. Go into +the dining-room, while I prevail upon Miss Turner to leave her friend. +I will put her in the library, where she will be out of the way for the +present." + +After a few minutes, during which Bert waited, breathless, in the +darkness of the dining-room, she was back again, and announced in a +whisper that all was well. Barbara had been shown into the back room; +and upstairs Mrs. Vanderstein, alone and expectant, awaited the coming +of the Prince. + +"She has got on all her jewels," sniggered the Frenchwoman, drawing on +her gloves. "And she little thinks that there are here two people who +appreciate them as her Prince never could. Ah! Bah! Are there imbeciles +in the world? Now then, my friend, you know what you have to do. We rush +into the room, you seize this fair creature and hold her fast, while I +administer a little whiff of chloroform that shall keep her quiet and +prevent any outcry, so that we can remove from her the gems at our ease. +See, I have the bottle ready. Allons donc; a la besogne!" + +They went softly and quickly up the stairs. Now that the moment for +action had arrived, Bert's confidence was in some measure restored. The +sight of the diamonds glittering in the light of the brougham lamp, +when Mrs. Vanderstein had stood upbraiding him for his bad driving, +had sharpened his appetite for them, and the prospect of fingering the +shining things was a pleasant one. Inside the four walls of the house, +with the door bolted between them and the interfering outside world, +it seemed again safe and desirable enough to take her jewels from this +pampered member of the idle rich, and afterwards to lead her blindfolded +to some sequestered place, as they had planned, and there release her +to find her own way home. Even if she knew where the house was to which +she had been decoyed, it would be empty and discreetly silent by the +time she could bring to it the avenging hosts of the police. He himself +was so well disguised that she never could recognise him again; besides, +she would only see him for one moment. True, Madame Querterot was well +known to her, but Madame Querterot had her own plans for avoiding any +unpleasant consequences of their deed; so she had informed him, and +knowing her as he did, he never doubted her intention and capacity of +taking care of herself. A medley of these thoughts was in his mind as +they mounted the stairs, and paused for an instant at the drawing-room +door. No sound came from behind it, and with an encouraging whisper to +her companion Madame Querterot turned the handle and went in. + +From the end of the room Mrs. Vanderstein rose to greet them, with a +radiant, blushing countenance. Always a beautiful woman, she had never +been more lovely than at this moment. The smile faded from her lips as +she realised that here was not the lover she looked to see; but before +she had time to speak Bert was beside her, clutching her round the +waist and dragging her back towards the sofa, while over the mouth she +opened with a remonstrating cry were clapped the plump hands of Madame +Querterot, holding between them something that choked her with its +sickly, overwhelming odour. + +"See," said Madame Querterot, after a short interval, "see, she sleeps!" +But still she continued to hold the mouth of the bottle over Mrs. +Vanderstein's mouth and nose. + +It was at this moment that the door was flung open, and Barbara rushed +into the room. + +Bert sprang to meet her, fully alive to the undesirability of her +presence. It hardly needed Madame Querterot's cry of "Take her away," +to make him grasp her by the arms, and half push, half carry her out +on to the landing and down the narrow stairs to the library, where +he left her after a minute or two safely locked in. He listened for +a little while outside the door, for he fancied the girl might raise +the alarm or do some unimagined, desperate thing which should imperil +their safety. She had already threatened to set fire to the house, and +he racked his brains to guess what might be her next move. He was in +no hurry to return to the drawing-room, moreover, for his heart was +beating unpleasantly fast, and the sight of the helpless lady they had +so violently treated, sinking quiet and motionless on to the sofa, had +filled him with vague discomfort. + +After all--the thought would not be kept away any longer--what would +Julie think of all this? Could she ever be brought to care for a robber? +Yes, that was what he was--a robber. His fortifying socialistic claptrap +refused, somehow, to come to his aid in this hour of need. What would +Julie say? Already misgivings undermined his unstable resolves. He sat +down half-way up the stairs and buried his face in his hands. + +It was ten minutes before he could make up his mind to go back to the +drawing-room. + +Madame Querterot looked up quickly as he entered; she was on her knees +beside the unconscious form of Mrs. Vanderstein, engaged in unfastening +the clasp of a bracelet. A bright silk-covered cushion lay on the floor +beside her. + +"Where have you been?" she said. "Come and help me to get these things +off." + +Bert went over and stood opposite her. As his eyes rested on the figure +that lay so still upon the sofa, a horrible doubt leapt into his +mind. How white, how dreadful Mrs. Vanderstein looked! How quiet, how +motionless she was. Could she indeed be sleeping? There was no movement +to show that she breathed. + +Bert looked at Madame Querterot. + +"Madame Querterot!" was all he could find to say. But there was a world +of accusation in his hoarse tones, and the Frenchwoman, looking up in +reply to his words, was unable to stand the fixed stare with which he +glared into her face, as if expecting to read the terrible truth upon +it. Poor innocent, to look for the truth upon that face! + +Still, for once, she could not meet his eyes, and her glance shifted +furtively to one side. + +He knew now; and in the horror and rage which fell upon him he would +have struck her, if the sofa on which Mrs. Vanderstein was stretched had +not been between them. + +With dropping jaw and eyes starting from his head he thrust his face +forward towards her. + +"You have killed her!" he whispered. + +Madame Querterot laughed a little nervously "It was an accident. I gave +her a little more chloroform than I had the intention." + +"That is a lie. You meant to kill her all along. That cushion! You have +suffocated her! I see it now. Oh! I see it in your face; murderess!" + +"Bert, don't be a fool!" + +"Well, we'll see who's a fool," said he. "I am going for the police!" + +"My good Bert, you are, as I say, a fool," said Madame Querterot, +resuming with an effort her usual assurance. "For what will you fetch +the police? What will you tell them, eh? That you brought this woman +here in some one else's carriage, which you stole for the purpose; and +that I killed her, I suppose? A likely story! When you are gone I shall +scream and run to Miss Turner, who knows me well; and her I shall tell +that you have done this thing, and that now you would murder me, and +her also. Do you think the police would believe that I have done it? +Why, I am not stronger than Mrs. Vanderstein; it is impossible that I +could have done it alone, and they will see that easily. But it is very +possible that you could have done it, and believe me, Bert, if you are +not sensible and do all that I tell you, it is you, and you alone, who +will dangle in the air as a sequel to this accident." + +At this forecast, which he saw too plainly had a smack of probability +about it, Bert's resolution, never a dependable feature in his +composition, wavered and failed him. He flung himself down in a corner +of the room, bewailing his fate and cursing his companion with impartial +heartiness. + +Madame Querterot waited till he had exhausted his powers of +recrimination, and busied herself in transferring the jewels from the +body of Mrs. Vanderstein to the bag she had provided for the purpose. + +Then she had her turn. + +"What," she cried, "did you actually suppose I was sufficiently imbecile +to contemplate allowing this woman to live, when her first act would +have been to have me arrested? How do you suppose either of us could +have escaped, when it was I who made all the arrangements with her that +she should come to this house, and when she knew as well as you do that +it was I that chloroformed her? I could not have done it without your +help, so that you are as responsible as I; and more, for it was you who +brought her to the house. You brought the other girl too, you great, +stupid, whimpering baby, and she will have to die as well before either +you or I are safe. And that will be entirely your doing, for if she had +not come she could have lived till Doomsday for all I cared. Now, what +you have to do is to get the spade which I brought this afternoon from +the tool house in the garden, and dig a grave under the trees at the +back of the house, where you can hide this." She patted the arm of Mrs. +Vanderstein with gruesome familiarity. + +But Bert, sick and faint with horror, absolutely refused to do as he +was told in this matter. To go down into the starlit garden, to dig +for interminable hours in the open, with every shadow full of unknown +terrors, which would leap on him from out of the darkness, pounce on him +from behind, come creeping and gibbering at him with every leaf that +stirred or every chance footfall in a distant street! No. Again, it was +a long job to dig a grave; he knew that. The ground would be hard; he +would want a pickaxe. In any case he would not do it. + +Nothing Madame Querterot could say shook him in this determination. She +was growing really anxious, for it wanted only two or three hours to +dawn, and it began to look as if the body must be left where it lay, +when, by a lucky inspiration, she thought of the flower stand on the +balcony. Would Bert help her there? It would be quicker done and less +dangerous if he would, but if needs must, she said, she could manage +that alone. + +With a furious, shuddering sulkiness, Bert consented to help. + +He opened a window and undid the fastening of the shutters. Then, +after putting out the gas, they stepped cautiously out on to the +balcony, Madame Querterot carrying the spade, and, stooping behind the +balustrade, peered anxiously up and down the deserted street. There +was no one to be seen or heard, and with frenzied haste they began to +pull up the plants which adorned the flower box. At Madame Querterot's +direction Bert ladled out shovelfuls of loose soil, till the box was +more than half empty and the balcony was heaped high with black mould. + +They stole back to the drawing-room and Madame Querterot took from a +parcel that she had stored away in a corner of the room a bundle of +clothing, which she told Bert to carry downstairs and give to Miss +Turner to put on. + +"It would never do," she said, "for either of them to be found with +clothes on them that could be identified as their own. It would be best +that never should they be found at all, but it is well to be prepared +for everything, and though I fear Mrs. Vanderstein is sure to come to +light sooner or later, I prefer to take even more precautions with +regard to Miss Turner, as I shall be obliged to leave the disposal +of her to your scanty wits. Tell the girl, therefore, some cock and +bull story about intending to help her to escape, so that she may +readily attire herself in these clothes, which I had intended for the +Vanderstein. They are all bought in different rag shops, and there is +nothing on any of them to identify them by. Tell her also to undo her +hair and to screw it up plainly so as to hide it as much as possible. +Now go and do as I say." + +"But it is impossible," cried Bert, "that that girl should be killed +too. I cannot, I will not let you do it!" + +"So far from letting me do it, my dear Bert," replied Madame Querterot +placidly, "it is probable that you will have to do it yourself. But we +will speak of that again." + +Bert went reluctantly on his mission, and by the time he returned Madame +Querterot had undressed and decently enveloped the body in the chintz +cover of one of the sofas. Mrs. Vanderstein's clothes lay in a heap on +a chair near by, and the Frenchwoman was vainly trying, with a silken +petticoat, to rub away some large stains which appeared on the carpet, +beside the couch. As Bert came in she got up quickly, abandoning her +efforts. + +"What is it?" he asked, "what is that on the floor?" + +"Nothing. Only something I spilt. Some of the chloroform. It can easily +be hidden." And she pushed the sofa over the place. + +She said nothing to Bert about the vitriol she had used, nor did he +suspect it till the following Thursday night, when he was obliged to +undergo the ghastly ordeal of seeing the body unearthed by Mr. Gimblet. + +With a preliminary reconnaissance of the balcony to make sure that no +policeman was patrolling the street below, the young man and the woman +carried out the body of their victim, laid it in the grave they had made +ready, and then fell in silence to the task of restoring to the box the +mound of earth that was heaped upon the floor. When all was finished and +the flowers planted and blooming once more in their former places, there +still remained a quantity of soil for which there was no room in the +stand. + +Madame Querterot fetched a couple of housemaid's pails and they carried +the superfluous mould out by the back door to the garden, where they +scattered it widely upon the flower beds. It was a slow business and +necessitated many journeys, but by now Bert, in a paroxysm of fear, +which was in part for his own neck and almost as much at the certainty +that he would irretrievably lose Julie if any trace should ever be +discovered of that night's work, showed himself more tractable, and by +the time they had made the place shipshape was ready to lend a receptive +ear to the proposals of his resourceful leader as to their future +conduct. At her suggestion they sat down opposite to one another in the +back of the drawing-room, to talk over the best means of averting even a +shadow of suspicion. + +"We are safe enough," Madame Querterot asserted positively; "how is it +you say? safe as a church! Once the girl is disposed of, that is. Ah, +my friend, you made a mistake when you permitted the inclusion of Miss +Turner in the _partie_, but it is not impossible to remedy that error. +Here is the chloroform. What do you say? Shall we repeat the comedy +which we have just performed? For me, I am ready, for your sake, to do +my share." + +"No, no," cried Bert with a shiver, "not that, not that! Besides," he +added weakly, "there is only one flower box on the balcony." + +"It is true," mused the Frenchwoman, "that there is no room there for +another burial. And you still refuse to dig a grave? Perhaps to-morrow +night you will have more courage?" she suggested hopefully. + +But of this Bert held out no hope. "It would take too long," he said. "I +might screw myself up to commence the job, but I simply couldn't stick +to it for an hour, no more than I could fly. I'll do what I can, Madame +Querterot; I don't want to be hung for your beastly murders, and if I +can't keep my neck out of a noose any other way I suppose I've got to do +what you say--within reason, that is. It's the girl's life or mine right +enough, I believe, and I can't be blamed for thinking of myself first +in such a case," said Bert, nearly crying; "though as a matter of fact +it's not so much myself I'm thinking of, in a manner of speaking, as +it's Joolie. A nice thing for her it would be, to have it said that her +mother was hung! A fair treat, that 'ud be!" + +"It's very considerate of you, I'm sure, Bert, to take that view," said +Madame Querterot, with bitter sarcasm, "but it's no good talking like +that if you refuse to do anything to prevent such a scandal, which I +agree with you in thinking is one to be avoided if possible. Here is +another idea, though I think I am too patient with you, and shall not +waste much more time in trying to assist you out of a danger you have +yourself brought upon us. Suppose you take the girl out to a place where +there is some deep water--there is a canal near the Zoological Gardens, +is there not?--and push her in when she is walking beside it. She will +go with you willingly, if you let her think you are helping her to +escape, and you can find a pretext for attaching something heavy to her +first, so that she will not trouble us by rising again to the surface. +It should be easy to do on a dark night, and there is no moon now, as +you know." + +Bert had plenty of objections to raise to this plan, and they discussed +others with no better result. In the end he was obliged to admit that +drowning offered the best and easiest solution to the difficulty, and +she wrung from him a promise that he would get rid of the unfortunate +young lady by this means on the following night. + +In vain Madame Querterot urged the danger of delay, and the perils +which would attend on their keeping Barbara in the house for the next +twenty-four hours. Bert was obstinately determined not to venture forth +with her at this hour, for it wanted but a short time to sunrise and +any delay would mean that the culminating act must be performed after +the full darkness of the night had been diluted by the coming dawn. Even +Madame Querterot was obliged to admit that there was something in his +argument, and it was finally decided that he should wait till another +day had passed. + +In the meantime the Frenchwoman, as had previously been arranged, would +lose no time in leaving England, carrying with her the jewels, which, +she assured Bert, would be very easy for her to dispose of in her own +country without detection, as she had old friends there who were "in +that business." She promised faithfully to send him one-half of the +proceeds as soon as she received the money. + +"And then, mon cher," said she, "you and Julie will set up your little +_menage_. I think you will find my daughter less capricious when I am +gone. She will be lonely, the poor little one, without her mother." +Madame Querterot's voice quavered with emotion at the thought, and she +lifted her handkerchief to her face to wipe away a tear--or was it to +conceal a smile? + +In spite of all assurances, she was unable to impart to Bert her +confidence in their safety from suspicion. + +"You'll see, something will give the whole show away," he kept saying, +half for the comfort of hearing himself contradicted. "Murder will out; +that's well known." + +"It is impossible." Madame Querterot spoke with refreshing conviction. +"Absolutely impossible if you manage the canal affair with discretion. +Consider. You walk innocently along a public path by the waterside, with +a companion who, mon Dieu! is so maladroit as to stumble and to fall +in. If anyone should be attracted by the splash, or she should scream +and be heard, are you not doing your utmost to rescue her?--though, +if possible, at a different place on the bank to the spot at which she +displayed such unfortunate clumsiness--but that is a remote chance, for +with proper care you will be able to manage so that the contretemps +occurs at a point from which no noise will reach the ears of strangers." + +"I know where there's a gap in the fence that runs along the park side +of the canal," Bert interrupted involuntarily. + +"Mourning her loss," Madame Querterot went on, "but silently, you +understand, you continue your walk, and the world hears no more of Miss +Barbara Turner. Even if her body is eventually found, there will be +nothing on it which can be recognised as belonging to any particular +person; and who would connect the wearer of the clothes I have provided +with the fashionable young lady, who may, perchance, be missing from her +home in Grosvenor Street? No one. I repeat, no one. With regard to Mrs. +Vanderstein we are even more entirely beyond suspicion. In the first +place nobody will even enter this house for some weeks at least. When +they do so it is unlikely that the flower stand will be touched. Though +the plants will be renewed there will be no occasion, as far as I can +see, to disturb the soil to a regrettable depth. But admitting that luck +may go against us and the body be discovered, it will not be identified. +I cut off the initials that were embroidered on her chemise, and the +rest of the clothing I will take home with me now, and burn before I +start on my journey. And I have a still better idea for diverting any +suspicion from us. Listen to this." + +And she expounded to Bert a plan, which made him open his eyes in +unwilling admiration of the coolness and courage of the woman. Such a +course as she proposed to adopt would have been entirely beyond his +powers, and well he knew it; indeed at first sight it seemed to require +an almost inhuman audacity to carry it out successfully. Her intention +was to go to a large hotel at some French watering place, Boulogne or +Dieppe for choice, and there to pass herself off as Mrs. Vanderstein for +a day or two, not long enough for the Jewess' friends to discover that +she was there, but long enough to allow no doubt to exist of her having +really been there when the fact should subsequently come to be known. + +"I shall be far away by the time inquiries begin to reach to the other +side of the channel," she told Bert, "and the proprietor of the hotel +will answer all questions to our satisfaction. I shall so contrive that +it is not I who write my name in the visitors' book. The manager will +be so obliging as to do it for me when he hears that I have slightly +injured my finger. But I shall not be feeling very well, I shall need +repose after the journey. I think, yes, I think that I shall send for +the doctor. When he is gone I shall give out that he has told me to keep +to my room for a few days, and I shall therefore remain upstairs during +the whole of my visit. When I leave I shall have established beyond +doubt that the lady I impersonate was staying in the hotel when she was +being sought in London, and after that she will be looked for abroad. +Once the police have got the idea fixed in their stupid heads that Mrs. +Vanderstein has left England, they may dig up her body as soon as they +like, and I, for one, shall not feel a moment's anxiety." + +"But," objected the startled Bert, "the people at the hotel will +describe you, and that will be a give away." + +"They will describe me," said Madame Querterot airily, "or they will +describe Mrs. Vanderstein. It will be the same thing. We are much +alike, she and I. That is," she added hastily, "we were much alike. In +the matter of the colour of my hair, it is true, I must make a great +sacrifice. But I have resolved to forget the value that not I alone have +always attached to the golden hue of my _chevelure_, and to dye it black +this same morning, before I start on my travels. You see that I shrink +at nothing! I promise you that, with a dress such as the Vanderstein +would have worn and a trifling alteration in my colouring, you yourself +would have doubts as to who I am. There will be no risk to speak of, +though it is worth a little to cover my retreat by a stratagem so +masterly." + +With Bert's aid the clothes belonging to the two ladies were folded +and made into a tidy parcel, then with a few more words of advice, +and a special recommendation never to come into the house without the +precaution of wearing gloves--for she was deeply impressed with the +dangers attendant on careless finger-prints--Madame Querterot said a +hasty farewell, the early summer dawn being at hand, and in another +moment the back door of the house had shut behind her vanishing figure. + +Bert, left alone without the support of the woman's ready resource and +calm confidence, would have soon sunk again into despair if his time +had not been too much occupied to admit of reflection. He was by now, +besides, so tired and exhausted with the emotions he had undergone as to +be incapable of coherent thought, and he was more than content to give +his whole mind to carrying out the instructions he had received. + +His first business was to get a brush from the cupboard under the +stairs and to sweep and brush the floor of the hall, and the carpets +of the stairs and drawing-room. He was awkward at the work, but made +up in thoroughness what he lacked in skill. Little shining pieces of +paste off Mrs. Vanderstein's dress were scattered everywhere; he swept +up quantities of them, but still some, better concealed than others, +escaped his diligence. + +Then having set straight such of the furniture as had been moved or +disarranged, he quietly opened the dining-room shutters and those of the +back drawing-room, for he did not wish the place to look uninhabited. +The shutters of the front drawing-room, however, he could not bring +himself to touch, though he seemed to hear the words of scorn which +Madame Querterot would have used if she had still been present. He +listened at the door of the library for some time, but not a sound came +from within; at last, seeing no more to do, he stole quietly out of +the house and back to his lodgings, where, in spite of the fears that +pursued him and the dreadful memory of the night's work, he soon slept +the sleep of exhaustion. + +Not for long, however. In a couple of hours his alarm clock awakened +him, and he started up to face the new terrors which the day would +bring. He had to feed the dun horse, he remembered; it would not do to +annoy Ned. + +After that came breakfast, for which he was surprised to find he had a +certain appetite, and soon it was time to begin his daily routine at +Ennidge and Pring's office. + +Every time the door opened that day, and on the days that succeeded it, +Bert expected to see a policeman enter. But the evening came without +any such nightmare materialising, and he even managed to snatch some +more uneasy slumber during the evening, before he once more assumed his +disguising beard and stealthily returned to the house in Scholefield +Avenue, knowing that before him lay far the worst part of the whole +business. He was too frightened for his own safety, however, to +hesitate. + +Madame Querterot had counted on that when she mentally balanced his +regard for his own neck against what she would have designated his +milksoppy squeamishness. It was hard to stay in that house of death +alone and in the dark, waiting till the small hours, when his project +might be best entered upon. + +Bert was very, very sorry for himself as he sat, trembling violently, in +an arm-chair in the dining-room. His pity did not extend to the other +side of the partition wall, where the girl whose life he was about to +take had sat in the same darkness and solitude for the last twenty-four +hours. For her, Bert, thoroughly selfish by nature and education--as, +cowering among the shadows in the grim company of his fears, he +shuddered away the hours--was shaken from start to finish by no +disabling pang of sympathy. Though at times his heart was like to burst +with compassion, it held barely enough to meet the urgent need of Albert +Tremmels; and when like her he heard the far-off murmurs which heralded +the approaching storm and the angry boom of the thunder began to rumble +closer and closer, though he started at each clap as if it were indeed +the wrathful voice of the Avenger drawing near to him, his whole being +cried out in resentful protest against this judgment that was being +passed on him in the heavens, and against the certainty that it would be +endorsed by mankind. + +His intention was to wait till two o'clock, but it was not yet half-past +one when he got to his feet, unable to face his solitary vigil any +longer. Better get it over, he said to himself, like a patient in a +dentist's room who has got to have a tooth out. Only this tooth was not +his. He had long since decided that the spade would be the best thing to +ensure the sinking of his victim, and he had placed it, with a piece of +cord tied to it, ready by the door. + +Weighted with that heavy piece of iron, so he comforted himself, there +would be a single splash and all would be over. He would be spared the +sight of a struggling figure rising to the surface, perhaps crying to +him for help or mercy, which above all things was what he most dreaded. + +Fortifying himself with a mental vision, in which Julie, the hangman, +and the body in the flower stand upstairs were all mingled, he unlocked +the library door and pushed it open. + +It is not necessary to tell again of his walk with Barbara through +the drenching rain and clamour of the storm, which was more severe +and prolonged than any of those that burst over London during a +year remarkable for the number and fierceness of its atmospheric +disturbances. The horror with which, at the last moment, as he was +trying to tie the spade to Barbara before pushing her into the water, +he beheld the running figure of the advancing policeman need not be +described. In a frenzy of disappointment, rage and fear, he lifted the +spade and struck at the girl again and again, missing her the first +time, and, as the handle twisted in his weak grasp, bringing it down +flat on the top of her head at the second blow, instead of edgeways as +he was trying to do. He did not stay to see the result, but throwing +down the spade fled for dear life. + +His legs were long, and he could run fast for a short distance. In a +few minutes he had lost himself and his pursuer in the darkness, but +he still ran blindly on, till his utmost efforts would drag him no +further, when he threw himself at full length on one of the park seats +and endeavoured to still his panting, laboured breath. If the policeman +should come upon him now, he thought his only chance lay in being able +to simulate profound slumber. Luckily the working powers of this plan +were not put to the test. Minutes passed, and no one came near him. +It was some time before he could convince himself that he had eluded +all pursuit for the present. When he was at last sure of it the fact +heartened him wonderfully. If he could so easily escape when caught +in the actual perpetration of a violent attack, it would bother the +authorities indeed to fasten on him as one of those concerned in a crime +so well concealed as that in which he had only unwillingly assisted. + +It was when he remembered that he was quite ignorant of the damage he +had inflicted on Barbara that doubts assailed him again. It seemed to +him that he must have killed her. But if not ... if not? Why then, +even though she could hardly denounce him, she would not forget Madame +Querterot. And Madame Querterot's first line of defence would be to +accuse him, as she herself had declared. + +Curse the woman, how he hated her! From first to last everything was her +doing; he wished, oh, how he wished that it was she he had killed. If he +had thought of that sooner, he told himself savagely, all these troubles +would have been saved. As things were he would probably be arrested that +day. + +He did not lose his head, however, and went back presently to +Scholefield Avenue, where he cleared away the broken glass in the +library and put everything in that room to rights, as he had already +done upstairs. Then he conquered his repugnance and went out on to the +balcony with his brush, and swept up a handful or so of earth, which +they had not been able to remove with the spade. + +He did not know how to get rid of the broken glass, as by now it was +daylight and he did not dare go out to bury it in the garden; so +he left it in the dustpan, and swept the grains of soil into an old +newspaper, which he crumpled up and thrust into the back of the cupboard +in the basement. Then he closed the shutters again, for he could not +bear to be a moment in the room without the friendly screen that +interposed between him and the flower stand. Finding, however, no more +to do upstairs, he went down, and knocked out the pieces of the window +pane in the library that still remained stuck in the frame; he thought +that the empty space might well pass unobserved for a considerable time. +In doing this he cut his hand, through the glove he was wearing in +obedience to Madame Querterot's reiterated commands, and some drops of +blood fell on to the shining tin of the dustpan, but he wiped them off +carefully and polished the pan with his sleeve as it had certainly never +been polished since it left the shop and entered into domestic service. + +At last his anxious mind could suggest nothing further, and he surveyed +the results of his efforts with some complacency. + +"I'm bothered," said Bert to himself, "if the brainiest detective on +this rotten earth could set his fingers on a clue now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +There was no sleep for him that morning, and he felt wretchedly ill and +exhausted when the time came to go to the office. Mr. Ennidge, always +kind, remarked sympathetically upon his looks, and he replied that he +had been kept awake all night by the storm. The day passed without the +expected appearance of the policeman, though he saw in the papers the +first allusion to the disappearance of Mrs. Vanderstein and Miss Turner, +and felt a horrified sinking at the heart when he read that search was +being made, even though he had of course known all along that there must +be a hue and cry. + +He could not find any reference to his exploit in Regent's Park, and he +was afraid this meant that the girl had survived, for if he had killed +her surely there would have been some mention of it. Yet if she were +alive it was strange that Miss Turner should still be thought to be +missing. Perhaps it was a dodge of the police to fill him with false +confidence. He could not guess what it meant, anyhow, and at all events +he was thankful for one thing: that he had cleared up and finished with +Scholefield Avenue. If they thought they would catch him there again +they were jolly well wrong. He would never set foot in the place again, +so help him! + +He supposed that his confederate had got clear away, and after his work +was over he went to see Julie, to make sure that everything had gone +well. + +He found her in despair at her mother's departure, or, rather, at the +manner of it; and it was with the utmost horror and indignation that he +learned that Julie--as she afterwards admitted to Gimblet--had been left +absolutely penniless. All his savings had been willingly given to Madame +Querterot to help her flight, but he had things which could be pawned, +and he pressed Julie to accept his assistance. This she would not do. + +Then she showed him the string of pearls, and he recognised it at once +as the necklace Mrs. Vanderstein had worn. He had seen since, in the +newspapers, that these enormous pearls were well known to every jeweller +in Europe, and there had not been wanting forecasts to the effect that, +if they had been stolen, an attempt to sell them would lead to the +arrest of the thieves. He had wondered if Madame Querterot knew this, +and reassured himself by thinking that, if she did not, the friends she +was to consult certainly would. But now, with passionate resentment, +he realised that she had known it very well and had left the necklace +to Julie, careless of the suspicion that might fall on her daughter if +she should be tempted to try and sell it. Nay, it seemed even possible +that she deliberately wished to cast suspicion upon Julie; her action +was otherwise unaccountable. But was it possible that she would risk not +only his safety but her own, in order to gratify her spite against her +daughter? + +Before he had fully grasped the meaning of this last manoeuvre on the +part of the woman he hoped to call his mother-in-law, Julie was telling +him of the clothes her mother had given her, and which she had already +sold to a second-hand dealer. In hoarse tones he demanded a description +of the garments, and, when he had received it, burst forth into such +raging comments on the girl's folly in selling them, and such furious +imprecations at the wickedness and stupidity of her mother, that Julie +took offence, and in a fit of anger as hot as his own, though less +justly provoked, told him to leave the house. + +He was all penitence in a moment, and she ended by accepting his +grovelling apologies. All the same, the fire of his wrath was not +extinguished, but smouldered with a dull red heat in his heart, ready at +any moment to leap into a fierce flame, burning to consume and devour. + +When the night came he could not sleep, in spite, or perhaps because, of +his extreme fatigue and harassed nerves. Not till daylight did he drop +at last into an uneasy slumber, from which a nightmare sent him leaping +up in bed, disturbing the house with his cries. His irate landlady +appeared in his room, in extreme deshabille, and her scathing references +to delirium tremens gave him the idea of the brandy bottle. He bought +one at the nearest public-house the moment he was dressed, and drank a +good wineglassful before he opened the daily paper that he procured at +the same time. + +There was nothing new in it, however. Though it contained plenty of +allusions to the missing ladies there was nothing about a girl being +knocked on the head in Regent's Park; and to Bert's fears this silence +appeared ominous as a denunciation. He found the brandy very comforting, +and took it to the office with him. There his appearance--rendered +still more ghastly by want of sleep than it had been on the preceding +days--moved Mr. Ennidge to such genuine concern that, Mr. Pring being +away and not returning till Monday, he told Bert he had better take a +holiday on the next day, which would be Friday. + +In the afternoon he was beginning to feel a little better and to hope +that after all things were going right for him somehow, when at the +eleventh hour Mr. Gimblet made his appearance upon the scene. From the +moment when Bert understood who he was and what was his business, he +gave himself up for lost. Some unsuspected gleam of courage came to his +aid now, however--a sort of phantom of the real thing, found, it may be +imagined, in the brandy bottle--and he made up his mind that, if he must +be taken, it should not be due, at all events, to any revelation of his +own. + +The agony of mind endured during the hours which followed is not to +be described in mere words. The dread, the suspense, the feeling +of physical weakness which nearly overcame him as he witnessed the +detective's search, and the final horrible moment when he saw the body +of the poor lady drawn from the grave where he had thought it hidden for +ever from his own, if not from every other eye, would have strained the +nerve of any man. It was, indeed, a heaping of horror upon horror. + +What unthinkable clairvoyance, what supernatural omniscience had led +Gimblet to pick out that house, of all the dwellings in the great city +and its suburbs, for his investigations, was as much beyond Bert's +imagination as the means by which he himself succeeded in refraining +from revealing, then and there, the part he had taken in the ghastly +business. + +To his almost incredulous astonishment no one seemed to suspect him, and +instead of being removed in irons, as he expected, he found himself free +to return to his lodgings, there to recuperate from the shocks he had +sustained, in a deep, brandy induced sleep. + +The next morning he was out early, and the first poster gave him the +news that Mrs. Vanderstein was found, and staying at Boulogne. He bought +the paper, and, even as he read the paragraph in which the news was +related, made up his mind to spend the holiday given him by Mr. Ennidge +in running over to Boulogne to see Madame Querterot. He had no definite +idea in doing so. But his rage at her treatment of her daughter was +still red-hot, and now was added to it a furious resentment at her +departure from the conduct they had agreed she should observe. What +possessed her not to stay quietly in her room? It was madness to have +gone out; yes, actually to have gone to the Casino, the place of all +others where she was most likely to be seen by some acquaintances of +Mrs. Vanderstein's. Did she want to lose them all by her folly and +recklessness? + +And in any case he could not rest till he had told her what he thought +of her. + +He went out to a pawnbroker's, and by pawning his watch and some odds +and ends of jewellery that had belonged to his mother collected enough +money for the return journey. Then he took a taxi for the first time in +his life, and drove to Whitehall. He had seen Gimblet's address on the +card he sent in to Mr. Ennidge. + +Higgs told him, in answer to his inquiries, that the inquest would not +be till the next day, so that there was nothing to prevent him from +taking the ten o'clock train from Charing Cross. There was time before +it started to put on his false beard, in an empty waiting-room, and to +gulp down a strong dose of brandy at the bar of the refreshment-room. He +felt safer when he had taken these precautions, for he had been haunted +by an uneasy feeling that Higgs might have followed him from the flat. + +The journey was uneventful, the sea as smooth as a pond. He hardly knew +how the time passed before they arrived at Boulogne pier. + +He walked round the harbour, asking the way by the simple repetition of +the words "Hotel de Douvres," and following the direction in which the +fingers of those who answered him were pointed. + +Soon he came upon the hotel on the Digue, facing the sea. The name in +golden letters a yard long danced before his eyes, but with a great +effort of the will he steadied himself, and passed through the door into +the hall. + +As luck would have it there was no one about, and the only person to +come forward at his entrance was a small page or lift boy. + +Yes, Madame Vanderstein was in her room. Would Monsieur go up? + +Certainly Monsieur would; and he was ushered into the lift and carried +aloft. + +He heard Madame Querterot's voice say "Come in" in response to the boy's +knock, and in another minute he was in the room, with the door closing +behind him. + +For a moment he thought there must be some mistake, and, if she had not +spoken, would have turned and fled. Surely he had never seen before the +beautifully dressed, dark-haired lady who was bending over a box at the +end of the room. + +But at the sound of her voice he knew her again, though the difference +in her appearance caused by her dyed hair and painted complexion was +truly marvellous. She wore her elaborate dress with quiet assurance, and +jewels sparkled at her throat, in her ears, on her fingers, her wrists. + +"What in the world are you doing here?" she said, in a tone of the +deepest disapproval. + +Bert's voice shook as he took the paper from his pocket and held it out +to her. + +"Have you seen this?" he asked. "Every one in London knows you are here. +It is madness to stay." + +"Of course I have seen it," she answered coolly. "And of course I shall +not stay. I do but finish my packing. In ten minutes I shall ring to +have my luggage taken downstairs. There is a train in half an hour." + +"You will never escape now," he said gloomily. "Do you know, too, that +they have found the body of Mrs. Vanderstein?" + +This time she was startled. + +"What do you say?" she cried. "What _betise_ is this?" + +"It is true," he said. "They found it last night. I was there." + +"You were there? Last night?" she repeated. "And you were not arrested, +not suspected? Why, then, our star is indeed guarding us." + +"No, I wasn't arrested," he said, watching her, "and Joolie hasn't been +arrested yet, either." + +She started, and for a moment her eyes shone with the hatred and spite +she cherished for her daughter. Then they fell before his. "Julie," she +said; "why should Julie be arrested?" + +"Don't you know?" he asked. "How is she to account for the pearls, and +for the dresses and opera cloaks?" + +"Oh, the dresses. Hasn't she burnt them? I told her to. If she has not +she must do so at once." + +"And the pearls--was she to burn them too?" said Bert quietly. + +"They looked so well round her neck, the dear child. I left them as my +wedding gift to you both." + +"You left them because you knew you couldn't get rid of them. My God! +I believe you meant to keep the whole lot for yourself. But the pearls +were too dangerous, so you gave them to Joolie! You must have meant +suspicion to fall upon her!" + +"My dear Bert, you are absurd. Come and help me to fasten this +portmanteau. I shall register the luggage to Paris, and leave the train +myself at Amiens. From there I can go off in another direction, and you +will never hear of me again." + +"Nor of the jewels either, no doubt." + +"Oh, don't be afraid, you shall have the money for the jewels!" + +Madame Querterot began to go on with her packing, which for the moment +she had abandoned. As she bent over the trunk, filling up corners with +crumpled newspapers, she hummed a merry little tune, and the implied +disregard of his reproaches exasperated Bert beyond endurance. He stood +quite still, making a violent effort at self-control, and looking about +him in an unconscious attempt to regain his balance by a concentration +of his attention upon some everyday object. + +The fresh breeze off the water was fluttering the white muslin blinds by +the open window and, as Bert passed his tongue over his parched lips, he +tasted the salt taste of the sea. The tide was up, and the room full of +the noise of the breaking waves, so that the rattle of a cart passing on +the road beneath was merged and lost in the continuous volume of sound. + +On the table were several outspread pieces of blue paper, and he read +the typed messages from where he stood. They were the telegrams which +Sir Gregory, Gimblet, and Sidney had dispatched that morning to Mrs. +Vanderstein. + +"Have you answered those?" he said, pointing to them. + +"I answered Mr. Sidney's, and I sent one to the servants in Grosvenor +Street," Madame Querterot broke off her tune to reply. + +"I don't know who Aberhyn Jones is," she added, "nor where he lives, +so I can't answer him; and I haven't quite decided what to say to the +detective." + +She went on packing, and resumed her humming. Bert did not speak for a +minute, then he said very quietly: + +"I took the girl to Regent's Park, to the very edge of the water; and +then a policeman came up and prevented me doing as we arranged." + +"What!" Madame Querterot almost screamed. + +She stood erect and gazed at Bert in incredulous dismay. + +"I hit her and ran," he went on. "I don't suppose I did her much damage +or I should have seen it mentioned in the papers, and there has been +nothing about it." + +"If she is alive I don't understand how it is they still believe Mrs. +Vanderstein is here. But never mind that now. The point is, the girl, if +she lives, will put them on my track. I shall not be able to escape now +so easily. Perhaps the best thing to do is to go back and face it out. +Better get my story in before they have time to puzzle out the truth." + +She spoke musingly, more to herself than to her companion. + +"Your story!" Bert repeated, speaking only a little above a whisper. His +voice would not come out somehow; he felt as if he were choking. "You +mean you will say that I did it! Why not say that you have been hiding +from me in fear of your own life, all these days? That would round it +off well!" + +"Not a bad suggestion, Bert," she said. "I must look after myself, you +know. It would be a pity, wouldn't it, for people to say that Julie's +mother was hanged?" + +She spoke with a sneer. She had not forgotten that Bert had used those +words to her, nor forgiven him. She was not afraid to let him see that +his guess at her intentions was a good one; she felt for him a contempt +too complete and profound to dread anything he might say or do. + +It is a common failing among clever rascals to despise their dupes, +but they often learn to their cost that danger may come from the most +unlikely quarter. + +The derisive note in her voice was the last straw on Bert's frayed +nerves. His rage took hold of him so that he no longer knew what he was +about; he became a tool in other hands than Madame Querterot's. + +"Oh you fiend, you fiend!" he cried, and his voice was high and cracked, +"hanging would be too good for a devil like you! You needn't be afraid, +people never shall say that of Joolie's mother. You would have let her +be hanged, you devil! Her and me, both of us. Oh--oh----" + +The air was full of the murmur of the sea. It mingled with a maddening +noise that buzzed in his ears and made thought impossible. A mist +gathered before his eyes--a dreadful red mist in which everything swam +and danced. + +He bounded upon the woman, holding his hands outstretched before his +face as though to fend off something unspeakably hideous and terrifying. +Then they closed upon her throat and, with a sob, he shook her to and +fro as a dog shakes a rat that has bitten it badly. + +At last his rage spent itself. As it passed he became conscious of what +he was doing, and with an exclamation of disgust loosened his grip. + +She fell backwards, with a crash, across the open lid of the box she had +been packing. The hinges snapped under the impact and the lid broke off +and dropped to the floor with her. There she lay, head downwards, in an +untidy heap, one arm twisted at a curious angle under her body. + +Bert never doubted that she was dead, and he felt a glow of satisfaction +stealing over him at the knowledge. There were great livid marks on her +neck where his convulsive fingers had clutched at it, and he stooped +over her and looked at them with a gratified smile. They were already +turning black. + +A slight noise in the next room brought him to his senses. + +He crept on tiptoe to the door and listened intently with his ear to it. +The sounds in the next room continued, some one seemed to be opening and +shutting drawers; but there was no movement in the passage, and after a +moment he opened the door cautiously and went out. + +No one was in sight, and as an afterthought he went back, and removing +the key locked the door on the outside, as silently as he had opened +it. Then putting the key in his pocket he ran down the stairs. The +page who had shown him up was idling in the hall, but no one else was +about, though he caught a glimpse of a seated figure in the bureau as he +passed. Forcing himself to pause as he passed the page, he said to him: + +"Mrs. Vanderstein has asked me to tell you that she has a headache, and +does not wish to be disturbed again to-day. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir. I will give the message at the bureau. They will tell the +waiter and chambermaid." + +The page spoke English perfectly, and Bert felt assured that he would do +his errand. To make sure, he repeated his injunction and gave the boy a +shilling to impress it on his memory. Then he walked down the steps with +every outward appearance of calm. + +His impulse was to go back towards the harbour, but as a precaution he +started off in the opposite direction and only approached the docks +after several turnings separated him from the sea-front. There was no +boat back to England, however, till past seven, and he hung about the +port for three whole hours that seemed like three centuries. In a quiet +corner behind some empty trucks he got rid of his black beard, and +applying a match to it saw it frizzle up and disappear in two or three +seconds. He ground the ashes into the earth with his heel, and with a +recklessness which surprised himself walked back past the doorway of +the Hotel de Douvres, to see if he would be known. The page was still +lolling in the doorway, and, to Bert's satisfaction, stared at him as he +passed with a vacant eye. He felt certain he had not been recognised, +and went back to the harbour with a lighter heart. + +There he watched the steamer from Folkestone arrive and disembark her +passengers, among whom--though he did not know it--was the man sent by +the London police to interview Mrs. Vanderstein; and a few minutes later +it was time to go on board the boat, which took him back to England. + +The next morning found him back in his place at the house agents' +office, and as the day passed without event he began to feel a sense +of security to which he had lately been a stranger. After all, he had +passed hours in the company of London's greatest detective without +arousing any suspicion; and every hour, he believed, added to his +safety. + +He was comparatively cheerful when he went down to Pimlico that evening +to see Julie. + +But he found her in a harder mood than usual; and when, with exceeding +want of discretion, he chose that most unpropitious moment to urge his +suit, she told him very plainly that she would never consent to be his +wife. + +She had no intention of marrying, she said; she was going to enter the +convent as she had always wished. But, she added, with unnecessary +cruelty--for she was still angry with him for his behaviour a day or two +before--in no case would she have married him. She did not reciprocate +his feelings, and she considered that he and she were quite unsuited to +each other; he had much better never think of her again. + +Thus it happened that he went away in the blackest depths of misery and +despair, so that when the police rapped at his door an hour later they +found a man broken and unstrung to such a point as to hail their coming +with something like relief. + +Such was the gist of Albert Tremmels' story; and, as it never varied in +the smallest detail in the course of its many repetitions, it may be +imagined that it was true in substance. + +Whether this would have been the opinion expressed by a jury cannot +now be known, for Bert died in prison while awaiting his trial. His +constitution, always frail, had not been able to withstand the bodily +fatigues, and more especially those torments of the mind which he had +endured during that week of stress, and a latent tendency to disease +was not slow to take advantage of his weakened condition. Its rapid +development was perhaps due, in part, to the fact that he made little +effort to get well, and seemed to have no wish to live. What, indeed, as +he said, had he to live for? + +He showed no repentance for his attack on Miss Turner, beyond saying +that it would have been unnecessary if he had had the sense to kill +Madame Querterot first, but he maintained with his last breath that +the idea was not his, any more than the thought of murdering Mrs. +Vanderstein, which he persisted in affirming had never crossed his mind. +He gloried in the death of his confederate, however, nor could all the +efforts of the prison chaplain move him to a better frame of mind with +regard to his deed. On the contrary, he did not cease to gloat over the +remembrance of it. Not even when he heard that Julie piously refused him +her forgiveness, in spite of her mother's designs upon herself, would +Bert admit that he regretted that which he had done. It is a cynical +freak of circumstance that his love for the girl, which was pure and +unselfish and the only creditable part of his whole nature, should from +first to last have been the inspiring source from which his crimes +proceeded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +It was a few days before Joe Sidney was allowed to see Barbara. The news +of her friend's death had been broken to her by the doctor, and though +her grief was profound she bore the shock better than they had feared +likely, and continued to make good progress towards recovery. + +It was on the day following that on which she learnt the truth, or +rather a bowdlerised version of it, that Sidney refused to be longer +denied, and practically forced his way into the private room at the +hospital to which she had been moved. + +At sight of her sad, tear-stained face, framed in bandages, and wearing +such a different aspect from when he had last looked on it, the little +speech he had prepared to greet her with died on his lips, and he could +only take her hand in silence and gaze at her without a word till the +door had shut behind the nurse, who, dearly as she would have liked to +remain, was luckily prevented from doing so by an urgent summons to +attend on the house surgeon elsewhere. + +"Oh, my dear, I thought you were dead," he stammered. + +She was very weak still, and while the tenderness in his voice, still +more than the words themselves, brought a feeble little smile of the +purest content to play a moment round the corners of her mouth, they +also caused the blood to rush to her face in a hot, embarrassing wave, +so that she turned her head away, and lay facing the wall with no +conscious wish except to hide from him. + +Then the flush died away, leaving her very white and still and silent, +with eyes tightly shut. She knew that if she opened them or tried to +speak she would not be able to help crying. + +Sidney did not understand her stillness. A dreadful fear came upon him +that she had fainted, and he looked round for the bell. It was just out +of reach; but, when he tried to withdraw the hand which still held hers, +her clasp gently tightened on it, and would not let him go. + +With a muffled exclamation he fell on his knees beside the pillow. + +"Barbara, Barbara," he cried, "will you always go hand in hand with me +now?" + +And with face still averted she murmured: "Always, always!" + +It was half an hour later that he asked her about the unsigned telegram +she had sent him. What had she meant by saying good luck was coming his +way? + +She reluctantly confessed her determination to provide him with the +money he needed. + +"Of course I always knew you were clever and dear enough to manage even +that," he said. "That's why I didn't bother unnecessarily over the mess +I'd got into." + +"Oh," cried Barbara, "how dare you say that! Why, you were desperate; I +was terrified by the things you hinted at." + +"It was disgraceful of me to talk in that way," he admitted, ashamed. +"But you haven't told me how you intended to provide me with money. As +if I'd have taken it from you! I didn't know you were a millionaire." + +"You know Mr. Vanderstein left me L30,000, which I was to have if poor +Mrs. Vanderstein died? I shall get it now, I suppose," said Barbara, her +eyes filling with tears. + +Joe stroked her hand in silent sympathy, and with a quaver in her voice +she went on. + +"Well, I meant to borrow L10,000 on the strength of my prospects, and +place it anonymously to your credit at Cox's. So you see you would have +had to take it!" she concluded triumphantly. "You wouldn't have known +who it was from." + +"I should have known perfectly well," he said. "Who else could good luck +come to me from if not from you? I knew you sent the telegram, you see." + +"You couldn't have proved it, and you'd have had to take the money, +because there would have been no one to send it back to." + +"It was like you to think of it," Joe said, "but I don't believe you +could have raised the money anyhow. Aunt Ruth's life was nearly as good +as yours then, and you hadn't really any security to offer, you silly +darling." + +Barbara's face fell. "I didn't think of that, but surely I could have +got L10,000 when I would have offered L30,000 in exchange," she said +sadly. "But it doesn't matter now, does it?" + +He hastened to reassure and comfort her. + +"And you will never bet again?" she asked presently. + +"I have sworn that I never will," Joe answered. "I've had a lesson more +severe than even I needed, I think." + +"If ever you want to have a teeny tiny bet," she smiled, "I can do it +for you, perhaps, if you're good." + +"No, no," he said seriously, "you must give it up too. I shall want you +to help me to stick to my resolutions. Promise!" + +"Very well," she said, seeing how grave he looked; "I promise faithfully +never to gamble again in any way, as long as I live." + +"Now we are safe!" he cried. "Indeed, I have used up all the luck one +man can scrape together in a lifetime in winning you, and I shall think +of that, if I am ever again tempted to stake anything on the chance of +further kindness at the hands of Fortune." + +"Don't be foolish," Barbara urged; "there is heaps and heaps more luck +in store for you." + +And so, in their serene confidence of the happy future which awaits +them, we will leave these two young people, who, if any more dangers lie +unsuspected in the path down which they are to travel through the years, +will brave them no longer in solitary isolation, but strengthened and +reinforced by an enduring love. + +THE END + + + + +=JOHN LANE'S LIST OF FICTION= + + +BY ARTHUR H. ADAMS + + =GALAHAD JONES= A TRAGIC FARCE CROWN 8VO 6s + With 16 full-page Illustrations by NORMAN LINDSAY + + =A TOUCH OF FANTASY= CROWN 8VO 6s + A Romance For Those who are Lucky Enough to Wear Glasses + + +BY W. M. ARDAGH + + =THE MAGADA= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE KNIGHTLY YEARS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY WILLIAM ARKWRIGHT + + =THE TREND= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY H. F. PREVOST BATTERSBY + + =THE SILENCE OF MEN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE LAST RESORT= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY GERARD BENDALL + + =THE ILLUSIONS OF MR. & MRS. BRESSINGHAM= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE PROGRESS OF MRS. CRIPPS-MIDDLEMORE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY PAUL BERTRAM + + =THE SHADOW OF POWER= + THIRD THOUSAND CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE FIFTH TRUMPET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY WALTER BLOEM + + =THE IRON YEAR= CROWN 8VO 6s + Translated from the German by STELLA BLOCH + + +BY MRS. CHARLES BRYCE + + =MRS. VANDERSTEIN'S JEWELS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY JAMES BRYCE + + =THE STORY OF A PLOUGH BOY= + An Autobiography CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY WILLIAM CAINE + + =THE IRRESISTIBLE INTRUDER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =HOFFMAN'S CHANCE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY DANIEL CHAUCER + + + =THE SIMPLE LIFE LIMITED= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE NEW HUMPTY DUMPTY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MAUD CRUTTWELL + + =FIRE AND FROST= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY SIDNEY DARK + + =THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT BE KING= CROWN 3VO 6s + + +BY MARION FOX + + =THE BOUNTIFUL HOUR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +THE WORKS OF ANATOLE FRANCE IN ENGLISH + + Edited by FREDERIC CHAPMAN DEMY 8VO 6s + + =THE ANGELS= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =THE OPINIONS OF JEROME COIGNARD= + A Translation by Mrs. WILFRID JACKSON + + =ON LIFE AND LETTERS= + A Translation by A. W. EVANS. Vols. 2, 3, and 4. + + =THE GODS ARE ATHIRST= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =MY FRIEND'S BOOK= + A Translation by J. LEWIS MAY + + =JOCASTA AND THE FAMISHED CAT= + A Translation by Mrs. FARLEY + + =THE ASPERATIONS OF JEAN SERVIEN= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =AT THE SIGN OF THE REINE PEDAUQUE= + A Translation by Mrs. WILFRID JACKSON + + =ON LIFE AND LETTERS= + A Translation by A. W. EVANS. Vol. 1. + + =THE RED LILY= + A Translation by WINIFRED STEPHENS + + =MOTHER OF PEARL= + A Translation by the EDITOR + + =THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD= + A Translation by LAFCADIO HEARN + + =THE GARDEN OF EPICURUS= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =THE WELL OF ST. CLAIRE= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =BALTHASAR= + A Translation by Mrs. JOHN LANE + + =THAIS= + A Translation by ROBERT B. DOUGLAS + + =THE WHITE STONE= + A Translation by C. E. ROCHE + + =PENGUIN ISLAND= + A Translation by A. W. EVANS + + =THE MERRIE TALES OF JACQUES TOURNE-BROCHE.= + A Translation by ALFRED ALLINSON + + =THE ELM TREE ON THE MALL= + A Translation by M. P. WILLCOCKS + + =THE WICKER-WORK WOMAN= + A Translation by M. P. WILLCOCKS + + +BY A. R. GORING-THOMAS + + =WAYWARD FEET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE STRONG HEART= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MRS. GRAMERCY PARK= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE LASS WITH THE DELICATE AIR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY CYRIL HARCOURT + + =THE WORLD'S DAUGHTER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HENRY HARLAND + + =THE CARDINAL'S SNUFF BOX= CROWN 8VO 6s + Illustrated by G. G. WILMHURST 165th Thousand + + =MY FRIEND PROSPERO= + CROWN 8VO THIRD EDITION 6s + + =THE LADY PARAMOUNT= + CROWN 8VO 55TH THOUSAND 6s + + =COMEDIES AND ERRORS= + CROWN 8VO THIRD EDITION 6s + + =GREY ROSES= + CROWN 8VO FOURTH EDITION 3s 6d net + + =MADEMOISELLE MISS= + CROWN 8VO THIRD EDITION 3s 6d + + +BY FRANK HARRIS + + =GREAT DAYS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =UNPATH'D WATERS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MONTES THE MATADOR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =ELDER CONKLIN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY CROSBY HEATH + + =HENRIETTA TAKING NOTES= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY BERTAL HEENEY + + =PICKANOCK=: A Tale of Settlement Days in Olden Canada + CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY ALICE HERBERT + + =GARDEN OATS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE MEASURE OF OUR YOUTH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MURIEL HINE + + =THE MAN WITH THE DOUBLE HEART= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =APRIL PANHASARD= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =HALF IN EARNEST= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =EARTH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY ADELAIDE HOLT + + =OUTSIDE THE ARK= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE VALLEY OF REGRET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MRS. JOHN LANE + + =KITWYK= CROWN 8VO 6s + A Story with numerous Illustrations by HOWARD PYLE, + ALBERT STERNER and GEORGE WHARTON EDWARDS + + =THE CHAMPAGNE STANDARD= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =ACCORDING TO MARIA= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =BALTHASAR AND OTHER STORIES= CROWN 8VO 6s + Translated by Mrs. JOHN LANE from the French of Anatole + France + + =TALK O' THE TOWN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY STEPHEN LEACOCK + + =BEHIND THE BEYOND= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + With Illustrations by A. H. FISH + + =SUNSHINE SKETCHES OF A LITTLE TOWN= + FIFTH EDITION CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + =NONSENSE NOVELS= + FIFTH EDITION CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + =LITERARY LAPSES= + FIFTH EDITION CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + +BY WILLIAM J. LOCKE + + =THE FORTUNATE YOUTH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =STELLA MARIS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE JOYOUS ADVENTURES OF ARISTIDE PUJOL= CROWN 8VO 6s + With Illustrations by ALEC BALL + + *=DERELICTS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=IDOLS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=A STUDY IN SHADOWS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=THE WHITE DOVE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=THE USURPER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE DEMAGOGUE AND LADY PHAYRE= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d + + *=AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =WHERE LOVE IS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE MORALS OF MARCUS ORDEYNE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *=THE BELOVED VAGABOND= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =SIMON THE JESTER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE GLORY OF CLEMENTINA WING= CROWN 8VO 6s + + *Also Bound in Cloth with Illustrated paper wrapper 1s net. + + +BY CECIL CHAMPAIN LOWIS + + =FASCINATION= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY LAURA BOGUE LUFFMAN + + =A QUESTION OF LATITUDE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY A. NEIL LYONS + + =SIMPLE SIMON= CROWN 8VO 6s + With Illustrations by G. E. PETO + + =ARTHUR'S= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =SIXPENNY PIECES= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =COTTAGE PIE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =CLARA; SOME CHAPTERS IN THE LIFE OF A HUSSY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY ALLAN MCAULAY + + =THE EAGLE'S NEST= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =BEGGARS AND SORNERS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY KARIN MICHAELIS + + =THE DANGEROUS AGE= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + Translated from the Danish + + =ELSIE LINDTNER= A SEQUEL CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + =THE GOVERNOR= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d net + + +BY IRENE MILLER + + =SEKHET= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HECTOR H. MUNRO (Saki) + + =WHEN WILLIAM CAME= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE UNBEARABLE BASSINGTON= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE CHRONICLES OF CLOVIS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY LOUIS N. PARKER + + =POMANDER WALK= CROWN 8VO 6s + Author of "Rosemary," etc. With numerous Illustrations + by J. SCOTT WILLIAMS + + +BY JOHN PARKINSON + + =OTHER LAWS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY F. INGLIS POWELL + + =THE SNAKE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY F. J. RANDALL + + =SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =LOVE AND THE IRONMONGER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE BERMONDSEY TWIN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY SIDNEY SCHIFF + + =CONCESSIONS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HUGH DE SELINCOURT + + =A FAIR HOUSE= CROWN 8VO 6s + Author of "A Boy's Marriage," "The Way Things Happen," "The + Strongest Plume" + + +BY DORIS SOMERVILLE + + =GREEN CHALK= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY GEORGE STEVENSON + + =JENNY CARTWRIGHT= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =TOPHAM'S FOLLY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY HERMANN SUDERMANN + + =THE SONG OF SONGS= (Das Hohe Lied) + A new Translation by Beatrice Marshall CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE INDIAN LILY= and other Stories. + Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn, M.A. CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY SIR FRANK SWETTENHAM + + =ALSO AND PERHAPS= CROWN 8VO 6s + Author of "Unaddressed Letters," "British Malaya," etc. + + +BY MARGELLE TINAYRE + + =MADELEINE AT HER MIRROR= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE SHADOW OF LOVE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY MRS. HORACE TREMLETT + + =CURING CHRISTOPHER= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY GEORGE VANE + + =THE LIFTED LATCH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE LOVE DREAM= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY CLARA VIEBIG + + =THE SON OF HIS MOTHER= CROWN 8VO 6s + Translated by H. RAAHAUGE + + =ABSOLUTION= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =OUR DAILY BREAD= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON + + =THE TOMBOY AND OTHERS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY H. G. WELLS + + =THE NEW MACHIAVELLI= CROWN 8VO 3s 6d + Also Bound in Cloth with Illustrated paper wrapper 1s net + + +BY MARGARET WESTRUP + + =ELIZABETH'S CHILDREN= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =HELEN ALLISTON= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE YOUNG O'BRIENS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =PHYLLIS IN MIDDLEWYCH= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY EDITH WHERRY + + =THE RED LANTERN:= Being the Story of the Goddess of the + Red Light CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY M. P. WILLCOCKS + + =WIDDICOMBE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE WINGLESS VICTORY= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =A MAN OF GENIUS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =THE WAY UP= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =WINGS OF DESIRE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +BY F. E. MILLS YOUNG + + =THE PURPLE MISTS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MYLES CALTHORPE, I.D.B.= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =GRIT LAWLESS= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =SAM'S KID= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =MISTAKEN MARRIAGE= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =CHIP= CROWN 8VO 6s + + =ATONEMENT= CROWN 8VO 6s + + +POPULAR CHEAP EDITIONS + + Bound in Cloth with Illustrated Coloured Wrapper. + CROWN 8VO. 1s net + + +BY H. G. WELLS + + THE NEW MACHIAVELLI + + +BY GERTRUDE ATHERTON + + THE ARISTOCRATS + + +BY MRS. JOHN LANE + + ACCORDING TO MARIA + + +NOVELS BY WILLIAM J. LOCKE + + DERELICTS + THE USURPER + WHERE LOVE IS + THE WHITE DOVE + THE MORALS OF MARCUS ORDEYNE + AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA + IDOLS + A STUDY IN SHADOWS + THE BELOVED VAGABOND + + + + +THE NEW POCKET LIBRARY + +Printed from a clear type, upon a specially thin and opaque paper +manufactured for the Series + +Pott 8vo (6 x 33/4 in.) + + Bound in Cloth Price 1s net + Bound in Leather Price 2s net + + +BY THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD + + SYBIL + TANCRED + VENETIA + CONTARINI FLEMING + CONINGSBY + HENRIETTA TEMPLE + VIVIAN GREY + THE YOUNG DUKE, ETC. + ALROY, ETC. + + +BY HENRY BROOKE + + THE FOOL OF QUALITY (2 vols.) + + +BY GEORGE BORROW + + LAVENGRO + THE ROMANY RYE + THE BIBLE IN SPAIN + THE ZINCALI + WILD WALES + + +BY GEORGE ELIOT + + ADAM BEDE + SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE + THE MILL ON THE FLOSS + SILAS MARNER + + +BY EDWARD FITZGERALD + + EUPHRANOR + + +BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE + + THE SCARLET LETTER + THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES + + +BY HERMAN MELVILLE + + TYPEE + OMOO + + +BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY + PETER SIMPLE + THE KING'S OWN + THE PHANTOM SHIP + + +BY ANTHONY TROLLOPE + + DR. THORNE + THE WARDEN + BARCHESTER TOWERS + FRAMLEY PARSONAGE + THE BERTRAMS + THE THREE CLERKS + CASTLE RICHMOND + THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN + ORLEY FARM (2 vols.) + RACHEL RAY + THE KELLYS AND THE O'KELLYS + THE SMALL HOUSE AT ALLINGTON (2 vols.) + + +LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD + + + + +Transcriber's note + + +Words in italics have been surrounded by _underscores_, underlined +titles in the advertisement pages at the end of the book have been +surrounded with =signs=, and small capitals have been changed to all +capitals. + +A few missing periods were added, also the following corrections were +made, on page + + 82 "Vande stein" changed to "Vanderstein" (that Mrs. Vanderstein + had sent a telephone message) + 168 "st aightened" changed to "straightened" (The clerk + straightened himself with a perceptible effort) + 347 "OE" changed to "OF" (=THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD=) + 349 underlining added (=HENRIETTA TAKING NOTES=) + 354 "Transtated" changed to "Translated" (Translated from the + Danish). + +Otherwise the original has been preserved. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Mrs. Vanderstein's jewels, by Mrs. Charles Bryce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MRS. 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