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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9044b42 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #55783 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55783) diff --git a/old/55783-8.txt b/old/55783-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a563a22..0000000 --- a/old/55783-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10527 +0,0 @@ - - - - - - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tracked by a Tattoo, by Fergus Hume - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tracked by a Tattoo - A Mystery - -Author: Fergus Hume - -Release Date: October 20, 2017 [EBook #55783] -Last Updated: March 4, 2018 - - -Language: English - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACKED BY A TATTOO *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by La -Trobe University, Melbourne Australia - - - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - 1. Page scan source: - http://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store/3/4/6/5/2/public/B26995177.pdf - La Trobe University, Melbourne Australia - - - - - - -_SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS_ -_ON_ -"The Carbuncle Clue." -BY FERGUS HUME. -UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME. -=============== - -"Everywhere throughout its source there is evident the same -wonderful originality that distinguished his first success. It -is as clever a piece of detective story writing as 'The Leavenworth -Case.'"--_Dundee Advertiser_. - -"To say that Mr. Fergus Home's 'The Carbuncle Clue' is one of his best -stories hardly does justice to its merits. Very clever must be the -reader who, in the earlier chapters, finds even a faint clue in this -labyrinth of crime and intrigue."--_Morning Post_. - -"It is in all truth a mystery, and one which when dipped into will be -followed with the greatest interest in all its maze of detail. There -is scarcely one of the opening chapters that does not reveal some new, -startling, and apparently inexplicable fact."--_The Scotsman_. - -"Among the more successful of the purveyors of the detective order of -fiction is Mr. Fergus Hume. All who love mystery will find his last -story exactly to their taste."--_Publishers' Circular_. - -"We were becoming afraid that Mr. Hume was over-producing--a fear -greatly allayed by 'The Carbuncle Clue.' Mr. Hume keeps his story well -in hand, and although the mystery changes its aspect many times, he -never allows it to drag; and in the end he springs the secret on -us in a way that effectually discounts any feeling of superiority -we may have cherished as to our powers of playing the amateur -detective."--_Literary World_. - -"Apart from the author's reputation, 'The Carbuncle Clue,' standing on -its own undoubted merits, will commend itself to those of the reading -public who can admire a clever plot, with just a sufficient dash of -sensationalism. The skilful manner in which the plot is evolved and -the machinations of the conspirators disclosed, place the work on a -much higher level than the average detective story."--_Chester -Courant_. - -"A capital story, one that will hold its reader enthralled to the end. -The clever detective--Mr. Fanks, alias Rixton--is, we think greatly -superior to Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his many followers, inasmuch as he -is not omniscient, and is quite capable of making mistakes and getting -exasperated over them. He follows the slender clue with the sagacity -and patience of a bloodhound, and the mystery is so well maintained -that its solution only breaks on us as we turn the last page.--_Pall -Pall Gazette_. - -"Mr. Hume is great in mysteries, but almost excels himself in the -complications of this carbuncle clue. It is brightly and briskly -written, and goes on without a hitch or momentary loss of interest -from beginning to end. The actors are admirably described. It is the -ordinary man and woman that Mr. Hume brings on the stage, and he pulls -the wires so deftly that it is with a sigh of regret that we close the -book. The publishing world has been inundated with detective stories -recently, but if all were so good as 'The Carbuncle Clue' there would -not be much reason to complain of the fashion."--_Manchester Courier_. - -"One of the best detective stories that have appeared for a long -time."--_Manchester Guardian_. - -"The whole plot is very ingeniously contrived. The interest never -flags, and, together with the mystery, is kept up to the very end of -the story."--_Glasgow Herald_. - -"In 'The Carbuncle Clue' the author elucidates with his accustomed -skill a highly mysterious murder. The story is thrilling and -ingenious."--_Yorkshire Post_. - -"Mr. Fergus Hume is a wonderful producer of books, and he proves -himself the possessor of considerable resource, while he is also very -versatile. 'The Carbuncle Clue' will be read with avidity by lovers of -this particular class of work, while it will also be found to contain -a goodly share of attraction for the general novel reader."--_Western -Daily Mercury_. - -"For some time past the feeling has been that the detective story has -had its day, living only in the memory of the immortal Sherlock -Holmes. After perusing the mystery of 'The Carbuncle Clue,' -however, we feel inclined to change our mind. Mr. Fergus Hume -has a more than ordinary talent for the making and unravelling of -enigmas."--_Liverpool Mercury_. - -"There are few weavers of mystery like Mr. Fergus Hume. In 'The -Carbuncle Clue' his best qualities as an adept in the art of -mystification are apparent. He is a magician in mystery and a wizard -in working up a sensation without divulging the denouement until the -opportune moment."--_Newsagent_. - -"A splendid story, and the identity of the murderer of the unknown -man so mysteriously found stabbed to death in the chambers of a man -about town is cleverly concealed until the last. There is not a dull -line in the book, and the interest is never for a moment allowed to -flag."--_Blackburn Times_. - -"A story replete with sensational excitement from the first to the -last. In our opinion it is one of the best novels he has yet -produced."--_The People_. - -"A peculiar faculty is necessary for the composition of a really -ingenious story of the detective type, and Mr. Fergus Hume undeniably -possesses it in an unusual degree. 'The Carbuncle Clue' is a really -clever piece of work of its school. The mystery suffices to keep the -reader on the alert till he comes to the final page."--_Court -Journal_. - -London: FREDERICK WARNE & CO., and New York. - - - - - - -TRACKED BY A TATTOO - - - - - -TRACKED -BY A TATTOO - -_A MYSTERY_ - - - -BY -FERGUS HUME - -AUTHOR OF -"THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "MONSIEUR JUDAS," -"THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," "THE WHITE PRIOR," -ETC. - - - -LONDON -FREDERICK WARNE & CO. -AND NEW YORK - - - - - - -_Copyright. -Entered at Stationers' Hall_. - - - - - - -CONTENTS. -CHAPTER -I. The Crime -II. A Recognition -III. The Result Of The Crime -IV. Another Discovery -V. The Red Star Advertisement -VI. A Startling Incident -VII. Difficulties -VIII. A Mysterious Parcel -IX. Vaud and Vaud -X. Exit Dr. Renshaw -XI. Another Link in the Chain -XII. The Intervention of Chance -XIII. The Tattooed Cross -XIV. Fanks Makes Up his Mind -XV. Coming Events -XVI. Unhappy Lovers -XVII. Two against One -XVIII. On the Twenty-First of June -XIX. The Defiance of Anne Colmer -XX. The Green Overcoat -XXI. The Eight Bells Enigma -XXII. Mrs. Boazoph Receives a Shock -XXIII. The Confession of Hersham -XXIV. The Clue of the Handwriting -XXV. At Mere Hall, Hants -XXVI. Mrs. Prisom's Story -XXVII. Mrs. Prisom's Story--_continued_ -XXVIII. Sir Louis Explains -XXIX. Dr. Binjoy Protests -XXX. A Letter from Hersham, Senior -XXXI. The Secret is Revealed -XXXII. Mrs. Boazoph Tells the Truth -XXXIII. How and Why the Deed was Done -XXXIV. The Same -XXXV. The Opinion of Octavius Fanks - - - - - - -Tracked by a Tattoo. - - - - -CHAPTER I. -THE CRIME. - - -On the twenty-first of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred -and ninety-four Mr. Fanks, of New Scotland Yard, detective, was -walking down the Strand, between the hours of seven and eight in the -evening, in the character of Octavius Rixton, of the West End, idler. -It may be as well to repeat here, what is no doubt already known--that -this individual led a dual existence. He earned his money as a -detective, and spent it as a man about town. East of Trafalgar Square -he was called Fanks; westward he was known by his real name of Rixton. -But few people, were aware that the idler and the worker were one and -the same. Nevertheless of necessity four or five persons possessed -this knowledge, and of these one was Crate, a brother officer of -Fanks, who had worked with him in many cases, and who had a profound -respect for his capabilities. Fanks had obtained this ascendancy over -Crate's mind by his skilful unravelling of the Chinese Jar mystery. - -This especial evening Rixton had cast off the name, clothes, and -personality of Fanks; and in "propriā personā," he was about to treat -himself to a melodrama at the Adelphi Theatre. As he was passing -through the vestibule, at a quarter to eight, a man came forward and -touched him on the arm. To the surprise of Rixton he recognised Crate. - -"You mentioned that you were coming here this evening, Mr. Rixton," -said this latter, who had been instructed to so address his chief on -particular occasions. "And I have been waiting for the last half hour -to see you." - -"What is the matter, Crate?" - -The subordinate beckoned Rixton to a quiet corner, and in a low tone -said one word, which made him dismiss from his mind the idea of -attending the theatre on that evening. The whispered word was -"murder." - -"Where?" asked Fanks, assuming the detective on the instant. - -"Down Tooley's Alley." - -"Man or woman or child?" - -"Man! I think a gentleman." - -"When was the crime committed?" - -"Between six and seven this evening." - -"In a house or on the street?" - -"In a house. The Red Star public-house." - -"I know it," said Fanks, with a sharp nod, "a cut-throat place at the -bottom of Tooley's Alley. The assassin chose an excellent locality. -Poison, steel, or bludgeon?" - -"The first I fancy; there are no marks of violence on the body. But -you had better come and see for yourself." - -"I agree with you. Return to the Red Star, Crate, while I go to my -rooms to change my clothes. I am Rixton at present, and I don't want -to mix up my two personalities. Expect me in half an hour." - -Crate departed with prompt obedience, and Rixton drove off in a swift -hansom to his chambers in Duke Street, St. James. In ten minutes he -had assumed his detective clothes and Fanks personality; in twenty he -was returning eastward; and at the expiration of half an hour he was -standing at the door of the house wherein the crime had been -committed. Such promptitude was characteristic of the man. - -Tooley's Alley is a narrow zig-zag street, which, beginning at a point -in Drury Lane, twists its way through a mass of malodorous houses -until blocked finally by the Red Star Hotel. It is a famous Rialto of -rogues and vagabonds, for here "they most do congregate;" and here -come the police, when any especial criminal is wanted by the law. An -evil district with an evil name; a plague spot, which cannot be -eradicated either by law or by religion. There are many such in -London, and of all Tooley's Alley is the worst. It was plausible -enough that a gentleman should be trapped, robbed, and murdered in -this quarter; but it was more difficult to surmise what errand had -brought a gentleman into so dangerous a neighbourhood. A gentleman -done to death in Tooley's Alley! Fanks scented a mystery. - -The Red Star was a gorgeous gin-palace, all gas, and glare, and -glitter. It was licensed to Mrs. Boazoph, a widow, whose character was -more than suspected by the police; but who contrived by a circumspect -demeanour to keep on the right side of the law. By virtue of her -position, her supposed wealth, and above all by reason of her talents, -she was quite the queen of Tooley's Alley. Why she should have been -permitted to hold her disreputable court in this hotbed of crime was -best known to the authorities; but hold it she did, and made money out -of her ragged subjects. In the neighbourhood she was popularly known -as Queen Beelzeebub. - -Attracted by the news of the murder, a mob of raffish men and -slatternly women had collected round the Red Star, but the presence of -four policemen prevented them from entering the bar and drinking, as -they desired to do. - -Fanks had no need to push through the crowd, for on recognising him -they fell to right and left to leave him a free passage. Under his -keen gaze a quiver of fear passed over many of the brutalised faces; -and here and there some especial rogue, scared by the memory of lately -committed crimes, shrank back into the shadows, lest this man, who -personified the law, should discover and punish. Fanks was the Nemesis -of Tooley's Alley; the god they desired to propitiate, and he was at -once hated and feared by his debased worshippers. - -After exchanging a few words with the guardian policemen, Fanks -entered the house, and was met in the passage by Crate and by Mrs. -Boazoph. This latter, who appeared to be between forty and fifty years -of age, was a slender and pallid-faced woman, with almost white hair -smoothed back from her high forehead. She spoke habitually with folded -hands and downcast eyes, and her voice was low and soft, with a -refined accent. One would have taken this demure figure, clad in a -plain dress of lustreless black, for an hospital nurse, or for a -housekeeper. Yet she was--as the police asserted--the most dangerous -woman in London, hand and glove with thieves and rogues: not for -nothing had she gained her reputation and queenly title. - -"Well, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, abruptly, "this last scandal will add -largely to the excellent reputation already gained by your house." - -"No doubt of it, sir," replied the landlady, without raising her eyes; -"it is most unfortunate." - -"And most unexpected?" - -"Certainly most unexpected, sir." - -The detective looked at her sharply, and noticed that her fingers -played nervously with the stuff of her gown. Also he heard a tremor in -her voice as she answered. Now Mrs. Boazoph was not easily upset; yet, -as Fanks well saw, only her unusual self-control prevented her from -having an attack of hysteria. To many men the circumstance of the -crime having been committed in the house would have accounted for -this. Fanks was too well acquainted with Queen Beelzeebub to give her -the benefit of the doubt. She was disturbed by something more than the -mere fact of the murder. - -"Do you know the man?" he asked, keeping his eyes fixed on her face. - -"No!" retorted Mrs. Boazoph, with suspicious promptitude. "I never set -eyes on him until this evening." - -And with this hinted defiance she stared Fanks boldly in the face. -When she saw that he was watching her twitching fingers, they became -motionless on the instant. Only one conclusion could the detective -draw from this behaviour; she knew more than she would own to, and she -was afraid lest he should find it out. After another look, which -discovered nothing--for she was now on her guard--Fanks turned sharply -to Crate. - -"Where is the body?" - -"Upstairs, in one of the bedrooms." - -"Was the murder committed in one of the bedrooms?" - -"No, Mr. Fanks. It was committed in the room at the end of this -passage." - -"And why was the body removed out of that room?" - -"I removed the body," said Mrs. Boazoph, in a low voice. - -"You had no right to do so," rebuked Fanks, sharply. "It was your duty -to leave things as they were, when you discovered that a crime had -been committed, and to give immediate information to the police." - -"I did do so, sir. The police were in this house ten minutes after I -saw the dead body." - -"Nevertheless, you found time to remove it in that ten minutes." - -"I thought it best to do so," said Mrs. Boazoph, obstinately. - -"No doubt. I shall not forget your zeal," was Fanks' rejoinder. - -The woman could not repress a shudder at the ironical tone of the -detective, and her pale face turned yet paler. However, she passed -discreetly over the remark and turned the conversation briskly. - -"Shall I take you upstairs to see the body, sir? - -"No; I shall first examine the room. Afterwards I shall hear your -story and inspect the corpse. Come with me, Crate." - -Still preserving an impenetrable countenance, Mrs. Boazoph preceded -the two men into the little room at the end of the passage. It was an -apartment of no great size, furnished in a scanty, almost in a -penurious fashion. A window draped with faded curtains of red rep -faced the entrance There was no fireplace, and the furniture consisted -of a mahogany horse-hair sofa placed against the right-hand wall -looking from the door, a round table covered with a stained red cloth, -which stood in the centre of the room, and on either side of this two -chairs. A crimson felting carpeted the floor, and a few racing -pictures, crudely coloured, adorned the salmon-tinted walls. Beyond -this the room contained nothing, save an iron gas-pipe suspended from -the roof, by which two jets flaring in pink globes lighted the -apartment. - -Fanks glanced slowly round, taking in every detail, and walked across -to the window. It was locked, the curtains were drawn, the blind was -down. As it was too dark to see the outlook, Fanks turned to Mrs. -Boazoph for information. - -"What does this window look out on to?" - -"A yard, sir." - -"Is there any outlet from the yard?" - -"No, sir, excepting through the kitchen where the servants have been -all the evening." - -"When you entered the room and discovered the fact of the murder, -where was the body?" - -"Huddled up on yonder sofa, sir." - -"Was the room in the same state as it is now?" - -"In precisely the same state, Mr. Fanks." - -"Wait a moment," interposed Crate; "you told me that you took some -glasses out of the room." - -Mrs. Boazoph darted a tigerish glance at the detective, which revealed -the hidden possibilities of her nature. However, she replied with all -possible meekness-- - -"I quite forgot that, sir I did take two glasses off that table." - -Recalling Crate's remark that the deceased had probably been poisoned, -Fanks was rendered angry and suspicious by this action; but as it was -mere folly to quarrel with so clever a woman as Mrs. Boazoph he made -light of the circumstance, and observed casually that no doubt the -glasses had been washed and put away. - -"Yes, sir," assented the landlady, "they were washed and put away by -my own hands." - -"I have always known you to be an extremely tidy woman," said Fanks, -ironically. "Two glasses, you say? Then there were two gentlemen in -this room between six and seven?" - -"There were two men in this room between six and seven," replied Mrs. -Boazoph, making the correction with emphasis. - -"Two men, you say? And they came to have a chat--by appointment?" - -"I think so, sir. The white man came at six, and the black man arrived -an hour later." - -"Ho! ho!" said Fanks, rather taken by surprise; "so one of the men was -a negro. I see. And who lies dead upstairs?" - -"The white man, sir." - -"And the negro assassin; what of him?" - -"We have no proof that the negro committed the crime, Mr. Fanks," -protested Mrs. Boazoph, forgetting her caution for the moment. "There -are no marks of violence on the body." - -"Of course not," said Fanks, with grim humour. "No doubt the white man -died a convenient and natural death, while the negro, for no reason, -fled in alarm. I am obliged to you for the suggestion, Mrs. Boazoph. -Probably it is as you say." - -Not sufficiently clever to see the irony of this remark, Crate looked -surprised. But the woman was clearer sighted; and, seeing that she had -over-reached herself by saying too much, she relapsed into silence. -The detective, feeling that he had scored, smiled grimly, and went on -with his examination of the room. - -"The body was on the sofa, you say?" he said after a pause. - -"Yes; it was tumbled in a heap against the wall." - -"And the glasses were on the table?" - -"On the table and on the tray." - -"Were there any signs of a struggle?" - -"Not that I saw, Mr. Fanks." - -"Can you describe the appearance of the white man; no, stop, I'll see -his body when I go upstairs. What of the black man?" - -"He was a tall, burly, fat creature, sir, just like any other negro." - -"How was he dressed?" - -"In a black opera hat, dark trousers, brown boots, and a long green -overcoat with brass buttons," said Mrs. Boazoph, concisely. - -"Rather a noticeable dress," said Fanks, carelessly; "had you ever -seen the negro before?" - -"No, sir." - -"Nor the white man?" - -"I never saw white or black man in my life till this evening." - -By this time the patience of Mrs. Boazoph was nearly worn out, and her -self-control was gradually giving way. She evidently felt that she -could hold out no longer, for, after replying to the last question, -she left the room suddenly. But that Fanks interfered Crate would have -stopped her. - -"Let her go," said the former, "we can see her later on. In the -meantime," he continued, pointing to the table, "what is all this?" - -Crate bent forward, and on the dingy red tablecloth he saw a number of -tiny black grains scattered about. - -"It is a powder of some sort," he said; "I told you that I thought the -man had been poisoned." - -Even as Crate spoke the gaslight went out, leaving them in complete -darkness. - -"Ah!" said Fanks, rather startled by the unexpected incident, "Mrs. -Boazoph is fiddling with the meter." - -"What the deuce did she do that for?" asked Crate, as his superior -struck a match. - -"Can't you guess? She saw these black grains on the tablecloth, and -wants to get rid of them. That was why she left the room and turned -off the gas. She hopes that the darkness will drive us out. Then she -will explain the incident by a lie, and enter before us to relight the -gas." - -"Well?" said Crate, stolidly. - -"Well!" repeated Fanks, crossly. "I shall never make you understand -anything, Crate. Before lighting the gas she will pull off the -tablecloth and scatter the grains." - -"Do you think she's in this, Mr. Fanks?" - -"I can't say--yet. But she knows something. You get a candle, -and--hang this match," cried Fanks, "it has burnt my fingers." - -As he uttered the exclamation the match, still alight, dropped on the -table among the black grains to which allusion has been made. There -was a flicker, a sparkle of light, and when Fanks struck another match -the grains had disappeared. - -"Gunpowder!" said the detective, in a puzzled tone; "now, what -possible connection can gunpowder have with this matter?" - -To this there was no answer; and by the glimmer of the single match, -the two men looked blankly at one another. - - - - -CHAPTER II. -A RECOGNITION. - - -Topping this discovery came the return of Mrs. Boazoph with a candle -and an apology. Her procedure was so exactly the same as that -suggested by Fanks that Crate could not forbear from paying the -tribute of an admiring chuckle to the perspicuity of his chief. Only -in her action with the tablecloth did Mrs. Boazoph vary from the -prescribed ritual. - -"My regrets and apologies, sir," she said, addressing Fanks, with a -side glance at the table; "but one of the servants--an idle slut, whom -I have now discharged--turned off the gas at the meter by accident. I -hope that you were not alarmed by the sudden darkness. Permit me to -relight the burners." - -And with this neat speech she mounted a chair with the activity of a -girl. Having remedied the accident she stumbled--or seemed to -stumble--in descending, and caught at the table to save herself, -thereby dragging the cloth on to the floor. Then it was that Crate -chuckled; whereupon Mrs. Boazoph was on her feet at once, with a look -of startled suspicion. However, as she had accomplished her object, -she recovered her equanimity speedily and made another apology, with a -lie tacked on to it. - -"My regrets for the second accident," she remarked glibly, "but it is -due to overstrung nerves. Put it down to that gentleman, if you -please, and you will put it down to the right cause." - -"Pray do not mention it, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, significantly; "I -have already examined the cloth. And now, if you please, we will go -upstairs." - -The woman drew back and bit her lip. She guessed that Fanks had seen -through her stratagem, and for the moment she was minded to excuse -herself. Fortunately her habitual caution saved her from a second -blunder; and she strove to conciliate Fanks by a piece of news. - -"I trust that you will not think me presuming, sir," she said, "but in -the hope that there might be some chance of life remaining in It, I -sent for a doctor. He is now upstairs with It." - -"Your kindness does you great credit," said Fanks, seeing his way -clear to a thrust, "you could not have behaved better if you had known -this man." - -Holding the candle before her face, Mrs. Boazoph drew back a step, -with one hand clutching the bosom of her dress. Her composure gave -way. - -"In one word, you suspect me," she cried with a glitter in her eyes. - -"In one word, I suspect nobody," retorted Fanks. "I have not yet heard -all your story, remember." - -"You know all that I know," said Mrs. Boazoph. "The man who came here -at six this evening--the man who lies dead upstairs, is a complete -stranger to me. I caught only a glimpse of him as he entered; I did -not speak to him. He asked for a private room in which to wait for a -friend. He was shown into this room, and waited. The negro arrived ten -minutes later. I saw him--I showed him into this room; but indeed, Mr. -Fanks, I never set eyes on him before. The pair--white and black--were -together till close on seven. They had something to drink, for which -the dead man paid. I did not enter the room; it was the barmaid who -served them with drink. I did not know when the negro went; but, -wanting the room for some other gentlemen, I knocked at the door at -seven o'clock to ask if they had finished their conversation. I -received no reply; I opened the door; I entered; I found the white man -dead, the negro absent. After removing the body upstairs and covering -it with a sheet, as any decent woman would, I sent for the police. -That is all; I swear that it is the truth. Say what you please; do -what you please; you cannot fasten this crime on to me." - -Fanks listened to this speech with great imperturbability, and made -but one comment thereon. - -"I took you for a clever woman, Mrs. Boazoph," he said, "evidently I -have been wrong. Will you be so kind as to light us upstairs." - -Mrs. Boazoph thrust the candle into his hands. - -"I have seen _It_ once; I refuse to look upon it again." - -She passed out of the room shaking as with the ague. Fanks nodded in a -satisfied way, and beckoning to Crate, he went upstairs. A frightened -housemaid on the landing indicated the room of which they were in -search; and they entered it to come face to face with the doctor -summoned by the zealous landlady. He introduced himself as Dr. -Renshaw, and made this announcement with a bland smile and a -condescending bow. Fanks eyed his tall and burly figure; his -Napoleonic countenance; his smooth, brown beard and his perfect dress. -There was a look about the man which he did not like; and he -mistrusted the uneasy glance of the hard, grey eyes. The detective -relied largely on his instinct. In this case it warned him against the -false geniality of Dr. Renshaw. - -"The representatives of the law, I believe," said the medical man in a -deep and rolling voice. "I was about to take my departure; but if I -can be of service in the interests of justice, pray command me." - -"I suppose there is no doubt that our friend there is dead," said -Fanks. - -"Dead as Caesar, sir," said the magnificent doctor, waving his arm. - -"Caesar died by steel," remarked Fanks significantly. "It appears that -this man died in an easier manner." - -"There is another parallel," said the doctor, condescending to add to -the historical knowledge of the detective. "If we may believe Brutus, -the great Julius was slain as a traitor to the republic. This unknown -man," added Renshaw, pointing to the body, "also died the death of a -traitor." - -"If, as you say, the dead man is unknown," said Fanks quickly, "how -can you tell that he was a traitor?" - -"By inference and deduction," was the reply. "You can judge for -yourself. Far be it from me that I should set my opinion against that -of the law; but I have a theory. Would you care to hear it? If I may -venture on a jest," said Renshaw with ponderous playfulness, "the -medical mouse may help the legal lion." - -"Let us hear your theory by all means," said Fanks easily, "but first -permit me to speak with my assistant." - -The doctor bowed and passed over to the other side of the bed; while -Fanks went with Crate to the door. Here he hesitated, glanced at the -doctor, and finally led his subordinate into the passage. - -"Crate!" he said in a rapid whisper, "I mistrust that man. He will -shortly leave this place. Follow him and find out where he lives. Then -set someone to watch the place, and return to me." - -"Do you think that he has anything to do with it?" asked Crate. - -"I can't say at present. I may be wrong about him and about Mrs. -Boazoph; all the same I mistrust the pair of them. Now off with you." - -When Crate departed to watch for the outcoming of the doctor, Fanks -re-entered the chamber of death. Renshaw still stood beside the bed, -and seemingly had not moved from that position. Nevertheless, a mat -placed midway between bed and door, was rucked up. By the merest -accident Fanks had previously noticed that it was lying flat. Thence -he deduced that Renshaw had crossed to the door. In plain words, -Renshaw had been listening. Fanks was confirmed in this opinion by the -complacent smile which played round the lips of the doctor. - -"Now for your theory, Doctor," said Fanks, noting all, but saying -nothing. - -"Certainly, sir. As a detective you know, of course, of the existence -of secret societies." - -"I do; and I know also that those who reveal the doings of such -societies are punished. Go on, Doctor." - -"First you must inspect the body," replied Renshaw. - -He drew down the sheet which concealed the face of the dead. In the -cruel glare of the gaslight, Fanks beheld a countenance discoloured -and distorted. The head was that of a young man with brown and curly -hair, well-marked eyebrows, and a moustache of the same hue as the -hair. The body was clothed in moleskin trousers, and a flannel shirt. -From the bedpost hung a rough, grey coat, and a cloth cap. A glance -assured Fanks that these clothes of a working man were perfectly new; -another glance confirmed his first belief that the dead man was a -gentleman. On looking intently into the face he started back in -surprise; but recovering himself, said nothing. If the doctor had -observed his action, he made no pointed remark thereon; but set it -down merely to a natural feeling of repulsion. - -"I do not wonder that the state of the body revolts you, sir," he -said. "The corpse is swollen and discoloured in a terrible manner. Of -course, I can say nothing authoritatively until the post mortem has -been made; but from all appearances I am inclined to ascribe the death -to poison." - -"Ah; then it is a case of murder?" - -"So you say, sir; the secret society to which this man belongs, would -call it a punishment." - -"How do you know that this man belongs to a secret society. Do you -recognise the body?" - -"No, sir. The man is nameless so far as I am concerned. There are no -marks on his linen or clothes; and there are no papers in his pockets -likely to identify him. Oh, believe me, sir, the society has done its -work well." - -"You seem to be very confident about your secret society?" - -The doctor bent over the body, and rolled up the shirt sleeve of the -left arm. Between elbow and shoulder there appeared a swollen mark in -the shape of a rude cross, surrounded by a wheel; violet in colour, -and slashed across with a knife. To this he pointed in silence. - -"I see what you mean," said Fanks, twisting his signet ring; always a -sign of perplexity with him. "The secret mark of the society has been -obliterated." - -"Precisely. Now you can understand, sir, why I infer that this man was -a traitor. Evidently the negro--of whose presence Mrs. Boazoph -informed me--was the emissary of the society, and killed this traitor -by poison. Afterwards, as was natural, he obliterated the secret mark -by drawing his knife across it." - -"He did not do his work thoroughly then, Doctor. The secret mark is a -cross." - -"The secret mark is more than a cross, sir," replied the doctor, "else -you may be sure that the negro would have obliterated it more -perfectly." - -The detective replaced the sheet over the face of the dead: and -prepared, as did the doctor, to leave the room. They turned down the -gas and departed; but while descending the stairs, Renshaw asked Fanks -a question. - -"Are you satisfied that my explanation is a correct one?" he demanded. - -"I am perfectly satisfied," said Fanks, looking directly at the man. - -Strange to say, this unhesitating acceptance appeared to render -Renshaw uneasy; and the flow of his magnificent speech broke up in -confusion. - -"I may be wrong," he muttered. "We are all liable to error; but such -as it is, that is my opinion." - -"You would be willing to repeat that opinion at the inquest, Doctor?" - -Renshaw drew back with a shudder. - -"Is it necessary that I should go to the inquest?" he asked faintly. - -"I think so," replied Fanks significantly. "You were the first to see -the corpse. You will have to describe the state in which you found it. -Your address if you please?" - -"Twenty-four, Great Auk Street," said Renshaw, after some hesitation. -"I am staying there at present." - -"Staying there?" - -"Yes! I--I--not practise in London. I do not practise at all, in fact. -I travel--I travel a great deal. In two weeks I go to India." - -"You must go first to the inquest," responded Fanks dryly. "But if you -do not practise in London, how comes it that Mrs. Boazoph sent for -you?" - -"She did not send for me," explained the doctor, "but for my friend, -Dr. Turnor; he is absent on a holiday, and I am acting as his locum -tenens for a short period." - -"Thank you, Doctor; that is a thoroughly satisfactory explanation; -quite as satisfactory as your theory of the death. Good evening. I -should recommend a glass of brandy; you look as though you needed it." - -"Weak heart!" muttered Renshaw in explanation, and took his departure -with evident relief. But before he left the hotel, he acted on the -detective's suggestion. Mrs. Boazoph gave him the brandy with her own -hands. The action afforded her an opportunity of exchanging a few -words with him. Fanks thwarted her intent by also entering the bar, -and asking for refreshment; whereupon, the doctor finished his liquor -and departed. - -Left alone with Fanks, the landlady drew a breath of relief, and -addressed herself to the detective. - -"Do you wish to know anything else, sir," she said coldly. "If not, -with your permission, I shall retire to bed." - -"I have learned all I wish to know at present, thank you, Mrs. -Boazoph. Go to bed by all means. I am sure that you need rest after -your anxiety." - -The landlady, looking worn out and haggard, retired, and Fanks went to -the door to wait for Crate's return. In the meantime he made notes and -formed theories; these will be revealed hereafter, but in the meantime -the case was in too crude a state for him to come to the smallest -conclusion. However, he had already decided on the next step. In the -chamber of death he had made an important discovery which enabled him -to move in the matter. - -In half an hour Crate returned with the information that Dr. Renshaw -had entered No. 24, Great Auk Street; and that he had set a detective -to watch the house. Fanks smiled on receiving this report. - -"He is cleverer than I thought," he murmured; and left Tooley's Alley -with Crate. - -"Well, Mr. Fanks, whom do you suspect?" - -"No one at present, Crate." - -"Oh! and what do you do next?" - -"Make certain of the dead man's identity." - -Crate stopped in surprise. - -"Do you know who he is, Mr. Fanks?" - -"Yes! He is a friend of my own. Sir Gregory Fellenger, Baronet." - - - - -CHAPTER III. -THE RESULT OF THE CRIME. - - -A week after his discovery of the identity of the dead man, Fanks, -having slipped his detective skin for the time being, was seated in -the writing room of the Athenian Club, with the "Morning Planet" -newspaper on his knee. He was not reading it, however, but was looking -absently at a long and lean young man, who was writing letters at a -near table. - -Francis Garth, of the Middle Temple, barrister and journalist, was -one of the few West End men who knew the real profession of Rixton, -alias Fanks. In fact, there was very little he did not know; and -Fanks--as it will be convenient to call the detective--was debating as -to whether he should question him about the Tooley Alley crime. He was -urged to this course by the remembrance that he had seen Garth at the -inquest. This had been held on the previous day. The jury had brought -in a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, -and the conduct of the case had been placed officially in the hands of -Fanks. So far all was ship-shape. - -And now the detective found himself at a standstill. No evidence had -been brought forward implicating either Mrs. Boazoph or Dr. Renshaw; -and, doubtful as was Fanks as to their honesty, he could gain no clue -from the one or the other of them likely to elucidate the mystery. -Failing this, he had determined to learn if possible all about the -previous life of the deceased, and in this way discover if anyone was -likely to be a gainer by his death. Garth, who had known the late Sir -Gregory intimately--who had been present at the inquest--was the most -likely person to furnish these details; and Fanks was waiting for an -opportunity of addressing him. On the result of the projected -conversation would depend his future movements. - -"I say, Garth," said Fanks, "how much longer will your correspondence -take?" - -"I shall be at your service in ten minutes," replied Garth, without -desisting from his occupation. "What do you wish to talk about?" - -"About the death of your friend, Sir Gregory Fellenger." - -Garth looked up and turned round with alacrity. - -"Is the case in your hands, Fanks?" - -"Yes; and I want some information from you." - -"I shall be happy to give it. But wait for a few minutes; I am just -writing about it to a friend of mine--and yours." - -"Humph! and the name?" - -"Ted Hersham, the journalist." - -They looked at one another, the same thought occupying both their -minds. - -"Has your reason for writing anything to do with the left arm of our -friend?" asked Fanks, after a pause. - -Garth nodded and returned to his work. When he had sealed, directed, -and stamped the letter Fanks spoke again. - -"Garth?" he said; "I say, Garth?" - -"Yes! What's the matter?" - -"Don't send that letter till after our conversation." - -"Ah! You guess why I am writing to him." - -"My remark of a few moments ago ought to have shown you that," said -Fanks, dryly. "Yes; I guess your object, and I want you to leave the -case in my hands. It is too difficult a one for you to manage alone." - -"I know that it is difficult, Fanks, but I wish to solve this -mystery." - -"Because Fellenger was your friend?" asked Fanks. - -"Because Fellenger was my cousin," replied Garth. - -The announcement took Fanks by surprise, as he had not known of the -relationship. He was aware that Fellenger and Garth had been close -friends, but he knew little of the former, save as a club -acquaintance, and the latter was very reticent about his private -affairs, although he was curious concerning the affairs of others. - -"So you wish to revenge the death of your cousin," he remarked after a -thoughtful moment. - -Garth shrugged his shoulders. - -"Hardly that," he replied; "between you and me, I did not care -overmuch for Fellenger. He was a bad lot, and we only held together -because of our relationship. But I should like to find out what took -him to Tooley's Alley and who killed him." - -"A laudable curiosity. Do you suspect anybody?" - -"Not a soul. I am as much in the dark as--you are." - -"I may not be so much in the dark as you think," said the other. - -"Then why did you ask me to assist you?" retorted Garth, sharply. "See -here, Fanks, I will tell you all that I know if you will promise to keep me -posted up concerning the progress of the case." - -Fanks twisted his ring and reflected. - -"I agree," he said briefly, "but you must not meddle--unless I tell -you to do so." - -"Agreed!" And the pair shook hands on the bargain. - -"And now," said Fanks, grimly, "that letter, if you please." - -After a moment's hesitation Garth handed it over. He had a great -respect for the mental capacity of his friend, and on the whole he -judged it advisable to carry out the agreement which had been -concluded. - -"Though I would send that letter if I were you," he expostulated; -"Hersham has----" - -"I know what Hersham has," interrupted Fanks; "but I want him to see -me, not you. Wait till we know how we stand at the present moment. -Come into the smoking-room and answer my questions." - -"What a peremptory chap you are," grumbled Garth, as they left the -room. "Evidently you don't confide in my discretion." - -"I am about to do so," said Fanks, who understood the art of -conciliation; "we will work together, and all that I know you shall -know. But you must let me manage things in my own way." - -In his heart Garth was flattered that Fanks should have chosen him as -his coadjutor, and, dominated by the stronger will of the detective, -he quietly took up the position of an underling. Garth was self-willed -and not usually amenable to reason; but Fanks had the law at his back, -without which Garth could not hope to do anything. Hence his -acquiescence. - -"Come, now, old fellow," said Fanks, amiably, "we have a hard task -before us; so you must make it easier by answering my questions." - -"Go on," said Garth, lighting a cigar; "I always give in to a man who -has had more experience than myself." - -Fanks laughed at this delicate way of adjusting the situation, but as -he wished to keep on good terms with the touchy lawyer he let the -remark pass in silence. When they were fairly settled, and he saw that -they had the smoking-room to themselves, he took out his pocket-book -and began his examination as to the past of the dead man. - -"The Fellengers are a Hampshire family, I believe?" - -"Yes," replied Garth, with a nod; "Sir Gregory was the fourth baronet -and only son. The family seat is Mere Hall, near Bournemouth." - -"You are Sir Gregory's cousin?" - -"I am, on the mother's side." - -"Who is the present baronet? Yourself or somebody else?" - -"Somebody else," said Garth, with a sigh. "I should have told you if I -had been his heir. I wonder at so clever a man as you asking so very -frivolous a question." - -"I have my reasons," said Fanks calmly. "Well, and who is the heir?" - -"My cousin, Louis Fellenger; he is twenty-five years of age, and as -great a prig as ever lived." - -"Where does he reside now?" - -"I believe that he has gone to Mere Hall to take possession of the -property. But he did live at Taxton-on-Thames, a village near -Weybridge." - -"Do you know Sir Louis intimately?" - -"No. I have only seen him once or twice. He is a bookish, scientific -man, and an invalid;--at least," corrected Garth, "he has always a -doctor living with him; a tall, fat brute, called Binjoy, who twists -him round his finger. He has been with him for years." - -"A tall, fat brute," repeated Fanks, smiling at this amiable -description. "Has the gentleman in question a long, brown beard?" - -"No, he is clean shaven. A pompous creature, fond of using long words, -and proud of his voice and oratorial powers. Something like -'Conversation Kenge' in 'Bleak House.'" - -"Humph!" said Fanks, rather struck by the description, which was not -unlike that of Renshaw, "we will discuss Dr. Binjoy later on. In the -meantime, just enlighten me as to your precise relationship with the -present baronet." - -"It's easily understood. Gregory's father, Sir Francis--after whom I -was named--had a brother and sister. She married my respected father, -Richard Garth, and I am the sole offspring." - -"And the brother was the father of the present Sir Louis?" - -"Exactly. There is a great deal of similarity between all three cases. -Gregory was an only child and his parents are dead; Louis is an only -child, and his parents have also gone the way of all flesh; I am an -only child, and I am likewise an orphan." - -Fanks made a note of the family tree in his book. - -"So far so good," he said, with a nod. "Sir Gregory is dead and Sir -Louis has succeeded him; if Louis dies without issue, you are the -heir. And failing you?" - -"The property goes to the Crown," replied Garth. "Louis and I are the -sole representatives of the Fellengers." - -"The race has dwindled considerably. Now what about your dead cousin. -He was a trifle rapid, I believe?" - -"A regular bad lot; but I kept in with him because--well, because he -was useful to me. Understand?" - -"Perfectly," replied Fanks, who knew of Garth's financial -difficulties. "We will pass that. Have you any idea what took him to -Tooley's Alley?" - -"Not the slightest. I saw him two days before his death--on the -nineteenth--and he said nothing about going there then." - -"Did he behave as usual towards you?" - -"No. He was out of sorts. He had lost a lot of money at cards, I -believe, and he was crabbed in consequence." - -"There was no other trouble; no financial difficulty?" - -"Not that I know of. Fast as he was, he could not get through ten -thousand a year before the age of twenty-eight." - -"I have known men who have done so," said Fanks dryly. "However, if it -was not a question of money, what about the inevitable woman?" - -"I don't think it was that, either," demurred Garth. "It was a man he -met--a negro--not a woman." - -"True. Well, you were at the inquest?"-- - -"How do you know?" asked Garth, starting. - -"I saw you there in the crowd." - -"You see everything, Fanks." - -"It is my business to see everything, Garth. It is because you were at -the inquest that I sought you out to-day. Now that you have explained -to me your relationship to Sir Gregory I understand why you were -present. But to return to the main point. You heard the theory of Dr. -Renshaw?" - -"Yes," replied Garth reflectively. "There might be something in that -secret society business. Not, mind you, that Gregory was the man to -meddle with rubbish of that kind. He was too much of a fool; but one -never knows; a man does not have a cross tattooed on his arm for -nothing." - -"Do you think that it is the mark of a revolutionary society?" - -"I can't say; I should like to know. That is why I was writing to -Hersham. Of course you know that he----" - -"I know that he has a cross tattooed on his arm also. And it is for -that reason that I reject your secret society business." - -"It isn't mine. I am merely following the lead of Renshaw." - -"Then you are following a will-o-the-wisp," retorted Fanks. "See here, -Garth. I have known Hersham for a long time; he is the son of a -clergyman in the Isle of Wight. He was brought up to the law like -yourself; and also like yourself, he left it for journalism. As you -know, he is a merry, open-minded creature, who could not conceal a -secret if his life depended upon it. Do you think that if he had been -mixed up with secret societies that he would have been able to conceal -the fact from me?" - -"Then why is there a cross tattooed on his left arm?" asked Garth. - -"I intend to see him and find out. I noticed it long ago; but made no -remark on it, thinking that it was the result of some school-boy -freak. Now it has assumed a new importance in my eyes. Therefore you -must let me interview Hersham, and choose my own time and place for -doing so." - -"I suppose you are right. Tear up that letter, please." Fanks held out -the letter. - -"Tear it up yourself," he said. - -This Garth did without further remark, and looked at his friend. - -"What do you intend to do now?" he asked. - -"Continue this conversation for a few minutes longer. You were -intimate with the dead man, Garth. Did you ever notice this cross?" - -"I did not," said Garth, promptly, "or I should have asked what it -meant. By Jove!" he added, with a start. "Then all that obliteration -business must be nonsense." - -"Of course," assented Fanks, smoothly. "I came to that conclusion long -ago. Fellenger had no cross on his arm when he entered Tooley's Alley. -It was tattooed that night by the negro." - -"What makes you think that?" - -"I found a few grains of gunpowder on the tablecloth of the room in -which they were together; gunpowder is used in tattooing. Again, the -arm, when Renshaw showed it to me, was raw, as though the operation -had been done lately." - -"But why should Gregory go to Tooley's Alley to be tattooed?" - -"Tell me that, and the mystery of his death is at an end," said Fanks, -significantly. "But I am certain that Fellenger voluntarily let this -negro tattoo his arm; and so came by his death." - -"Came by his death," echoed Garth in astonishment. "What do you mean?" - -"Why," answered Fanks, seriously, "I mean that the needle used for the -tattooing was poisoned; and so--," he shrugged his shoulders, "--the -man died." - - - - -CHAPTER IV. -ANOTHER DISCOVERY. - - -Informed of this astounding fact, Garth stared at his friend in blank -astonishment. The detective resumed his cigar, and waited. - -"You cannot be in earnest," said the barrister after a pause. - -"Why not? The theory is feasible enough. It was proved at the inquest -that the man died from blood-poisoning." - -"Yes. But it might have been administered in the liquor. The pair had -drinks, remember." - -"I have not forgotten," said Fanks quietly, "but on your part remember -that no trace of poison was found in the stomach; while the blood was -so corrupted, as to show that the deceased had been inoculated with -some powerful vegetable poison. There was no mark on the body, save -the cross on the left arm; and, by your own showing, it was not there -when Fellenger went to Tooley's Alley. The assumption is that it was -done there; as is more than confirmed by the presence of gunpowder." - -"Again, according to Mrs. Boazoph, there was no struggle; therefore -the deceased must have passed away quietly. My inference is that this -negro desired to kill Sir Gregory--or else he was instructed to do so -by some one else who wished for the death of your cousin. What then so -easy, as for the negro to have a poisoned needle prepared to execute -the tattooing. Quite unaware of the danger, Fellenger--for some -unknown reason--would permit the insertion of the fatal needle. As the -work went on, he would gradually be inoculated with the poison. When -the gunpowder and acids were applied the job would be finished, and he -would pull down his sleeve, quite ignorant that to all intents and -purposes he was a dead man. Then he sat and chatted with the negro -till the end came; when he sank into a state of coma and died. When -certain that the death was an assured fact, the negro took his -departure. Oh, it is all as plain as day to me;--all excepting one -fact." - -"And that fact?" - -"Why did Fellenger get a negro in Tooley's Alley to tattoo him." - -Garth reflected. - -"I can only conclude that a secret--" - -"Rubbish!" said Fanks, contemptuously, "you and your secret societies. -I tell you that is all nonsense. Even assuming that the cross is an -emblem of some association--which I do not grant for a moment--we have -proved that it was not tattooed on your cousin's arm when he went to -keep his appointment; therefore he could not at that time have been a -member of your mythical society. If, on the other hand, he was being -made a member--a ceremony which would not have taken place in a low -pot-house--why should he be killed? These societies admit living men -to work their ends; they have no use for dead bodies." - -"That is all true enough, Fanks. We must reject the idea of a secret -society. But in an affair of robbery and murder--" - -"In such an affair, the method of procedure would be different. A -bludgeon--a sand-bag--a knife--any of these weapons if you please. But -if this negro had designed to rob Fellenger, he need not have -ingratiated himself into his confidence to permit the performance of -so delicate an operation as that of the poisoned needle. No. We must -reject that theory also." - -"Then what do you think was the motive of the murder?" - -"I am not a detective out of a novel, Mr. Garth. Ask me an easier -question." - -He rose from his seat and began to walk to and fro. "The whole mystery -lies in the tattooing," he muttered to himself. "If I can only find -out why Sir Gregory permitted that cross to be tattooed; and why he -went to Tooley's Alley to have it done, I shall discover the -assassin." - -"Hersham has a tattooed cross on his left arm," said Garth, "perhaps -he can explain the riddle." - -"Perhaps he can; perhaps he can't," returned Fanks, sharply. "The -coincidence is certainly curious. I shall see and question Hersham; -but there is much to be done before then. You must help me, Garth." - -"I am willing to do whatever you wish, my friend." - -"Ah," said Fanks with a smile, "you have a touch of detective fever. I -suffer from it myself notwithstanding my experience. The unravelling -of these criminal problems is like gambling; a never-failing source of -excitement; and, like gambling, chance enters largely into their -solution." - -"I don't see much 'chance' in this case." - -"Don't you think again. Why, the very fact that you and I should know -that Hersham has a tattooed cross on his left arm is a chance. Such -knowledge--which is mere chance knowledge--might lead to nothing; on -the other hand, it may help to find the man who killed your cousin." - -"Surely you do not suspect Hersham?" - -"Certainly not. Why should I suspect him on the evidence of the -tattooed cross. For all I or you know, it may be a simple coincidence, -such as crops up constantly in real life. No. I don't suspect -Hersham." - -"Do you suspect anyone?" - -"I don't suspect any special person of committing the murder; but I -suspect some people, and particularly one individual, of knowing more -than they chose to say. But this is beside the point. I wish you to -help me." - -"By all means. What is it you want me to do?" - -"You know the chambers of your cousin; by my desire they have been in -the hands of the police since his death. Fellenger's valet is also -there--detained by my desire. Now I wish to search the chambers for -possible evidence and to examine him. You must take me there at once." - -"Is it necessary when, by your own showing, you are all-supreme -already?" - -"My friend," said Fanks, solemnly, "it is my experience that when the -lower orders--to which this valet belongs--come into contact with a -detective they are quite useless as witnesses, for the very simple -reason that the presence of the law paralyses them. To avoid this -danger you must introduce me into the chambers as a sympathising -friend only. You can question the servant in my presence, and having -got rid of him in the meantime, we can search the chambers together." - -"But the police may recognise you." - -"The police have their instructions; they will recognise me as Mr. -Rixton, of the West End." - -Garth fell in readily with this scheme, and together the two men left -the club. As they proceeded along Piccadilly--the dead man's chambers -were in Half-Moon Street--Fanks resumed the conversation from the -point where it had been broken off. - -"You have answered my questions capitally, Garth. Now, as we are -working together, I shall reply to anything you like to ask me." - -The barrister, restored to a sense of importance by the thought of the -part he was about to play in the forthcoming interview with the valet, -availed himself readily of the opportunity of learning the plans of -the detective. Fanks had no hesitation in confiding them to him, as, -foreseeing that Garth would be necessary to the elucidation of the -mystery, he wished to interest him in the case as much as possible. He -was well aware that Garth was not the man to give up an idea when once -it had fixed itself in his head, and his present idea was to -investigate the mystery of his cousin's death. With characteristic -wisdom Fanks, who never wasted a person or an opportunity, made use of -this new factor in the case to further his own ends. Such economies -aided his frequent successes in no small degree. - -"What are your plans?" asked Garth, taking advantage of the -permission. - -"As yet I cannot be certain of them; but, so far as I can see at -present, they include the search and examination of chambers and -valet, a conversation with the landlady of the Red Star, a visit to -Taxton-on-Thames, and an interview with Dr. Renshaw." - -"Why with the latter gentleman?" - -"Because Renshaw is too confidential with Mrs. Boazoph, because he was -too conveniently on the spot at the time of the murder for my liking; -and, finally, because Renshaw had a cut-and-dried theory of the motive -of the crime prepared on the instant." - -"You don't trust the man?" - -"I think that his conduct is suspicious; but I do not accuse him of -anything--as yet." - -"He does not look a man to be feared," said Garth, disbelievingly; "he -was very timid in giving his evidence at the inquest." - -"That is one reason why I mistrust him. Dr. Renshaw is acting a part, -but I am unable to say whether he is mixed up in this especial affair. -I have my suspicions, but, as you know, I never like to speak unless -certain." - -Garth looked curiously at the detective. - -"You hint at the guilt of Mrs. Boazoph," he said, doubtfully. - -"Do I? Then I should hold my tongue. There is no doubt that the negro -committed the crime in the way that I told you of. But I believe that -he acted as the agent of a third party--not Mrs. Boazoph. I wish to -find out that party to hang him or her as an accessory before the -fact." - -"You can't hang him or her." - -"Perhaps not; but I can imprison him or her." - -"Do you think that Mrs. Boazoph knows the motive of the crime?" - -Fanks reflected. - -"Yes, I think she does," he said, quietly; "it is my belief that the -motive for which you and I are searching is to be found in the past -life of Mrs. Boazoph." - -"Her past is known to the police, is it not?" - -"It is known for the last twenty years only. She appeared in London -twenty-one years ago, but who she is and where she came from, the -police know no more than you do." - -"Then how can the motive be found in----" - -"Garth," said Fanks, pausing, and touching the other with his finger, -"I have presentiments and premonitions; these rarely deceive me. In -this instance they point to Mrs. Boazoph. Do not ask me why, for I can -tell you no more. But I am sure that we are going forward on a dark -path; at the end of that path we will find--Mrs. Boazoph." - -"I never thought that you were so superstitious, Fanks." - -"I do not regard myself as so, I assure you. But," and here Fanks -became emphatic, "I believe in my instinct, in my presentiment." - -Garth walked along in silence, rather inclined to ridicule the -apparent weakness of Fanks. However, he judged it wiser to keep these -thoughts to himself, and merely asked another question relative to the -negro. - -"I am at a loss about the negro," said Fanks, "as I do not know where -to search for him. Under these circumstances I think it necessary to -follow the clue I hold in my hand. The going of your dead cousin to -Tooley's Alley to keep his appointment." - -"How do you know that it was an appointment?" - -"I learnt that much from Mrs. Boazoph. She said that the white man -came first and was asked for by the black man. That is an appointment, -and I wish to find out who made it." - -"How can you discover that?" - -"Well, I hope to do so by searching the chambers of your cousin. There -must be a letter or some sign whereby Fellenger knew where to meet the -negro." - -"The letter may have been destroyed." - -"Possibly. From your knowledge of your cousin's character would you -think it probable that he would destroy the letter making the -appointment?" - -"No," said Garth, after a moment's thought. "If the appointment was -made within the last month I should think that the letter was still in -existence." - -"On what ground?" asked Fanks, eagerly. - -"Well, Gregory used to read all his letters and then drop them into -the drawer of his desk. At the end of the month he went through the -pile, and the letters that were worth nothing were destroyed. So if -that letter making the appointment is in existence it will be in the -drawer of the desk." - -"Good! This is a chance I hardly hoped to have." - -"Chance again?" - -"Yes; chance again," replied Fanks, good-humouredly. "How many men -burn their letters; but for the fortunate circumstance that your -cousin saved his for a month it would be almost hopeless to think of -gaining a clue; but now there is more than a hope." - -"Provided that the appointment was made by letter." - -"Of course," assented Fanks, gravely; "we must always take that into -consideration. But a question on my side. Did it strike you at the -inquest that there was a resemblance between Doctors Renshaw and -Binjoy?" - -"I can't say that it did. Renshaw is much older than Binjoy, and he -wears a full beard, whereas Binjoy is shaven clean. Still they are -both burly; both have fine voices, and indulge in long words and -stately Johnsonian dialogue. You surely do not think the two men are -one and the same?" - -"I have such an idea," said Fanks, dryly, "strange as it may appear. -But as my opinion is mainly founded on your description I may be -wrong. At all events Renshaw goes to India next week. If I find Binjoy -in the company of Sir Louis Fellenger after Renshaw's departure, I -shall admit my error. Otherwise--well, I must get to the bottom of the -matter." - -"I have only seen each of them once," said Garth, "so do not depend -altogether on my powers of description." - -"I won't. I depend on nothing but my own eyesight. For instance, if I -see a black man wearing a green overcoat with brass buttons, I shall -have a reasonable suspicion that I see the assassin of your cousin. -Hullo! what is the matter?" - -For Garth was leaning against the iron railings of Green Park with a -look of dread on his face. - -"By heaven, Fanks, you may be right!" - -"About what?" - -"About Renshaw and Binjoy being one and the same man." - -"Indeed; what makes you think so," asked Fanks, dryly. - -"Because Binjoy has a negro servant who wears a green coat with brass -buttons." - - - - -CHAPTER V. -THE RED STAR ADVERTISEMENT. - - -Greatly to the surprise of Garth, the detective appeared to be -decidedly disappointed at this announcement. - -"You don't seem to be overpleased at what I have told you," he said in -a tone of pique. "Yet it makes the case easier to you." - -"I confess that I do not think so," was Fanks' reply. "I shall give -you my reasons after I have examined your cousin's rooms. At present I -must say that you have puzzled me." - -Fanks' refusal to discuss the subject of the negro did not at all -please Garth; especially as he considered that his discovery had -placed the solution of the case in their hands. But to his -protestations the detective only reiterated his determination to keep -silent, until the rooms had been searched. With this Garth was forced -to be content; although he could not conceive the reason of such -extraordinary conduct; and he ascended the stairs with an ill-grace. - -"Were I in your place, I should follow out the clue of the negro -without delay," he said, as they rang the bell. - -"Were you in my place you would do as I am doing, and take time to -consider your movements," retorted Fanks as the door was opened. - -Venturing on no further remonstrance Garth walked into the chambers, -followed by his friend. The servant who admitted them was a -light-complexioned, light-haired young fellow, who appeared to be -thoroughly frightened. His first remark exposed the reason of his -terror. - -"I am afraid you can't come in, sir," he said to the cousin of his -late master, with a backward glance, "the police are here." - -As he spoke a policeman made his appearance overflowing with official -importance. Prompted by Fanks the barrister at once addressed himself -to this Jack-in-office. - -"I am the cousin of the late Sir Gregory Fellenger," he said, "and I -wish to go into the sitting-room for a few minutes." - -"You can't enter, sir," said the policeman, stolidly. - -"Why not; my friend here, Mr. Rixton----" - -The officer started and looked at Fanks. Evidently he saw his orders -in the face of the detective; for he at once moved aside and granted -the desired permission. The valet Robert was astonished at this sudden -yielding; but he entertained no suspicion that there was any -understanding between the policeman and the fashionably-dressed young -man who had been introduced as Mr. Rixton. At a glance the detective -saw that he had to deal with a timid, simple creature, who might be -trusted to tell the truth out of sheer nervous apprehension. The -discovery afforded him satisfaction. - -"I am much obliged to you, officer," said Garth, slipping a shilling -into the policeman's hand. "We shall not stay long. Robert, show us -into the sitting-room, if you please. I wish to ask a few questions." - -A terrified expression flitted across the face of the mild valet, but -like a well-trained servant, he merely bowed and preceded Garth along -the passage. Fanks lingered behind. - -"Maxwell!" he said to the policeman, "has anyone been here this -morning?" - -"Yes, sir!" replied, the man, in a low tone. "A young lady, sir; very -pretty, with dark 'air and blue eyes. She asked to see Robert, sir." - -"Oh, indeed! And how did you act?" - -"I wouldn't let her see him, sir. He don't know she called." - -"Quite right. What did she say when you refused?" - -"She was upset, Mr. Fanks, and insisted on seeing him. I said as he -was out, so she said as she would call this afternoon at three -o'clock." - -Fanks glanced at his watch. It was a quarter past two, so this unknown -woman might be expected in a short space of time. Fanks was curious to -see her and to learn the reason of her coming; as it might be that she -was indirectly connected with the case. As yet there was no woman -mixed up in the matter with the doubtful exception of Mrs. Boazoph; -but from long experience Fanks was sure that the necessary element -would yet appear. It seemed as though his expectations were about to -be realised. - -"Was she a lady, Maxwell, or an imitation of one?" - -"A real lady, sir; she gave me half a sov., sir." - -"You had no business to take the money," he said, half smiling at -Maxwell's definition of what was a real lady. - -"I couldn't help it, sir," said Maxwell, piteously, "she would give it -to me, sir. I am ready to return it, sir, if she should come back." - -"Well! We shall see; show her into the sitting-room if she calls -again; has that valet been out to-day?" - -"No, sir; he seems too frightened to go out. He does nothing but go -about the 'ouse 'owling. A poor miserable thing, Mr. Fanks." - -"Has he said much to you?" - -"Never a word, sir; he 'olds his tongue and 'owls; that's all." - -This behaviour of the servant struck Fanks as strange; but he did not -make any comment thereon to the policeman. Again desiring Maxwell to -show the young lady into the room when she called, he went in search -of Garth. To his surprise he found the barrister alone. - -"Where is Robert?" asked Fanks, sharply. - -"I sent him out; thinking that we would search the room first." - -"That won't do; we shall want his assistance, call him in at once." - -Garth nodded and rang the bell. In a few minutes Robert, looking more -terrified than ever, made his appearance. With a glance at Fanks to -bespeak his attention--for the detective was lounging idly in a -chair--Garth began his interrogation at once. - -"Robert," he said, with great deliberation, "how long have you been in -the service of my cousin?" - -"Four years, sir." - -"Was he a kind master?" - -"A very kind master, sir. I would not wish for a better place." - -"Do you remember the twenty-first of June?" asked the barrister, in -true police-court style. - -"Yes, sir," replied the man with a shiver. "It was the night that my -master was murdered." - -"At what time, did Sir Gregory leave the house?" - -"I don't know, sir." - -"You don't know," repeated Garth, while Fanks pricked up his ears. -"Were you not in attendance on him?" - -"No, sir. My master received a letter by the five o'clock post which -seemed to upset him very much. After a time he recovered and sent me -out to get seats for the theatre. When I got back at six he was gone. -I never saw him again," declared the man in a shaking voice, "never -again till I was called on to identify his dead body." - -"You had no idea where your master was going?" - -"No, sir! He did not tell me." - -"When you left Sir Gregory to get seats for the theatre how was he -dressed?" - -"In a frock coat and light trousers, sir; but when I saw the body it -was clothed in moleskin trousers and a flannel shirt." - -"Did you ever see that disguise in his possession?" - -"I can't say that I ever did, sir," replied the valet, hesitatingly. -"But the week before a parcel came for Sir Gregory, which he would not -let me open. I was about to do so when he stopped me. I think the -parcel contained the clothes--the disguise." - -"Why do you think so?" - -"Because the parcel was soft, and felt like clothes. Besides it came -from Weeks and Co., of Edgeware-road; and they sell more workmen's -clothes than anything else." - -"On what day did the clothes arrive?" asked Fanks, idly. - -"On the fourteenth, sir. I am certain of the date, because Sir Gregory -was taken ill in the morning." - -"Taken ill!" repeated Garth. "At what time was he taken ill?" - -"At breakfast, Mr. Garth, when he was reading the paper. He gave a cry -and I came in to find him in a faint like. I got him a glass of -brandy, and he dressed and went out. The parcel arrived in the -afternoon." - -"What paper did your master take in?" - -"The 'Morning Post,' sir," replied the man, turning to Fanks, who had -asked the question. - -"The 'Morning Post' of the fourteenth. And where is the paper?" - -"My master put it away, sir." - -"Oh! Do you happen to know where he put it?" - -"No, sir. I was out of the room at the time." - -Fanks sank back in his chair and nodded to Garth to continue the -conversation; which the barrister did at once. - -"How long had your master been in town before the murder?" he asked. - -"About a month, sir. Before that we were at Mere Hall in----" - -"I know where it is," said Garth, impatiently. "But about that letter -which came by the five o'clock post on the day of the crime. Did you -see it?" - -"I saw the envelope when I brought it in, sir." - -"Was the handwriting a man's or a woman's?" - -"It was in female handwriting I am certain, sir." - -"Your master was agitated when he opened it?" - -"Very agitated, sir. He had an attack like that of the previous week -when he was reading the paper." - -"The letter was from a woman?" - -"I supposed it was, sir, judging from the handwriting." - -"Had Sir Gregory anything to do at that time with any particular -woman?" - -Robert grew even paler than usual, and placed his hand on his throat -with a nervous gesture. He replied, with difficulty, his eyes on the -ground. - -"Not that I know of, sir," he said hoarsely. - -Fanks was satisfied that the servant was lying, but he made no -attempt to intervene. On the contrary, he signed to Garth to conclude -his examination and to let the man go. This the lawyer did forthwith. - -"That is all, Robert; you can go. I shall remain here with Mr. Rixton -for a few minutes longer." - -When the servant had taken his departure, Garth turned eagerly to his -friend. "Well, Fanks, and what do you think of all this?" - -"I think that there is a woman at the bottom of it as usual." - -"Mrs. Boazoph?" - -"No, a younger and a prettier woman than Mrs. Boazoph. We will talk of -that later. In the meantime I wish to see that letter and the -advertisement." - -"What advertisement?" - -"The one in the 'Morning Post' which upset your cousin on the -fourteenth; in which drawer does he stow his letters?" - -Garth went to the desk. He tried the middle drawer, but it was locked; -as were the other drawers. "He used to place his papers in the middle -drawer," said Garth, "but you see that it is closed." - -"I thought it might be," said Fanks, producing a bunch of keys, "so I -brought these with me." - -"No good. No skeleton keys will open these locks. They are of special -construction, and Gregory was very proud of them." - -"These are the keys of the desk, Garth. They were found in the dead -man's pockets; and I brought them with me, in case the drawers should -be locked. I was right, it seems. And now let us make our search." - -He opened the middle drawer and revealed a mass of letters all in the -envelopes in which they had come. - -The two men went carefully through the pile; and in ten minutes they -were rewarded by finding the object of the search. The envelope, the -address of which, as had been stated by Robert, was in female -handwriting, contained three documents. Two printed slips cut from a -newspaper; a piece of cardboard in the shape of a five-rayed star, -painted red, and inscribed with some writing. Slips and star read as -follows: - -The first printed slip, dated 14th June: - -"Tattooed cross left arm. I alone know all. I alone can save you. If -you wish to feel secure, meet me when and where you please." - -The second printed slip, dated 16th June: - -"Tattooed cross left arm. I wish to feel secure. Name time and place, -and I shall be there." - -The cardboard star, painted red: - -[Illustration: Five pointed star with handwriting in arm viz.: -"Tooleys," "Alley," "21 June," "6-7," "Hotel."] - - - - -CHAPTER VI. -A STARTLING INCIDENT. - - -"Good!" said Fanks, surveying this documentary evidence with much -satisfaction. "We have more than hearsay to go on now. The case is -shaping better than I expected." - -"You were right about an appointment having been made," said Garth. -"These slips and that star prove it." - -"Yes! He who runs may read--now; but you were not so confident of my -foresight a few minutes ago. Well, we have made a step forward. Here -is the slip asking for the appointment; here is your cousin's reply, -leaving the question of the appointment to the first advertiser: and -finally here is the ingenious pictorial information indicating the Red -Star in Tooley's Alley, as the meeting-place. Sir Gregory disguised -himself in the workman's clothes bought from Weeks and Co., on the day -that the first notice appeared; kept the appointment between six and -seven; and so walked blindfolded into the trap of the Red Star, where -he met with his fate. The assassin laid his plans uncommonly well; but -she made one mistake." - -"She! You don't mean to say that the murderer is a murderess?" - -"No! The negro killed Sir Gregory; that is beyond all doubt. But as I -said before, it is my opinion that the negro was inspired by a third -party. Can't you see that the address on that envelope is in female -handwriting?" - -"Certainly I can. But that does not prove that a woman inspired the -crime; you go too fast, Fanks." - -"Perhaps I do, and, after all, I may be mistaken. But that address is -in no feigned hand; it was written by a woman. If a woman had nothing -to do with this death why should she bait the trap to lure the man to -his doom. And again, the directions on the cardboard star are in an -angular female hand. Both address and directions are in the -handwriting of an elderly woman." - -"Come now!" cried Garth, disbelievingly. "You can't tell the woman's -age from her handwriting." - -"I can tell that she is elderly. These angular, spiky letters were -formed by a woman who learned to write in early Victorian days. Female -handwriting has altered of late, my friend. The new woman goes in for -masculine handwriting, as well as for masculine dress. If a girl of -the present day had written this address, it would have been in a bold -and manly hand. As it is, I bet you five pounds that it was scribbled -by a woman over fifty." - -"It may be so; but this is all deduction." - -"Most of the evidence in criminal cases is circumstantial and -deductive. Another thing makes me think that it is a woman. There is a -great deal of useless mystery here. A man would not have troubled -about that. He would have inserted a third advertisement appointing -time and place; but this woman can't resist a touch of the mysterious. -Therefore she devises this silly cardboard star; sends it through the -post; and so betrays herself." - -"How can she betray herself when there is no address?" - -"There is no address; but there is a postmark. Look at the envelope." - -Garth picked up the paper, and saw that the postmark was -Taxton-on-Thames. - -"Why!" he cried in astonishment, "that is where my cousin Louis -lives." - -"Yes, and it is where Dr. Binjoy lives, which is more to the purpose," -said Fanks, dryly. "Did I not tell you that I was right to doubt that -gentleman." - -Garth looked again at the envelope. "You say that this handwriting is -that of an elderly woman. I suppose you are thinking of Mrs. Boazoph?" - -"Indeed I am not. I give Mrs. Boazoph more credit than to murder a man -in her own hotel and advertise the fact so openly. She is not a fool. -But patience, Garth, we are not yet at the end of our discoveries." - -He again searched the drawers. In many of them there was nothing -likely to attract his attention; but in the lowest drawer on the right -hand side, Garth made a discovery. It was that of a pretty girl's -photograph, and this he showed to Fanks with a laugh. - -"Gregory always had a weakness for pretty faces," he remarked. "Do you -not think that his taste was good?" - -Fanks looked reflectively at the picture. It was that of a girl just -budding into womanhood, with a delicate face, and rather sad eyes. The -name of the artist was not printed at the foot, as is usual, nor was -the address of the studio inscribed thereon. Nevertheless, on the back -of the photograph the detective found writing which startled him. - -"Garth!" he cried eagerly, "give me that envelope. Ah, I thought so." - -"What is the matter?" asked Garth, astonished at the excitement of the -usually calm Fanks. - -"Look at the envelope; look at the back of the photograph; compare the -handwritings." - -Fanks placed them side by side on the desk. On the envelope was the -address of Sir Gregory in Half-Moon Street; on the photograph, an -inscription which ran as follows: "Emma. Born 1874; died 1893." The -handwriting on both was one and the same. Garth drew a long breath. - -"By George, that is strange," he said, after a pause, "the woman who -wrote the one, wrote the other; there isn't a shadow of difference -between the writings. You are right, Fanks, the penmanship is that of -an elderly woman; no doubt the mother of the girl." - -"That is my opinion also; but the girl, Garth? Who is she?" - -The lawyer reflected and frowned. "I did hear that my cousin was -entangled with some woman," he said with reluctance. "But that was -many months ago. In fact, there was a rumour of a marriage. I asked -Gregory if this was so, and received a prompt denial. But for all -that," added Garth, looking at the portrait, "there might have been -some truth in the rumours. I never saw this lady; but my cousin could -be very secretive when he liked. Seventy-four to ninety-three; just -nineteen. Poor creature! Whosoever she was, I am certain that he -treated her badly." - -"You may judge him too harshly." - -Garth shook his head with a gloomy air. "I knew my cousin well," he -said. "He would have killed any woman with unkindness." - -They looked at one another, and back at the photograph. There was -something sinister in the fact that the two articles were inscribed in -the same handwriting. The writing on the photograph recorded the -decease of a pretty woman; that on the envelope had lured the baronet -to his death. Was it possible that the follies of Sir Gregory had come -home to him in so fearful a fashion. The two men could not but incline -to this opinion. - -"Well!" said Fanks, after a long pause, "I should like to ask Robert -what he knows about this woman." - -"Very probably he knows nothing." - -"I am not so certain about that," replied Fanks, "When you asked him -about a woman--about a possible entanglement, he could hardly speak -for fear; and he told a lie about it. He is a servile hound, that -fellow, and I daresay he did all Fellenger's dirty work for him. We -must have him in and force the truth from his unwilling lips." - -"Will you go away after you have seen him?" said Garth, who was -beginning to weary of the matter. - -"No. I wish to wait and see--a girl." - -"A girl! What girl?" - -"A young lady who called this morning to see Robert. Maxwell told her -the necessary lie that Robert was out, so she said she would call -again this afternoon at three." - -"It is past three now," said Garth, glancing at the clock. - -"All the better; she may appear at any moment. Maxwell has my orders -to show her in here." - -"And then?" - -"And then I shall find out why a lady should call upon that miserable -dog of a valet. In the meantime touch the bell and have him in." - -"Shall I question him?" - -"If you please. I wish to remain incognito." - -Robert answered the bell so promptly as to suggest the probability -that he had been stationed at the keyhole. His face, however, was as -vacant and miserable as ever, so even if he had overheard, Fanks did -not think that he had sufficient brains to be dangerous. The valet -waited mutely for orders, with a cowed look on his face, and rubbed -one lean hand over the other. He was an uncomfortable creature in -every respect. - -"Robert," said Garth, in as mild a tone as was possible, "I was -authorised by the police to look over my cousin's papers. I have done -so with the assistance of Mr. Rixton, and we have made several -discoveries." - -"Yes, sir," said the man, moistening his dry lips. - -"Do you know Taxton-on-Thames?" - -"No, sir; I never heard of it." - -Startled by this calm denial, Fanks bent forward to observe the man's -face. He was satisfied by a glance that Robert had spoken the truth; -he had never heard of Taxton-on-Thames. This discovery puzzled the -detective. - -"Did your master--your late master--know of it?" he interpolated. - -"Not that I am aware of, sir; he never mentioned the name to me." - -"Robert," said Garth, solemnly, "you denied some time ago that Sir -Gregory was entangled with a woman. Think again and answer truly." - -Robert shifted from one foot to the other and looked uneasily at his -questioner. Then he made an evasive reply. - -"Sir Gregory was connected with no woman at the time of his death," he -said, doggedly. - -"That may be; but was he connected with a woman in 1893?" - -The valet started back with a gasp. - -"How did you hear of that?" he asked, shaking in every limb. - -"I heard it from no one; but I guessed it from this picture." - -With a sudden movement he thrust the photograph under the eyes of the -pale and trembling creature. After one glance Robert recoiled with an -ejaculation of horror, and covered his face with his hands. Expecting -revelations, Fanks waited and watched. - -"Come!" said Garth, quietly, "I see that you recognise the woman. Her -name, if you please?" - -"I--I--promised never to speak of her." - -"You must--for your own sake." - -"I dare not. Let me go, Mr. Garth!" - -He broke away from the lawyer, but before he could reach the door he -was in the grip of Fanks. "Come, Robert," said the latter, soothingly, -"you must make the best of a bad job. I know that you were devoted to -your master. At the same time he is dead, and it is necessary that the -mystery of his death should be cleared up. On the whole," added Fanks, -looking into the eyes of the servant, "I think it advisable that you -should confess." - -"The woman you speak of had nothing to do with the death of my -master." - -"I am not asking you that. I am inquiring her name. Answer!" - -The sudden imperiousness in the detective's tone made Robert's heart -sink within him. He was incapable of a prolonged struggle, and -forthwith answered with all submissiveness-- - -"I--I--don't know her real name." - -"What did she call herself?" - -"Emma Calvert." - -"Ah! And what did you call her, Robert?" - -The valet looked at Garth with a look of malicious triumph. "I called -her Lady Fellenger," he said slowly. - -Garth sprang up with a sudden exclamation, but he was stopped by -Fanks, who rapidly questioned the valet. "Was Emma Calvert really and -truly the wife of your master?" - -"Yes, sir; they were married quietly in a Hampstead church. She was in -a dressmaker's shop, and my master was very much in love with her. I -heard that she was engaged to another gentleman, but she threw him -over, and married Sir Gregory before they went to Paris." - -"So rumour was right for once," said Garth, shrugging his shoulders. -"Well, whether Gregory was married or single matters little to me. I -am not the heir." - -"It may matter a great deal to the case," remarked Fanks, dryly. -"Perhaps, Robert, you can tell me where Emma Calvert came from?" - -"I do not know; my master knew, but he never told me. Lady Fellenger -did not speak of her past in my presence." - -"And where is she now?" - -"Dead; she died in Paris." - -"I see that you are telling the truth. She died in 1893." - -"How did she die?" - -"I can't answer you," burst out Robert, in a frenzy. "You will drive -me mad. Night and day I have her dead face before me. Look at me," he -continued, holding out his trembling hands. "I am a wreck of what I -was once. All through the death of Emma Calvert, of Lady Fellenger." - -The two listeners arose to their feet. What dark mystery was connected -with the death of this woman that could so move the man? In searching -for one murder had they stumbled upon another? - -"Did she meet her death; by foul play?" asked Garth, sternly. - -"No! No! I swear it was not that; but she did not get on well with my -master. He wearied of her, he neglected her; she was very proud and -impulsive; and one night after a great scene--she--she----" - -"Well, man--well?" - -"She--she destroyed herself." - -"Great heavens!" cried Garth, confirmed in his worst fears. "Suicide?" - -"She drowned herself in the Seine," said Robert, in a low voice. - -As he spoke a woman appeared on the threshold of the open door. Robert -gave one look at her, and raised his hands with a cry. "The dead!" he -moaned, retreating from the woman. "The dead returned to life. I saw -her laid out. I saw her buried; yet she is there--there!" and with a -cry he fell on the floor in a fit. - -The others made no attempt to assist him. They were staring spellbound -at the woman. She was the original of the photograph which Garth held -in his hand. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. -DIFFICULTIES. - - -The woman who had caused this commotion stood in the doorway, looking -on in some surprise. She was dressed in the semi-masculine fashion now -affected by the sex--a serge gown, short and smart in appearance, a -natty jacket of the same material, worn over a black striped shirt, -and a Tyrolean hat of brown felt. Her face was oval and waxen in its -pallor, her eyes of a dark blue, and her hair black and luxuriant. A -look of determination was impressed on lip and eye, but this gave -place to an expression of surprise when she saw Robert fall on the -floor. Finally, when her eyes met those of Fanks', she started and -shrank back. Maxwell peered over her shoulder in gaping astonishment; -and for quite half a minute there was a dramatic pause. It was broken -by the woman, who stepped forward and addressed herself to Fanks. - -"You see how the sight of me terrifies this wretch," she said, -pointing to the man on the floor; "you shall hear from other lips than -mine how he treated his master's wife. Wait, gentlemen, till I bring -up my friend to confront this man." - -And with these extraordinary words she pushed back Maxwell and -disappeared. - -Quite believing that she spoke in all good faith, Fanks made no sign -that she should be stopped. Indeed, he was too dumbfounded by the -strangeness of the situation to speak; and he looked helplessly at -Garth. - -That gentleman was, if possible, even more surprised than his friend. -The sudden appearance of the presumably dead woman at once alarmed and -astonished them both; and they knew not what to make of the matter. - -"Do you believe that it is Emma Calvert?" asked Garth, who was the -first to recover the use of his tongue. - -"Emma Calvert, my friend?" - -"Well, then, Lady Fellenger, if you prefer it." - -"It doesn't matter what we call her," rejoined Fanks, with a shrug, -"seeing that she is dead." - -"But she is not dead." - -Fanks again shrugged his shoulders, and pointed to the photograph. -"The card says that Emma Calvert is dead," he remarked; "the valet -says that Emma Calvert is dead. How then can this living woman be Emma -Calvert, Lady Fellenger?" - -"I can't explain," said Garth, obstinately, "but I am sure of one -thing; that she is the original of this picture." - -"It would appear so," said Fanks, looking puzzled; "and yet--upon my -word, it is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw in life. Garth, -for once you see me at my wit's end and thoroughly mystified." - -"Wait, Fanks. Wait the explanation of this woman; hear the story of -her friend. In the meantime, let us revive this wretched creature." - -"He is in a kind of fit," said Fanks, kneeling down and loosening the -collar of the insensible man. "Get some water, Garth, and you, -Maxwell, go down and see if that woman and her friend are coming up. -We may as well see this business out." - -These directions were obeyed, and Garth soon returned with a glass of -water, while Fanks--always provided against emergencies--produced a -smelling bottle and a flask of brandy. While thus employed they were -interrupted by Maxwell, with a look of alarm on his face. - -"Well!" said Fanks, sharply. "Where is this woman and her friend?" - -"I don't know about her friend, sir; but she's gone off." - -Fanks sprang to his feet. "Gone off!" he repeated. "What do you mean?" - -"What I say, sir," said the policeman, doggedly. "I went down and -could not see her. I asked the constable at the door, and he said as -she had drove off in a hansom." - -A look of mingled surprise and distrust settled on the face of Fanks. -In a moment he guessed without much difficulty that the woman had -tricked him, and he felt small in his own estimation at having been so -neatly baffled. It was the most humiliating moment of his life. - -"Attend to this man with Mr. Garth," he said roughly, "I shall see for -myself;" and, blaming himself for his simplicity, he caught up his hat -and took himself out of the chambers. - -At the street door he looked up and down, but ho could see no trace of -the missing woman. A constable loitered on the pavement some distance -away, and although he was a stranger to Fanks the detective accosted -him without the least hesitation. This was less the time for -considering than for acting. Every moment was precious; every moment -lessened the chance of tracking and discovering the woman. Fanks, as a -rule, was one of the most self-contained of men, rarely losing his -self-control or cool temper, but at this moment he could have sworn -freely at his want of caution which had let a possible witness in the -case slip through his fingers. But he hoped that there was yet time to -retrieve his fault. "Officer," he said, walking quickly up to the -constable, "did you see a lady come out of yonder door?" - -"Yes, sir. The policeman upstairs just asked me about her. She went -away in a hansom five minutes ago. I see it drive off like mad." - -"Were you near at hand?" - -"Just at her elber, so to speak, sir." - -"Did you hear what address she gave the cabman?" - -"What do you want to know for, sir?" asked the policeman, in a gruff -way. - -"That is my business and not yours," retorted Fanks, unused to being -thwarted by members of the force; "I am Fanks, the detective, and I am -here on business. Quick, man, the address?" - -As Maxwell had hinted that a detective was upstairs, the policeman at -once believed this statement and saluted respectfully. "She didn't -give no perticler address, but she jest said Piccadilly promiscus." - -"What part of Piccadilly?" demanded Fanks, hailing a hansom. - -"Jest Piccadilly, and no more, sir," repeated the officer. - -"Do you know the number of the cab?" - -"No, sir; there weren't no occasion of me to take it." - -"Of course, of course," muttered Fanks, testily. "Can you describe the -hansom? Was there any particular mark, by which I can recognise it?" - -"Well, sir, I did note as it had a red, white, and blue suncloth over -the roof, with a cabby as wore a white beaver, so to speak." - -"That will do," cried Fanks, jumping into the vehicle which had driven -up; "which way did the cab turn?" - -"To the right, sir; down Piccadilly." - -"Cabby," cried the detective, as the driver looked through the trap, -"go down Piccadilly, and look for a hansom with a red, white, and blue -suncloth. It's a sovereign if you catch it." - -"That's Joe Berners' cab, that is," said Jehu, and drove off briskly, -with his fare in a fever of excitement. - -Fanks had enough to think about during that drive, the material being -amply supplied by the woman who had so cleverly tricked him. What -motive had brought this woman to Fellenger's chambers? For what reason -had she taken her departure so suddenly? Was Emma Calvert dead? If so, -who was the woman who bore so extraordinary a resemblance to her? If -Emma Calvert were not dead, and this was she, why had she come to -Half-Moon Street, and why had Robert fainted at the mere sight of her? -All these questions presented themselves to the mind of the detective, -and he found himself unable to answer any of them. If he discovered -the mysterious woman there might be a chance of explanation; failing -the woman, there remained the valet. But if the one was missing and -the other was ignorant, Fanks knew not what he should do in so -difficult a matter. - -As it was the height of the season, Piccadilly was crowded with -vehicles of all descriptions, and the rate of progress was slow. Far, -very far, ahead Fanks thought that he could descry the noticeable -suncloth described by the constable, but of this he was not quite -sure; therefore he remained in his cab instead of alighting to make -certain. - -During a block caused by the congested state of the roadway it flashed -into his mind that he had seen the woman's face before. He was -doubtful if this was so, and yet he had an uneasy feeling that it was. -The features of this unknown woman were familiar to him; but, as the -Americans say, "he could not fix her nohow." It only remained for him -to refresh his memory with a second glimpse; but at present he saw no -chance of getting one. He despaired of finding the woman of whom he -was in search. - -The hansom showed no signs of moving on, and, finding that he could -walk quicker than he could drive, Fanks paid his cabman, jumped out, -and raced along the crowded pavement. He saw a number of people whom -he knew, but paying no attention to these he rushed along, intent on -getting to his goal. At length his exertions were rewarded, for by the -Isthmian Club he saw the wished-for cab ahead. It was turning into -Berkeley Square, and, as the throng was thinner in the side street, -Fanks secured another hansom with a likely-looking horse, and followed -in its wake. It struck him that he might as well find out where the -woman lived; therefore he did not attempt to catch up, but directed -his driver to keep persistently on the trail. It was his only chance -of gaining his ends with so crafty an opponent. - -Then commenced a long, long chase, which cost Fanks the best part of a -sovereign. He followed to Oxford Street, thence emerged into Regent -Street; passed through Piccadilly Circus, down to Trafalgar Square. -After proceeding along the Strand, the cabs dropped down Arundel -Street to the Embankment, went up through Northumberland Avenue, -Cockspur Street, Waterloo Place, and again doubled the trail in -Piccadilly. Fanks began to weary of this interminable chase; he -wondered where this woman intended to stop. Still he held on in a -dogged fashion, determined to weary out his adversary, whom he began -to consider a foeman--or rather a foewoman--not unworthy of his steel. -He therefore kept up the chase on the doubled trail, and, to his -surprise, he found that the cab which he had so persistently followed -turned up Half-Moon Street, and stopped before the chambers of -Fellenger. - -"Good Lord!" said Fanks to himself, "surely she has not been so great -a fool as to come to earth again, where she knows she will find me." - -He was perfectly right in making this remark, for when he jumped out -and ran up to the first cab he found it--empty. Fanks swore, whereat -Joe Berners grinned. - -"And it do serve y' right," said Joe, who was a surly person; "I never -did 'old as young gents should persecute innocents. G' on wi' y'." - -Fanks recovered his temper on hearing this speech. It was most -humiliating to have followed an empty cab for so many miles; but it -was rather amusing to be accused of being a profligate when he was -ardently bent on doing his duty. The detective laughed, although the -joke was against himself. - -"The question of persecution will bear argument, my friend," he said -in a laughing tone. "In the meantime, perhaps you will tell me what -you did with the young lady you picked up here?" - -"Why!" said Mr. Berners, "she told me as you was after her for kisses -an' such like; so she gives me a sov. to mislead you. She got out of -my keb at the end of this street, she did; and told me to drive on an' -on for an hour or so, while she got away. I done that," added Joe, -with a grin, "an' you've bin follerin' a h'empty keb ever since I went -up to Berkeley Square." - -"You have acted according to your lights, my friend," said Fanks, when -he realised how he had been tricked, "and I do not blame you. All the -same I am not a profligate, but a detective." - -"Lor!" said Joe, "has she done anything, sir?" - -"What she has done is nothing to you. Can you tell me in which -direction she went?" - -"No, I can't, sir; and I don't bel've you, I don't," and so saying Joe -Berners drove off in high dudgeon. - -Fanks made no attempt to stop him; for he saw that the woman had -defeated him, and the only thing left for him to do was to retire with -the best possible grace. To this end he paid his cab, shrugged his -shoulders, and went upstairs again. Since the woman had succeeded in -escaping him, the solution of the problem lay entirely with Robert. -Then a miracle. On the way up to the chambers the memory of that face -flashed across the mind of Fanks. - -"Ah!" he said, with a start, "I remember now. I saw that face in the -crowd round the Red Star, on the night of the murder." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. -A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL. - - -Before Fanks finally dismissed the matter of that futile chase he -asked a question of his friend the constable. "Did you notice," said -he, "if that young lady had a friend with her?" - -"No, Mr. Fanks," said the other, promptly, "she was all alone." - -"Humph! I thought so," meditated Fanks, as he ascended the stairs, -"the accusing friend was a myth. Well, I guess there's a vacancy for a -fool, and I'm elected. I've lost her once; but she won't escape me a -second time. Taxton-on-Thames isn't London." - -The links of the chain which brought forth this remark were as -follows:--The postal mark on the envelope was Taxton-on-Thames; -the handwriting thereon was the same as that on the back of the -photograph--to all appearance that of the missing woman--therefore -Fanks thought that he might gain some information about her in the -village. The link of the writings connected her with the riverside -town; and by following such a clue he hoped to arrive at some knowledge -of her identity. - -With this resolution, he entered the chambers and found Robert -restored to sensibility, sitting on the sofa, with Garth and Maxwell -in attendance. The latter looked up eagerly as the detective entered. -But Fanks had no idea of letting an inferior into his methods of -working, and he dismissed him forthwith. - -"Maxwell, you can leave the room," he said sharply; and when the -policeman had taken his departure he turned to Garth, and continued, -"I lost her after all, my friend; she gave me the slip with singular -dexterity. That going down to bring up a witness was all bosh; she -told that story as a blind to get out of the room without suspicion." - -"But who is she?" asked Garth, at this tale of failure. - -Fanks smiled grimly, and looked at the valet. "No doubt Robert can -tell us that, he said, significantly. - -"I think she is Lady Fellenger--Emma Calvert," said Robert, faintly. - -"That is all nonsense. You told us distinctly that Emma Calvert was -dead; the inscription on the portrait affirms your statement. How then -can this living woman be the lady in question?" - -"It might have been her ghost." - -"Rubbish! Ghosts don't appear in the daytime; and drive off in cabs; -moreover there are no such things as ghosts. Your explanation is weak, -Robert; try another story." - -"It is the best that I can give, sir; if she isn't Emma Calvert; who -is she?" - -"That is what we wish to find out," said Garth. "You say that Lady -Fellenger--whom you will persist in calling Emma Calvert--is dead?" - -"I saw her lying at the Morgue, sir," declared Robert, passionately. -"I saw her placed in her coffin; I saw her buried, and the earth -heaped over her. She is dead; I swear that she is dead." - -"Where is she buried?" - -"In Pere la Chaise, in Paris." - -Fanks began twisting his ring. "You say that she destroyed herself," -he said; "had you anything to do with her death?" - -The man broke down, and burst out weeping, exculpating himself between -his sobs. "I had nothing to do with her death," he declared, "she was -always a good mistress to me, but my master treated her shamefully. -When he married her and first came to Paris they were quite happy. But -Sir Gregory grew tired of her; he grew tired of everyone; and he began -to neglect her for others. She was very proud, and she put up with it -for a time. At last she got angry at him, and insisted that he should -take her back to London and introduce her to his friends. This he -refused to do, and he taunted her with having been in a shop. He -called her Emma Calvert even before me." - -"You are sure that she was his wife?" interrupted Fanks. - -"I was present at the marriage myself, sir. It took place in a -registry office. She was his wife and Lady Fellenger sure enough, but -after some months he would not call her by that name. He knew that she -was proud," added Robert, in a lower tone, "and I think he wished to -drive her to her death." - -"I always said that he was a bad lot," interposed Garth, in disgust. - -"He was not a good man, sir, but he was a good master to me. But the -end of it all was that one evening they had a terrible quarrel, and in -a fit of rage she ran out of the house. I would have followed her, but -my master would not let me go. When next I saw her, she was lying dead -in the Morgue." - -"You think that she flung herself into the river?" - -"I am sure of it, sir. Her body was taken out of the Seine. My master -seemed to feel her death terribly, but all the same I think he was -relieved that his marriage was at an end. He got it put about in some -way that the death was an accident, and the body was buried in Pere la -Chaise. After that he made me promise not to tell anyone that he had -been married, and we returned to England. That is all I know, except -that she has come back to haunt me." - -Fanks stood biting his fingers. The servant was evidently in earnest, -and according to his story the ill-fated wife of the late Sir Gregory -was dead and buried; yet, going by the likeness of the portrait to the -woman who had vanished, she was alive. Fanks had been engaged in -several very difficult cases, but they were all child's play compared -to the intricacy of this problem. He was at his wits end, startled, -mystified. - -While the valet wept and Fanks thought, Garth broke the silence. "We -are off the track," he said roughly; "we are seeking to solve the -mystery of my cousin's death, not to trouble about that of his unhappy -wife." - -"It is all of a piece," replied Fanks, "the one death is connected -with the other; how, I am unable to say at present. In the face of it, -I can hardly bring myself to believe that Emma Calvert is dead." - -"Robert swears that she is," said Garth, with a shrug. - -"I do, I do, I swear it," wailed the man. "I saw her buried." - -The tones of the wretched creature were so heart-rending that both his -listeners believed that he spoke the truth. The detective placed the -portrait, the pasteboard star, and the envelope containing the slips -of print in his pocket, and beckoned to Garth. "We can do no more good -here," he said in a low tone. "I must think out the matter by myself; -let us go away." - -"But Robert?" - -"I shall stay here, sir," said the servant, rising; "Mr. Vaud said -that I was to stay here until Sir Louis Fellenger came to town." - -"Who is Mr. Vaud?" demanded Fanks. - -"Oh, he is Fellenger's lawyer," explained Garth, quickly, "of the firm -of Vaud and Vaud, of Lincoln's Inn Fields. I was wondering why my -cousin had not come up to take possession of the property; but it -appears that he is ill." - -"Was he not at the funeral?" - -"Yes, and, mighty bad he looked; he must have taken to his bed since. -I suppose that not finding himself able to come he sent for Mr. Vaud." - -"Yes, sir," said the valet, "and Mr. Vaud came here to find the police -in possession; so he told me to stay here." - -"Quite right," said Fanks. "I shall see Mr. Vaud myself." - -Before leaving the chambers Fanks told Maxwell to keep a sharp lookout -on Robert, of whom he had some suspicion. Then with Garth he went down -slowly, talking and thinking. Garth had asked him what was to be done -next, and he did not know what to say. Ultimately he declared that he -would interview Vaud. - -"Why?" asked Garth, after a pause. - -"Because if I do not see him, he will see me. I must explain why I -wish the police to continue in possession of the dead man's chambers; -and also I want a letter of introduction to the new baronet." - -"I can give you that; but I do not understand why you should wish to -see him. He can do no good." - -"I am not so sure of that," responded Fanks, dryly, "and in any case I -must tell him what I am doing. As the heir he must be anxious to clear -up the mystery of his cousin's death." - -"I don't think he'll trouble much," replied Garth, doubtfully. -"Gregory and Louis hated, one another like poison. They had not met -for ten years." - -"Why did they hate one another?" - -"I don't know. Louis is a better man than Gregory. He was a scoundrel, -as you have heard. An out-and-out scamp." - -"And something worse than a scamp," said Fanks; "but about this -introduction? Are you on good terms with your cousin Louis?" - -"I don't like him," answered Garth, after a pause, "he is a scientific -prig. All the same there is no ill-will between us." - -"Very good. You can give me that introduction as soon as you like." - -"I'll write it to-day; and if you wish to see Vaud the elder you'll -find him at Lincoln's Inn Fields, a pleasant old gentleman of the -out-of-date school." - -"You emphasise the elder Vaud. Is there a son?" - -"Yes, a fellow of thirty or thereabouts, He is the partner, but he has -been ill of late, and has only returned from a tour of the world. But, -I say Hersham, you know." - -"I shall call on him to-morrow," said Fanks, "and question him about -the tattooed cross." - -"When shall I see you again?" - -"Call to-morrow night at my Duke Street chambers. I may have some news -for you." - -"About Emma Calvert?" - -"About Dr. Renshaw." - -"Do you still connect him with the crime?" - -"I connect him with Dr. Binjoy, and I connect Dr. Binjoy with his -negro servant; and further I connect a black man wearing a green coat -with brass buttons with the murder." - -"Then you suspect that the servant of Dr. Binjoy killed Fellenger, and -that Binjoy in the disguise of Renshaw was at the Red Star to assure -himself that his instructions had been carried out." - -"That is exactly what I don't mean." - -"Then what are you driving at?" - -"Ask me the same question in five weeks, and I'll tell you." - -"Will it take you all that time to find out the truth?" - -Fanks laughed at the implied sneer. "I am no miracle-monger, my dear -sir," he said; "I am groping in the dark; and a mighty hard task it -is. I do not know in which direction to move at the present moment. If -only some thing would turn up likely to point out a path. Renshaw, -Mrs. Boazoph, and Robert are all sign-posts, but which to go by, I -really cannot say. Five weeks, Garth, and then perhaps failure." - -All this time they were still standing at the door at the foot of the -stairs. Now Fanks made a movement, but before he could step on to the -pavement he was aware that Maxwell was coming down the stairs quickly. -In another moment he was at the elbow of his superior officer, holding -out a small packet wrapped up in brown paper. Fanks took it gingerly, -and examined it with a thoughtful look on his face. - -"Well, Maxwell," he said, "what is this?" - -"I don't know, sir," said the breathless Maxwell. "I guessed that you -mightn't be far away, so I took the liberty to come after you." - -"To give me this packet?" - -"Yes, sir. I found it a few minutes ago in the letter-box on the door. - -"Ah!" said Garth, in a startled tone, "was it there last time you -looked?" - -"No, sir; not an hour ago. It ain't got no postmark or stamp." - -"And it is addressed to Sir Gregory Fellenger," said Fanks; "I'll open -it," and without further remark Fanks did so. Therein was a morocco -case. When this was opened they saw lying on a bed of purple velvet a -long and slender needle of silver. Garth would have picked it out, but -Fanks stopped him with a shudder. "Don't touch it," he said; "there is -death here." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean," said Fanks, "that I hold in my hand the poisoned needle with -which your cousin was murdered." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. -VAUD AND VAUD. - - -Here, indeed, was food for reflection. That the instrument with which -the crime had been committed should come into the detective's -possession was extraordinary; but that it should have been left -anonymously at the rooms of the murdered man was inconceivably -audacious. Fanks at once returned to the chambers, and closely -questioned Maxwell and Robert. It struck him that the latter might -have had a hand in placing the mysterious parcel in the letter box. - -"I examined the box an hour ago, sir," said Maxwell, "as you told me -to look after all letters. There was nothing in it then. It must have -been placed in it since." - -"While we were in the sitting-room, no doubt," said Garth. "Do you -know anything of this, Robert?" - -"I, sir? Lord, no, sir; I never set eyes on it before." - -"We left ten minutes ago," remarked Fanks. "What have you been doing -since that time." - -"I have been with Mr. Maxwell, sir." - -"Was he with you all the time, Maxwell?" - -"Yes, sir," replied the policeman in great alarm. "He came out into -the kitchen, and we was together for a chat; then I thought it was -near post time, and I goes to the box. I found that parcel, and as I -knowed you couldn't be far off I ran down stairs." - -This explanation was perfectly satisfactory, yet for the life of him, -the detective could not help looking at Robert with suspicion. -However, as he had not been out of Maxwell's company, he could not -possibly have put the parcel in the box, therefore Fanks was -reluctantly compelled to believe in his innocence. - -"That will do," he said, at length, and drew Garth away. When they -again descended the stairs, Garth began to ask him questions, but -Fanks cut these short. "I must be alone to think it out," he said, in -apologetic explanation. "Go away, Garth, and let me puzzle over the -matter by myself." - -The young lawyer was unwilling to do this as he was filled with -genuine curiosity concerning the needle. However, he could suggest -nothing, and he saw that his mere presence worried his friend. He -therefore obeyed the request, and went off to meditate on his own -account. As for Fanks, he repaired to his rooms, and with the needle -before him he sat for considerably over an hour thinking what it all -meant. The mystery was deeper than ever. - -There was no doubt that someone had left the parcel in the letter box -within the hour. According to Maxwell, it had not been there when he -last looked in; according to Robert, he had not been out of the -policeman's company since he left the sitting-room. Who, then, placed -this damning evidence of the crime in the box? The assassin himself? -But the assassin, as had been proved clearly, was a negro. A few -questions to the constable stationed near the door had elicited the -fact that no negro had gone up. In fact, the man had sworn that he had -seen nobody ascend the stairs since the time Fanks returned from his -unsuccessful pursuit. So scanty were the facts which he had to go on, -that Fanks could not even build up a theory. He was completely in the -dark, and he seemed likely to remain so. - -The instrument was of silver, the length of a darning needle, and -while the point was as sharp as a lancet, it broadened gradually till -when it passed into a slim, ebony handle, it was--for a needle, quite -bulky. In this broad part the poison was doubtless contained, and -thence it oozed, drop by drop, to the deadly point. Fanks shuddered at -the sight of the piece of devilish ingenuity. The infernal dexterity -of the thing gave him an idea. - -"Must have been manufactured by a scientific man," he mused, touching -the slender, silver line gingerly. "It's too clever for an amateur. -Louis, the new baronet, is a man of science; he has succeeded to the -title. Can it be that--but, no!" he added, breaking off abruptly, "he -would not commit a crime in so obvious a fashion, much less, leave the -means he used at the address of his victim." - -Nevertheless, the idea lured him so far afield, into so many -speculations that, finding they led to nothing, he locked up the -poisoned needle, put it out of his thoughts, and paid a visit to New -Scotland Yard. Here he explained to the person in authority, that, -while he had every hope of capturing the assassin of the late Sir -Gregory Fellenger, yet he was bound to point out that the expenses of -the case would be considerable. To this, the person in authority -replied by placing before Fanks a letter from Messrs. Vaud and Vaud, -of Lincoln's Inn Fields. It stated that they had been directed by -Sir Louis Fellenger--who was at present confined to bed through -ill-health--to assure the authorities that he wished every effort to -be made to discover the murderer of his cousin; and that he would -willingly bear the costs of the investigation. This communication -concluded by requesting that the detective in charge of the case -should call at the offices of the lawyers at his earliest convenience. - -"Very meritorious of Sir Louis to save the Government expense," said -the person in authority. "Use what money you require, Mr. Fanks, but -be reasonable--be reasonable." - -"I shall be as reasonable as I possibly can be, sir," replied Fanks; -"but in my opinion, the case will be both long and expensive. It is -the most complicated matter that I ever took in hand." - -"The more difficulty, the more glory," said the person in authority. -"Go on with the case, Mr. Fanks; act as you please, make use of all -our resources. I have every confidence in you, Mr. Fanks; if anyone -can lay his hand on the assassin of Sir Gregory Fellenger, you are the -man. I wish you good day, Mr. Fanks." - -Dismissed in this gracious manner, Fanks left the room with the -intention of obeying forthwith the injunction of Vaud and Vaud. Before -he could depart he was intercepted by Crate. - -"A communication from Dr. Renshaw," said Crate, with an air of great -importance. "He called here this afternoon with the intention of -seeing you. In your absence, he saw me; and stated that he was leaving -for India to-night by the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana.' Before leaving, -he wished to see and speak with you." - -"Before leaving, he has to see and speak with me," retorted Fanks, -coolly. "I would have him arrested on suspicion if he attempted to -leave London without according me an interview." - -"You have no evidence on which you can arrest him, Mr. Fanks." - -"I have more evidence than you are aware of, Crate. If Dr. Renshaw -could have defied me he would have done so; but he dare not. Where is -he now?" - -"He is still at Great Auk Street, where he has been watched ever since -the night of the murder." - -"When does the 'Oceana' leave the Docks?" - -"To-night at ten o'clock. Dr. Renshaw goes down from Fenchurch Street -by the eight train." - -"It is now a quarter past five. Good! I shall call at Great Auk -Street; in the meantime, I have to keep another appointment." - -"Have you found out anything since I saw you last, Mr. Fanks?" - -"I have found out that there is a woman in the case," said Fanks. "And -that reminds me, Crate. You must go to Paris by to-night's mail. Are -you busy with anything else?" - -"No, Mr. Fanks. I shall be ready to start when you please. What am I -to do in Paris?" - -Fanks sat down at Crate's table and wrote a name and a date. "Get me a -certificate of the death and burial of Emma Calvert, who died in Paris -last year; she committed suicide, which was passed off as an accident, -and was buried in Pere la Chaise. I do not know the month of the -death, but you can do without that. Wire me all particulars. You can -get the French police to help you. Ask in the office here for -necessary credentials and authorisation. Don't spare expense, I have -full power to draw all moneys I want." - -After delivering these necessary instructions, Fanks drove off to -Lincoln's Inn Fields, and presented his card at the office of Vaud and -Vaud. He was at once shown up to the room of the senior partner, and -found him as Garth said, a dignified gentleman of the old school. He -was red-faced and white-haired; emphasised his remarks by waving a -"pince-nez," and spoke with some of the magnificence of Dr. Renshaw. - -"This is a most lamentable business, Mr. Fanks," he said, when the -detective was seated. "I usually go home before five o'clock, but in -the interests of our client, Sir Louis Fellenger, I remained, on the -chance of seeing you. I am glad to see you." - -"I came as soon as I was able, Mr. Vaud; but you only sent for me -to-day. I wonder you did not wish to see me before." - -"There was no necessity, my dear sir. We only heard from Sir Louis -yesterday that he was prepared to bear all expenses connected with the -investigation of the case." - -"Sir Louis is ill, I believe, Mr. Vaud?" - -"Sir Louis is never well, sir," said the lawyer impressively. "He is a -delicate man, and he is given over to the arduous science of -experimental chemistry. The earnestness with which he prosecutes his -researches keeps him in a constant state of anxiety; and his health -suffers accordingly. He is now at Mere Hall, attended by Dr. Binjoy." - -"Is Dr. Binjoy with Sir Louis at Mere Hall at this present moment?" - -"Certainly. Dr. Binjoy never leaves the side of Sir Louis. He has the -greatest influence over him. Though I must say," added Vaud, "that -even the influence of the doctor could not prevent his patient rising -from his sick-bed to attend the funeral of the late baronet." - -"He must have been fond of his cousin," said Fanks, pointedly. - -"On the contrary, the cousins had not seen one another for ten years -and more," said Mr. Vaud, solemnly. "I do not wish to speak evil of -the dead, but the late Sir Gregory was certainly a butterfly of -fashion, while the present Sir Louis is a man of science. They never -got on well together, and therefore kept out of each other's way." - -"And very sensible, too," said Fanks, dryly. "Do you happen to know if -Dr. Binjoy has been in London lately?" - -"I happen to know on the best authority--that of Sir Louis--that -Binjoy has not been in London for the last six weeks. Sir Louis has -been ill for that period; the doctor has not left his bedside." - -Fanks made a mental note of this answer, and turned the conversation -in the direction of the crime. "You know that Fellenger died from -poison?" - -"From blood-poisoning," corrected Vaud. "So I saw in the papers. A -most remarkable case, my dear sir. What took our late client to that -locality, and why did he submit himself to the tattooing needle?" - -"I can't say. Are you aware of any motive which might have induced the -dead man to have a cross tattooed?" - -"No, sir. As a matter of fact," continued Mr. Vaud, "the late Sir -Gregory and myself were not on the best of terms. He was extravagant, -and he resented my well-meant advice. I saw as little of him as of Sir -Louis." - -"Then you are not intimate with Sir Louis?" - -"I cannot say that I am. Sir Louis has led a secluded life at -Taxton-on-Thames. I have only seen him once or twice." - -"And Dr. Binjoy?" - -"I have never seen him at all." - -"Was Sir Louis rich?" - -"On the contrary, he was very poor. Five hundred a year only." - -"Well, Mr. Vaud," said Fanks, rising. "I have to thank Sir Louis for -his offer to bear the expenses of this case; and I shall do my best to -bring the criminal to justice." - -"Have you any clue, Mr. Fanks?" - -"I have a variety of clues, but they all seem to lead to nothing." - -"Do you think that you will be successful?" - -"I can't say--yet. I hope so." - -"I hope so, too, but I am doubtful; very doubtful. Well, good evening, -Mr. Fanks. Do you want any money?" - -"Not at present. I shall write to you when I do." - -"That's all right. I trust you will succeed, Mr. Fanks. But in my -opinion you are wasting time and money. The crime is a mystery, and -for all that I can see, it will remain a mystery." - - - - -CHAPTER X. -EXIT DR. RENSHAW. - - -Fanks had gained some useful information from the lawyer, and it would -appear that the conversation had settled, at least, two important -points in the case. Of these the first was that Sir Louis could not -have had anything to do with the commission of the crime, or the -leaving of the parcel at the chambers in Half Moon Street. Yet the -needle had been prepared by a man learned in experimental chemistry; -and, as that was the special study of the new baronet, it might be -that he was responsible for the preparation of that deadly instrument. -By the death of his cousin he had gained a fortune; therefore that -might stand as a motive for the committal of the crime. But Sir Louis -had been ill for some months; he had been confined to bed, therefore -he could not have been in London on the night of the murder; nor later -on--being still in bed--could he have deposited the needle in the -letter box. Clearly, the case against Louis broke down entirely. - -As for Binjoy, he also had not been in town for six weeks. If this -were so, he could not be identical with Renshaw, in which case the -suspicions entertained by the detective could not fail to prove -groundless. Then again, the fact that Binjoy had a negro servant -habited like the assassin--also a black man--was highly suspicious. -Binjoy might have instructed the negro to slay, and himself have -remained at Taxton-on-Thames in attendance on Sir Louis. But then what -could be his motive for the perpetration of so terrible a crime? Fanks -sought for this motive. - -In the first place, he noted that the absence of Louis from town on -that night was deposed to by Binjoy; in the same way Louis said that -Binjoy had not left Taxton-on-Thames for six weeks. Both these -statements had been made to Fanks by Vaud. It would then appear that -Louis and the doctor were in collusion to obtain the property of -Gregory by procuring his death at the hands of the negro. But even -this theory failed to discover, or point out, who was the man who had -called to leave the parcel at Half Moon Street. The constable had -asserted positively that no negro had gone up the stairs. If then the -messenger was not the negro, it was either Binjoy or Sir Louis. Mr. -Vaud said that the one was ill, the other in attendance. Thus the case -stood when Fanks left the office of Vaud and Vaud; and he felt utterly -unable to cope with the intricacies which met him on every hand. There -seemed no way in or out. - -Yet in the face of the presumption that Renshaw was not the double of -Binjoy, the detective determined to follow up that clue. He did not -like the way in which the doctor had behaved, either in the chamber of -death, or at the inquest; he was suspicious of his apparent intimacy -with Mrs. Boazoph: therefore, for his own gratification, he went to -Great Auk Street to interview the man, and to see whether his -suspicions had any foundation in fact. On arriving at the house he was -unable to decide on his next action, but before he left it again he -had determined what to do. - -A stupid-looking man-servant received Fanks, and took him into a dull -waiting room, while he went to inform Dr. Renshaw of the name of his -visitor. In a few moments he returned and conducted the detective to -the back of the house, where he found Renshaw waiting for him in the -company of another man. This latter was Dr. Turnor, for whom Renshaw -had been acting as "locum tenens;" a lean, little man with a ferret of -a face, and a sharp, jerky way of speaking which must have been -exceedingly irritating in a sickroom. Renshaw was more imposing in -looks than ever, and, with habitual restlessness, combed his long, -brown beard with his fingers; but in the badly-lighted room Fanks -could not find out if the beard was false. So closely did Renshaw -resemble Garth's description of Binjoy, that notwithstanding -Vaud's evidence, Fanks was on the alert to discover if--as he truly -believed--the two were one and the same. The ensuing conversation was -likely to prove interesting in more ways than one. - -After being introduced to Fanks, and acknowledging the introduction -with a sour smile, Turnor arose to leave the room. He was stopped by -Renshaw, who evidently did not relish the idea of facing a difficult -interview by himself. Another proof, as Fanks considered, of his -uneasy conscience. - -"Pray do not depart, Turnor," he said, in his usual pompous manner. "I -have no secrets from you. I trust, Mr. Fanks, that you see no -objection in my adopting this course?" - -"Certainly, I see no objection," replied Fanks, quietly. "Let Dr. -Turnor stay by all means. I have nothing particular to say." - -Turnor, who had resumed his chair, looked up at this, and Renshaw -stared at his visitor with pompous indignation. - -"Then why are you here, sir?" he demanded in a more confident tone. - -Fanks shrugged his shoulders. "Really, I cannot tell you, unless it is -because you left a message at my office that you wished to see me." - -"I did so in fulfilment of my promise to communicate with you before -leaving London." - -"Indeed! So you think of starting again on your travels? You will like -that much better than staying in London." - -"There is no reason why I should not like to stay in London," said -Renshaw, with an angry glance. - -"No reason in the world, that I can see." - -"I am going out to India--to Bombay. I proceed to Aden by the -'Oceana,' and there I exchange into the 'Cylde.'" - -"It is really very good of you to tell me all this, doctor," said -Fanks, ironically; "I trust that you will have a pleasant voyage." - -Renshaw looked nonplussed and a trifle disappointed at the coolness of -the detective. It was Fank's intention to bring about this feeling; -for if Renshaw had nothing to do with the crime, if he was not -masquerading under a false name, the detective did not see that it was -necessary to make these elaborate explanations. It seemed to Fanks -that Renshaw's anxiety to bestow gratuitous information as to his -movements had its root in a design to mislead the police. -Notwithstanding the assurances of Vaud, his suspicions of Renshaw -revived in full force under this clumsy diplomacy; and he bent his -energies to get to the bottom of the matter. To this end he affected -indifference, and gave Renshaw plenty of rope with which to hang -himself. - -"Am I to understand that I am free to go?" demanded the stout doctor, -in a highly dramatic manner. - -"I suppose so; this is a free country." - -"You do not think--my friend--any knowledge--murder?" jerked Turnor, -as he looked eagerly at Fanks. - -The detective saw the eagerness and wondered. "Hallo! my friend," he -thought, "are you in this also?" However, he answered the question in -the calmest manner. "I was not aware that I had made any accusation -against Dr. Renshaw," was his suave reply. - -"But I have been watched," cried Renshaw; "watched like a criminal." - -"You don't say so," said Fanks, imperturbably. "And who is watching -you? And why have you been watched?" - -The two doctors looked at one another, and, from a covert sign made by -Turnor to Renshaw, the detective became convinced that there was an -understanding between them. He guessed that the sign hinted at the -conclusion of the interview, and this interpretation proved correct. -Turnor rose and jerked out an apology. - -"Mistake!" said the little man. "Told Renshaw--moonshine--no watching. -Hope you'll catch--murderer." - -"I have little hope of that," said Fanks, dolefully. "He has concealed -his trail too cleverly," and he chuckled inwardly as he saw the two -faces brighten. - -"Well! well! well! We will say no more, Mr. Fanks," said Renshaw, in a -patronising tone. "I deemed it my duty to let you know that I go to -India to-night. I shall not return to England for many years, as I -propose exploring Thibet. Good evening; I am delighted that my fears -that I was being watched have proved to be groundless." - -But Fanks was not to be got rid of so easily. He wished to ask Turnor -a few questions, for he believed that the little man knew all about -this mysterious Renshaw. However, he made his examination carefully, -as he did not wish to startle the pair, but rather to lull their -suspicions, so that he might the more easily carry out his plans. He -had already decided upon his next step. - -"You were not in London at the time of the murder, Dr. Turnor?" he -asked. - -"No," replied the doctor, promptly. "If I had been, I should have been -summoned by Mrs. Boazoph. As it was, Renshaw went." - -"Yes, I saw Renshaw," said Fanks; "and I believe that he was right in -his theory that the crime was due to a secret society." - -"What makes you agree with my theory?" said Renshaw, quickly. - -"Well," drawled Fanks, keeping an eye on both men, "you see I can't -find out the meaning of that tattooed cross. It must be the work of a -society, else it would not have been obliterated. If I could only find -out what that cross means I would hang someone." Renshaw wiped the -perspiration off his bald forehead and laughed in an uneasy manner. "I -wish I could help you," he said, "but I know nothing about the cross, -or the society." - -"And what do you say, Dr. Turnor?" - -"Nothing--was away on that night. Read about cross--papers. Queer." - -Fanks saw plainly enough that the pair were on their guard, and that -there was nothing more to be got, out of them. The only thing to be -done was to watch and wait the progress of events. With this idea he -said goodbye, and took his departure. Once outside and he made up his -mind that Renshaw should be tracked. His anxiety to show that he was -leaving England appeared to be suspicious, and Fanks concluded that he -did not intend to go as he had so emphatically declared. - -"I shouldn't be surprised to find that he was Binjoy after all," -thought the detective. "He professes a deal too much, and his friend -Turnor is a deal too eager. I shouldn't wonder if the pair were in -league. However, I have thrown them both off their guard. Now I'll -play my own game. I'll find out the owner of that silver needle yet, -and then I'll punish its owner. I wonder," added Fanks, with a silent -laugh, "I wonder whether the criminal will prove to be black or -white?" - -With this peculiar remark he went in search of the detective whose -duty it was to guard the house, and rated himself severely. "You have -let yourself be seen," said Fanks. "Have you not more sense than to -play the fool? Keep yourself out of sight; remain here until I send -another watcher, and report yourself at the Yard." - -The detective, much abashed, tried to exculpate himself, but Fanks -would not listen to his excuses. He hurried to New Scotland Yard, -picked out a smart man, and instructed him to relieve the disgraced -watcher, and to follow Renshaw to the Docks. - -"And then, sir?" asked the man. - -"Then if Renshaw goes on board the steamer you will report the fact to -me without loss of time." - -"Am I to come back here, Mr. Fanks?" - -"No; I shall be at the Docks in disguise. If you see a clergyman -holding a white handkerchief in his right hand you will see me. If you -are doubtful ask the clergyman what the time is, and you will be safe -as to my identity. Off with you, and send that fool back to Mr. -Crate." - -"What are you about to do, Mr. Fanks?" asked Crate, when the man had -gone. - -"Learn if Renshaw is lying or not. I'll see if he boards the steamer -at the Docks, and find out if he has taken a passage to Bombay--a fact -which at present I am much inclined to doubt." - -"And if he goes on board the steamer?" - -"In that case I'll follow him as far as Plymouth to make sure that he -does not get off there." - -"If he doesn't?" - -"I shall know that he has nothing to do with this murder." - -"And if he does get off at Plymouth?" - -"Why," said Fanks, rubbing his hands, "I shall track him to Mere Hall -in Hampshire." - -Crate looked astonished, for he could by no means follow the thoughts -of his superior. "How do you know that he will go there?" he demanded -in a disbelieving manner. - -"Because if Dr. Renshaw leaves the steamer at Plymouth under that name -I shall find him at Mere Hall as Dr. Binjoy." - - - - -CHAPTER XI. -ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN. - - -True to his appointment Garth called the next evening at the chambers -in Duke Street, only to find that Fanks was absent, and that a note -was awaiting him. - -"Dear Garth," wrote the detective, "I have been called unexpectedly -out of town and shall not return for at least three days. Visit me at -the expiration of that time and prepare yourself for a surprise." - -"A surprise," said Garth to himself, as he departed; "I wonder if he -has found out about Emma Calvert, and if his discovery has anything to -do with the death in Tooley's Alley." - -Think as he might he could find no answer to this question, and he was -forced to restrain his curiosity until such time as Fanks should -return. In the meantime, out of curiosity, he called upon Mr. Vaud to -learn what that gentleman thought about the position of affairs. - -Mr. Vaud thought nothing about them. A detective had charge of the -case, and, in Mr. Vaud's opinion, it would be better to wait the -solution by him of this criminal problem. All this, as well as much -more, was expressed to Garth by the pompous lawyer. "And I should -advise you, Mr. Garth," he concluded, "not to let this unhappy episode -divert your energies from your business." - -"As to that, I have precious little to do," retorted Garth, with some -heat; "you do not put much in my way, Mr. Vaud. I am always hard up." - -"I am aware of that," replied Vaud, ignoring the beginning of the -speech, "and I am aware also that our late client assisted you several -times." - -"Because I was necessary to him," said Garth, bitterly. "And I'll tell -you what, Mr. Vaud, had I known then what I know now about my cousin I -should never have accepted his help." - -"Oh, dear me!" said Mr. Vaud, "quite so. Sir Gregory had many faults; -but are you a saint yourself, Mr. Garth?" - -"I don't pretend to be one. Still, I never drove a woman to her -death." - -"Do you know what you are saying, Mr. Garth?" - -"Do you know the name of Emma Calvert, Mr. Vaud?" - -The lawyer paled and pushed his chair from the table. "I--I -have--heard the--name," he stuttered. - -"Then you have heard the name of a very injured woman, Mr. Vaud." - -Before the other could reply a knock came to the door, and immediately -afterwards it opened to admit a tall and handsome young man. He bowed -to Garth and placed some papers before Mr. Vaud. "Will you please -excuse this intrusion, father, and look over these?" he said quietly. - -"My son Herbert, Mr. Garth," said the elder Vaud, and again the young -man bowed. He rather resembled his father in appearance, but there was -a sternness about his manner which was wanting in that of the elder -gentleman. He was dark-haired, and clean shaven, with thin lips and a -compressed mouth. There was a look of resolution and hard work about -him which did not recommend his personality to pleasure-loving Garth. -However, the latter bowed and smiled when introduced, and scribbled on -a sheet of blotting-paper while Herbert spoke to his father. Still -thinking on the subject of his discourse with Mr. Vaud he absently -wrote the name of Emma Calvert. Young Vaud moved near him while -looking for a special paper, and in doing so his eye fell on the name. -With an ejaculation he drew back, and turned as pale as his father had -done. - -"What do you know of Emma Calvert?" he demanded abruptly; "why do you -write down her name?" - -"Herbert!" said the father, warningly--almost imploringly. -"I shall speak," said Herbert, his composure replaced by intense -excitement. "What do you knew of Emma Calvert, sir?" - -Garth looked up surprised. "I know as much as Robert, the valet of -Fellenger, could tell me." - -"A scamp who served a scamp," muttered the young man. - -"Sir Gregory was my cousin, Mr. Herbert." - -"Then your cousin was a scoundrel, Mr. Garth." - -"Herbert, leave the room," said his father, sternly - -The son looked defiantly at his father, and turned away without a -word. At the door he paused and addressed Garth. "I know that your -cousin was murdered, Mr. Garth," he said savagely. "I am glad that he -met with such a death. He escaped me, but he could not escape -punishment. I hated Sir Gregory and I bless the man who killed him." - -He left the room, and in dumb astonishment Garth turned to the elder -Vaud for an explanation. The old man had buried his face in his hands; -but he looked up when Garth touched him, and groaned aloud. - -"I am sorry you wrote down that name, Mr. Garth," he said at length. -"Its effect on my unfortunate son is always terrible." - -"But for what reason?" - -"I did not intend to tell you, but as you know so much, you may as -well know all. Herbert was in love with this girl. He wished to marry -her, and it was he who introduced her to Sir Gregory. You can guess -the rest." - -"I can guess that my cousin married the girl and took her to Paris, -where he neglected her and drove her to suicide." - -"I know about the marriage," said Mr. Vaud. "I am glad that Sir -Gregory did her that justice. I also know of the death. Sad, very -sad." - -"She must have been a pretty girl to have so strongly attracted two -men." - -"I never saw her," said Vaud. "I did not even know that Herbert was in -love with her until she eloped with Sir Gregory. Then my son came with -his broken heart and told me all. He would have followed Sir Gregory -to Paris but that he fell ill of brain fever. Afterwards he was -ordered on a sea voyage; and returned only six weeks ago. He heard of -the death of Lady Fellenger in Paris, and--" - -"Did he know that Fellenger had married her?" - -"Afterwards; not at first. He discovered all about the marriage and -death in Paris. How, I do not know. But he came back broken in health -and heart. He will never be the same man again; and whenever the name -of Emma Calvert is mentioned, the consequences are as you see." - -Garth rose to go. "It is a cruel story," he said sadly, "but -Fellenger's sins have come home to him in a terrible fashion. -Good-bye, Mr. Vaud." - -Then Garth took his leave; and withdrew to meditate on the villainy of -his cousin, which had ruined two lives. Half-way along the Strand, he -was struck by a sudden thought. If young Vaud had known and loved Emma -Calvert, he would be the man to identify the woman who had presented -herself at Fellenger's chambers. He believed Emma Calvert to be dead; -brought face to face with the missing woman, and he would see that she -was alive. "Though it will be difficult to find that woman," he said, -resuming his walk, "she has given us the slip. Still she may call to -see Robert again, and he is being watched by Maxwell; so the chances -are that we may find out whether she is my cousin's wife or her ghost. -If she is confronted with Herbert Vaud we may arrive at the truth. But -will the truth lead to the detection of Gregory's assassin. I doubt -it." - -He thought of calling upon Herbert and telling him about the -appearance and flight of the presumedly dead woman; but the same -reason which had prevented him from seeing Hersham, prevented this -visit. "No!" he said, resolutely. "I must interview Fanks and ask his -advice. The matter is too difficult for me to handle alone." - -Having come to this sensible conclusion; he went about his daily -business and postponed moving in the matter until the return of Fanks -from his mysterious journey. His appointment had been for the previous -night; and Fanks had asked him to wait three days. As he had employed -one day in seeing Mr. Vaud, he thought that he would utilise the -second by interviewing Mrs. Boazoph. For this purpose he called at the -Red Star, but he was disappointed, Mrs. Boazoph, the barmaid informed -him, was out of town--on business. Garth left Tooley's Alley in a -meditative mood. "Fanks has gone to the country on business; Mrs. -Boazoph has gone to the country on business. I wonder if the same -errand takes them there." - -Nothing further transpired; and, on the evening of the third day, -Garth presented himself at Duke-street. Fanks was within and received -him in the most amiable manner. Garth noted that his friend looked -weary, and ventured an opinion that Fanks had made a long journey that -day. - -"You are about right," said Fanks, indicating a seat. "I only got back -three hours ago from Hampshire." - -"You have been to Mere Hall?" - -"I have been in the neighbourhood of Mere Hall. And I have also been -to Plymouth," he added, after a pause. - -"What have you been doing there?" - -"Following our friend Renshaw, alias Binjoy." - -"You don't mean to say that the two are one," cried Garth, jumping up. - -"I do, and I can prove it by the clearest evidence you ever heard in -your life. Sit down and listen." - -Garth resumed his seat, and leaned forward with much curiosity to hear -the promised recital. It was well worthy of an attentive hearing. - -"I told him that I suspected Renshaw to be Binjoy in disguise," said -Fanks, "your description of the one fitted the other in many respects; -and the eagerness with which Renshaw tried to impress me with the fact -that he was going to India, roused my suspicions. I determined to see -for myself if he was really leaving England, so I disguised myself as -a parson, and went to the docks. Renshaw had been followed there by my -emissary, and he duly went on board the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana.' -Assured of this I dismissed the watcher, and took up the running to -Plymouth." - -"But how about your passage." - -"Oh, I fixed that up all right; how, I need not stop to explain. You -may be sure that I kept a watch on our friend; and confident in my -disguise, I tried to get speech with him. This was impossible, as he -remained in his berth the whole time. I discovered, however, that his -passage was booked to Bombay, exchanging at Aden into the 'Clyde.' At -Plymouth he feigned to be so ill as to be unable to proceed further on -his journey, and rather than do so, he forfeited his passage money, -and got off--" - -"Then he did not go to India after all?" - -"My dear sir; he had no intention of going to India. I followed him -ashore; and then I am sorry to say that I lost him. It is not -creditable to my intelligence," said Fanks, shrugging his shoulders. - -"What did you do?" - -"The best I could. I saw the local police, and had the railway -stations and boats watched. He could not leave Plymouth either by land -or water without my knowing it. To make a long story short, I was -informed that a stout gentleman, somewhat like my man, was awaiting a -train at a certain station. I went there--" - -"And you saw Renshaw?" interrupted Garth. - -"Indeed, no. I saw a clean-shaven man much younger in appearance than -Dr. Renshaw, and dressed differently. From your description I -recognised him as Binjoy, and to clinch the matter, I followed him to -Mere hall." - -"Then you are certain that Renshaw is Binjoy?" - -"Positive. I made inquiries in the village, and I was informed that -Sir Louis was ill, and that Binjoy was attending him. Of course I said -nothing, for, to tell you the truth, I did not know what to say. But -you will observe, Garth, that I have proved that these two men are one -and the same." - -"And the negro. Did you see Binjoy's negro servant?" - -"I inquired about him, and I was informed that Binjoy had brought -no negro servant with him. No doubt, he left him behind at -Taxton-on-Thames." - -"Then my idea is correct," said Garth, "the negro committed the crime -at the instigation of Binjoy; and Binjoy in the disguise of Renshaw, -went to the Red Star to see that it was accomplished. Now he has got -rid of the negro and of his disguise; so cutting off every trace of -his connection with the crime." - -"A very plausible theory," said Fank, shaking his head, "but the -motive?" - -"Motive? Why Binjoy wanted Louis to inherit the property. He has a -great influence over Louis; what would benefit the one would benefit -the other. Oh, depend upon it, Fanks, it is as I say." - -"No!" said Fanks, "there is a third person in it. A woman!" - -"Emma Calvert?" - -"Mrs. Boazoph!" - -"Oh, come now; she is out of town on business." - -"I know that; and her business was at Mere Hall in Hants. I saw her -there." - - - - -CHAPTER XII. -THE INTERVENTION OF CHANCE. - - -It was a moment or so before Garth could quite grasp the fact of this -new intrusion of Mrs. Boazoph into the case. When he did so, he -remarked that she had no doubt gone to Mere Hall to see Louis -Fellenger. Fanks dissented. "In my opinion she went to see Binjoy." - -"For what reason?" - -"I can't tell you. It must be a powerful reason which would make this -woman seek out Binjoy when he had so carefully destroyed his -connection with Renshaw. But I have long had my suspicions of Mrs. -Boazoph. She removed the dead body; she answered my questions in a -hesitating manner, and attempted to exculpate herself without being -requested so to do. Also she got rid of the grains of gunpowder. All -these things show that Mrs. Boazoph knows more about the matter than -she chooses to tell." - -"Do you think that she knows who committed the crime?" - -"I wouldn't swear to that," said Fanks, with some hesitation; "but she -must have identified Renshaw with Binjoy, else she would never have -sought out the latter at Mere Hall." - -"Do you believe that Mrs. Boazoph inveigled Fellenger to her hotel by -means of that advertisement, and then had him killed?" - -"How can I tell?" retorted Fanks; "you know as much about the matter -as I do. But I will do Mrs. Boazoph the justice to say that I hardly -believe she would adopt a course so dangerous to herself. I do not -think that she had anything to do with the advertisement." - -"The envelope was addressed in a woman's handwriting." - -"No doubt; but the handwriting may not be that of Mrs. Boazoph. Still -she is in some way connected with Binjoy, and he is mixed up in the -crime." - -"You mean that he employed the negro to commit it?" - -"It looks like it; and yet," continued Fanks, with a frown, "the -evidence is too clear for me to take that view." - -"Why! The clearer the evidence, the more certain you must be of the -truth." - -Fanks shook his head. "From my experience I am inclined to doubt -easily-obtained evidence. Everything points to the committal of the -crime by the negro servant of Binjoy, and for that reason I do not -care to accept it. It would seem that in case of trouble Mrs. Boazoph -and Binjoy had provided for their own safety by throwing suspicion on -the negro." - -"But one thing is clear enough," said Garth, impatiently, "the negro -killed my cousin." - -"A negro killed your cousin, but not necessarily the negro of Binjoy." - -Garth looked puzzled. "I am more in the dark than ever," he said. - -"Same here, Garth. Depend upon it this murder is no bungling affair. -It is a cleverly-planned and cleverly-executed scheme; carried out by -people who know what they are doing. As the case now stands I cannot -see my way. The evidence--in my opinion--leads to nothing. If Crate -had this matter in hand he would arrest Binjoy on suspicion, and hunt -for the negro servant as the supposed murderer, and by doing so he -would make a mess of the whole business. I shall arrest nobody--at -present. Save to yourself and perhaps Crate I shall give my opinions -to nobody. I shall watch and wait; put two and two together, and when -they make four I shall pounce on the assassin. It will take time and -patience and money, but, as I said before, the case is a delicate one. -We are dealing with people who are as clever and cleverer than we are. -I confess that the outlook is anything but promising," concluded -Fanks, with a sigh. - -"You cannot guess who committed the crime?" - -"No, I cannot. To all appearances it was the negro, but--and this is -the main point--was it the negro of Binjoy, and would the negro be -clever enough to conceive so subtle a method of committing a crime as -the mode of the poisoned needle? Again, would a negro be in possessiondied -of such information as would induce Fellenger to permit the use of the -needle? The whole mystery lies in that cross tattooed on the arm. When -I discover its meaning I shall be able to name the assassin." - -"Then why not see Hersham?" suggested Garth. "He has a similar tattoo -mark on his left arm. He may be able to tell you what you wish to -know." - -"I have an appointment with Hersham at his rooms to-morrow. I may -learn something from him; on the other hand, I may learn nothing." - -"And what about Emma Calvert?" - -"Oh, I shall find out about her at Taxton-on-Thames. I may discover -dead Lady Fellenger of Paris alive at the Surrey village under another -name. And yet," added Fanks, producing a paper, "Crate's report proves -that the woman died in Paris in 1893, and was buried in Pere la -Chaise." - -"If that is so, who was the woman who appeared so strangely? The -evidence of the photograph and the valet both prove that she is Emma -Calvert." - -"I can only surmise that she did not die; but that either knowingly or -unknowingly some woman was buried in her place. It is the only -explanation that I can give. Yet, for all I know, Emma Calvert may -have employed that negro to kill her wicked husband." - -"It is a wild theory," said Garth, "why should this woman, the lawful -wife of my cousin, pretend to be dead, and submit to have her identity -destroyed by the false burial? If she is alive, I can quite conceive -that she should have my cousin killed out of revenge; but why the -pretended death, which--to all appearances--was acquiesced in by -Fellenger?" - -"I can't answer that question until I wring the truth from Robert." - -"There is no necessity for Robert. I have found another person who can -tell you the truth." - -"Oh!" said Fanks, looking up sharply, "and this person?" - -"Herbert Vaud; the son of the lawyer you saw the other day." - -"You don't say so," exclaimed Fanks, eagerly, "you laugh at chance, -Garth; well, here is another chance which may put us on the right -track. If we solve the mystery of Emma Calvert, we may unravel the -Tooley Alley enigma. Tell me all you know; omit no detail. Begin, -begin!" - -Flattered by the interest taken in his discovery, Garth related at -great length the extraordinary conduct of young Vaud; the cause of -such conduct as explained by the elder Vaud; and drew attention to the -fact that if confronted with the missing woman, Herbert might be able -to recognise her, either as an imposter, or as the dead Emma Calvert. - -Fanks listened with the closest attention; nor did he venture a remark -until Garth had concluded his story. Then he drew a breath and -reflected. - -"It is most extraordinary," he said at length, "dare you disbelieve in -chance. Chance led you to the office of the Vauds; chance made you -scribble that name on the paper; chance drew the attention of Herbert -Vaud to the name. I have always found that chance is my best friend." - -"All this is beside the point," said Garth, impatiently, "what do you -say?" - -"Your discovery may lead to something," replied Fanks, cautiously. "I -shall see Herbert Vaud after I have interviewed Hersham. Between the -two of them I may learn something likely to throw light on the -darkness of this case; but we are only on the threshold of our -difficulties as yet." - -Garth rose to take his leave. "I agree with you," he said, "the future -looks anything but hopeful. But I shall leave you now; as you are -tired after your long journey." - -Fanks stretched himself. "I am rather weary," he remarked, yawning, -"and I shan't be sorry to go to bed. Come and see me to-morrow, and -I'll tell you how I get on with Hersham. And Garth," added Fanks, -going to the door with his guest, "don't do any more detective -business on your own account. It will take me some time to exhaust the -information you have brought me. When I have arrived at some -conclusion regarding this new evidence, I shall tell you what to do." - -Garth was quite willing to be guided by Fanks' advice; the more so as -he was entirely at a loss how to proceed, and was waiting for the more -experienced head of the detective to guide him. With quite sufficient -to think about for the next twenty-four hours he took his departure, -and left Fanks to enjoy a well-earned rest. - -The appointment with Hersham was for twelve o'clock the next day; and -punctually at that time Fanks took his way up to Acacia Road, St. -John's Wood, where the journalist had his lodgings. Certainly not a -very central position for a man engaged in the press; but Hersham had -been brought up in the Isle of Wight, beside the sea, and amid green -trees. From the effect of early association he could not bear to be -cooped up amid bricks and mortar, where he could scarcely breathe. -Therefore he had taken up his abode in a suburb where he was certain -of fresh air. He went to and fro between Fleet Street and St. John's -Wood on his bicycle, and thus by a little dexterity, he managed to -attend to his duties on the "Morning Planet," and yet to live a -comparatively rural life. - -When Fanks arrived at noon, Hersham, for health's sake, was digging in -the garden; but, on seeing the detective, he came forward to greet his -visitor. He was a slender, handsome young man of eight and twenty, or -thereabouts; with curly, brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a -moustache, but otherwise he was clean-shaven. Usually his face was -pleasant and smiling, with a high colour and a genial expression. On -this occasion he was rather pale, and there was an anxious look in his -eyes which did not escape the detective. He had seen the same -expression in the eyes of Binjoy. - -"How are you, Fanks," said Hersham, with an obvious effort at -lightness. "I see that you are punctual to the minute. I am glad of -that; as I can't give you much time. I have an engagement with my -editor at one-thirty." - -"Oh, I can explain my business in half an hour," replied Fanks, -lightly. "I won't take up more of your valuable time than I can help. -You were astonished to get my note." - -"Frankly speaking, I was," said Hersham, with an uneasy look. "I can't -conceive what you want to see me about. I hope," he added, with a -faint smile, "that it is nothing in your line of business?" - -"That is just the point. It is in my line of business." - -To the surprise of Fanks, the young man gave a kind of gasp, and -without a word he turned and led the way into the house. This -behaviour was so different to his usual manner, that Fanks suspected -trouble; and, with nothing but his incurable suspicion to go on, he -wondered if this agitation was in any way connected with the business -he had come about. In plain words, with the tattooed cross; and with -the crime of Tooley's Alley. The room into which Hersham ushered the -detective, was a simply-furnished apartment of a bright and cheerful -character. Furniture, carpet, wallpaper, and curtains, were all of a -light and pleasant complexion. Two dwarf book-shelves on either side -of the fireplace were filled with well-chosen volumes; while boxing -gloves and foils on the walls showed that the tastes of the journalist -were not exclusively literary. Excellent pictures adorned the walls; -and photographs--mostly those of pretty women--were ranged on the -mantlepiece. As a whole, the room was remarkably bright and attractive -in both of which respects it thoroughly reflected the character of its -occupant. - -With commendable hospitality, Hersham produced a bottle of whisky, two -glasses, and a jug of water. Signing to Fanks to help himself, he sat -in a chair near the window, and waited for his apparently unwelcome -visitor to speak. Fanks did not open his mouth, and Hersham looked up -to see the cause of his silence. The detective was staring at the -photographs on the mantleshelf--or rather, he was gazing with -astonished eyes at one portrait. It was little wonder that he did so; -for the picture was that of the young woman, who had appeared and -disappeared so unexpectedly at the chambers of Sir Gregory Fellenger, -in Half-Moon Street. For once in his life, Fanks was rendered dumb -with astonishment. - -"What are you staring at?" asked Hersham, sharply. - -The detective pointed to the picture. "Who is that young lady?" he -asked in a tone of intense curiosity. - -"I don't see what business that is of yours," replied Hersham, "but to -gratify your curiosity I may tell you she is the girl I am engaged -to." - -"The girl you are engaged to! Is she alive?" - -"Of course she is," said Hersham, half angry, half amused, "why should -she be dead. Do you know her? Have you seen her? Why do you ask?" - -"I shall tell you that later on," answered Fanks, "but tell me. Is the -name of that girl Emma Calvert?" - -"I never heard of Emma Calvert," retorted Hersham, crossly, "the name -of that young lady is Anne Colmer." - -"Of Taxton-on-Thames?" - -"Yes! Of Taxton-on-Thames." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. -THE TATTOOED CROSS. - - -Fanks was prepared for most surprises, and, from experience, he was -capable, of controlling his emotions thoroughly. In this instance, -however, he was so overwhelmed by the unexpectedness of the discovery -that it was some time before he could arrange his thoughts and plan of -action. The coincidence of the tattooed cross was extraordinary, but -the resemblance of the portraits was still more so. Before he could -comment on the fact Hersham asked an abrupt question. - -"Why do you speak of these things?" he said anxiously, "and what do -you know about Miss Colmer?" - -"I know nothing about Miss Colmer," replied Fanks, quickly. "Hold on a -minute, my good fellow, I have had what people call a turn." - -Hersham accepted this explanation with a doubtful air, and pushed the -spirits towards the detective. Accepting this attention, Fanks poured -himself out a stiff glass. A sip or two braced his nerves and set his -brain to work, so that shortly he was able to face the unexpected -situation. For obvious reasons he did not wish to reveal too much to -Hersham; yet under the peculiar circumstances of the case he was -forced to tell him a certain amount. To gain his ends with the least -possible risk to his plans he was reduced to manufacturing a plausible -theory from the facts within his knowledge. The task was one of some -little difficulty, but he succeeded fairly well in suppressing so much -of the truth as he did not wish known. - -"That photograph took me by surprise, Hersham," he said after a pause. - -"Why should it take you by surprise?" said the other, jealously. "Have -you ever met with Miss Colmer?" - -"I have not met the lady," replied Fanks, slowly, "but I have seen -some one who greatly resembles her. So greatly indeed that I thought -the person I saw was the original of that photograph." - -"Where did you see this person?" - -"At Paris--in the Morgue." - -It seemed to Fanks that Hersham changed colour on hearing this; but he -kept his feelings under control, and merely remarked, "In the Morgue? -A case of murder, no doubt." - -"No! Suicide by drowning. Afterwards I heard that the body was that -of an English girl called Emma Calvert." He purposely suppressed -the fact of the marriage. "She is buried in Pere la Chaise under the -name--whether true or not, I cannot say--of Calvert. You cannot wonder -that the sight of that picture, which I took for that of the dead -woman, should startle me, the more especially as you assure me that -the original of that photograph is still alive and is engaged to you." - -"Was it for this purpose that you came to see me?" demanded Hersham. - -"No; I came to see you about something else. Nevertheless, before -telling you the object of my visit, I should like to have the mystery -of the photograph explained." - -"How do you know that I can explain it?" - -"Perhaps you can, perhaps you can't. On the other hand, perhaps you -can and perhaps you--won't." - -Hersham bit his lip, and took a turn up and down the room. He appeared -to be on the verge of revealing something, but checked himself when -about to speak. At this stage Fanks wisely held his tongue, and -resolved to let Hersham make the first remark. Evidently the young man -had something on his mind, and what the something was Fanks was -determined to find out; but he left the mode of revelation entirely to -his host. Hersham was aware of this, and hesitated and faltered and -frowned. Ultimately he resumed his seat and accepted the situation. - -"I have always looked upon you as a friend, Fanks," he said in a -hesitating manner; "and I have every reason to believe that you wish -me well." - -"My dear fellow," said Fanks, wondering what could be the reason of -this appeal, "you are perfectly right. I would do anything to prove my -friendship for you." - -"Then answer me candidly. Did you come here to ask me about that cross -which you know is tattooed on my left arm?" - -"Yes," said Fanks, unhesitatingly; "I did. How did you guess my -errand?" - -"I read the report of the inquest on the body of Fellenger, and I -remarked the fact of the poisoned needle and the tattooed cross. I was -informed that you had the case in hand; I knew that you had seen the -mark on my arm. So when you wrote asking me to see you it was not hard -for me to guess what you wanted. You see, I was right." - -"I congratulate you on your penetration, my dear Hersham," replied. -Fanks, coolly. "At the same time, I do not see what this speech has to -do with your former one about friendship." - -"I can explain. You asked me a question about that photograph; and to -answer it in a satisfactory manner I shall be forced to tell you -something about the family of the girl to whom I am engaged." - -"Does your explanation concern the late Sir Gregory Fellenger?" - -"Yes. It has a great deal to do with the late Sir Gregory." - -"And with Emma Calvert?" - -"With the woman you call Emma Calvert." - -"Ought I to say Lady Fellenger?" said Fanks, quickly. - -Hersham shrugged his shoulders. "That makes no difference to my -explanation," he said, and rose to get the photograph off the -mantelshelf. "You think that this is the picture of Emma Calvert?" - -For answer, Fanks produced the portrait he had found in Fellenger's -rooms, and showed it to Hersham. "Is this the picture of Anne Colmer?" -he asked. - -"No, that is Emma Calvert." - -"Then these photographs are those of two different women?" - -"Certainly. The one is Emma Calvert who committed suicide in Paris. -The other is Anne Colmer who is alive and engaged to me." - -Fanks considered for a minute. "I now begin to see light," he said, in -a sober tone. "Am I right in assuming that Emma is the sister of -Anne?" - -"You are perfectly right. She is the twin-sister." - -"Ah! That accounts for the resemblance." - -"It does," replied Hersham, with a nod, "the two sisters were so -exactly alike that apart you could not tell one from the other--at -least, so I have been told." - -"Oh! Then you never saw the two sisters together?" - -"I did not. I never saw Emma in my life." - -"Of course you know her sad story," said Fanks, after a pause. - -"Anne's mother told it to me. I know that Emma married Fellenger -secretly, and was driven to her death by his brutality. Now, you can -see why I reminded you of our friendship before telling you the -truth." - -"No!" said Fanks, sharply, "I can't see." - -"Why! I am engaged to the sister of the dead girl; so I thought--" - -"That I might accuse you of killing Sir Gregory out of revenge?" - -"Well, I did have that thought in my head; and then the coincidence of -the cross, you know." - -Fanks laughed, and took the hand of Hersham. "My dear lad," he said. -"I have no idea of accusing you of the crime; your engagement to Miss -Colmer is no proof that you killed the man who acted so badly towards -her sister. Do not, therefore, hesitate to tell me all you know. How -Emma Calvert came to London; how she met with Sir Gregory; and how she -was loved by Herbert Vaud?" - -"What!" cried Hersham. "You know that also?" - -"I know more than you think, Hersham; therefore, if you attempt to -deceive me I shall find you out. Now go on with your story." - -"I do not want to deceive you," replied the journalist, "but you -must understand that I only speak from hearsay. If you want the tale -first-hand you must see old Mrs. Colmer, at Taxton-on-Thames." - -"Hum!" said Fanks, remembering his theory regarding the directing of -the envelope which contained the cardboard star. "What kind of a -person is the lady in question?" - -"An invalid," said Hersham, promptly. "A paralytic; she has not moved -hand or foot for years." - -"Confound it!" - -"What is the matter?" - -"Nothing. Only your information has upset a theory. Never mind; go -on." - -"There isn't much to tell," said Hersham. "Mrs. Colmer is a decayed -gentlewoman, whose husband died and left her with two little girls. -To support these she set up a dressmaker's establishment at -Taxton-on-Thames. When the children grew up, Mrs. Colmer was smitten -with paralysis and laid on the shelf. Anne and Emma carried on the -business, and thus supported their mother. Emma came to London to gain -experience in a fashionable dressmaker's establishment; and Anne -remained behind to look after the shop at Taxton-on-Thames. While in -London, Emma met with young Vaud at the house of a friend of her -mother's. He fell in love with Emma and wished to marry her. She liked -him, but she did not love him; nevertheless, for her mother's sake, -she accepted his offer. Then in an unlucky hour Herbert introduced -Fellenger to Emma; she loved him, or was attracted by his title. At -all events, she ran away with him to Paris and became his wife." - -"She was married in a London office. Registrar's." - -"I did not know that," said Hersham. "Emma told her mother that she -was married, but she did not write where. Well, young Vaud had an -attack of brain fever, and afterwards he went on a sea voyage. On his -return he crossed to Paris to learn what had become of Emma. He -ascertained that she was dead and buried; in some way he learned the -whole miserable history. Vaud returned to England to see Fellenger; -but before he could meet with him the baronet was killed in Tooley's -Alley; and the fate of Emma was avenged by an unknown hand. That is -the story, Fanks; you can make what use you like of it." - -"It is a wretched story," replied Fanks. "I can now understand the -hatred which young Vaud bears towards the memory of his false friend; -and I can understand also how I mistook Anne for Emma. But," added -Fanks, with emphasis, "I cannot understand why Anne came to the -chambers of Fellenger, and why she ran away when she saw me." - -Hersham looked jealous, and frowned. "I cannot understand that -myself," he said. "She hated Fellenger as much as did Herbert Vaud; -and I do not know why she should go to the rooms of the scoundrel." - -"She asked for the valet." - -"Robert, the whimpering, pitiful dog?" - -"Anne might have gone to see him to ask for particulars of her sister's -death." - -"Well, yes," replied Fanks, thoughtfully; "but that does not explain -why she went away when she saw me." - -"I can only surmise that she did not wish to explain what brought her -there, and so tell the tale of her sister's death to a stranger." - -"No, there is more in it than that," said the detective, remembering -that Anne had been among the crowd on the night of the murder; "but we -will talk of this hereafter. In the meantime, let us return to the -main object of my visit, and show me this famous cross." - -Hersham made no objection to this request, and removed his coat. -Rolling up his sleeve he exposed the cross tattooed on the flesh of -the left forearm. It was a St. Catherine cross, the size of a florin, -and Fanks examined it long and carefully. "Did you get that tattooed -at school?" he asked when Hersham had resumed his coat. - -"I did not get it done at all. I have had it ever since I can -remember; and I have asked my father often about it, but he cannot, or -will not, give me any information." - -"He will not most probably. Are you sure that there is no story -attached to the tattooing?" - -"None that I know of; but my father might be better informed." - -"Would your mother know?" - -"I have no mother; she died when I was a baby." - -"Strange," muttered Fanks, pensively; "it is strange that you should -have this mark on you and yet be ignorant of its significance. I wish -you would speak to your father about it." - -"He won't tell me anything; I have asked him before." - -"You have no idea why a cross similar to this should have been -tattooed on Sir Gregory's arm by a negro?" - -"Certainly not. I did not even know Sir Gregory." - -"I wonder if your father could tell me?" - -"I don't know. He might or he might not. Do you think that this cross -has anything to do with the murder you are investigating?" - -"That is just what I do think," retorted Fanks. "The man was killed by -means of a poisoned needle used to prick in a cross similar to that on -your arm." - -"But that insinuates that I am mixed up in the matter." - -"It does nothing of the sort. Don't be an ass." - -But Hersham was not content with this friendly assurance. "You think -that I have something to do with the crime," he said obstinately. - -Fanks looked at his agitated face, at his trembling hands, and a -strange suspicion entered his mind. "I'll tell you what I do think," -he said in an abrupt tone; "I think that you have not told me all the -truth." - -Hersham trembled still more, and clasped his hands together. "I -cannot," he muttered, shrinking away from Fanks; "I dare not." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. -FANKS MAKES UP HIS MIND. - - -Naturally Fanks was astonished at this confession; but he was so -conversant with the character of the young man that he could not -believe the journalist was guilty. Despite the coincidence of the -tattooed cross and the relationship of Fellenger's wife with Anne -Colmer, he did not think for a moment that his friend had anything to -do with the crime. Nevertheless, it would appear from the hesitation -of Hersham to speak openly that he had some knowledge--if not of the -crime itself--at all events of the circumstances leading to its -accomplishment. This was the only construction he could place on this -last outburst. - -"After what I have said, Hersham, I think you ought to confide in me," -he remarked after a pause. "I do not suspect you in any way; yet you -refuse to aid me. You ought to be the first to help me." - -"I do not see how you make that out," replied Hersham, with a pale -face. "I never met with Sir Gregory. I heard nothing but evil of his -life, and he drove to suicide the sister of the girl to whom I am -engaged. Why should I help you?" - -"Ah!" cried Fanks, sharply; "then you can help me if you choose." - -"I certainly cannot," returned Hersham, doggedly. "I have not the -slightest idea who killed Fellenger. I can tell you nothing." - -"Yes, you can; only you refuse to. Why I cannot say. You had better be -careful, Hersham; you will not find me easy to deal with if you rouse -my suspicions." - -"Do you threaten me?" - -"I warn you," retorted Fanks, smartly, "I am not accustomed to have my -offers of help repelled. Your remark of a few moments ago shows me -that you know something. What is it?" - -"I know nothing." - -"You do! Speak, if not for your own sake, at least for that of Miss -Colmer." - -Hersham stepped up to Fanks with an angry face. "How dare you -introduce the name of Miss Colmer?" he cried. "I forbid you to speak -of her." - -"All the worse for you and for--her. She called at the chambers of the -dead man. Why did she call there? She was at Tooley's Alley on the -night of the murder. What was she doing in such a place? You refuse to -tell me? I shall ask her." - -Hersham sprang forward, and grasped the arm of Fanks to prevent his -leaving the room. "Think of what you are about," he gasped. "Ask her -nothing, you hear me, nothing." - -"That rests with yourself. Tell me what you know and--" - -"I know nothing," said Hersham, and turned away with an obstinate -look. - -"Good!" said Fanks, putting on his hat. "We now understand one -another. I shall find out all without troubling you. Good-bye. And you -may thank your stars that I do not arrest you on suspicion." - -"I swear that I am innocent." - -"I know that, else I would have had you in custody by this time. But -you are screening another person. Anne Colmer, for instance." - -"She knows nothing." - -"I shall judge of that for myself," retorted Fanks, and left the room. - -In Acacia Road the detective hailed a cab and drove to the nearest -telegraph office. It had occurred to him that Hersham might attempt -to communicate with Anne; and he was resolved to checkmate such a -move. To this end he sent a wire to the head of the rural police at -Taxton-on-Thames, instructing him to delay if possible all letters and -telegrams which might come to Miss Colmer. Thereby he hoped to prevent -Hersham warning the girl. - -Arriving at New Scotland Yard, he detailed a man to watch Hersham, and -sent him up to Acacia Road. A glance at "Bradshaw" assured him that to -reach Taxton-on-Thames, Hersham would have to start from Waterloo. -Thither he sent another detective, to keep an eye on the trains. -Therefore, by letter, by telegram, and by railway, he had stopped -Hersham from communicating with Anne Colmer. After taking these -precautions he saw Crate. - -"I am going to Taxton-on-Thames at three o'clock," he said. - -"Are you going to look for the woman who directed the envelope, Mr. -Fanks?" - -Fanks stretched out his legs, and began fiddling with his ring. "That -is just what is puzzling me, Crate," observed he. "I have told you of -my conversation with Mr. Hersham. Well, unless he is deceiving me, -Mrs. Conner, is a paralytic. She could not have directed that -envelope; yet, going by the writing, I'll swear that an elderly woman -penned the address. If not Mrs. Colmer--an obvious impossibility--who -wrote it?" - -"Anne Colmer," said Crate, promptly. - -"No. For disguise, she would rather have adopted a masculine hand." - -"Mrs. Boazoph?" - -"If Mrs. Boazoph had been traced to Taxton-on-Thames I should say yes; -if the letter had been sent from Mere Hall I should have said yes. -But," added Fanks, with emphasis, "as it did not come from Mere Hall, -and Mrs. Boazoph has nothing to do with Taxton-on-Thames, I am not -inclined to suspect the lady." - -"Then there is nobody else." - -"There must be somebody else; and the somebody else committed the -crime." - -Crate thought. "Do you think that the negro sent that star?" he asked. - -"I feel perfectly certain that the negro had nothing to do with the -star." - -"But we have proved conclusively that a negro killed Fellenger." - -Fanks smiled complacently. "I should not be at all surprised if we -found out that a negro had nothing to do with the murder," he said, -slowly. - -"But that is impossible, Mr. Fanks." - -"Nothing is impossible in a criminal case," said Fanks. "Look here, -Crate, as you know, it is not my habit to give an opinion before I -have thoroughly threshed out the subject matter of a case; but in this -instance, I shall depart from my rule. I should not be surprised if I -had already spotted the assassin of Sir Gregory Fellenger." - -"No!" cried Crate in admiration. "And who is it, Mr. Fanks. Man or -woman?" - -"Walls have ears, Crate. I shall whisper the name and when the case -comes to an end--if it ever does--you can laugh at me or congratulate -me at your will. Now then." - -Fanks approached his mouth to the ear of Crate and whispered a single -name. "That is my opinion," he said slowly. - -Crate shook his head. "No, Mr. Fanks. I am loth to put my opinion, -against yours, but I think you are making a mistake." - -"Perhaps I am," assented Fanks, carelessly, "the case is a difficult -one, and I am quite prepared to find out that I am wrong. All the -same, I am confident that the person I named is guilty. I'll bet you -five pounds to five shillings that I am correct." - -Crate grinned and took up the bet. The behaviour of his chief -flattered him, and he would not have minded losing. But he could not -bring himself to agree with Fanks as to the name of the guilty person; -for he had a theory of his own in which he believed. This theory was -diametrically opposed to that of his superior. - -"How long shall you be at Taxton-on-Thames," he asked Fanks, when this -little piece of amusement was concluded. - -"I may be a few days, a few hours, or a month. It all depends on what -I find out. I must interview Anne Colmer; see her mother; and make -inquiries about Binjoy and his negro servant." - -"But the doctor is at Mere Hall. You must go there to ask about the -negro." - -"Rubbish. As I told you before, the negro has never been seen at Mere -Hall. Binjoy lived at Taxton-on-Thames, and it is there that I must -ask after this mysterious black man. Afterwards, I can go to Mere -Hall." - -"Have you any reason for going?" - -"One. I wish to find out why Mrs. Boazoph visited the Hall." - -"And what about the tattooed cross, Mr. Fanks?" - -"Oh, I shall see that later on. But in the meantime I must pay these -visits. Firstly, Taxton-on-Thames. Secondly, Mere Hall. Thirdly, the -Isle of Wight and the Rev. Mr. Hersham." - -"Humph!" said Crate, doubtfully. "From what you say, I should think -Mr. Hersham junior would thwart your plans, if he could." - -"I have not the least doubt of it," replied Fanks dryly, "but he is -being watched. If he tries to thwart me I shall, at least, have the -satisfaction of knowing it. By the way, do you know anything about -Bombay?" - -"That's in India, isn't it?" said Crate, rather taken aback by the -apparent irrelevancy of this question. "I don't know anything about -Bombay, Mr. Fanks, except what I've seen in books." - -"You must extend your knowledge then; for I may want you to go there -in a week or so." - -"Has my going there anything to do with this case?" demanded Crate, -still very much astonished at the turn the conversation had taken. - -"It has everything to do with this case," replied Fanks, enjoying his -perplexity, and the confusion of his somewhat slow-moving mind. - -"Dr. Renshaw did not go to India," was Crate's next remark. - -"Quite so. Renshaw having resumed his real name of Binjoy, is now at -Mere Hall--in safety, as he thinks. I can lay hands on him any time; -but I can't lay hands on that negro. You must do that, Crate." - -"But the negro isn't in India, Mr. Fanks?" - -"In my humble opinion--I may be wrong--he is," replied the other. "See -here, Crate. Dr. Binjoy must know that as I am employed by Sir Louis -to hunt down the assassin, I must see him sooner or later. If I see -the new baronet, I can hardly help seeing his 'Fidus Achates.' Now, -although Binjoy has--as he thinks--destroyed all trace of his -connection with Renshaw, yet he cannot quite alter his personal -appearance, which is rather noticeable. He may shave off his beard so -as to make himself look younger; he may even get rid of his stoutness; -but he cannot alter his voice or entirely change his pompous manner. -He must, therefore guess that I may be struck with his resemblance to -Renshaw. In some way--for I give him the credit of being clever--he -will endeavour to account for the resemblance. I do not know the -particular lie he will stick to; but of one thing I am certain;--he -will keep up the deception that Renshaw is in India by means of -prepared letters written to Dr. Turnor." - -"It is my opinion, Crate," continued Fanks, solemnly, "that Binjoy has -got rid of his negro servant by sending him to Bombay; and, from -Bombay the negro will forward letters--already written--to Turnor of -Great Auk Street. I may be wrong, of course, and I do not wish to act -in a hurry. But the first letter I see from India, purporting to be -from Binjoy-Renshaw, that very day you start for Bombay to look for -the negro who is at present missing. I am content to stake my -professional reputation that you will find him there." - -"Well, you are a 'cute one, Mr. Fanks," said Crate in an admiring -tone. "I should never have thought of that." - -This tribute of respect from Crate put an end to the conversation for -the time being. Fanks went to his chambers, packed a few clothes, and -repaired to Waterloo Station. The detective who was watching there, -assured him that Hersham had not been seen on the platform; and Fanks -went down to Taxton-on-Thames quite satisfied that he had what the -Americans call "the inside running." - -He amused himself while in the train by making notes in his pocket -book; and with figuring out the questions which he intended to ask -Miss Colmer. Notwithstanding his assurance to Crate, he was very -doubtful if he would be able to discover the assassin of Sir Gregory, -for the further he went into the case the more intricate did it -become. So far as he could see at the present moment, the person who -had killed the Tooley Alley victim had every chance of escaping the -gallows. All that the detective could do was to go on in the darkness; -and trust to any stray gleam of light which might reveal the assassin; -but at present, he could not see an inch ahead of him. - -On arriving at Taxton-on-Thames he drove at once to the local post -office; and, as he expected, he there found a telegram, which the -police had succeeded in delaying. It was addressed to Anne Colmer, -and ran as follows: "Detective coming; answer him nothing." There -was no name; but from the context, and the place whence it had been -sent--High Street, St. John's Wood--Fanks had no difficulty in -guessing that it had come from Hersham. - -"Very good," he murmured. "What Hersham knows, the girl knows. I -failed to get the information from him; I may from her." - - - - -CHAPTER XV. -COMING EVENTS. - - -The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the -village in a cottage adjoining the shop. The former was small, but the -latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a -neighbourhood. Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the -dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position -of life into which they had been forced by circumstances. They -employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so -that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and -in supervising the general run of the business. She was an admirable -administratrix. - -As may be guessed from the nature of her complaint, Mrs. Colmer was a -mere cypher in the domestic economy of Briar Cottage--for so the house -was named. The old woman usually sat in a wheeled chair beside a bow -window, looking out on to the back garden. This latter sloped down to -the river banks, and was prettily laid out, with a summerhouse at the -lower end. From her window the paralytic could see the passing of -boats and steamers, and enjoy the brightness of the aquatic life. She -viewed this panorama from morn to eve; read on occasions, and -meditated on her past life, which had been none of the happiest. - -A mild and placid woman, she was of a singularly sweet disposition; -and although she was chained to her chair by her affliction, she never -complained. The paralysis extended only to her limbs, but her brain -was still active, and she could give, and did give, her daughter -excellent advice in connection with the business. The sorrowful -expression on her face showed how keenly she had felt the loss of -Emma. But that was not the only melancholy event in her life; there -were others which will be spoken of in due course. Mrs. Colmer was not -without her troubles, but she had her consolations also, and of these -the love of Anne was the greatest. - -On the day of Fanks' arrival the old lady was seated in her usual -place, between five and six, waiting for Anne. Tea was ready for the -girl, but Mrs. Colmer had already been fed by her nurse, and was -looking forward to the usual conversation which took place at this -time. All day Anne was busy in the shop, and Mrs. Colmer was left to -her own devices; but when the labours of the day were ended, mother -and daughter met to converse. To Mrs. Colmer this had been the -happiest hour of the day--but that was before Emma went to London. She -still talked to Anne, and took an interest in domestic and local -affairs; but she was haunted by a feeling of impending evil, and she -clung despairingly to her remaining child, dreading lest she should -meet with the fate of her sister. An atmosphere of apprehension -existed in Briar Cottage. - -In due course Anne entered, and, having kissed her mother, sat down to -tea. She was as beautiful as ever, but there was a haggard look on her -face which accorded but ill with her youth. It would seem as though -she dreaded the future also, and was expecting the happening of some -terrible misfortune. After a short discussion of domestic matters the -conversation languished, for, wrapped in her own thoughts, Anne did -not seem inclined to talk. Mrs. Colmer noticed this, and commented -thereon with affectionate solicitude, bent on knowing what made Anne -so absentminded. - -"Is there anything wrong, my dear?" she asked nervously. - -"Nothing, mother; I am a little tired, that is all." - -"There is more than that, Anne. For some days you have not been at all -like yourself." - -"Can you wonder at that, mother?" replied Anne, bitterly. "Think of -all that has happened this last month." - -An angry light came into the faded eyes of the old woman. "You should -be glad of what has happened," she said in a stern voice; "that wicked -man has been punished for his evil courses. He drove my Emma to her -death, and himself has perished by violence. An eye for an eye, a -tooth for a tooth; that is Scripture." - -"All the same, mother, I wish that he had not been murdered. Gregory -was a brute, I know, and the death of poor Emma lies at his door; but -murder--" she shuddered. "It is so terrible to think that he should -have been cut off in the midst of his wickedness." - -"He has gone down into the pit, child. Let us talk no more of him. It -is said that we must forgive our enemies, but it is hard for me to -forgive him, even though he is dead. My beautiful Emma, she should -have lived as Lady Fellenger, instead of dying through his cruelty. I -hope, Anne, that your marriage will turn out happier than that of your -poor sister." - -"Ted will be the best of husbands," said Anne, in a tone of -conviction. "He loves me as dearly as I love him. I wonder when he is -coming down to see me again? I have so much to tell him." - -"About your visit to Half-Moon Street?" - -"That and other things," was Anne's answer; then, after a pause, -"though indeed he may not be so ignorant of that visit as you think." - -"Who could tell him but yourself?" - -"That detective, mother. He saw me when I entered the room, and he -followed me also. If I had not escaped him in the manner I told you, I -should have been in trouble." - -"You need not be anxious about that now, Anne. The detective can never -find you----" - -"I am not so sure about that," said Anne, in parenthesis. - -"And as to Mr. Hersham knowing about your visit to Half-Moon Street," -Mrs. Colmer continued, "I do not see how this detective you speak of -can possibly tell him." - -"I can see, mother. Mr. Hersham knows this detective--a Mr. Fanks; and -he will probably see him about the case in the interests of the -'Morning Planet.' Should they meet--as they are almost sure to do--my -name will certainly be mentioned. Then the story of my visit will come -out, with the result that Fanks will find me here." - -Mrs. Colmer turned slightly pale. "Are you afraid to meet him," she -asked. - -Anne shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say that I am overpleased," was -her reply. "He is a clever man, and I shall have considerable -difficulty in keeping my own counsel." - -"You must tell him nothing--nothing." - -"You can be sure of that, mother. Should Mr. Fanks come here he will -go away as wise as he came. I know when to hold my tongue as on this -occasion. Matters are too serious to be spoken of openly." - -"Oh, dear, dear," said Mrs. Colmer in an agitated tone. "Into what -difficulties have we not been led. I wish I had never let Emma go to -London." - -"Rather wish that she had never met with Herbert Vaud, mother." - -"But, Anne, she loved Herbert." - -"I do not think so, else she would never have married Sir Gregory. But -you know she always was ambitious and impulsive; look where her -ambitions have led her. If she had not met with Herbert she would not -have become the wife of that wicked man; if she had not been his wife -she would not have been driven to her death; and if she had not died, -we should not have been involved in all this trouble." - -"Trouble, trouble!" moaned Mrs. Colmer. "What troubles we have had, -and more will come." - -"Do not be afraid, mother," said Anne, kissing her. "You have always -me to stand between you and danger. I may never meet with this -detective; I may never be questioned by him, and so all will be well. -But should he come, why--I shall know how to answer him." - -"You will say nothing." - -"On the contrary, I shall say a great deal," replied Anne. "But such -things as will mislead Mr. Fanks. He shall never be set on the right -path by my telling; be sure of that." - -"I wish I could see you married to Ted, my dear," said her mother, -comforted by these assurances. "It would be such a relief to my mind." - -"I am afraid we will not be able to marry for some considerable time. -My dear Ted is very clever, but he cannot earn enough for us both to -live on; and I do not wish to be a drag on him. No, no, mother, we -must wait until things mend, and the outlook is brighter." - -"You could have married Dr. Binjoy." - -"I would not marry Dr. Binjoy if there was not another man in the -world," said Anne, with supreme contempt. "He is a self-indulgent -sensualist. My Ted is worth a dozen of him." - -"Still he is well-off," sighed Mrs. Colmer. - -"I do not see how you make that out, mother. He was, and is, entirely -dependent on Sir Louis Fellenger for his money; and I want to have -nothing to do with the Fellengers. Their family have cost us dear -enough already." - -This reference to the dead Emma made Mrs. Colmer weep, and Anne had -considerable difficulty in quietening her. However, she succeeded in -the end, and left her mother to her own thoughts, while she herself -went out into the garden for a breath of fresh air. Moreover, she -wanted to be alone, for the purpose of thinking over the position of -things. Anne could not but recognise that if certain contingencies -arose, she and her mother would find themselves very awkwardly placed. - -The evening was warm, and the sky was filled with a mellow light, -which rendered languid the atmosphere. Against this, the trees stood -out in bold relief, every twig and leaf being sharply outlined against -the amber sky. The sound of distant laughter, and the musical splash -of oars came to the ears of the girl as she walked slowly down the -path towards the summerhouse. A low, redbrick wall ran along the bank -of the river, and as she leaned over this low parapet, Anne could see -some considerable distance to right and left. Before a boating house -on the opposite shore a number of people were collected; and every now -and then a boat would shoot out into the gleaming waters bearing two -or three of them away. Someone musically inclined had brought a banjo, -and Anne could hear the thrumming of the strings, and the echo of the -latest music-hall ditty. Altogether, the scene was not without its -charm; but she was too much taken up with her own troubles to pay much -attention to the pleasant picture spread out before her. The quiet of -the evening brought no peace to her. - -"How foolishly I have acted," she thought, with a shiver. "If I had -been wise I would have left these matters alone. I feel certain that -Mr. Fanks recognised me as the woman he saw in Tooley's Alley. If he -finds me out, he will ask me what I was doing there on the night of -the murder. What can I say. I dare not tell him the truth, and he may -refuse to believe what I say to him. I acted for the best, it is true, -but my good intentions have led me into a position of danger. But I -may be wrong--I may be quite safe. That man may never find me. If he -does,"--she shivered again, and looked up the river. - -Under the glow of the sunset sky, the waters rolled, a broad sheet of -gold flecked here and there with the dark forms of boats. To the left -Anne saw a skiff containing one oarsman, coming swiftly down the -stream. In a half dreamy moment she calculated that he would pass -almost immediately under the wall. Then she returned to her -self-communings. - -"If Ted were only here," she thought. "I should like to tell him all -that I have done, and ask him how to act. For his own sake he must -keep silent; and for the sake of my mother I must hold my tongue. Oh, -it is terrible--terrible to know what I know, and yet remain dumb. And -I am afraid of that detective. His eyes seemed to pierce me through on -that day. Should he find me out he may compel me to speak. And if I -speak--oh, the disgrace and shame of it. Why, why are such things -permitted in this world. Oh, Ted! Ted, I wish you were here to comfort -me." - -She leaned her head on the wall and burst into tears. Anne was not -easily moved; and it was an unusual thing for her to thus give way to -her emotions. But she was only a girl after all, and her system was -strung up and nervously excited by the knowledge of the secret she -knew. She would like to have confided in someone, if only to relieve -her overburdened mind; but she shrank from the consequences of such a -step. A word from her, and the murder in Tooley's Alley--but, no, she -put the thought out of her mind, and, still leaning her head on her -arms, she wept bitterly. - -Meanwhile the single oarsman rowed steadily towards the red brick -wall, which was evidently the point for which he was making. Soon he -came abreast of it; shortly he came under it, and Anne raised her head -at the sound of the splash of oars, to behold the very man of whom she -had been thinking. It was Ted Hersham. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. -UNHAPPY LOVERS. - - -Hersham brought his boat under the wall with a sweep, but before -disembarking he looked up to Anne with an anxious expression on his -face. - -"Did you get my telegram?" he demanded hastily. - -"Telegram!" she repeated. "I have received no telegram from you." - -"I thought so," said the journalist, and laughed in a savage sort of -manner. - -"What do you mean?" demanded Anne, noting how haggard he looked. "Is -anything wrong?" - -"More than I like to say," was his answer. - -At that moment it seemed to Anne that her presentiments were about to -become true, and she waited with vague terror for his next speech. Ted -did not open his mouth for some minutes, being fully occupied in -making fast his boat prior to landing. In spite of the importance of -the interview, and his desire to prepare Anne for the immediate coming -of Fanks, he did not hurry himself, but executed his task with the -utmost deliberation. On her part the girl held her peace, and not -until her lover had taken her in his arms to kiss her passionately did -she speak. Then she led him to the summerhouse--out of sight of Mrs. -Colmer at the window--and broached the subject which was uppermost in -her mind. - -"Ted," she asked in a low voice, "is there any danger?" - -"There is a great deal of danger." - -"From what quarter?" - -"From the worst of all quarters. Fanks has found you out." - -"Ah!" she sat back suddenly and her face turned pale with -apprehension. "Is he here?" - -Hersham nodded. "I sent a telegram to warn you not to answer his -questions." - -"I did not receive it." - -"I guessed you would not," replied her lover, with a nod. "Fanks -visited me to-day, and left me with the intention of coming down here -to see you. I sent the wire. Then I fancied that he might manage to -get it delayed at the office here. I did not dare to go by Waterloo, -as I made sure he would have the station watched. In this dilemma -there was nothing left for me to do but to come down on my bicycle, -which I did. I rode to Warby's boat-house, left my machine there, and -came on to warn you." - -Anne considered for a few minutes. "How was it that Mr. Fanks found me -out?" she asked anxiously. - -"He saw your portrait in my rooms." - -"What was he doing in your rooms?" - -"He came to question me about the cross tattooed on my arm." - -"Did you tell him anything?" - -"Nothing! What could I tell him? I am quite unaware how the cross came -to be there. But with regard to his recognition of you; how was it -that you went to the chambers of that dead scoundrel?" - -"I went to get a photograph of Emma's that was in the possession of -her late husband." - -"Why did you wish to get the photograph?" - -"It had some writing on the back, which may implicate another person -in this trouble of the death. I think," she added, pointedly, "that -you can guess the name of that person." - -"I think I can," replied Hersham, gloomily, "and the worst of it is -that Fanks will certainly find out that name." - -"Impossible! I may be able to thwart him on that point." - -"I hope so; but you do not know the man as I do. He is the most -patient and pertinacious of men. He will stick to this case until he -has the assassin of Sir Gregory in jail." - -"God forbid!" ejaculated Anne, with a shudder. - -"Amen to that!" answered Hersham. "Oh, Anne, my dear Anne," he -continued, taking her hand, "how I wish we could end all this and fly -to the ends of the earth!" - -"My dear," she said gently, "we have others to think of besides -ourselves. It would never do to desert them at the present moment. -Besides there may not be so much chance of discovery as you think." - -"I don't know; I am certain of nothing," said Hersham, with a sigh. "I -only dread one thing--lest Fanks should force you into betraying that -which you would rather hide." - -"Don't trouble about that, Ted," returned Anne, dryly. "I think Mr. -Fanks will find me more than his match. You need not have come to -prepare me, for I am quite ready for the gentleman as soon as he -chooses to call." - -"That will be very soon. He is in the village now. I don't want him to -see me. For that reason I came here in a boat." - -"Do not be foolish, Ted," said Anne, quickly. "You must let him see -you, else he will suspect that you know something about this matter. -And you must be aware, dear, that you have your own safety to look -to." - -"Oh!" groaned Hersham, "how are we to extricate ourselves from this -mess?" - -"I think we will leave that to time; and you have me to comfort you." - -"Dearest!" he drew her towards him; "without you I should not be able -to move one step. At present all is dark and dreary; but let us hope -that there are brighter days in store." - -"I am certain that there are," said Anne; "but we have a great deal to -endure before peace comes. We must go through the valley of -humiliation to reach the promised land." - -"Well!" said Ted, emphatically, "when we do reach it I think we must go -to America, there to commence a new life. It is no use trying to -construct a new one here out of the ruins of the old." - -"That we shall see," replied Anne, with a sigh "God knows we have had -a great deal to endure since the death of my poor sister. But let us -for the moment banish this gloomy subject, and talk of ourselves. How -are you getting on with your work?" - -Hersham smiled and kissed her. He saw that she was striving to lighten -the burden which had been laid upon him; and he was grateful for the -kindness. All the same he found it difficult to put his troubles out -of sight and memory, seeing that they were so insistent, and that -within the next half hour he might be called upon to defend himself -from a dangerous charge. Alone as they were in the summerhouse, they -were afraid to speak openly, lest the birds of the air should carry to -Fanks undesirable news which would please him, but ruin them. Under -these circumstances Hersham agreed with Anne that it was best to let -affairs connected with the case of Tooley's Alley remain in abeyance, -until they were compelled to take action. In the meantime the unhappy -pair went hand in hand into a Fool's Paradise of make-believe, and -hollow joys. There was something pitiful in this playing with -happiness. - -"We will be very poor, my love," said Hersham, somewhat later in the -conversation; "and I am afraid that you will miss all the luxuries to -which you have been accustomed." - -Anne laughed and kissed him. "You silly boy," she said kindly; "my -luxuries are of the cheapest kind, as you well know. Besides I can -face poverty with a brave heart with you." - -"But your mother?" - -"I am afraid she will not live long," sighed Anne. "She is growing so -weak, and she has long, long fits of silence. Poor mother! she has had -a hard life. I do not think she ever got over the death of Emma." - -"Does she know anything about these other matters?" - -"Very little. I kept as much from her as I could. Indeed, she would -never have heard of the death at all had it not been for Herbert -Vaud." - -"He might as well have held his tongue," said Ted, angrily; "but the -fact is, that since Emma's death and his illness he has not been quite -right in his head. He returned comparatively well, as you know; but -that journey to Paris to inquire after Lady Fellenger unsettled him -again." - -"Don't talk of Lady Fellenger," said Anne, with a shudder. - -"Why not? Your sister was lawfully the wife of Sir Gregory." - -"I know that. All the same, I hate to hear the name of the family." - -"And yet," said Hersham, meaningly, "you were fond enough of Louis." - -Again Anne laughed. "You must not be jealous of my friendship for -Louis, Ted. He is a good fellow in his way. I was never in love with -him as I am with you, but I liked him." - -"And Binjoy, that pompous doctor, did you like him?" - -"I hated him. I hate him still," she flashed out. "He is the evil -genius of Louis. If these matters only concerned Dr. Binjoy, I should -not keep silent and bear the burden I am doing." - -"You have me to bear it with you," said. Hersham, softly. - -"I know that, my dear. But there are some things which men and women -have to face singly. Such a thing is this coming interview with Mr. -Fanks. I wanted you to see him so as to disarm any suspicions which he -may entertain. Still, I wish you to take no part in the conversation." - -"But why?" asked Ted, with a frown. "I can't leave you to fight my -battle." - -"You must in this case," replied Anne, "you are a dear, good fellow, -Ted, but you allow your heart to govern your head." - -"That is very true. And it is the reverse with you, Anne." - -"Not so far as you are concerned, Ted. I am as weak as water with you. -If you see me hard to other people you must set it down to the severe -training I have had in the school of adversity. I am only a girl in -years, but I am a woman in experience." - -"You are the dearest and bravest woman in the whole world," said -Hersham fondly, kissing her hand, "and if happiness comes to us in the -future, it will be through you. I shall do what you say and hold my -tongue. But, my darling, are you sure that you can cope with Fanks." - -"I do not know as I have only seen him, but once we cross swords and I -shall soon learn my strength. I have a large stake to fight for, and -the remembrance of that will make me desperate." - -"Well," said Ted, dolefully, "we cannot turn back now. The enemy is -within our gates, and we must fight. 'Vę victis.'" - -"You may well say that," said Anne, bitterly. "'Woe to the vanquished' -indeed. Come let us go to the house and see my mother, but you must -say nothing to her about our conversation. She knows as much as is -good for her, and her health will not stand any great shock." - -"In that case," observed Hersham, as they strolled up the path, "you -must not let her see Fanks." - -"Trust me, Ted. Forewarned is forearmed." - -Mrs. Colmer was delighted to see Ted, for he was a great favourite -with the invalid. She had no suspicion of what had brought him down in -so unexpected a manner, and chatted to the young man in the most -cheerful of spirits. Meanwhile Anne gave her lover a cup of tea, and -cut him some sandwiches. All the time she was straining her ears to -catch the fall of the knocker on the front door. Every moment she -expected to bear the crash which would announce the arrival of the -detective, and as the minutes went by her nerves became strained to -their utmost pitch. Ted saw what she suffered, but in the presence of -Mrs. Colmer he could say nothing, and the old lady went chattering on. -There was something cruelly ironical about the situation. - -At last, Hersham could bear the suspense no longer, and making some -excuse to Mrs. Colmer, he drew Anne out into the passage. There he -placed his hands on her shoulders. - -"Are you afraid?" he said, anxiously. "Are you afraid of the coming -interview with this man?" - -"Yes," said Anne, and shivered; the colour had left her cheeks, and -she suddenly appeared older, and more haggard. - -"Why are you afraid? Because of your visit to those chambers?" - -"That and another thing." - -"Does the other thing concern yourself." - -"Yes. It concerns a visit to London on that night." - -"Heavens! Where did you go?" - -Before Anne could answer, a sharp knock came to the door, which drove -all the blood into their hearts. - -They looked at one another, for they now felt that the danger was on -them. What would happen within the next hour. - -"Where did you go on that night?" asked Hersham, hoarsely. - -"To Tooley's Alley--to the Red Star Hotel." - -"Anne, Anne. And you saw--" - -Anne nodded. "Yes," she said, steadily, "I saw." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. -TWO AGAINST ONE. - - -On arriving at Taxton-on-Thames Fanks had taken up his abode at the -Royal Arms Hotel. It was his intention to make inquiries about Sir -Louis Fellenger, Dr. Binjoy, and the negro servant of the latter. -Ignorant that he had been thwarted by Hersham, he had also intended to -interview Anne Colmer without loss of time, before she could see or -even hear from her lover. The intercepted telegram proved conclusively -that this girl knew something which Hersham did not want her to -reveal; and in the absence--as Fanks supposed of all warning--he hoped -to take her at a disadvantage. In this mood he took his way to her -home. - -So far as the detective could see, his future plans depended almost -entirely upon the information which he expected to obtain from this -girl within the next few hours. And in that supposition lay the irony -of the situation. Being in this frame of mind, his astonishment may be -conceived when on the door of Briar Cottage being opened he saw before -him the man whom he thought was at that moment in London. For the -minute he was unable to speak, but recovered himself to ironically -congratulate Hersham on his dexterity in evading the machinery of the -law. In reality Fanks was angered, but he had too much good sense to -give way to bad temper. It was, in his opinion, useless to make bad -worse. - -"So you have stolen a march on me, Hersham," he said sardonically. "I -was doubtful of your honesty in London; I am still more so now. How -did you manage to dodge the traps I laid for you?" - -"By knowing where they were laid," said Hersham, sullenly. "I guessed -you would have the railway stations watched, so I came down here on my -bicycle." - -"A very ingenious idea; you have no doubt warned Miss Colmer not to -answer my questions?" - -"Yes," said Hersham, defiantly; "I have done so. As I did not receive -a reply to my telegram, I guessed that you had intercepted my message -in some way. It has arrived now, when it is too late. To see Miss -Colmer, to warn her, I came down here at the risk of my own safety." - -"Oh!" remarked Fanks, taking note of this injudicious speech. "That is -as much as to say that you risked being arrested by me. I don't know -that you are wrong, my friend. You deserve punishment for your -trickery." - -"You have evidence against me?" - -"I have sufficient to ensure your arrest. On the whole, Hersham," said -the detective, "I should advise you to help me. Otherwise I shall -arrest you within the hour. Take your choice." - -Before Hersham could answer this question Anne appeared at the door -with a pale face and a determined manner. At once she intervened in -the conversation, and placed herself between the two men. - -"There is no necessity to threaten, Mr. Fanks," said she, quickly. -"Come inside, and let us discuss this matter calmly. I am sure that -Mr. Hersham will agree that this is the best course." - -The journalist nodded sullenly, and the two men passed into the house, -conducted by Anne. She led them into a room, the window of which -looked on to the road, and here, when they were seated, she addressed -herself more particularly to Hersham. - -"You were wrong to speak as you did to Mr. Fanks," she said meaningly. -"There is no reason why you or I should conceal anything. I am -perfectly willing to tell all that I know--which is not much--and to -afford this gentleman every information in my power." - -"You will regret it if you do, Anne," said Hersham, warningly. - -"You will regret it if you don't," interposed Fanks. "I really do not -understand why you should act in this childish manner. I have always -been your friend, yet you treat me a though I were your bitterest -enemy." - -"You are trying to trap me." - -"If your conscience is clear I do not think you need be afraid of -being trapped," retorted Fanks; "but it seems useless to hope for any -sense from you. Perhaps this young lady may be more amenable to -reason." - -"You can depend upon me to help you, Mr. Fanks," said Anne, calmly. - -Hersham rose to his feet with an agitated look on his face. "I shall -leave you to reveal what you think fit," he declared. "At the same -time I wash my hands of the consequences which may result." - -And with a significant look at Anne, he left the room. - -Fanks gave him a parting warning as he passed through the door. "You -had better stay here, Hersham," he said, "as I may want to see you -again. Whether you stay or go I can lay my hands on you at any -moment." - -"You are having me watched?" questioned Hersham, fiercely. - -"Yes, I am having you watched; and you may thank yourself that you are -placed in so unpleasant a position. Now, then, will you go to London, -or stay here?" - -Hersham hesitated for a moment, then, biassed by a look from Anne, he -compromised. "I shall stay in the village," he said, and passed -through the open door, leaving the detective with Miss Colmer. - -Strange to say, Fanks was by no means at his ease with this woman the -more so, as he mistrusted her promise to tell him all she knew. She -had deceived him by flying from the chambers in Half-Moon Street; she -might again mislead him with false reports. If she had anything to -conceal, this ready acquiescence hinted that she would not tell her -secret; and the detective was far more distrustful of her craft than -of the foolish behaviour of Hersham. He might combat obstinacy with -more or less success, but to deal with a diplomatic person like Miss -Colmer, required a dexterous use of all the intelligence he possessed. -Fanks, therefore, prepared for a duel of words; and weighed both -expression, and information, during the ensuing conversation. - -"Well, Mr. Fanks," said Miss Colmer, coolly, "I must congratulate you -on your cleverness in determining my identity; I thought when I left -you in Sir Gregory's chambers that I should be able to elude you -altogether. I was wrong, it seems; you have found me out. Now that you -have done so, may I ask what you want to know?" - -"I want to know a great many things," said Fanks, emulating her -coolness; "but the question is whether you will consent to answer all -my questions?" - -"You can judge for yourself. Ask me what question you will, and I -shall answer to the best of my ability. But," added she, pointedly, -"before you begin, let me ask you one question. Do you suspect that I -have anything to do with the murder of Sir Gregory?" - -"I can't answer that until you have replied to my questions, Miss -Colmer; but, judging from your readiness to afford me information, I -fancy that you do know something of the matter." - -"You are right, I do know something of the matter; but I cannot -promise to tell you who killed Sir Gregory. I know that he was -murdered--no more; and even that information I gained from the -newspapers." - -Fanks made no reply to this remark; whereupon Miss Colmer continued: -"Why do you think that I know anything about the crime? I never met -Sir Gregory." - -"Why did you come to the rooms of Sir Gregory?" replied Fanks. "I -connect you with the murder because of that visit." - -"If you know the story of my poor sister, you know why I came to -Half-Moon Street," said Anne, coldly. "It was to ask the servant, -Robert, for a portrait of Emma, that had been taken from her by Sir -Gregory." - -"I have seen that photograph, Miss Colmer. Did you want it back for -the picture, or because it had some writing on the back?" - -"What writing do you mean?" asked the girl, sharply. - -Fanks produced the celebrated envelope from his pocket. "That is the -writing," he said; "whosoever wrote that, also wrote on the back of -the photograph of your sister. Perhaps you can tell me who is the -scribe." - -Miss Colmer looked earnestly at the envelope, and shook her head. "I -never saw that writing before," she said, decisively. - -"Yet you can see that the post mark is of this village." - -"So it appears; nevertheless. I cannot name the writer; and I cannot -understand why you show it to me." - -"Well, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, disappointed with this answer, "when -I find out who wrote this envelope I shall know who killed Sir -Gregory." - -"I am sorry I cannot help you, Mr. Fanks. I see that you think the -envelope came from this house, but I assure you that you are wrong. -Both my mother and myself considered Sir Gregory a villain because of -his treatment of poor Emma; but we did not wish his death. If you came -here to find the assassin you have wasted your time. I know nothing -about the matter." - -"Then what is it that Hersham did not wish you to reveal?" - -"Nothing; he wished me to deny that I had been at the chambers of Sir -Gregory on that day, lest you should think I had something to do with -the murder." - -"Oh!" said Fanks, disbelievingly. "And did Hersham wish you to deny -also that you had been in Tooley's Alley on the night of the murder?" - -Anne became pale at the directness of this attack, and took refuge in -a plain denial. "I was not there," she said, obstinately. "Neither on -that night nor at any time." - -"Pardon me, I saw you myself." - -"You must have been mistaken." - -"I think not. Yours is not a face I could easily forget." - -"Thank you for the compliment," said Anne, "but in this case I am -afraid it is unmerited. I was not at Tooley's Alley on that night. If -you doubt me, you can ask my mother." - -"No!" said Fanks, after a moment's reflection, "I shall not ask your -mother--yet." As a matter of fact, the detective was well assured that -mother and daughter had prepared an alibi in case of discovery. Not -being ready to analyse the matter, by reason of lack of information, -and certain that Anne would persist in her denial, he wisely postponed -all discussion until a more fitting occasion. He, therefore, on the -face of it, accepted Anne's assertion, and merely remarked that -Hersham was foolish to induce her to conceal what had better have been -told. - -To this, Anne replied, promptly: "You must forgive him, Mr. Fanks," -she said. "He knows that I hated Sir Gregory for his treatment of my -sister; and he fancies that my unlucky visit might implicate me in -this matter. But I have told you the reason I went there; so you must -blame or excuse me as you see fit." - -"I shall do neither, at present," said Fanks, significantly. "But I -shall ask you why you ran away from me on that day?" - -"I was afraid of you." - -"Why, you did not know me; you never saw me before." - -"I saw your portrait," said Miss Colmer, frankly. "You gave one to -Ted--Mr. Hersham--and he told me that you were a detective. When I saw -you in those chambers I guessed that you had the case in hand; and I -was seized with a panic fear lest you should suspect me to be mixed up -in the crime. For that reason I fled. How did you trace me?" - -"It was wrong of you to go, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, not replying -directly, "and I was naturally suspicious of your flight." - -"But you don't suspect me now?" - -"Not since you have explained your visit. You ask me how I traced you. -First, from your marvellous resemblance to your dead sister; and, -secondly, from the post mark on this envelope. As I told you, the -writing on envelope and portrait are the same. You see the -connection?" - -"Yes. I see the connection. And now, Mr. Fanks, I have told you all I -know; is there any other question you wish to ask me?" - -"Yes. Where was this photograph taken you wanted?" - -"In this village." - -"Was it your sister's possession?" - -"It was; it was the only photograph we had of her. The negative was -broken and there was no picture of my sister in existence. After the -death, my mother wanted this picture; and, as I guessed that it might -be at Sir Gregory's chambers, I went up for it." - -"Did you see it in your sister's possession before she went away with -Sir Gregory?" - -"Yes. She took it from here when she went to London." - -"Was there any writing on the back then?" - -Anne reflected a moment. "No," she said. "There was no writing on it -then." - -"Do you think your sister wrote on the back of the portrait before she -committed suicide?" - -"If the writing on the back of the photograph is the same as that on -this letter--or rather, envelope--I do not think she wrote it. This is -not my sister's handwriting." - -"You cannot think who wrote it?" - -"No, Mr. Fanks; I am entirely ignorant of that." - -Needless to say, Fanks took his departure from Briar Cottage in a very -puzzled frame of mind. Before leaving, he told Miss Colmer that he -would call again the next day. When he got back to his hotel he asked -himself how much of her story he could believe; and he came to the -conclusion that not one word of it was true. He was as far off -discovery as ever. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. -ON THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JUNE. - - -Up to the present time the visit of Fanks to Taxton-on-Thames had been -a complete failure. He had been thwarted by Hersham; he more than -suspected that he had been tricked by Anne; and he saw no means of -obtaining any information likely to lead to the elucidation of the -mystery which enveloped the death of Sir Gregory Fellenger. It was in -very low spirits that the detective returned to the Royal Arms, and -after a good dinner, which somewhat cheered him, he sat down with a -pipe to consider what he should do next. - -He had no hope of obtaining any information from Hersham or Anne -Colmer, as for some reason or another each of them declined to speak. -Fanks thought they could put him on the right track if they pleased; -but he saw no means by which he could force them to speak openly. In -spite of his threats he could arrest neither of them, as he had not -sufficient evidence to do so. Unable, therefore, to force or to -flatter them into plain speaking, he was completely baffled in his -efforts to solve the enigma in this direction. For the time being he -was at a standstill. - -In this dilemma he left the decision regarding his future movements to -"chance," and, in the expectation of hearing something of value to his -plans, he strolled into the tap-room of the hotel. Here he hoped to -find the village gossips, and to gather from their idle talk -information concerning Sir Louis Fellenger, Dr. Binjoy, and the negro -servant. However, there was no one in the room save a bent and crooked -old man, with a pair of keen eyes. He was seated in a corner of the -settle, with a tankard of beer before him; and with garrulous -complacency he introduced himself as Simeon Wagg, the parish clerk of -Taxton-on-Thames. He had a long tongue and a fund of gossip at his -disposal; and he was ready to afford Fanks all the information in his -power about the parish and its inhabitants. - -"I hev more edication than the most folk about here," piped this -ancient. "Theer ain't much as I don't know if I do so choose. Thirty -year, sir, hey I bin official in this yer church an' village; and I've -buried an' married an' christened wi' five passons. They come, they -go; but old Simeon he staay like t' church itself. He! he! he!" - -"I suppose you know Sir Louis Fellenger?" - -"I knaw Mr. Louis Fellenger," corrected the aged gossip. "He warn't no -barrownit when I seed him. Now he hev gone inter th' 'Ouse of Lors, es -I hev heard. But he was in the third 'ouse es you go down by Fox's -Farm. Aw, yis, I knaws him; sold hisself to Ould Scratch, he did." - -"What do you mean, Mr. Wagg?" - -"Whoy, this ere Mister Fellenger he was a-pothicary an' a chimist, an' -he raised the 'nemy of mankin', as the saaying goes. An' they do saay -es the black maan wor a devil, from all of which Good Loord deliv'r -us, es I ses i' t' church." - -"Did you know Dr. Binjoy?" - -"Aye! He were laarge an' beer-baarel like; aw, vis, an' the woords he -sid, passon culdn't spake like he. He wint awaay wi' Mister Fellenger -t' be a barrownit, es I hey heaard tell." - -"Did the negro servant go with them?" - -"Aw, no. T' blaack devil he was turned out o' doors on t' twenty -first, he was. I know t' toime, I do, 'cause blaack maan he nearly run -me over on his bikikle, he did." - -Fanks pricked up his ears at this. It was on the twenty-first that the -murder had been committed in London. He addressed himself with renewed -attention to the task of extracting information from this piece of -antiquity. - -"How was it that the negro nearly ran over you on his bicycle?" - -"Naow, I'll jes' tell ye, I will," said Simeon, settling himself for a -long story. "This yere blaack maan--Caesar is his name--he worn a -grean coat wi' brass buttons, he did. I knawed him in t' dark by that -coat, I did." - -"Was it in the dark that he ran over you?" asked Fanks. - -"Aye; it jes' were, Mister. I was on t' Lunon Roaad, I was; about -nine, es I cud tell by t' striking clock fro' t' church. An' this yere -blaack maan he coom along, he did, on t' divil machine, an' he laaid -me flaat on my back, he did; an' I bean't so yooung es I was, Mister. -I shoated to he, but he niver saaid nothing, he didn't. He run on an' -left me lying on my baack in t' durt, he did. I were main aangry, I -were." - -"I don't wonder at it, Mr. Wagg," said Fanks, amiably. "But how did -you know it was the negro Caesar?" - -"I seed his groan coaat, I tell 'ee; his face were muffled oop-like, -but his coaat were plaain in t' gaas lamp, it were. I hev seen t' -coaat heaps of times, I hev. An' t' nex' day he were sent away, he -were." - -This story made Fanks wonder if Caesar had been up to town on the -twenty-first. A negro had committed the murder in Tooley's Alley -between six and seven. So if he returned to Taxton-on-Thames on a -bicycle there was plenty of time for him to come down before nine -o'clock, or, as the old man said, after nine o'clock. A good wheelman -could easily cover the distance between London and Taxton-on-Thames in -two hours. Again, Mrs. Boazoph had sworn that the murderer had been -arrayed in a green coat with brass buttons; and this description -matched that of the negro who had so nearly run over Wagg on the -London Road. Time and date corresponded; and then the negro had been -dismissed the next day--he had been smuggled out of the way by his -master. On the whole, Fanks thought that matters looked rather black -against the stout doctor. He proceeded with his enquiries. - -"Did Dr. Binjoy discharge his servant, or did Sir Louis?" - -"Weel theer naow," said the aged one, taking the pipe out of his -mouth, "blamed if I knaw who did give him t' kickout. Muster -Fellenger, he were ill, he were, an' hed bin fur weeks; t' doctor he -was wi' him, he was, an' I niver saaw one of 'en--an' naw one else es -I heerd of did, fur daays an' daays. But Missus Jerusalem, she es is -t' housekeeper t' Muster Fellenger, she said es haow Caesar hed bin -turned awaay. He got off fro' t' village, he did; an' I niver see'd -him since, I didn't. Then t' cousin of Muster Louis died, he did; an' -Muster Fellenger he went awaay wi' doctor to be barrownit, he did." - -"You don't think that Dr. Binjoy was up in London on the night you met -Caesar on the bicycle?" - -"Noa, sir, I doan't. Whoy Muster Fellenger he were ill, he were; an' -t' doctor he kep in t' sick room, he did. No one iver saaw him for -daays, they didn't." - -From this information, it seemed to Fanks as though there were an -understanding between Sir Louis and the doctor. This old creature who -represented the village opinion was quite sure that Dr. Binjoy had -been in attendance on Fellenger on the night of the twenty-first. Yet -Fanks knew by personal observation that Binjoy, under the name of -Renshaw, had been in Tooley's Alley. He would not have returned to -Taxton-on-Thames on that night, as the house in Great Auk Street had -been watched. And yet Fanks had proved beyond all doubt that Renshaw -and Binjoy were one and the same person. Was it possible that Sir -Louis was telling a lie to screen Binjoy from the consequences of his -being in town; and was it possible that the two had employed the -negro, Caesar, to commit the crime, and then had smuggled him out of -the way--say to Bombay--so that he should not betray them. In a word, -were Fellenger and Binjoy guilty of the murder of the cousin of the -former? It seemed impossible; and yet, as Sir Louis was employing -Fanks to hunt down the assassin, it was hard to believe. The -conversation of Simeon Wagg only introduced a new perplexity into this -perplexing case. - -There was nothing more to be got out of the old clerk; so Fanks -retired to bed in a very melancholy frame of mind. He did not know -which way to move in the midst of such contradictory information. The -night brought counsel; and the next morning Fanks arose with a -definite object. He would return to town and advertise for the negro. -Caesar must have left his bicycle somewhere, so if he advertised for a -negro in a green coat with brass buttons, he might find out something. -Those with whom the bicycle had been left would be able to give a -description of the negro who had arrived and departed with it; and so -Fanks hoped to learn if the black murderer of Tooley's Alley was the -same as the servant Caesar of Dr. Binjoy. Regarding the shielding of -the doctor by Louis Fellenger, the detective resolved to leave that -question until he went to Mere Hall and saw the two men together. - -"I am afraid that Crate will have to go to Bombay, after all," said -Fanks to himself as he left the hotel. - -He did not go at once to town, as he wished to see both Hersham and -Anne Colmer; also he was desirous of having an interview with the -mother. Half-way down the street he met with the journalist, who -saluted him in rather a sullen fashion. - -"I was just about to call on you," said Hersham. "I wish to go to town -by the midday train, if you have no objection." - -"You can go as soon as you please," retorted Fanks, "you are not so -much good to me that I care to keep you here." - -"You need not make yourself so infernally disagreeable, Fanks," said -the young man, tartly. "I have told you all I know, and so has Miss -Colmer." - -"As to that, I have my own opinion, Hersham. I certainly think that -you and she have a secret between you which you will not share with -me." - -"It does not concern you." - -"Ah, you have a secret, then?" - -"Yes, I have, but it is private business, and has nothing to do with -the death of that titled scoundrel." - -"I should like to judge of that for myself," said Fanks, coldly. -"However, I daresay I'll find out all I wish to know without your -assistance." - -Hersham came forward, and laid his hand on the arm of the detective. -"I say, Fanks," he observed, earnestly, "I know I'm not treating you -well, but you must make allowances for the natural fear I feel at -being brought into contact with the law. I know something; and I -should like to tell it to you, but I can't make up my mind to do -so--yet. Still, I give you my word of honour that if you ask me again -next week I shall tell you all; I shall place my life and liberty in -your hands." - -"Good heavens, man!" cried the startled Fanks. "You don't mean to say -that you are concerned in the murder?" - -"No, I am not, but when I tell you all, you will see why I did not -speak before. Give me a week to make up my mind." - -"I'll give you the week," said the detective, briefly, and without -further speech, Hersham took his leave in an abrupt manner, evidently -relieved to be so dismissed. - -On presenting himself at Briar Cottage, Fanks was at once admitted, -and was shown by the servant--a neat-handed Phyllis--into a different -sitting-room from the one he had seen before. In a large chair by the -window which looked out on the garden, an old lady was seated. She was -dressed completely in white; and the lower part of her body was -swathed in a shawl of Chinese crape. Her face was pale and careworn, -and her eyes were red-rimmed as from constant crying. An open Bible -lay on her lap, and from this she raised her eyes as Fanks entered. He -had little hesitation in guessing that this was Mrs. Colmer, the -paralytic mother of the living Anne and the dead Emma. - -"You must excuse my rising to receive you," she said in a low and -sweet voice, "but I am unable to move hand or foot. Doubtless, my -daughter has told you of my affliction. My daughter will see you -presently." - -Fanks bowed, and there was a silence between them for a few moments. -He glanced round the neatly furnished room; at the pictures and -photographs; but among them all he could not see one of the dead Emma. - -At the elbow of Mrs. Colmer, on a small table, stood a pile of -photographs, at which she had evidently been looking prior to his -entrance, and Fanks surmised that a portrait of Emma might be there. -He was anxious to discover one, if possible, as Anne had denied that -there was a photograph of her sister in existence save the one which -she had sought at Sir Gregory's chambers. Fanks thought that if he -could find another in the pile at Mrs. Colmer's elbow he would be able -to convict Anne out of her own mouth, and expose the falsity of the -motive she gave for her visit. He cast about for some means whereby to -accomplish his purpose. - -"You will excuse me, Mrs. Colmer," he said, rising from his seat, "but -that is an excellent picture of the Bay of Naples." - -He had crossed over to the other side of the room to look at the -picture, and so found himself standing by the small table which held -the sundry pictures. In turning away he pretended to stumble, and so -knocked over the table and photographs. - -"Thousand apologies," said Fanks, in confusion, stooping to pick them -up. - -He looked in vain for the face he sought; but he made a discovery -which startled him not a little. The last photograph which he picked -up off the carpet was one of--Mrs. Boazoph. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. -THE DEFIANCE OF ANNE COLMER. - - -Before Fanks could remark on the strangeness of this discovery, the -door opened and Anne entered the room. With characteristic quickness -she recognised the photograph in the hand of the detective. At once -she came forward, and signed to him to be silent. At the same time she -spoke to her mother. - -"Mr. Fanks has been shown into this room by mistake," she said, -hurriedly; "so with your permission, mother, I shall conduct him into -the next room." - -"As you please, Anne; you know best." - -Accepting this permission Anne drew Fanks quickly into the passage, -and led him into the apartment he had seen on the occasion of his last -visit. He still held the photograph in his hand; and at this she -looked anxiously as she signed to him that he should take a seat. -Fanks placed himself in a comfortable armchair; Miss Colmer took up -her position opposite to him, and both prepared for a difficult -conversation. As was natural from her late action, she made an -observation on the picture of Mrs. Boazoph. - -"I see that you recognise that face," said Anne, coolly; "no doubt you -wonder how that photograph came to be in this house?" - -"I do wonder. Am I to hear the truth from you, Miss Colmer?" - -"Certainly; there is no reason why I should tell you a lie." - -Man and woman looked directly into one another's eyes, and a look of -mutual distrust passed between them. It was Fanks who first took up -the unspoken challenge. - -"I think you would tell me a lie if there was anything to be gained or -concealed by it," said the detective, dryly. - -"You are not far out there," returned Anne, coolly. "I am above petty -moral doubts in such circumstances. But in this instance, Mr. Fanks, I -have nothing to gain or to lose by telling a falsehood. You saw Mr. -Hersham this morning," she added abruptly and irrelevantly. - -"Yes. Have I you to thank for the alteration in his demeanour?" - -"You have; I persuaded him to tell you all. Has he done so?" - -"No; he has postponed the confession for a week." - -"What foolish weakness," muttered Anne, with a sigh. "I wish he had -told you this morning." - -"Do you? Why?" - -"Because you may find out that which he wished to hide before he can -brace his mind to a confession. I love Edward Hersham dearly, Mr. -Fanks; but I can see his faults and weakness of character as plainly -as you can. I entreated him to tell you all at once. He consented; yet -you see when it comes to the point his feebleness makes him shrink -from the ordeal." - -"You hint at danger to Hersham. May I ask if it is connected with the -committal of this crime? - -"No, you may not, Mr. Fanks. Edward can tell you the truth for himself -in a week; he is foolish but he is not guilty." - -Fanks was at once piqued and delighted with this woman. She was so -clever and so inscrutable that he could not help respecting her. For -the first time for many days he had met with a woman with the mind of -a man; and he felt that he would need all his intelligence to beat -her. On the other hand, he was not unprepared to expect defeat in -place of victory. - -"What would you say, Miss Colmer, if I told you that I had found the -assassin of Sir Gregory?" he asked, craftily. - -"I should at once congratulate you, and doubt you," was the quick -response. "No, Mr. Fanks, you are not yet successful, else you would -not come to see me, nor would you be astonished at seeing the -photograph of Mrs. Boazoph." - -"You know her, it seems?" - -"I do; but my mother does not know her under that name." - -"What do you mean?" - -Miss Colmer made no immediate reply. She compressed her beautiful lips -tightly together, and looked out of the window. - -"I see that I shall have to make a confidant of you, sir," she said, -slowly, "although I do not recognise your claim to demand an -explanation." - -"Pardon me, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, with the utmost politeness, "the -law gives me every right. By your visit to Half-Moon Street where the -murdered man lived you implicated yourself in the matter. I can see by -the hints of yourself and Hersham that you both know more than you -choose to tell; and as I am deputed to search out the truth, I can -call on you to reveal all you know." - -"I made my confession yesterday." - -"Was it the truth?" - -"It was the truth so far as it went." - -"Ah! then there is more to tell?" - -"Yes," said Anne, after a pause; "there is more to tell; but not yet, -not yet." - -Fanks leaned forward and looked into her eyes. "Miss Colmer," he said -in a low tone, "tell me who killed Sir Gregory?" - -"I do not know; I swear I do not know. See here, Mr. Fanks," she -cried, suddenly, "I do not know the truth, but I have an inkling of -the truth; I may be wrong; I fervently trust that I am wrong; still I -am doubtful; very, very doubtful. I can't tell you of my suspicions: -they might get an innocent person into trouble." - -"Are you alluding to Hersham?" - -"I decline to say; by my advice Mr. Hersham is about to tell you all -he knows; I cannot take the words out of his mouth; he would never -forgive me; and I do not wish to lose his love." - -"Then you mean Mrs. Boazoph?" - -"I refuse to speak; I shall leave you if you ask further questions," -she said, almost fiercely. "You nearly discovered what I think is the -truth in those chambers; I did not know that you were there, but I -went up to Half-Moon Street to prevent the truth being discovered, if -I could. I failed because you were present." - -Fanks sat up alertly. She had given him a clue. "Is the truth to be -discovered in Half-Moon Street?" he asked, eagerly. - -Anne moistened her dry lips, and turned away her face. "Yes! I believe -it is," she murmured, "and I hope you will never discover it." - -She was so moved that Fanks thought she was about to faint. With -considerable dexterity he left the question alone for a time and -turned the conversation toward the subject of Mrs. Boazoph. - -"You have not yet told me about this portrait," he said, gently. - -"I will do so now," said Anne, recovering her nerve, "Mrs. Boazoph is -my mother's sister; she is my aunt." - -"Oh!" said Fanks, considerably astonished, "then how is it that your -mother does not know the name of Boazoph?" - -"Because she only knows her sister as Mrs. Bryant." - -"But I do not understand," said Fanks, rather bewildered. - -"The matter is easy of explanation. My mother is a gentlewoman, -although we keep a shop; and she is very proud of her birth and blood. -The behaviour of my sister nearly killed her. You can, therefore, -guess what she would think of my aunt, Mrs. Boazoph, did she know that -she kept a notorious hotel in Tooley's Alley; and was so well known to -the police as she is." - -Fanks looked at this woman in astonishment. It was so strange to hear -her speak in this manner of her own flesh and blood. Anne noticed his -astonishment; and a faint blush crept over her cheek. "I see what you -are thinking of, Mr. Fanks. But I know my aunt; she has told me all -about her unhappy life. Believe me, she is more to be pitied than -blamed." - -"Like Hersham?" said Links, dryly. - -"Yes, like Mr. Hersham," she retorted, defiantly. "My aunt made an -unhappy marriage with a man far beneath her. His name was Bryant, not -Boazoph, so my mother only knows her sister by that name. Bryant lost -all his money, and was set up by some of his friends in the Red Star, -in Tooley's Alley. There, from some shame at his fall, he called -himself Boazoph. When he died, my aunt carried on the business; and I -daresay you know all the rest of her life." - -Fanks nodded. "I suppose Mrs. Boazoph visits you occasionally, as Mrs. -Bryant?" he said, inquisitively. - -"She comes once or twice in the year; and, for my mother's sake, I see -her; but I do not approve of Mrs. Boazoph's misguided life, and I am -not what you would call friendly with her." - -"Yours is indeed an unfortunate family," said Fanks, bluntly, and with -less of his usual courtesy. "Your sister driven to her death by that -dead scoundrel; your aunt one of the most notorious women in London; -your mother paralysed; your lover mixed up in this murder." - -Anne lost her temper at this brutal speech, which was just what Fanks -wished her to do, and why he had made it. Inherently a gentleman, he -would never have thought of taunting the poor girl with the crime and -follies of her family had he not desired to get the better of her; but -in this instance he desired to make her angry; and took this way--an -unworthy way it must be confessed. With a burst of indignation, Anne -rose to her feet. - -"I always understood that you were a gentleman, Mr. Fanks," she said -bitterly, "but I see I am mistaken. If you think to trap me into -helping you by insulting my family, you are mistaken. I shall tell you -nothing--now." - -"Perhaps I may force you to help me," said Fanks, looking very wicked. - -"I am afraid not. In what way do you hope to accomplish so impossible -a task?" - -"Why," said Fanks, keeping his eyes fixed on her face, "by arresting -your lover." - -"You dare not." - -"I dare! I dare anything. Look you here, Miss Colmer, I am -growing tired of being in the dark; and rather than remain in it any -longer, I shall resort to strong measures. In some way--of which you -know--Hersham is mixed up in this crime. If you won't be persuaded to -tell, you must be forced to speak out, if only to save Hersham from -being tried for the crime. I shall arrest him." - -"Do so; and you will only be the loser by so rash an action." - -Fanks walked to the door. "Good day, Miss Colmer, I shall do as I say; -and the blame will lie at your door." - -Anne said nothing; but, very pale and very determined, she stood -looking at Fanks. He admired her for the way in which she was -fighting, and he privately considered that if the way to the truth lay -through Anne Colmer, there was small chance of it being discovered. He -made one more attempt to induce her to speak. - -"Come," he said, pleadingly, "be advised; save yourself and Hersham, -by telling the truth." - -"I don't know the truth, I only guess it." - -"Your guess may be the correct one; let me know what it is?" - -"No, no, no!" - -"You won't speak?" - -"No. Not for worlds." - -It was plain that whatever she knew she would not reveal, so Fanks, -shaking his head, left the room. When he was out of the door, Anne -broke down, and, falling into a chair, she burst into tears. Yet she -had no idea of yielding: for better or worse the die was cast, and if -Hersham was arrested, at her door would lie the ruin and disgrace of -his life. Truly, it was a powerful reason which made Anne conceal the -truth at the expense of her lover's liberty, and--it might be--of his -life. - -As for Fanks, he went off to the station, and caught the train to -town. He had gone to Taxton-on-Thames full of hope of success; he left -it beaten on every point--and by a woman. His sole chance of learning -anything further lay in advertising for the negro; and in the chance -that Hersham would confess next week. Anne Colmer was as silent as the -Sphinx; all the same, Fanks had not done with that young lady. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. -THE GREEN OVERCOAT. - - -It may be here mentioned that Fanks had no intention of arresting -Hersham at the present time, he had threatened to do so in order to -induce Anne to speak out; but this having failed, he thought no more -about the matter. The journalist was being watched, and he could be -arrested at any moment; so Fanks was quite at his ease on that score. -The slightest false step, and Hersham would find himself within the -walls of a jail; but up to the present time Fanks had not collected -sufficient evidence against him to warrant any magistrate authorising -his imprisonment. The confession of the next week might bring about -the intervention of the law, but till then Fanks left Hersham under -the eye of the watching detective, and devoted himself to searching -for the mysterious negro who had worn the green coat with brass -buttons. - -It may seem strange to the reader that so astute a man as Mr. Fanks -should advertise for a negro, when he was confident that the only -negro connected with the matter was in Bombay. But this apparent -riddle will be explained when Mr. Fanks receives the expected answer -to his paragraph in the "Morning Planet." This appeared two days after -he left Taxton-on-Thames, and read as follows:-- - -"Ten pounds reward will be given to any person who can inform -advertiser of the whereabouts of a black man dressed in a green coat -with brass buttons. Twenty pounds will be given to anyone who can give -information as to the movements of the said black man on the night of -the twenty-first of June last, between the hours of six and nine. -Apply Messrs. Vaud and Vaud, Lincoln's Inn Fields." - -It cannot be said that this advertisement was a masterpiece of -composition, but the clumsy wording was due to Crate, and Crate not -being a scholar had written it in such a fashion. Fanks commented on -its prolixity to the author himself on the morning of its appearance. - -"You could have shortened that advertisement considerably," he said, -smiling. "I never saw so roundabout a request for information." - -"What does it' matter?" replied Crate, growing rather red. "I ain't no -scholar, Mr. Fanks, and I did the best I could. If, the fish bites, -sir, that is all you want." - -"I hope the fish will bite, Crate," said Fanks, fretfully; "if not, I -do not know what I shall do. Never have I been so unlucky as over this -case. Everything seems to go wrong with me. But if I can find anyone -who saw this negro on the night of the murder we my hear strange -things." - -"About Mrs. Boazoph and Dr. Binjoy?" - -"About Miss Colmer and Hersham. Though to be sure such information may -run me into a blind alley. By the way, did Mr. Garth call to see me in -my absence?" - -"Twice, sir." - -"The deuce!" muttered Fanks, with a frown. "I wonder why he is so -anxious over this case?" - -"I think I can tell you that, sir." - -"And I think I can guess what you are about to say," retorted Fanks. -"However, let me hear your theory." - -"Well, I may be wrong," said Crate, modestly, "but it seems to me that -this Mr. Garth is anxious to find out that Sir Louis Fellenger is -concerned in the murder of his cousin, because----" - -"Because he wants to inherit the Fellenger title and property as next -heir," finished Fanks, smartly. - -"Exactly, sir; what do you think of my theory?" - -"There may be something in it, Crate," replied Fanks, thoughtfully; -"of course, Mr. Garth comes into the Fellenger estates on the death of -the present baronet. But," he added, emphatically, "we know that this -negro actually killed Sir Gregory, so Louis could only be associated -with the case as an accessory before the fact. Therefore he could not -be hanged, even if the case were proved against him. Where would Mr. -Garth be then? In such an event the estates would probably be thrown -into Chancery while Sir Louis was undergoing imprisonment, and would -not come to Garth for years. Your idea is a good one, Crate, but I do -not see how it would benefit our friend." - -Crate scratched his chin. "I suppose that Mr. Garth is lawyer enough -to know all that," he said, grudgingly, "and wouldn't risk his neck -for the mere chance of such a thing. He----" - -"Ah! now you are on another track. Mr. Garth may be anxious to prove -the case against Sir Louis, but I do not think he killed Sir Gregory -himself." - -"Oh, I know who you think is guilty, Mr. Fanks. All the same, I do not -agree with you; and I should not be surprised if this Garth turned out -to be the real criminal." - -"Garth isn't a negro." - -"I guess you have your own ideas about that negro, Mr. Fanks." - -The detective smiled and rose from his seat. "I guess I have, Mr. -Crate. You are improving, my friend; and you are beginning to see -further than your nose. I should not wonder if I made something of you -yet. So you suspect Garth?" - -With becoming modesty, but a good deal of emphasis, Crate asserted -that he did, and moreover said that if permitted by his superior -officer he would have great pleasure in proving his case against the -barrister. To this Fanks assented readily enough. - -"Prove your case by all means, Crate," he said, dryly. "I do not agree -with you in the least; all the same I am always open to correction. -One thing only I ask. You must tell me all you do, all you discover, -as I do not wish you to cross my trail." - -This Crate assented to without demur, and Fanks departed to Duke -Street, where he changed his clothes for the more stylish ones of -Rixton. Thence he went to the Athenian Club, and, as he expected, -found Garth in the smoking-room. The lean lawyer looked so haggard and -worn out that Fanks wondered if there might not be more in Crate's -theory than appeared at first sight. But he rejected this idea almost -as soon as it crossed his mind; he was confident that the true -assassin of Sir Gregory was--but that revelation comes later. In the -meantime he greeted Garth with his customary coolness, and sat down -beside him with a view to learning all that had transpired during his -absence. - -"Were you waiting for me here?" he asked, lighting a cigarette. - -"Not exactly," replied Garth, with some hesitation. "I hoped that you -would come in here sooner or later, and I wished to see you. But at -present I am waiting for Herbert Vaud." - -"Really! Do you expect him shortly?" - -Garth looked at his watch. "He ought to be here now." - -"What do you wish to see him about?" asked Fanks, eyeing his companion -keenly; "anything about this case?" - -Garth nodded. "Yes; young Vaud knew Emma Calvert, and I wish to learn -if she is really dead." - -"You can set your mind at rest on that point," said Fanks, coolly. -"Emma Calvert is six feet below the soil of Pere la Chaise." - -"But the woman who appeared at my cousin's chambers; the woman whom -Robert said was she." - -"That is Anne Colmer, the twin sister of the dead woman." - -"Anne Colmer! She is engaged to Ted Hersham." - -"She is. I have been down to Taxton-on-Thames, and I have found out -all the family history." - -"Have you found out who wrote on the back of the photograph; who -directed that envelope?" - -"No," said Fanks, gloomily, "I have not discovered anything yet about -that." - -"Do you think that Anne Colmer wrote it?" - -"I am certain from personal observation that Anne Colmer did not." - -"Did her mother?" - -"Impossible. Mrs. Colmer is a hopeless paralytic." - -"Then who wrote it?" - -"That is just what I have to learn. I am no further in the case than I -was when I saw you last. Have you discovered anything?" - -"No; but I had hoped to have learned about Emma from Herbert." - -"Well," said Fanks, with a sigh, "we know all about Herbert Vaud; we -are aware of the identity of Emma Calvert. It is not in that direction -we must search. Our only chance of finding out the truth, lies in -discovering this negro." - -"I saw your advertisement in the 'Morning Planet.' Anybody who can -give information is to call at the office of Vaud and Vaud, I see." - -"I thought it best that they should receive the information," said -Fanks, "seeing that they are the solicitors of Sir Louis. I hope that -something will turn up; but I am doubtful; I am very doubtful." - -At this moment the waiter brought in a telegram to Mr. Garth. The -barrister opened it, and uttered an ejaculation of surprise. After a -pause, he handed the telegram to Fanks. "Queer, isn't it?" he said. - -Fanks looked at the message, which ran as follows: "Cannot see you -to-day; have to wait in to see Fanks about advertisement. H. Vaud." - -"Humph!" said Fanks, rising briskly to his feet, "it is strange that I -should be here with you; and stranger still that the advertisement -should be answered so promptly. I told Vaud to write to Scotland Yard -should anything turn up; but this will save me a journey." - -"Can I come with you?" - -"If you like; I must call at my room first," said Fanks. "By the way, -my friend," he added, turning sharply on Garth, "you don't know -anything about this very apropos telegram?" - -"Good Lord, no! How should I? You don't think that I sent it?" - -"No, I don't. But it is--no matter. Let us get on; there is no time to -lose." - -As a matter of fact, Fanks did not like the look of things at all. He -was naturally suspicious of this telegram, fitted in so very neatly -with the subject of their conversation, that he thought Garth might -know more of it than he had chosen to say. But a moment's reflection -convinced him that he suspected the lawyer wrongly. Garth did not know -that he was coming to the Athenian Club; therefore, he could not have -made such an arrangement. Fanks dismissed the matter from his mind; -and allowed Garth to come with him to his room. - -In Duke Street he picked up a photograph, and placed it in his pocket. -Garth saw the face of the picture, and whistled. "You don't think that -person has anything to do with it?" he asked, anxiously. - -"This person has to do with the present matter," said Fanks, smartly, -"but I can't say if the person has anything to do with the death in -Tooley's Alley. I am only taking this portrait on chance; I may be -wrong. However, we shall see," and not another word would Fanks say, -until he arrived at Lincoln's Inn Fields. - -Here they found Herbert in his father's room with an apology. "I have -to take the place of my father to-day, Mr. Fanks," said the young -lawyer, who looked ill, "he is not well, and deputed me to see after -this matter." - -"Touching the advertisement?" said Fanks, eagerly. - -"Yes. A man turned up this morning in answer to it. He is waiting in -the next room; and he says that he knows all about the negro you are -in search of." - -"Good. Let us have him in. You do not mind my friend, Mr. Garth, being -present, I hope?" - -"Not at all," replied Herbert, coldly; "that lies more in your hands -than mine. Show in that man who came about the advertisement," he -added to a clerk who entered. - -The gentleman in question entered. A dried-up little man, brisk and -keen-eyed, with a horsey look about him. He glanced sharply at the -three men, pulled his forelock, and proceeded to ask about the reward. - -"I want thirty puns," he said, calmly. - -"Oh, no, you don't," retorted Fanks, "you want ten or twenty. The two -rewards are separate; you must not add them together." - -"But I can tell of the whereabouts of this negro; and I can tell his -movements. I know all about him, so I ought to get both rewards." - -"You'll get either the ten or the twenty," said Fanks. "Now no more -talk; what is your name?" - -"Berry Jawkins; I am barman at the Eight Bells public on the Richmond -Road." - -"Ho; Ho!" muttered Fanks, "I thought as much." - -"On the twenty-first a nigger came riding a bicycle about eight -o'clock; he came into the bar; and had a drink. He wore a green coat -with brass buttons. After he had his drink, he asked if he might wash -his face. I sent him out to the pump in the back yard; he washed and -came in. Then gents," said the little man, with emphasis, "I got a -surprise, I can tell you." - -"What kind of surprise?" demanded Garth, with an astonished look. - -"Why, sir; that nigger weren't no nigger at all; he were a white man; -as white as you make 'em." - -"A white man," said Fanks, producing the portrait from his pocket. - -"A white man with a smile and a moustache; a very good-looking sort of -feller," added the barman, "he explained how it was he--" - -"Wait a moment," said Fanks, "is that the man you saw?" - -Berry Jawkins started back in surprise, the moment he set eyes on the -photograph which Fanks had thrust under his nose. "My gum, here's a -start," said Mr. Berry Jawkins. "That's the very identical person who -washed himself at the Eight Bells. How did you come to know of him, -sir?" - -"I suspected it for some time," said Fanks, "do you recognise the -face, Mr. Vaud?" - -Herbert looked at the face, and his countenance reflected the -astonishment of Berry Jawkins and of Garth. - -"Why!" exclaimed the young solicitor, starting back, "it is Ted -Hersham." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. -THE EIGHT BELLS ENIGMA. - - -Although Fanks quite expected this revelation, he was, nevertheless, -rather astonished at its unexpected confirmation. From that bicycle -ride of Hersham's to Taxton-on-Thames to thwart his designs on Anne -Colmer, Fanks had deduced certain suspicions; the hesitation of the -journalist had confirmed those suspicions. Frankly speaking, he -had no reason to connect Hersham with the negro; but he had been -satisfied from the evidence of Simeon Wagg that Caesar--Dr. Binjoy's -servant--had not been away from the Surrey village on that fatal -night. Failing the real negro someone must have personated the black -man; from the behaviour of Hersham, Fanks thought he might be the -person in question. His random shot had hit the bull's-eye; it was -quite an accident that it had done so. - -"I expected as much," said Fanks, again restoring the photograph; to -his pocket-book. "I told you, Garth, that I was right to trust to my -instincts. This discovery explains the extraordinary conduct of -Hersham." - -"In what way?" - -"I shall tell you later on. In the meantime let us hear what this man -has to say." - -He turned towards Berry Jawkins as he spoke, and waited for him to -speak. The barman looked rather downcast, and when he did open his -mouth it was to revert to the subject of the reward. - -"I'm a poor man, gentlemen," he said, in a whining tone, "and I hope -you mean fair about this thirty puns." - -"We mean fair about the twenty pounds, man," said Vaud, sternly. "You -heard what Mr. Fanks said." - -"Oh, yes, I heard fast enough," retorted Berry Jawkins, "and I don't -hold with him; the rewards added together make thirty puns." - -"No doubt they do; but then the rewards are not to be added together," -said Fanks. "You had better tell all you know, Mr. Berry Jawkins, or -I'll look into the matter myself, and then you'll get no reward." - -"Ah you'd go back on me. Well, d'y see, I shan't tell anything." - -Fanks shrugged his shoulders. He had no desire to quarrel with the man -or to waste time in arguing. The only way to induce speech from this -obstinate creature was to pay him the money, which, after all, he had -earned fairly enough. The detective therefore advised Herbert Vaud to -fulfil the terms of the advertisement, which was accordingly done, and -Mr. Jawkins found himself the richer by twenty pounds. - -"Though it should have been thirty puns," said the obstinate creature; -"but there ain't no chance of getting what's fair out of the -aristocracy. I am a Radical, I am, and I goes----" - -"We don't want to have your political opinions, man," said Fanks, -sharply. "Come to the point." - -"I'm coming to it," grumbled Berry Jawkins. "On the night of the -twenty-first I was in the bar. Business was bad that evening, -gentlemen, and there was not a blessed soul in the bar but myself. -Just about eight o'clock I thought as how I might shut up, when the -door opened and in came a black man. He said, 'I've left my bike -outside: I want a drink of Scotch cold,' he ses. And, mind you, I -twigged that he wasn't a nigger when he spoke, and I saw as he was a -gent by the peculiar refinement of his jawing. But as it wasn't my -business, I said nothing till he asked to wash his face. Then I told -him to go round to the pump in the back yard, 'tho'' ses I, 'a gent -like you will want hot water.' 'I ain't a gent,' ses he, 'I'm only a -poor strolling Christy Minstrel,' he ses. Then I laughs, seein' as he -was lying; but he scowls and bolts out to the back. When he comes back -his face was white--as white as you or me--and he had a moustached -like the feller in that photo. In fact, gents, he is the feller in -that photo, as I can swear to in any court of law. Well, he comes back -clean, and finishes his Scotch cold, and goes out. I thinks his manner -queer-like, and goes to the door. He gets on his bike, and goes off -down the road like a house on fire." - -"Which way did he go? To London or down the country?" - -"Oh, down the country, for sure, gents. Well, I didn't say anything -about all this, for I thought as he might be a gent doing a bolt in -disguise; but it wasn't any of my business to split, perticular as he -had given me two shilling, just for fun like. But, all the same, I -keeps my eye on the papers to see if there was anyone wanted. Then I -comes to this Tooley Alley murder, and a description of the negro in a -green coat and brass buttons. 'That's my man,' I ses, 'but hold hard, -Berry Jawkins, and don't say nothing till you see as there is a -reward.' So I waits and waits, till in this morning's paper I sees a -reward of thirty puns----" - -"Twenty pounds!" - -"Very well, gents all, we'll say twenty, tho' to my mind it ought to -be another tenner. But, as I ses, I sees this reward, and comes up to -get it. I have got it," said Jawkins, slapping his pocket, "tho' not -the amount I did expect; now, having told all, I goes, hoping you'll -catch that black-white nigger and hang him, for I think he is a -aristocrat, and I hates them, they being my natural enemies." - -Having heard this history, Fanks let Berry Jawkins go, as there was no -reason why he should be detained. First, however, he found out that -Mr. Jawkins was always to be heard of at the Eight Bells in his -capacity of barman. The man having left the room, Fanks turned towards -Garth and Herbert to see what they thought of the revelation which had -been so unexpectedly made. They returned his gaze, and Garth was the -first to break the silence. - -"Well," he said, in a low tone, "so Hersham is the culprit after all?" - -"Pardon me, Garth; but I do not think that we have proved that yet. -What do you say, Mr. Vaud?" - -"I can say nothing," replied Herbert, coldly. "I have no opinion in -the matter. As my father is absent I am attending to the case by his -desire; but, personally speaking, I would not lift one finger to -discover the assassin--or rather, the punisher of Gregory Fellenger." - -"You hated him then?" said Fanks, quietly. - -"I hated him; I still hate him; even though he is dead. You wonder at -my speaking in this way, Mr. Fanks, but--" - -"No!" replied Fanks, with a certain pity in his tone. "I do not -wonder; your father told Mr. Garth here the story of Emma Calvert; and -Mr. Garth repeated it to me. I know you hate the very memory of that -dead scoundrel." - -"Can you wonder at it?" said Herbert again. "I loved her; she did not -love but she might have grown to do so in time. But he came with his -lies and money to drag her away from me. He married her certainly, but -he drove her to suicide; and if he had not met with his death by this -unknown hand, he would have had to reckon with me for his baseness." - -"You would have killed him yourself, perhaps?" - -Herbert Vaud opened and shut his hand convulsively. "I don't know what -I should have done," he said in a thick voice. "But he is dead, so -what does it matter. But if I had my way, the assassin of Gregory -Fellenger should go free." - -"He may go free after all," said Fanks, quietly, "we have not yet -solved the problem of his death." - -"We have proved that Hersham was disguised as the negro," said Garth, -impetuously. - -"We have proved that Hersham was disguised as _a_ negro," replied -Fanks, making the correction with point, "but we have not proved that -he was--that he is--the negro who killed your cousin in Tooley's -Alley." - -"If he did not, why was he blacked up on the very night the murder was -committed. He must have had some reason for so masquerading." - -"I have no doubt he had a reason; and I have no doubt that he will -explain his reason to me when I see him. But, on the face of it, I do -not think that he is the negro of Tooley's Alley." - -"Why not?" said Garth, impatiently. "Look here, Fanks. The skein runs -out as clean as a whistle. Hersham has a cross tattooed on his arm. -The death of my cousin was caused by a similar cross being pricked on -his arm. Hersham is engaged to Anne Colmer; you tell me that she is -the sister of the girl, Emma Calvert, who committed suicide in Paris, -as the victim of Sir Gregory. The envelope, making the appointment -comes from Taxton-on-Thames; Anne Colmer comes from the same place; -she lives there. Hersham was disguised as a negro on the very night of -the murder--at the very time the murder was committed. What is more -reasonable than to suppose that Hersham was inspired by Anne Colmer to -kill the man who had deceived her sister. There, in a few words you -have the motive of the crime; and the way in which it was carried out. -Oh, there is no doubt in my mind that we have the real man at last. -Were I you, I should arrest Hersham without delay." - -"If you were in my place, you would do what I intend to do," said -Fanks, quietly, "and take time to consider the matter. I admit that -you have made a very strong case out against Hersham, but there is one -important particular which you have overlooked." - -"What is that?" asked Garth, "it seems to me that there is not a link -missing." - -"That comes of being too confident. Can you see the missing link, Mr. -Vaud?" - -The young lawyer reflected for a few moments in a composed and -careless manner, then looked up, and professed his inability to amend -the case as set out against Hersham. Fanks shrugged his shoulders at -their lack of penetration, and explained his theory. - -"The negro who was in Tooley's Alley had no moustache," he said, -slowly, "as was proved by the evidence of Mrs. Boazoph. Hersham, on -the contrary, both as negro and white man, had a moustache; as has -been proved by the story of Berry Jawkins." - -"It might have been a false moustache," said Garth, still sticking to -his point. - -"It was not a false moustache," retorted Fanks, shaking his head, "if -Hersham intended a disguise he would have worn a beard. A moustache -would disguise him little. But for the sake of argument, we will grant -that the moustache was intended as a disguise. If so, why did he -retain it when he washed the black off his face; or, if it was part of -his disguise, why did he wear it both as the black and the white man. -No, no. I am sure that Hersham wore his own moustache; and not a false -one. And again," added Fanks, with an afterthought, "I saw Hersham -shortly after the murder--within two or three days in fact--he then -wore a heavy moustache; and you can trust me when I say it was not a -false one. If then Hersham was the Tooley Alley negro, who we have -agreed committed the murder, how did he manage to grow his moustache -in so short a period. The thing is impossible," finished the -detective, "that one point alone assures me that Hersham is guiltless -of the crime." - -"Mrs. Boazoph may have made a mistake," suggested Garth, "remember she -did not see the negro go out." - -"She saw him go in, however. Mrs. Boazoph is too clever a woman to -make a mistake of that sort. The black man who committed the murder -had no moustache; our friend, masquerading as a Christy Minstrel, had -one. Against the evidence of Mrs. Boazoph we can place the evidence of -Berry Jawkins; the one contradicts the other; and both evidences -conclusively prove that Hersham had no hand in the commission of the -mysterious tragedy." - -"And another thing," said Herbert, suddenly. "Mr. Garth couples the -fact of the murder with the name of Miss Colmer. As a friend of the -family, I protest against that. I know Mrs. Colmer, I know her -daughter; and I am certain that neither of these unfortunate people -have anything to do with the death of that scoundrel." - -"Nevertheless the envelope which contained the appointment of the Red -Star in Tooley's Alley as the rendezvous bore the Taxton-on-Thames -postmark. Mrs. Colmer and her daughter live at Taxton-on-Thames." - -"What of that? Sir Louis Fellenger and his medical friend lived at the -same place. You might as well say that the new baronet committed the -crime so as to succeed to the title and estates. The one theory is as -feasible as the other." - -"Very true," said Fanks, in a desponding tone; "I am as much in the -dark as ever. At the present moment we can build up a theory on -anything. For instance, I might say that our friend Garth here killed -his cousin." - -"The deuce!" cried Garth, aghast. - -"You are startled," said Fanks, keenly watching the effect of his -speech on the young man. "I don't wonder at it. I merely say this to -show how slow you should be in condemning Hersham." - -"But I don't see how you could bring me in," stammered Garth. - -"It is easy enough. You are the heir, failing Sir Louis; you know the -purport of that tattooed cross. You might have killed your cousin, and -have sent the appointment from Taxton-on-Thames to implicate Sir Louis -in the matter, and so have removed the two people between you and the -title at one sweep." - -"But I don't want the title." - -"Possibly not; but you want money. But do not look so afraid, Garth. I -don't think you committed the crime; you are no doubt as innocent as -Mr. Herbert here." - -"If I had committed the crime I should not deny it," said Herbert, -gloomily. "I should glory in causing the death of such a scoundrel. If -Fellenger had not been killed by the negro in Tooley's Alley, Mr. -Fanks, you might have had to arrest me as the cause of his death. As -it is, my revenge has been taken out of my hands. But the same end has -been arrived at. I am glad the blackguard is dead." - -Here the argument ended, and Fanks went out arm in arm with Garth. -Both of them were sorry for the unhappy Herbert Vaud, and both of them -were more puzzled than ever over the case. As yet all evidence had -failed to throw the least gleam of light on the subject. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. -MRS. BOAZOPH RECEIVES A SHOCK. - - -Shortly after the conversation at Lincoln's Inn Fields Fanks took his -leave of Garth. He was rather weary of the lawyer's company, and, -moreover, he found such a third person a hindrance to the free speech he -wished to induce from those with whom he conversed. In his own heart -he was perfectly satisfied that Garth was connected in no way with the -crime, for the test which he applied in the office of Vaud and Vaud -entirely satisfied him. Nevertheless, he was not so certain that Garth -would not be pleased to learn that his cousin--the sole person who -stood between him and the Fellenger estate--was implicated in the -affair. - -On these grounds he therefore excused himself to the barrister, and -walked off by himself, intent on his own business. Garth, who was -suffering from a bad attack of detective fever, was not over pleased -at being thus dismissed; still he thought it best to obey his friend, -and so he departed, to think over the aspect the case had now assumed. -In fact, he intended to do a little detective business on his own -account, and, if possible, he wished to surprise Fanks by an -unexpected discovery. There were now three different people following -three different lines of action with respect to the case, so it was to -be hoped that one of them at least would run down the assassin of Sir -Gregory Fellenger, unless indeed all failed on the principle that too -many cooks spoil the broth. - -On leaving the barrister, Fanks took his way towards Tooley's Alley. -It was his intention to see Mrs. Boazoph and to try an experiment on -that astute lady. From her demeanour Fanks believed that the landlady -of the Red Star knew more about the case than she chose to confess, -and that she was anxious to screen the man or woman who had done the -deed. Of this belief he wished to make certain. - -Mrs. Boazoph received the detective with her customary composure. She -was quite prepared for his visit, as she knew that her connection with -the case was too patent to escape his vigilant eye. Anticipating a -trying conversation, she directed Fanks to be shown into her private -sitting-room, and she braced herself up to confuse and baffle him. - -No one would have guessed the landlady's thoughts from the amiable -manner in which she received her almost declared enemy. She was -positively genial in her conversation and demeanour, and Fanks augured -ill from this. - -"Well, Mrs. Boazoph," said he, mildly, "I suppose you are wondering -what brings me here?" - -"Indeed I am doing no such thing, Mr. Fanks. You came to find out what -I know about this crime." - -"I congratulate you on your perspicuity, Mrs. Boazoph. And what do you -know about it?" - -The woman raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders. - -"I know nothing at all," she replied. "I gave my evidence at the -inquest; you heard it." - -"Well?" - -"Well, there is nothing more to be said." - -"I beg to differ with you, Mrs. Boazoph; there is a great deal more to -be said." - -"Not by me," said Mrs. Boazoph, obstinately, closing her mouth. "If -you think that I am going to assist you to find out who killed this -wretched man, you are very much mistaken." - -"Strange," said Fanks, in a musing tone, meant to reach her ear, "the -same thing was said in almost the same words by Anne Colmer." - -"What do you know about Anne Colmer?" - -"More than you can guess. For instance, I know that she is the niece -of--Mrs. Bryant." - -With a start, instantly repressed, she looked to him in a hard and -fixed manner, a disbelieving smile on her lips. "Mrs. Bryant," she -repeated, "and who is Mrs. Bryant?" - -"If you don't know, I am sure I do not." - -"Speak plainly. I hate epigrams." - -"So do I. They are such a bar to intelligent conversation. Well, Mrs. -Bryant is a lady of birth, who married beneath her. Mr. Bryant was a -bully, a sot, a spendthrift, and he lost all his money by fast living. -When he became poor, his friends--for strange to say, this unpleasant -person had some friends--set him up in an hotel. He was ashamed to -stick his own name over his door; so he cast about for another. -Perhaps you can tell me what that other name was?" - -"No." - -"What a singularly obstinate person you are," said, Fanks, shaking his -head. "Believe me, it is no use our wasting time in discussing facts. -Be sensible, Mrs. Boazoph, and admit that you are Mrs. Bryant." - -"No." - -"Mrs. Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, -dressmaker, and decayed gentlewoman." - -"I don't know her; I never heard her name." - -"Really!" said Fanks, with gentle pity, "then I must inquire of Mrs. -Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, how is it that her sister, Mrs. Bryant, -is the notorious Mrs. Boazoph, of London." - -"You are a fiend!" - -"And what is Mrs. Bryant, alias Boazoph?" - -"She is a most unhappy woman; a woman rather to be pitied than -blamed." - -"Ah!" said Fanks, drawing a long breath of satisfaction. "So you admit -your identity at last." - -"I can do nothing else. I do not wish my poor sister to know that I am -Mrs. Boazoph. She thinks that I live on the money left to me by my -late husband; she does not know that I keep this hotel; that I am the -woman who has been mentioned so often in the papers, in connection -with thieves, rogues, and detectives. Yes. I admit that I am Mrs. -Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer. Who told you?" - -"Your niece, Anne." - -"She had no business to do so." - -"Very probably; but she could not help herself. I forced her to speak; -how, it does not matter; but I extracted the truth out of her, Mrs. -Bryant." - -"Call me Mrs. Boazoph," flashed out the woman, "and relieve me of your -presence as speedily as possible. What do you wish to know?" - -"I wish to know the agreement you made with Dr. Binjoy, regarding this -crime." - -"Who is Dr. Binjoy?" - -"Come now, Mrs. Boazoph, do not let us have another argument. I have -neither the time nor the patience to endure one, I assure you. I know -more than you think; and I can force you to speak if I so choose. I -would rather not choose, if it is all the same to you. Let us conduct -this conversation pleasantly, if possible. You know that Dr. Binjoy is -the same as Dr. Renshaw?" - -"Indeed, I do not. How can you prove it?" - -"Very easily. I followed Dr. Renshaw on his presumed journey to -Bombay, and tracked him to Mere Hall at Bournemouth." - -Mrs. Boazoph quailed, and shrank back. This man knew so much, that she -did not know where she stood. - -For the moment, she did not know what to do; but, unable to deny the -identity of Renshaw with Binjoy, she admitted it. - -"Good!" said Fanks, in a satisfied tone, "we are getting on. And the -agreement you made with this man?" - -"I made no agreement with him." - -"Then why was he here on the night of the murder?" - -"It was an accident. For some reason of his own, Dr. Binjoy, whom I -met at Taxton-on-Thames, was in the habit of changing his name when in -London. He usually stayed with Dr. Turnor, who is an old friend of -his; and did his work when Turnor was absent. When I found out the -murder, I sent for Dr. Turnor, he was away, and Dr. Binjoy came under -his name of Renshaw. I was astonished to see him. I did not know that -he was in town." - -"Oh! Had you any reason to go to Mere Hall to see him?" - -"Mere Hall!" stammered Mrs. Boazoph, "you saw me at Mere Hall?" - -"I saw you with my own eyes; you cannot deny that." - -"I have no wish to deny it," retorted Mrs. Boazoph, with asperity, -"yes I was at Mere Hall. I went there to warn Binjoy against you." - -"Indeed; and no doubt Binjoy assured you that he had baffled me by the -pretended journey to Bombay." - -"Yes, he said that." - -"And did he say that he had sent his negro, Caesar, to Bombay, in his -place?" - -Mrs. Boazoph drew back and gasped, holding tightly on to the arms of -her chair. "You know that?" she said, in alarm. - -"I know that, and a great deal more," said Fanks, grimly. "In fact, I -more than suspect that I know the assassin." - -"Then you know that Caesar killed Sir Gregory?" - -"You jump to conclusions, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, noting the tone -of relief in which she made this remark. "I do not know that Caesar -killed Sir Gregory Fellenger. But I know that both you and Dr. Binjoy -would like me to think so." - -"Man! Man!" cried Mrs. Boazoph, with an hysterical laugh, "do you -think that I had anything to do with this crime?" - -"Why not; the man was killed in your house: you called in a doctor, -who is the dearest friend of the present baronet; it was to Binjoy's -interest that Sir Gregory should be got out of the way." - -Again Mrs. Boazoph seemed relieved. "Then you suppose that Binjoy -instructed Caesar to kill Sir Gregory?" - -"No, I do not; Caesar had nothing to do with the commission of the -crime." - -"Then who was the black man who killed the baronet?" - -"It was no black man." - -"But it was," said. Mrs. Boazoph, angrily. "I saw him myself enter the -room." - -"You saw a white man disguised as a negro enter the room." - -Mrs. Boazoph bounded to her feet. "What!" she cried, "do you mean to -say that the black man was a disguised white man?" - -"Yes, I do say so; although I daresay it is no news to you." - -Mrs. Boazoph stamped her foot. "It is news to me, I tell you. I -thought that Caesar killed Sir Gregory at the behest of Dr. Binjoy. -When you entered the room I hoped to keep the fact from you; because I -did not wish Binjoy to get into trouble. But you say that Caesar did -not commit the crime, and so you have upset my ideas altogether. Now, -Mr. Fanks, I tell you truly, that if this negro did not kill Sir -Gregory, I do not know the name of the assassin." - -Fanks looked puzzled. She evidently spoke in all good faith, and he -could not but believe her. He wondered if she was right, and whether -the negro of Dr. Binjoy had killed the baronet after all. "Did you -recognise as Caesar the black man who came here on that night?" he -asked. - -"No; how could I? I never saw Caesar in my life. But I know that -Binjoy had a negro servant; that he smuggled him off to Bombay; and -that he was the friend of Sir Louis Fellenger. Therefore I thought -this negro was the instrument Binjoy made use of to kill Sir Gregory." - -"Do you know anything about a tattooed cross, Mrs. Boazoph?" asked -Fanks, going on another tack. - -The woman fell into her chair as pale as a sheet of paper. The mention -of the tattooed cross had a most powerful effect on her mind, and she -stared thunderstruck at the detective. Not a word could she utter for -at least two minutes. When she spoke her voice was thick and unsteady. -"What do you know of the tattooed cross?" she muttered. - -"I know that Sir Gregory let this disguised man tattoo a cross on his -left arm, and that the needle used was poisoned. Now, can you tell me -why Sir Gregory let a cross be pricked on his arm?" - -"No! no! I--I--can't tell you that." - -"Does that mean that you won't tell me?" - -"It--means that I--I--can't tell you," gasped Mrs. Boazoph. "I did not -know Sir Gregory Fellenger." - -"Do you know anyone else who has a cross tattooed on his left arm?" -asked Fanks, preparing for his great stroke. - -"No! Why do you ask me?" she muttered, in a terrified tone. - -"Because the man who has that cross tattooed on his left arm was the -disguised negro; he was the man who killed Sir Gregory." - -"Ah Heavens! Oh, Edward Hersham?" moaned Mrs. Boazoph, and fell upon -the floor in a faint. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. -THE CONFESSION OF HERSHAM. - - -When Fanks saw Mrs. Boazoph lying at his feet his first intention was -to wait until she recovered. Later on he changed his mind, and when he -had placed her in the hands of the servant he went home full of -thought and dark surmises. It seemed to him that the case was centring -in Ted Hersham; that the whole situation depended on the right reading -of the tattooed cross riddle. Mrs. Boazoph knew something about the -cross, she knew something about Hersham; but what it was Fanks could -by no means make up his mind. It seemed to him that in exploring the -depths of Mrs. Boazoph's mind he had found a still lower deep; and he -was puzzled what to think. - -"Confound the woman," he thought, meditating over a pipe; "I said that -we should find her at the end of the path which leads to the discovery -of the mystery, and it seems that I was right. She screened Binjoy for -some reason which I cannot discover; she will now attempt to save -Hersham, lest he should fall into my clutches. Why should she take all -this trouble for those two men? And what does she know about the -tattooed cross? Does Binjoy know about it also? And was it he who made -the obliterating mark? I can't think Hersham guilty, and yet things -look black against him. But no," said Fanks, rising, "the disguised -man who slew in Tooley's Alley and Hersham are two different people; I -proved that conclusively to Garth. What's to be done now?" - -It was difficult to decide. At first he almost resolved to return to -Mrs. Boazoph and urge her confession; again, he thought it best to -wait until he heard what Hersham had to say. It might be, he thought, -that Hersham's confession would throw some light on his relation to -Mrs. Boazoph. The hints of Anne Colmer, the terror of Hersham, the -fainting of Mrs. Boazoph were all of a piece, and Fanks felt confident -that beneath these perplexities lay the key to the riddle. It was not -that he had no clue; he was in reality quite bewildered by the -multiplicity of clues, so bewildered that he did not know which clue -to seize first. At length he came to the conclusion that it would be -best to wait till he saw Hersham and heard what he had to say, and -afterwards to follow up the clue placed in his hands by the fainting -of Mrs. Boazoph. - -"I'll write to Hersham, and remind him that he promised to see me in a -few days and tell the truth," said Fanks, going to his desk; "and if -he reveals all I am certain that his confession will contain the -information that Mrs. Boazoph wrote and warned him against me." - -He was confident, as he said, that she would do this. If she tried to -save Binjoy, she would certainly try to help Hersham; but her reason -for doing the one was as inscrutable as her reason had been for acting -in the way she did towards Binjoy. The further he went into the case -the darker it grew; and in sheer despair Fanks wrote his reminder to -Hersham, and did nothing more for the next few days but meditate over -the tangle in which he found himself involved. His meditations led to -no result, and when Hersham called on him at the Duke Street chambers -in three days, the detective was at his wit's end how to proceed. - -However, he was delighted to see Hersham, as he had doubted whether -the young man would fulfil his promise. Now that he had come to do so -there might be some chance of seeing a gleam of light. Fanks did not -tell the journalist what he had discovered concerning his movements on -the night of the twenty-first, as he wanted to see if Hersham would -confess as much. If he did so, such frankness would confirm his belief -that the young fellow had nothing to do with the commission of the -crime. If, on the other hand, Hersham concealed the proven facts Fanks -intended to force him into confession by revealing what he had heard -from Berry Jawkins. By the result he would be guided in his future -movements. The ensuing conversation was likely to prove as interesting -and important as that which he had held with Mrs. Boazoph. - -"I am glad to see you, Hersham," he said, in a gentle tone, "as I hope -what you have to tell me may throw some light on the darkness of this -Tooley Alley crime." - -"I can throw no light on the cursed thing," said Hersham, gloomily. "I -am only here to exonerate myself." - -"From what? What do you mean?" - -"Why should you ask me that?" said Hersham, angrily. "Is it not you -who suspect me of killing this man?" - -"Decidedly not. I do not think you killed Fellenger. As I told you -before I do not believe you had anything to do with it." - -"Then why did you have me watched?" demanded the young man. - -"Ask that of yourself," said Fanks, coolly. "You roused my suspicions; -you hinted that you knew something; you thwarted me with regard to -Anne Colmer. Cast your mind back to our first conversation, man; you -will say that I had every reason for acting as I did. If you had told -me the truth at first; had you become my ally instead of my enemy, you -would not have had all this trouble. But, for all that, I do not -suspect you of being a murderer. Had I done so," finished Fanks, "you -would have been in a cell long e'er this." - -"I held my tongue because I was afraid of you," said Hersham, -sullenly. - -"If you are innocent, there is no reason to be afraid of me." - -"I am innocent; and yet I am afraid of you. Yes, I am dreading to tell -you what I am about to reveal." - -"Why so?" - -"Circumstances may so close round an innocent man," continued Hersham, -not heeding the interruption, "that it would seem as though he were -guilty. Think yourself, Fanks. Innocent men have been hanged e'er now, -because circumstantial evidence was strong against them." - -"True enough," replied Fanks. "I suppose it is natural that you should -be afraid. No man would run the risk of putting his head into the -noose if he could help it. You say that circumstances are strong -against you. What are these circumstances?" - -Hersham bit his lip, and turned a wan face on his friend. "I place my -life in your hands, mind you," he said, hoarsely. - -"It will be safe there," replied Fanks, getting up and fetching a -decanter of brandy from the sideboard. "Nothing will induce me to -believe that you had anything to do with the commission of this -crime." - -"Will you swear to that?" cried Hersham, stretching out a shaking -hand. - -"Certainly if it will comfort you. Here, my friend, drink this, and -tell me what you know. It may help me to nab the person I have my eye -on." - -Hersham drank the brandy. "Have you found out who killed Fellenger?" - -Fanks shrugged his shoulders. "I think so," he said, "but who can -tell; I may be wrong." - -"Is it a man or woman?" asked Hersham, quickly. - -"I shan't tell you." - -"Is it--" - -"I shan't tell you, my friend. But I shall tell you this for the -quieting of your fears, that it is not you whom I suspect. Now sit -down again, and let me hear what you have to say." - -Hersham resumed his seat obediently, and began his recital. He -confessed exactly what Fanks expected he would confess; what Fanks -already knew, but the detective listened to this twice-told tale with -the keenest attention. Thereby he hoped to learn some new detail which -had been overlooked by the zealous Berry Jawkins. - -"About the beginning of June," said Hersham, in a hesitating voice, "I -was engaged on a series of papers for the 'Morning Planet' on Street -Music. To gain the information I required, I thought it would be an -excellent plan to go about the streets of London in guise, and to get -at the root of the matter. I told my editor that I would burnt-cork my -face and go with some street minstrels. He approved of the idea, and I -did so." - -"And how were you dressed?" - -"In a great coat with brass buttons. I also wore brown boots. Now, you -can see why I was afraid to tell you. That is the dress the negro you -are looking for wore." - -"Yes!" said Flanks, perplexedly, "I know that; but I do not see why -you should have been afraid to tell me. You can explain your movements -on that night." - -"That is exactly what I can't do," said Hersham, his face growing -dark. - -"I don't understand." - -"I shall explain. On the night of the twenty-first I intended to go -out in the streets in disguise. Before doing so, I told the office boy -that if a telegram came for me he was to bring it at once to me; I -expected a wire about six o'clock; and I told the boy that I would be -in the Strand near St. Clements Church." - -"From whom did you expect the telegram?" - -"From Anne Colmer. That day I had received a letter from her, saying -that she was greatly worried about something; what it was she did not -tell me; but she said that if she wanted me she would wire, and that I -was then to come down at once to Taxton-on-Thames." - -"Go on," said Fanks, greatly interested in the introduction of Anne's -name. - -"Well, I blacked my face, and went out with the genuine niggers to -sing and play. About six, or a little after, I was near St. Clement's -Church, and there the office boy came to me with a telegram." - -"Why did you expect the telegram at six?" - -"Because I was in the office about five, and it had not come then. I -thought it might come after I left, so I appointed St. Clement's -Church as the meeting-place where the boy might find me." - -"And you obeyed?" - -"What was in the telegram?" - -"A request that I should come down to Taxton-on-Thames at once." - -"Yes, there was no reason why I should not. I thought that Anne was in -trouble; I went down at once on my bicycle." - -"Why did not you go by train? It would have been easier." - -"Not for me. I was in the habit of running down to Taxton-on-Thames on -my machine; it is only two hours' run." - -"Had you your machine in town?" - -"Yes; I had left it at a shop in the Strand where I usually leave it; -though sometimes I ride it on to the office in Fleet Street. On this -occasion it was in the Strand. As soon as I got the telegram I left my -troupe and went off on my bicycle. - -"Didn't you wash your face?" - -"Not at that time; I was in such a hurry and so anxious to learn what -was the matter with Anne, that I did not think of doing so. I rode -along until I was recalled to the spectacle I must have presented, by -the laughing, and the guying of the boys. Then I thought that I might -startle Anne, and I determined to wash myself." - -"And did you?" - -"Not immediately. On the way to Richmond I had an accident, and the -tyre of my back wheel was punctured. The air escaped, and I was over -an hour mending it. Then I had to go slowly, and did not get to -Richmond till after eight o'clock. I went into the hotel called -the Eight Bells, and had a drink and a wash. Then I came out a -white man to the astonishment of the barman, and went on down to -Taxton-on-Thames. I got there shortly after nine o'clock." - -"Didn't you nearly run over a man as you neared the village?" - -"Yes, I did," said Hersham, in some astonishment. "But how do you know -that?" - -"I'll tell you later on," replied Fanks, smiling. "But about the -result of your trip to Taxton-on-Thames?" - -Hersham's face fell. "There was no result," he said, in a low voice. -"When I arrived I went at once to Briar Cottage and asked for Anne. I -was told that she had gone up to town by the five o'clock train." - -"Gone up to town!" repeated Fanks. "That is curious. Why did she go up -to town after sending you a wire to bring you down?" - -"I can't say. She returned by the night train, and I was at the -station to meet her. I asked her why she had gone to town, and she -refused to tell me. She merely said that she had sent the wire shortly -before five o'clock, and that she had found occasion to go up by the -five train." - -"Can you conjecture what took her to town?" - -"No; and she will not tell me." - -Fanks said nothing. He was meditating on the strange story told to him -by Hersham, and on the stranger conduct of Anne Colmer. The mystery -concerning this young lady, which had begun in the chambers of Sir -Gregory, seemed to be thickening. Fanks was puzzled and gloomy. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. -THE CLUE OF THE HANDWRITING. - - -On concluding the recital of his movements on the night of the -twenty-first of June, Hersham looked anxiously at Fanks to see what -the detective thought of the matter. The latter made no immediate -comment, whereupon the journalist, impatient of the silence, made the -first observation. - -"I have told you all," he said; "now what is your opinion?" - -"Let me think for a minute or two," replied Fanks, holding up his -hand. "I must consider." - -Thereupon he thrust his hands into his pockets and strolled to the -window, where he stood looking absently at the adjacent chimney-pots. -Hersham eyed him with continued anxiety, but he did not dare to -interrupt, so that Fanks had ample time to reflect over the strange -story which had been related to him. - -He had heard the main facts of it before from Berry Jawkins, and these -corresponded entirely with the narrative of the journalist. Still, the -additional evidence concerning Anne Colmer disquieted Fanks not a -little. Her behaviour was strange, to say the least of it, and far -more suspicious than that of Hersham. Why had she sent a telegram to -withdraw her lover from London at the very time of the committal of -the crime? And why had she--so to speak--nullified that telegram by -going herself to town almost immediately after she had despatched it. -Such conduct was decidedly suspicious; and it looked as though she was -implicated in the matter in some underhand way. Why had she behaved in -so mysterious a fashion, and why had she refused to reveal her reason -for so acting to Hersham? - -So far, so good; but there remained a greater mystery. It was Anne -Colmer herself who had instructed Hersham to confess to Fanks; yet she -must have known that her very extraordinary conduct would need -explanation. But would she explain? Fanks thought not. He recalled -his conversation with her; how she had refused to speak lest her -evidence--whatever it was--should be detrimental to an innocent -person. Clearly that innocent person could not be Hersham, for he had -established his innocence in the eyes of the detective. Then if the -person in question was not Hersham, who could he--or she--be? Mrs. -Colmer, Dr. Binjoy, Anne, or Caesar, the missing negro? - -Not the first, thought Fanks, decidedly not the first, for Mrs. Colmer -was confined to her room by paralysis, and could not take an active -part in the business. Scarcely the second, for Anne could have no -reason to screen the doctor--at least no reason that Fanks could even -guess at. If the third--and seeing that Mrs. Boazoph was her aunt it -might be so--the motive might be that Anne desired aid to carry out a -scheme of revenge against the destroyer of her sister. As to Caesar, -Fanks had quite settled in his own mind that the negro was innocent, -and that his personality was being made use of merely to screen the -chief actor or actors in the tragedy. - -The result of Fank's meditations therefore resulted in his having an -increased suspicion of Mrs. Boazoph. Her behaviour at the time of the -discovery of the murder, her visit to Mere Hall, and her fainting at -the mention that Hersham was the probable criminal--all these things -were suspicious; and now the probable visit of Anne Colmer to her -aunt--although such visit was not yet proved--clinched the matter. All -the interest of Fanks now centred in Mrs. Boazoph; and he addressed -himself again to Hersham in the hope of learning something tangible, -likely to connect her more intimately with her niece either in London -or at Taxton-on-Thames. He was right to act in this way; an -indefinable instinct had placed him on the right path. - -"I wish you had told me of this before," he said to Hersham, as he -resumed his seat. "It would have saved me a lot of trouble." - -"I did not wish to tell you. I was afraid to speak lest I should -inculpate myself. I am sure my movements on that fatal night must -appear very suspicious to you. What is your opinion of me now?" - -"The same as before. I am satisfied that you have told me the truth. -No, Hersham, it is not you whom I suspect." - -"Then who is it?" asked the young man, eagerly. - -"I'll tell you that later on," replied Finks. "In the meantime you -must answer a few more questions. I am not yet quite clear on some -points. How did you obtain your disguise?" - -"Oh, that was Miss Colmer's suggestion." - -"The deuce it was!" said Fanks, rather startled at this admission. - -"Yes! I told her of my idea to disguise myself in order to -obtain a thoroughly realistic description of street music, and of -those who make it. I asked her how she thought I should dress. In a -half-laughing way she advised me to take Binjoy's servant Caesar as my -model." - -"Which you did?" - -"Certainly. I thought the suggestion a good one. Caesar was rather an -oddity in his way, and dressed with that mixture of vivid colours -which is so dear to the black race. When off duty he usually wore a -red neck scarf, a brown felt hat, black trousers, and a long green -coat with large brass buttons, quite a noticeable garb in fact. He had -several of these quaint garments, and he had brought one to Anne's -establishment to get yellow velvet cuffs and collar sewn on to it. On -the promise that I would not keep it more than a fortnight Anne lent -me the coat, which I wore for my purpose." - -"Strange," said Fanks, thoughtfully. "So you wore the very coat of the -man whom we suspected in the first instance?" - -"I did. It is odd now that you mention it." - -Fanks considered. "Did anyone suggest your disguising yourself as a -negro for this street music business, or was it your own fancy?" - -"It was the suggestion of Dr. Binjoy." - -"Oh, was it? Humph! I am beginning to see daylight." - -"Why, you don't think----?" - -"I think nothing at present," said Fanks, quickly; "matters are in too -crude a state." - -This observation was hardly true, for Fanks was beginning to think -that the affair of the green coat looked singularly like a conspiracy. -He was unwilling to communicate his suspicions to Hersham, because of -necessity they included Anne Colmer; therefore he passed the matter -off as before mentioned. Nevertheless, he thought it doubtful that the -disguise was the result of an accident. That Binjoy should suggest the -idea of blackening the face, that Anne should induce Hersham to dress -up in the very clothes of Caesar, both these things seemed suspicious -and quite impossible to understand. He could guess Binjoy's object, -presuming that Binjoy had designed the murder--it was to avert -suspicion from himself and servant by throwing it on Hersham. But what -Fanks could not see was why Anne should act as she did, when Hersham -was her lover. She surely did not wish to implicate Hersham in the -matter--if it could be presumed that she was connected with it -herself, of which Fanks was by no means sure--and yet Fanks was -honestly puzzled to understand the action, so at variance with her -position. With his usual sense he therefore abandoned the subject for -the present, and re-addressed himself to the examination of Hersham. - -"Did you know Dr. Binjoy?" - -"I did, and disliked him greatly. I don't think he liked me either," -added Hersham, smiling, "for I was his successful rival." - -"With Miss Colmer?" - -"Yes! Fancy, that old man fell in love with Anne and wished to marry -her; asked her to be Mrs. Binjoy four or five times, in fact. Like his -impudence, wasn't it? However, Anne told him that she was engaged to -me, and sent him off with a flea in his ear. I don't think he liked me -any better for my triumph." - -"No," said Fanks, dryly. "I have no doubt he would do his best to -injure you." - -"Fanks, do you think he designedly induced me to act as a duplicate of -Caesar?" - -"That I can't say. It looks suspicious. His being at the Red Star on -the night of the murder under an assumed name is still more -suspicious. All the same he has managed the business so cleverly that -I can bring nothing home to him." - -"Do you think that he designed the murder of Fellenger so as to get -the estates for Sir Louis?" - -"His actions bear that interpretation," said Fanks, scratching his -chin; "but I have no proof as yet. I may find out at Mere Hall." - -"Are you going there?" - -"Next week. I wish to see my employer, Sir Louis, and tell him what I -have done; at the same time I intend to observe Binjoy. By the way," -added the detective, "did you like Sir Louis?" - -Hersham shrugged his shoulders. "So, so," he replied. "He is a dry -stick, wrapped up in his scientific studies. He passes most of his -days with Binjoy in the laboratory making experiments. A tall, stout -fellow, he is, not at all like a dry-as-dust savant." - -"Humph!" said Fanks, twisting his ring; "a tall stout creature. Dr. -Binjoy is also tall and stout?" - -"Yes! and so is the negro, Caesar. The trio are all fat and healthy." - -"Humph!" said Fanks again. "I wonder--but that is impossible." - -"What is impossible?" - -"Something that came into my head. What it is, does not matter. I -shall no doubt prove its impossibility at Mere Hall." - -"You suspect Sir Louis?" - -"Such a suspicion did cross my mind. But, as Sir Louis is employing me -to hunt down the murderer, he would hardly act in such a way. Never -mind that at the present moment, Hersham, but tell me if you have -written to your father?" - -"About the tattooed cross? No, I have not done so yet. I don't see how -my father can help you." - -"I am of another opinion," said Fanks, dryly. "It is my firm -conviction that the whole secret of that murder in Tooley Alley lies -in the explanation of that tattooed cross. Do not look so scared, -Hersham. I do not suspect your father." - -"I should think not," said Hersham, fiercely. - -Fanks laughed indulgently, in nowise offended with the indignant tone -adopted by the young man. Indeed, he rather admired him for being so -ready to take up the cudgels on behalf of his parent. Nevertheless, he -stuck to his point, as he was determined to fathom the meaning of the -tattooed cross, and he saw no one was so likely to help him to an -interpretation as the Rev. George Hersham, Vicar of Fairview, Isle of -Wight. - -"You must do as I ask," he said, "and write to your father. I must -know why he had that cross tattooed on your arm." - -"I don't believe my father had anything to do with it," said Hersham, -angrily. "However, as you insist on it, I shall go home and see him. -If he tells me, I shall tell you. If he refuses, as he has done -before--" - -"In that case I'll come down to Fairview and see him myself." - -"As you please," said Hersham, with a feigned air of indifference, but -real vexation. "I'll do my best; I can do no more." - -"Don't be angry, old fellow. I don't wish to vex either you or your -father, but you must see that it is important that I should know the -meaning of this cross. You will go and see Mr. Hersham?" - -"Yes; before the end of the week. Will that content you?" - -"Yes," replied Fanks, in his turn. "And now, before you go, just tell -me if you received a letter from Mrs. Boazoph, and if you have brought -it with you?" - -"Now it is strange that you should have guessed that," said Hersham, -in astonishment. "I did get a letter from Mrs. Boazoph; I brought it -to see what you thought of it. It quite slipped my memory till you -spoke of it. Here it is. Came yesterday from Fairview." - -"From Fairview!" repeated Fanks, making no attempt to take the letter -which Hersham held towards him. "Was it sent to that address?" - -"Yes, care of my father, who forwarded it on to me. See for yourself." - -"Did Mrs. Boazoph know of your address in the Isle of Wight?" - -"No, that's odd," added Hersham, staring at Fanks. "How did she get -it?" - -"From Miss Colmer." - -"I have never given any but my London address to Miss Colmer. I had my -reasons for not doing so." - -"So Mrs. Boazoph knew of your address without your telling her," said -the detective, stretching out his hand for the letter. "Queer! If I am -not mistaken I--By Jove!" - -"What is the matter?" - -"Wait. Wait," said Fanks, in great excitement. "Let me read the letter -first. My word, here is a discovery." - -"What discovery?" asked Hersham, staring at the letter. - -But Fanks paid no attention to him. He was already devouring the -communication from the landlady of the Red Star, which ran as -follows:-- - -"Dear Mr. Edward Hersham,--Come and see me at once. Important -business, and, in the meantime, hold no communication with the man who -calls himself Fanks. I will explain when we meet.--Yours, Louisa -Boazoph." - -"I wish you had shown me this before," said Fanks. - -"I was so anxious about what I had to confess, that I forgot, Fanks. -Is it important?" - -"I should think so. You must see her at once, and tell me what she -says. We may find the key to the whole business in her conversation." - -"Do you think Mrs. Boazoph has anything to do with it?" - -For answer, Fanks got out the photograph of the dead Emma Calvert, and -the envelope which had contained the red star. He pointed out the -handwritings on both to Hersham. - -"You see that," he said, eagerly. "The handwriting on the back of the -portrait, and that on the envelope are the same as that on your -letter." - -"True enough," said Hersham, examining the three objects closely, "but -what of that?" - -"Only this. That Mrs. Boazoph addressed the envelope, and enclosed the -red cardboard star, which lured the late Sir Gregory Fellenger to his -death on the evening of the twenty-first of June." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. -AT MERE HALL, HANTS. - -Fanks was rather astonished when he learned that Mrs. Boazoph had -contrived the lure which had drawn Fellenger to his death. He had -given the landlady credit for more cleverly concealing her scheme, and -that she should have carried out a plan so compromising, in so open a -manner, seemed to him to be the height of folly. Nevertheless, he was -pleased that he had discovered who had directed the fatal envelope; -and he was still more pleased that Mrs. Boazoph had sent for Hersham. -If possible he intended to learn her reason for seeking an interview, -and to ascertain why she had fainted at the intelligence that Hersham -was likely to be arrested for committing the crime. A true report of -that conversation--and Fanks had no doubt that Hersham would repeat it -faithfully to him--might afford the clue to the mystery. At the -present moment Fanks was convinced that the landlady of the Red Star -could unravel the riddle if she chose, and he was resolved to force -her to do so. But here an element on which Fanks had not calculated -came into play. - -As instructed by the detective, Hersham duly called at the Red Star -only to be informed that Mrs. Boazoph was dangerously ill, and could -not see him. This he reported to Fanks, and at first the detective -deemed the illness an excuse to postpone the interview, the more -especially as Dr. Turnor was the medical man in attendance. He -mistrusted Turnor as much as he did Binjoy, and thought that the -former had persuaded Mrs. Boazoph to relinquish the idea of seeing and -confiding in Hersham. Such confidence might prove as fatal to Turnor -as to Binjoy; and if so there was no doubt that Turnor had compelled -Mrs. Boazoph to hold her tongue lest she should compromise him. Thus -Fanks argued out the situation; and he sought Tooley's Alley to -ascertain if Mrs. Boazoph was really ill, or merely feigning at the -order of Turnor. - -A view of the sick woman showed him plainly that he was wrong. Mrs. -Boazoph was laid on a bed of sickness, incapable almost of speech, and -Fanks concluded promptly that there was no chance of learning anything -until she recovered. The result of the last interview had shaken her -terribly, and she was thoroughly worn out with nervous prostration. -Turnor, more like a ferret than ever, eyed Fanks complacently, and -seemed relieved that things were going so badly for the case. Fanks -questioned him, but could learn nothing definite, for, if the -detective was clever, the doctor was cleverer, and defeated Fanks on -every point. Indeed, he carried the war into the camp of the enemy. - -"I suppose I am right in ascribing this illness to you, sir," he said, -with a sly smile. "It seems that my patient fainted at her last -interview she had with you." - -"She did. I said something which startled her." - -"That was very wrong of you, Mr. Fanks. Mrs. Boazoph is a woman of -delicate organisation, and a sudden shock might bring about her death. -She has a weak heart." - -"I am sorry to hear so, sir," retorted Fanks, gloomily. "I counted on -gaining some information from her. Do you think she will soon -recover?" - -"Not for some time," said Turnor, in a satisfied tone. "I presume you -wish to learn something from her, relative to the case you have in -hand?" - -"You are quite right. I do wish to learn something relative to the -murder which took place in this hotel. But if Mrs. Boazoph cannot tell -me what I wish to know, you may be able to do so." - -Dr. Turnor spread out his hands in a deprecating manner. "I, my dear -friend," he said, "what can I know about the case?" - -"As much as Dr. Renshaw could tell you," retorted Fanks, fixing Turnor -with his keen eye. - -"Dr. Renshaw told me nothing, because he knew nothing." - -"I have my own opinion about that, Dr. Turnor." - -"Really; I thought you were satisfied that my friend had nothing to do -with the matter. He went to India, you know." - -"Are you sure he went to India, Dr. Turnor?" - -"Oh, yes; he will be soon be at Bombay. I got a letter from him at -Aden, where he changed into the 'Clyde.'" - -"No doubt," said Fanks, affably, "I expect you will hear from him when -he is settled in Bombay." - -"Certainly; Renshaw and I are great friends." - -"I am sure of that. You confide your secrets to one another, and work -in unison." - -"What do you mean by working in unison, Mr. Fanks?" said Turnor, -drawing himself up. - -"I don't think I need afford you any explanation, Dr. Turnor. You are -playing a dangerous game, sir." - -"You insult me, sir." - -"Is it possible to insult you, Dr. Turnor?" sneered Fanks. - -"I'll make you prove your words," said Turnor, with rather a pale -face. - -"There will not be much difficulty in doing that--at the proper time." - -The ferret of a man eyed Fanks nervously and savagely. "Do you think I -have anything to do with the matter of Sir Gregory's death?" he burst -out. - -"I'll tell you that when I return from Mere Hall," was Fank's reply. - -"Mere Hall?" repeated Turnor, betraying himself, which was the reason -Fanks had mentioned the name; "what do you know of Mere Hall?" - -"That is just what I wish to ask you. What do _you_ know of Mere Hall, -sir?" - -"Nothing, nothing. I merely repeated your words." - -"In a very singular fashion, doctor." - -The little man turned away with a scowl. "I shall defend myself from -your insinuations," he said, in a stifled voice, "if you suspect me, -say so." - -"Suspect you of what?" asked Fanks, innocently; "you speak in -riddles." - -Turnor pointed to the woman lying on the bed. "Perhaps Mrs. Boazoph -can solve them," he said. - -"Perhaps she can," retorted Fanks, with equal coolness; "and I trust -it will not be to your disadvantage when the answers come." - -"I can look after myself, Mr. Fanks," said Turnor, and left the room -without the detective making any effort to detain him. - -Fanks was suspicious of Turnor, from his connection with the so-called -Renshaw; and this conversation went a long way towards confirming -these suspicions. However, as he wished to go to Mere Hall and follow -up the Binjoy clue, he had no time to attend to the Turnor matter. -Nevertheless, on leaving Tooley's Alley he sought out Crate, and -instructed him to look after the doctor. - -"Find out his financial position," said Fanks; "what kind of practice -he has, how he lives, what kind of character he bears, and all about -him." - -"Very well, Mr. Fanks," said Crate, noting the instructions down, "and -what about Mrs. Boazoph?" - -"Keep an eye on her, and should she recover so far as to see Mr. -Hersham or to journey to Taxton-on-Thames, let me know. You can write -or wire me at the Pretty Maid Inn, Damington." - -"That's near Mere Hall, ain't it, sir?" - -"A quarter of a mile away. I shall stay there some time to watch -Binjoy and Sir Louis Fellenger." - -"Do you suspect him, Mr. Fanks?" - -"If you remember the name I mentioned, you would not ask me that, -Crate." - -The underling was abashed and said no more, but turned the -conversation to the subject of Garth. "What am I to do about him, -sir?" - -"Oh," said Fanks, dryly, "you think he is guilty, so I will leave him -to you. But do not neglect my interests to look after that business. I -tell you, Crate, the man is innocent." - -"I have my own opinion about that." - -"Then keep to your opinion, but mind my instructions." - -"Well, I will tell you one thing, sir," said Crate. "Mr. Garth has -left town." - -"You don't say so," said Fanks, frowning, "he did not say that he was -going away. Where has he gone to?" - -"I can't tell you that, sir, I lost him. But I'll tell you where he -hasn't gone--and that is to Taxton-on-Thames." - -"I didn't expect he would go there, but it does not matter. I have my -hands full without thinking of Garth. I leave him to you. In the -meantime, goodbye; I am off to Hampshire." - -Fanks arrived at Damington about five o'clock, and put up at The -Pretty Maid Inn as he had done before when following Binjoy in the -disguise of a parson. But thanks to his cleverness in "making up," no -one at the inn suspected that he was the same man. The landlady--a -genial soul with a plump person and a kindly face, quite an ideal -landlady of the Dickens type--welcomed him without suspicion, as a -gentleman come down for the fishing, and detailed all the gossip of -the neighbourhood. She was especially conversant with the affairs of -Sir Louis Fellenger. - -"Such a nice gentleman," said Mrs. Prisom, "rather melancholy and -given to hard study, which ain't good for a young man. But he comes -here and takes a glass with a kind word and a smile always." - -"Does Dr. Binjoy come over with him?" said Fanks. - -"Oh yes, sir; I am sorry to see that the doctor ain't well lately, he -looks pale and mopey-like. Seems as if he had something on his mind." - -"And what do you think he has on his mind, Mrs. Prisom?" - -"Well, it ain't for me to say, sir; but I should think as he was sorry -he and Sir Louis did not get on so well as they might." - -"What makes you think they do not get on well?" said Fanks, pricking -up his ears. - -"It is the way they look at one another," said Mrs. Prisom, -reflectively. "And they say Dr. Binjoy is going away; though what Sir -Louis will do without him, I don't know." - -"Dr. Binjoy going away," murmured Fanks, rather startled, "now what is -that for?" - -Mrs. Prisom could not tell him; she could only say that the doctor was -departing from Mere Hall that day week; and that it was reported in -the village that he had quarrelled seriously with Sir Louis. "Though -of course," added Mrs. Prisom, "it may not be true." - -"I must see to this," thought Fanks. "I wonder if this sudden -departure has anything to do with the murder. Is it a case of thieves -falling out; I must keep my eyes open." After which resolution, he -asked the landlady if she was well acquainted with the Fellenger -family. - -"I should think so," said Mrs. Prisom, with pride, "I knew that poor, -young man who was murdered in that wicked London, as well as I know -myself. A noble gentleman, but wild; ah me!" sighed Mrs. Prisom, "just -like his father." - -"Did you know Sir Gregory's father?" - -"Did I know Sir Gregory's father," echoed Mrs. Prisom, contemptuously, -"do I know the nose on my face, sir? The late Sir Francis and myself -were playmates. Yes, you may well look astonished, sir, but it is the -truth. I was the daughter of the steward at Mere Hall, and I was -brought up with the late Sir Francis almost like brother and sister. I -could tell you many a good story of him," finished Mrs. Prisom, with a -nod and a smile. - -"You must do so," said Fanks, returning the smile, "I am fond of -stories." - -The fact is, he was wondering if he could find the motive for the -murder in the family history of the Fellengers. Many great families -had secrets, which, if divulged, might lead to trouble; and it might -be that the Mere Hall folk's secret had to do with the tattooed cross. -If it proved to be so, then Fanks thought there might be a chance of -penetrating the mystery of Sir Gregory's death. The family secret and -the death in Tooley's Alley were widely apart; but there might be a -connecting link between them, at present hidden from his gaze. At all -events, it was worth while examining Mrs. Prisom, and hearing her -story. - -This Fanks resolved to do that evening; but in the meantime he left -the garrulous landlady, and went out for a stroll in the direction of -Mere Hall. It was not his intention to see Sir Louis on that evening -but rather to wait till the morning. Nevertheless, he had a desire to -look again at the splendid mansion of the Fellengers, more to pass -away the time than with any ulterior motive. In the calm twilight he -strolled along, and soon left the village behind him. His way lay -through flowery hedges, bright with the blossoms of summer; and, under -the influence of the hour and the beauty of the landscape, Fanks quite -forgot that he was at Damington for the purpose of unmasking a -murderer. From his dreams he was rudely awakened, and brought back to -real life. - -As he sauntered along, swinging his stick, he saw a man ahead, whose -figure and gait seemed to be familiar. In the clear, brown twilight he -could see fairly well; and so it appeared could the man he was looking -at; for the figure made a pause and jumped over the hedge. Fanks -wondered at this, for he had noted that the figure was that of a -gentleman, or, at all events, someone other than a labourer. With his -usual suspicion, and as much out of curiosity as anything else, Fanks -jumped over the hedge also; whereupon the stranger began to run across -the fields. By this time, Fanks was thoroughly convinced that -something was wrong; so he gave chase at once, with a chuckle of -delight at the excitement of the adventure. - -Across the green meadow they raced, and Fanks saw the man fading into -the dim twilight. He redoubled his sped; so did the fellow, but in the -next field Fanks found that he was gaining. The fugitive sprang over -another hedge; with Fanks close on his heels. But when the detective -landed he could see nothing of the stranger. A backward glance showed -him that the man had doubled, and was running along beside the hedge. -The next instant, Fanks was following on his trail; and, although the -mysterious figure made the greatest efforts to escape, Fanks drew -closer. Then an accident brought the race to an end, for the man -stumbled over a clod, and rolled on the grass. The next moment Fanks, -panting for breath, stood over him. - -The detective peered down, to see who it was he had caught, and, to -his surprise, he recognised Garth. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. -MRS. PRISOM'S STORY. - - -"What the deuce are you doing here?" asked the detective, angrily, -"and why did you run away when you saw me?" - -"As to my being here," replied Garth, sitting up and wiping his face, -"I came down to watch my cousin, of whom I was suspicious; and I ran -away because, on catching sight of you in the twilight, I took you for -Louis Fellenger." - -"Oh! And for what purpose are you down here?" - -"I have told you. I suspect that my cousin, through his medical -friend, is concerned in the murder of Sir Gregory." - -Fanks frowned, and Garth having got on his feet, they walked on -together. He wished that Garth would leave the case to him, and -resented the presence of the young lawyer on the spot. "Where are you -staying?" he asked, abruptly. - -"At the Pretty Maid Inn. I suppose you are there also, as it is the -only comfortable lodging in the village." - -"Yes, I am there, and, now as I have dropped across you, we may as -well go back to supper. I had intended having a look at the Hall, but -on second thoughts I shall go back with you to pump Mrs. Prisom." - -"I know Mrs. Prisom very well," said Garth; "she is an old servant of -our family, but I do not see what you can learn from her." - -"I may learn nothing, on the other hand I may learn a great deal. She -was well acquainted with the father of the late baronet." - -"And she was well acquainted with my mother, and with the father of -the present baronet. But in what way do you expect her to help you?" - -"Well, I'll tell you. I want to find out if there is anything in the -family history of the Fellengers likely to have induced Sir Gregory to -submit to that tattooing." - -"I am a member of the family, and I don't know of any reason," said -Garth. - -"Mrs. Prisom belongs to a generation before you," replied Fanks, "and -it is possible that she may know something. Of course, it is only -fancy on my part. Still, a drowning man clutches a straw, and I am -clutching at this. We may learn something." - -Garth shook his head. He knew the history of his family, and there was -nothing he could recall likely to touch on the subject of a tattooed -cross. - -Mrs. Prisom received them both with great dignity, and in half an hour -they were seated at a well-spread table. Both did justice to the -viands set before them; and during the progress of the meal they -chattered about the case. While they were thus conversing Fanks -elicited an important fact concerning Sir Louis. - -"I don't know why you should suspect your cousin," he said, in reply -to a remark of Garth's. "Mr. Vaud told us that both Sir Louis and -Binjoy were at Taxton-on-Thames on the night of the murder. The first -was ill, and the second was in attendance." - -"True enough," replied Garth, frankly; "all the same, you proved that -Binjoy was masquerading in London on the evening of the twenty-first." - -"Yes; it is strange that Sir Louis should say that Binjoy never left -his side. I suppose you suspect your cousin on that account?" - -"By no means. I suspect my cousin because he was himself in London on -that night." - -Fanks leaned back in his chair, and stared at the barrister. "What is -that you say?" he cried. "Was Sir Louis in Tooley's Alley on that -evening?" - -"Oh, I won't go so far as that. But Louis certainly went up to London -on that night. I found that out from Mrs. Jerusalem." - -"And who is Mrs. Jerusalem?" - -"She was the housekeeper of Sir Louis at Taxton-on-Thames. When he -came in for the title he brought her here. I saw her yesterday, and -she inadvertently admitted that much." - -"How did you get that out of her?" - -"Well, it was a fluke. She is an old servant of our family, like Mrs. -Prisom. I met her while out walking, and she recognised me. I made her -promise not to tell Sir Louis that I was here." - -"But what excuse did you make?" - -"None," said Garth, coolly. "I'll tell you a secret, Fanks. Mrs. -Jerusalem likes me and hates Sir Louis. She was a foster-sister of my -mother's, and she desires to see me in the place of my scientific -cousin." - -"Indeed," said Fanks, eyeing Garth in a strange manner; "and has she -done anything likely to forward your interest in that respect?" - -"I suppose you mean to hint that she would like to clear Sir Louis out -of my path by accusing him of the murder?" said Garth, coolly; "well, -you are about right. Mrs. Jerusalem connects the absence of Sir Louis -from Taxton-on-Thames with the death of Sir Gregory. She saw the -report of the inquest, you know; she recognised--as she thinks--the -description of Binjoy's servant Caesar, and, by putting two and two -together, she told me yesterday that it is her firm conviction--on the -slightest of proofs, remember--that Louis killed Gregory by means of -the black man." - -"Humph!" said Fanks, thoughtfully; "I must see this lady. But if she -dislikes Sir Louis and Binjoy why does she stay in the service of the -former?" - -Garth shrugged his shoulders. "One must live," he said, "and Mrs. -Jerusalem has a very easy time of it with my cousin. When my mother -died, and we were as poor as rats, my father got Louis's father to -take Mrs. Jerusalem into his service, and she has been there ever -since. Oh, she will not tell my cousin that I am here," concluded -Garth, with a satisfied nod. - -"Mrs. Prisom may," suggested Fanks. "You may be sure that a good deal -of gossip goes on between inn and Hall. How long have you been here?" - -"About three days." - -"Then you may be certain that your cousin knows of your presence in -the village. If he has any danger to fear from you he will take his -measures accordingly. I don't like your Mrs. Jerusalem, Garth; she -ought to be true to her salt." - -"I can't help that," retorted Garth, sulkily. "She would willingly -keep house for me if I had a house to keep, but as I have not she -stays where she is. But what do you think of her suspicions? Do yours -point in the same way?" - -"They did not," replied Fanks, promptly; "but your discovery of Sir -Louis's visit to town on that night puts quite a different complexion -on the case. All the same, I can come to no conclusion until I see -this spy of yours." - -"She isn't a spy," said Garth, gloomily. "I did not drag the -information out of the creature. She thought that she was doing me a -good turn by betraying my cousin. She thinks that if he killed Gregory -he ought to suffer, and let me have the property." - -"And what do you think?" asked Fanks, with a keen glance. - -"I don't want to build up my life on the ruins of another man's; it is -a bad foundation. I know you believe that I wish to get my cousin into -trouble, but you are wrong. I would help Louis to escape if I could." - -"There may be no necessity for that; we have proved nothing against -him as yet. I hardly think that a man who has committed a crime would -put down money to hunt out himself, and thereby lose the benefit he -gained by his wickedness. No, no, Garth, I do not believe Sir Louis is -such a guilty fool. However, I shall give my opinion when I see him -and question Mrs. Jerusalem." - -"Will you tell my cousin that I am here?" - -"Certainly. There is nothing to be gained by concealment. You only -place your honour in the hands of that Jerusalem creature, and make -yourself her accomplice. However, I am ready to bet you that Sir Louis -knows you are here through Mrs. Prisom." - -Garth made no reply, but stating that he was weary, went off to bed. -The detective, left alone, thought over what he had been told, and -found himself unable to come to any conclusion. He did not like the -way in which Garth was acting, but, all the same, he believed that the -lawyer had no ill intentions towards his cousin, despite Crate's -opinion to the contrary. The young man laughed as he thought how he -had picked up the trail of Garth when it had been lost by the astute -Crate. "I am afraid that Crate will never make a success of the -detective business," thought Fanks, lighting his pipe. "But I don't -agree with him about Garth; and I don't agree with Garth about Sir -Louis. Certainly, it is strange that Sir Louis should have feigned -illness, and shielded Binjoy, and then have gone up to town on that -night. What the deuce were he and his medical friend doing there? Dr. -Turnor knows; I believe that Sir Louis was alone with Binjoy in the -Great Auk Street house. It is odd, to say the least of it. I wonder if -that negro was the actual Caesar, or Binjoy or Sir Louis in disguise. -At all events, he wasn't Hersham, for that young man has exonerated -himself clearly enough. H'm. I'll reserve my decision as to Mrs. -Jerusalem's story till I see Sir Louis. Perhaps the secret of the -crime is to be found at Mere Hall, after all. No, no, no!" said Fanks, -getting on his feet with an emphatic stamp. "The secret is connected -with that tattooed cross. I wonder who can tell us about it." - -At, this moment, as if in answer to his query, the door opened, and -Mrs. Prisom came in to clear away the dinner things. As a rule, she -left this duty to the parlour maid, but as Garth, an offshoot of the -great Fellenger family, was dining under her roof, she would let no -one but herself attend to him. She looked surprised when she saw that -Garth was not in the room. At once Fanks explained the absence of his -friend. - -"Mr. Garth has retired to bed," he said, "as he is very tired. I shall -go myself soon, as your country air makes me sleepy, but at present I -should like to have a chat with you, Mrs. Prisom." - -Mrs. Prisom smiled in an expansive manner, and expressed the honour -she felt at such a request, adding that she dearly loved a chat. - -"All the better," thought Fanks, as she cleared away the dishes. "You -will be the more likely to tell me what I want to know." - -In a few minutes the table was tidy, and Mrs. Prisom, at Fanks' -request, had brought in her knitting. He guessed that she would talk -better with the needles clicking in her active hands, and herein he -judged wisely, for thus employed Mrs. Prisom would gossip for hours, -provided she had a good listener. - -"I suppose you knew the mother of Mr. Garth?" said Fanks, plunging at -once into the history of the Fellenger family. - -"Miss Eleanor? Ah, that I did; but she was a proud young lady, and -didn't care to play with me, even as a child, because I was the -daughter of the steward. They were all proud, the Fellengers, except -Sir Francis." - -"That was Sir Gregory's father?" - -"Yes. There was Sir Francis, the eldest and the merry one; Mr. -Michael, the father of the present Baronet, Sir Louis, he was proud, -too; and then Miss Eleanor, who married Mr. Garth. But I liked Sir -Francis the best of all," concluded the old lady, with a sigh. - -There was a look in her eyes as she said this, which made Fanks think -that she had been in love with the gay baronet, in the old days. - -"He was a bonny man, Sir Francis Fellenger," she resumed. "Never a -maid but what he had a smile for, and many a kiss did he take without -the asking," laughed Mrs. Prisom. "Oh, he was a merry blade. But all -sailors have those ways." - -"Was Sir Francis a sailor?" asked Fanks, suddenly. - -"He was a Captain in the Navy before he came into the title," said -Mrs. Prisom, "then he settled down and married Miss Darmer, a -Shropshire lady. But she died, poor soul, when Sir Gregory was born, -and it was five weeks after her death, that Sir Francis was killed by -being thrown from his dog-cart." - -"Sir Francis was a sailor?" asked Fanks, abruptly. "I suppose when he -went to sea and came home a middy, he had anchors, and ships, and true -lovers' knots, and such like things tattooed upon his skin." - -"He just had," replied Mrs. Prisom, laughing. "He had quite a fancy -for that sort of thing. He told me he learnt how to do it in Japan." - -"He learnt how to do it," echoed Fanks, leaning forward in his -excitement. - -"Yes, yes; and very clever he was at drawing such pictures on the -skin. I shall never forget how angered my mother was when Sir -Francis--Master Francis he was then--insisted on pricking those blue -marks on my arm." - -"Did he do that?" demanded the detective, little expecting what would -follow. - -"He did, sir; the mark of it remains to this day," and Mrs. Prisom -drew up the sleeve of her left arm. Fanks bent forward, and saw -tattooed thereon--a cross. Was he then about to unravel the mystery of -the tattooed cross which had puzzled him for so long? - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. -MRS. PRISOM'S STORY.--CONTINUED. - - -Fanks restrained his joy at this important discovery; he was afraid -lest Mrs. Prisom should cease to speak should she think that the -revelation was of consequence to him. That she should have the same -symbol as that possessed by Hersham, as that attempted on Sir Gregory, -appeared to hint at its owning a certain significance. What that -significance might be he now set himself to discover. - -"Why did Sir Francis choose a cross to tattoo on your arm, Mrs. -Prisom," he asked, as the old lady pulled down her sleeve. - -"I cannot say, Mr. Fanks. I fancy it was because he could draw a cross -better than anything else. You see it is St. Catherine's cross, with -four arms and a wheel--at least, that is what Sir Francis called it." - -"It is St. Catherine's cross," said Fanks, recalling the mark on -Hersham's arm. "Perhaps Sir Francis attached some meaning to it. Do -you know if he tattooed anyone else with the same symbol?" - -At this remark Mrs. Prisom suddenly desisted from her occupation, and -not only refused to speak but taxed Fanks with trying to fathom her -meaning for some ill purpose. "Why should you come down here, and ask -questions about Sir Francis Fellenger?" she asked, with a troubled -look; "why do you wish to know all these things?" - -There was no help for it. If Fanks wished to learn the truth he would -have to tell her the real purpose of his visit; and then out of love -for the memory of Sir Francis she might do what she could to aid him -to discover the person who had murdered Sir Gregory. Resolving to risk -all on the casting of this die, he spoke out boldly and to the point. -Yet he approached the old lady with a certain amount of caution. - -"I have an important reason for asking you these questions," he said, -in an earnest tone, "and I shall tell you my reason shortly. But first -say if you regretted the death of Sir Gregory." - -"I regretted it because he was the son of his father, but I did not -care over much for him. He was a bad man, Mr. Fanks, a very bad man. I -loved the father as an old playmate, and as one who was always kind to -me and mine; but the son--ah!" Mrs. Prisom shook her head and sighed. - -"You know that he was murdered?" - -"Yes; but they never found out who murdered him." - -"No; they are trying to find out now. You may be able to help me to do -so." - -"Help you?" said the old lady, in a frightened tone. "Who are you, -sir?" - -"My name is Fanks, as, you know, Mrs. Prisom. But what you do not know -is that I am a detective, anxious to learn who killed Sir Gregory." - -"I know nothing of the murder, sir. I am a simple old body, and cannot -help you in any way." - -"Oh, yes, you can, Mrs. Prisom. You can help me by relating all you -know about this tattooing." - -"But what can the death of Sir Gregory have to do with an old story of -man's treachery and woman's folly?" - -"More than you think. The whole secret of the death lies in the -explanation of that tattooing. Come, Mrs. Prisom, you must tell me all -you know." - -Mrs. Prisom thought for a moment, and then made up her mind. "I'll do -what I can," said she. "Those who are concerned in this tale are dead -and gone; and, so long as it does not hurt the living, I see no reason -why I should not gratify your curiosity; but I must ask you not to -repeat what I tell you, unless you are absolutely obliged to do so. It -is no good spreading family scandals, but as you have appealed to me -to help you to revenge the murder of my old, playfellow's son, I will -confide in you." - -Fanks assured Mrs. Prisom that he would be as reticent as possible -about her forthcoming history, and would not use it unless compelled -to do so. Satisfied on this point, Mrs. Prisom commenced; at the same -moment Fanks took out his note-book to set down any important point. - -"The other person who was tattooed," said Mrs. Prisom, "was Madaline -Garry." Fanks whistled softly and made a note in his book. "Only a -thought which struck me," he explained. "Madaline Garry; was she also -tattooed with a cross?" - -"Yes, sir. Madaline and Jane Garry were the daughters of old Captain -Garry, a retired naval officer, who lived in Damington. I knew them -both very well, as we used to meet on terms of equality in parish -work. Jane was the quiet one, but Madaline was a flighty girl, fond of -admiration and dress. She attracted the attention of Sir Francis, and -it was thought at one time that he would marry her. However, he did -not do so, but brought home the lady from Shropshire to Mere Hall. -Still, Madaline must have been fond of him, for she let him tattoo on -her arm a cross similar to this one of mine, I saw it one day while -she was changing her dress, and remarked it. She said Sir Francis had -pricked it on her arm as a sign that she was engaged to him, and that -it was like a wedding ring. I warned her against Sir Francis, and -mentioned the lady of Shropshire to whom he was said to be paying his -addresses. She laughed at this, and said Sir Francis would marry her. -'If he doesn't,' she added, 'I shall know how to avenge myself.'" - -"Did she know that you had a cross on your arm also?" - -"Oh, yes, I told her; but I never expected to marry Sir Francis, and -he did me no harm. I can't say the same of Madaline. He acted badly -towards her. I don't say that Sir Francis was a good man," added Mrs. -Prisom, in a hesitating manner; "but he was good to me. He certainly -should have married Madaline Garry." - -"Did he go about tattooing all the girls he was in love with?" - -"He was not in love with me," rejoined Mrs. Prisom, with dignity, "and -I only let him tattoo me because I was a schoolgirl and his old -playfellow. I knew no better then; but Madaline was a grown woman when -he loved her, and marked her with the cross. I suppose it was to bind -her to him;--not that it did much good, for shortly afterwards he -married Miss Darmer, and in a rage at his desertion Madaline took up -with an old admirer--Luke Fielding was his name--and she married him -almost on the same day that Sir Francis led his bride to the Hall." - -"Did she ever forgive him?" - -"She said she did," replied Mrs. Prisom, with hesitation; "but I have -my doubts of that. At all events, she was stopping at the Hall within -the year of her marriage." - -"How was that?" - -"Well, you see, sir, in nine months after the marriage Mr. Fielding -died, leaving Madaline with no money and a little child. About the -same time Lady Fellenger died at the birth of the dead Sir Gregory. -Somebody was wanted as a nurse, and Madaline asked Sir Francis if she -could come. She was poor, you see, and wanted money, although after -the death of her husband she was living with her father. At first Sir -Francis would not let her come--feeling ashamed-like, no doubt--but in -some way she prevailed against him, and went to the hall as the nurse -to the heir." - -"And what about her own child?" - -"She took him also, by permission of Sir Francis." - -"Oh! was the child of Madaline a son?" - -"Yes. Her son and that of Sir Francis were born almost on the same -day; she insisted that her son should come to the Hall also, so Sir -Francis agreed in the end." - -"And Madaline Garry nursed the heir--that is, the late Sir Gregory?" - -"She did," assented Mrs. Prisom. "Till Sir Francis was killed, as I -told you, five weeks after the death of his wife. His body was brought -home and buried; but, almost immediately after the funeral, Madaline -disappeared with her child. She was never heard of again; and I have -no doubt that by this time she is dead." - -"How long ago is it since she disappeared?" asked Fanks. - -"Twenty-eight years, sir. Where she and the child went, I do not know; -for she had no money. Poor soul; I was sorry for her." - -"And her sister and Captain Garry?" - -"Captain Garry died soon after. Madaline was his favourite child; he -never held up his head after she disappeared. When the Captain died, -Miss Jane went to some relatives in Scotland." - -"And the heir?" - -"Sir Gregory? Oh, Dr. Binjoy got another nurse for him." - -Fanks glanced up in astonishment. "Dr. Binjoy!" he repeated. "Was he -here?" - -"Of course he was, sir," replied Mrs. Prisom, with a slight shade of -surprise, "he was at the births of both Madaline's child and Sir -Gregory. Afterwards, when the father of Sir Louis died, he asked Dr. -Binjoy to look after his son, who was sickly. The doctor agreed; and -he has been with Sir Louis ever since." - -"Yet now they are about to part." - -"It seems strange, doesn't it, sir?" said Mrs. Prisom, "but ever since -Dr. Binjoy has been here with Sir Louis, they have got on badly. I -think it was the chemistry which kept them together; for their -characters are quite unlike one another." - -"You like Sir Louis?" - -"Yes. But I don't like Dr. Binjoy. No. Not though I have known him for -so many years. He was a lover of Madaline Garry also, but she would -have nothing to do with him. I am glad he is leaving Sir Louis." - -"Was Binjoy friendly with Sir Gregory?" - -"I can't say, sir. I do not think he had much love for him; because he -was the heir and kept Sir Louis out of the property." - -"Oh; and no doubt Binjoy wanted Sir Louis to have the property, so -that he could get a share of the money." - -"I think so, sir. They said that Dr. Binjoy was always very gay; and -used to go to London to lead a fast life." - -"Who said that? Did you ever go to Taxton-on-Thames?" - -"No, Mrs. Jerusalem told me. You know she was the housekeeper of the -late Mr. Garth; and, after his death, she went to keep house for Sir -Louis at Taxton-on-Thames. When Sir Louis came in for the property he -brought her here." - -"Is she a native of this village?" - -"Oh, yes; she was a school friend of mine, though I never liked her -over much. I believe she was in love with the late Mr. Garth. At all -events, she is devoted to his son. I wonder she left him to keep house -for Sir Louis. But, as poor, young Mr. Garth had no money, I suppose -she had to do the best she could for herself." - -In Fanks' opinion, the love of Mrs. Jerusalem for the late Mr. Garth -explained why she was so anxious to benefit the son; but it did not -indicate why she should hate Sir Louis. Mrs. Prisom's next words -enlightened him on this point. - -"It is more strange," pursued Mrs. Prisom. "Because Mr. Michael, the -father of Sir Louis, treated Mrs. Jerusalem very badly. Yes, almost as -badly as Sir Francis did Madaline Garry." - -"I wonder Sir Francis was not afraid that Madaline Garry would avenge -herself for his treatment," said Fanks, now satisfied as to the cause -of Mrs. Jerusalem's hatred for Sir Louis. - -"I think he was afraid," replied Mrs. Prisom, rising and rolling up -her work. "I can't explain what he said to me in any other way." - -"What was that?" said Fanks, eagerly. - -"I was at the Hall one day, shortly after the death of Lady -Fellenger," said the landlady, "and I saw him in his study. He was -grieving greatly for the death of his wife; but he also told me how -pleased he was at the birth of an heir. While he was talking, Madaline -entered, and spoke about something; then she nodded to me, and went -away. As the door closed after her, Sir Francis looked anxious. -'Nancy,' he said, turning to me--he always called me 'Nancy,'" said -Mrs. Prisom, in parentheses. "'Nancy,' he said, all in a flutter like, -'if it should chance as I die, and anything goes wrong about my son, -remember that cross I tattooed on your arm; and if you want any -further proof, look in this desk.' Just then, we were interrupted, and -he did not say any more. I never saw him again," added Mrs. Prisom, -with emotion, "for he was brought home dead that day week." - -"Can you understand what he meant?" - -"No, sir," said Mrs. Prisom, rising. "I can only say from the look he -gave the door, that he was afraid of Madaline. What he meant by the -cross and the desk I know no more than you do. But he was wrong in -thinking that Madaline would harm his child--for that was what he -thought, I'm sure--for she went away a week after his death with her -own, and Sir Gregory grew into a fine, young gentleman, though wild, -very wild." - -After which speech, Mrs. Prisom, exclaiming that it was close on ten -o'clock, left the room; and Fanks sat meditating over the strange -history he had heard, far into the night. Already he saw a connecting -link between the story of Madaline Garry and the tragedy of Tooley's -Alley. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. -SIR LOUIS EXPLAINS. - - -The outcome of Fanks' midnight meditations, was that he resolved to -devote himself entirely to following the clue afforded by Mrs. -Prisom's story of the tattooed cross. The dead father had chosen the -symbol of St Catherine's martyrdom for some unknown purpose; the -murdered son had perished while the same emblem was being tattooed on -his arm. For some reason he had wished to be marked in such a way, and -the murderer had taken advantage of the wish to inoculate the blood of -his victim with a deadly poison. If then, Fanks could learn the -significance of the cross, he might be able to fathom the mystery of -the death. The question he asked himself was, whether he could find -out the truth concerning the cross in the study of the late Sir -Francis. - -The warning which the dead man had given to Mrs. Prisom, seemed -strange to the detective. That it was dictated by fear of Madaline -Garry, he felt sure; but as she had passed away, and had foregone her -vengeance it would seem that the warning was useless. Nevertheless, -Fanks resolved to see the desk referred to by Mrs. Prisom, and to -search for the evidence hinted at by Sir Francis. Also, for reasons of -his own, which the reader may guess, he wired to Hersham at the -Fairview vicarage, to seek an explanation from his father relative to -the cross tattooed on his arm. The tale of the Reverend Hersham might -show why the special symbol of Sir Francis was figuring on the skin of -a young man who had nothing to do with the Fellengers and their mad -freaks. After concluding the first part of his scheme by despatching -this letter, Fanks proceeded to the second, and walked to Mere Hall to -see the desk referred to by Mrs. Prisom. Garth had refused to -accompany the detective to the Hall; and gave his reason for such -refusal. "It is no good my going," he said, "I don't wish to see my -cousin; and if, as you think, he knows that I am here, there is no -longer any reason why I should stay in Damington. I shall go up to -town by the midday train, and leave you to find out if he has anything -to do with the crime." - -"Well, as I know all you know, and a great deal more besides, I don't -think it is necessary for you to stay," said Fanks, dryly. "I'll -follow up the clue afforded by the malice of Mrs. Jerusalem. Return to -town by all means, and if you want anything to do, just join Crate in -watching the Red Star Hotel in which Mrs. Boazoph lies ill." - -This Garth promised readily enough, much to the amusement of Fanks, as -the latter was simply throwing him into the society of Crate in order -to afford that person a chance of learning the connection--if any--of -Garth with the crime. He was assured in his own mind that Garth was -innocent, but he was willing to afford Crate some innocent amusement, -by setting him to find the mare's nest of his own imagination. When -Garth, therefore, departed, Fanks smiled in his own quiet way; and -went off to solve the more difficult riddle which awaited him at Mere -Hall. - -When he was nearing the Hall, a woman stepped out of a gap in the -hedge almost in front of him. She was dressed in a black silk dress -with lavender coloured shawl over her shoulders; and she wore also a -bonnet of grey velvet made Quaker fashion, and close fitting over the -ears. But it was not at her dress that Fanks looked; he was staring at -the most malignant countenance he ever saw in his life. She was pale -and thin-lipped; her hair and eyes and eyebrows were of a light, sandy -hue; and she had a stealthy, observant way with her, which made Fanks -mistrust her on the instant. Like an apparition she arose from the -ground; and laid one thin hand on his breast to detain him. - -"One moment, Mr. Fanks," she said, in a perfectly unemotional voice. -"You must speak to me before you go to Mere Hall." - -"Why must I?" demanded Fanks, with a stare, "and how is it you know my -name?" - -"Mr. Garth told me your name and your errand." - -"Oh!" cried Fanks, remembering Garth's excuse for retiring to bed on -the previous night. "So you are Mrs. Jerusalem?" - -"That is my name; and I wish to tell you--" - -"I wish to hear nothing," said Fanks, roughly. "Mr. Garth had no -business to speak about me. What is there between you and him that he -should act in this underhand way without telling me? He said he was -going to bed last night. Instead of that, he sneaks out and sees you." - -"There you are wrong," replied Mrs. Jerusalem, still without a trace -of emotion. "Mr. Garth did not come to me. On the contrary, it was I -who came to him at the inn while you were talking to Mrs. Prisom. He -came out of his bedroom to see me for a few moments; and then I went -away." - -"And why did he not tell about this meeting?" asked Fanks, angrily. - -"Because I asked him not to. I wished to take you by surprise. If you -had heard of my midnight visit, you might mistrust me; as it is--" - -"As it is, I mistrust you still. Well, Mrs. Jerusalem, we will waive -the point. I know you accuse Sir Louis of this murder. Is it to betray -the master whose bread you eat, that you have sought this meeting?" - -"That is just why I am here," was the quiet reply. "I hate my -master--" - -"Because his father, Michael Fellenger, treated you ill. I know all -about that, Mrs. Jerusalem." - -"Ah!" said the woman, coldly. "I see you employed your time with Mrs. -Prisom to good purpose. Well, you can understand that I hate Sir -Louis, and I would gladly see Francis Garth sit in his place?" - -"And for this purpose you have concocted a story against Sir Louis." - -"I have concocted no story. I tell the truth. Sir Louis and Dr. Binjoy -went up to London on the night of the murder; although they now -pretend that the one was ill, and the other attended him. They sent me -out of the house on that night; but I suspected, I watched, I -discovered. Do you know why the pair went up to London?" she -continued, grasping Fanks by the arm. "To kill Sir Gregory. Do you -know why they killed Sir Gregory? To get money for their scientific -experiments. Do you know how they killed Sir Gregory? Ask them about -the poisoned needle. Yes. They made use of their scientific knowledge -to slay the man whose money they wanted." - -"Who put the advertisement in the paper?" - -"Ask Mrs. Boazoph, she knows." - -"Does she?" said Fanks, disgusted with her malignity, "and perhaps you -know about the tattooed cross?" - -"No, I don't know about the tattooed cross," said Mrs. Jerusalem, "but -I daresay Madaline Garry can tell you." - -"Madaline Garry? Do you know her? Is she still alive?" - -"I know her, she is still alive. See Sir Louis, Mr. Fanks," said the -woman, stretching out her lean hand, "tear the mask off the lying face -of Dr. Binjoy who loved Madaline Garry and ask him where she lives; -and what evil he has worked with her aid?" - -More Fanks would have asked, but with a sudden movement she eluded his -detaining hand, and before he could recover from his astonishment she -was far down the road to the village, gliding like an evil shadow into -the sunny distance. Fanks thought of following her, but on second -thoughts he pursued his journey to the Hall. "Sir Louis and Binjoy -first," he muttered, "afterwards Mrs. Jerusalem and Madaline Garry." - -Despite his belief in the evidence of Mrs. Jerusalem, which was -obviously dictated by a malignant spirit, he caught himself wondering -if she was really right, and if, after all, Sir Louis was guilty. But -the moment afterwards he rejected this idea, as it was incredible that -Sir Louis would commit a crime and then offer a reward for the -detection of the assassin. Still Fanks admitted to himself that if Sir -Louis was not frank, he would find it difficult to come to a decision -touching his innocence or guilt. - -On sending in his card at Mere Hall, the detective was admitted into -the study of Sir Louis Fellenger. Here he found not the baronet but -his old acquaintance Dr. Renshaw, who advanced boldly and introduced -himself as Dr. Binjoy. In place of wearing a thick brown beard he was -clean-shaven, and his face looked young, fresh-coloured, and smooth. -For the rest he was as tall and burly as ever, as unctuous in his -speech; and to complete the resemblance between himself and the doctor -of Tooley's Alley, there lurked an unmistakable look of anxiety in his -grey eyes. It was impossible to think how he hoped to deceive so -clever a man as Fanks by so slight a change in his personal -appearance; but he evidently thought Fanks knew nothing of the truth, -for he came forward with a bland smile, prepared to carry on the -comedy. - -"My dear sir," said Binjoy, with magnificent pompousness, "your card -was brought to Sir Louis, but he has been busy in his laboratory, and -is rather untidy in consequence, he deputed me to receive you. Pray be -seated." - -Fanks smiled slightly and sat down, while Dr. Binjoy, rendered uneasy -by the silence, carried on a difficult conversation. - -"I presume, Mr. Fanks, that you have come to report your doings to Sir -Louis touching this unfortunate death of my friend's predecessor in -the title. May I ask if you have any clue to the assassin?" - -"Oh, yes," said Fanks, quietly; "you will be pleased to hear, Dr. -Binjoy, that I have every hope of arresting the right man." - -Binjoy turned grey and looked anything but delighted. Indeed an -unprejudiced observer would have said that he looked thoroughly -frightened. But he controlled himself so far as to falter out a -question as to the name of the guilty man. Fanks mentioned the name of -Renshaw, and thereby reduced his listener to a state of abject terror. - -"Renshaw is innocent, sir," said the doctor, tremulously, "I would he -were here to defend himself; but he is in India at present, at Bombay. -I received a letter from him, dated from Aden." - -"How strange," said Fanks, innocently; "Dr. Turnor got a letter from -him also." - -Binjoy saw that he had over-reached himself, and bit his lip. "We need -discuss Renshaw no longer," he said, coolly. "Let us talk of other -matters till Sir Louis enters." - -"By all means," said Fanks. "Let me ask you, Dr. Binjoy, what you -were doing at Dr. Turnor's in Great Auk Street on the night of the -twenty-first?" - -Binjoy went pale again, and stammered out a denial. "I was not in town -on that night," he protested. "I was attending on Sir Louis, who was -ill. I never left the house at Taxton-on-Thames." - -"Oh, yes, you did. You went up with Sir Louis." - -"Prove it, prove it," gasped Binjoy, with white lips. - -"I can prove it by the mouth of Mrs. Jerusalem. She saw you leave; she -saw Sir Louis return alone." - -"A lie! A lie!" - -"It is not a lie, and you know it. It is time to have done with this -farce, Dr. Binjoy. I know who you are. I know all about your -impersonation and disguise. I know why you called yourself Renshaw. I -traced you to Plymouth and saw you disembark; I followed you to this -place, and now I have you." - -Binjoy stared wildly for a moment at seeing his mask of lies fall away -from him, and then sank back in his chair with a shiver, moaning and -crying. "It is a lie, a lie," was all he could gasp. - -"It is not a lie," said a voice at the door, and Fanks turned to see -Sir Louis. "It is not a lie," repeated the baronet. "Binjoy is -Renshaw; he went up with me to town on the night of the twenty-first. -If you want to know who killed my cousin, Mr. Fanks, there is the -assassin." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. -DR. BINJOY PROTESTS. - - -Silence ensued after this astounding statement had been made by Sir -Louis, during which time Fanks narrowly observed the personality of -the speaker. The baronet was a tall, and rather stout young man, with -a round face, destitute of beard and moustache. He was shabbily -dressed in an old tweed suit. He wore spectacles, and his shoulders -were slightly bowed as from constant bending over a desk. His -appearance was rather that of a studious German than that of a young -Englishman, but Fanks, from this hasty observation, judged him to be -of a sensible and reflective nature. Such a man would not make so -terrible an accusation unless he was able to substantiate it on every -point. - -Binjoy arose to refute the accusation of his quondam pupil. "That -man," he said, pointing an unsteady hand at the baronet, "is lying. He -hates me because I know his secrets. For their preservation he seeks -to destroy me. But if I fall he falls also; if I am guilty he is -doubly so. Let him speak and admit that our sin is mutual." - -"I admit nothing of the sort," retorted Sir Louis, coming forward. -"You tell your story, and I shall tell mine. Mr. Fanks can judge -between us." - -"You had better be careful, Louis," said Binjoy, with an attempt at -bravado. "I hold you in the hollow of my hand." - -"We will see," said Fellenger, coldly. "Be seated, Mr. Fanks. Before -you leave this room you shall hear my story, and decide as you think -best. I refuse to be the accomplice of that man any longer." - -"Louis, I implore you." - -But Fellenger turned a deaf ear to the voice of the charmer, and sat -down near Fanks, to whom he addressed himself. "For the sake of Binjoy -I concealed the truth; out of pity for him I held my tongue; but when -he strives to make me an accomplice in the crime, when he attempts to -blackmail me by threatening to inform you of our doings on the night -of the twenty-first of June, I prefer to forestall him, and let you -know the worst of myself." - -"You were listening to our conversation, Sir Louis?" said Fanks. - -"I was," replied the baronet, coldly. "I know what Mrs. Jerusalem -thinks; I know how Binjoy has been lying to you; and I am sick of -living on the verge of a precipice, over which that man and my -housekeeper threaten to push me. At any cost you shall hear the truth -so far as I am able to tell it to you. Ask what questions you like, -Mr. Fanks, and I shall answer them; when I fail no doubt the worthy -doctor there will come to my aid, and shield himself if possible at my -expense." - -"I shall say nothing," said Binjoy, wiping his lips. "My only desire -is to save myself from the consequences of your falsehoods. I wish you -no harm." - -"Just hear him!" cried Louis, in a mocking tone. "Would you believe -that my friend there threatened to blackmail me last week by saying he -would denounce me to the police. Well, Binjoy, here is a -representative of the law. You can now speak. I give you full power to -do so." - -Binjoy did not accept this challenge. He sat back in his chair to -listen to the forthcoming conversation, and to defend himself if -necessary. - -"Well, Sir Louis," said the detective, "I have heard your accusation -and the denial of Dr. Binjoy. Until I hear your story and his I attach -no value to either." - -Binjoy drew a long breath of relief. "I can defend myself," he said, -in a defiant tone. "I can prove to you that Louis lies." - -"You shall have ample opportunity of doing so," replied Fanks, coldly; -"in the meantime I shall hear what Sir Louis has to say." - -"I must begin at the beginning," said Louis, quietly. "That man Binjoy -was the doctor in this village of Damington. When my father died -leaving me an orphan--for my mother had died some years before--he -asked Binjoy to look after me." - -"And I have done so," broke in Binjoy, "and this is my reward." - -"This is your reward for trying to blackmail me," said Fellenger, -dryly. "You did your best to ruin me, and to put bad thoughts into my -heart as to Gregory's wealth and my own poverty. See here, Mr. Fanks," -added Louis, turning to the detective, "I am a man of science; I am -devoted to my work. I wanted neither money nor title, and I would not -have lifted a finger to obtain either. I did not like Gregory; he was -a brutal and wicked boy, and when we were playmates together he -treated me like a dog. I never saw him for years. We never -corresponded or treated each other as relatives, but for all that I -did not wish him evil; I did not desire his death; least of all did I -desire to rob him of his titles and lands. Do you believe me, sir?" - -Fanks looked at the open face of the young man, and glanced at the -scowl which rested on the countenance of Binjoy. Drawing his own -conclusions, he replied quietly, "I believe you, Sir Louis; proceed, -if you please." - -"Binjoy," pursued Louis, "was always lamenting that I was not the -owner of the Fellenger estates; and now that I am he hopes to make me -pay him large sums of money to purchase his silence." - -"What does he threaten to accuse you of?" said Fanks. - -"Of murdering my cousin under the disguise of the negro Caesar, but I -am innocent, Mr. Fanks, as I hope to prove to you. I was trapped by -that man and his accomplice, Dr. Turnor." - -"Ah!" murmured Fanks, while Binjoy scowled. "I was sure that the -ferret had something to do with the matter." - -"Of that you shall judge for yourself," said Fellenger. "Have you -heard of Mithridates, Mr. Fanks?" - -The detective was rather astonished at this apparently irrelevant -question; but having some knowledge of ancient history, he said that -he had heard of the monarch. "He was a king of Pontus, wasn't he; who -lived on poisons?" - -"Exactly. He accustomed himself to taking poisons for so long that in -the end the most deadly had no effect on him. I always thought that -this was a fable and I wanted to see if I was right. For this purpose, -I tried experiments on dogs. I inoculated an animal with a weak -poison, and gradually increased the dose. Whether I was successful -does not matter; it has nothing to do with my story. But I may tell -you this, that, with the aid of Binjoy, I prepared a very powerful -vegetable poison for my final experiment; with this I impregnated a -needle." - -"Oh!" said Fanks, "now I am beginning to see. Was it an ordinary -needle?" - -"No, it was not an ordinary needle," replied Fellenger. "In the first -place it was silver; in the second, it was hollow; in the third, it -was filled with this deadly vegetable poison, of which I told you." - -"Prepared by Dr. Binjoy?" - -"Prepared by both of us," said Binjoy, savagely. "Let him take his -share of the guilt." - -"I am not guilty. Mr. Fanks can judge of that for himself when I tell -him what I know," retorted the baronet. "Well, Mr. Fanks, we prepared -this needle and placed it in a case; for the least prick with it meant -death by blood poisoning. We intended to use it on the dog, when the -animal was sufficiently saturated with weaker poisons to admit of the -experiment being made. You may be sure, sir, that I was very careful -of that needle; I placed it in my cabinet. Dr. Binjoy had access to -that cabinet." - -"I had not," contradicted Binjoy. - -"Yes, you had; you possessed a key as well as myself," retorted Sir -Louis, sharply. - -"I did not," said the doctor, obstinate in his denial. - -"Don't lie, Binjoy, I found you with it opened one day; the day Anne -Colmer was with you, and I was so angry." - -"Oh, Anne Colmer knew about this needle?" said Fanks. - -"I can't say," said Fellenger. "While I was living at -Taxton-on-Thames, Miss Colmer sometimes came to the house. But I was -angry at Binjoy for opening that cabinet in her presence, as there -were a lot of dangerous drugs in it." - -"She touched none of them," growled. Binjoy. - -"Oh!" said Fanks, sharply. "Then you admit that you showed Miss Colmer -the cabinet of poisons." - -Binjoy scowled, and grew a shade paler; as he saw that he had over -reached himself. However, he said nothing, lest he should make bad -worse; and, with a significant glance at Fanks the baronet resumed his -story. - -"One day, in the middle of June," said Fellenger, "I found the needle -missing; and Binjoy told me he had given it to Turnor." - -"I did not say that," exclaimed Binjoy, wrathfully. "I said that I -missed it one day when Turnor was in the laboratory; and I thought -that he might have taken it. As it proved, he did not. I know no more -than yourself who took it." - -"We will see," said Louis. "I was ill at the time: and when Binjoy -hinted that Turnor had it, I determined to go up to London, and get it -again. I rose from my bed of sickness and went up to London on the -evening of the twenty-first." - -"But was it necessary that you should have gone up?" said Fanks, -"would not a line to Dr. Turnor have done?" - -"Probably. But the preparation of the poison was a secret, and when I -heard that the needle was in Turnor's possession, I was afraid lest he -should analyse the preparation. I went up to town with Binjoy post -haste to recover it again. This haste may appear strange to you, Mr. -Fanks; but you do not know how jealous we men of science are of our -secrets. But, at all events, we went up to town that evening. Do you -deny that, Binjoy?" - -"No, I don't deny it," retorted Binjoy, gloomily. "Mr. Fanks tracked -me to Plymouth; he knows that I am Renshaw." - -"I do. May I ask, Dr. Binjoy, why you took a false name?" - -Binjoy pointed to his friend. "It was to save that ungrateful man," he -said, in a tragic voice. "When I saw you at the Red Star, and found -out that it was Sir Gregory who had been murdered, I foresaw how you -might suspect Louis as the cousin of the dead man. Mrs. Boazoph sent -for Dr. Turnor, I came instead of him, leaving Turnor with Louis. I -had been to the Red Star before, and Mrs. Boazoph knew me as Renshaw." - -"And you wore a false beard. How was that?" - -"I used to go up to London to enjoy myself," said Binjoy, -apologetically, "and I did not want any rumours to creep down to -Taxton-on-Thames concerning my movements. This is why I adopted the -false name; and disguise." - -"Did you know of this?" said Fanks, turning to Louis. - -"I do now, I did not then," said he, promptly. "When I arrived in -town, I went with Binjoy to Dr. Turnor's house in Great Auk Street. -Turnor denied possession of the needle. Shortly afterwards, a message -came that the landlady of the Red Star wanted Turnor. I would not let -Turnor leave the room; as I felt sure that he had the needle, and -thought that he might make away with it. Binjoy went in his place; but -he had no disguise on when he went out of the house." - -"I put it on outside," explained Renshaw, alias Binjoy. "I did not -tell you all my secrets, as you were always so straight-laced, you -might have objected to my enjoying myself." - -"I should certainly have objected to your disguising yourself, and -going under another name," said Louis, coldly, "I do not like such -underhand doings. I did not know that you went to the Red Star as -Renshaw; when you came back I had gone." - -"Ah!" murmured Fanks, "that accounts why we didn't catch you. The -house was not watched till Binjoy came back. Did you return to -Taxton-on-Thames?" - -"Yes. I returned without the needle, which Turnor denied having. I -felt very ill, and got into bed at once." - -"Was Mrs. Jerusalem in the house, then?" - -"Yes. Binjoy, as I afterwards learned, had sent her out. It was part -of the trap. He wanted to make out that I had got rid of the woman so -that I could go up to town and kill my cousin." - -"When did you hear of your cousin's death?" - -"The next day. Turnor came down; and said that Binjoy could not return -as he was being watched by detectives." - -"Quite so. And Turnor told you about your cousin's death?" - -"He did; and then he said that if I did not hold my tongue, and -pretend that I had not left Taxton-on-Thames that night, I should be -in danger of being accused of the crime. What could I do, Mr. Fanks; I -saw my danger, I held my tongue." - -"Yes," said Fanks. "I can see why you were afraid. You were in a -dangerous position." - -"I was in a trap," retorted Louis. "Can't you see, Mr. Fanks. Gregory -was killed with a poisoned needle. I had talked about that needle to -many people. Many scientific men knew that I was experimenting with -it. I was in Turnor's house at the very time that the crime was -committed." - -"And you were thereby able to prove an alibi." - -"Indeed, no. Turnor told me that he needed money; and he swore that he -would deny that I had been in his house; that he would denounce me as -the murderer of my cousin, if I did not give him a cheque. I could do -nothing, I was afraid; the circumstances were too strong for me. I -would have told the police; but in the face of Turnor's denial; in the -face of Binjoy's treachery in luring me into that house at the very -time of the murder, I dreaded lest I should be arrested and condemned -on circumstantial evidence. And the negro, Binjoy's servant, was -smuggled off to Bombay by Binjoy, to close the trap more firmly on -me." - -"That's a lie," said Binjoy. "I sent the negro away to Bombay to avert -suspicion. I feigned a voyage to Plymouth for the same reason. I -ordered Caesar to meet me at Plymouth; and sent him to Bombay in my -place." - -"I know you did," said Fanks, "you no doubt did that when I lost you -in the town after you disembarked." - -"Well, you see, Mr. Fanks," said Louis, "that I am innocent. I held my -tongue, and lied about Binjoy, because I was afraid of the -circumstantial evidence which might be brought against me. Thanks to -Binjoy and Turnor, I was in a trap; I was at their mercy. I have told -you all because Binjoy tried to blackmail me last week. Now what do -you say?" - -"Say, Sir Louis. I believe that you have told the truth. You are -innocent of this crime. But the question is, what does Dr. Binjoy -say?" - -"I say that there is not one word of truth in the whole story," said -the doctor, with a scowl. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. -A LETTER FROM HERSHAM, SENIOR. - - -Upon hearing this untruthful and obstinate denial of the baronet's -story, Fanks wheeled round his chair, until it directly faced that of -Binjoy. At the sullen creature he looked sternly, and shook an -emphatic forefinger in his face. - -"Now look you here, Dr. Binjoy, or Renshaw, or whatever you choose to -call yourself," he said, sternly. "I believe that Sir Louis has spoken -the truth about this matter. I have not the least doubt that you and -your accomplice, Turnor, lured him into the Tooley Alley crime, with -which, to my belief, he has nothing to do whatever. You laid a trap, -and he fell into it--unluckily for him; but for his wise resolution to -confess his doings on that night to me, I have no doubt that you would -have blackmailed him." - -"I did not want to blackmail him," said Binjoy in a low voice. "I did -not lure him into a trap. On the contrary, when I found out that it -was his cousin who had been murdered, I did all I could to save -him--to draw suspicion on to myself. I feigned the voyage to Plymouth; -I made use of my false name; I sent off Caesar to Bombay; and I closed -the mouth of Dr. Turnor. What more could you expect me to do?" - -"I quite believe that you did all these things; and for why? Because -you wished to rivet your chains more securely on your victim. When you -found that he was in possession of the property, you resolved to get -whatever money you wanted out of him in order to lead a debauched life -in town. Oh, yes, Doctor, I quite believe you changed your name and -assumed a disguise while in London. You did not wish that the scampish -Renshaw of the Red Star should be identified with, the respectable Dr. -Binjoy, late of Taxton-on-Thames, and now of Mere Hall in Hampshire. I -can understand that, and I can understand that you designed the murder -so that Sir Louis could become possessed of money which you intended -to spend." - -"I did not design the murder," said Binjoy, in a hoarse voice. "I -swear I do not know who committed the crime. When I was called in by -Mrs. Boazoph, I was as ignorant as anyone that Gregory Fellenger had -been murdered. I only acted as I did because I saw how dangerous it -was that Louis should be suspected. He was in the neighbourhood--" - -"Lured there by yourself?" - -"No! No! I did not lure him there. That we should be at Turnor's -house, so near to Tooley's at that time, was quite an accident." - -"Was it an accident that Dr. Turnor came down to Taxton-on-Thames, and -threatened to blackmail me," broke in Louis. - -"I know nothing of what Turnor said or did. It was not because you -paid him money that he held his tongue; but because I told him to do -so." - -"You tried to blackmail me, also. That was why we quarrelled; that was -why you were going away next week. And I dare swear, Binjoy," added -Sir Louis, quietly, "that had you gone, you would have found means to -betray me to the police. That is why I have told Mr. Fanks everything. -You cannot harm me now. - -"Don't you be too sure of that," growled Binjoy; "you have got to -clear yourself of suspicion." - -"Sir Louis has cleared himself in my eyes," said Fanks. "But you have -yet to explain what became of the poisoned needle." - -"I do not know; I missed it as did Sir Louis, but I do not know who -took it. You can't prove that I committed the crime." - -"I am not sure of that," said Fanks, coolly. "See here, Dr. Binjoy, -you wanted Sir Louis to get the Fellenger estates so that you could -handle the money. Sir Louis can prove that much. You had access to -this poisoned needle with which the crime was committed; you went up -to London on the evening of the twenty-first of June; you repaired to -the Red Star about the time the deed was committed; you lied about -your name; you took a pretended voyage; you sent your negro to Bombay -in order to throw the suspicion on him. Now you attempt to blackmail -Sir Louis--you and Turnor--by threatening to accuse him of committing -a crime of which he is guiltless. From my own soul I believe that he -is the victim of conspiracy; I believe that you lured him up to Great -Auk Street to entangle him in the matter. And," added Fanks, rising, -"I believe that you, in disguise of a negro, killed Sir Gregory -Fellenger with that poisoned needle." - -"I did not. I swear I did not. It is all a mistake," gasped the -wretched man. "Ask Turnor." - -"The other blackguard, the other blackmailer? No, thank you. He would -only lie to me as you are doing. You are guilty. Confess your share in -this crime. Confess the mystery of the tattooed cross." - -"The tattooed cross? What do you know about the tattooed cross?" - -"More than you think," returned Fanks, significantly. "What about -Madaline Garry and her revenge?" - -Binjoy's eyes seemed to be starting out of his head with terror and -surprise. His face was of a deathly paleness, and great drops of -perspiration rolled down his cheeks. He tried to speak, but the words -rattled in his throat, and with a gasp the man, strong as he was, -fainted quietly in the chair. He had been struck down by his own -terrors; rendered insensible by an instinctive knowledge of his -danger. - -"What do you intend to do, Mr. Fanks?" asked Louis, looking at the -inanimate form of Binjoy with strong distaste. "Arrest this man?" - -"I do. I shall send a telegram to London to get a detective down. In -the meantime--I shall stay here so as not to lose sight of him." - -"You don't think that I would help him to escape?" said Louis, -indignantly. "I am only too glad to see the scoundrel captured. He has -been the curse of my life ever since my father placed me in his care; -he spoilt my nature, he half ruined me, but I stood it all until he -tried to blackmail me. Then I revolted against his tyranny. If you had -not appeared here so opportunely I should have written for you to come -and hear my confession. I admit that I was afraid to speak before, for -these villains had laid their plans so skilfully that I was afraid my -tale would not be believed. But now the scamp has been caught in his -own trap, and I am glad of it." - -"All the same, I am not sure that he killed your cousin." - -"Why not? All the circumstances seem to point to his having done so." - -"No doubt. But some time ago I thought I had spotted the person who -had executed the crime. From that opinion I am not inclined to depart. -Evidently, Binjoy knows all about the affair, and possibly he may be -brought in as the accessory before the fact, but you can see for -yourself that the man is a rank coward. He has fainted. No man of his -timid nature would be brave enough to commit so daring a crime, and -then face me within an hour of such commission. No, Sir Louis, we have -not yet caught the assassin." - -"Then why arrest Binjoy?" - -"Because he knows who is guilty, and I wish to force him into -confession. Just send the servant with this telegram, will you, and -tell him to ask if there are any letters for me at the Pretty Maid -Inn?" - -"What about Binjoy?" - -"Leave him here with me for a time. Should I get a letter I may ask -you to take me over the house. Till then I shall watch my man." - -"What is this letter you expect?" demanded Louis, with curiosity. - -"I'll tell you that when I have despatched my telegram. Send a groom -with it at once, please." - -Sir Louis obeyed and left the room, while Fanks remained to revive the -insensible Binjoy. He threw water on his face, loosened his collar, -but the doctor still continued insensible. Becoming alarmed, Fanks -rang the bell, and sent for a medical man. The upshot of the affair -was that Binjoy was put to bed in high fever. The shock inflicted on -him by the detective had unsettled his brain; and when Crate arrived -at Mere Hall there was no question of arresting the guilty man. Binjoy -was dangerously ill, and suffering from an attack of brain fever. What -with the doctor ill in the country and Mrs. Boazoph ill in town, Fanks -began to grow uneasy. If all the principals of the case were rendered -incapable of confession in this manner, he did not see how he was to -arrive at any solution of the riddle. He was two days meditating over -the next move in the game. "Mrs. Boazoph knows something," said Fanks, -to himself, "and Dr. Binjoy knows more; but if both are ill and -incapable of confession, what am I to do?" - -There was no answer to this question, but later on the detective's -hands were full in elucidating the mystery of the tattooing. He asked -the baronet if he knew anything about the fancy Sir Francis had for -pricking crosses on the arms of women whom he loved. - -"I never heard of it," said Louis. "I did not know much about my uncle -Francis, and still less about my cousin, his son Gregory. I am afraid -we are a singularly unamiable family, Mr. Fanks, for we all seem to -quarrel." - -"Have you quarrelled with Garth?" - -"Not exactly. But we do not get on well together. He used to come and -see me at Taxton-on-Thames, but I am afraid he thought me a scientific -prig. Indeed, he hinted so much." - -Fanks laughed at this, remembering how Garth had made use of the words -attributed to him by Sir Louis. However, he did not explain the reason -of his laughter, but asked the baronet about Madaline Garry. To this -also he received a denial. Sir Louis knew nothing about the lady or -her connection with the late Sir Francis. - -"All these things were before my time," he said, shaking his head. "If -you want to know about our family secrets, ask Mrs. Prisom, at the -inn. I believe she is a perfect book of anecdotes regarding the -Fellenger family." - -"I have asked her," said Fanks, quietly. "She told me a great deal; -but not all I wish to know. Is there anyone else?" - -"Well, there was Mrs. Jerusalem," said Sir Louis. "But she has walked -off. I intended to tell you, since you referred to her." - -"Where has she gone?" - -"I do not know. On that day you met her she went off and never came -back. I can't say I am sorry, as I feel, from your description, she -bore me ill-will. Perhaps on account of the way my father treated her; -but you must ask Mrs. Prisom to tell you that story." - -"I don't need to do that," replied Fanks. "I know that Mrs. Jerusalem -hated you, and that is enough. She must have intended to bolt the day -I met her; but I thought she would have waited with the amiable -intention of assisting you into trouble. I wish I knew where she had -gone." - -"Perhaps she will come back?" - -"Let us hope so. Now that Binjoy is ill, and she hates him, I should -like to know what she can say about him. By the way, there is a -question I wish to ask you. Why was it, when you were afraid of being -implicated in the crime, that you offered to supply the money for me -to hunt down the criminal?" - -"Well, that was Binjoy's idea. You see he thought that he had -completely destroyed the trail likely to bring you across my track; so -he said it would still further avert suspicion if I offered that -reward. I did so, but, to tell you the honest truth, if I had not -intended to confide in you in order to stop the blackmailing of -Messrs. Binjoy and Turnor, I should not have risked doing so. By the -way, are you going to arrest that atrocious little scamp?" - -"Not yet. Binjoy is ill, and cannot have warned him; Mrs. Boazoph is -in the same plight; no, I will let him wait. He has no idea that he is -in any danger. When the time comes, I will pounce on him, if -necessary; though I hope he will not take a fit also. I can get -nothing out of Binjoy or Mrs. Boazoph, while they are ill." - -"You may not need to do so. You may find out the truth when the letter -comes from Hersham." - -"I wish it would come," said Fanks. "I want to know why he has the -same symbol on his arm as that on the arms of Mrs. Prisom and Madaline -Garry." - -"You speak as if Madaline Garry were still alive?" - -"Mrs. Jerusalem says she is. That is why I want to trace Mrs. -Jerusalem; she might help me to learn where I can find Madaline Garry. -The clue to the mystery of the cross lies with her; or else," added -Fanks, "it is hidden in the desk of the late Sir Francis. You remember -I told you his parting words to Mrs. Prisom?" - -Two days after this the long expected letter came from Hersham. And -not only from him, but one from his father, was enclosed also. The -contents caused Fanks surprise; and yet, he half expected to read what -he did. He was beginning to guess the mystery which filled Dr. Binjoy -and Mrs. Boazoph with such fear. After all, he would be able to -discover the truth without them; although their testimony would be -necessary to confirm it. - -"Dear Fanks" (wrote Hersham). "When you read the enclosed, you will be -astonished, as I was. I have not yet recovered from the shock of -learning the truth; but, as you will see, the mystery of the tattooed -cross is a greater one than ever. I can give you no assistance--all is -told in the enclosed letter, which I particularly asked to be written -for you. I cannot say if it will solve the Tooley Alley riddle, but it -has certainly invested my life with a mystery which I shall not rest -until I solve. I can write no more, for my head is in a whirl. Tell me -what you think of enclosed. And believe me, yours, Ted Hersham (as I -suppose I may still sign myself)." - -The enclosed was a letter from the Rev. George Hersham, to the effect -that Ted was not his son; that he was no relation to him. - -"I am a bachelor" (wrote Mr. Hersham). "I adopted Ted from motives of -pity, and a desire to cheer my lonely life. Nearly twenty-eight years -ago, a poorly clad woman came to my door. She was starving, and -carried an infant in her arms. I gave her succour, and procured her -work. After a time, she grew restless, and wished to go away, but in -that time I had become fond of the child. In the end, I offered to -adopt it. To this she consented, rather to my surprise; though, -indeed, she did not seem at any time very much attached to the babe. -However, she gave me the child, and went away with a little money I -had given her. I afterwards received a letter from her in London, but -she then stopped writing, and for years I have never heard anything -about her. The child--now my son, Ted--was marked with a cross on the -left arm, when I adopted him. The woman never told me why he had been -so tattooed. I knew nothing of the woman's history, save that her name -was--Madaline Garry." - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. -THE SECRET IS REVEALED. - - -On receipt of Mr. Hersham's letter, Fanks sought out Sir Louis, and -showed him the communication. He had told the baronet all that he had -heard from Mrs. Prisom; for, without permission, he could not hope to -examine the desk of the late Sir Francis. If he did not do so, he -would not be able to discover the secret of the tattooed cross; -therefore, for the gaining of his ends, and also with a belief in -Fellenger's good sense, he made him his confidant, and finally placed -the letter in his hands. Louis read it carefully; and, knowing all -that had gone before, he understood it partially. Nevertheless, he was -puzzled as to the real meaning of the affair; and looked to Fanks for -an explanation. - -"What do you think of that?" asked Fanks, when the baronet gave back -the letter in silence. "Can you understand it?" - -"I do not think it is very difficult to understand," said Fellenger, -with a shrug of his shoulders, "Madeline Garry went from the Isle of -Wight; she was starving, and she met with a good Samaritan, who took -her in. Afterwards, she sought London, and left her child behind to be -adopted. That child is your friend, Edward Hersham. The story is plain -enough." - -"It is so far as you have related it. But Hersham has the cross of St. -Catherine tattooed on his arm. Why should the child of Madaline Garry -be marked in that way?" - -"Perhaps my uncle marked the child. He seemed to have had a passion -for tattooing." - -"Why should Sir Francis mark the child of Fielding?" - -There was something so significant in the tone of the detective that -Sir Louis looked at him intently. What he saw in his face prompted his -next remark. "You don't think Hersham is illegitimate, do you?" he -asked. - -"Indeed, that is my opinion," returned Fanks. "Why was Sir Francis -afraid of Madaline Garry? Because he had done her a wrong. Why did she -marry Fielding, almost on the same day that your uncle married Miss -Darmer? Why did Sir Francis tattoo the child with his favourite cross? -The answer to all these questions is--to my mind--to be found in the -fact that the child of Madaline Garry was also the child of Sir -Francis Fellenger. I feel convinced that Hersham is the half-brother -of the man who was murdered at Tooley's Alley." - -"It seems likely," assented Louis, nursing his chin with his hand. -"But how can you establish the truth of your statement?" - -"There are two ways. One is by asking Binjoy. He may know as he was in -attendance both at the birth of Gregory, and at that of Hersham. He -may tell the truth; but as he is delirious, there is no chance of -getting any information from him. The second way is to find out -Madaline Garry, and force her to own up. But the only person who knows -where she is, is Mrs. Jerusalem, who has vanished. If I find Mrs. -Jerusalem, I may find the other woman. But at present that is -impossible also." - -"Quite impossible. I do not see what you can do." - -"Do you remember what Mrs. Prisom said about the desk in the study of -your late uncle?" - -"Yes. She alluded to some secret in connection with the desk, which -was to be used for the benefit of Gregory, should Madaline Garry -attempt to revenge herself." - -"Exactly. Well, we must examine the desk. I fancy that Sir Francis, -dreading the anger of the woman whom he had wronged, wrote out a full -account of his sin; and of the reason why he tattooed the cross on the -arm of the child. If we can find that paper--which Sir Francis plainly -hinted was in the desk, we may discover why your cousin was murdered." - -"I cannot conceive what you mean." - -"You will know soon enough," replied Fanks, a trifle sadly. "I have a -very shrewd idea of what will be the outcome of my search. If things -are as I think, it will not be long before I run down the assassin of -Sir Gregory. I have an instinct--and more than an instinct--that the -clue to the mystery which has eluded me so long, is about to be placed -in my hand. I shall be pleased for my own sake; I shall be sorry for -yours." - -"Why. What do you mean? I do not understand. Explain yourself, Mr. -Fanks." - -"No," replied Fanks, shaking his head. "I may be wrong, and I do not -wish to cause you unnecessary pain. Let me examine the desk. If I am -wrong, all the better for you; all the worse for the case. If am -right, I had rather you learned the truth without my intervention. -Come, Sir Louis, let us seek the study of your late uncle. Do you know -where it is?" - -"Oh, yes," said Sir Louis, leading the way. "It has been shut up since -his death. You know my cousin was not a man of books, so he did not -use it. As for myself, I am always in my laboratory in the old wing. -If Sir Francis left any secret paper in his desk, it will be there -still. Unless," added Louis, with an afterthought, "unless it was -taken away by the woman he feared." - -"No. If the paper had given Madaline Garry power to revenge herself on -the heir of her old lover, she would have used that power; and then -Mrs. Prisom might have interfered by acting on the last request of Sir -Francis. Nothing of this has happened; so I am sure that if the paper -is in that desk, we shall find it; if we find it we shall learn the -truth about this tattooed cross; and, consequently, discover the -motive which prompted the murder of your cousin." - -After which speech, the detective went with Sir Louis to the study of -the late Sir Francis Fellenger. - -Sir Louis unlocked the door; and they entered into the long-disused -room. It had been shut up for many years, the atmosphere was dusty and -musty, with a chill smell of decay. Fanks opened the shutters, and the -strong sunlight poured into the apartment; it illumined the dusty -carpet on which their feet made marks; it gleamed on the old-fashioned -furniture, cumbersome and comfortless, such as was used in the -early days of the Victorian era; and--to the satisfaction of the -detective--it revealed a mahogany escritoire, all drawers and -pigeon-holes, and brass handles. The key, massive and rusty, was still -in the lock; and Louis, turning it over with, a harsh creak, threw -open the heavy sheet of mahogany which covered the writing cloth. This -was lined with dingy green cloth, ink-stained and dusty, but on it -there rested no papers nor pens nor ink. Evidently the papers had been -arranged before the desk had been closed, and left to its many years' -solitude. - -Fanks bent down and unlocked the drawers one after the other. These -contained nothing but masses of newspaper, everyone of which they -examined carefully, but without finding any writing referring to the -cross. There were also bundles of old letters; and musty accounts, and -ancient records of ships, and stores, and divers expenses; doubtless -remnants of Fellenger's naval days. In another drawer they found -sea-shells, and seaweed mounted on cardboard; while some shallow -repositories contained pictures, and small charts. But nowhere could -they discover the paper to which Sir Francis had referred in that last -long conversation with Mrs. Prisom. - -"Well, it is not in any of these," said Fanks, rising with a look of -disappointment. "I wonder where it can be?" - -"Perhaps there is a secret drawer," suggested Sir Louis. - -"It is not unlikely; and no doubt the paper would be hidden in such a -receptacle out of fear of the woman. - -"I believe you are right, Sir Louis; let us look for a secret drawer. -If there is one I shall find it; I have been at this sort of work -before; and I have an idea how to go about it." - -Fanks made no vain boast, for after a hard search of an hour or more; -after sounding with the knuckles and measuring with a tape, they -stumbled across a hiding-place, contrived in the thickness of the wood -at the back of the desk. Herein was a paper yellow with age, which -Fanks drew slowly out; for it was so fragile with time that he thought -it would crumble in his hand; carrying this to the strong light of the -window he read carefully, while Sir Louis waited for a revelation of -its contents. The face of the detective paled when he read it; and he -glanced pityingly at the baronet, when he finished his perusal. - -"It is the paper I hoped to find," he said, slowly, "and it clears up -the most important point of the case. But I told you, Mr. Fellenger, -that the contents would give you pain. Read them for yourself." - -"Why do you call me Mr. Fellenger?" asked Louis, quietly. - -"You will find the answer to that question in this paper," replied -Fanks, and passed it to the baronet. After a pause, and a sharp glance -at the detective, Fellenger took the thin yellow sheet, and read it -slowly. This was what he read, in the faded handwriting of Sir -Francis: - -"I have deceived Madaline Garry; I am the father of the child born to -her about the same time that my heir, Gregory, was born. Madaline -wished me to marry her; but, for reasons which I need not explain -here, I was unable to do so. She married Luke Fielding, and he is -supposed to be the father of her child. This is not so; the boy is -mine. When my wife died, Madaline insisted on coming to the Hall and -nursing Gregory. For obvious reasons I could not refuse her; she would -have revealed the truth, and have disgraced me and her family, had I -not yielded to her wish. She came to the Hall with her own child and -nursed that of my late wife. But I was afraid that she would change -the children so that her son should enjoy what rightfully belonged to -his half-brother. I was twice nearly sending her away on account of -this fear; but she threatened to disgrace me by revealing the truth; -so I let her stay. But, to avert the danger, I one night tattooed on -the left arm of my son, Gregory, the cross of St. Catherine, which I -had already tattooed on the arm of Madaline and of Nancy Prisom. -Should the children be changed, and I die, the truth can be -ascertained by the tattooed cross. The child marked with the cross is -my son and heir, Gregory Fellenger; the other is his brother, Edward, -the son of myself and Madaline Garry. I hope, in this way, that I -shall prevent Madaline from revenging herself on me, as I feel sure -she intends to do. - - (Signed), Francis Luddham Fellenger." - - -On reading this extraordinary document, Louis felt the room whirl -round him, and he was fain to be seated. Fanks turned silently towards -him and received back the paper--the paper which robbed the young man -at one sweep of title and property. Louis recovered himself, and -smiled faintly. "I understand," he said, in a low tone, "Sir Gregory -enjoyed the title and estates wrongfully; Hersham is the rightful -heir." - -"Yes. Madaline Garry fulfilled her vengeance. She put her child in the -place of the real heir, after the death of Sir Francis, and took away -the son of Lady Fellenger. That was why she came to the Hall to be the -nurse; she wanted her child to enjoy the property. Owing to the -tattooing and the father being alive, she could not change the -children; but when Sir Francis was killed she did so, and therefore -secured the title for her son. I now understand why she parted so -readily with Hersham so that he should be adopted by the Vicar of -Fairview; he was not her child, but that of her rival in the -affections of Sir Francis; I can see all this; so can you; but," added -Fanks, with hesitation, "can you guess how this discovery affects -you?" - -"Certainly," replied Louis, calmly, "I shall have to give the property -up to my cousin, who now goes by the name of Hersham. I assure you, I -shall not mind the loss so much as you seem to think. As I told you, I -care nothing for money, and everything for science. Oh, believe me, -Mr. Fanks, I am quite content to surrender title and estates, and go -back to Taxton-on-Thames, as plain Louis Fellenger." - -"You can contest this matter?" - -"I shall not contest the matter. I believe that paper to be true. We -found it together; and it proved beyond a doubt--by the evidence of -the cross tattooed on Hersham's left arm, that he is the rightful Sir -Gregory, and the owner of these estates. Let him have them; I shall -not raise one finger to prevent his enjoying what is rightfully his -own. Besides, I like Hersham--as I may still call him--he is a good -fellow. I used to meet him at Taxton-on-Thames. Let him marry Anne -Colmer, and take up his position; he will make a much better baronet -than I." - -They left the room, and went downstairs again to the library. In there -Louis asked Fanks a question which had been in his mind for some time. - -"I say, Mr. Fanks," he said, "what makes you say that this tattooed -cross clears up the mystery of Tooley's Alley?" - -"Well," said Fanks, "someone must have known this story; and have told -it to Sir Gregory. That was why he allowed the cross to be tattooed on -his arm." - -"I don't see that." - -"Why, the person who told him the story assured him that the only -chance he had of keeping the property was to be tattooed with the -mark, which Sir Francis said was on the arm of his real heir." - -"Oh, I understand now. But who was the person who told Sir Gregory the -secret of that cross and tattooed it on his arm?" - -"Ah," said Fanks, "tell me the name of that person, and I'll tell you -the assassin of the son of Madaline Garry, who wrongfully bore the -title and name of Sir Gregory Fellenger." - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. -MRS. BOAZOPH TELLS THE TRUTH. - - -Immediately after this great discovery, Fanks received a letter from -Garth informing him that Mrs. Jerusalem was in London, located at the -Red Star. "Mrs. Boazoph," said the writer, "is much better, and is now -permitted to leave her bed; rather I fancy to the disappointment of -Turnor. Should you want to get any information out of Mrs. Boazoph now -is the time to do so." The result of this communication was that Fanks -resolved to go at once to town and interview the landlady. - -"You see that I want to get something out of Mrs. Boazoph," he said to -Louis. "I want her to tell me who killed Sir Gregory." - -"Do you think she knows that?" - -"I think she has known it all along," retorted Fanks. "You can take it -from me, Fellenger, she recognised the negro when he entered the hotel -on that night. For some reason, which I mean to discover, she has held -her tongue. I intend to force her to reveal the name by threatening to -arrest Hersham, in the event of her refusing to speak." - -"Will she tell in order to save Hersham?" - -"I think so; and for more reasons than one. You see she fainted when I -told her that I could prove the crime against that young man. It may -be that she knows how hardly he has been dealt with by Madeline Garry, -and therefore she may be anxious to save him further trouble." - -"But how could she learn the story of Madeline Garry and the changing -of the children," objected Fellenger. - -"From Anne Colmer, who must have learned it from Dr. Binjoy. I believe -he is at the bottom of the whole affair. I do not say that he killed -Gregory; but he can tell us who did." - -"How can you prove that?" - -"Well, the person who killed Gregory must have known that story of the -changing of the children, so as to induce him to let the cross be -tattooed on his arm. Dr. Binjoy must have told that person; Dr. Binjoy -must have supplied that needle; Dr. Binjoy, my friend, is at the -bottom of the whole devilish affair." - -"You forget Madeline Garry; she might have told the murderer about the -changing of the children." - -"I don't think so. Madeline would not have been likely to reveal -anything detrimental to her son; and on the face of it she could not -have obtained access to the poisoned needle. No, I suspect Binjoy as -an accessory before the fact. I shall see Mrs. Jerusalem, and force -her to tell me where to find Madeline Garry; though to be sure I have -a pretty good notion of where to find her as it is." - -"What! Do you know who Madeline Garry is?" - -"I think so. A speech of Mrs. Prisom's put me on her track; but I may -be wrong so I shall say nothing as yet." - -"You are clever in guessing things, Mr. Fanks. Perhaps you can tell me -who killed Gregory?" - -"Well," said Fanks, looking straight at his questioner, "I might even -go as far as that. I do not know for certain who is the assassin; but -I have a shrewd notion. I shall have my doubts set at rest on that -point when I see these women in town. I shall interview Mrs. Boazoph, -take down her confession, and make her sign it. I shall act in the -same way with Binjoy, with Anne Colmer, with Robert, the valet of the -dead man, and with Turnor, the accomplice of your medical friend." - -"Do you think they are all in it?" - -"I am more than certain they are," said Fanks in a confident tone. -"Well, Mr. Fellenger, will you come up with me and see the last act of -the comedy?" - -"No, I shall stay here with Mr. Crate; and keep an eye on Dr. Binjoy, -But you must write me all that befalls you at the Red Star. Do you -really think that you will find the truth in that house?" - -"I am certain of it. Believe me the tragedy will end as it began--in -the Red Star in Tooley's Alley. I hope all will go as I wish," added -Fanks with a gloomy air. "I have had no end of trouble with this case. -And although I think I see daylight at last, I must not be too -confident. The whole proving of my theory lies with Mrs. Boazoph." - -Having thus settled his plans, Fanks left Crate at Mere Hall to look -after Dr. Binjoy, and repaired to town. Immediately on his arrival, -which took place about noon, he sent for Garth, and questioned him -concerning Mrs. Jerusalem. Having received satisfactory replies, he -entrusted a special commission to the lawyer, and, with a detective, -he went himself to the Red Star. That short conversation with Fanks so -astonished Garth, that he went on his errand--which had to do with -such conversation--in a state of great surprise and no little -nervousness. - -At the Red Star Fanks inquired for Mrs. Jerusalem, and was confronted -by Dr. Turnor. The ferret looked rather disconcerted as the detective -appeared; and tried to dissuade him from seeing Mrs. Boazoph as he -wished to do. "She is yet weak," he urged, "and I do not think it will -be wise of you to talk with her as yet." - -"I don't care how weak she is," said Fanks, grimly. "I intend to talk -to her, and to you too." - -"What can you have to say to me?" demanded Turnor, with an attempt at -bravado. - -"I'll tell you that after I have seen Mrs. Boazoph and Mrs. -Jerusalem," was the reply. "I know all your doings on the night of the -twenty-first, Dr. Turnor; and I am aware of your attempt to blackmail -Sir Louis Fellenger." - -After which speech Fanks went upstairs to the room occupied by Mrs. -Boazoph. At the door he met with Mrs. Jerusalem. She looked at him in -an expressionless way, and spoke in her usual cold and unemotional -manner. Her first question was of Fanks' visit to Mere Hall. - -"Did you find out the truth, sir?" she asked. - -"I found out the truth; but not the particular truth you wished for," -replied Fanks, who disliked this woman immensely. "Your master is not -guilty." - -"Then who is guilty if he is not?" - -"I'll reveal that in a few moments, Mrs. Jerusalem. I may tell you -that I know all about Madaline Garry and the tattooed cross, also -about Mr. Louis Fellenger." - -The woman drew back, and for the first time since Fanks had known her, -an expression of surprise flitted across her face. "He said Mr. -Louis," she said to herself. "How much does he know?" - -"He knows most of the circumstances which led to the murder in this -house," retorted Fanks, moving towards the door, "and now with your -assistance he is about to learn the rest." - -"At all events the truth will be bad for Louis Fellenger," muttered -Mrs. Jerusalem. "If it was to benefit him I would not move a step. As -it is," she added, throwing open the door, "come in, Mr. Fanks, and -ask Mrs. Boazoph to tell you the story she related to me this -morning." - -Fanks nodded, and without saying a word entered the apartment. In -spite of the warm weather there was a fire burning in the grate, and -beside it crouched Mrs. Boazoph. She was seated on the carpet warming -her thin hands at the blaze; and she turned her face as the detective -entered. He was astonished at the change wrought in her by illness. -Her face was lined and drawn with pain; her hair was falling about her -ears in rough masses; and the looseness of her dress showed how -emaciated she had become. The poor creature was but a shadow of the -notorious woman who had defied the police for so long; and at the -first glance Fanks saw that death was written on her haggard face. If -there was anything to be learned from this wreck there was no time to -be lost in hearing it. Nemesis had claimed at least one victim for the -death of Sir Gregory Fellenger;--or rather Edward Fielding. - -"Have you come here to see me die, Mr. Fanks?" asked Mrs. Boazoph, -with a faint smile. - -"I hope it is not so bad as that," replied Fanks gently, for he pitied -the exhaustion of the poor creature. "You may get better." - -Mrs. Boazoph shook her head. "I think not," she said quietly. "The end -is coming fast. I do not care; my life has been none so happy that I -should wish to live. I am anxious to die." - -"Are you anxious to make reparation for your crimes?" - -With a start Mrs. Boazoph looked at the other woman, who still stood -at the door. "What have you told him?" she asked in a hoarse voice. - -"I have told him nothing," replied Mrs. Jerusalem, coldly, "but he -knows all." - -"That is impossible," muttered Mrs. Boazoph, with a shiver. "He cannot -know all. Who is there to tell him?" - -"I was told by the dead." - -"The dead? What dead?" - -"By your dead lover, on whose son you avenged your betrayal, Mrs. -Bryant." - -She shivered, and looked up angrily. "Not that name, I am not Mrs. -Bryant." - -"I can give you another name if you like," said Fanks, pointedly. -"Shall I say Mrs. Fielding or--Madaline Garry?" - -The woman rose to her knees with an effort; and parting the tangled -mass of her grey hair she looked at Fanks in a terrified manner. -"Madaline Garry is dead," she said, in a low voice. "She died when she -married Luke Fielding. Neglect and dishonour killed her." - -"Madaline Garry did not die then," said Fanks, determinedly. "She -lived to avenge herself on her lover by exchanging his child for that -of her own." - -"They were both his children," cried Mrs. Boazoph, with sudden fury, -"I see you know all; so I can speak as I choose. I loved Francis -Fellenger, and he betrayed me. I should have been his wife, but, like -the coward he was, he married another woman. I became the wife of Luke -Fielding, of the man I hated, in order to conceal the truth from my -father. The child I bore was not his. It should have borne the title -of the Fellengers." - -"And it did bear the title of the Fellengers," said Fanks, in an -impressive voice. "It took the place of the real heir, thanks to your -schemes. And you, Madaline Garry, deserted the infant of your rival, -after you had robbed him of his birthright. Wretched woman; make -reparation while you can; give back his name to Edward Hersham, before -it is too late, or" added Fanks, drawing nearer, "keep silence to the -end; and let him suffer on the gallows for the murder of your son." - -"No! No!" shrieked Mrs. Boazoph, clutching at her chair to raise -herself, "not that, anything but that. He is innocent. I tell you that -he is innocent!" - -"If he is innocent, who then is guilty?" asked Fanks. - -Mrs. Boazoph reeled, and would have fallen but for the arm of Mrs. -Jerusalem, who sprang forward to catch her. A draught of brandy -brought back her strength, and she sat in the chair by the fire, -rocking herself to and fro, with heart-rending sobs. Fanks approached -to speak to her, but she waved him off. - -"Do not touch her yet," said Mrs. Jerusalem, in a low tone, "she will -recover soon." - -Quiet as was the whisper, Mrs. Boazoph heard it, and moaned. "Never, -never on this side of the grave," he wept. "My race is run; and weary -have been my days. I never had a chance like other women. Once I was -Madaline Garry, the darling of her father, the prettiest girl in -Damington. But Francis Fellenger made me what I am. I curse him, -living or dead, I curse him." She broke into hysterical laughter. "I -revenged myself well. I put my child and his in the place of the heir. -It was my son who reigned at Mere Hall; it was my son who spent the -moneys of that evil family, and bore their title. I am glad of it; I -am glad of it. The real heir--her child--had to work for his bread; -but mine reigned in his place; he took the seat of his father. Of what -use was it that Francis marked his son as he marked me? See," she -cried, pulling up the sleeve of her dress. "Do you see this cross on -my skin, you bloodhound of the law? Francis Fellenger marked me like -that to show that I was his wife; yet he married another. Francis -marked his legitimate son like that, yet the son ate the bread of -strangers, and another sat in his seat. I have done my work, I have -had my revenge, I am willing to die." - -"Are you willing that the son whom you disinherited should die at the -hands of justice?" - -Mrs. Boazoph moaned, and hid her face in her hands. "Ah, no!" she -said, in a plaintive voice. "He has suffered enough. My son is dead, -so let the other take back his name and estates. My son is dead; he -perished in the house of his mother; the mother who was too cowardly -to avenge him, who was afraid to reveal the name of the assassin. My -son is dead, but not by the hand of his half-brother did he meet with -his death." - -"Then who killed him. Tell me," cried Fanks, eagerly. "You have -sinned. Make what reparation you can for your sins while there is yet -time. Look up, Madaline Garry, and tell me if that man slew your son?" - -While Fanks had been speaking, the door had opened softly, and Garth -in the company of another man appeared on the threshold. The two stood -spell-bound when they heard this speech of the detective; and Mrs. -Boazoph turned her face slowly towards them. Suddenly she crushed down -her weakness, and arose to her feet with miraculous strength. -Stretching out her hand at the man who stood terror-stricken awaiting -her words, she cried out in a shrill and triumphant voice: - -"Yonder is the man who killed my son; yonder is the man who must -suffer in the place of Edward Hersham. You wish to know who came here -as a negro and killed my son? There he stands--Herbert Vaud!" - -"I thought so," murmured Fanks, and the next instant he had the -handcuffs on Vaud's wrists. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. -HOW AND WHY THE DEED WAS DONE. - - -The evidence of Mrs. Boazoph:-- - -"My name is Madaline Garry. I was born in the village of Damington, -where my father lived for years after his retirement from the navy. I -have one sister, Jane, now Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames. We lost -our mother at an early age, and, being without maternal care, we grew -up to be rather more independent than most young women. Jane was -always much quieter than I, and she was not considered so beautiful. -Yes, I am now an old woman, and I can speak without vanity; I was -considered very beautiful, in my youth, and I had many lovers who -wished to marry me. Luke Fielding especially was in love with me, but -I refused to marry him as, in my turn, I was in love with Sir Francis -Fellenger. He had then lately given up the sea on his accession to the -title; but still retaining his pleasure in his old profession he was -accustomed to visit my father, and the two would talk over naval -matters together. - -"At first he came solely for these chats, but afterwards he came -because he was in love with me. Had I played my cards well, I might -have been Lady Fellenger; but in my love and weakness I trusted too -much to his honour, and I learned, too late, that he had none. He had -promised to make me his wife; but he afterwards told me that the -fortunes of his family were at a low ebb; that if he did not make a -rich marriage he should be forced to sell the Hall. He swore that he -loved no one but me, and said that although he married another woman I -should always be his real wife. Again I yielded to his cunning, and -held my peace about his villainy. Nay, more, to hide his wickedness, I -married my old admirer, Luke Fielding, almost at the same time that -Francis brought home Miss Darmer to take the place which should have -been mine. I should have been Lady Fellenger, and not that puling -minx. Afterwards, I discovered that he loved her--loved her, the -villain, after all the lies he had told to me. I swore to be revenged, -and I told him so. - -"Then my husband died, and I was left penniless, as Luke had been -trying to increase his fortune by speculation. I became a mother, and -the son born of me had the right to call Sir Francis Fellenger father. -In my destitution I went back to my father, and nursed my boy, while I -watched events at the Hall. There the punishment of Francis had -already begun. His wife, for whose sake he had forsaken me, died at -the birth of her son. So matters stood. The two children, both of -Francis Fellenger, although but one was acknowledged, had been born -within a few days of one another. A nurse was wanted at the Hall. I -required money; and I saw an opportunity of working out my revenge by -changing the children. I insisted that I should come to the Hall as -the nurse of the heir. Francis resisted, until I swore to reveal all -his villainy. Then he yielded, and I attained my end; I was -established at Mere Hall as the nurse of the heir, and my child, -Edward Fielding--falsely so called--was in the nursery with me. - -"The two children lay side by side in the cradle. I could have changed -them then, but I was unable to do so with safety; for, guessing my -purpose, Francis had marked his son with the St. Catharine's Cross, -which he had long before pricked on my arm. I could not, therefore, -change the children with safety while Francis lived, and I began to -think that I should not succeed in my revenge. Then the powers above -us intervened. Francis, while driving home one stormy night, was -thrown out of his dog-cart and killed. I saw my opportunity, and I -took it. Nobody knew of the tattooed cross on the skin of the real -heir, save myself and Dr. Binjoy, who had been attending on both -children. He was in love with me, and I made him promise to be silent. -When I had secured his promise, which I did by saying that I would -marry him, I changed the children; in the cradle of the heir I placed -my own child, and with the son of my rival I left the village. - -"I never intended to marry Binjoy, whom I hated, and when I fled he -was forced to hold his tongue, lest he should be accused of complicity -in the abduction. I went to London, but my money came to an end; I -travelled to the Isle of Wight, where my sister was staying. She had -left Ryde, I found out, and had gone to Scotland. I had no money, I -was hungry, and perishing with cold, when I was rescued by that good -Samaritan, the Vicar of Fairview. He wished to adopt the child, and, -as I hated it, as being the son of my rival in the affections of -Francis, I let him take it. Then I went to London, afterwards to -Scotland, where I lived with my sister, who married Mr. Colmer. Later -on I became the wife of a drunken and wealthy brute called Bryant. -Then came misfortune. My sister's husband lost his money, and died of -broken heart. She took her little girls, Emma and Anne, and set up in -Taxton-on-Thames as a dressmaker. - -"I came South with my husband. He lost his money also, but he was set -up by his friends in the Red Star public-house in Tooley's Alley. We -took the name of Mr. and Mrs. Boazoph, so as to cut off all links with -our former lives. My husband drank, and ultimately he died of drink. -As Mrs. Boazoph I carried on the business and drifted into evil ways. -I assisted thieves and rogues. If you wish to know my history for -twenty years ask the police; they will tell it to you. My sister had -become paralytic and never knew me as Mrs. Boazoph. To her I was Mrs. -Bryant, living on the little money left to me by my good husband. I -hope she may die in that belief, so that I may retain at least one -person's respect. - -"All this time I had watched the fortunes of the two children. The -false Sir Gregory had grown up to be a wicked young man, fast and -dissolute, the true Sir Gregory, passing under the name of Edward -Hersham, had become a journalist, and was reported steady and clever. -Dr. Binjoy had left Damington, and was living at Taxton-on-Thames with -Louis, the son of Michael Fellenger. Then my niece Emma came to London -to enter a dressmaker's establishment. She found out the truth about -my life, and told her sister. I asked them to keep the knowledge from -their mother. - -"Binjoy also found out where and how I was living. He used to come up -to town and stay at Dr. Turnor's or with me as Dr. Renshaw, hoping by -a feigned name to hide the iniquitous life he led while in town. He -wanted to oust my son and get Sir Louis to hold the Fellenger estates. -I refused to let him do this, and threatened to produce the real heir -should he attempt to do so. Young Vaud used to come to my hotel. He -saw Emma and fell in love with her. I was glad of this, as I knew -that the young fellow was good and true, much better than my wretched -son, for whom I had sinned. Vaud became engaged to Emma. He went to -Taxton-on-Thames and saw my sister; she gave her consent to the match. -All was going well, when Emma, who had become acquainted with my son, -the false Sir Gregory, went off with him to Paris. He married her and -neglected her. She destroyed herself, as was confessed to me by the -valet Robert, a dog of a creature. - -"I was distracted when I learned all this. I went to my sister and I -told her that the false Sir Gregory was my son. I returned to town to -find that young Vaud was seriously ill. Afterwards he was sent on a -sea voyage, and he went over to Paris when he got back to rescue Emma -from my miserable son. She was dead, and he returned to see if he -could take vengeance on her murderer. He told me that he would kill -Sir Gregory, but I thought that it was an idle threat. Afterwards I -saw nothing more of him for some time. My sister asked for the address -of Sir Gregory, as she wanted a photograph of Emma which had been -taken at Taxton-on-Thames. - -"When I went to Gregory's rooms in Half-Moon Street to tell him the -truth, I saw the photograph. I wrote on it the date of the birth and -death of his victim. I told him about the tattooed cross, and how I -could prove that he was not the real Sir Gregory, because he had not -that mark on his arm. He did not believe me, and turned me out of his -rooms, me--his mother. At that moment I hated him for his likeness to -his father who had wronged me. But I could not harm him. I went to -Taxton-on-Thames; I said nothing. I wrote on an envelope the address -of Sir Gregory, and gave it to my sister, so that she could write to -him for the photograph, on the back of which I had written. All this -took place before the murder. - -"Then Gregory came to my hotel on the evening of the twenty-first of -June. I did not see him, but I saw Vaud, who entered afterwards, -disguised as a black man. I recognised him at once, and asked him why -he was dressed up like the servant of Binjoy. He said it was to play a -trick on the doctor, who was in the inner room waiting to see him. I -believed him, although I thought his behaviour strange. But I know -that he had not been quite right in his head since his illness, so -that I thought his dressing-up was a freak, and let him pass into the -inner room, where I presumed he was about to see Binjoy. I went back -to my own room, and never dreamt that the supposed doctor was my son -in disguise. Had I known I would not have left the half-crazed Vaud go -into him, knowing how he hated my son as the destroyer of Emma. - -"I know nothing more. I saw Binjoy later on. I asked him if he had -seen Vaud; he said no, that he had just come to the hotel. I went into -the inner room and found my son dead. I did not know how he died till -Binjoy told me about the blood-poisoning. Then I sent for the police, -and Mr. Fanks arrived. I saw the grains of gunpowder. I thought they -were the evidence of some drug which had destroyed my son. I got rid -of them by pulling off the tablecloth. I did not tell the truth or -speak out, because I was afraid of being inculpated in the crime. My -character was so bad that I knew the police would have no mercy if -they thought I was mixed up in the murder. I did not want to disgrace -my sister, or let her know my real life, my feigned name. I afterwards -went down to Mere Hall and saw Binjoy. I said I would put the rightful -heir in his own place, and oust Louis. Binjoy said if I did he would -tell my story, and that with his evidence I would be accused of the -murder. I therefore held my tongue; I could not bring back my son to -life. He had treated me badly, and I did not want to get Vaud into -trouble, as I knew that he was mad with grief and rage, and was not -responsible for his actions. On the whole I thought it best to hold my -tongue, and for the above reasons I did so. - -"I have now spoken because Edward Hersham, the rightful heir, is -accused of the crime. He has suffered enough injustice, and I do not -wish to see him hanged. Binjoy can tell his own story of how he came -to the hotel on that night and met with Mr. Fanks. Vaud can confess if -he will as to how he plotted and carried out the crime. For myself, I -have said all I have to say. What is set down here is the truth. I am -deeply sorry for my evil ways, but I am paying for my follies with my -life; all I ask for is forgiveness and forgetfulness. I have sinned, I -am punished. All good Christians pray for the soul of a wicked but -deeply wronged woman. - - (Signed), Madaline Bryant (better known as Louisa Boazoph)." - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. -THE SAME. - - -The evidence of Theophilus Binjoy:-- - -"I am a medical man; and in my early manhood, I practised in the -village of Damington. I was present at the birth of Edward Fielding, -and of Gregory Fellenger. I know about the mark on the arm of the real -heir. Madaline changed the two children, and I said nothing as she -promised to marry me. I was madly in love with her. She left the -village, and deceived me. Afterwards I held my tongue lest I should -get into trouble; also I hoped when the false Sir Gregory grew up, to -have a hold on him. I was prevented from doing this by Madaline (whom -I had discovered in Tooley's Alley, under the name of Mrs. Boazoph). -She threatened to reveal the name of the true heir if I meddled with -her son. I therefore did nothing. I saw the poisoned needle which -Louis had made ready for an experiment. It was in a cabinet in the -laboratory. Young Vaud came to Taxton-on-Thames nearly crazed with the -death of Emma Colmer, whom he had courted as Emma Calvert. She had -been driven to her death by her husband, the false Sir Gregory, and -had killed herself in Paris. Vaud asked me about poisons. He said -nothing to me about killing Sir Gregory, or I should have dissuaded -him from doing so wicked and rash an action. - -"I swear I did not wish the death of the young man. What I said to him -in the laboratory, was purely without ulterior motives. - -"I admit I showed him the poisoned needle. I was interested in the -experiment, and, being full of it, I spoke of our intention of trying -the poison on the dog. When Vaud left the laboratory, I did not miss -the needle; I did not miss it until Louis spoke to me about it. As -Turnor had lately been in the laboratory, and we had been speaking -about the experiment, I thought he had taken the needle. It never -struck me that Vaud had benefited by my explanation, and had stolen -the needle to kill Gregory. With Louis I went up to town on the -twenty-first of June, to see Turnor, and ask him for the needle; I had -no motive in taking Louis to Turnor's. If Turnor attempted to -blackmail Louis, I knew nothing about it. I repel with scorn the -insinuation that I purposely inveigled Louis to Great Auk Street to -entangle him in the crime, and so blackmail him. I never heard of the -murder until I went to the Red Star, according to my usual custom of -an evening. Madaline asked me if I had seen Vaud, who was disguised as -a negro. I said I had not. - -"We went into the room; and found the body of Sir Gregory; he was -disguised as a working-man; Vaud had disappeared. I ordered the body -to be taken upstairs, and made an examination. I then saw that Gregory -had been killed by being inoculated with the poison which Louis and I -had discovered. I recognised the cross of St. Catherine, half tattooed -on the arm; and I guessed from that how Vaud had induced Gregory to -let himself be pricked with the poisoned needle. I showed the mark to -Fanks when he came upstairs. But before doing so, I obliterated it -with a cut of the knife. I did this because I thought I might be -inculpated with the crime. I remember advising Hersham (who I did not -know was the real heir) to disguise himself as a negro so as to gain -realistic descriptions of street music. I did not do so with any -wrongful intention of connecting him with the murder. Madaline had -told me how Vaud was dressed as my negro servant; I saw that the death -had been brought about by the poisoned needle stolen from our -laboratory by Vaud; and with these two things in my head I recognised -my danger at once. I gave my feigned name to Fanks; I suggested that -the crime was the work of a secret society. Then I went back to -Turnor, and I was aware that I was being watched and could not return -to Taxton-on-Thames without being discovered. - -"I consulted Turnor; he advised the voyage to Bombay, and said I ought -to send Caesar in my place, in order to get rid of him, since the -murderer of Gregory had been disguised in his livery; and also that -Caesar could send letters (already written by me) from India, in order -to keep up the deception, and baffle the police. I adopted the idea, -and, assisted by Dr. Turnor, I carried it out with great success. I -had an interview with Fanks in the character of Dr. Renshaw, and I -told him that I was going to Bombay. I then took a passage to India in -the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana'; and wired to Caesar to meet me at -Plymouth. - -"Thither I went and gave the letters (purporting to be written by -myself from Bombay) to Caesar and sent him off in my place. -Afterwards, I took off my disguise, and went back to Mere Hall. I had -no idea that I had been followed by Mr. Fanks, and thinking that I had -destroyed all links with the crime in Tooley's Alley, likely to -endanger Louis and myself, I advised him to offer a reward so as to -still further avert suspicion. - -"This he did, and I thought all was well, till Madaline came from Mere -Hall to warn me against Fanks, and to threaten to put the real Gregory -in the place of Louis. I stopped her doing this, and defied Fanks. How -he over-reached me; how I was betrayed by Louis, has been told by -others. I can swear with a clear conscience that I acted throughout in -the interests of Louis, who has treated me with the basest -ingratitude. I have no more to say, save to express my pleasure that -Mr. Hersham has recovered his real name in the world. I hope he will -remember that it was indirectly through me that he was re-instated in -his estates; by my confirming the statements of Madaline, and that of -the late Sir Francis, his father. I think that he should reward me. In -this hope I take my leave. - - (Signed), Theophilus Binjoy." - - -The evidence of Anne Colmer-- - -"I am the daughter of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, the sister of -Emma Colmer, who died in Paris under the name of Emma Calvert, and the -niece of Madaline Garry, better known as Mrs. Boazoph. I saw the -letter--or rather the envelope--which she directed for my mother, to -get back the photograph of my sister from Sir Gregory. It was taken -out of our house by Herbert Vaud, and I believe he sent it to Sir -Gregory with the cardboard star, making the appointment in Tooley's -Alley. I had no idea that Vaud contemplated revenging the death of my -sister on Gregory. I knew that he hated him, and that he would do him -harm if he could, but I did not know that he would go so far as -murder. - -"I wired to Ted Hersham on the twenty-first, as my mother told me that -she suspected that Vaud had taken the envelope, and that he -contemplated harm to Sir Gregory. I wanted Ted to get back the -envelope. Afterwards, I thought that I would see my aunt in Tooley's -Alley, as I knew she had great influence with Vaud. I sent the -telegram, and immediately, without returning to the house, I went up -to town. I was detained by the train breaking down, and I did not -arrive in town till nearly seven o'clock. I went to the Red Star, -where I saw Mr. Fanks; and then heard of the crime. I fancied that -Vaud might have committed it, but I was not sure. I was afraid lest my -mother should be implicated in it; as she informed me that she had -told Vaud about the substitution of the false Sir Gregory, and about -the tattooed cross. This story had been related to her by Mrs. -Boazoph, when we learned that Sir Gregory had caused the death of his -wife, my sister. - -"I determined to recover the envelope, in case my aunt should get into -trouble, and to obtain the photograph, lest the police should trace -the connection of the so-called Emma Calvert with myself and my -mother. I went up to the chambers in Half-Moon Street. There I saw Mr. -Fanks, and I recognised him as a detective. I had seen him and heard -his name when I had been at the Red Star, shortly after the committal -of the crime. I was afraid we would all get into trouble, therefore, I -took advantage of Robert's faint to leave the room. I got into a cab, -and told the man that I was being followed by a gentleman. He assisted -me to escape by dropping me in Piccadilly, and afterwards--as I -learned--he misled Mr. Fanks, who followed me. - -"I know nothing about the poisoned needle, or how the crime was -accomplished. I heard afterwards about the tattooed cross from my -mother. It was with no intention of getting Ted into trouble that I -told him to assume the dress of Caesar. When the detective suspected -it, I advised him to make a clean breast of it, which he afterwards -did. I did not tell Mr. Fanks what I knew, as I was afraid of getting -my mother and aunt into difficulties. All this is true, I swear, and I -know no more about the matter. - - (Signed), Anne Colmer." - - -The evidence of Mrs. Colmer:-- - -"I told Vaud about the substitution of Gregory for Edward Hersham. My -sister, Mrs. Bryant, had confessed it to me. I was mad with rage and -grief at the way in which my girl had been treated by Gregory, and I -thought Vaud might see about getting him turned out of the place he -wrongfully occupied, and so punish his wickedness. I had no idea that -Vaud intended to kill Sir Gregory. Bad as he was, I did not wish to go -that far. I only wanted him to be deprived of his estates and title, -so that he should suffer. I gave the envelope, which had been written -by my sister, Mrs. Bryant, with the address in Half-Moon Street, so -that Vaud should call on Sir Gregory, and tell him the truth, and -should get back the photograph of my poor girl. - -"I knew nothing of the murder, which took place in a low hotel in -Tooley's Alley, and which was kept by a notorious woman called Mrs. -Boazoph. I also told Vaud that Ted Hersham was writing articles on -street music, and that, to study the subject, he was going about -London in the guise of a negro. I only told him this in the course of -conversation, and without any motive. This is all I know about the -affair. - - (Signed), Jane Colmer." - - -The evidence of Dr. Turnor:-- - -"I did not take the poisoned needle. I knew nothing of such an -instrument. Louis and Binjoy came up to me on the twenty-first to ask -me about it. I denied having it, but Louis did not believe me. When I -was called in by Mrs. Boazoph he would not let me go out of the room. -Binjoy went under the name of Renshaw. He used that name and a -disguise in order to enjoy himself in London. After he left, Louis, -finding, that I had not the needle, returned to Taxton-on-Thames. -Binjoy came back; he told me that Gregory Fellenger was dead, and that -he was being watched. I saw his danger, and advised him to keep up his -fictitious character so as to deceive the police. I suggested the -voyage to India; I helped to carry out the plan. - -"He got away to Mere Hall safely, as we thought. When Fanks asked me -questions, I did my best to baffle him for the sake of Binjoy. I had -no other motive. I was ignorant of the tattooed cross, of the changing -of the children. I saw Sir Louis when he succeeded to the estates by -the death of his cousin. I did not blackmail him. The sum of money he -gave me was a reward for my helping Binjoy to escape. I know nothing -of the murder save what I read in the newspaper. I consider that I -have been ungratefully treated by Mr. Louis Fellenger, and most -insolently by the man who calls himself Fanks. I have nothing more to -add. - - (Signed), Walter Turnor." - - -The confession of Herbert Vaud:-- - -"I killed Gregory Fellenger. I am glad that I killed him. When I found -out in Paris how he had deceived and slain the woman I loved, I -determined to make him pay for his wickedness. 'An eye for an eye,' -that is Scripture. I wished to kill Gregory without harm to myself; -and an opportunity soon occurred. I was at Mrs. Colmer's, at -Taxton-on-Thames, commiserating, with her on the death of her daughter -and my affianced wife. I did not tell her I wished to kill the -scoundrel; I told nobody. She related to me the history of the -changing of the children, which had been told to her by her sister, -Mrs. Bryant, whom I knew as Mrs. Boazoph. She wanted to avenge the -death of her daughter on Gregory by depriving him of his title and -estates. Also, she gave me the address of Gregory, written on an -envelope by Mrs. Boazoph, and asked me to call upon him for the double -purpose of telling him what he really was, and also, to get the -photograph which had been seen and written upon by Mrs. Boazoph, in -Gregory's chambers. - -"I took the envelope, but at that time I did not design the murder. I -wanted to kill Gregory, but I could not see how to do it with safety -to myself. I afterwards went to Mrs. Boazoph, and learned from her -that she had told her son about the tattooing, and the falseness of -his position. She implored me not to see him about his relationship to -her. I agreed; for I wished to kill him, and make him suffer. The -taking away of his property was not good enough in my eyes to punish -him for his wickedness. - -"Afterwards I went to Taxton-on-Thames to see Binjoy. I knew that he -was a chemist, and I desired to ask him about a poison to kill -Gregory. He told me about the poisoned needle, and showed it to me. -Whether he did so in order to put the idea into my head I do not know. -I did not tell him that I intended to kill Gregory; so far he is -guiltless; but he certainly showed me the way--innocently, perhaps--to -kill Gregory. When I came back from Taxton-on-Thames I had the -poisoned needle in my possession, and saw how to carry out my plan. I -remembered the tattooed cross on the arm of the rightful heir, and I -resolved to make use of that to induce Gregory to let me tattoo his -arm with the poisoned needle. - -"I placed the advertisement in a paper, which I knew he took in. I saw -his answer, and I then sent him the cardboard star appointing the -meeting-place in Tooley's Alley. I imitated the writing on the -envelope when designing a star, so that, if necessary, the blame might -rest on Mrs. Boazoph, his mother. For the same reason I chose the Red -Star as the meeting-place. To make things doubly sure, I made use of -Hersham's masquerade as a negro; and I adopted his disguise to -implicate him. Moreover, I thought that, failing Hersham, I might be -able to throw the blame on Binjoy and his negro servant. In every way -I thought that I was safe. - -"I went to the Red Star on the twenty-first; I met Mrs. Boazoph, and -made an excuse to her for my disguise (which she penetrated) that I -was about to play a trick on Binjoy. She thought that I was mad, and I -let her remain in that delusion. But I here state that I am quite -sane; that I killed Gregory with the greatest deliberation, and that I -do not regret what I have done. I went into the room; I met Gregory. -He took me for the negro of Dr. Binjoy, whom he had never seen. The -lights were low, and I said little; also I disguised my voice. Gregory -was a remarkably stupid creature, else I should never have succeeded -in my plan; also he was rather drunk. I counted on his density in -coming into his presence. At all events he did not know me; and when I -told him that the rightful heir must have the cross pricked on his -arm--a fact which I said I had heard from Binjoy--he let me tattoo it -in his arm. I did so with the poisoned needle, and in a short space of -time he became insensible; afterwards he died. Then I pulled down his -sleeve and left the hotel. The gunpowder scattered on the table was -used by me as a device to make Gregory think that I was really -tattooing him. - -"Afterwards I left a parcel containing the poisoned needle at his -chambers, to rid myself of all evidence of the crime. Well, I killed -him and went away. No one else is guilty of the crime but me. I -conceived it without assistance. I alone committed the crime in -Tooley's Alley and killed Gregory Fellenger, or, rather, Edward -Fielding, the son of Madaline Garry and Sir Francis. I am not sorry. I -glory in having punished a villain. I am sorry that I was found out, -but I was not surprised when Mrs. Boazoph betrayed me. I wondered that -she did not do so long ago. When this is read I shall be dead. - - (Signed), Herbert Vaud." - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. -THE OPINION OF OCTAVIUS FANKS. - - -A few months after the confession of Vaud and the end of the Tooley -Alley case, Fanks was seated with Louis Fellenger in the house of the -latter at Taxton-on-Thames. Lois had surrendered the estates to -Hersham, who was now known by his rightful title of Sir Gregory -Fellenger. Mrs. Boazoph was dead; Anne Colmer contemplated marriage -with the new Sir Gregory; and Mr. Fanks was having a chat with -Fellenger about the extraordinary matters in which they both had been -concerned. - -"When did you get back to town, Fanks?" asked Louis, when they were -comfortably seated. - -"Last week, old fellow. I have been enjoying myself in Italy, and I -assure you that I needed it after the wear and tear of the Tooley -Alley affair. I came down to have a chat with you about it." - -"I am glad you have. There are one or two points about those -confessions which I do not understand. That case was a hard nut to -crack, Fanks." - -Fanks looked up from the pipe he was filling. "Hard?" he echoed; "you -may well say that, Fellenger. I have had many hard cases in my time, -but the Tooley Alley mystery was the hardest of them all. The affair -of Monsieur Judas was difficult; so was the Chinese Jar Puzzle. The -Carbuncle Clue gave me some trouble; but all these were child's play -compared to the mystery of your cousin's death. I thought I should -never get a hold of the rope with which I designed to hang Vaud." - -"You didn't hang him, however." - -"No; he managed to hang himself before his trial. I was not sorry, -poor devil." - -"Nor was I," said Louis; "and I think that Vaud was mad when he killed -Gregory, mad with despair and grief at the end of Emma Calvert. The -old man has gone abroad, I hear." - -"Yes; I met him in Italy. He is quite broken down, as he was very -proud of his son Herbert. But he told me that he always thought -Herbert would do something rash, although he never suspected that he -killed Gregory. How could he when the young man conducted himself so -circumspectly? I don't think Herbert was insane," said Fanks, -decisively; "he acted too cleverly and cunningly for that. He killed -Gregory in cold blood with the greatest determination. Besides, look -at the measures he took to secure his safety. No, no, my friend; Vaud -was not mad." - -"Crate told me that you suspected him for some time before you found -out the truth." - -"Yes, I did. I suspected him without any evidence to go on. But he -protested so much, and behaved so queerly, that I thought he was the -man I wanted. All the same, as I had no evidence to go on, I held my -tongue until I was certain. When I left Binjoy ill at Mere Hall I -could think of no one so likely to have committed the crime as Vaud; -so, on the chance that Mrs. Boazoph would tell the truth, I sent Garth -for him. When he came into the room at the Red Star Mrs. Boazoph -spotted him at once. I knew that the woman was aware of the real -murderer. I saw that on the night the crime was committed. Her action -with the gunpowder gave me that tip." - -"And Mrs. Boazoph, alias Mrs. Bryant, alias Mrs. Fielding, alias -Madaline Garry, is dead also. I was sorry for that woman, Fanks." - -"So was I," said the detective, promptly. "She had a hard time of it. -I don't think that she was naturally bad, and in happier circumstances -she might have been a decent member of society. But look at the -training and misfortunes she had. Sir Francis, a fool of a first -husband, a brute of a second, and all the temptations at Tooley's -Alley to contend against. I wonder she was as decent as she was. I am -a deal sorrier for her than for your friend Binjoy, who got off -scot-free." - -"Don't call him my friend," said Louis, with a shudder. "I hate the -very name of the man. It was only out of respect for my father that I -bore with him for so long. I was glad when he went away. Did you ever -see so insolent a confession as he made?" - -"Oh, I was prepared for anything from a scoundrel like Binjoy. He gave -me a rub for myself; and so did his friend, Turnor. 'Arcades Ambo.' -Blackguards both," quoted Fanks, smiling. "But Hersham did not -remember him as he expected him to." - -"No, the present Sir Gregory, whom you will call Hersham, sent Binjoy -away pretty sharply, I can tell you. Binjoy and Turnor actually had -the cheek to call on him at Mere Hall, and ask him for money in order -to leave England; on the plea that their substantiation of Mrs. -Boazoph's evidence had gained him the estate." - -"I think it was your decency in letting Hersham have the estates -without going into Court that made things so smooth, Fellenger. Do you -regret the loss?" - -"No, I assure you I do not. I was satisfied that Hersham was truly the -heir; the evidence of that paper we found, and of Mrs. Boazoph, was -quite enough. I was glad to come back here, and go on with my -experiments in peace. I accepted a thousand a year from Hersham, which -he insisted on giving me; so you see I am fairly well off." - -"And you are good friends with Hersham--I beg his pardon--Sir Gregory -Fellenger, of Mere Hall, in the county of Hants?" - -"I am excellent friends with him and with his future wife, Anne -Colmer. You know, of course, that they are going to be married in a -month or so, that is, if Mrs. Colmer does not die in the meantime?" - -"From what I hear from Garth, it is likely that she will die," said -Fanks. "I expect the poor woman will be glad to go now that she sees -her daughter will make a good marriage." - -"Garth came to see me the other day," said Louis, "and he told me that -at one time he thought I had committed the crime." - -"I thought so, too," said Fanks, quietly. "Mrs. Jerusalem did her best -to make me suspect you." - -"I am glad you found that I was guiltless. By the way, where is Mrs. -Jerusalem?" - -"She is keeping house for Garth. I hear that Hersham gave Garth some -money, knowing how hard-up he was, so he has set up a house on the -strength of it. I don't envy Garth his housekeeper." - -"Oh, she loves him in her own savage way," said Louis, coolly. "I -daresay when he marries he will give her the go-by. I am sure she -deserves it for the double way in which she treated me. Then she will -go to the Union, or become an emigrant to America, like Messrs. Binjoy -and Turnor." - -"Why America?" - -"She has a sister there. I wonder what those two scoundrelly doctors -are doing in the States?" - -"Evil, you may be sure of that," replied Fanks. "Let us hope that they -will be lynched some day. I am sure that they deserve it." - -"They do," assented Fellenger. "I am sorry they did not get into -trouble." - -Fanks laughed. "That was certainly your own fault, my dear fellow," he -said. - -"Well, I was unwilling to prosecute for that blackmailing, because I -did not want the public to know more of our family scandal than was -necessary. I was sorry to let the blackguards go, but, after all, it -is best so. Don't you think so yourself?" - -"No, I don't," said Fanks. "You are too full of the milk of human -kindness, my dear Fellenger. I should have punished the rascals." - -"I am sure you would not if your family had been involved in such a -business. I am glad you kept so much from the public ear; there are -quite enough scandals as it is. Well, we have discussed the case a -good time, so suppose you come inside and have some luncheon." - -"I'm agreeable," was Fanks' reply, and he got up to follow his friend. -"By the way, can I take any message from you to Hersham and Miss -Colmer? I am going down to Mere Hall next week." - -"Tell them I hope they will ask me to dance at the wedding." - -"Of course they will. I shall dance also," added Fanks, with a smile. -"I deserve to, for I danced enough after the evidence of this Tooley -Alley case. May I never have such another; it was more like a -detective novel than a story in real life. But it is over now, thank -Heaven. We have acted our several parts; the bad have been punished -and the good rewarded, so we can drop the curtain on the Tragedy of -Tooley's Alley." - - - -THE END. - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tracked by a Tattoo, by Fergus Hume - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACKED BY A TATTOO *** - -***** This file should be named 55783-8.txt or 55783-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/7/8/55783/ - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by La -Trobe University, Melbourne Australia - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/old/55783-8.zip b/old/55783-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4ac8046..0000000 --- a/old/55783-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55783-h.zip b/old/55783-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1ec7635..0000000 --- a/old/55783-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/55783-h/55783-h.htm b/old/55783-h/55783-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 1c6e66b..0000000 --- a/old/55783-h/55783-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10670 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> -<html> -<head> -<title>Tracked by a Tattoo</title> -<meta name="Subtitle" content="A Mystery"> -<meta name="Author" content="Fergus Hume"> - -<meta name="Publisher" content="Frederick Warne & Co."> -<meta name="Date" content="1896"> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> -<style type="text/css"> -body {margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF; - text-align: justify} - - -p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} - -p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} -p.center {text-align: center;} -p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} - -h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} - - -.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0em;} -.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0em;} -.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em;} -.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0em;} -.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0em;} -.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0em;} - - -span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:110%;} -span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} - -hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt} - -hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} - -hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} -hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} - -p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} -p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} - -</style> - -</head> -<body> - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tracked by a Tattoo, by Fergus Hume - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tracked by a Tattoo - A Mystery - -Author: Fergus Hume - -Release Date: October 20, 2017 [EBook #55783] -Last Updated: March 4, 2018 - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACKED BY A TATTOO *** - - - - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by La -Trobe University, Melbourne Australia - - -</pre> - - -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> -1. Page scan source:<br> -http://arrow.latrobe.edu.au/store<br> -/3/4/6/5/2/public/B26995177.pdf<br> -La Trobe University, Melbourne Australia</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p class="center"><img src="images/frontcover.png" alt="frontcover"></p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3><span style="font-size:smaller"><i>SOME OPINIONS OF THE PRESS</i><br> -<span style="font-size:smaller"><i>ON</i></span></span><br> -"The Carbuncle Clue."</h3> -<h4>BY FERGUS HUME.<br> -UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME.</h4> -<hr class="W20"> -<br> -<p>"Everywhere throughout its source there is evident the same -wonderful originality that distinguished his first success. It -is as clever a piece of detective story writing as 'The Leavenworth -Case.'"--<i>Dundee Advertiser</i>.</p> - -<p>"To say that Mr. Fergus Home's 'The Carbuncle Clue' is one of his best -stories hardly does justice to its merits. Very clever must be the -reader who, in the earlier chapters, finds even a faint clue in this -labyrinth of crime and intrigue."--<i>Morning Post</i>.</p> - -<p>"It is in all truth a mystery, and one which when dipped into will be -followed with the greatest interest in all its maze of detail. There -is scarcely one of the opening chapters that does not reveal some new, -startling, and apparently inexplicable fact."--<i>The Scotsman</i>.</p> - -<p>"Among the more successful of the purveyors of the detective order of -fiction is Mr. Fergus Hume. All who love mystery will find his last -story exactly to their taste."--<i>Publishers' Circular</i>.</p> - -<p>"We were becoming afraid that Mr. Hume was over-producing--a fear -greatly allayed by 'The Carbuncle Clue.' Mr. Hume keeps his story well -in hand, and although the mystery changes its aspect many times, he -never allows it to drag; and in the end he springs the secret on -us in a way that effectually discounts any feeling of superiority -we may have cherished as to our powers of playing the amateur -detective."--<i>Literary World</i>.</p> - -<p>"Apart from the author's reputation, 'The Carbuncle Clue,' standing on -its own undoubted merits, will commend itself to those of the reading -public who can admire a clever plot, with just a sufficient dash of -sensationalism. The skilful manner in which the plot is evolved and -the machinations of the conspirators disclosed, place the work on a -much higher level than the average detective story."--<i>Chester -Courant</i>.</p> - -<p>"A capital story, one that will hold its reader enthralled to the end. -The clever detective--Mr. Fanks, alias Rixton--is, we think greatly -superior to Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his many followers, inasmuch as he -is not omniscient, and is quite capable of making mistakes and getting -exasperated over them. He follows the slender clue with the sagacity -and patience of a bloodhound, and the mystery is so well maintained -that its solution only breaks on us as we turn the last page.--<i>Pall -Pall Gazette</i>.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Hume is great in mysteries, but almost excels himself in the -complications of this carbuncle clue. It is brightly and briskly -written, and goes on without a hitch or momentary loss of interest -from beginning to end. The actors are admirably described. It is the -ordinary man and woman that Mr. Hume brings on the stage, and he pulls -the wires so deftly that it is with a sigh of regret that we close the -book. The publishing world has been inundated with detective stories -recently, but if all were so good as 'The Carbuncle Clue' there would -not be much reason to complain of the fashion."--<i>Manchester Courier</i>.</p> - -<p>"One of the best detective stories that have appeared for a long -time."--<i>Manchester Guardian</i>.</p> - -<p>"The whole plot is very ingeniously contrived. The interest never -flags, and, together with the mystery, is kept up to the very end of -the story."--<i>Glasgow Herald</i>.</p> - -<p>"In 'The Carbuncle Clue' the author elucidates with his accustomed -skill a highly mysterious murder. The story is thrilling and -ingenious."--<i>Yorkshire Post</i>.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Fergus Hume is a wonderful producer of books, and he proves -himself the possessor of considerable resource, while he is also very -versatile. 'The Carbuncle Clue' will be read with avidity by lovers of -this particular class of work, while it will also be found to contain -a goodly share of attraction for the general novel reader."--<i>Western -Daily Mercury</i>.</p> - -<p>"For some time past the feeling has been that the detective story has -had its day, living only in the memory of the immortal Sherlock -Holmes. After perusing the mystery of 'The Carbuncle Clue,' -however, we feel inclined to change our mind. Mr. Fergus Hume -has a more than ordinary talent for the making and unravelling of -enigmas."--<i>Liverpool Mercury</i>.</p> - -<p>"There are few weavers of mystery like Mr. Fergus Hume. In 'The -Carbuncle Clue' his best qualities as an adept in the art of -mystification are apparent. He is a magician in mystery and a wizard -in working up a sensation without divulging the denouement until the -opportune moment."--<i>Newsagent</i>.</p> - -<p>"A splendid story, and the identity of the murderer of the unknown -man so mysteriously found stabbed to death in the chambers of a man -about town is cleverly concealed until the last. There is not a dull -line in the book, and the interest is never for a moment allowed to -flag."--<i>Blackburn Times</i>.</p> - -<p>"A story replete with sensational excitement from the first to the -last. In our opinion it is one of the best novels he has yet -produced."--<i>The People</i>.</p> - -<p>"A peculiar faculty is necessary for the composition of a really -ingenious story of the detective type, and Mr. Fergus Hume undeniably -possesses it in an unusual degree. 'The Carbuncle Clue' is a really -clever piece of work of its school. The mystery suffices to keep the -reader on the alert till he comes to the final page."--<i>Court -Journal</i>.</p> - -<h4><span style="font-size:smaller">London</span>: FREDERICK WARNE & CO., and -<span style="font-size:smaller">New York</span>.</h4> - - -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>TRACKED BY A TATTOO</h3> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>TRACKED<br> -BY A TATTOO</h3> -<br> -<h4><i>A MYSTERY</i></h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h5>BY</h5> -<h4>FERGUS HUME</h4> -<h5>AUTHOR OF<br> -"THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB," "MONSIEUR JUDAS,"<br> -"THE CARBUNCLE CLUE," "THE WHITE PRIOR,"<br> -ETC.</h5> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><span style="font-size:smaller">LONDON</span><br> -FREDERICK WARNE & CO.<br> -<span style="font-size:smaller">AND NEW YORK</span></h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<p class="center"><i>Copyright.<br> -Entered at Stationers' Hall</i>.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<table cellpadding="10" style="width:90%; margin-left:5%; font-weight:bold"> -<colgroup><col style="width:20%; vertical-align:top; text-align:right"><col style="width:80%; vertical-align:top; text-align:left"></colgroup> -<tr> -<td colspan="2"><h3>CONTENTS</h3></td> -</tr><tr> -<td>CHAPTER.</td> -<td> </td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">I.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Crime</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">II.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">A Recognition</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">III.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Result Of The Crime</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">IV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Another Discovery</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">V.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Red Star Advertisement</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">VI.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">A Startling Incident</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">VII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Difficulties</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">VIII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">A Mysterious Parcel</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">IX.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Vaud and Vaud</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">X.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Exit Dr. Renshaw</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">XI.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Another Link in the Chain</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">XII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Intervention of Chance</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">XIII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Tattooed Cross</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">XIV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Fanks Makes Up his Mind</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15">XV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Coming Events</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16">XVI.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Unhappy Lovers</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17">XVII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Two against One</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18">XVIII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">On the Twenty-First of June</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19">XIX.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Defiance of Anne Colmer</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_20" href="#div1_20">XX.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Green Overcoat</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_21" href="#div1_21">XXI.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Eight Bells Enigma</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_22" href="#div1_22">XXII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Mrs. Boazoph Receives a Shock</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_23" href="#div1_23">XXIII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Confession of Hersham</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_24" href="#div1_24">XXIV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Clue of the Handwriting</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_25" href="#div1_25">XXV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">At Mere Hall, Hants</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_26" href="#div1_26">XXVI.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Mrs. Prisom's Story</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_27" href="#div1_27">XXVII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Mrs. Prisom's Story--<i>continued</i></span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_28" href="#div1_28">XXVIII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Sir Louis Explains</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_29" href="#div1_29">XXIX.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Dr. Binjoy Protests</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_30" href="#div1_30">XXX.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">A Letter from Hersham, Senior</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_31" href="#div1_31">XXXI.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Secret is Revealed</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_32" href="#div1_32">XXXII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">Mrs. Boazoph Tells the Truth</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_33" href="#div1_33">XXXIII.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">How and Why the Deed was Done</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_34" href="#div1_34">XXXIV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Same</span></td> -</tr><tr> -<td><a name="div1Ref_35" href="#div1_35">XXXV.</a></td> -<td><span class="sc">The Opinion of Octavius Fanks</span></td> -</tr></table> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h3>Tracked by a Tattoo.</h3> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> -<h5>THE CRIME.</h5> -<br> - -<p>On the twenty-first of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred -and ninety-four Mr. Fanks, of New Scotland Yard, detective, was -walking down the Strand, between the hours of seven and eight in the -evening, in the character of Octavius Rixton, of the West End, idler. -It may be as well to repeat here, what is no doubt already known--that -this individual led a dual existence. He earned his money as a -detective, and spent it as a man about town. East of Trafalgar Square -he was called Fanks; westward he was known by his real name of Rixton. -But few people, were aware that the idler and the worker were one and -the same. Nevertheless of necessity four or five persons possessed -this knowledge, and of these one was Crate, a brother officer of -Fanks, who had worked with him in many cases, and who had a profound -respect for his capabilities. Fanks had obtained this ascendancy over -Crate's mind by his skilful unravelling of the Chinese Jar mystery.</p> - -<p>This especial evening Rixton had cast off the name, clothes, and -personality of Fanks; and in "propriā personā," he was about to treat -himself to a melodrama at the Adelphi Theatre. As he was passing -through the vestibule, at a quarter to eight, a man came forward and -touched him on the arm. To the surprise of Rixton he recognised Crate.</p> - -<p>"You mentioned that you were coming here this evening, Mr. Rixton," -said this latter, who had been instructed to so address his chief on -particular occasions. "And I have been waiting for the last half hour -to see you."</p> - -<p>"What is the matter, Crate?"</p> - -<p>The subordinate beckoned Rixton to a quiet corner, and in a low tone -said one word, which made him dismiss from his mind the idea of -attending the theatre on that evening. The whispered word was -"murder."</p> - -<p>"Where?" asked Fanks, assuming the detective on the instant.</p> - -<p>"Down Tooley's Alley."</p> - -<p>"Man or woman or child?"</p> - -<p>"Man! I think a gentleman."</p> - -<p>"When was the crime committed?"</p> - -<p>"Between six and seven this evening."</p> - -<p>"In a house or on the street?"</p> - -<p>"In a house. The Red Star public-house."</p> - -<p>"I know it," said Fanks, with a sharp nod, "a cut-throat place at the -bottom of Tooley's Alley. The assassin chose an excellent locality. -Poison, steel, or bludgeon?"</p> - -<p>"The first I fancy; there are no marks of violence on the body. But -you had better come and see for yourself."</p> - -<p>"I agree with you. Return to the Red Star, Crate, while I go to my -rooms to change my clothes. I am Rixton at present, and I don't want -to mix up my two personalities. Expect me in half an hour."</p> - -<p>Crate departed with prompt obedience, and Rixton drove off in a swift -hansom to his chambers in Duke Street, St. James. In ten minutes he -had assumed his detective clothes and Fanks personality; in twenty he -was returning eastward; and at the expiration of half an hour he was -standing at the door of the house wherein the crime had been -committed. Such promptitude was characteristic of the man.</p> - -<p>Tooley's Alley is a narrow zig-zag street, which, beginning at a point -in Drury Lane, twists its way through a mass of malodorous houses -until blocked finally by the Red Star Hotel. It is a famous Rialto of -rogues and vagabonds, for here "they most do congregate;" and here -come the police, when any especial criminal is wanted by the law. An -evil district with an evil name; a plague spot, which cannot be -eradicated either by law or by religion. There are many such in -London, and of all Tooley's Alley is the worst. It was plausible -enough that a gentleman should be trapped, robbed, and murdered in -this quarter; but it was more difficult to surmise what errand had -brought a gentleman into so dangerous a neighbourhood. A gentleman -done to death in Tooley's Alley! Fanks scented a mystery.</p> - -<p>The Red Star was a gorgeous gin-palace, all gas, and glare, and -glitter. It was licensed to Mrs. Boazoph, a widow, whose character was -more than suspected by the police; but who contrived by a circumspect -demeanour to keep on the right side of the law. By virtue of her -position, her supposed wealth, and above all by reason of her talents, -she was quite the queen of Tooley's Alley. Why she should have been -permitted to hold her disreputable court in this hotbed of crime was -best known to the authorities; but hold it she did, and made money out -of her ragged subjects. In the neighbourhood she was popularly known -as Queen Beelzeebub.</p> - -<p>Attracted by the news of the murder, a mob of raffish men and -slatternly women had collected round the Red Star, but the presence of -four policemen prevented them from entering the bar and drinking, as -they desired to do.</p> - -<p>Fanks had no need to push through the crowd, for on recognising him -they fell to right and left to leave him a free passage. Under his -keen gaze a quiver of fear passed over many of the brutalised faces; -and here and there some especial rogue, scared by the memory of lately -committed crimes, shrank back into the shadows, lest this man, who -personified the law, should discover and punish. Fanks was the Nemesis -of Tooley's Alley; the god they desired to propitiate, and he was at -once hated and feared by his debased worshippers.</p> - -<p>After exchanging a few words with the guardian policemen, Fanks -entered the house, and was met in the passage by Crate and by Mrs. -Boazoph. This latter, who appeared to be between forty and fifty years -of age, was a slender and pallid-faced woman, with almost white hair -smoothed back from her high forehead. She spoke habitually with folded -hands and downcast eyes, and her voice was low and soft, with a -refined accent. One would have taken this demure figure, clad in a -plain dress of lustreless black, for an hospital nurse, or for a -housekeeper. Yet she was--as the police asserted--the most dangerous -woman in London, hand and glove with thieves and rogues: not for -nothing had she gained her reputation and queenly title.</p> - -<p>"Well, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, abruptly, "this last scandal will add -largely to the excellent reputation already gained by your house."</p> - -<p>"No doubt of it, sir," replied the landlady, without raising her eyes; -"it is most unfortunate."</p> - -<p>"And most unexpected?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly most unexpected, sir."</p> - -<p>The detective looked at her sharply, and noticed that her fingers -played nervously with the stuff of her gown. Also he heard a tremor in -her voice as she answered. Now Mrs. Boazoph was not easily upset; yet, -as Fanks well saw, only her unusual self-control prevented her from -having an attack of hysteria. To many men the circumstance of the -crime having been committed in the house would have accounted for -this. Fanks was too well acquainted with Queen Beelzeebub to give her -the benefit of the doubt. She was disturbed by something more than the -mere fact of the murder.</p> - -<p>"Do you know the man?" he asked, keeping his eyes fixed on her face.</p> - -<p>"No!" retorted Mrs. Boazoph, with suspicious promptitude. "I never set -eyes on him until this evening."</p> - -<p>And with this hinted defiance she stared Fanks boldly in the face. -When she saw that he was watching her twitching fingers, they became -motionless on the instant. Only one conclusion could the detective -draw from this behaviour; she knew more than she would own to, and she -was afraid lest he should find it out. After another look, which -discovered nothing--for she was now on her guard--Fanks turned sharply -to Crate.</p> - -<p>"Where is the body?"</p> - -<p>"Upstairs, in one of the bedrooms."</p> - -<p>"Was the murder committed in one of the bedrooms?"</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Fanks. It was committed in the room at the end of this -passage."</p> - -<p>"And why was the body removed out of that room?"</p> - -<p>"I removed the body," said Mrs. Boazoph, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>"You had no right to do so," rebuked Fanks, sharply. "It was your duty -to leave things as they were, when you discovered that a crime had -been committed, and to give immediate information to the police."</p> - -<p>"I did do so, sir. The police were in this house ten minutes after I -saw the dead body."</p> - -<p>"Nevertheless, you found time to remove it in that ten minutes."</p> - -<p>"I thought it best to do so," said Mrs. Boazoph, obstinately.</p> - -<p>"No doubt. I shall not forget your zeal," was Fanks' rejoinder.</p> - -<p>The woman could not repress a shudder at the ironical tone of the -detective, and her pale face turned yet paler. However, she passed -discreetly over the remark and turned the conversation briskly.</p> - -<p>"Shall I take you upstairs to see the body, sir?</p> - -<p>"No; I shall first examine the room. Afterwards I shall hear your -story and inspect the corpse. Come with me, Crate."</p> - -<p>Still preserving an impenetrable countenance, Mrs. Boazoph preceded -the two men into the little room at the end of the passage. It was an -apartment of no great size, furnished in a scanty, almost in a -penurious fashion. A window draped with faded curtains of red rep -faced the entrance There was no fireplace, and the furniture consisted -of a mahogany horse-hair sofa placed against the right-hand wall -looking from the door, a round table covered with a stained red cloth, -which stood in the centre of the room, and on either side of this two -chairs. A crimson felting carpeted the floor, and a few racing -pictures, crudely coloured, adorned the salmon-tinted walls. Beyond -this the room contained nothing, save an iron gas-pipe suspended from -the roof, by which two jets flaring in pink globes lighted the -apartment.</p> - -<p>Fanks glanced slowly round, taking in every detail, and walked across -to the window. It was locked, the curtains were drawn, the blind was -down. As it was too dark to see the outlook, Fanks turned to Mrs. -Boazoph for information.</p> - -<p>"What does this window look out on to?"</p> - -<p>"A yard, sir."</p> - -<p>"Is there any outlet from the yard?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir, excepting through the kitchen where the servants have been -all the evening."</p> - -<p>"When you entered the room and discovered the fact of the murder, -where was the body?"</p> - -<p>"Huddled up on yonder sofa, sir."</p> - -<p>"Was the room in the same state as it is now?"</p> - -<p>"In precisely the same state, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>"Wait a moment," interposed Crate; "you told me that you took some -glasses out of the room."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph darted a tigerish glance at the detective, which revealed -the hidden possibilities of her nature. However, she replied with all -possible meekness--</p> - -<p>"I quite forgot that, sir I did take two glasses off that table."</p> - -<p>Recalling Crate's remark that the deceased had probably been poisoned, -Fanks was rendered angry and suspicious by this action; but as it was -mere folly to quarrel with so clever a woman as Mrs. Boazoph he made -light of the circumstance, and observed casually that no doubt the -glasses had been washed and put away.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," assented the landlady, "they were washed and put away by -my own hands."</p> - -<p>"I have always known you to be an extremely tidy woman," said Fanks, -ironically. "Two glasses, you say? Then there were two gentlemen in -this room between six and seven?"</p> - -<p>"There were two men in this room between six and seven," replied Mrs. -Boazoph, making the correction with emphasis.</p> - -<p>"Two men, you say? And they came to have a chat--by appointment?"</p> - -<p>"I think so, sir. The white man came at six, and the black man arrived -an hour later."</p> - -<p>"Ho! ho!" said Fanks, rather taken by surprise; "so one of the men was -a negro. I see. And who lies dead upstairs?"</p> - -<p>"The white man, sir."</p> - -<p>"And the negro assassin; what of him?"</p> - -<p>"We have no proof that the negro committed the crime, Mr. Fanks," -protested Mrs. Boazoph, forgetting her caution for the moment. "There -are no marks of violence on the body."</p> - -<p>"Of course not," said Fanks, with grim humour. "No doubt the white man -died a convenient and natural death, while the negro, for no reason, -fled in alarm. I am obliged to you for the suggestion, Mrs. Boazoph. -Probably it is as you say."</p> - -<p>Not sufficiently clever to see the irony of this remark, Crate looked -surprised. But the woman was clearer sighted; and, seeing that she had -over-reached herself by saying too much, she relapsed into silence. -The detective, feeling that he had scored, smiled grimly, and went on -with his examination of the room.</p> - -<p>"The body was on the sofa, you say?" he said after a pause.</p> - -<p>"Yes; it was tumbled in a heap against the wall."</p> - -<p>"And the glasses were on the table?"</p> - -<p>"On the table and on the tray."</p> - -<p>"Were there any signs of a struggle?"</p> - -<p>"Not that I saw, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>"Can you describe the appearance of the white man; no, stop, I'll see -his body when I go upstairs. What of the black man?"</p> - -<p>"He was a tall, burly, fat creature, sir, just like any other negro."</p> - -<p>"How was he dressed?"</p> - -<p>"In a black opera hat, dark trousers, brown boots, and a long green -overcoat with brass buttons," said Mrs. Boazoph, concisely.</p> - -<p>"Rather a noticeable dress," said Fanks, carelessly; "had you ever -seen the negro before?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir."</p> - -<p>"Nor the white man?"</p> - -<p>"I never saw white or black man in my life till this evening."</p> - -<p>By this time the patience of Mrs. Boazoph was nearly worn out, and her -self-control was gradually giving way. She evidently felt that she -could hold out no longer, for, after replying to the last question, -she left the room suddenly. But that Fanks interfered Crate would have -stopped her.</p> - -<p>"Let her go," said the former, "we can see her later on. In the -meantime," he continued, pointing to the table, "what is all this?"</p> - -<p>Crate bent forward, and on the dingy red tablecloth he saw a number of -tiny black grains scattered about.</p> - -<p>"It is a powder of some sort," he said; "I told you that I thought the -man had been poisoned."</p> - -<p>Even as Crate spoke the gaslight went out, leaving them in complete -darkness.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said Fanks, rather startled by the unexpected incident, "Mrs. -Boazoph is fiddling with the meter."</p> - -<p>"What the deuce did she do that for?" asked Crate, as his superior -struck a match.</p> - -<p>"Can't you guess? She saw these black grains on the tablecloth, and -wants to get rid of them. That was why she left the room and turned -off the gas. She hopes that the darkness will drive us out. Then she -will explain the incident by a lie, and enter before us to relight the -gas."</p> - -<p>"Well?" said Crate, stolidly.</p> - -<p>"Well!" repeated Fanks, crossly. "I shall never make you understand -anything, Crate. Before lighting the gas she will pull off the -tablecloth and scatter the grains."</p> - -<p>"Do you think she's in this, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say--yet. But she knows something. You get a candle, -and--hang this match," cried Fanks, "it has burnt my fingers."</p> - -<p>As he uttered the exclamation the match, still alight, dropped on the -table among the black grains to which allusion has been made. There -was a flicker, a sparkle of light, and when Fanks struck another match -the grains had disappeared.</p> - -<p>"Gunpowder!" said the detective, in a puzzled tone; "now, what -possible connection can gunpowder have with this matter?"</p> - -<p>To this there was no answer; and by the glimmer of the single match, -the two men looked blankly at one another.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">CHAPTER II</a>.</h4> -<h5>A RECOGNITION.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Topping this discovery came the return of Mrs. Boazoph with a candle -and an apology. Her procedure was so exactly the same as that -suggested by Fanks that Crate could not forbear from paying the -tribute of an admiring chuckle to the perspicuity of his chief. Only -in her action with the tablecloth did Mrs. Boazoph vary from the -prescribed ritual.</p> - -<p>"My regrets and apologies, sir," she said, addressing Fanks, with a -side glance at the table; "but one of the servants--an idle slut, whom -I have now discharged--turned off the gas at the meter by accident. I -hope that you were not alarmed by the sudden darkness. Permit me to -relight the burners."</p> - -<p>And with this neat speech she mounted a chair with the activity of a -girl. Having remedied the accident she stumbled--or seemed to -stumble--in descending, and caught at the table to save herself, -thereby dragging the cloth on to the floor. Then it was that Crate -chuckled; whereupon Mrs. Boazoph was on her feet at once, with a look -of startled suspicion. However, as she had accomplished her object, -she recovered her equanimity speedily and made another apology, with a -lie tacked on to it.</p> - -<p>"My regrets for the second accident," she remarked glibly, "but it is -due to overstrung nerves. Put it down to that gentleman, if you -please, and you will put it down to the right cause."</p> - -<p>"Pray do not mention it, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, significantly; "I -have already examined the cloth. And now, if you please, we will go -upstairs."</p> - -<p>The woman drew back and bit her lip. She guessed that Fanks had seen -through her stratagem, and for the moment she was minded to excuse -herself. Fortunately her habitual caution saved her from a second -blunder; and she strove to conciliate Fanks by a piece of news.</p> - -<p>"I trust that you will not think me presuming, sir," she said, "but in -the hope that there might be some chance of life remaining in It, I -sent for a doctor. He is now upstairs with It."</p> - -<p>"Your kindness does you great credit," said Fanks, seeing his way -clear to a thrust, "you could not have behaved better if you had known -this man."</p> - -<p>Holding the candle before her face, Mrs. Boazoph drew back a step, -with one hand clutching the bosom of her dress. Her composure gave -way.</p> - -<p>"In one word, you suspect me," she cried with a glitter in her eyes.</p> - -<p>"In one word, I suspect nobody," retorted Fanks. "I have not yet heard -all your story, remember."</p> - -<p>"You know all that I know," said Mrs. Boazoph. "The man who came here -at six this evening--the man who lies dead upstairs, is a complete -stranger to me. I caught only a glimpse of him as he entered; I did -not speak to him. He asked for a private room in which to wait for a -friend. He was shown into this room, and waited. The negro arrived ten -minutes later. I saw him--I showed him into this room; but indeed, Mr. -Fanks, I never set eyes on him before. The pair--white and black--were -together till close on seven. They had something to drink, for which -the dead man paid. I did not enter the room; it was the barmaid who -served them with drink. I did not know when the negro went; but, -wanting the room for some other gentlemen, I knocked at the door at -seven o'clock to ask if they had finished their conversation. I -received no reply; I opened the door; I entered; I found the white man -dead, the negro absent. After removing the body upstairs and covering -it with a sheet, as any decent woman would, I sent for the police. -That is all; I swear that it is the truth. Say what you please; do -what you please; you cannot fasten this crime on to me."</p> - -<p>Fanks listened to this speech with great imperturbability, and made -but one comment thereon.</p> - -<p>"I took you for a clever woman, Mrs. Boazoph," he said, "evidently I -have been wrong. Will you be so kind as to light us upstairs."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph thrust the candle into his hands.</p> - -<p>"I have seen <i>It</i> once; I refuse to look upon it again."</p> - -<p>She passed out of the room shaking as with the ague. Fanks nodded in a -satisfied way, and beckoning to Crate, he went upstairs. A frightened -housemaid on the landing indicated the room of which they were in -search; and they entered it to come face to face with the doctor -summoned by the zealous landlady. He introduced himself as Dr. -Renshaw, and made this announcement with a bland smile and a -condescending bow. Fanks eyed his tall and burly figure; his -Napoleonic countenance; his smooth, brown beard and his perfect dress. -There was a look about the man which he did not like; and he -mistrusted the uneasy glance of the hard, grey eyes. The detective -relied largely on his instinct. In this case it warned him against the -false geniality of Dr. Renshaw.</p> - -<p>"The representatives of the law, I believe," said the medical man in a -deep and rolling voice. "I was about to take my departure; but if I -can be of service in the interests of justice, pray command me."</p> - -<p>"I suppose there is no doubt that our friend there is dead," said -Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Dead as Caesar, sir," said the magnificent doctor, waving his arm.</p> - -<p>"Caesar died by steel," remarked Fanks significantly. "It appears that -this man died in an easier manner."</p> - -<p>"There is another parallel," said the doctor, condescending to add to -the historical knowledge of the detective. "If we may believe Brutus, -the great Julius was slain as a traitor to the republic. This unknown -man," added Renshaw, pointing to the body, "also died the death of a -traitor."</p> - -<p>"If, as you say, the dead man is unknown," said Fanks quickly, "how -can you tell that he was a traitor?"</p> - -<p>"By inference and deduction," was the reply. "You can judge for -yourself. Far be it from me that I should set my opinion against that -of the law; but I have a theory. Would you care to hear it? If I may -venture on a jest," said Renshaw with ponderous playfulness, "the -medical mouse may help the legal lion."</p> - -<p>"Let us hear your theory by all means," said Fanks easily, "but first -permit me to speak with my assistant."</p> - -<p>The doctor bowed and passed over to the other side of the bed; while -Fanks went with Crate to the door. Here he hesitated, glanced at the -doctor, and finally led his subordinate into the passage.</p> - -<p>"Crate!" he said in a rapid whisper, "I mistrust that man. He will -shortly leave this place. Follow him and find out where he lives. Then -set someone to watch the place, and return to me."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that he has anything to do with it?" asked Crate.</p> - -<p>"I can't say at present. I may be wrong about him and about Mrs. -Boazoph; all the same I mistrust the pair of them. Now off with you."</p> - -<p>When Crate departed to watch for the outcoming of the doctor, Fanks -re-entered the chamber of death. Renshaw still stood beside the bed, -and seemingly had not moved from that position. Nevertheless, a mat -placed midway between bed and door, was rucked up. By the merest -accident Fanks had previously noticed that it was lying flat. Thence -he deduced that Renshaw had crossed to the door. In plain words, -Renshaw had been listening. Fanks was confirmed in this opinion by the -complacent smile which played round the lips of the doctor.</p> - -<p>"Now for your theory, Doctor," said Fanks, noting all, but saying -nothing.</p> - -<p>"Certainly, sir. As a detective you know, of course, of the existence -of secret societies."</p> - -<p>"I do; and I know also that those who reveal the doings of such -societies are punished. Go on, Doctor."</p> - -<p>"First you must inspect the body," replied Renshaw.</p> - -<p>He drew down the sheet which concealed the face of the dead. In the -cruel glare of the gaslight, Fanks beheld a countenance discoloured -and distorted. The head was that of a young man with brown and curly -hair, well-marked eyebrows, and a moustache of the same hue as the -hair. The body was clothed in moleskin trousers, and a flannel shirt. -From the bedpost hung a rough, grey coat, and a cloth cap. A glance -assured Fanks that these clothes of a working man were perfectly new; -another glance confirmed his first belief that the dead man was a -gentleman. On looking intently into the face he started back in -surprise; but recovering himself, said nothing. If the doctor had -observed his action, he made no pointed remark thereon; but set it -down merely to a natural feeling of repulsion.</p> - -<p>"I do not wonder that the state of the body revolts you, sir," he -said. "The corpse is swollen and discoloured in a terrible manner. Of -course, I can say nothing authoritatively until the post mortem has -been made; but from all appearances I am inclined to ascribe the death -to poison."</p> - -<p>"Ah; then it is a case of murder?"</p> - -<p>"So you say, sir; the secret society to which this man belongs, would -call it a punishment."</p> - -<p>"How do you know that this man belongs to a secret society. Do you -recognise the body?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir. The man is nameless so far as I am concerned. There are no -marks on his linen or clothes; and there are no papers in his pockets -likely to identify him. Oh, believe me, sir, the society has done its -work well."</p> - -<p>"You seem to be very confident about your secret society?"</p> - -<p>The doctor bent over the body, and rolled up the shirt sleeve of the -left arm. Between elbow and shoulder there appeared a swollen mark in -the shape of a rude cross, surrounded by a wheel; violet in colour, -and slashed across with a knife. To this he pointed in silence.</p> - -<p>"I see what you mean," said Fanks, twisting his signet ring; always a -sign of perplexity with him. "The secret mark of the society has been -obliterated."</p> - -<p>"Precisely. Now you can understand, sir, why I infer that this man was -a traitor. Evidently the negro--of whose presence Mrs. Boazoph -informed me--was the emissary of the society, and killed this traitor -by poison. Afterwards, as was natural, he obliterated the secret mark -by drawing his knife across it."</p> - -<p>"He did not do his work thoroughly then, Doctor. The secret mark is a -cross."</p> - -<p>"The secret mark is more than a cross, sir," replied the doctor, "else -you may be sure that the negro would have obliterated it more -perfectly."</p> - -<p>The detective replaced the sheet over the face of the dead: and -prepared, as did the doctor, to leave the room. They turned down the -gas and departed; but while descending the stairs, Renshaw asked Fanks -a question.</p> - -<p>"Are you satisfied that my explanation is a correct one?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"I am perfectly satisfied," said Fanks, looking directly at the man.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, this unhesitating acceptance appeared to render -Renshaw uneasy; and the flow of his magnificent speech broke up in -confusion.</p> - -<p>"I may be wrong," he muttered. "We are all liable to error; but such -as it is, that is my opinion."</p> - -<p>"You would be willing to repeat that opinion at the inquest, Doctor?"</p> - -<p>Renshaw drew back with a shudder.</p> - -<p>"Is it necessary that I should go to the inquest?" he asked faintly.</p> - -<p>"I think so," replied Fanks significantly. "You were the first to see -the corpse. You will have to describe the state in which you found it. -Your address if you please?"</p> - -<p>"Twenty-four, Great Auk Street," said Renshaw, after some hesitation. -"I am staying there at present."</p> - -<p>"Staying there?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! I--I--not practise in London. I do not practise at all, in fact. -I travel--I travel a great deal. In two weeks I go to India."</p> - -<p>"You must go first to the inquest," responded Fanks dryly. "But if you -do not practise in London, how comes it that Mrs. Boazoph sent for -you?"</p> - -<p>"She did not send for me," explained the doctor, "but for my friend, -Dr. Turnor; he is absent on a holiday, and I am acting as his locum -tenens for a short period."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Doctor; that is a thoroughly satisfactory explanation; -quite as satisfactory as your theory of the death. Good evening. I -should recommend a glass of brandy; you look as though you needed it."</p> - -<p>"Weak heart!" muttered Renshaw in explanation, and took his departure -with evident relief. But before he left the hotel, he acted on the -detective's suggestion. Mrs. Boazoph gave him the brandy with her own -hands. The action afforded her an opportunity of exchanging a few -words with him. Fanks thwarted her intent by also entering the bar, -and asking for refreshment; whereupon, the doctor finished his liquor -and departed.</p> - -<p>Left alone with Fanks, the landlady drew a breath of relief, and -addressed herself to the detective.</p> - -<p>"Do you wish to know anything else, sir," she said coldly. "If not, -with your permission, I shall retire to bed."</p> - -<p>"I have learned all I wish to know at present, thank you, Mrs. -Boazoph. Go to bed by all means. I am sure that you need rest after -your anxiety."</p> - -<p>The landlady, looking worn out and haggard, retired, and Fanks went to -the door to wait for Crate's return. In the meantime he made notes and -formed theories; these will be revealed hereafter, but in the meantime -the case was in too crude a state for him to come to the smallest -conclusion. However, he had already decided on the next step. In the -chamber of death he had made an important discovery which enabled him -to move in the matter.</p> - -<p>In half an hour Crate returned with the information that Dr. Renshaw -had entered No. 24, Great Auk Street; and that he had set a detective -to watch the house. Fanks smiled on receiving this report.</p> - -<p>"He is cleverer than I thought," he murmured; and left Tooley's Alley -with Crate.</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Fanks, whom do you suspect?"</p> - -<p>"No one at present, Crate."</p> - -<p>"Oh! and what do you do next?"</p> - -<p>"Make certain of the dead man's identity."</p> - -<p>Crate stopped in surprise.</p> - -<p>"Do you know who he is, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! He is a friend of my own. Sir Gregory Fellenger, Baronet."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">CHAPTER III</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE RESULT OF THE CRIME.</h5> -<br> - -<p>A week after his discovery of the identity of the dead man, Fanks, -having slipped his detective skin for the time being, was seated in -the writing room of the Athenian Club, with the "Morning Planet" -newspaper on his knee. He was not reading it, however, but was looking -absently at a long and lean young man, who was writing letters at a -near table.</p> - -<p>Francis Garth, of the Middle Temple, barrister and journalist, was -one of the few West End men who knew the real profession of Rixton, -alias Fanks. In fact, there was very little he did not know; and -Fanks--as it will be convenient to call the detective--was debating as -to whether he should question him about the Tooley Alley crime. He was -urged to this course by the remembrance that he had seen Garth at the -inquest. This had been held on the previous day. The jury had brought -in a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, -and the conduct of the case had been placed officially in the hands of -Fanks. So far all was ship-shape.</p> - -<p>And now the detective found himself at a standstill. No evidence had -been brought forward implicating either Mrs. Boazoph or Dr. Renshaw; -and, doubtful as was Fanks as to their honesty, he could gain no clue -from the one or the other of them likely to elucidate the mystery. -Failing this, he had determined to learn if possible all about the -previous life of the deceased, and in this way discover if anyone was -likely to be a gainer by his death. Garth, who had known the late Sir -Gregory intimately--who had been present at the inquest--was the most -likely person to furnish these details; and Fanks was waiting for an -opportunity of addressing him. On the result of the projected -conversation would depend his future movements.</p> - -<p>"I say, Garth," said Fanks, "how much longer will your correspondence -take?"</p> - -<p>"I shall be at your service in ten minutes," replied Garth, without -desisting from his occupation. "What do you wish to talk about?"</p> - -<p>"About the death of your friend, Sir Gregory Fellenger."</p> - -<p>Garth looked up and turned round with alacrity.</p> - -<p>"Is the case in your hands, Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; and I want some information from you."</p> - -<p>"I shall be happy to give it. But wait for a few minutes; I am just -writing about it to a friend of mine--and yours."</p> - -<p>"Humph! and the name?"</p> - -<p>"Ted Hersham, the journalist."</p> - -<p>They looked at one another, the same thought occupying both their -minds.</p> - -<p>"Has your reason for writing anything to do with the left arm of our -friend?" asked Fanks, after a pause.</p> - -<p>Garth nodded and returned to his work. When he had sealed, directed, -and stamped the letter Fanks spoke again.</p> - -<p>"Garth?" he said; "I say, Garth?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! What's the matter?"</p> - -<p>"Don't send that letter till after our conversation."</p> - -<p>"Ah! You guess why I am writing to him."</p> - -<p>"My remark of a few moments ago ought to have shown you that," said -Fanks, dryly. "Yes; I guess your object, and I want you to leave the -case in my hands. It is too difficult a one for you to manage alone."</p> - -<p>"I know that it is difficult, Fanks, but I wish to solve this -mystery."</p> - -<p>"Because Fellenger was your friend?" asked Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Because Fellenger was my cousin," replied Garth.</p> - -<p>The announcement took Fanks by surprise, as he had not known of the -relationship. He was aware that Fellenger and Garth had been close -friends, but he knew little of the former, save as a club -acquaintance, and the latter was very reticent about his private -affairs, although he was curious concerning the affairs of others.</p> - -<p>"So you wish to revenge the death of your cousin," he remarked after a -thoughtful moment.</p> - -<p>Garth shrugged his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"Hardly that," he replied; "between you and me, I did not care -overmuch for Fellenger. He was a bad lot, and we only held together -because of our relationship. But I should like to find out what took -him to Tooley's Alley and who killed him."</p> - -<p>"A laudable curiosity. Do you suspect anybody?"</p> - -<p>"Not a soul. I am as much in the dark as--you are."</p> - -<p>"I may not be so much in the dark as you think," said the other.</p> - -<p>"Then why did you ask me to assist you?" retorted Garth, sharply. "See -here, Fanks, tell you all that I know if you will promise to keep me -posted up concerning the progress of the case."</p> - -<p>Fanks twisted his ring and reflected.</p> - -<p>"I agree," he said briefly, "but you must not meddle--unless I tell -you to do so."</p> - -<p>"Agreed!" And the pair shook hands on the bargain.</p> - -<p>"And now," said Fanks, grimly, "that letter, if you please."</p> - -<p>After a moment's hesitation Garth handed it over. He had a great -respect for the mental capacity of his friend, and on the whole he -judged it advisable to carry out the agreement which had been -concluded.</p> - -<p>"Though I would send that letter if I were you," he expostulated; -"Hersham has----"</p> - -<p>"I know what Hersham has," interrupted Fanks; "but I want him to see -me, not you. Wait till we know how we stand at the present moment. -Come into the smoking-room and answer my questions."</p> - -<p>"What a peremptory chap you are," grumbled Garth, as they left the -room. "Evidently you don't confide in my discretion."</p> - -<p>"I am about to do so," said Fanks, who understood the art of -conciliation; "we will work together, and all that I know you shall -know. But you must let me manage things in my own way."</p> - -<p>In his heart Garth was flattered that Fanks should have chosen him as -his coadjutor, and, dominated by the stronger will of the detective, -he quietly took up the position of an underling. Garth was self-willed -and not usually amenable to reason; but Fanks had the law at his back, -without which Garth could not hope to do anything. Hence his -acquiescence.</p> - -<p>"Come, now, old fellow," said Fanks, amiably, "we have a hard task -before us; so you must make it easier by answering my questions."</p> - -<p>"Go on," said Garth, lighting a cigar; "I always give in to a man who -has had more experience than myself."</p> - -<p>Fanks laughed at this delicate way of adjusting the situation, but as -he wished to keep on good terms with the touchy lawyer he let the -remark pass in silence. When they were fairly settled, and he saw that -they had the smoking-room to themselves, he took out his pocket-book -and began his examination as to the past of the dead man.</p> - -<p>"The Fellengers are a Hampshire family, I believe?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Garth, with a nod; "Sir Gregory was the fourth baronet -and only son. The family seat is Mere Hall, near Bournemouth."</p> - -<p>"You are Sir Gregory's cousin?"</p> - -<p>"I am, on the mother's side."</p> - -<p>"Who is the present baronet? Yourself or somebody else?"</p> - -<p>"Somebody else," said Garth, with a sigh. "I should have told you if I -had been his heir. I wonder at so clever a man as you asking so very -frivolous a question."</p> - -<p>"I have my reasons," said Fanks calmly. "Well, and who is the heir?"</p> - -<p>"My cousin, Louis Fellenger; he is twenty-five years of age, and as -great a prig as ever lived."</p> - -<p>"Where does he reside now?"</p> - -<p>"I believe that he has gone to Mere Hall to take possession of the -property. But he did live at Taxton-on-Thames, a village near -Weybridge."</p> - -<p>"Do you know Sir Louis intimately?"</p> - -<p>"No. I have only seen him once or twice. He is a bookish, scientific -man, and an invalid;--at least," corrected Garth, "he has always a -doctor living with him; a tall, fat brute, called Binjoy, who twists -him round his finger. He has been with him for years."</p> - -<p>"A tall, fat brute," repeated Fanks, smiling at this amiable -description. "Has the gentleman in question a long, brown beard?"</p> - -<p>"No, he is clean shaven. A pompous creature, fond of using long words, -and proud of his voice and oratorial powers. Something like -'Conversation Kenge' in 'Bleak House.'"</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Fanks, rather struck by the description, which was not -unlike that of Renshaw, "we will discuss Dr. Binjoy later on. In the -meantime, just enlighten me as to your precise relationship with the -present baronet."</p> - -<p>"It's easily understood. Gregory's father, Sir Francis--after whom I -was named--had a brother and sister. She married my respected father, -Richard Garth, and I am the sole offspring."</p> - -<p>"And the brother was the father of the present Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>"Exactly. There is a great deal of similarity between all three cases. -Gregory was an only child and his parents are dead; Louis is an only -child, and his parents have also gone the way of all flesh; I am an -only child, and I am likewise an orphan."</p> - -<p>Fanks made a note of the family tree in his book.</p> - -<p>"So far so good," he said, with a nod. "Sir Gregory is dead and Sir -Louis has succeeded him; if Louis dies without issue, you are the -heir. And failing you?"</p> - -<p>"The property goes to the Crown," replied Garth. "Louis and I are the -sole representatives of the Fellengers."</p> - -<p>"The race has dwindled considerably. Now what about your dead cousin. -He was a trifle rapid, I believe?"</p> - -<p>"A regular bad lot; but I kept in with him because--well, because he -was useful to me. Understand?"</p> - -<p>"Perfectly," replied Fanks, who knew of Garth's financial -difficulties. "We will pass that. Have you any idea what took him to -Tooley's Alley?"</p> - -<p>"Not the slightest. I saw him two days before his death--on the -nineteenth--and he said nothing about going there then."</p> - -<p>"Did he behave as usual towards you?"</p> - -<p>"No. He was out of sorts. He had lost a lot of money at cards, I -believe, and he was crabbed in consequence."</p> - -<p>"There was no other trouble; no financial difficulty?"</p> - -<p>"Not that I know of. Fast as he was, he could not get through ten -thousand a year before the age of twenty-eight."</p> - -<p>"I have known men who have done so," said Fanks dryly. "However, if it -was not a question of money, what about the inevitable woman?"</p> - -<p>"I don't think it was that, either," demurred Garth. "It was a man he -met--a negro--not a woman."</p> - -<p>"True. Well, you were at the inquest?"--</p> - -<p>"How do you know?" asked Garth, starting.</p> - -<p>"I saw you there in the crowd."</p> - -<p>"You see everything, Fanks."</p> - -<p>"It is my business to see everything, Garth. It is because you were at -the inquest that I sought you out to-day. Now that you have explained -to me your relationship to Sir Gregory I understand why you were -present. But to return to the main point. You heard the theory of Dr. -Renshaw?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Garth reflectively. "There might be something in that -secret society business. Not, mind you, that Gregory was the man to -meddle with rubbish of that kind. He was too much of a fool; but one -never knows; a man does not have a cross tattooed on his arm for -nothing."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that it is the mark of a revolutionary society?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say; I should like to know. That is why I was writing to -Hersham. Of course you know that he----"</p> - -<p>"I know that he has a cross tattooed on his arm also. And it is for -that reason that I reject your secret society business."</p> - -<p>"It isn't mine. I am merely following the lead of Renshaw."</p> - -<p>"Then you are following a will-o-the-wisp," retorted Fanks. "See here, -Garth. I have known Hersham for a long time; he is the son of a -clergyman in the Isle of Wight. He was brought up to the law like -yourself; and also like yourself, he left it for journalism. As you -know, he is a merry, open-minded creature, who could not conceal a -secret if his life depended upon it. Do you think that if he had been -mixed up with secret societies that he would have been able to conceal -the fact from me?"</p> - -<p>"Then why is there a cross tattooed on his left arm?" asked Garth.</p> - -<p>"I intend to see him and find out. I noticed it long ago; but made no -remark on it, thinking that it was the result of some school-boy -freak. Now it has assumed a new importance in my eyes. Therefore you -must let me interview Hersham, and choose my own time and place for -doing so."</p> - -<p>"I suppose you are right. Tear up that letter, please." Fanks held out -the letter.</p> - -<p>"Tear it up yourself," he said.</p> - -<p>This Garth did without further remark, and looked at his friend.</p> - -<p>"What do you intend to do now?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Continue this conversation for a few minutes longer. You were -intimate with the dead man, Garth. Did you ever notice this cross?"</p> - -<p>"I did not," said Garth, promptly, "or I should have asked what it -meant. By Jove!" he added, with a start. "Then all that obliteration -business must be nonsense."</p> - -<p>"Of course," assented Fanks, smoothly. "I came to that conclusion long -ago. Fellenger had no cross on his arm when he entered Tooley's Alley. -It was tattooed that night by the negro."</p> - -<p>"What makes you think that?"</p> - -<p>"I found a few grains of gunpowder on the tablecloth of the room in -which they were together; gunpowder is used in tattooing. Again, the -arm, when Renshaw showed it to me, was raw, as though the operation -had been done lately."</p> - -<p>"But why should Gregory go to Tooley's Alley to be tattooed?"</p> - -<p>"Tell me that, and the mystery of his death is at an end," said Fanks, -significantly. "But I am certain that Fellenger voluntarily let this -negro tattoo his arm; and so came by his death."</p> - -<p>"Came by his death," echoed Garth in astonishment. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Why," answered Fanks, seriously, "I mean that the needle used for the -tattooing was poisoned; and so--," he shrugged his shoulders, "--the -man died."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">CHAPTER IV</a>.</h4> -<h5>ANOTHER DISCOVERY.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Informed of this astounding fact, Garth stared at his friend in blank -astonishment. The detective resumed his cigar, and waited.</p> - -<p>"You cannot be in earnest," said the barrister after a pause.</p> - -<p>"Why not? The theory is feasible enough. It was proved at the inquest -that the man died from blood-poisoning."</p> - -<p>"Yes. But it might have been administered in the liquor. The pair had -drinks, remember."</p> - -<p>"I have not forgotten," said Fanks quietly, "but on your part remember -that no trace of poison was found in the stomach; while the blood was -so corrupted, as to show that the deceased had been inoculated with -some powerful vegetable poison. There was no mark on the body, save -the cross on the left arm; and, by your own showing, it was not there -when Fellenger went to Tooley's Alley. The assumption is that it was -done there; as is more than confirmed by the presence of gunpowder."</p> - -<p>"Again, according to Mrs. Boazoph, there was no struggle; therefore -the deceased must have passed away quietly. My inference is that this -negro desired to kill Sir Gregory--or else he was instructed to do so -by some one else who wished for the death of your cousin. What then so -easy, as for the negro to have a poisoned needle prepared to execute -the tattooing. Quite unaware of the danger, Fellenger--for some -unknown reason--would permit the insertion of the fatal needle. As the -work went on, he would gradually be inoculated with the poison. When -the gunpowder and acids were applied the job would be finished, and he -would pull down his sleeve, quite ignorant that to all intents and -purposes he was a dead man. Then he sat and chatted with the negro -till the end came; when he sank into a state of coma and died. When -certain that the death was an assured fact, the negro took his -departure. Oh, it is all as plain as day to me;--all excepting one -fact."</p> - -<p>"And that fact?"</p> - -<p>"Why did Fellenger get a negro in Tooley's Alley to tattoo him."</p> - -<p>Garth reflected.</p> - -<p>"I can only conclude that a secret--"</p> - -<p>"Rubbish!" said Fanks, contemptuously, "you and your secret societies. -I tell you that is all nonsense. Even assuming that the cross is an -emblem of some association--which I do not grant for a moment--we have -proved that it was not tattooed on your cousin's arm when he went to -keep his appointment; therefore he could not at that time have been a -member of your mythical society. If, on the other hand, he was being -made a member--a ceremony which would not have taken place in a low -pot-house--why should he be killed? These societies admit living men -to work their ends; they have no use for dead bodies."</p> - -<p>"That is all true enough, Fanks. We must reject the idea of a secret -society. But in an affair of robbery and murder--"</p> - -<p>"In such an affair, the method of procedure would be different. A -bludgeon--a sand-bag--a knife--any of these weapons if you please. But -if this negro had designed to rob Fellenger, he need not have -ingratiated himself into his confidence to permit the performance of -so delicate an operation as that of the poisoned needle. No. We must -reject that theory also."</p> - -<p>"Then what do you think was the motive of the murder?"</p> - -<p>"I am not a detective out of a novel, Mr. Garth. Ask me an easier -question."</p> - -<p>He rose from his seat and began to walk to and fro. "The whole mystery -lies in the tattooing," he muttered to himself. "If I can only find -out why Sir Gregory permitted that cross to be tattooed; and why he -went to Tooley's Alley to have it done, I shall discover the -assassin."</p> - -<p>"Hersham has a tattooed cross on his left arm," said Garth, "perhaps -he can explain the riddle."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps he can; perhaps he can't," returned Fanks, sharply. "The -coincidence is certainly curious. I shall see and question Hersham; -but there is much to be done before then. You must help me, Garth."</p> - -<p>"I am willing to do whatever you wish, my friend."</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Fanks with a smile, "you have a touch of detective fever. I -suffer from it myself notwithstanding my experience. The unravelling -of these criminal problems is like gambling; a never-failing source of -excitement; and, like gambling, chance enters largely into their -solution."</p> - -<p>"I don't see much 'chance' in this case."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think again. Why, the very fact that you and I should know -that Hersham has a tattooed cross on his left arm is a chance. Such -knowledge--which is mere chance knowledge--might lead to nothing; on -the other hand, it may help to find the man who killed your cousin."</p> - -<p>"Surely you do not suspect Hersham?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not. Why should I suspect him on the evidence of the -tattooed cross. For all I or you know, it may be a simple coincidence, -such as crops up constantly in real life. No. I don't suspect -Hersham."</p> - -<p>"Do you suspect anyone?"</p> - -<p>"I don't suspect any special person of committing the murder; but I -suspect some people, and particularly one individual, of knowing more -than they chose to say. But this is beside the point. I wish you to -help me."</p> - -<p>"By all means. What is it you want me to do?"</p> - -<p>"You know the chambers of your cousin; by my desire they have been in -the hands of the police since his death. Fellenger's valet is also -there--detained by my desire. Now I wish to search the chambers for -possible evidence and to examine him. You must take me there at once."</p> - -<p>"Is it necessary when, by your own showing, you are all-supreme -already?"</p> - -<p>"My friend," said Fanks, solemnly, "it is my experience that when the -lower orders--to which this valet belongs--come into contact with a -detective they are quite useless as witnesses, for the very simple -reason that the presence of the law paralyses them. To avoid this -danger you must introduce me into the chambers as a sympathising -friend only. You can question the servant in my presence, and having -got rid of him in the meantime, we can search the chambers together."</p> - -<p>"But the police may recognise you."</p> - -<p>"The police have their instructions; they will recognise me as Mr. -Rixton, of the West End."</p> - -<p>Garth fell in readily with this scheme, and together the two men left -the club. As they proceeded along Piccadilly--the dead man's chambers -were in Half-Moon Street--Fanks resumed the conversation from the -point where it had been broken off.</p> - -<p>"You have answered my questions capitally, Garth. Now, as we are -working together, I shall reply to anything you like to ask me."</p> - -<p>The barrister, restored to a sense of importance by the thought of the -part he was about to play in the forthcoming interview with the valet, -availed himself readily of the opportunity of learning the plans of -the detective. Fanks had no hesitation in confiding them to him, as, -foreseeing that Garth would be necessary to the elucidation of the -mystery, he wished to interest him in the case as much as possible. He -was well aware that Garth was not the man to give up an idea when once -it had fixed itself in his head, and his present idea was to -investigate the mystery of his cousin's death. With characteristic -wisdom Fanks, who never wasted a person or an opportunity, made use of -this new factor in the case to further his own ends. Such economies -aided his frequent successes in no small degree.</p> - -<p>"What are your plans?" asked Garth, taking advantage of the -permission.</p> - -<p>"As yet I cannot be certain of them; but, so far as I can see at -present, they include the search and examination of chambers and -valet, a conversation with the landlady of the Red Star, a visit to -Taxton-on-Thames, and an interview with Dr. Renshaw."</p> - -<p>"Why with the latter gentleman?"</p> - -<p>"Because Renshaw is too confidential with Mrs. Boazoph, because he was -too conveniently on the spot at the time of the murder for my liking; -and, finally, because Renshaw had a cut-and-dried theory of the motive -of the crime prepared on the instant."</p> - -<p>"You don't trust the man?"</p> - -<p>"I think that his conduct is suspicious; but I do not accuse him of -anything--as yet."</p> - -<p>"He does not look a man to be feared," said Garth, disbelievingly; "he -was very timid in giving his evidence at the inquest."</p> - -<p>"That is one reason why I mistrust him. Dr. Renshaw is acting a part, -but I am unable to say whether he is mixed up in this especial affair. -I have my suspicions, but, as you know, I never like to speak unless -certain."</p> - -<p>Garth looked curiously at the detective.</p> - -<p>"You hint at the guilt of Mrs. Boazoph," he said, doubtfully.</p> - -<p>"Do I? Then I should hold my tongue. There is no doubt that the negro -committed the crime in the way that I told you of. But I believe that -he acted as the agent of a third party--not Mrs. Boazoph. I wish to -find out that party to hang him or her as an accessory before the -fact."</p> - -<p>"You can't hang him or her."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps not; but I can imprison him or her."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that Mrs. Boazoph knows the motive of the crime?"</p> - -<p>Fanks reflected.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I think she does," he said, quietly; "it is my belief that the -motive for which you and I are searching is to be found in the past -life of Mrs. Boazoph."</p> - -<p>"Her past is known to the police, is it not?"</p> - -<p>"It is known for the last twenty years only. She appeared in London -twenty-one years ago, but who she is and where she came from, the -police know no more than you do."</p> - -<p>"Then how can the motive be found in----"</p> - -<p>"Garth," said Fanks, pausing, and touching the other with his finger, -"I have presentiments and premonitions; these rarely deceive me. In -this instance they point to Mrs. Boazoph. Do not ask me why, for I can -tell you no more. But I am sure that we are going forward on a dark -path; at the end of that path we will find--Mrs. Boazoph."</p> - -<p>"I never thought that you were so superstitious, Fanks."</p> - -<p>"I do not regard myself as so, I assure you. But," and here Fanks -became emphatic, "I believe in my instinct, in my presentiment."</p> - -<p>Garth walked along in silence, rather inclined to ridicule the -apparent weakness of Fanks. However, he judged it wiser to keep these -thoughts to himself, and merely asked another question relative to the -negro.</p> - -<p>"I am at a loss about the negro," said Fanks, "as I do not know where -to search for him. Under these circumstances I think it necessary to -follow the clue I hold in my hand. The going of your dead cousin to -Tooley's Alley to keep his appointment."</p> - -<p>"How do you know that it was an appointment?"</p> - -<p>"I learnt that much from Mrs. Boazoph. She said that the white man -came first and was asked for by the black man. That is an appointment, -and I wish to find out who made it."</p> - -<p>"How can you discover that?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I hope to do so by searching the chambers of your cousin. There -must be a letter or some sign whereby Fellenger knew where to meet the -negro."</p> - -<p>"The letter may have been destroyed."</p> - -<p>"Possibly. From your knowledge of your cousin's character would you -think it probable that he would destroy the letter making the -appointment?"</p> - -<p>"No," said Garth, after a moment's thought. "If the appointment was -made within the last month I should think that the letter was still in -existence."</p> - -<p>"On what ground?" asked Fanks, eagerly.</p> - -<p>"Well, Gregory used to read all his letters and then drop them into -the drawer of his desk. At the end of the month he went through the -pile, and the letters that were worth nothing were destroyed. So if -that letter making the appointment is in existence it will be in the -drawer of the desk."</p> - -<p>"Good! This is a chance I hardly hoped to have."</p> - -<p>"Chance again?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; chance again," replied Fanks, good-humouredly. "How many men -burn their letters; but for the fortunate circumstance that your -cousin saved his for a month it would be almost hopeless to think of -gaining a clue; but now there is more than a hope."</p> - -<p>"Provided that the appointment was made by letter."</p> - -<p>"Of course," assented Fanks, gravely; "we must always take that into -consideration. But a question on my side. Did it strike you at the -inquest that there was a resemblance between Doctors Renshaw and -Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say that it did. Renshaw is much older than Binjoy, and he -wears a full beard, whereas Binjoy is shaven clean. Still they are -both burly; both have fine voices, and indulge in long words and -stately Johnsonian dialogue. You surely do not think the two men are -one and the same?"</p> - -<p>"I have such an idea," said Fanks, dryly, "strange as it may appear. -But as my opinion is mainly founded on your description I may be -wrong. At all events Renshaw goes to India next week. If I find Binjoy -in the company of Sir Louis Fellenger after Renshaw's departure, I -shall admit my error. Otherwise--well, I must get to the bottom of the -matter."</p> - -<p>"I have only seen each of them once," said Garth, "so do not depend -altogether on my powers of description."</p> - -<p>"I won't. I depend on nothing but my own eyesight. For instance, if I -see a black man wearing a green overcoat with brass buttons, I shall -have a reasonable suspicion that I see the assassin of your cousin. -Hullo! what is the matter?"</p> - -<p>For Garth was leaning against the iron railings of Green Park with a -look of dread on his face.</p> - -<p>"By heaven, Fanks, you may be right!"</p> - -<p>"About what?"</p> - -<p>"About Renshaw and Binjoy being one and the same man."</p> - -<p>"Indeed; what makes you think so," asked Fanks, dryly.</p> - -<p>"Because Binjoy has a negro servant who wears a green coat with brass -buttons."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">CHAPTER V</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE RED STAR ADVERTISEMENT.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Greatly to the surprise of Garth, the detective appeared to be -decidedly disappointed at this announcement.</p> - -<p>"You don't seem to be overpleased at what I have told you," he said in -a tone of pique. "Yet it makes the case easier to you."</p> - -<p>"I confess that I do not think so," was Fanks' reply. "I shall give -you my reasons after I have examined your cousin's rooms. At present I -must say that you have puzzled me."</p> - -<p>Fanks' refusal to discuss the subject of the negro did not at all -please Garth; especially as he considered that his discovery had -placed the solution of the case in their hands. But to his -protestations the detective only reiterated his determination to keep -silent, until the rooms had been searched. With this Garth was forced -to be content; although he could not conceive the reason of such -extraordinary conduct; and he ascended the stairs with an ill-grace.</p> - -<p>"Were I in your place, I should follow out the clue of the negro -without delay," he said, as they rang the bell.</p> - -<p>"Were you in my place you would do as I am doing, and take time to -consider your movements," retorted Fanks as the door was opened.</p> - -<p>Venturing on no further remonstrance Garth walked into the chambers, -followed by his friend. The servant who admitted them was a -light-complexioned, light-haired young fellow, who appeared to be -thoroughly frightened. His first remark exposed the reason of his -terror.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid you can't come in, sir," he said to the cousin of his -late master, with a backward glance, "the police are here."</p> - -<p>As he spoke a policeman made his appearance overflowing with official -importance. Prompted by Fanks the barrister at once addressed himself -to this Jack-in-office.</p> - -<p>"I am the cousin of the late Sir Gregory Fellenger," he said, "and I -wish to go into the sitting-room for a few minutes."</p> - -<p>"You can't enter, sir," said the policeman, stolidly.</p> - -<p>"Why not; my friend here, Mr. Rixton----"</p> - -<p>The officer started and looked at Fanks. Evidently he saw his orders -in the face of the detective; for he at once moved aside and granted -the desired permission. The valet Robert was astonished at this sudden -yielding; but he entertained no suspicion that there was any -understanding between the policeman and the fashionably-dressed young -man who had been introduced as Mr. Rixton. At a glance the detective -saw that he had to deal with a timid, simple creature, who might be -trusted to tell the truth out of sheer nervous apprehension. The -discovery afforded him satisfaction.</p> - -<p>"I am much obliged to you, officer," said Garth, slipping a shilling -into the policeman's hand. "We shall not stay long. Robert, show us -into the sitting-room, if you please. I wish to ask a few questions."</p> - -<p>A terrified expression flitted across the face of the mild valet, but -like a well-trained servant, he merely bowed and preceded Garth along -the passage. Fanks lingered behind.</p> - -<p>"Maxwell!" he said to the policeman, "has anyone been here this -morning?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir!" replied, the man, in a low tone. "A young lady, sir; very -pretty, with dark 'air and blue eyes. She asked to see Robert, sir."</p> - -<p>"Oh, indeed! And how did you act?"</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't let her see him, sir. He don't know she called."</p> - -<p>"Quite right. What did she say when you refused?"</p> - -<p>"She was upset, Mr. Fanks, and insisted on seeing him. I said as he -was out, so she said as she would call this afternoon at three -o'clock."</p> - -<p>Fanks glanced at his watch. It was a quarter past two, so this unknown -woman might be expected in a short space of time. Fanks was curious to -see her and to learn the reason of her coming; as it might be that she -was indirectly connected with the case. As yet there was no woman -mixed up in the matter with the doubtful exception of Mrs. Boazoph; -but from long experience Fanks was sure that the necessary element -would yet appear. It seemed as though his expectations were about to -be realised.</p> - -<p>"Was she a lady, Maxwell, or an imitation of one?"</p> - -<p>"A real lady, sir; she gave me half a sov., sir."</p> - -<p>"You had no business to take the money," he said, half smiling at -Maxwell's definition of what was a real lady.</p> - -<p>"I couldn't help it, sir," said Maxwell, piteously, "she would give it -to me, sir. I am ready to return it, sir, if she should come back."</p> - -<p>"Well! We shall see; show her into the sitting-room if she calls -again; has that valet been out to-day?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; he seems too frightened to go out. He does nothing but go -about the 'ouse 'owling. A poor miserable thing, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>"Has he said much to you?"</p> - -<p>"Never a word, sir; he 'olds his tongue and 'owls; that's all."</p> - -<p>This behaviour of the servant struck Fanks as strange; but he did not -make any comment thereon to the policeman. Again desiring Maxwell to -show the young lady into the room when she called, he went in search -of Garth. To his surprise he found the barrister alone.</p> - -<p>"Where is Robert?" asked Fanks, sharply.</p> - -<p>"I sent him out; thinking that we would search the room first."</p> - -<p>"That won't do; we shall want his assistance, call him in at once."</p> - -<p>Garth nodded and rang the bell. In a few minutes Robert, looking more -terrified than ever, made his appearance. With a glance at Fanks to -bespeak his attention--for the detective was lounging idly in a -chair--Garth began his interrogation at once.</p> - -<p>"Robert," he said, with great deliberation, "how long have you been in -the service of my cousin?"</p> - -<p>"Four years, sir."</p> - -<p>"Was he a kind master?"</p> - -<p>"A very kind master, sir. I would not wish for a better place."</p> - -<p>"Do you remember the twenty-first of June?" asked the barrister, in -true police-court style.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," replied the man with a shiver. "It was the night that my -master was murdered."</p> - -<p>"At what time, did Sir Gregory leave the house?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, sir."</p> - -<p>"You don't know," repeated Garth, while Fanks pricked up his ears. -"Were you not in attendance on him?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir. My master received a letter by the five o'clock post which -seemed to upset him very much. After a time he recovered and sent me -out to get seats for the theatre. When I got back at six he was gone. -I never saw him again," declared the man in a shaking voice, "never -again till I was called on to identify his dead body."</p> - -<p>"You had no idea where your master was going?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir! He did not tell me."</p> - -<p>"When you left Sir Gregory to get seats for the theatre how was he -dressed?"</p> - -<p>"In a frock coat and light trousers, sir; but when I saw the body it -was clothed in moleskin trousers and a flannel shirt."</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see that disguise in his possession?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say that I ever did, sir," replied the valet, hesitatingly. -"But the week before a parcel came for Sir Gregory, which he would not -let me open. I was about to do so when he stopped me. I think the -parcel contained the clothes--the disguise."</p> - -<p>"Why do you think so?"</p> -r -<p>"Because the parcel was soft, and felt like clothes. Besides it came -from Weeks and Co., of Edgeware-road; and they sell more workmen's -clothes than anything else."</p> - -<p>"On what day did the clothes arrive?" asked Fanks, idly.</p> - -<p>"On the fourteenth, sir. I am certain of the date, because Sir Gregory -was taken ill in the morning."</p> - -<p>"Taken ill!" repeated Garth. "At what time was he taken ill?"</p> - -<p>"At breakfast, Mr. Garth, when he was reading the paper. He gave a cry -and I came in to find him in a faint like. I got him a glass of -brandy, and he dressed and went out. The parcel arrived in the -afternoon."</p> - -<p>"What paper did your master take in?"</p> - -<p>"The 'Morning Post,' sir," replied the man, turning to Fanks, who had -asked the question.</p> - -<p>"The 'Morning Post' of the fourteenth. And where is the paper?"</p> - -<p>"My master put it away, sir."</p> - -<p>"Oh! Do you happen to know where he put it?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir. I was out of the room at the time."</p> - -<p>Fanks sank back in his chair and nodded to Garth to continue the -conversation; which the barrister did at once.</p> - -<p>"How long had your master been in town before the murder?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"About a month, sir. Before that we were at Mere Hall in----"</p> - -<p>"I know where it is," said Garth, impatiently. "But about that letter -which came by the five o'clock post on the day of the crime. Did you -see it?"</p> - -<p>"I saw the envelope when I brought it in, sir."</p> - -<p>"Was the handwriting a man's or a woman's?"</p> - -<p>"It was in female handwriting I am certain, sir."</p> - -<p>"Your master was agitated when he opened it?"</p> - -<p>"Very agitated, sir. He had an attack like that of the previous week -when he was reading the paper."</p> - -<p>"The letter was from a woman?"</p> - -<p>"I supposed it was, sir, judging from the handwriting."</p> - -<p>"Had Sir Gregory anything to do at that time with any particular -woman?"</p> - -<p>Robert grew even paler than usual, and placed his hand on his throat -with a nervous gesture. He replied, with difficulty, his eyes on the -ground.</p> - -<p>"Not that I know of, sir," he said hoarsely.</p> - -<p>Fanks was satisfied that the servant was lying, but he made no -attempt to intervene. On the contrary, he signed to Garth to conclude -his examination and to let the man go. This the lawyer did forthwith.</p> - -<p>"That is all, Robert; you can go. I shall remain here with Mr. Rixton -for a few minutes longer."</p> - -<p>When the servant had taken his departure, Garth turned eagerly to his -friend. "Well, Fanks, and what do you think of all this?"</p> - -<p>"I think that there is a woman at the bottom of it as usual."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"No, a younger and a prettier woman than Mrs. Boazoph. We will talk of -that later. In the meantime I wish to see that letter and the -advertisement."</p> - -<p>"What advertisement?"</p> - -<p>"The one in the 'Morning Post' which upset your cousin on the -fourteenth; in which drawer does he stow his letters?"</p> - -<p>Garth went to the desk. He tried the middle drawer, but it was locked; -as were the other drawers. "He used to place his papers in the middle -drawer," said Garth, "but you see that it is closed."</p> - -<p>"I thought it might be," said Fanks, producing a bunch of keys, "so I -brought these with me."</p> - -<p>"No good. No skeleton keys will open these locks. They are of special -construction, and Gregory was very proud of them."</p> - -<p>"These are the keys of the desk, Garth. They were found in the dead -man's pockets; and I brought them with me, in case the drawers should -be locked. I was right, it seems. And now let us make our search."</p> - -<p>He opened the middle drawer and revealed a mass of letters all in the -envelopes in which they had come.</p> - -<p>The two men went carefully through the pile; and in ten minutes they -were rewarded by finding the object of the search. The envelope, the -address of which, as had been stated by Robert, was in female -handwriting, contained three documents. Two printed slips cut from a -newspaper; a piece of cardboard in the shape of a five-rayed star, -painted red, and inscribed with some writing. Slips and star read as -follows:</p> - -<p>The first printed slip, dated 14th June:</p> - -<p>"Tattooed cross left arm. I alone know all. I alone can save you. If -you wish to feel secure, meet me when and where you please."</p> - -<p>The second printed slip, dated 16th June:</p> - -<p>"Tattooed cross left arm. I wish to feel secure. Name time and place, -and I shall be there."</p> - -<p>The cardboard star, painted red:</p> -<p class="center"><img src="images/star.png" alt="star"><br> -<span style="font-size:smaller">Five pointed star with handwriting in arm viz.:<br> -"Tooleys," "Alley," "21 June," "6-7," "Hotel."</span></p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">CHAPTER VI</a>.</h4> -<h5>A STARTLING INCIDENT.</h5> -<br> - -<p>"Good!" said Fanks, surveying this documentary evidence with much -satisfaction. "We have more than hearsay to go on now. The case is -shaping better than I expected."</p> - -<p>"You were right about an appointment having been made," said Garth. -"These slips and that star prove it."</p> - -<p>"Yes! He who runs may read--now; but you were not so confident of my -foresight a few minutes ago. Well, we have made a step forward. Here -is the slip asking for the appointment; here is your cousin's reply, -leaving the question of the appointment to the first advertiser: and -finally here is the ingenious pictorial information indicating the Red -Star in Tooley's Alley, as the meeting-place. Sir Gregory disguised -himself in the workman's clothes bought from Weeks and Co., on the day -that the first notice appeared; kept the appointment between six and -seven; and so walked blindfolded into the trap of the Red Star, where -he met with his fate. The assassin laid his plans uncommonly well; but -she made one mistake."</p> - -<p>"She! You don't mean to say that the murderer is a murderess?"</p> - -<p>"No! The negro killed Sir Gregory; that is beyond all doubt. But as I -said before, it is my opinion that the negro was inspired by a third -party. Can't you see that the address on that envelope is in female -handwriting?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly I can. But that does not prove that a woman inspired the -crime; you go too fast, Fanks."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I do, and, after all, I may be mistaken. But that address is -in no feigned hand; it was written by a woman. If a woman had nothing -to do with this death why should she bait the trap to lure the man to -his doom. And again, the directions on the cardboard star are in an -angular female hand. Both address and directions are in the -handwriting of an elderly woman."</p> - -<p>"Come now!" cried Garth, disbelievingly. "You can't tell the woman's -age from her handwriting."</p> - -<p>"I can tell that she is elderly. These angular, spiky letters were -formed by a woman who learned to write in early Victorian days. Female -handwriting has altered of late, my friend. The new woman goes in for -masculine handwriting, as well as for masculine dress. If a girl of -the present day had written this address, it would have been in a bold -and manly hand. As it is, I bet you five pounds that it was scribbled -by a woman over fifty."</p> - -<p>"It may be so; but this is all deduction."</p> - -<p>"Most of the evidence in criminal cases is circumstantial and -deductive. Another thing makes me think that it is a woman. There is a -great deal of useless mystery here. A man would not have troubled -about that. He would have inserted a third advertisement appointing -time and place; but this woman can't resist a touch of the mysterious. -Therefore she devises this silly cardboard star; sends it through the -post; and so betrays herself."</p> - -<p>"How can she betray herself when there is no address?"</p> - -<p>"There is no address; but there is a postmark. Look at the envelope."</p> - -<p>Garth picked up the paper, and saw that the postmark was -Taxton-on-Thames.</p> - -<p>"Why!" he cried in astonishment, "that is where my cousin Louis -lives."</p> - -<p>"Yes, and it is where Dr. Binjoy lives, which is more to the purpose," -said Fanks, dryly. "Did I not tell you that I was right to doubt that -gentleman."</p> - -<p>Garth looked again at the envelope. "You say that this handwriting is -that of an elderly woman. I suppose you are thinking of Mrs. Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"Indeed I am not. I give Mrs. Boazoph more credit than to murder a man -in her own hotel and advertise the fact so openly. She is not a fool. -But patience, Garth, we are not yet at the end of our discoveries."</p> - -<p>He again searched the drawers. In many of them there was nothing -likely to attract his attention; but in the lowest drawer on the right -hand side, Garth made a discovery. It was that of a pretty girl's -photograph, and this he showed to Fanks with a laugh.</p> - -<p>"Gregory always had a weakness for pretty faces," he remarked. "Do you -not think that his taste was good?"</p> - -<p>Fanks looked reflectively at the picture. It was that of a girl just -budding into womanhood, with a delicate face, and rather sad eyes. The -name of the artist was not printed at the foot, as is usual, nor was -the address of the studio inscribed thereon. Nevertheless, on the back -of the photograph the detective found writing which startled him.</p> - -<p>"Garth!" he cried eagerly, "give me that envelope. Ah, I thought so."</p> - -<p>"What is the matter?" asked Garth, astonished at the excitement of the -usually calm Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Look at the envelope; look at the back of the photograph; compare the -handwritings."</p> - -<p>Fanks placed them side by side on the desk. On the envelope was the -address of Sir Gregory in Half-Moon Street; on the photograph, an -inscription which ran as follows: "Emma. Born 1874; died 1893." The -handwriting on both was one and the same. Garth drew a long breath.</p> - -<p>"By George, that is strange," he said, after a pause, "the woman who -wrote the one, wrote the other; there isn't a shadow of difference -between the writings. You are right, Fanks, the penmanship is that of -an elderly woman; no doubt the mother of the girl."</p> - -<p>"That is my opinion also; but the girl, Garth? Who is she?"</p> - -<p>The lawyer reflected and frowned. "I did hear that my cousin was -entangled with some woman," he said with reluctance. "But that was -many months ago. In fact, there was a rumour of a marriage. I asked -Gregory if this was so, and received a prompt denial. But for all -that," added Garth, looking at the portrait, "there might have been -some truth in the rumours. I never saw this lady; but my cousin could -be very secretive when he liked. Seventy-four to ninety-three; just -nineteen. Poor creature! Whosoever she was, I am certain that he -treated her badly."</p> - -<p>"You may judge him too harshly."</p> - -<p>Garth shook his head with a gloomy air. "I knew my cousin well," he -said. "He would have killed any woman with unkindness."</p> - -<p>They looked at one another, and back at the photograph. There was -something sinister in the fact that the two articles were inscribed in -the same handwriting. The writing on the photograph recorded the -decease of a pretty woman; that on the envelope had lured the baronet -to his death. Was it possible that the follies of Sir Gregory had come -home to him in so fearful a fashion. The two men could not but incline -to this opinion.</p> - -<p>"Well!" said Fanks, after a long pause, "I should like to ask Robert -what he knows about this woman."</p> - -<p>"Very probably he knows nothing."</p> - -<p>"I am not so certain about that," replied Fanks, "When you asked him -about a woman--about a possible entanglement, he could hardly speak -for fear; and he told a lie about it. He is a servile hound, that -fellow, and I daresay he did all Fellenger's dirty work for him. We -must have him in and force the truth from his unwilling lips."</p> - -<p>"Will you go away after you have seen him?" said Garth, who was -beginning to weary of the matter.</p> - -<p>"No. I wish to wait and see--a girl."</p> - -<p>"A girl! What girl?"</p> - -<p>"A young lady who called this morning to see Robert. Maxwell told her -the necessary lie that Robert was out, so she said she would call -again this afternoon at three."</p> - -<p>"It is past three now," said Garth, glancing at the clock.</p> - -<p>"All the better; she may appear at any moment. Maxwell has my orders -to show her in here."</p> - -<p>"And then?"</p> - -<p>"And then I shall find out why a lady should call upon that miserable -dog of a valet. In the meantime touch the bell and have him in."</p> - -<p>"Shall I question him?"</p> - -<p>"If you please. I wish to remain incognito."</p> - -<p>Robert answered the bell so promptly as to suggest the probability -that he had been stationed at the keyhole. His face, however, was as -vacant and miserable as ever, so even if he had overheard, Fanks did -not think that he had sufficient brains to be dangerous. The valet -waited mutely for orders, with a cowed look on his face, and rubbed -one lean hand over the other. He was an uncomfortable creature in -every respect.</p> - -<p>"Robert," said Garth, in as mild a tone as was possible, "I was -authorised by the police to look over my cousin's papers. I have done -so with the assistance of Mr. Rixton, and we have made several -discoveries."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," said the man, moistening his dry lips.</p> - -<p>"Do you know Taxton-on-Thames?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; I never heard of it."</p> - -<p>Startled by this calm denial, Fanks bent forward to observe the man's -face. He was satisfied by a glance that Robert had spoken the truth; -he had never heard of Taxton-on-Thames. This discovery puzzled the -detective.</p> - -<p>"Did your master--your late master--know of it?" he interpolated.</p> - -<p>"Not that I am aware of, sir; he never mentioned the name to me."</p> - -<p>"Robert," said Garth, solemnly, "you denied some time ago that Sir -Gregory was entangled with a woman. Think again and answer truly."</p> - -<p>Robert shifted from one foot to the other and looked uneasily at his -questioner. Then he made an evasive reply.</p> - -<p>"Sir Gregory was connected with no woman at the time of his death," he -said, doggedly.</p> - -<p>"That may be; but was he connected with a woman in 1893?"</p> - -<p>The valet started back with a gasp.</p> - -<p>"How did you hear of that?" he asked, shaking in every limb.</p> - -<p>"I heard it from no one; but I guessed it from this picture."</p> - -<p>With a sudden movement he thrust the photograph under the eyes of the -pale and trembling creature. After one glance Robert recoiled with an -ejaculation of horror, and covered his face with his hands. Expecting -revelations, Fanks waited and watched.</p> - -<p>"Come!" said Garth, quietly, "I see that you recognise the woman. Her -name, if you please?"</p> - -<p>"I--I--promised never to speak of her."</p> - -<p>"You must--for your own sake."</p> - -<p>"I dare not. Let me go, Mr. Garth!"</p> - -<p>He broke away from the lawyer, but before he could reach the door he -was in the grip of Fanks. "Come, Robert," said the latter, soothingly, -"you must make the best of a bad job. I know that you were devoted to -your master. At the same time he is dead, and it is necessary that the -mystery of his death should be cleared up. On the whole," added Fanks, -looking into the eyes of the servant, "I think it advisable that you -should confess."</p> - -<p>"The woman you speak of had nothing to do with the death of my -master."</p> - -<p>"I am not asking you that. I am inquiring her name. Answer!"</p> - -<p>The sudden imperiousness in the detective's tone made Robert's heart -sink within him. He was incapable of a prolonged struggle, and -forthwith answered with all submissiveness--</p> - -<p>"I--I--don't know her real name."</p> - -<p>"What did she call herself?"</p> - -<p>"Emma Calvert."</p> - -<p>"Ah! And what did you call her, Robert?"</p> - -<p>The valet looked at Garth with a look of malicious triumph. "I called -her Lady Fellenger," he said slowly.</p> - -<p>Garth sprang up with a sudden exclamation, but he was stopped by -Fanks, who rapidly questioned the valet. "Was Emma Calvert really and -truly the wife of your master?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; they were married quietly in a Hampstead church. She was in -a dressmaker's shop, and my master was very much in love with her. I -heard that she was engaged to another gentleman, but she threw him -over, and married Sir Gregory before they went to Paris."</p> - -<p>"So rumour was right for once," said Garth, shrugging his shoulders. -"Well, whether Gregory was married or single matters little to me. I -am not the heir."</p> - -<p>"It may matter a great deal to the case," remarked Fanks, dryly. -"Perhaps, Robert, you can tell me where Emma Calvert came from?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know; my master knew, but he never told me. Lady Fellenger -did not speak of her past in my presence."</p> - -<p>"And where is she now?"</p> - -<p>"Dead; she died in Paris."</p> - -<p>"I see that you are telling the truth. She died in 1893."</p> - -<p>"How did she die?"</p> - -<p>"I can't answer you," burst out Robert, in a frenzy. "You will drive -me mad. Night and day I have her dead face before me. Look at me," he -continued, holding out his trembling hands. "I am a wreck of what I -was once. All through the death of Emma Calvert, of Lady Fellenger."</p> - -<p>The two listeners arose to their feet. What dark mystery was connected -with the death of this woman that could so move the man? In searching -for one murder had they stumbled upon another?</p> - -<p>"Did she meet her death; by foul play?" asked Garth, sternly.</p> - -<p>"No! No! I swear it was not that; but she did not get on well with my -master. He wearied of her, he neglected her; she was very proud and -impulsive; and one night after a great scene--she--she----"</p> - -<p>"Well, man--well?"</p> - -<p>"She--she destroyed herself."</p> - -<p>"Great heavens!" cried Garth, confirmed in his worst fears. "Suicide?"</p> - -<p>"She drowned herself in the Seine," said Robert, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>As he spoke a woman appeared on the threshold of the open door. Robert -gave one look at her, and raised his hands with a cry. "The dead!" he -moaned, retreating from the woman. "The dead returned to life. I saw -her laid out. I saw her buried; yet she is there--there!" and with a -cry he fell on the floor in a fit.</p> - -<p>The others made no attempt to assist him. They were staring spellbound -at the woman. She was the original of the photograph which Garth held -in his hand.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">CHAPTER VII</a>.</h4> -<h5>DIFFICULTIES.</h5> -<br> - -<p>The woman who had caused this commotion stood in the doorway, looking -on in some surprise. She was dressed in the semi-masculine fashion now -affected by the sex--a serge gown, short and smart in appearance, a -natty jacket of the same material, worn over a black striped shirt, -and a Tyrolean hat of brown felt. Her face was oval and waxen in its -pallor, her eyes of a dark blue, and her hair black and luxuriant. A -look of determination was impressed on lip and eye, but this gave -place to an expression of surprise when she saw Robert fall on the -floor. Finally, when her eyes met those of Fanks', she started and -shrank back. Maxwell peered over her shoulder in gaping astonishment; -and for quite half a minute there was a dramatic pause. It was broken -by the woman, who stepped forward and addressed herself to Fanks.</p> - -<p>"You see how the sight of me terrifies this wretch," she said, -pointing to the man on the floor; "you shall hear from other lips than -mine how he treated his master's wife. Wait, gentlemen, till I bring -up my friend to confront this man."</p> - -<p>And with these extraordinary words she pushed back Maxwell and -disappeared.</p> - -<p>Quite believing that she spoke in all good faith, Fanks made no sign -that she should be stopped. Indeed, he was too dumbfounded by the -strangeness of the situation to speak; and he looked helplessly at -Garth.</p> - -<p>That gentleman was, if possible, even more surprised than his friend. -The sudden appearance of the presumably dead woman at once alarmed and -astonished them both; and they knew not what to make of the matter.</p> - -<p>"Do you believe that it is Emma Calvert?" asked Garth, who was the -first to recover the use of his tongue.</p> - -<p>"Emma Calvert, my friend?"</p> - -<p>"Well, then, Lady Fellenger, if you prefer it."</p> - -<p>"It doesn't matter what we call her," rejoined Fanks, with a shrug, -"seeing that she is dead."</p> - -<p>"But she is not dead."</p> - -<p>Fanks again shrugged his shoulders, and pointed to the photograph. -"The card says that Emma Calvert is dead," he remarked; "the valet -says that Emma Calvert is dead. How then can this living woman be Emma -Calvert, Lady Fellenger?"</p> - -<p>"I can't explain," said Garth, obstinately, "but I am sure of one -thing; that she is the original of this picture."</p> - -<p>"It would appear so," said Fanks, looking puzzled; "and yet--upon my -word, it is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw in life. Garth, -for once you see me at my wit's end and thoroughly mystified."</p> - -<p>"Wait, Fanks. Wait the explanation of this woman; hear the story of -her friend. In the meantime, let us revive this wretched creature."</p> - -<p>"He is in a kind of fit," said Fanks, kneeling down and loosening the -collar of the insensible man. "Get some water, Garth, and you, -Maxwell, go down and see if that woman and her friend are coming up. -We may as well see this business out."</p> - -<p>These directions were obeyed, and Garth soon returned with a glass of -water, while Fanks--always provided against emergencies--produced a -smelling bottle and a flask of brandy. While thus employed they were -interrupted by Maxwell, with a look of alarm on his face.</p> - -<p>"Well!" said Fanks, sharply. "Where is this woman and her friend?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know about her friend, sir; but she's gone off."</p> - -<p>Fanks sprang to his feet. "Gone off!" he repeated. "What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"What I say, sir," said the policeman, doggedly. "I went down and -could not see her. I asked the constable at the door, and he said as -she had drove off in a hansom."</p> - -<p>A look of mingled surprise and distrust settled on the face of Fanks. -In a moment he guessed without much difficulty that the woman had -tricked him, and he felt small in his own estimation at having been so -neatly baffled. It was the most humiliating moment of his life.</p> - -<p>"Attend to this man with Mr. Garth," he said roughly, "I shall see for -myself;" and, blaming himself for his simplicity, he caught up his hat -and took himself out of the chambers.</p> - -<p>At the street door he looked up and down, but ho could see no trace of -the missing woman. A constable loitered on the pavement some distance -away, and although he was a stranger to Fanks the detective accosted -him without the least hesitation. This was less the time for -considering than for acting. Every moment was precious; every moment -lessened the chance of tracking and discovering the woman. Fanks, as a -rule, was one of the most self-contained of men, rarely losing his -self-control or cool temper, but at this moment he could have sworn -freely at his want of caution which had let a possible witness in the -case slip through his fingers. But he hoped that there was yet time to -retrieve his fault. "Officer," he said, walking quickly up to the -constable, "did you see a lady come out of yonder door?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. The policeman upstairs just asked me about her. She went -away in a hansom five minutes ago. I see it drive off like mad."</p> - -<p>"Were you near at hand?"</p> - -<p>"Just at her elber, so to speak, sir."</p> - -<p>"Did you hear what address she gave the cabman?"</p> - -<p>"What do you want to know for, sir?" asked the policeman, in a gruff -way.</p> - -<p>"That is my business and not yours," retorted Fanks, unused to being -thwarted by members of the force; "I am Fanks, the detective, and I am -here on business. Quick, man, the address?"</p> - -<p>As Maxwell had hinted that a detective was upstairs, the policeman at -once believed this statement and saluted respectfully. "She didn't -give no perticler address, but she jest said Piccadilly promiscus."</p> - -<p>"What part of Piccadilly?" demanded Fanks, hailing a hansom.</p> - -<p>"Jest Piccadilly, and no more, sir," repeated the officer.</p> - -<p>"Do you know the number of the cab?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; there weren't no occasion of me to take it."</p> - -<p>"Of course, of course," muttered Fanks, testily. "Can you describe the -hansom? Was there any particular mark, by which I can recognise it?"</p> - -<p>"Well, sir, I did note as it had a red, white, and blue suncloth over -the roof, with a cabby as wore a white beaver, so to speak."</p> - -<p>"That will do," cried Fanks, jumping into the vehicle which had driven -up; "which way did the cab turn?"</p> - -<p>"To the right, sir; down Piccadilly."</p> - -<p>"Cabby," cried the detective, as the driver looked through the trap, -"go down Piccadilly, and look for a hansom with a red, white, and blue -suncloth. It's a sovereign if you catch it."</p> - -<p>"That's Joe Berners' cab, that is," said Jehu, and drove off briskly, -with his fare in a fever of excitement.</p> - -<p>Fanks had enough to think about during that drive, the material being -amply supplied by the woman who had so cleverly tricked him. What -motive had brought this woman to Fellenger's chambers? For what reason -had she taken her departure so suddenly? Was Emma Calvert dead? If so, -who was the woman who bore so extraordinary a resemblance to her? If -Emma Calvert were not dead, and this was she, why had she come to -Half-Moon Street, and why had Robert fainted at the mere sight of her? -All these questions presented themselves to the mind of the detective, -and he found himself unable to answer any of them. If he discovered -the mysterious woman there might be a chance of explanation; failing -the woman, there remained the valet. But if the one was missing and -the other was ignorant, Fanks knew not what he should do in so -difficult a matter.</p> - -<p>As it was the height of the season, Piccadilly was crowded with -vehicles of all descriptions, and the rate of progress was slow. Far, -very far, ahead Fanks thought that he could descry the noticeable -suncloth described by the constable, but of this he was not quite -sure; therefore he remained in his cab instead of alighting to make -certain.</p> - -<p>During a block caused by the congested state of the roadway it flashed -into his mind that he had seen the woman's face before. He was -doubtful if this was so, and yet he had an uneasy feeling that it was. -The features of this unknown woman were familiar to him; but, as the -Americans say, "he could not fix her nohow." It only remained for him -to refresh his memory with a second glimpse; but at present he saw no -chance of getting one. He despaired of finding the woman of whom he -was in search.</p> - -<p>The hansom showed no signs of moving on, and, finding that he could -walk quicker than he could drive, Fanks paid his cabman, jumped out, -and raced along the crowded pavement. He saw a number of people whom -he knew, but paying no attention to these he rushed along, intent on -getting to his goal. At length his exertions were rewarded, for by the -Isthmian Club he saw the wished-for cab ahead. It was turning into -Berkeley Square, and, as the throng was thinner in the side street, -Fanks secured another hansom with a likely-looking horse, and followed -in its wake. It struck him that he might as well find out where the -woman lived; therefore he did not attempt to catch up, but directed -his driver to keep persistently on the trail. It was his only chance -of gaining his ends with so crafty an opponent.</p> - -<p>Then commenced a long, long chase, which cost Fanks the best part of a -sovereign. He followed to Oxford Street, thence emerged into Regent -Street; passed through Piccadilly Circus, down to Trafalgar Square. -After proceeding along the Strand, the cabs dropped down Arundel -Street to the Embankment, went up through Northumberland Avenue, -Cockspur Street, Waterloo Place, and again doubled the trail in -Piccadilly. Fanks began to weary of this interminable chase; he -wondered where this woman intended to stop. Still he held on in a -dogged fashion, determined to weary out his adversary, whom he began -to consider a foeman--or rather a foewoman--not unworthy of his steel. -He therefore kept up the chase on the doubled trail, and, to his -surprise, he found that the cab which he had so persistently followed -turned up Half-Moon Street, and stopped before the chambers of -Fellenger.</p> - -<p>"Good Lord!" said Fanks to himself, "surely she has not been so great -a fool as to come to earth again, where she knows she will find me."</p> - -<p>He was perfectly right in making this remark, for when he jumped out -and ran up to the first cab he found it--empty. Fanks swore, whereat -Joe Berners grinned.</p> - -<p>"And it do serve y' right," said Joe, who was a surly person; "I never -did 'old as young gents should persecute innocents. G' on wi' y'."</p> - -<p>Fanks recovered his temper on hearing this speech. It was most -humiliating to have followed an empty cab for so many miles; but it -was rather amusing to be accused of being a profligate when he was -ardently bent on doing his duty. The detective laughed, although the -joke was against himself.</p> - -<p>"The question of persecution will bear argument, my friend," he said -in a laughing tone. "In the meantime, perhaps you will tell me what -you did with the young lady you picked up here?"</p> - -<p>"Why!" said Mr. Berners, "she told me as you was after her for kisses -an' such like; so she gives me a sov. to mislead you. She got out of -my keb at the end of this street, she did; and told me to drive on an' -on for an hour or so, while she got away. I done that," added Joe, -with a grin, "an' you've bin follerin' a h'empty keb ever since I went -up to Berkeley Square."</p> - -<p>"You have acted according to your lights, my friend," said Fanks, when -he realised how he had been tricked, "and I do not blame you. All the -same I am not a profligate, but a detective."</p> - -<p>"Lor!" said Joe, "has she done anything, sir?"</p> - -<p>"What she has done is nothing to you. Can you tell me in which -direction she went?"</p> - -<p>"No, I can't, sir; and I don't bel've you, I don't," and so saying Joe -Berners drove off in high dudgeon.</p> - -<p>Fanks made no attempt to stop him; for he saw that the woman had -defeated him, and the only thing left for him to do was to retire with -the best possible grace. To this end he paid his cab, shrugged his -shoulders, and went upstairs again. Since the woman had succeeded in -escaping him, the solution of the problem lay entirely with Robert. -Then a miracle. On the way up to the chambers the memory of that face -flashed across the mind of Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" he said, with a start, "I remember now. I saw that face in the -crowd round the Red Star, on the night of the murder."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">CHAPTER VIII</a>.</h4> -<h5>A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Before Fanks finally dismissed the matter of that futile chase he -asked a question of his friend the constable. "Did you notice," said -he, "if that young lady had a friend with her?"</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Fanks," said the other, promptly, "she was all alone."</p> - -<p>"Humph! I thought so," meditated Fanks, as he ascended the stairs, -"the accusing friend was a myth. Well, I guess there's a vacancy for a -fool, and I'm elected. I've lost her once; but she won't escape me a -second time. Taxton-on-Thames isn't London."</p> - -<p>The links of the chain which brought forth this remark were as -follows:--The postal mark on the envelope was Taxton-on-Thames; -the handwriting thereon was the same as that on the back of the -photograph--to all appearance that of the missing woman--therefore -Fanks thought that he might gain some information about her in the -village. The link of the writings connected her with the riverside -town; and by following such a clue he hoped to arrive at some knowledge -of her identity.</p> - -<p>With this resolution, he entered the chambers and found Robert -restored to sensibility, sitting on the sofa, with Garth and Maxwell -in attendance. The latter looked up eagerly as the detective entered. -But Fanks had no idea of letting an inferior into his methods of -working, and he dismissed him forthwith.</p> - -<p>"Maxwell, you can leave the room," he said sharply; and when the -policeman had taken his departure he turned to Garth, and continued, -"I lost her after all, my friend; she gave me the slip with singular -dexterity. That going down to bring up a witness was all bosh; she -told that story as a blind to get out of the room without suspicion."</p> - -<p>"But who is she?" asked Garth, at this tale of failure.</p> - -<p>Fanks smiled grimly, and looked at the valet. "No doubt Robert can -tell us that, he said, significantly.</p> - -<p>"I think she is Lady Fellenger--Emma Calvert," said Robert, faintly.</p> - -<p>"That is all nonsense. You told us distinctly that Emma Calvert was -dead; the inscription on the portrait affirms your statement. How then -can this living woman be the lady in question?"</p> - -<p>"It might have been her ghost."</p> - -<p>"Rubbish! Ghosts don't appear in the daytime; and drive off in cabs; -moreover there are no such things as ghosts. Your explanation is weak, -Robert; try another story."</p> - -<p>"It is the best that I can give, sir; if she isn't Emma Calvert; who -is she?"</p> - -<p>"That is what we wish to find out," said Garth. "You say that Lady -Fellenger--whom you will persist in calling Emma Calvert--is dead?"</p> - -<p>"I saw her lying at the Morgue, sir," declared Robert, passionately. -"I saw her placed in her coffin; I saw her buried, and the earth -heaped over her. She is dead; I swear that she is dead."</p> - -<p>"Where is she buried?"</p> - -<p>"In Pere la Chaise, in Paris."</p> - -<p>Fanks began twisting his ring. "You say that she destroyed herself," -he said; "had you anything to do with her death?"</p> - -<p>The man broke down, and burst out weeping, exculpating himself between -his sobs. "I had nothing to do with her death," he declared, "she was -always a good mistress to me, but my master treated her shamefully. -When he married her and first came to Paris they were quite happy. But -Sir Gregory grew tired of her; he grew tired of everyone; and he began -to neglect her for others. She was very proud, and she put up with it -for a time. At last she got angry at him, and insisted that he should -take her back to London and introduce her to his friends. This he -refused to do, and he taunted her with having been in a shop. He -called her Emma Calvert even before me."</p> - -<p>"You are sure that she was his wife?" interrupted Fanks.</p> - -<p>"I was present at the marriage myself, sir. It took place in a -registry office. She was his wife and Lady Fellenger sure enough, but -after some months he would not call her by that name. He knew that she -was proud," added Robert, in a lower tone, "and I think he wished to -drive her to her death."</p> - -<p>"I always said that he was a bad lot," interposed Garth, in disgust.</p> - -<p>"He was not a good man, sir, but he was a good master to me. But the -end of it all was that one evening they had a terrible quarrel, and in -a fit of rage she ran out of the house. I would have followed her, but -my master would not let me go. When next I saw her, she was lying dead -in the Morgue."</p> - -<p>"You think that she flung herself into the river?"</p> - -<p>"I am sure of it, sir. Her body was taken out of the Seine. My master -seemed to feel her death terribly, but all the same I think he was -relieved that his marriage was at an end. He got it put about in some -way that the death was an accident, and the body was buried in Pere la -Chaise. After that he made me promise not to tell anyone that he had -been married, and we returned to England. That is all I know, except -that she has come back to haunt me."</p> - -<p>Fanks stood biting his fingers. The servant was evidently in earnest, -and according to his story the ill-fated wife of the late Sir Gregory -was dead and buried; yet, going by the likeness of the portrait to the -woman who had vanished, she was alive. Fanks had been engaged in -several very difficult cases, but they were all child's play compared -to the intricacy of this problem. He was at his wits end, startled, -mystified.</p> - -<p>While the valet wept and Fanks thought, Garth broke the silence. "We -are off the track," he said roughly; "we are seeking to solve the -mystery of my cousin's death, not to trouble about that of his unhappy -wife."</p> - -<p>"It is all of a piece," replied Fanks, "the one death is connected -with the other; how, I am unable to say at present. In the face of it, -I can hardly bring myself to believe that Emma Calvert is dead."</p> - -<p>"Robert swears that she is," said Garth, with a shrug.</p> - -<p>"I do, I do, I swear it," wailed the man. "I saw her buried."</p> - -<p>The tones of the wretched creature were so heart-rending that both his -listeners believed that he spoke the truth. The detective placed the -portrait, the pasteboard star, and the envelope containing the slips -of print in his pocket, and beckoned to Garth. "We can do no more good -here," he said in a low tone. "I must think out the matter by myself; -let us go away."</p> - -<p>"But Robert?"</p> - -<p>"I shall stay here, sir," said the servant, rising; "Mr. Vaud said -that I was to stay here until Sir Louis Fellenger came to town."</p> - -<p>"Who is Mr. Vaud?" demanded Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Oh, he is Fellenger's lawyer," explained Garth, quickly, "of the firm -of Vaud and Vaud, of Lincoln's Inn Fields. I was wondering why my -cousin had not come up to take possession of the property; but it -appears that he is ill."</p> - -<p>"Was he not at the funeral?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, and, mighty bad he looked; he must have taken to his bed since. -I suppose that not finding himself able to come he sent for Mr. Vaud."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," said the valet, "and Mr. Vaud came here to find the police -in possession; so he told me to stay here."</p> - -<p>"Quite right," said Fanks. "I shall see Mr. Vaud myself."</p> - -<p>Before leaving the chambers Fanks told Maxwell to keep a sharp lookout -on Robert, of whom he had some suspicion. Then with Garth he went down -slowly, talking and thinking. Garth had asked him what was to be done -next, and he did not know what to say. Ultimately he declared that he -would interview Vaud.</p> - -<p>"Why?" asked Garth, after a pause.</p> - -<p>"Because if I do not see him, he will see me. I must explain why I -wish the police to continue in possession of the dead man's chambers; -and also I want a letter of introduction to the new baronet."</p> - -<p>"I can give you that; but I do not understand why you should wish to -see him. He can do no good."</p> - -<p>"I am not so sure of that," responded Fanks, dryly, "and in any case I -must tell him what I am doing. As the heir he must be anxious to clear -up the mystery of his cousin's death."</p> - -<p>"I don't think he'll trouble much," replied Garth, doubtfully. -"Gregory and Louis hated, one another like poison. They had not met -for ten years."</p> - -<p>"Why did they hate one another?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know. Louis is a better man than Gregory. He was a scoundrel, -as you have heard. An out-and-out scamp."</p> - -<p>"And something worse than a scamp," said Fanks; "but about this -introduction? Are you on good terms with your cousin Louis?"</p> - -<p>"I don't like him," answered Garth, after a pause, "he is a scientific -prig. All the same there is no ill-will between us."</p> - -<p>"Very good. You can give me that introduction as soon as you like."</p> - -<p>"I'll write it to-day; and if you wish to see Vaud the elder you'll -find him at Lincoln's Inn Fields, a pleasant old gentleman of the -out-of-date school."</p> - -<p>"You emphasise the elder Vaud. Is there a son?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, a fellow of thirty or thereabouts, He is the partner, but he has -been ill of late, and has only returned from a tour of the world. But, -I say Hersham, you know."</p> - -<p>"I shall call on him to-morrow," said Fanks, "and question him about -the tattooed cross."</p> - -<p>"When shall I see you again?"</p> - -<p>"Call to-morrow night at my Duke Street chambers. I may have some news -for you."</p> - -<p>"About Emma Calvert?"</p> - -<p>"About Dr. Renshaw."</p> - -<p>"Do you still connect him with the crime?"</p> - -<p>"I connect him with Dr. Binjoy, and I connect Dr. Binjoy with his -negro servant; and further I connect a black man wearing a green coat -with brass buttons with the murder."</p> - -<p>"Then you suspect that the servant of Dr. Binjoy killed Fellenger, and -that Binjoy in the disguise of Renshaw was at the Red Star to assure -himself that his instructions had been carried out."</p> - -<p>"That is exactly what I don't mean."</p> - -<p>"Then what are you driving at?"</p> - -<p>"Ask me the same question in five weeks, and I'll tell you."</p> - -<p>"Will it take you all that time to find out the truth?"</p> - -<p>Fanks laughed at the implied sneer. "I am no miracle-monger, my dear -sir," he said; "I am groping in the dark; and a mighty hard task it -is. I do not know in which direction to move at the present moment. If -only some thing would turn up likely to point out a path. Renshaw, -Mrs. Boazoph, and Robert are all sign-posts, but which to go by, I -really cannot say. Five weeks, Garth, and then perhaps failure."</p> - -<p>All this time they were still standing at the door at the foot of the -stairs. Now Fanks made a movement, but before he could step on to the -pavement he was aware that Maxwell was coming down the stairs quickly. -In another moment he was at the elbow of his superior officer, holding -out a small packet wrapped up in brown paper. Fanks took it gingerly, -and examined it with a thoughtful look on his face.</p> - -<p>"Well, Maxwell," he said, "what is this?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, sir," said the breathless Maxwell. "I guessed that you -mightn't be far away, so I took the liberty to come after you."</p> - -<p>"To give me this packet?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. I found it a few minutes ago in the letter-box on the door.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said Garth, in a startled tone, "was it there last time you -looked?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir; not an hour ago. It ain't got no postmark or stamp."</p> - -<p>"And it is addressed to Sir Gregory Fellenger," said Fanks; "I'll open -it," and without further remark Fanks did so. Therein was a morocco -case. When this was opened they saw lying on a bed of purple velvet a -long and slender needle of silver. Garth would have picked it out, but -Fanks stopped him with a shudder. "Don't touch it," he said; "there is -death here."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"I mean," said Fanks, "that I hold in my hand the poisoned needle with -which your cousin was murdered."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">CHAPTER IX</a>.</h4> -<h5>VAUD AND VAUD.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Here, indeed, was food for reflection. That the instrument with which -the crime had been committed should come into the detective's -possession was extraordinary; but that it should have been left -anonymously at the rooms of the murdered man was inconceivably -audacious. Fanks at once returned to the chambers, and closely -questioned Maxwell and Robert. It struck him that the latter might -have had a hand in placing the mysterious parcel in the letter box.</p> - -<p>"I examined the box an hour ago, sir," said Maxwell, "as you told me -to look after all letters. There was nothing in it then. It must have -been placed in it since."</p> - -<p>"While we were in the sitting-room, no doubt," said Garth. "Do you -know anything of this, Robert?"</p> - -<p>"I, sir? Lord, no, sir; I never set eyes on it before."</p> - -<p>"We left ten minutes ago," remarked Fanks. "What have you been doing -since that time."</p> - -<p>"I have been with Mr. Maxwell, sir."</p> - -<p>"Was he with you all the time, Maxwell?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," replied the policeman in great alarm. "He came out into -the kitchen, and we was together for a chat; then I thought it was -near post time, and I goes to the box. I found that parcel, and as I -knowed you couldn't be far off I ran down stairs."</p> - -<p>This explanation was perfectly satisfactory, yet for the life of him, -the detective could not help looking at Robert with suspicion. -However, as he had not been out of Maxwell's company, he could not -possibly have put the parcel in the box, therefore Fanks was -reluctantly compelled to believe in his innocence.</p> - -<p>"That will do," he said, at length, and drew Garth away. When they -again descended the stairs, Garth began to ask him questions, but -Fanks cut these short. "I must be alone to think it out," he said, in -apologetic explanation. "Go away, Garth, and let me puzzle over the -matter by myself."</p> - -<p>The young lawyer was unwilling to do this as he was filled with -genuine curiosity concerning the needle. However, he could suggest -nothing, and he saw that his mere presence worried his friend. He -therefore obeyed the request, and went off to meditate on his own -account. As for Fanks, he repaired to his rooms, and with the needle -before him he sat for considerably over an hour thinking what it all -meant. The mystery was deeper than ever.</p> - -<p>There was no doubt that someone had left the parcel in the letter box -within the hour. According to Maxwell, it had not been there when he -last looked in; according to Robert, he had not been out of the -policeman's company since he left the sitting-room. Who, then, placed -this damning evidence of the crime in the box? The assassin himself? -But the assassin, as had been proved clearly, was a negro. A few -questions to the constable stationed near the door had elicited the -fact that no negro had gone up. In fact, the man had sworn that he had -seen nobody ascend the stairs since the time Fanks returned from his -unsuccessful pursuit. So scanty were the facts which he had to go on, -that Fanks could not even build up a theory. He was completely in the -dark, and he seemed likely to remain so.</p> - -<p>The instrument was of silver, the length of a darning needle, and -while the point was as sharp as a lancet, it broadened gradually till -when it passed into a slim, ebony handle, it was--for a needle, quite -bulky. In this broad part the poison was doubtless contained, and -thence it oozed, drop by drop, to the deadly point. Fanks shuddered at -the sight of the piece of devilish ingenuity. The infernal dexterity -of the thing gave him an idea.</p> - -<p>"Must have been manufactured by a scientific man," he mused, touching -the slender, silver line gingerly. "It's too clever for an amateur. -Louis, the new baronet, is a man of science; he has succeeded to the -title. Can it be that--but, no!" he added, breaking off abruptly, "he -would not commit a crime in so obvious a fashion, much less, leave the -means he used at the address of his victim."</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, the idea lured him so far afield, into so many -speculations that, finding they led to nothing, he locked up the -poisoned needle, put it out of his thoughts, and paid a visit to New -Scotland Yard. Here he explained to the person in authority, that, -while he had every hope of capturing the assassin of the late Sir -Gregory Fellenger, yet he was bound to point out that the expenses of -the case would be considerable. To this, the person in authority -replied by placing before Fanks a letter from Messrs. Vaud and Vaud, -of Lincoln's Inn Fields. It stated that they had been directed by -Sir Louis Fellenger--who was at present confined to bed through -ill-health--to assure the authorities that he wished every effort to -be made to discover the murderer of his cousin; and that he would -willingly bear the costs of the investigation. This communication -concluded by requesting that the detective in charge of the case -should call at the offices of the lawyers at his earliest convenience.</p> - -<p>"Very meritorious of Sir Louis to save the Government expense," said -the person in authority. "Use what money you require, Mr. Fanks, but -be reasonable--be reasonable."</p> - -<p>"I shall be as reasonable as I possibly can be, sir," replied Fanks; -"but in my opinion, the case will be both long and expensive. It is -the most complicated matter that I ever took in hand."</p> - -<p>"The more difficulty, the more glory," said the person in authority. -"Go on with the case, Mr. Fanks; act as you please, make use of all -our resources. I have every confidence in you, Mr. Fanks; if anyone -can lay his hand on the assassin of Sir Gregory Fellenger, you are the -man. I wish you good day, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>Dismissed in this gracious manner, Fanks left the room with the -intention of obeying forthwith the injunction of Vaud and Vaud. Before -he could depart he was intercepted by Crate.</p> - -<p>"A communication from Dr. Renshaw," said Crate, with an air of great -importance. "He called here this afternoon with the intention of -seeing you. In your absence, he saw me; and stated that he was leaving -for India to-night by the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana.' Before leaving, -he wished to see and speak with you."</p> - -<p>"Before leaving, he has to see and speak with me," retorted Fanks, -coolly. "I would have him arrested on suspicion if he attempted to -leave London without according me an interview."</p> - -<p>"You have no evidence on which you can arrest him, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>"I have more evidence than you are aware of, Crate. If Dr. Renshaw -could have defied me he would have done so; but he dare not. Where is -he now?"</p> - -<p>"He is still at Great Auk Street, where he has been watched ever since -the night of the murder."</p> - -<p>"When does the 'Oceana' leave the Docks?"</p> - -<p>"To-night at ten o'clock. Dr. Renshaw goes down from Fenchurch Street -by the eight train."</p> - -<p>"It is now a quarter past five. Good! I shall call at Great Auk -Street; in the meantime, I have to keep another appointment."</p> - -<p>"Have you found out anything since I saw you last, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"I have found out that there is a woman in the case," said Fanks. "And -that reminds me, Crate. You must go to Paris by to-night's mail. Are -you busy with anything else?"</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Fanks. I shall be ready to start when you please. What am I -to do in Paris?"</p> - -<p>Fanks sat down at Crate's table and wrote a name and a date. "Get me a -certificate of the death and burial of Emma Calvert, who died in Paris -last year; she committed suicide, which was passed off as an accident, -and was buried in Pere la Chaise. I do not know the month of the -death, but you can do without that. Wire me all particulars. You can -get the French police to help you. Ask in the office here for -necessary credentials and authorisation. Don't spare expense, I have -full power to draw all moneys I want."</p> - -<p>After delivering these necessary instructions, Fanks drove off to -Lincoln's Inn Fields, and presented his card at the office of Vaud and -Vaud. He was at once shown up to the room of the senior partner, and -found him as Garth said, a dignified gentleman of the old school. He -was red-faced and white-haired; emphasised his remarks by waving a -"pince-nez," and spoke with some of the magnificence of Dr. Renshaw.</p> - -<p>"This is a most lamentable business, Mr. Fanks," he said, when the -detective was seated. "I usually go home before five o'clock, but in -the interests of our client, Sir Louis Fellenger, I remained, on the -chance of seeing you. I am glad to see you."</p> - -<p>"I came as soon as I was able, Mr. Vaud; but you only sent for me -to-day. I wonder you did not wish to see me before."</p> - -<p>"There was no necessity, my dear sir. We only heard from Sir Louis -yesterday that he was prepared to bear all expenses connected with the -investigation of the case."</p> - -<p>"Sir Louis is ill, I believe, Mr. Vaud?"</p> - -<p>"Sir Louis is never well, sir," said the lawyer impressively. "He is a -delicate man, and he is given over to the arduous science of -experimental chemistry. The earnestness with which he prosecutes his -researches keeps him in a constant state of anxiety; and his health -suffers accordingly. He is now at Mere Hall, attended by Dr. Binjoy."</p> - -<p>"Is Dr. Binjoy with Sir Louis at Mere Hall at this present moment?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly. Dr. Binjoy never leaves the side of Sir Louis. He has the -greatest influence over him. Though I must say," added Vaud, "that -even the influence of the doctor could not prevent his patient rising -from his sick-bed to attend the funeral of the late baronet."</p> - -<p>"He must have been fond of his cousin," said Fanks, pointedly.</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, the cousins had not seen one another for ten years -and more," said Mr. Vaud, solemnly. "I do not wish to speak evil of -the dead, but the late Sir Gregory was certainly a butterfly of -fashion, while the present Sir Louis is a man of science. They never -got on well together, and therefore kept out of each other's way."</p> - -<p>"And very sensible, too," said Fanks, dryly. "Do you happen to know if -Dr. Binjoy has been in London lately?"</p> - -<p>"I happen to know on the best authority--that of Sir Louis--that -Binjoy has not been in London for the last six weeks. Sir Louis has -been ill for that period; the doctor has not left his bedside."</p> - -<p>Fanks made a mental note of this answer, and turned the conversation -in the direction of the crime. "You know that Fellenger died from -poison?"</p> - -<p>"From blood-poisoning," corrected Vaud. "So I saw in the papers. A -most remarkable case, my dear sir. What took our late client to that -locality, and why did he submit himself to the tattooing needle?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say. Are you aware of any motive which might have induced the -dead man to have a cross tattooed?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir. As a matter of fact," continued Mr. Vaud, "the late Sir -Gregory and myself were not on the best of terms. He was extravagant, -and he resented my well-meant advice. I saw as little of him as of Sir -Louis."</p> - -<p>"Then you are not intimate with Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot say that I am. Sir Louis has led a secluded life at -Taxton-on-Thames. I have only seen him once or twice."</p> - -<p>"And Dr. Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"I have never seen him at all?"</p> - -<p>"Was Sir Louis rich?"</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, he was very poor. Five hundred a year only."</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Vaud," said Fanks, rising. "I have to thank Sir Louis for -his offer to bear the expenses of this case; and I shall do my best to -bring the criminal to justice."</p> - -<p>"Have you any clue, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"I have a variety of clues, but they all seem to lead to nothing."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that you will be successful?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say--yet. I hope so."</p> - -<p>"I hope so, too, but I am doubtful; very doubtful. Well, good evening, -Mr. Fanks. Do you want any money?"</p> - -<p>"Not at present. I shall write to you when I do."</p> - -<p>"That's all right. I trust you will succeed, Mr. Fanks. But in my -opinion you are wasting time and money. The crime is a mystery, and -for all that I can see, it will remain a mystery."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">CHAPTER X</a>.</h4> -<h5>EXIT DR. RENSHAW.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Fanks had gained some useful information from the lawyer, and it would -appear that the conversation had settled, at least, two important -points in the case. Of these the first was that Sir Louis could not -have had anything to do with the commission of the crime, or the -leaving of the parcel at the chambers in Half Moon Street. Yet the -needle had been prepared by a man learned in experimental chemistry; -and, as that was the special study of the new baronet, it might be -that he was responsible for the preparation of that deadly instrument. -By the death of his cousin he had gained a fortune; therefore that -might stand as a motive for the committal of the crime. But Sir Louis -had been ill for some months; he had been confined to bed, therefore -he could not have been in London on the night of the murder; nor later -on--being still in bed--could he have deposited the needle in the -letter box. Clearly, the case against Louis broke down entirely.</p> - -<p>As for Binjoy, he also had not been in town for six weeks. If this -were so, he could not be identical with Renshaw, in which case the -suspicions entertained by the detective could not fail to prove -groundless. Then again, the fact that Binjoy had a negro servant -habited like the assassin--also a black man--was highly suspicious. -Binjoy might have instructed the negro to slay, and himself have -remained at Taxton-on-Thames in attendance on Sir Louis. But then what -could be his motive for the perpetration of so terrible a crime? Fanks -sought for this motive.</p> - -<p>In the first place, he noted that the absence of Louis from town on -that night was deposed to by Binjoy; in the same way Louis said that -Binjoy had not left Taxton-on-Thames for six weeks. Both these -statements had been made to Fanks by Vaud. It would then appear that -Louis and the doctor were in collusion to obtain the property of -Gregory by procuring his death at the hands of the negro. But even -this theory failed to discover, or point out, who was the man who had -called to leave the parcel at Half Moon Street. The constable had -asserted positively that no negro had gone up the stairs. If then the -messenger was not the negro, it was either Binjoy or Sir Louis. Mr. -Vaud said that the one was ill, the other in attendance. Thus the case -stood when Fanks left the office of Vaud and Vaud; and he felt utterly -unable to cope with the intricacies which met him on every hand. There -seemed no way in or out.</p> - -<p>Yet in the face of the presumption that Renshaw was not the double of -Binjoy, the detective determined to follow up that clue. He did not -like the way in which the doctor had behaved, either in the chamber of -death, or at the inquest; he was suspicious of his apparent intimacy -with Mrs. Boazoph: therefore, for his own gratification, he went to -Great Auk Street to interview the man, and to see whether his -suspicions had any foundation in fact. On arriving at the house he was -unable to decide on his next action, but before he left it again he -had determined what to do.</p> - -<p>A stupid-looking man-servant received Fanks, and took him into a dull -waiting room, while he went to inform Dr. Renshaw of the name of his -visitor. In a few moments he returned and conducted the detective to -the back of the house, where he found Renshaw waiting for him in the -company of another man. This latter was Dr. Turnor, for whom Renshaw -had been acting as "locum tenens;" a lean, little man with a ferret of -a face, and a sharp, jerky way of speaking which must have been -exceedingly irritating in a sickroom. Renshaw was more imposing in -looks than ever, and, with habitual restlessness, combed his long, -brown beard with his fingers; but in the badly-lighted room Fanks -could not find out if the beard was false. So closely did Renshaw -resemble Garth's description of Binjoy, that notwithstanding -Vaud's evidence, Fanks was on the alert to discover if--as he truly -believed--the two were one and the same. The ensuing conversation was -likely to prove interesting in more ways than one.</p> - -<p>After being introduced to Fanks, and acknowledging the introduction -with a sour smile, Turnor arose to leave the room. He was stopped by -Renshaw, who evidently did not relish the idea of facing a difficult -interview by himself. Another proof, as Fanks considered, of his -uneasy conscience.</p> - -<p>"Pray do not depart, Turnor," he said, in his usual pompous manner. "I -have no secrets from you. I trust, Mr. Fanks, that you see no -objection in my adopting this course?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, I see no objection," replied Fanks, quietly. "Let Dr. -Turnor stay by all means. I have nothing particular to say."</p> - -<p>Turnor, who had resumed his chair, looked up at this, and Renshaw -stared at his visitor with pompous indignation.</p> - -<p>"Then why are you here, sir?" he demanded in a more confident tone.</p> - -<p>Fanks shrugged his shoulders. "Really, I cannot tell you, unless it is -because you left a message at my office that you wished to see me."</p> - -<p>"I did so in fulfilment of my promise to communicate with you before -leaving London."</p> - -<p>"Indeed! So you think of starting again on your travels? You will like -that much better than staying in London."</p> - -<p>"There is no reason why I should not like to stay in London," said -Renshaw, with an angry glance.</p> - -<p>"No reason in the world, that I can see."</p> - -<p>"I am going out to India--to Bombay. I proceed to Aden by the -'Oceana,' and there I exchange into the 'Cylde.'"</p> - -<p>"It is really very good of you to tell me all this, doctor," said -Fanks, ironically; "I trust that you will have a pleasant voyage."</p> - -<p>Renshaw looked nonplussed and a trifle disappointed at the coolness of -the detective. It was Fank's intention to bring about this feeling; -for if Renshaw had nothing to do with the crime, if he was not -masquerading under a false name, the detective did not see that it was -necessary to make these elaborate explanations. It seemed to Fanks -that Renshaw's anxiety to bestow gratuitous information as to his -movements had its root in a design to mislead the police. -Notwithstanding the assurances of Vaud, his suspicions of Renshaw -revived in full force under this clumsy diplomacy; and he bent his -energies to get to the bottom of the matter. To this end he affected -indifference, and gave Renshaw plenty of rope with which to hang -himself.</p> - -<p>"Am I to understand that I am free to go?" demanded the stout doctor, -in a highly dramatic manner.</p> - -<p>"I suppose so; this is a free country."</p> - -<p>"You do not think--my friend--any knowledge--murder?" jerked Turnor, -as he looked eagerly at Fanks.</p> - -<p>The detective saw the eagerness and wondered. "Hallo! my friend," he -thought, "are you in this also?" However, he answered the question in -the calmest manner. "I was not aware that I had made any accusation -against Dr. Renshaw," was his suave reply.</p> - -<p>"But I have been watched," cried Renshaw; "watched like a criminal."</p> - -<p>"You don't say so," said Fanks, imperturbably. "And who is watching -you? And why have you been watched?"</p> - -<p>The two doctors looked at one another, and, from a covert sign made by -Turnor to Renshaw, the detective became convinced that there was an -understanding between them. He guessed that the sign hinted at the -conclusion of the interview, and this interpretation proved correct. -Turnor rose and jerked out an apology.</p> - -<p>"Mistake!" said the little man. "Told Renshaw--moonshine--no watching. -Hope you'll catch--murderer."</p> - -<p>"I have little hope of that," said Fanks, dolefully. "He has concealed -his trail too cleverly," and he chuckled inwardly as he saw the two -faces brighten.</p> - -<p>"Well! well! well! We will say no more, Mr. Fanks," said Renshaw, in a -patronising tone. "I deemed it my duty to let you know that I go to -India to-night. I shall not return to England for many years, as I -propose exploring Thibet. Good evening; I am delighted that my fears -that I was being watched have proved to be groundless."</p> - -<p>But Fanks was not to be got rid of so easily. He wished to ask Turnor -a few questions, for he believed that the little man knew all about -this mysterious Renshaw. However, he made his examination carefully, -as he did not wish to startle the pair, but rather to lull their -suspicions, so that he might the more easily carry out his plans. He -had already decided upon his next step.</p> - -<p>"You were not in London at the time of the murder, Dr. Turnor?" he -asked.</p> - -<p>"No," replied the doctor, promptly. "If I had been, I should have been -summoned by Mrs. Boazoph. As it was, Renshaw went."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I saw Renshaw," said Fanks; "and I believe that he was right in -his theory that the crime was due to a secret society."</p> - -<p>"What makes you agree with my theory?" said Renshaw, quickly.</p> - -<p>"Well," drawled Fanks, keeping an eye on both men, "you see I can't -find out the meaning of that tattooed cross. It must be the work of a -society, else it would not have been obliterated. If I could only find -out what that cross means I would hang someone." Renshaw wiped the -perspiration off his bald forehead and laughed in an uneasy manner. "I -wish I could help you," he said, "but I know nothing about the cross, -or the society."</p> - -<p>"And what do you say, Dr. Turnor?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing--was away on that night. Read about cross--papers. Queer."</p> - -<p>Fanks saw plainly enough that the pair were on their guard, and that -there was nothing more to be got, out of them. The only thing to be -done was to watch and wait the progress of events. With this idea he -said goodbye, and took his departure. Once outside and he made up his -mind that Renshaw should be tracked. His anxiety to show that he was -leaving England appeared to be suspicious, and Fanks concluded that he -did not intend to go as he had so emphatically declared.</p> - -<p>"I shouldn't be surprised to find that he was Binjoy after all," -thought the detective. "He professes a deal too much, and his friend -Turnor is a deal too eager. I shouldn't wonder if the pair were in -league. However, I have thrown them both off their guard. Now I'll -play my own game. I'll find out the owner of that silver needle yet, -and then I'll punish its owner. I wonder," added Fanks, with a silent -laugh, "I wonder whether the criminal will prove to be black or -white?"</p> - -<p>With this peculiar remark he went in search of the detective whose -duty it was to guard the house, and rated himself severely. "You have -let yourself be seen," said Fanks. "Have you not more sense than to -play the fool? Keep yourself out of sight; remain here until I send -another watcher, and report yourself at the Yard."</p> - -<p>The detective, much abashed, tried to exculpate himself, but Fanks -would not listen to his excuses. He hurried to New Scotland Yard, -picked out a smart man, and instructed him to relieve the disgraced -watcher, and to follow Renshaw to the Docks.</p> - -<p>"And then, sir?" asked the man.</p> - -<p>"Then if Renshaw goes on board the steamer you will report the fact to -me without loss of time."</p> - -<p>"Am I to come back here, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"No; I shall be at the Docks in disguise. If you see a clergyman -holding a white handkerchief in his right hand you will see me. If you -are doubtful ask the clergyman what the time is, and you will be safe -as to my identity. Off with you, and send that fool back to Mr. -Crate."</p> - -<p>"What are you about to do, Mr. Fanks?" asked Crate, when the man had -gone.</p> - -<p>"Learn if Renshaw is lying or not. I'll see if he boards the steamer -at the Docks, and find out if he has taken a passage to Bombay--a fact -which at present I am much inclined to doubt."</p> - -<p>"And if he goes on board the steamer?"</p> - -<p>"In that case I'll follow him as far as Plymouth to make sure that he -does not get off there."</p> - -<p>"If he doesn't?"</p> - -<p>"I shall know that he has nothing to do with this murder."</p> - -<p>"And if he does get off at Plymouth?"</p> - -<p>"Why," said Fanks, rubbing his hands, "I shall track him to Mere Hall -in Hampshire."</p> - -<p>Crate looked astonished, for he could by no means follow the thoughts -of his superior. "How do you know that he will go there?" he demanded -in a disbelieving manner.</p> - -<p>"Because if Dr. Renshaw leaves the steamer at Plymouth under that name -I shall find him at Mere Hall as Dr. Binjoy."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">CHAPTER XI</a>.</h4> -<h5>ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN.</h5> -<br> - -<p>True to his appointment Garth called the next evening at the chambers -in Duke Street, only to find that Fanks was absent, and that a note -was awaiting him.</p> - -<p>"Dear Garth," wrote the detective, "I have been called unexpectedly -out of town and shall not return for at least three days. Visit me at -the expiration of that time and prepare yourself for a surprise."</p> - -<p>"A surprise," said Garth to himself, as he departed; "I wonder if he -has found out about Emma Calvert, and if his discovery has anything to -do with the death in Tooley's Alley."</p> - -<p>Think as he might he could find no answer to this question, and he was -forced to restrain his curiosity until such time as Fanks should -return. In the meantime, out of curiosity, he called upon Mr. Vaud to -learn what that gentleman thought about the position of affairs.</p> - -<p>Mr. Vaud thought nothing about them. A detective had charge of the -case, and, in Mr. Vaud's opinion, it would be better to wait the -solution by him of this criminal problem. All this, as well as much -more, was expressed to Garth by the pompous lawyer. "And I should -advise you, Mr. Garth," he concluded, "not to let this unhappy episode -divert your energies from your business."</p> - -<p>"As to that, I have precious little to do," retorted Garth, with some -heat; "you do not put much in my way, Mr. Vaud. I am always hard up."</p> - -<p>"I am aware of that," replied Vaud, ignoring the beginning of the -speech, "and I am aware also that our late client assisted you several -times."</p> - -<p>"Because I was necessary to him," said Garth, bitterly. "And I'll tell -you what, Mr. Vaud, had I known then what I know now about my cousin I -should never have accepted his help."</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear me!" said Mr. Vaud, "quite so. Sir Gregory had many faults; -but are you a saint yourself, Mr. Garth?"</p> - -<p>"I don't pretend to be one. Still, I never drove a woman to her -death."</p> - -<p>"Do you know what you are saying, Mr. Garth?"</p> - -<p>"Do you know the name of Emma Calvert, Mr. Vaud?"</p> - -<p>The lawyer paled and pushed his chair from the table. "I--I -have--heard the--name," he stuttered.</p> - -<p>"Then you have heard the name of a very injured woman, Mr. Vaud."</p> - -<p>Before the other could reply a knock came to the door, and immediately -afterwards it opened to admit a tall and handsome young man. He bowed -to Garth and placed some papers before Mr. Vaud. "Will you please -excuse this intrusion, father, and look over these?" he said quietly.</p> - -<p>"My son Herbert, Mr. Garth," said the elder Vaud, and again the young -man bowed. He rather resembled his father in appearance, but there was -a sternness about his manner which was wanting in that of the elder -gentleman. He was dark-haired, and clean shaven, with thin lips and a -compressed mouth. There was a look of resolution and hard work about -him which did not recommend his personality to pleasure-loving Garth. -However, the latter bowed and smiled when introduced, and scribbled on -a sheet of blotting-paper while Herbert spoke to his father. Still -thinking on the subject of his discourse with Mr. Vaud he absently -wrote the name of Emma Calvert. Young Vaud moved near him while -looking for a special paper, and in doing so his eye fell on the name. -With an ejaculation he drew back, and turned as pale as his father had -done.</p> - -<p>"What do you know of Emma Calvert?" he demanded abruptly; "why do you -write down her name?"</p> - -<p>"Herbert!" said the father, warningly--almost imploringly. -"I shall speak," said Herbert, his composure replaced by intense -excitement. "What do you knew of Emma Calvert, sir?"</p> - -<p>Garth looked up surprised. "I know as much as Robert, the valet of -Fellenger, could tell me."</p> - -<p>"A scamp who served a scamp," muttered the young man.</p> - -<p>"Sir Gregory was my cousin, Mr. Herbert."</p> - -<p>"Then your cousin was a scoundrel, Mr. Garth."</p> - -<p>"Herbert, leave the room," said his father, sternly</p> - -<p>The son looked defiantly at his father, and turned away without a -word. At the door he paused and addressed Garth. "I know that your -cousin was murdered, Mr. Garth," he said savagely. "I am glad that he -met with such a death. He escaped me, but he could not escape -punishment. I hated Sir Gregory and I bless the man who killed him."</p> - -<p>He left the room, and in dumb astonishment Garth turned to the elder -Vaud for an explanation. The old man had buried his face in his hands; -but he looked up when Garth touched him, and groaned aloud.</p> - -<p>"I am sorry you wrote down that name, Mr. Garth," he said at length. -"Its effect on my unfortunate son is always terrible."</p> - -<p>"But for what reason?"</p> - -<p>"I did not intend to tell you, but as you know so much, you may as -well know all. Herbert was in love with this girl. He wished to marry -her, and it was he who introduced her to Sir Gregory. You can guess -the rest."</p> - -<p>"I can guess that my cousin married the girl and took her to Paris, -where he neglected her and drove her to suicide."</p> - -<p>"I know about the marriage," said Mr. Vaud. "I am glad that Sir -Gregory did her that justice. I also know of the death. Sad, very -sad."</p> - -<p>"She must have been a pretty girl to have so strongly attracted two -men."</p> - -<p>"I never saw her," said Vaud. "I did not even know that Herbert was in -love with her until she eloped with Sir Gregory. Then my son came with -his broken heart and told me all. He would have followed Sir Gregory -to Paris but that he fell ill of brain fever. Afterwards he was -ordered on a sea voyage; and returned only six weeks ago. He heard of -the death of Lady Fellenger in Paris, and--"</p> - -<p>"Did he know that Fellenger had married her?"</p> - -<p>"Afterwards; not at first. He discovered all about the marriage and -death in Paris. How, I do not know. But he came back broken in health -and heart. He will never be the same man again; and whenever the name -of Emma Calvert is mentioned, the consequences are as you see."</p> - -<p>Garth rose to go. "It is a cruel story," he said sadly, "but -Fellenger's sins have come home to him in a terrible fashion. -Good-bye, Mr. Vaud."</p> - -<p>Then Garth took his leave; and withdrew to meditate on the villainy of -his cousin, which had ruined two lives. Half-way along the Strand, he -was struck by a sudden thought. If young Vaud had known and loved Emma -Calvert, he would be the man to identify the woman who had presented -herself at Fellenger's chambers. He believed Emma Calvert to be dead; -brought face to face with the missing woman, and he would see that she -was alive. "Though it will be difficult to find that woman," he said, -resuming his walk, "she has given us the slip. Still she may call to -see Robert again, and he is being watched by Maxwell; so the chances -are that we may find out whether she is my cousin's wife or her ghost. -If she is confronted with Herbert Vaud we may arrive at the truth. But -will the truth lead to the detection of Gregory's assassin. I doubt -it."</p> - -<p>He thought of calling upon Herbert and telling him about the -appearance and flight of the presumedly dead woman; but the same -reason which had prevented him from seeing Hersham, prevented this -visit. "No!" he said, resolutely. "I must interview Fanks and ask his -advice. The matter is too difficult for me to handle alone."</p> - -<p>Having come to this sensible conclusion; he went about his daily -business and postponed moving in the matter until the return of Fanks -from his mysterious journey. His appointment had been for the previous -night; and Fanks had asked him to wait three days. As he had employed -one day in seeing Mr. Vaud, he thought that he would utilise the -second by interviewing Mrs. Boazoph. For this purpose he called at the -Red Star, but he was disappointed, Mrs. Boazoph, the barmaid informed -him, was out of town--on business. Garth left Tooley's Alley in a -meditative mood. "Fanks has gone to the country on business; Mrs. -Boazoph has gone to the country on business. I wonder if the same -errand takes them there."</p> - -<p>Nothing further transpired; and, on the evening of the third day, -Garth presented himself at Duke-street. Fanks was within and received -him in the most amiable manner. Garth noted that his friend looked -weary, and ventured an opinion that Fanks had made a long journey that -day.</p> - -<p>"You are about right," said Fanks, indicating a seat. "I only got back -three hours ago from Hampshire."</p> - -<p>"You have been to Mere Hall?"</p> - -<p>"I have been in the neighbourhood of Mere Hall. And I have also been -to Plymouth," he added, after a pause.</p> - -<p>"What have you been doing there?"</p> - -<p>"Following our friend Renshaw, alias Binjoy."</p> - -<p>"You don't mean to say that the two are one," cried Garth, jumping up.</p> - -<p>"I do, and I can prove it by the clearest evidence you ever heard in -your life. Sit down and listen."</p> - -<p>Garth resumed his seat, and leaned forward with much curiosity to hear -the promised recital. It was well worthy of an attentive hearing.</p> - -<p>"I told on that I suspected Renshaw to be Binjoy in disguise," said -Fanks, "your description of the one fitted the other in many respects; -and the eagerness with which Renshaw tried to impress me with the fact -that he was going to India, roused my suspicions. I determined to see -for myself if he was really leaving England, so I disguised myself as -a parson, and went to the docks. Renshaw had been followed there by my -emissary, and he duly went on board the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana.' -Assured of this I dismissed the watcher, and took up the running to -Plymouth."</p> - -<p>"But how about your passage."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I fixed that up all right; how, I need not stop to explain. You -may be sure that I kept a watch on our friend; and confident in my -disguise, I tried to get speech with him. This was impossible, as he -remained in his berth the whole time. I discovered, however, that his -passage was booked to Bombay, exchanging at Aden into the 'Clyde.' At -Plymouth he feigned to be so ill as to be unable to proceed further on -his journey, and rather than do so, he forfeited his passage money, -and got off--"</p> - -<p>"Then he did not go to India after all?"</p> - -<p>"My dear sir; he had no intention of going to India. I followed him -ashore; and then I am sorry to say that I lost him. It is not -creditable to my intelligence," said Fanks, shrugging his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"What did you do?"</p> - -<p>"The best I could. I saw the local police, and had the railway -stations and boats watched. He could not leave Plymouth either by land -or water without my knowing it. To make a long story short, I was -informed that a stout gentleman, somewhat like my man, was awaiting a -train at a certain station. I went there--"</p> - -<p>"And you saw Renshaw?" interrupted Garth.</p> - -<p>"Indeed, no. I saw a clean-shaven man much younger in appearance than -Dr. Renshaw, and dressed differently. From your description I -recognised him as Binjoy, and to clinch the matter, I followed him to -Mere hall."</p> - -<p>"Then you are certain that Renshaw is Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"Positive. I made inquiries in the village, and I was informed that -Sir Louis was ill, and that Binjoy was attending him. Of course I said -nothing, for, to tell you the truth, I did not know what to say. But -you will observe, Garth, that I have proved that these two men are one -and the same."</p> - -<p>"And the negro. Did you see Binjoy's negro servant?"</p> - -<p>"I inquired about him, and I was informed that Binjoy had brought -no negro servant with him. No doubt, he left him behind at -Taxton-on-Thames."</p> - -<p>"Then my idea is correct," said Garth, "the negro committed the crime -at the instigation of Binjoy; and Binjoy in the disguise of Renshaw, -went to the Red Star to see that it was accomplished. Now he has got -rid of the negro and of his disguise; so cutting off every trace of -his connection with the crime."</p> - -<p>"A very plausible theory," said Fank, shaking his head, "but the -motive?"</p> - -<p>"Motive? Why Binjoy wanted Louis to inherit the property. He has a -great influence over Louis; what would benefit the one would benefit -the other. Oh, depend upon it, Fanks, it is as I say."</p> - -<p>"No!" said Fanks, "there is a third person in it. A woman!"</p> - -<p>"Emma Calvert?"</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Boazoph!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, come now; she is out of town on business."</p> - -<p>"I know that; and her business was at Mere Hall in Hants. I saw her -there."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">CHAPTER XII</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE INTERVENTION OF CHANCE.</h5> -<br> - -<p>It was a moment or so before Garth could quite grasp the fact of this -new intrusion of Mrs. Boazoph into the case. When he did so, he -remarked that she had no doubt gone to Mere Hall to see Louis -Fellenger. Fanks dissented. "In my opinion she went to see Binjoy."</p> - -<p>"For what reason?"</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you. It must be a powerful reason which would make this -woman seek out Binjoy when he had so carefully destroyed his -connection with Renshaw. But I have long had my suspicions of Mrs. -Boazoph. She removed the dead body; she answered my questions in a -hesitating manner, and attempted to exculpate herself without being -requested so to do. Also she got rid of the grains of gunpowder. All -these things show that Mrs. Boazoph knows more about the matter than -she chooses to tell."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that she knows who committed the crime?"</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't swear to that," said Fanks, with some hesitation; "but she -must have identified Renshaw with Binjoy, else she would never have -sought out the latter at Mere Hall."</p> - -<p>"Do you believe that Mrs. Boazoph inveigled Fellenger to her hotel by -means of that advertisement, and then had him killed?"</p> - -<p>"How can I tell?" retorted Fanks; "you know as much about the matter -as I do. But I will do Mrs. Boazoph the justice to say that I hardly -believe she would adopt a course so dangerous to herself. I do not -think that she had anything to do with the advertisement."</p> - -<p>"The envelope was addressed in a woman's handwriting."</p> - -<p>"No doubt; but the handwriting may not be that of Mrs. Boazoph. Still -she is in some way connected with Binjoy, and he is mixed up in the -crime."</p> - -<p>"You mean that he employed the negro to commit it?"</p> - -<p>"It looks like it; and yet," continued Fanks, with a frown, "the -evidence is too clear for me to take that view."</p> - -<p>"Why! The clearer the evidence, the more certain you must be of the -truth."</p> - -<p>Fanks shook his head. "From my experience I am inclined to doubt -easily-obtained evidence. Everything points to the committal of the -crime by the negro servant of Binjoy, and for that reason I do not -care to accept it. It would seem that in case of trouble Mrs. Boazoph -and Binjoy had provided for their own safety by throwing suspicion on -the negro."</p> - -<p>"But one thing is clear enough," said Garth, impatiently, "the negro -killed my cousin."</p> - -<p>"A negro killed your cousin, but not necessarily the negro of Binjoy."</p> - -<p>Garth looked puzzled. "I am more in the dark than ever," he said.</p> - -<p>"Same here, Garth. Depend upon it this murder is no bungling affair. -It is a cleverly-planned and cleverly-executed scheme; carried out by -people who know what they are doing. As the case new stands I cannot -see my way. The evidence--in my opinion--leads to nothing. If Crate -had this matter in hand he would arrest Binjoy on suspicion, and hunt -for the negro servant as the supposed murderer, and by doing so he -would make a mess of the whole business. I shall arrest nobody--at -present. Save to yourself and perhaps Crate I shall give my opinions -to nobody. I shall watch and wait; put two and two together, and when -they make four I shall pounce on the assassin. It will take time and -patience and money, but, as I said before, the case is a delicate one. -We are dealing with people who are as clever and cleverer than we are. -I confess that the outlook is anything but promising," concluded -Fanks, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>"You cannot guess who committed the crime?"</p> - -<p>"No, I cannot. To all appearances it was the negro, but--and this is -the main point--was it the negro of Binjoy, and would the negro be -clever enough to conceive so subtle a method of committing a crime as -the mode of the poisoned needle? Again, would a negro be in possession -of such information as would induce Fellenger to permit the use of the -needle? The whole mystery lies in that cross tattooed on the arm. When -I discover its meaning I shall be able to name the assassin."</p> - -<p>"Then why not see Hersham?" suggested Garth. "He has a similar tattoo -mark on his left arm. He may be able to tell you what you wish to -know."</p> - -<p>"I have an appointment with Hersham at his rooms to-morrow. I may -learn something from him; on the other hand, I may learn nothing."</p> - -<p>"And what about Emma Calvert?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I shall find out about her at Taxton-on-Thames. I may discover -dead Lady Fellenger of Paris alive at the Surrey village under another -name. And yet," added Fanks, producing a paper, "Crate's report proves -that the woman died in Paris in 1893, and was buried in Pere la -Chaise."</p> - -<p>"If that is so, who was the woman who appeared so strangely? The -evidence of the photograph and the valet both prove that she is Emma -Calvert."</p> - -<p>"I can only surmise that she did not die; but that either knowingly or -unknowingly some woman was buried in her place. It is the only -explanation that I can give. Yet, for all I know, Emma Calvert may -have employed that negro to kill her wicked husband."</p> - -<p>"It is a wild theory," said Garth, "why should this woman, the lawful -wife of my cousin, pretend to be dead, and submit to have her identity -destroyed by the false burial? If she is alive, I can quite conceive -that she should have my cousin killed out of revenge; but why the -pretended death, which--to all appearances--was acquiesced in by -Fellenger?"</p> - -<p>"I can't answer that question until I wring the truth from Robert."</p> - -<p>"There is no necessity for Robert. I have found another person who can -tell you the truth."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Fanks, looking up sharply, "and this person?"</p> - -<p>"Herbert Vaud; the son of the lawyer you saw the other day."</p> - -<p>"You don't say so," exclaimed Fanks, eagerly, "you laugh at chance, -Garth; well, here is another chance which may put us on the right -track. If we solve the mystery of Emma Calvert, we may unravel the -Tooley Alley enigma. Tell me all you know; omit no detail. Begin, -begin!"</p> - -<p>Flattered by the interest taken in his discovery, Garth related at -great length the extraordinary conduct of young Vaud; the cause of -such conduct as explained by the elder Vaud; and drew attention to the -fact that if confronted with the missing woman, Herbert might be able -to recognise her, either as an imposter, or as the dead Emma Calvert.</p> - -<p>Fanks listened with the closest attention; nor did he venture a remark -until Garth had concluded his story. Then he drew a breath and -reflected.</p> - -<p>"It is most extraordinary," he said at length, "dare you disbelieve in -chance. Chance led you to the office of the Vauds; chance made you -scribble that name on the paper; chance drew the attention of Herbert -Vaud to the name. I have always found that chance is my best friend."</p> - -<p>"All this is beside the point," said Garth, impatiently, "what do you -say?"</p> - -<p>"Your discovery may lead to something," replied Fanks, cautiously. "I -shall see Herbert Vaud after I have interviewed Hersham. Between the -two of them I may learn something likely to throw light on the -darkness of this case; but we are only on the threshold of our -difficulties as yet."</p> - -<p>Garth rose to take his leave. "I agree with you," he said, "the future -looks anything but hopeful. But I shall leave you now; as you are -tired after your long journey."</p> - -<p>Fanks stretched himself. "I am rather weary," he remarked, yawning, -"and I shan't be sorry to go to bed. Come and see me to-morrow, and -I'll tell you how I get on with Hersham. And Garth," added Fanks, -going to the door with his guest, "don't do any more detective -business on your own account. It will take me some time to exhaust the -information you have brought me. When I have arrived at some -conclusion regarding this new evidence, I shall tell you what to do."</p> - -<p>Garth was quite willing to be guided by Fanks' advice; the more so as -he was entirely at a loss how to proceed, and was waiting for the more -experienced head of the detective to guide him. With quite sufficient -to think about for the next twenty-four hours he took his departure, -and left Fanks to enjoy a well-earned rest.</p> - -<p>The appointment with Hersham was for twelve o'clock the next day; and -punctually at that time Fanks took his way up to Acacia Road, St. -John's Wood, where the journalist had his lodgings. Certainly not a -very central position for a man engaged in the press; but Hersham had -been brought up in the Isle of Wight, beside the sea, and amid green -trees. From the effect of early association he could not bear to be -cooped up amid bricks and mortar, where he could scarcely breathe. -Therefore he had taken up his abode in a suburb where he was certain -of fresh air. He went to and fro between Fleet Street and St. John's -Wood on his bicycle, and thus by a little dexterity, he managed to -attend to his duties on the "Morning Planet," and yet to live a -comparatively rural life.</p> - -<p>When Fanks arrived at noon, Hersham, for health's sake, was digging in -the garden; but, on seeing the detective, he came forward to greet his -visitor. He was a slender, handsome young man of eight and twenty, or -thereabouts; with curly, brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a -moustache, but otherwise he was clean-shaven. Usually his face was -pleasant and smiling, with a high colour and a genial expression. On -this occasion he was rather pale, and there was an anxious look in his -eyes which did not escape the detective. He had seen the same -expression in the eyes of Binjoy.</p> - -<p>"How are you, Fanks," said Hersham, with an obvious effort at -lightness. "I see that you are punctual to the minute. I am glad of -that; as I can't give you much time. I have an engagement with my -editor at one-thirty."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I can explain my business in half an hour," replied Fanks, -lightly. "I won't take up more of your valuable time than I can help. -You were astonished to get my note."</p> - -<p>"Frankly speaking, I was," said Hersham, with an uneasy look. "I can't -conceive what you want to see me about. I hope," he added, with a -faint smile, "that it is nothing in your line of business?"</p> - -<p>"That is just the point. It is in my line of business."</p> - -<p>To the surprise of Fanks, the young man gave a kind of gasp, and -without a word he turned and led the way into the house. This -behaviour was so different to his usual manner, that Fanks suspected -trouble; and, with nothing but his incurable suspicion to go on, he -wondered if this agitation was in any way connected with the business -he had come about. In plain words, with the tattooed cross; and with -the crime of Tooley's Alley. The room into which Hersham ushered the -detective, was a simply-furnished apartment of a bright and cheerful -character. Furniture, carpet, wallpaper, and curtains, were all of a -light and pleasant complexion. Two dwarf book-shelves on either side -of the fireplace were filled with well-chosen volumes; while boxing -gloves and foils on the walls showed that the tastes of the journalist -were not exclusively literary. Excellent pictures adorned the walls; -and photographs--mostly those of pretty women--were ranged on the -mantlepiece. As a whole, the room was remarkably bright and attractive -in both of which respects it thoroughly reflected the character of its -occupant.</p> - -<p>With commendable hospitality, Hersham produced a bottle of whisky, two -glasses, and a jug of water. Signing to Fanks to help himself, he sat -in a chair near the window, and waited for his apparently unwelcome -visitor to speak. Fanks did not open his mouth, and Hersham looked up -to see the cause of his silence. The detective was staring at the -photographs on the mantleshelf--or rather, he was gazing with -astonished eyes at one portrait. It was little wonder that he did so; -for the picture was that of the young woman, who had appeared and -disappeared so unexpectedly at the chambers of Sir Gregory Fellenger, -in Half-Moon Street. For once in his life, Fanks was rendered dumb -with astonishment.</p> - -<p>"What are you staring at?" asked Hersham, sharply.</p> - -<p>The detective pointed to the picture. "Who is that young lady?" he -asked in a tone of intense curiosity.</p> - -<p>"I don't see what business that is of yours," replied Hersham, "but to -gratify your curiosity I may tell you she is the girl I am engaged -to."</p> - -<p>"The girl you are engaged to! Is she alive?"</p> - -<p>"Of course she is," said Hersham, half angry, half amused, "why should -she be dead. Do you know her? Have you seen her? Why do you ask?"</p> - -<p>"I shall tell you that later on," answered Fanks, "but tell me. Is the -name of that girl Emma Calvert?"</p> - -<p>"I never heard of Emma Calvert," retorted Hersham, crossly, "the name -of that young lady is Anne Colmer."</p> - -<p>"Of Taxton-on-Thames?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! Of Taxton-on-Thames."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">CHAPTER XIII</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE TATTOOED CROSS.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Fanks was prepared for most surprises, and, from experience, he was -capable, of controlling his emotions thoroughly. In this instance, -however, he was so overwhelmed by the unexpectedness of the discovery -that it was some time before he could arrange his thoughts and plan of -action. The coincidence of the tattooed cross was extraordinary, but -the resemblance of the portraits was still more so. Before he could -comment on the fact Hersham asked an abrupt question.</p> - -<p>"Why do you speak of these things?" he said anxiously, "and what do -you know about Miss Colmer?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing about Miss Colmer," replied Fanks, quickly. "Hold on a -minute, my good fellow, I have had what people call a turn."</p> - -<p>Hersham accepted this explanation with a doubtful air, and pushed the -spirits towards the detective. Accepting this attention, Fanks poured -himself out a stiff glass. A sip or two braced his nerves and set his -brain to work, so that shortly he was able to face the unexpected -situation. For obvious reasons he did not wish to reveal too much to -Hersham; yet under the peculiar circumstances of the case he was -forced to tell him a certain amount. To gain his ends with the least -possible risk to his plans he was reduced to manufacturing a plausible -theory from the facts within his knowledge. The task was one of some -little difficulty, but he succeeded fairly well in suppressing so much -of the truth as he did not wish known.</p> - -<p>"That photograph took me by surprise, Hersham," he said after a pause.</p> - -<p>"Why should it take you by surprise?" said the other, jealously. "Have -you ever met with Miss Colmer?"</p> - -<p>"I have not met the lady," replied Fanks, slowly, "but I have seen -some one who greatly resembles her. So greatly indeed that I thought -the person I saw was the original of that photograph."</p> - -<p>"Where did you see this person?"</p> - -<p>"At Paris--in the Morgue."</p> - -<p>It seemed to Fanks that Hersham changed colour on hearing this; but he -kept his feelings under control, and merely remarked, "In the Morgue? -A case of murder, no doubt."</p> - -<p>"No! Suicide by drowning. Afterwards I heard that the body was that -of an English girl called Emma Calvert." He purposely suppressed -the fact of the marriage. "She is buried in Pere la Chaise under the -name--whether true or not, I cannot say--of Calvert. You cannot wonder -that the sight of that picture, which I took for that of the dead -woman, should startle me, the more especially as you assure me that -the original of that photograph is still alive and is engaged to you."</p> - -<p>"Was it for this purpose that you came to see me?" demanded Hersham.</p> - -<p>"No; I came to see you about something else. Nevertheless, before -telling you the object of my visit, I should like to have the mystery -of the photograph explained."</p> - -<p>"How do you know that I can explain it?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps you can, perhaps you can't. On the other hand, perhaps you -can and perhaps you--won't."</p> - -<p>Hersham bit his lip, and took a turn up and down the room. He appeared -to be on the verge of revealing something, but checked himself when -about to speak. At this stage Fanks wisely held his tongue, and -resolved to let Hersham make the first remark. Evidently the young man -had something on his mind, and what the something was Fanks was -determined to find out; but he left the mode of revelation entirely to -his host. Hersham was aware of this, and hesitated and faltered and -frowned. Ultimately he resumed his seat and accepted the situation.</p> - -<p>"I have always looked upon you as a friend, Fanks," he said in a -hesitating manner; "and I have every reason to believe that you wish -me well."</p> - -<p>"My dear fellow," said Fanks, wondering what could be the reason of -this appeal, "you are perfectly right. I would do anything to prove my -friendship for you."</p> - -<p>"Then answer me candidly. Did you come here to ask me about that cross -which you know is tattooed on my left arm?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Fanks, unhesitatingly; "I did. How did you guess my -errand?"</p> - -<p>"I read the report of the inquest on the body of Fellenger, and I -remarked the fact of the poisoned needle and the tattooed cross. I was -informed that you had the case in hand; I knew that you had seen the -mark on my arm. So when you wrote asking me to see you it was not hard -for me to guess what you wanted. You see, I was right."</p> - -<p>"I congratulate you on your penetration, my dear Hersham," replied. -Fanks, coolly. "At the same time, I do not see what this speech has to -do with your former one about friendship."</p> - -<p>"I can explain. You asked me a question about that photograph; and to -answer it in a satisfactory manner I shall be forced to tell you -something about the family of the girl to whom I am engaged."</p> - -<p>"Does your explanation concern the late Sir Gregory Fellenger?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. It has a great deal to do with the late Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"And with Emma Calvert?"</p> - -<p>"With the woman you call Emma Calvert."</p> - -<p>"Ought I to say Lady Fellenger?" said Fanks, quickly.</p> - -<p>Hersham shrugged his shoulders. "That makes no difference to my -explanation," he said, and rose to get the photograph off the -mantelshelf. "You think that this is the picture of Emma Calvert?"</p> - -<p>For answer, Fanks produced the portrait he had found in Fellenger's -rooms, and showed it to Hersham. "Is this the picture of Anne Colmer?" -he asked.</p> - -<p>"No, that is Emma Calvert."</p> - -<p>"Then these photographs are those of two different women?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly. The one is Emma Calvert who committed suicide in Paris. -The other is Anne Colmer who is alive and engaged to me."</p> - -<p>Fanks considered for a minute. "I now begin to see light," he said, in -a sober tone. "Am I right in assuming that Emma is the sister of -Anne?"</p> - -<p>"You are perfectly right. She is the twin-sister."</p> - -<p>"Ah! That accounts for the resemblance."</p> - -<p>"It does," replied Hersham, with a nod, "the two sisters were so -exactly alike that apart you could not tell one from the other--at -least, so I have been told."</p> - -<p>"Oh! Then you never saw the two sisters together?"</p> - -<p>"I did not. I never saw Emma in my life."</p> - -<p>"Of course you know her sad story," said Fanks, after a pause.</p> - -<p>"Anne's mother told it to me. I know that Emma married Fellenger -secretly, and was driven to her death by his brutality. Now, you can -see why I reminded you of our friendship before telling you the -truth."</p> - -<p>"No!" said Fanks, sharply, "I can't see."</p> - -<p>"Why! I am engaged to the sister of the dead girl; so I thought--"</p> - -<p>"That I might accuse you of killing Sir Gregory out of revenge?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I did have that thought in my head; and then the coincidence of -the cross, you know."</p> - -<p>Fanks laughed, and took the hand of Hersham. "My dear lad," he said. -"I have no idea of accusing you of the crime; your engagement to Miss -Colmer is no proof that you killed the man who acted so badly towards -her sister. Do not, therefore, hesitate to tell me all you know. How -Emma Calvert came to London; how she met with Sir Gregory; and how she -was loved by Herbert Vaud?"</p> - -<p>"What!" cried Hersham. "You know that also?"</p> - -<p>"I know more than you think, Hersham; therefore, if you attempt to -deceive me I shall find you out. Now go on with your story."</p> - -<p>"I do not want to deceive you," replied the journalist, "but you -must understand that I only speak from hearsay. If you want the tale -first-hand you must see old Mrs. Colmer, at Taxton-on-Thames."</p> - -<p>"Hum!" said Fanks, remembering his theory regarding the directing of -the envelope which contained the cardboard star. "What kind of a -person is the lady in question?"</p> - -<p>"An invalid," said Hersham, promptly. "A paralytic; she has not moved -hand or foot for years."</p> - -<p>"Confound it!"</p> - -<p>"What is the matter?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing. Only your information has upset a theory. Never mind; go -on."</p> - -<p>"There isn't much to tell," said Hersham. "Mrs. Colmer is a decayed -gentlewoman, whose husband died and left her with two little girls. -To support these she set up a dressmaker's establishment at -Taxton-on-Thames. When the children grew up, Mrs. Colmer was smitten -with paralysis and laid on the shelf. Anne and Emma carried on the -business, and thus supported their mother. Emma came to London to gain -experience in a fashionable dressmaker's establishment; and Anne -remained behind to look after the shop at Taxton-on-Thames. While in -London, Emma met with young Vaud at the house of a friend of her -mother's. He fell in love with Emma and wished to marry her. She liked -him, but she did not love him; nevertheless, for her mother's sake, -she accepted his offer. Then in an unlucky hour Herbert introduced -Fellenger to Emma; she loved him, or was attracted by his title. At -all events, she ran away with him to Paris and became his wife."</p> - -<p>"She was married in a London office. Registrar's."</p> - -<p>"I did not know that," said Hersham. "Emma told her mother that she -was married, but she did not write where. Well, young Vaud had an -attack of brain fever, and afterwards he went on a sea voyage. On his -return he crossed to Paris to learn what had become of Emma. He -ascertained that she was dead and buried; in some way he learned the -whole miserable history. Vaud returned to England to see Fellenger; -but before he could meet with him the baronet was killed in Tooley's -Alley; and the fate of Emma was avenged by an unknown hand. That is -the story, Fanks; you can make what use you like of it."</p> - -<p>"It is a wretched story," replied Fanks. "I can now understand the -hatred which young Vaud bears towards the memory of his false friend; -and I can understand also how I mistook Anne for Emma. But," added -Fanks, with emphasis, "I cannot understand why Anne came to the -chambers of Fellenger, and why she ran away when she saw me."</p> - -<p>Hersham looked jealous, and frowned. "I cannot understand that -myself," he said. "She hated Fellenger as much as did Herbert Vaud; -and I do not know why she should go to the rooms of the scoundrel."</p> - -<p>"She asked for the valet."</p> - -<p>"Robert, the whimpering, pitiful dog?"</p> - -<p>"Anne might have gone to see him to ask for particulars of her sister's -death."</p> - -<p>"Well, yes," replied Fanks, thoughtfully; "but that does not explain -why she went away when she saw me."</p> - -<p>"I can only surmise that she did not wish to explain what brought her -there, and so tell the tale of her sister's death to a stranger."</p> - -<p>"No, there is more in it than that," said the detective, remembering -that Anne had been among the crowd on the night of the murder; "but we -will talk of this hereafter. In the meantime, let us return to the -main object of my visit, and show me this famous cross."</p> - -<p>Hersham made no objection to this request, and removed his coat. -Rolling up his sleeve he exposed the cross tattooed on the flesh of -the left forearm. It was a St. Catherine cross, the size of a florin, -and Fanks examined it long and carefully. "Did you get that tattooed -at school?" he asked when Hersham had resumed his coat.</p> - -<p>"I did not get it done at all. I have had it ever since I can -remember; and I have asked my father often about it, but he cannot, or -will not, give me any information."</p> - -<p>"He will not most probably. Are you sure that there is no story -attached to the tattooing?"</p> - -<p>"None that I know of; but my father might be better informed."</p> - -<p>"Would your mother know?"</p> - -<p>"I have no mother; she died when I was a baby."</p> - -<p>"Strange," muttered Fanks, pensively; "it is strange that you should -have this mark on you and yet be ignorant of its significance. I wish -you would speak to your father about it."</p> - -<p>"He won't tell me anything; I have asked him before."</p> - -<p>"You have no idea why a cross similar to this should have been -tattooed on Sir Gregory's arm by a negro?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not. I did not even know Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"I wonder if your father could tell me?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know. He might or he might not. Do you think that this cross -has anything to do with the murder you are investigating?"</p> - -<p>"That is just what I do think," retorted Fanks. "The man was killed by -means of a poisoned needle used to prick in a cross similar to that on -your arm."</p> - -<p>"But that insinuates that I am mixed up in the matter."</p> - -<p>"It does nothing of the sort. Don't be an ass."</p> - -<p>But Hersham was not content with this friendly assurance. "You think -that I have something to do with the crime," he said obstinately.</p> - -<p>Fanks looked at his agitated face, at his trembling hands, and a -strange suspicion entered his mind. "I'll tell you what I do think," -he said in an abrupt tone; "I think that you have not told me all the -truth."</p> - -<p>Hersham trembled still more, and clasped his hands together. "I -cannot," he muttered, shrinking away from Fanks; "I dare not."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">CHAPTER XIV</a>.</h4> -<h5>FANKS MAKES UP HIS MIND.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Naturally Fanks was astonished at this confession; but he was so -conversant with the character of the young man that he could not -believe the journalist was guilty. Despite the coincidence of the -tattooed cross and the relationship of Fellenger's wife with Anne -Colmer, he did not think for a moment that his friend had anything to -do with the crime. Nevertheless, it would appear from the hesitation -of Hersham to speak openly that he had some knowledge--if not of the -crime itself--at all events of the circumstances leading to its -accomplishment. This was the only construction he could place on this -last outburst.</p> - -<p>"After what I have said, Hersham, I think you ought to confide in me," -he remarked after a pause. "I do not suspect you in any way; yet you -refuse to aid me. You ought to be the first to help me."</p> - -<p>"I do not see how you make that out," replied Hersham, with a pale -face. "I never met with Sir Gregory. I heard nothing but evil of his -life, and he drove to suicide the sister of the girl to whom I am -engaged. Why should I help you?"</p> - -<p>"Ah!" cried Fanks, sharply; "then you can help me if you choose."</p> - -<p>"I certainly cannot," returned Hersham, doggedly. "I have not the -slightest idea who killed Fellenger. I can tell you nothing."</p> - -<p>"Yes, you can; only you refuse to. Why I cannot say. You had better be -careful, Hersham; you will not find me easy to deal with if you rouse -my suspicions."</p> - -<p>"Do you threaten me?"</p> - -<p>"I warn you," retorted Fanks, smartly, "I am not accustomed to have my -offers of help repelled. Your remark of a few moments ago shows me -that you know something. What is it?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing."</p> - -<p>"You do! Speak, if not for your own sake, at least for that of Miss -Colmer."</p> - -<p>Hersham stepped up to Fanks with an angry face. "How dare you -introduce the name of Miss Colmer?" he cried. "I forbid you to speak -of her."</p> - -<p>"All the worse for you and for--her. She called at the chambers of the -dead man. Why did she call there? She was at Tooley's Alley on the -night of the murder. What was she doing in such a place? You refuse to -tell me? I shall ask her."</p> - -<p>Hersham sprang forward, and grasped the arm of Fanks to prevent his -leaving the room. "Think of what you are about," he gasped. "Ask her -nothing, you hear me, nothing."</p> - -<p>"That rests with yourself. Tell me what you know and--"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing," said Hersham, and turned away with an obstinate -look.</p> - -<p>"Good!" said Fanks, putting on his hat. "We now understand one -another. I shall find out all without troubling you. Good-bye. And you -may thank your stars that I do not arrest you on suspicion."</p> - -<p>"I swear that I am innocent."</p> - -<p>"I know that, else I would have had you in custody by this time. But -you are screening another person. Anne Colmer, for instance."</p> - -<p>"She knows nothing."</p> - -<p>"I shall judge of that for myself," retorted Fanks, and left the room.</p> - -<p>In Acacia Road the detective hailed a cab and drove to the nearest -telegraph office. It had occurred to him that Hersham might attempt -to communicate with Anne; and he was resolved to checkmate such a -move. To this end he sent a wire to the head of the rural police at -Taxton-on-Thames, instructing him to delay if possible all letters and -telegrams which might come to Miss Colmer. Thereby he hoped to prevent -Hersham warning the girl.</p> - -<p>Arriving at New Scotland Yard, he detailed a man to watch Hersham, and -sent him up to Acacia Road. A glance at "Bradshaw" assured him that to -reach Taxton-on-Thames, Hersham would have to start from Waterloo. -Thither he sent another detective, to keep an eye on the trains. -Therefore, by letter, by telegram, and by railway, he had stopped -Hersham from communicating with Anne Colmer. After taking these -precautions he saw Crate.</p> - -<p>"I am going to Taxton-on-Thames at three o'clock," he said.</p> - -<p>"Are you going to look for the woman who directed the envelope, Mr. -Fanks?"</p> - -<p>Fanks stretched out his legs, and began fiddling with his ring. "That -is just what is puzzling me, Crate," observed he. "I have told you of -my conversation with Mr. Hersham. Well, unless he is deceiving me, -Mrs. Conner, is a paralytic. She could not have directed that -envelope; yet, going by the writing, I'll swear that an elderly woman -penned the address. If not Mrs. Colmer--an obvious impossibility--who -wrote it?"</p> - -<p>"Anne Colmer," said Crate, promptly.</p> - -<p>"No. For disguise, she would rather have adopted a masculine hand."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"If Mrs. Boazoph had been traced to Taxton-on-Thames I should say yes; -if the letter had been sent from Mere Hall I should have said yes. -But," added Fanks, with emphasis, "as it did not come from Mere Hall, -and Mrs. Boazoph has nothing to do with Taxton-on-Thames, I am not -inclined to suspect the lady."</p> - -<p>"Then there is nobody else."</p> - -<p>"There must be somebody else; and the somebody else committed the -crime."</p> - -<p>Crate thought. "Do you think that the negro sent that star?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"I feel perfectly certain that the negro had nothing to do with the -star."</p> - -<p>"But we have proved conclusively that a negro killed Fellenger."</p> - -<p>Fanks smiled complacently. "I should not be at all surprised if we -found out that a negro had nothing to do with the murder," he said, -slowly.</p> - -<p>"But that is impossible, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>"Nothing is impossible in a criminal case," said Fanks. "Look here, -Crate, as you know, it is not my habit to give an opinion before I -have thoroughly threshed out the subject matter of a case; but in this -instance, I shall depart from my rule. I should not be surprised if I -had already spotted the assassin of Sir Gregory Fellenger."</p> - -<p>"No!" cried Crate in admiration. "And who is it, Mr. Fanks. Man or -woman?"</p> - -<p>"Walls have ears, Crate. I shall whisper the name and when the case -comes to an end--if it ever does--you can laugh at me or congratulate -me at your will. Now then."</p> - -<p>Fanks approached his mouth to the ear of Crate and whispered a single -name. "That is my opinion," he said slowly.</p> - -<p>Crate shook his head. "No, Mr. Fanks. I am loth to put my opinion, -against yours, but I think you are making a mistake."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I am," assented Fanks, carelessly, "the case is a difficult -one, and I am quite prepared to find out that I am wrong. All the -same, I am confident that the person I named is guilty. I'll bet you -five pounds to five shillings that I am correct."</p> - -<p>Crate grinned and took up the bet. The behaviour of his chief -flattered him, and he would not have minded losing. But he could not -bring himself to agree with Fanks as to the name of the guilty person; -for he had a theory of his own in which he believed. This theory was -diametrically opposed to that of his superior.</p> - -<p>"How long shall you be at Taxton-on-Thames," he asked Fanks, when this -little piece of amusement was concluded.</p> - -<p>"I may be a few days, a few hours, or a month. It all depends on what -I find out. I must interview Anne Colmer; see her mother; and make -inquiries about Binjoy and his negro servant."</p> - -<p>"But the doctor is at Mere Hall. You must go there to ask about the -negro."</p> - -<p>"Rubbish. As I told you before, the negro has never been seen at Mere -Hall. Binjoy lived at Taxton-on-Thames, and it is there that I must -ask after this mysterious black man. Afterwards, I can go to Mere -Hall."</p> - -<p>"Have you any reason for going?"</p> - -<p>"One. I wish to find out why Mrs. Boazoph visited the Hall."</p> - -<p>"And what about the tattooed cross, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I shall see that later on. But in the meantime I must pay these -visits. Firstly, Taxton-on-Thames. Secondly, Mere Hall. Thirdly, the -Isle of Wight and the Rev. Mr. Hersham."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Crate, doubtfully. "From what you say, I should think -Mr. Hersham junior would thwart your plans, if he could."</p> - -<p>"I have not the least doubt of it," replied Fanks dryly, "but he is -being watched. If he tries to thwart me I shall, at least, have the -satisfaction of knowing it. By the way, do you know anything about -Bombay?"</p> - -<p>"That's in India, isn't it?" said Crate, rather taken aback by the -apparent irrelevancy of this question. "I don't know anything about -Bombay, Mr. Fanks, except what I've seen in books."</p> - -<p>"You must extend your knowledge then; for I may want you to go there -in a week or so."</p> - -<p>"Has my going there anything to do with this case?" demanded Crate, -still very much astonished at the turn the conversation had taken.</p> - -<p>"It has everything to do with this case," replied Fanks, enjoying his -perplexity, and the confusion of his somewhat slow-moving mind.</p> - -<p>"Dr. Renshaw did not go to India," was Crate's next remark.</p> - -<p>"Quite so. Renshaw having resumed his real name of Binjoy, is now at -Mere Hall--in safety, as he thinks. I can lay hands on him any time; -but I can't lay hands on that negro. You must do that, Crate."</p> - -<p>"But the negro isn't in India, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"In my humble opinion--I may be wrong--he is," replied the other. "See -here, Crate. Dr. Binjoy must know that as I am employed by Sir Louis -to hunt down the assassin, I must see him sooner or later. If I see -the new baronet, I can hardly help seeing his 'Fidus Achates.' Now, -although Binjoy has--as he thinks--destroyed all trace of his -connection with Renshaw, yet he cannot quite alter his personal -appearance, which is rather noticeable. He may shave off his beard so -as to make himself look younger; he may even get rid of his stoutness; -but he cannot alter his voice or entirely change his pompous manner. -He must, therefore guess that I may be struck with his resemblance to -Renshaw. In some way--for I give him the credit of being clever--he -will endeavour to account for the resemblance. I do not know the -particular lie he will stick to; but of one thing I am certain;--he -will keep up the deception that Renshaw is in India by means of -prepared letters written to Dr. Turnor."</p> - -<p>"It is my opinion, Crate," continued Fanks, solemnly, "that Binjoy has -got rid of his negro servant by sending him to Bombay; and, from -Bombay the negro will forward letters--already written--to Turnor of -Great Auk Street. I may be wrong, of course, and I do not wish to act -in a hurry. But the first letter I see from India, purporting to be -from Binjoy-Renshaw, that very day you start for Bombay to look for -the negro who is at present missing. I am content to stake my -professional reputation that you will find him there."</p> - -<p>"Well, you are a 'cute one, Mr. Fanks," said Crate in an admiring -tone. "I should never have thought of that."</p> - -<p>This tribute of respect from Crate put an end to the conversation for -the time being. Fanks went to his chambers, packed a few clothes, and -repaired to Waterloo Station. The detective who was watching there, -assured him that Hersham had not been seen on the platform; and Fanks -went down to Taxton-on-Thames quite satisfied that he had what the -Americans call "the inside running."</p> - -<p>He amused himself while in the train by making notes in his pocket -book; and with figuring out the questions which he intended to ask -Miss Colmer. Notwithstanding his assurance to Crate, he was very -doubtful if he would be able to discover the assassin of Sir Gregory, -for the further he went into the case the more intricate did it -become. So far as he could see at the present moment, the person who -had killed the Tooley Alley victim had every chance of escaping the -gallows. All that the detective could do was to go on in the darkness; -and trust to any stray gleam of light which might reveal the assassin; -but at present, he could not see an inch ahead of him.</p> - -<p>On arriving at Taxton-on-Thames he drove at once to the local post -office; and, as he expected, he there found a telegram, which the -police had succeeded in delaying. It was addressed to Anne Colmer, -and ran as follows: "Detective coming; answer him nothing." There -was no name; but from the context, and the place whence it had been -sent--High Street, St. John's Wood--Fanks had no difficulty in -guessing that it had come from Hersham.</p> - -<p>"Very good," he murmured. "What Hersham knows, the girl knows. I -failed to get the information from him; I may from her."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">CHAPTER XV</a>.</h4> -<h5>COMING EVENTS.</h5> -<br> - -<p>The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the -village in a cottage adjoining the shop. The former was small, but the -latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a -neighbourhood. Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the -dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position -of life into which they had been forced by circumstances. They -employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so -that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and -in supervising the general run of the business. She was an admirable -administratrix.</p> - -<p>As may be guessed from the nature of her complaint, Mrs. Colmer was a -mere cypher in the domestic economy of Briar Cottage--for so the house -was named. The old woman usually sat in a wheeled chair beside a bow -window, looking out on to the back garden. This latter sloped down to -the river banks, and was prettily laid out, with a summerhouse at the -lower end. From her window the paralytic could see the passing of -boats and steamers, and enjoy the brightness of the aquatic life. She -viewed this panorama from morn to eve; read on occasions, and -meditated on her past life, which had been none of the happiest.</p> - -<p>A mild and placid woman, she was of a singularly sweet disposition; -and although she was chained to her chair by her affliction, she never -complained. The paralysis extended only to her limbs, but her brain -was still active, and she could give, and did give, her daughter -excellent advice in connection with the business. The sorrowful -expression on her face showed how keenly she had felt the loss of -Emma. But that was not the only melancholy event in her life; there -were others which will be spoken of in due course. Mrs. Colmer was not -without her troubles, but she had her consolations also, and of these -the love of Anne was the greatest.</p> - -<p>On the day of Fanks' arrival the old lady was seated in her usual -place, between five and six, waiting for Anne. Tea was ready for the -girl, but Mrs. Colmer had already been fed by her nurse, and was -looking forward to the usual conversation which took place at this -time. All day Anne was busy in the shop, and Mrs. Colmer was left to -her own devices; but when the labours of the day were ended, mother -and daughter met to converse. To Mrs. Colmer this had been the -happiest hour of the day--but that was before Emma went to London. She -still talked to Anne, and took an interest in domestic and local -affairs; but she was haunted by a feeling of impending evil, and she -clung despairingly to her remaining child, dreading lest she should -meet with the fate of her sister. An atmosphere of apprehension -existed in Briar Cottage.</p> - -<p>In due course Anne entered, and, having kissed her mother, sat down to -tea. She was as beautiful as ever, but there was a haggard look on her -face which accorded but ill with her youth. It would seem as though -she dreaded the future also, and was expecting the happening of some -terrible misfortune. After a short discussion of domestic matters the -conversation languished, for, wrapped in her own thoughts, Anne did -not seem inclined to talk. Mrs. Colmer noticed this, and commented -thereon with affectionate solicitude, bent on knowing what made Anne -so absentminded.</p> - -<p>"Is there anything wrong, my dear?" she asked nervously.</p> - -<p>"Nothing, mother; I am a little tired, that is all."</p> - -<p>"There is more than that, Anne. For some days you have not been at all -like yourself."</p> - -<p>"Can you wonder at that, mother?" replied Anne, bitterly. "Think of -all that has happened this last month."</p> - -<p>An angry light came into the faded eyes of the old woman. "You should -be glad of what has happened," she said in a stern voice; "that wicked -man has been punished for his evil courses. He drove my Emma to her -death, and himself has perished by violence. An eye for an eye, a -tooth for a tooth; that is Scripture."</p> - -<p>"All the same, mother, I wish that he had not been murdered. Gregory -was a brute, I know, and the death of poor Emma lies at his door; but -murder--" she shuddered. "It is so terrible to think that he should -have been cut off in the midst of his wickedness."</p> - -<p>"He has gone down into the pit, child. Let us talk no more of him. It -is said that we must forgive our enemies, but it is hard for me to -forgive him, even though he is dead. My beautiful Emma, she should -have lived as Lady Fellenger, instead of dying through his cruelty. I -hope, Anne, that your marriage will turn out happier than that of your -poor sister."</p> - -<p>"Ted will be the best of husbands," said Anne, in a tone of -conviction. "He loves me as dearly as I love him. I wonder when he is -coming down to see me again? I have so much to tell him."</p> - -<p>"About your visit to Half-Moon Street?"</p> - -<p>"That and other things," was Anne's answer; then, after a pause, -"though indeed he may not be so ignorant of that visit as you think."</p> - -<p>"Who could tell him but yourself?"</p> - -<p>"That detective, mother. He saw me when I entered the room, and he -followed me also. If I had not escaped him in the manner I told you, I -should have been in trouble."</p> - -<p>"You need not be anxious about that now, Anne. The detective can never -find you----"</p> - -<p>"I am not so sure about that," said Anne, in parenthesis.</p> - -<p>"And as to Mr. Hersham knowing about your visit to Half-Moon Street," -Mrs. Colmer continued, "I do not see how this detective you speak of -can possibly tell him."</p> - -<p>"I can see, mother. Mr. Hersham knows this detective--a Mr. Fanks; and -he will probably see him about the case in the interests of the -'Morning Planet.' Should they meet--as they are almost sure to do--my -name will certainly be mentioned. Then the story of my visit will come -out, with the result that Fanks will find me here."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Colmer turned slightly pale. "Are you afraid to meet him," she -asked.</p> - -<p>Anne shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say that I am overpleased," was -her reply. "He is a clever man, and I shall have considerable -difficulty in keeping my own counsel."</p> - -<p>"You must tell him nothing--nothing."</p> - -<p>"You can be sure of that, mother. Should Mr. Fanks come here he will -go away as wise as he came. I know when to hold my tongue as on this -occasion. Matters are too serious to be spoken of openly."</p> - -<p>"Oh, dear, dear," said Mrs. Colmer in an agitated tone. "Into what -difficulties have we not been led. I wish I had never let Emma go to -London."</p> - -<p>"Rather wish that she had never met with Herbert Vaud, mother."</p> - -<p>"But, Anne, she loved Herbert."</p> - -<p>"I do not think so, else she would never have married Sir Gregory. But -you know she always was ambitious and impulsive; look where her -ambitions have led her. If she had not met with Herbert she would not -have become the wife of that wicked man; if she had not been his wife -she would not have been driven to her death; and if she had not died, -we should not have been involved in all this trouble."</p> - -<p>"Trouble, trouble!" moaned Mrs. Colmer. "What troubles we have had, -and more will come."</p> - -<p>"Do not be afraid, mother," said Anne, kissing her. "You have always -me to stand between you and danger. I may never meet with this -detective; I may never be questioned by him, and so all will be well. -But should he come, why--I shall know how to answer him."</p> - -<p>"You will say nothing."</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, I shall say a great deal," replied Anne. "But such -things as will mislead Mr. Fanks. He shall never be set on the right -path by my telling; be sure of that."</p> - -<p>"I wish I could see you married to Ted, my dear," said her mother, -comforted by these assurances. "It would be such a relief to my mind."</p> - -<p>"I am afraid we will not be able to marry for some considerable time. -My dear Ted is very clever, but he cannot earn enough for us both to -live on; and I do not wish to be a drag on him. No, no, mother, we -must wait until things mend, and the outlook is brighter."</p> - -<p>"You could have married Dr. Binjoy."</p> - -<p>"I would not marry Dr. Binjoy if there was not another man in the -world," said Anne, with supreme contempt. "He is a self-indulgent -sensualist. My Ted is worth a dozen of him."</p> - -<p>"Still he is well-off," sighed Mrs. Colmer.</p> - -<p>"I do not see how you make that out, mother. He was, and is, entirely -dependent on Sir Louis Fellenger for his money; and I want to have -nothing to do with the Fellengers. Their family have cost us dear -enough already."</p> - -<p>This reference to the dead Emma made Mrs. Colmer weep, and Anne had -considerable difficulty in quietening her. However, she succeeded in -the end, and left her mother to her own thoughts, while she herself -went out into the garden for a breath of fresh air. Moreover, she -wanted to be alone, for the purpose of thinking over the position of -things. Anne could not but recognise that if certain contingencies -arose, she and her mother would find themselves very awkwardly placed.</p> - -<p>The evening was warm, and the sky was filled with a mellow light, -which rendered languid the atmosphere. Against this, the trees stood -out in bold relief, every twig and leaf being sharply outlined against -the amber sky. The sound of distant laughter, and the musical splash -of oars came to the ears of the girl as she walked slowly down the -path towards the summerhouse. A low, redbrick wall ran along the bank -of the river, and as she leaned over this low parapet, Anne could see -some considerable distance to right and left. Before a boating house -on the opposite shore a number of people were collected; and every now -and then a boat would shoot out into the gleaming waters bearing two -or three of them away. Someone musically inclined had brought a banjo, -and Anne could hear the thrumming of the string's, and the echo of the -latest music-hall ditty. Altogether, the scene was not without its -charm; but she was too much taken up with her own troubles to pay much -attention to the pleasant picture spread out before her. The quiet of -the evening brought no peace to her.</p> - -<p>"How foolishly I have acted," she thought, with a shiver. "If I had -been wise I would have left these matters alone. I feel certain that -Mr. Fanks recognised me as the woman he saw in Tooley's Alley. If he -finds me out, he will ask me what I was doing there on the night of -the murder. What can I say. I dare not tell him the truth, and he may -refuse to believe what I say to him. I acted for the best, it is true, -but my good intentions have led me into a position of danger. But I -may be wrong--I may be quite safe. That man may never find me. If he -does,"--she shivered again, and looked up the river.</p> - -<p>Under the glow of the sunset sky, the waters rolled, a broad sheet of -gold flecked here and there with the dark forms of boats. To the left -Anne saw a skiff containing one oarsman, coming swiftly down the -stream. In a half dreamy moment she calculated that he would pass -almost immediately under the wall. Then she returned to her -self-communings.</p> - -<p>"If Ted were only here," she thought. "I should like to tell him all -that I have done, and ask him how to act. For his own sake he must -keep silent; and for the sake of my mother I must hold my tongue. Oh, -it is terrible--terrible to know what I know, and yet remain dumb. And -I am afraid of that detective. His eyes seemed to pierce me through on -that day. Should he find me out he may compel me to speak. And if I -speak--oh, the disgrace and shame of it. Why, why are such things -permitted in this world. Oh, Ted! Ted, I wish you were here to comfort -me."</p> - -<p>She leaned her head on the wall and burst into tears. Anne was not -easily moved; and it was an unusual thing for her to thus give way to -her emotions. But she was only a girl after all, and her system was -strung up and nervously excited by the knowledge of the secret she -knew. She would like to have confided in someone, if only to relieve -her overburdened mind; but she shrank from the consequences of such a -step. A word from her, and the murder in Tooley's Alley--but, no, she -put the thought out of her mind, and, still leaning her head on her -arms, she wept bitterly.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the single oarsman rowed steadily towards the red brick -wall, which was evidently the point for which he was making. Soon he -came abreast of it; shortly he came under it, and Anne raised her head -at the sound of the splash of oars, to behold the very man of whom she -had been thinking. It was Ted Hersham.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">CHAPTER XVI</a>.</h4> -<h5>UNHAPPY LOVERS.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Hersham brought his boat under the wall with a sweep, but before -disembarking he looked up to Anne with an anxious expression on his -face.</p> - -<p>"Did you get my telegram?" he demanded hastily.</p> - -<p>"Telegram!" she repeated. "I have received no telegram from you."</p> - -<p>"I thought so," said the journalist, and laughed in a savage sort of -manner.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" demanded Anne, noting how haggard he looked. "Is -anything wrong?"</p> - -<p>"More than I like to say," was his answer.</p> - -<p>At that moment it seemed to Anne that her presentiments were about to -become true, and she waited with vague terror for his next speech. Ted -did not open his mouth for some minutes, being fully occupied in -making fast his boat prior to landing. In spite of the importance of -the interview, and his desire to prepare Anne for the immediate coming -of Fanks, he did not hurry himself, but executed his task with the -utmost deliberation. On her part the girl held her peace, and not -until her lover had taken her in his arms to kiss her passionately did -she speak. Then she led him to the summerhouse--out of sight of Mrs. -Colmer at the window--and broached the subject which was uppermost in -her mind.</p> - -<p>"Ted," she asked in a low voice, "is there any danger?"</p> - -<p>"There is a great deal of danger."</p> - -<p>"From what quarter?"</p> - -<p>"From the worst of all quarters. Fanks has found you out."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" she sat back suddenly and her face turned pale with -apprehension. "Is he here?"</p> - -<p>Hersham nodded. "I sent a telegram to warn you not to answer his -questions."</p> - -<p>"I did not receive it."</p> - -<p>"I guessed you would not," replied her lover, with a nod. "Fanks -visited me to-day, and left me with the intention of coming down here -to see you. I sent the wire. Then I fancied that he might manage to -get it delayed at the office here. I did not dare to go by Waterloo, -as I made sure he would have the station watched. In this dilemma -there was nothing left for me to do but to come down on my bicycle, -which I did. I rode to Warby's boat-house, left my machine there, and -came on to warn you."</p> - -<p>Anne considered for a few minutes. "How was it that Mr. Fanks found me -out?" she asked anxiously.</p> - -<p>"He saw your portrait in my rooms."</p> - -<p>"What was he doing in your rooms?"</p> - -<p>"He came to question me about the cross tattooed on my arm."</p> - -<p>"Did you tell him anything?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing! What could I tell him? I am quite unaware how the cross came -to be there. But with regard to his recognition of you; how was it -that you went to the chambers of that dead scoundrel?"</p> - -<p>"I went to get a photograph of Emma's that was in the possession of -her late husband."</p> - -<p>"Why did you wish to get the photograph?"</p> - -<p>"It had some writing on the back, which may implicate another person -in this trouble of the death. I think," she added, pointedly, "that -you can guess the name of that person."</p> - -<p>"I think I can," replied Hersham, gloomily, "and the worst of it is -that Fanks will certainly find out that name."</p> - -<p>"Impossible! I may be able to thwart him on that point."</p> - -<p>"I hope so; but you do not know the man as I do. He is the most -patient and pertinacious of men. He will stick to this case until he -has the assassin of Sir Gregory in jail."</p> - -<p>"God forbid!" ejaculated Anne, with a shudder.</p> - -<p>"Amen to that!" answered Hersham. "Oh, Anne, my dear Anne," he -continued, taking her hand, "how I wish we could end all this and fly -to the ends of the earth!"</p> - -<p>"My dear," she said gently, "we have others to think of besides -ourselves. It would never do to desert them at the present moment. -Besides there may not be so much chance of discovery as you think."</p> - -<p>"I don't know; I am certain of nothing," said Hersham, with a sigh. "I -only dread one thing--lest Fanks should force you into betraying that -which you would rather hide."</p> - -<p>"Don't trouble about that, Ted," returned Anne, dryly. "I think Mr. -Fanks will find me more than his match. You need not have come to -prepare me, for I am quite ready for the gentleman as soon as he -chooses to call."</p> - -<p>"That will be very soon. He is in the village now. I don't want him to -see me. For that reason I came here in a boat."</p> - -<p>"Do not be foolish, Ted," said Anne, quickly. "You must let him see -you, else he will suspect that you know something about this matter. -And you must be aware, dear, that you have your own safety to look -to."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" groaned Hersham, "how are we to extricate ourselves from this -mess?"</p> - -<p>"I think we will leave that to time; and you have me to comfort you."</p> - -<p>"Dearest!" he drew her towards him; "without you I should not be able -to move one step. At present all is dark and dreary; but let us hope -that there are brighter days in store."</p> - -<p>"I am certain that there are," said Anne; "but we have a great deal to -endure before peace comes. We must go through the valley of -humiliation to reach the promised land."</p> - -<p>"Well!" said Ted, emphatically, "when we do reach it I think we must go -to America, there to commence a new life. It is no use trying to -construct a new one here out of the ruins of the old."</p> - -<p>"That we shall see," replied Anne, with a sigh "God knows we have had -a great deal to endure since the death of my poor sister. But let us -for the moment banish this gloomy subject, and talk of ourselves. How -are you getting on with your work?"</p> - -<p>Hersham smiled and kissed her. He saw that she was striving to lighten -the burden which had been laid upon him; and he was grateful for the -kindness. All the same he found it difficult to put his troubles out -of sight and memory, seeing that they were so insistent, and that -within the next half hour he might be called upon to defend himself -from a dangerous charge. Alone as they were in the summerhouse, they -were afraid to speak openly, lest the birds of the air should carry to -Fanks undesirable news which would please him, but ruin them. Under -these circumstances Hersham agreed with Anne that it was best to let -affairs connected with the case of Tooley's Alley remain in abeyance, -until they were compelled to take action. In the meantime the unhappy -pair went hand in hand into a Fool's Paradise of make-believe, and -hollow joys. There was something pitiful in this playing with -happiness.</p> - -<p>"We will be very poor, my love," said Hersham, somewhat later in the -conversation; "and I am afraid that you will miss all the luxuries to -which you have been accustomed."</p> - -<p>Anne laughed and kissed him. "You silly boy," she said kindly; "my -luxuries are of the cheapest kind, as you well know. Besides I can -face poverty with a brave heart with you."</p> - -<p>"But your mother?"</p> - -<p>"I am afraid she will not live long," sighed Anne. "She is growing so -weak, and she has long, long fits of silence. Poor mother! she has had -a hard life. I do not think she ever got over the death of Emma."</p> - -<p>"Does she know anything about these other matters?"</p> - -<p>"Very little. I kept as much from her as I could. Indeed, she would -never have heard of the death at all had it not been for Herbert -Vaud."</p> - -<p>"He might as well have held his tongue," said Ted, angrily; "but the -fact is, that since Emma's death and his illness he has not been quite -right in his head. He returned comparatively well, as you know; but -that journey to Paris to inquire after Lady Fellenger unsettled him -again."</p> - -<p>"Don't talk of Lady Fellenger," said Anne, with a shudder.</p> - -<p>"Why not? Your sister was lawfully the wife of Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"I know that. All the same, I hate to hear the name of the family."</p> - -<p>"And yet," said Hersham, meaningly, "you were fond enough of Louis."</p> - -<p>Again Anne laughed. "You must not be jealous of my friendship for -Louis, Ted. He is a good fellow in his way. I was never in love with -him as I am with you, but I liked him."</p> - -<p>"And Binjoy, that pompous doctor, did you like him?"</p> - -<p>"I hated him. I hate him still," she flashed out. "He is the evil -genius of Louis. If these matters only concerned Dr. Binjoy, I should -not keep silent and bear the burden I am doing."</p> - -<p>"You have me to bear it with you," said. Hersham, softly.</p> - -<p>"I know that, my dear. But there are some things which men and women -have to face singly. Such a thing is this coming interview with Mr. -Fanks. I wanted you to see him so as to disarm any suspicions which he -may entertain. Still, I wish you to take no part in the conversation."</p> - -<p>"But why?" asked Ted, with a frown. "I can't leave you to fight my -battle."</p> - -<p>"You must in this case," replied Anne, "you are a dear, good fellow, -Ted, but you allow your heart to govern your head."</p> - -<p>"That is very true. And it is the reverse with you, Anne."</p> - -<p>"Not so far as you are concerned, Ted. I am as weak as water with you. -If you see me hard to other people you must set it down to the severe -training I have had in the school of adversity. I am only a girl in -years, but I am a woman in experience."</p> - -<p>"You are the dearest and bravest woman in the whole world," said -Hersham fondly, kissing her hand, "and if happiness comes to us in the -future, it will be through you. I shall do what you say and hold my -tongue. But, my darling, are you sure that you can cope with Fanks."</p> - -<p>"I do not know as I have only seen him, but once we cross swords and I -shall soon learn my strength. I have a large stake to fight for, and -the remembrance of that will make me desperate."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Ted, dolefully, "we cannot turn back now. The enemy is -within our gates, and we must fight. 'Vę victis.'"</p> - -<p>"You may well say that," said Anne, bitterly. "'Woe to the vanquished' -indeed. Come let us go to the house and see my mother, but you must -say nothing to her about our conversation. She knows as much as is -good for her, and her health will not stand any great shock."</p> - -<p>"In that case," observed Hersham, as they strolled up the path, "you -must not let her see Fanks."</p> - -<p>"Trust me, Ted. Forewarned is forearmed."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Colmer was delighted to see Ted, for he was a great favourite -with the invalid. She had no suspicion of what had brought him down in -so unexpected a manner, and chatted to the young man in the most -cheerful of spirits. Meanwhile Anne gave her lover a cup of tea, and -cut him some sandwiches. All the time she was straining her ears to -catch the fall of the knocker on the front door. Every moment she -expected to bear the crash which would announce the arrival of the -detective, and as the minutes went by her nerves became strained to -their utmost pitch. Ted saw what she suffered, but in the presence of -Mrs. Colmer he could say nothing, and the old lady went chattering on. -There was something cruelly ironical about the situation.</p> - -<p>At last, Hersham could bear the suspense no longer, and making some -excuse to Mrs. Colmer, he drew Anne out into the passage. There he -placed his hands on her shoulders.</p> - -<p>"Are you afraid?" he said, anxiously. "Are you afraid of the coming -interview with this man?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Anne, and shivered; the colour had left her cheeks, and -she suddenly appeared older, and more haggard.</p> - -<p>"Why are you afraid? Because of your visit to those chambers?"</p> - -<p>"That and another thing."</p> - -<p>"Does the other thing concern yourself."</p> - -<p>"Yes. It concerns a visit to London on that night."</p> - -<p>"Heavens! Where did you go?"</p> - -<p>Before Anne could answer, a sharp knock came to the door, which drove -all the blood into their hearts.</p> - -<p>They looked at one another, for they now felt that the danger was on -them. What would happen within the next hour.</p> - -<p>"Where did you go on that night?" asked Hersham, hoarsely.</p> - -<p>"To Tooley's Alley--to the Red Star Hotel."</p> - -<p>"Anne, Anne. And you saw--"</p> - -<p>Anne nodded. "Yes," she said, steadily, "I saw."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">CHAPTER XVII</a>.</h4> -<h5>TWO AGAINST ONE.</h5> -<br> - -<p>On arriving at Taxton-on-Thames Fanks had taken up his abode at the -Royal Arms Hotel. It was his intention to make inquiries about Sir -Louis Fellenger, Dr. Binjoy, and the negro servant of the latter. -Ignorant that he had been thwarted by Hersham, he had also intended to -interview Anne Colmer without loss of time, before she could see or -even hear from her lover. The intercepted telegram proved conclusively -that this girl knew something which Hersham did not want her to -reveal; and in the absence--as Fanks supposed of all warning--he hoped -to take her at a disadvantage. In this mood he took his way to her -home.</p> - -<p>So far as the detective could see, his future plans depended almost -entirely upon the information which he expected to obtain from this -girl within the next few hours. And in that supposition lay the irony -of the situation. Being in this frame of mind, his astonishment may be -conceived when on the door of Briar Cottage being opened he saw before -him the man whom he thought was at that moment in London. For the -minute he was unable to speak, but recovered himself to ironically -congratulate Hersham on his dexterity in evading the machinery of the -law. In reality Fanks was angered, but he had too much good sense to -give way to bad temper. It was, in his opinion, useless to make bad -worse.</p> - -<p>"So you have stolen a march on me, Hersham," he said sardonically. "I -was doubtful of your honesty in London; I am still more so now. How -did you manage to dodge the traps I laid for you?"</p> - -<p>"By knowing where they were laid," said Hersham, sullenly. "I guessed -you would have the railway stations watched, so I came down here on my -bicycle."</p> - -<p>"A very ingenious idea; you have no doubt warned Miss Colmer not to -answer my questions?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Hersham, defiantly; "I have done so. As I did not receive -a reply to my telegram, I guessed that you had intercepted my message -in some way. It has arrived now, when it is too late. To see Miss -Colmer, to warn her, I came down here at the risk of my own safety."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" remarked Fanks, taking note of this injudicious speech. "That is -as much as to say that you risked being arrested by me. I don't know -that you are wrong, my friend. You deserve punishment for your -trickery."</p> - -<p>"You have evidence against me?"</p> - -<p>"I have sufficient to ensure your arrest. On the whole, Hersham," said -the detective, "I should advise you to help me. Otherwise I shall -arrest you within the hour. Take your choice."</p> - -<p>Before Hersham could answer this question Anne appeared at the door -with a pale face and a determined manner. At once she intervened in -the conversation, and placed herself between the two men.</p> - -<p>"There is no necessity to threaten, Mr. Fanks," said she, quickly. -"Come inside, and let us discuss this matter calmly. I am sure that -Mr. Hersham will agree that this is the best course."</p> - -<p>The journalist nodded sullenly, and the two men passed into the house, -conducted by Anne. She led them into a room, the window of which -looked on to the road, and here, when they were seated, she addressed -herself more particularly to Hersham.</p> - -<p>"You were wrong to speak as you did to Mr. Fanks," she said meaningly. -"There is no reason why you or I should conceal anything. I am -perfectly willing to tell all that I know--which is not much--and to -afford this gentleman every information in my power."</p> - -<p>"You will regret it if you do, Anne," said Hersham, warningly.</p> - -<p>"You will regret it if you don't," interposed Fanks. "I really do not -understand why you should act in this childish manner. I have always -been your friend, yet you treat me a though I were your bitterest -enemy."</p> - -<p>"You are trying to trap me."</p> - -<p>"If your conscience is clear I do not think you need be afraid of -being trapped," retorted Fanks; "but it seems useless to hope for any -sense from you. Perhaps this young lady may be more amenable to -reason."</p> - -<p>"You can depend upon me to help you, Mr. Fanks," said Anne, calmly.</p> - -<p>Hersham rose to his feet with an agitated look on his face. "I shall -leave you to reveal what you think fit," he declared. "At the same -time I wash my hands of the consequences which may result."</p> - -<p>And with a significant look at Anne, he left the room.</p> - -<p>Fanks gave him a parting warning as he passed through the door. "You -had better stay here, Hersham," he said, "as I may want to see you -again. Whether you stay or go I can lay my hands on you at any -moment."</p> - -<p>"You are having me watched?" questioned Hersham, fiercely.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I am having you watched; and you may thank yourself that you are -placed in so unpleasant a position. Now, then, will you go to London, -or stay here?"</p> - -<p>Hersham hesitated for a moment, then, biassed by a look from Anne, he -compromised. "I shall stay in the village," he said, and passed -through the open door, leaving the detective with Miss Colmer.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, Fanks was by no means at his ease with this woman the -more so, as he mistrusted her promise to tell him all she knew. She -had deceived him by flying from the chambers in Half-Moon Street; she -might again mislead him with false reports. If she had anything to -conceal, this ready acquiescence hinted that she would not tell her -secret; and the detective was far more distrustful of her craft than -of the foolish behaviour of Hersham. He might combat obstinacy with -more or less success, but to deal with a diplomatic person like Miss -Colmer, required a dexterous use of all the intelligence he possessed. -Fanks, therefore, prepared for a duel of words; and weighed both -expression, and information, during the ensuing conversation.</p> - -<p>"Well, Mr. Fanks," said Miss Colmer, coolly, "I must congratulate you -on your cleverness in determining my identity; I thought when I left -you in Sir Gregory's chambers that I should be able to elude you -altogether. I was wrong, it seems; you have found me out. Now that you -have done so, may I ask what you want to know?"</p> - -<p>"I want to know a great many things," said Fanks, emulating her -coolness; "but the question is whether you will consent to answer all -my questions?"</p> - -<p>"You can judge for yourself. Ask me what question you will, and I -shall answer to the best of my ability. But," added she, pointedly, -"before you begin, let me ask you one question. Do you suspect that I -have anything to do with the murder of Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"I can't answer that until you have replied to my questions, Miss -Colmer; but, judging from your readiness to afford me information, I -fancy that you do know something of the matter."</p> - -<p>"You are right, I do know something of the matter; but I cannot -promise to tell you who killed Sir Gregory. I know that he was -murdered--no more; and even that information I gained from the -newspapers."</p> - -<p>Fanks made no reply to this remark; whereupon Miss Colmer continued: -"Why do you think that I know anything about the crime? I never met -Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"Why did you come to the rooms of Sir Gregory?" replied Fanks. "I -connect you with the murder because of that visit."</p> - -<p>"If you know the story of my poor sister, you know why I came to -Half-Moon Street," said Anne, coldly. "It was to ask the servant, -Robert, for a portrait of Emma, that had been taken from her by Sir -Gregory."</p> - -<p>"I have seen that photograph, Miss Colmer. Did you want it back for -the picture, or because it had some writing on the back?"</p> - -<p>"What writing do you mean?" asked the girl, sharply.</p> - -<p>Fanks produced the celebrated envelope from his pocket. "That is the -writing," he said; "whosoever wrote that, also wrote on the back of -the photograph of your sister. Perhaps you can tell me who is the -scribe."</p> - -<p>Miss Colmer looked earnestly at the envelope, and shook her head. "I -never saw that writing before," she said, decisively.</p> - -<p>"Yet you can see that the post mark is of this village."</p> - -<p>"So it appears; nevertheless. I cannot name the writer; and I cannot -understand why you show it to me."</p> - -<p>"Well, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, disappointed with this answer, "when -I find out who wrote this envelope I shall know who killed Sir -Gregory."</p> - -<p>"I am sorry I cannot help you, Mr. Fanks. I see that you think the -envelope came from this house, but I assure you that you are wrong. -Both my mother and myself considered Sir Gregory a villain because of -his treatment of poor Emma; but we did not wish his death. If you came -here to find the assassin you have wasted your time. I know nothing -about the matter."</p> - -<p>"Then what is it that Hersham did not wish you to reveal?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing; he wished me to deny that I had been at the chambers of Sir -Gregory on that day, lest you should think I had something to do with -the murder."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Fanks, disbelievingly. "And did Hersham wish you to deny -also that you had been in Tooley's Alley on the night of the murder?"</p> - -<p>Anne became pale at the directness of this attack, and took refuge in -a plain denial. "I was not there," she said, obstinately. "Neither on -that night nor at any time."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, I saw you myself."</p> - -<p>"You must have been mistaken."</p> - -<p>"I think not. Yours is not a face I could easily forget."</p> - -<p>"Thank you for the compliment," said Anne, "but in this case I am -afraid it is unmerited. I was not at Tooley's Alley on that night. If -you doubt me, you can ask my mother."</p> - -<p>"No!" said Fanks, after a moment's reflection, "I shall not ask your -mother--yet." As a matter of fact, the detective was well assured that -mother and daughter had prepared an alibi in case of discovery. Not -being ready to analyse the matter, by reason of lack of information, -and certain that Anne would persist in her denial, he wisely postponed -all discussion until a more fitting occasion. He, therefore, on the -face of it, accepted Anne's assertion, and merely remarked that -Hersham was foolish to induce her to conceal what had better have been -told.</p> - -<p>To this, Anne replied, promptly: "You must forgive him, Mr. Fanks," -she said. "He knows that I hated Sir Gregory for his treatment of my -sister; and he fancies that my unlucky visit might implicate me in -this matter. But I have told you the reason I went there; so you must -blame or excuse me as you see fit."</p> - -<p>"I shall do neither, at present," said Fanks, significantly. "But I -shall ask you why you ran away from me on that day?"</p> - -<p>"I was afraid of you."</p> - -<p>"Why, you did not know me; you never saw me before."</p> - -<p>"I saw your portrait," said Miss Colmer, frankly. "You gave one to -Ted--Mr. Hersham--and he told me that you were a detective. When I saw -you in those chambers I guessed that you had the case in hand; and I -was seized with a panic fear lest you should suspect me to be mixed up -in the crime. For that reason I fled. How did you trace me?"</p> - -<p>"It was wrong of you to go, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, not replying -directly, "and I was naturally suspicious of your flight."</p> - -<p>"But you don't suspect me now?"</p> - -<p>"Not since you have explained your visit. You ask me how I traced you. -First, from your marvellous resemblance to your dead sister; and, -secondly, from the post mark on this envelope. As I told you, the -writing on envelope and portrait are the same. You see the -connection?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I see the connection. And now, Mr. Fanks, I have told you all I -know; is there any other question you wish to ask me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Where was this photograph taken you wanted?"</p> - -<p>"In this village."</p> - -<p>"Was it your sister's possession?"</p> - -<p>"It was; it was the only photograph we had of her. The negative was -broken and there was no picture of my sister in existence. After the -death, my mother wanted this picture; and, as I guessed that it might -be at Sir Gregory's chambers, I went up for it."</p> - -<p>"Did you see it in your sister's possession before she went away with -Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. She took it from here when she went to London."</p> - -<p>"Was there any writing on the back then?"</p> - -<p>Anne reflected a moment. "No," she said. "There was no writing on it -then."</p> - -<p>"Do you think your sister wrote on the back of the portrait before she -committed suicide?"</p> - -<p>"If the writing on the back of the photograph is the same as that on -this letter--or rather, envelope--I do not think she wrote it. This is -not my sister's handwriting."</p> - -<p>"You cannot think who wrote it?"</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Fanks; I am entirely ignorant of that."</p> - -<p>Needless to say, Fanks took his departure from Briar Cottage in a very -puzzled frame of mind. Before leaving, he told Miss Colmer that he -would call again the next day. When he got back to his hotel he asked -himself how much of her story he could believe; and he came to the -conclusion that not one word of it was true. He was as far off -discovery as ever.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">CHAPTER XVIII</a>.</h4> -<h5>ON THE TWENTY-FIRST OF JUNE.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Up to the present time the visit of Fanks to Taxton-on-Thames had been -a complete failure. He had been thwarted by Hersham; he more than -suspected that he had been tricked by Anne; and he saw no means of -obtaining any information likely to lead to the elucidation of the -mystery which enveloped the death of Sir Gregory Fellenger. It was in -very low spirits that the detective returned to the Royal Arms, and -after a good dinner, which somewhat cheered him, he sat down with a -pipe to consider what he should do next.</p> - -<p>He had no hope of obtaining any information from Hersham or Anne -Colmer, as for some reason or another each of them declined to speak. -Fanks thought they could put him on the right track if they pleased; -but he saw no means by which he could force them to speak openly. In -spite of his threats he could arrest neither of them, as he had not -sufficient evidence to do so. Unable, therefore, to force or to -flatter them into plain speaking, he was completely baffled in his -efforts to solve the enigma in this direction. For the time being he -was at a standstill.</p> - -<p>In this dilemma he left the decision regarding his future movements to -"chance," and, in the expectation of hearing something of value to his -plans, he strolled into the tap-room of the hotel. Here he hoped to -find the village gossips, and to gather from their idle talk -information concerning Sir Louis Fellenger, Dr. Binjoy, and the negro -servant. However, there was no one in the room save a bent and crooked -old man, with a pair of keen eyes. He was seated in a corner of the -settle, with a tankard of beer before him; and with garrulous -complacency he introduced himself as Simeon Wagg, the parish clerk of -Taxton-on-Thames. He had a long tongue and a fund of gossip at his -disposal; and he was ready to afford Fanks all the information in his -power about the parish and its inhabitants.</p> - -<p>"I hev more edication than the most folk about here," piped this -ancient. "Theer ain't much as I don't know if I do so choose. Thirty -year, sir, hey I bin official in this yer church an' village; and I've -buried an' married an' christened wi' five passons. They come, they -go; but old Simeon he staay like t' church itself. He! he! he!"</p> - -<p>"I suppose you know Sir Louis Fellenger?"</p> - -<p>"I knaw Mr. Louis Fellenger," corrected the aged gossip. "He warn't no -barrownit when I seed him. Now he hev gone inter th' 'Ouse of Lors, es -I hev heard. But he was in the third 'ouse es you go down by Fox's -Farm. Aw, yis, I knaws him; sold hisself to Ould Scratch, he did."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, Mr. Wagg?"</p> - -<p>"Whoy, this ere Mister Fellenger he was a-pothicary an' a chimist, an' -he raised the 'nemy of mankin', as the saaying goes. An' they do saay -es the black maan wor a devil, from all of which Good Loord deliv'r -us, es I ses i' t' church."</p> - -<p>"Did you know Dr. Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"Aye! He were laarge an' beer-baarel like; aw, vis, an' the woords he -sid, passon culdn't spake like he. He wint awaay wi' Mister Fellenger -t' be a barrownit, es I hey heaard tell."</p> - -<p>"Did the negro servant go with them?"</p> - -<p>"Aw, no. T' blaack devil he was turned out o' doors on t' twenty -first, he was. I know t' toime, I do, 'cause blaack maan he nearly run -me over on his bikikle, he did."</p> - -<p>Fanks pricked up his ears at this. It was on the twenty-first that the -murder had been committed in London. He addressed himself with renewed -attention to the task of extracting information from this piece of -antiquity.</p> - -<p>"How was it that the negro nearly ran over you on his bicycle?"</p> - -<p>"Naow, I'll jes' tell ye, I will," said Simeon, settling himself for a -long story. "This yere blaack maan--Caesar is his name--he worn a -grean coat wi' brass buttons, he did. I knawed him in t' dark by that -coat, I did."</p> - -<p>"Was it in the dark that he ran over you?" asked Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Aye; it jes' were, Mister. I was on t' Lunon Roaad, I was; about -nine, es I cud tell by t' striking clock fro' t' church. An' this yere -blaack maan he coom along, he did, on t' divil machine, an' he laaid -me flaat on my back, he did; an' I bean't so yooung es I was, Mister. -I shoated to he, but he niver saaid nothing, he didn't. He run on an' -left me lying on my baack in t' durt, he did. I were main aangry, I -were."</p> - -<p>"I don't wonder at it, Mr. Wagg," said Fanks, amiably. "But how did -you know it was the negro Caesar?"</p> - -<p>"I seed his groan coaat, I tell 'ee; his face were muffled oop-like, -but his coaat were plaain in t' gaas lamp, it were. I hev seen t' -coaat heaps of times, I hev. An' t' nex' day he were sent away, he -were."</p> - -<p>This story made Fanks wonder if Caesar had been up to town on the -twenty-first. A negro had committed the murder in Tooley's Alley -between six and seven. So if he returned to Taxton-on-Thames on a -bicycle there was plenty of time for him to come down before nine -o'clock, or, as the old man said, after nine o'clock. A good wheelman -could easily cover the distance between London and Taxton-on-Thames in -two hours. Again, Mrs. Boazoph had sworn that the murderer had been -arrayed in a green coat with brass buttons; and this description -matched that of the negro who had so nearly run over Wagg on the -London Road. Time and date corresponded; and then the negro had been -dismissed the next day--he had been smuggled out of the way by his -master. On the whole, Fanks thought that matters looked rather black -against the stout doctor. He proceeded with his enquiries.</p> - -<p>"Did Dr. Binjoy discharge his servant, or did Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>"Weel theer naow," said the aged one, taking the pipe out of his -mouth, "blamed if I knaw who did give him t' kickout. Muster -Fellenger, he were ill, he were, an' hed bin fur weeks; t' doctor he -was wi' him, he was, an' I niver saaw one of 'en--an' naw one else es -I heerd of did, fur daays an' daays. But Missus Jerusalem, she es is -t' housekeeper t' Muster Fellenger, she said es haow Caesar hed bin -turned awaay. He got off fro' t' village, he did; an' I niver see'd -him since, I didn't. Then t' cousin of Muster Louis died, he did; an' -Muster Fellenger he went awaay wi' doctor to be barrownit, he did."</p> - -<p>"You don't think that Dr. Binjoy was up in London on the night you met -Caesar on the bicycle?"</p> - -<p>"Noa, sir, I doan't. Whoy Muster Fellenger he were ill, he were; an' -t' doctor he kep in t' sick room, he did. No one iver saaw him for -daays, they didn't."</p> - -<p>From this information, it seemed to Fanks as though there were an -understanding between Sir Louis and the doctor. This old creature who -represented the village opinion was quite sure that Dr. Binjoy had -been in attendance on Fellenger on the night of the twenty-first. Yet -Fanks knew by personal observation that Binjoy, under the name of -Renshaw, had been in Tooley's Alley. He would not have returned to -Taxton-on-Thames on that night, as the house in Great Auk Street had -been watched. And yet Fanks had proved beyond all doubt that Renshaw -and Binjoy were one and the same person. Was it possible that Sir -Louis was telling a lie to screen Binjoy from the consequences of his -being in town; and was it possible that the two had employed the -negro, Caesar, to commit the crime, and then had smuggled him out of -the way--say to Bombay--so that he should not betray them. In a word, -were Fellenger and Binjoy guilty of the murder of the cousin of the -former? It seemed impossible; and yet, as Sir Louis was employing -Fanks to hunt down the assassin, it was hard to believe. The -conversation of Simeon Wagg only introduced a new perplexity into this -perplexing case.</p> - -<p>There was nothing more to be got out of the old clerk; so Fanks -retired to bed in a very melancholy frame of mind. He did not know -which way to move in the midst of such contradictory information. The -night brought counsel; and the next morning Fanks arose with a -definite object. He would return to town and advertise for the negro. -Caesar must have left his bicycle somewhere, so if he advertised for a -negro in a green coat with brass buttons, he might find out something. -Those with whom the bicycle had been left would be able to give a -description of the negro who had arrived and departed with it; and so -Fanks hoped to learn if the black murderer of Tooley's Alley was the -same as the servant Caesar of Dr. Binjoy. Regarding the shielding of -the doctor by Louis Fellenger, the detective resolved to leave that -question until he went to Mere Hall and saw the two men together.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid that Crate will have to go to Bombay, after all," said -Fanks to himself as he left the hotel.</p> - -<p>He did not go at once to town, as he wished to see both Hersham and -Anne Colmer; also he was desirous of having an interview with the -mother. Half-way down the street he met with the journalist, who -saluted him in rather a sullen fashion.</p> - -<p>"I was just about to call on you," said Hersham. "I wish to go to town -by the midday train, if you have no objection."</p> - -<p>"You can go as soon as you please," retorted Fanks, "you are not so -much good to me that I care to keep you here."</p> - -<p>"You need not make yourself so infernally disagreeable, Fanks," said -the young man, tartly. "I have told you all I know, and so has Miss -Colmer."</p> - -<p>"As to that, I have my own opinion, Hersham. I certainly think that -you and she have a secret between you which you will not share with -me."</p> - -<p>"It does not concern you."</p> - -<p>"Ah, you have a secret, then?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I have, but it is private business, and has nothing to do with -the death of that titled scoundrel."</p> - -<p>"I should like to judge of that for myself," said Fanks, coldly. -"However, I daresay I'll find out all I wish to know without your -assistance."</p> - -<p>Hersham came forward, and laid his hand on the arm of the detective. -"I say, Fanks," he observed, earnestly, "I know I'm not treating you -well, but you must make allowances for the natural fear I feel at -being brought into contact with the law. I know something; and I -should like to tell it to you, but I can't make up my mind to do -so--yet. Still, I give you my word of honour that if you ask me again -next week I shall tell you all; I shall place my life and liberty in -your hands."</p> - -<p>"Good heavens, man!" cried the startled Fanks. "You don't mean to say -that you are concerned in the murder?"</p> - -<p>"No, I am not, but when I tell you all, you will see why I did not -speak before. Give me a week to make up my mind."</p> - -<p>"I'll give you the week," said the detective, briefly, and without -further speech, Hersham took his leave in an abrupt manner, evidently -relieved to be so dismissed.</p> - -<p>On presenting himself at Briar Cottage, Fanks was at once admitted, -and was shown by the servant--a neat-handed Phyllis--into a different -sitting-room from the one he had seen before. In a large chair by the -window which looked out on the garden, an old lady was seated. She was -dressed completely in white; and the lower part of her body was -swathed in a shawl of Chinese crape. Her face was pale and careworn, -and her eyes were red-rimmed as from constant crying. An open Bible -lay on her lap, and from this she raised her eyes as Fanks entered. He -had little hesitation in guessing that this was Mrs. Colmer, the -paralytic mother of the living Anne and the dead Emma.</p> - -<p>"You must excuse my rising to receive you," she said in a low and -sweet voice, "but I am unable to move hand or foot. Doubtless, my -daughter has told you of my affliction. My daughter will see you -presently."</p> - -<p>Fanks bowed, and there was a silence between them for a few moments. -He glanced round the neatly furnished room; at the pictures and -photographs; but among them all he could not see one of the dead Emma.</p> - -<p>At the elbow of Mrs. Colmer, on a small table, stood a pile of -photographs, at which she had evidently been looking prior to his -entrance, and Fanks surmised that a portrait of Emma might be there. -He was anxious to discover one, if possible, as Anne had denied that -there was a photograph of her sister in existence save the one which -she had sought at Sir Gregory's chambers. Fanks thought that if he -could find another in the pile at Mrs. Colmer's elbow he would be able -to convict Anne out of her own mouth, and expose the falsity of the -motive she gave for her visit. He cast about for some means whereby to -accomplish his purpose.</p> - -<p>"You will excuse me, Mrs. Colmer," he said, rising from his seat, "but -that is an excellent picture of the Bay of Naples."</p> - -<p>He had crossed over to the other side of the room to look at the -picture, and so found himself standing by the small table which held -the sundry pictures. In turning away he pretended to stumble, and so -knocked over the table and photographs.</p> - -<p>"Thousand apologies," said Fanks, in confusion, stooping to pick them -up.</p> - -<p>He looked in vain for the face he sought; but he made a discovery -which startled him not a little. The last photograph which he picked -up off the carpet was one of--Mrs. Boazoph.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">CHAPTER XIX</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE DEFIANCE OF ANNE COLMER.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Before Fanks could remark on the strangeness of this discovery, the -door opened and Anne entered the room. With characteristic quickness -she recognised the photograph in the hand of the detective. At once -she came forward, and signed to him to be silent. At the same time she -spoke to her mother.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Fanks has been shown into this room by mistake," she said, -hurriedly; "so with your permission, mother, I shall conduct him into -the next room."</p> - -<p>"As you please, Anne; you know best."</p> - -<p>Accepting this permission Anne drew Fanks quickly into the passage, -and led him into the apartment he had seen on the occasion of his last -visit. He still held the photograph in his hand; and at this she -looked anxiously as she signed to him that he should take a seat. -Fanks placed himself in a comfortable armchair; Miss Colmer took up -her position opposite to him, and both prepared for a difficult -conversation. As was natural from her late action, she made an -observation on the picture of Mrs. Boazoph.</p> - -<p>"I see that you recognise that face," said Anne, coolly; "no doubt you -wonder how that photograph came to be in this house?"</p> - -<p>"I do wonder. Am I to hear the truth from you, Miss Colmer?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly; there is no reason why I should tell you a lie."</p> - -<p>Man and woman looked directly into one another's eyes, and a look of -mutual distrust passed between them. It was Fanks who first took up -the unspoken challenge.</p> - -<p>"I think you would tell me a lie if there was anything to be gained or -concealed by it," said the detective, dryly.</p> - -<p>"You are not far out there," returned Anne, coolly. "I am above petty -moral doubts in such circumstances. But in this instance, Mr. Fanks, I -have nothing to gain or to lose by telling a falsehood. You saw Mr. -Hersham this morning," she added abruptly and irrelevantly.</p> - -<p>"Yes. Have I you to thank for the alteration in his demeanour?"</p> - -<p>"You have; I persuaded him to tell you all. Has he done so?"</p> - -<p>"No; he has postponed the confession for a week."</p> - -<p>"What foolish weakness," muttered Anne, with a sigh. "I wish he had -told you this morning."</p> - -<p>"Do you? Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because you may find out that which he wished to hide before he can -brace his mind to a confession. I love Edward Hersham dearly, Mr. -Fanks; but I can see his faults and weakness of character as plainly -as you can. I entreated him to tell you all at once. He consented; yet -you see when it comes to the point his feebleness makes him shrink -from the ordeal."</p> - -<p>"You hint at danger to Hersham. May I ask if it is connected with the -committal of this crime?</p> - -<p>"No, you may not, Mr. Fanks. Edward can tell you the truth for himself -in a week; he is foolish but he is not guilty."</p> - -<p>Fanks was at once piqued and delighted with this woman. She was so -clever and so inscrutable that he could not help respecting her. For -the first time for many days he had met with a woman with the mind of -a man; and he felt that he would need all his intelligence to beat -her. On the other hand, he was not unprepared to expect defeat in -place of victory.</p> - -<p>"What would you say, Miss Colmer, if I told you that I had found the -assassin of Sir Gregory?" he asked, craftily.</p> - -<p>"I should at once congratulate you, and doubt you," was the quick -response. "No, Mr. Fanks, you are not yet successful, else you would -not come to see me, nor would you be astonished at seeing the -photograph of Mrs. Boazoph."</p> - -<p>"You know her, it seems?"</p> - -<p>"I do; but my mother does not know her under that name."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>Miss Colmer made no immediate reply. She compressed her beautiful lips -tightly together, and looked out of the window.</p> - -<p>"I see that I shall have to make a confidant of you, sir," she said, -slowly, "although I do not recognise your claim to demand an -explanation."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, Miss Colmer," said Fanks, with the utmost politeness, "the -law gives me every right. By your visit to Half-Moon Street where the -murdered man lived you implicated yourself in the matter. I can see by -the hints of yourself and Hersham that you both know more than you -choose to tell; and as I am deputed to search out the truth, I can -call on you to reveal all you know."</p> - -<p>"I made my confession yesterday."</p> - -<p>"Was it the truth?"</p> - -<p>"It was the truth so far as it went."</p> - -<p>"Ah! then there is more to tell?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Anne, after a pause; "there is more to tell; but not yet, -not yet."</p> - -<p>Fanks leaned forward and looked into her eyes. "Miss Colmer," he said -in a low tone, "tell me who killed Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know; I swear I do not know. See here, Mr. Fanks," she -cried, suddenly, "I do not know the truth, but I have an inkling of -the truth; I may be wrong; I fervently trust that I am wrong; still I -am doubtful; very, very doubtful. I can't tell you of my suspicions: -they might get an innocent person into trouble."</p> - -<p>"Are you alluding to Hersham?"</p> - -<p>"I decline to say; by my advice Mr. Hersham is about to tell you all -he knows; I cannot take the words out of his mouth; he would never -forgive me; and I do not wish to lose his love."</p> - -<p>"Then you mean Mrs. Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"I refuse to speak; I shall leave you if you ask further questions," -she said, almost fiercely. "You nearly discovered what I think is the -truth in those chambers; I did not know that you were there, but I -went up to Half-Moon Street to prevent the truth being discovered, if -I could. I failed because you were present."</p> - -<p>Fanks sat up alertly. She had given him a clue. "Is the truth to be -discovered in Half-Moon Street?" he asked, eagerly.</p> - -<p>Anne moistened her dry lips, and turned away her face. "Yes! I believe -it is," she murmured, "and I hope you will never discover it."</p> - -<p>She was so moved that Fanks thought she was about to faint. With -considerable dexterity he left the question alone for a time and -turned the conversation toward the subject of Mrs. Boazoph.</p> - -<p>"You have not yet told me about this portrait," he said, gently.</p> - -<p>"I will do so now," said Anne, recovering her nerve, "Mrs. Boazoph is -my mother's sister; she is my aunt."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Fanks, considerably astonished, "then how is it that your -mother does not know the name of Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"Because she only knows her sister as Mrs. Bryant."</p> - -<p>"But I do not understand," said Fanks, rather bewildered.</p> - -<p>"The matter is easy of explanation. My mother is a gentlewoman, -although we keep a shop; and she is very proud of her birth and blood. -The behaviour of my sister nearly killed her. You can, therefore, -guess what she would think of my aunt, Mrs. Boazoph, did she know that -she kept a notorious hotel in Tooley's Alley; and was so well known to -the police as she is."</p> - -<p>Fanks looked at this woman in astonishment. It was so strange to hear -her speak in this manner of her own flesh and blood. Anne noticed his -astonishment; and a faint blush crept over her cheek. "I see what you -are thinking of, Mr. Fanks. But I know my aunt; she has told me all -about her unhappy life. Believe me, she is more to be pitied than -blamed."</p> - -<p>"Like Hersham?" said Links, dryly.</p> - -<p>"Yes, like Mr. Hersham," she retorted, defiantly. "My aunt made an -unhappy marriage with a man far beneath her. His name was Bryant, not -Boazoph, so my mother only knows her sister by that name. Bryant lost -all his money, and was set up by some of his friends in the Red Star, -in Tooley's Alley. There, from some shame at his fall, he called -himself Boazoph. When he died, my aunt carried on the business; and I -daresay you know all the rest of her life."</p> - -<p>Fanks nodded. "I suppose Mrs. Boazoph visits you occasionally, as Mrs. -Bryant?" he said, inquisitively.</p> - -<p>"She comes once or twice in the year; and, for my mother's sake, I see -her; but I do not approve of Mrs. Boazoph's misguided life, and I am -not what you would call friendly with her."</p> - -<p>"Yours is indeed an unfortunate family," said Fanks, bluntly, and with -less of his usual courtesy. "Your sister driven to her death by that -dead scoundrel; your aunt one of the most notorious women in London; -your mother paralysed; your lover mixed up in this murder."</p> - -<p>Anne lost her temper at this brutal speech, which was just what Fanks -wished her to do, and why he had made it. Inherently a gentleman, he -would never have thought of taunting the poor girl with the crime and -follies of her family had he not desired to get the better of her; but -in this instance he desired to make her angry; and took this way--an -unworthy way it must be confessed. With a burst of indignation, Anne -rose to her feet.</p> - -<p>"I always understood that you were a gentleman, Mr. Fanks," she said -bitterly, "but I see I am mistaken. If you think to trap me into -helping you by insulting my family, you are mistaken. I shall tell you -nothing--now."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I may force you to help me," said Fanks, looking very wicked.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid not. In what way do you hope to accomplish so impossible -a task?"</p> - -<p>"Why," said Fanks, keeping his eyes fixed on her face, "by arresting -your lover."</p> - -<p>"You dare not."</p> - -<p>"I dare! I dare anything. Look you here, Miss Colmer, I am -growing tired of being in the dark; and rather than remain in it any -longer, I shall resort to strong measures. In some way--of which you -know--Hersham is mixed up in this crime. If you won't be persuaded to -tell, you must be forced to speak out, if only to save Hersham from -being tried for the crime. I shall arrest him."</p> - -<p>"Do so; and you will only be the loser by so rash an action."</p> - -<p>Fanks walked to the door. "Good day, Miss Colmer, I shall do as I say; -and the blame will lie at your door."</p> - -<p>Anne said nothing; but, very pale and very determined, she stood -looking at Fanks. He admired her for the way in which she was -fighting, and he privately considered that if the way to the truth lay -through Anne Colmer, there was small chance of it being discovered. He -made one more attempt to induce her to speak.</p> - -<p>"Come," he said, pleadingly, "be advised; save yourself and Hersham, -by telling the truth."</p> - -<p>"I don't know the truth, I only guess it."</p> - -<p>"Your guess may be the correct one; let me know what it is?"</p> - -<p>"No, no, no!"</p> - -<p>"You won't speak?"</p> - -<p>"No. Not for worlds."</p> - -<p>It was plain that whatever she knew she would not reveal, so Fanks, -shaking his head, left the room. When he was out of the door, Anne -broke down, and, falling into a chair, she burst into tears. Yet she -had no idea of yielding: for better or worse the die was cast, and if -Hersham was arrested, at her door would lie the ruin and disgrace of -his life. Truly, it was a powerful reason which made Anne conceal the -truth at the expense of her lover's liberty, and--it might be--of his -life.</p> - -<p>As for Fanks, he went off to the station, and caught the train to -town. He had gone to Taxton-on-Thames full of hope of success; he left -it beaten on every point--and by a woman. His sole chance of learning -anything further lay in advertising for the negro; and in the chance -that Hersham would confess next week. Anne Colmer was as silent as the -Sphinx; all the same, Fanks had not done with that young lady.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_20" href="#div1Ref_20">CHAPTER XX</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE GREEN OVERCOAT.</h5> -<br> - -<p>It may be here mentioned that Fanks had no intention of arresting -Hersham at the present time, he had threatened to do so in order to -induce Anne to speak out; but this having failed, he thought no more -about the matter. The journalist was being watched, and he could be -arrested at any moment; so Fanks was quite at his ease on that score. -The slightest false step, and Hersham would find himself within the -walls of a jail; but up to the present time Fanks had not collected -sufficient evidence against him to warrant any magistrate authorising -his imprisonment. The confession of the next week might bring about -the intervention of the law, but till then Fanks left Hersham under -the eye of the watching detective, and devoted himself to searching -for the mysterious negro who had worn the green coat with brass -buttons.</p> - -<p>It may seem strange to the reader that so astute a man as Mr. Fanks -should advertise for a negro, when he was confident that the only -negro connected with the matter was in Bombay. But this apparent -riddle will be explained when Mr. Fanks receives the expected answer -to his paragraph in the "Morning Planet." This appeared two days after -he left Taxton-on-Thames, and read as follows:--</p> - -<p>"Ten pounds reward will be given to any person who can inform -advertiser of the whereabouts of a black man dressed in a green coat -with brass buttons. Twenty pounds will be given to anyone who can give -information as to the movements of the said black man on the night of -the twenty-first of June last, between the hours of six and nine. -Apply Messrs. Vaud and Vaud, Lincoln's Inn Fields."</p> - -<p>It cannot be said that this advertisement was a masterpiece of -composition, but the clumsy wording was due to Crate, and Crate not -being a scholar had written it in such a fashion. Fanks commented on -its prolixity to the author himself on the morning of its appearance.</p> - -<p>"You could have shortened that advertisement considerably," he said, -smiling. "I never saw so roundabout a request for information."</p> - -<p>"What does it' matter?" replied Crate, growing rather red. "I ain't no -scholar, Mr. Fanks, and I did the best I could. If, the fish bites, -sir, that is all you want."</p> - -<p>"I hope the fish will bite, Crate," said Fanks, fretfully; "if not, I -do not know what I shall do. Never have I been so unlucky as over this -case. Everything seems to go wrong with me. But if I can find anyone -who saw this negro on the night of the murder we my hear strange -things."</p> - -<p>"About Mrs. Boazoph and Dr. Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"About Miss Colmer and Hersham. Though to be sure such information may -run me into a blind alley. By the way, did Mr. Garth call to see me in -my absence?"</p> - -<p>"Twice, sir."</p> - -<p>"The deuce!" muttered Fanks, with a frown. "I wonder why he is so -anxious over this case?"</p> - -<p>"I think I can tell you that, sir."</p> - -<p>"And I think I can guess what you are about to say," retorted Fanks. -"However, let me hear your theory."</p> - -<p>"Well, I may be wrong," said Crate, modestly, "but it seems to me that -this Mr. Garth is anxious to find out that Sir Louis Fellenger is -concerned in the murder of his cousin, because----"</p> - -<p>"Because he wants to inherit the Fellenger title and property as next -heir," finished Fanks, smartly.</p> - -<p>"Exactly, sir; what do you think of my theory?"</p> - -<p>"There may be something in it, Crate," replied Fanks, thoughtfully; -"of course, Mr. Garth comes into the Fellenger estates on the death of -the present baronet. But," he added, emphatically, "we know that this -negro actually killed Sir Gregory, so Louis could only be associated -with the case as an accessory before the fact. Therefore he could not -be hanged, even if the case were proved against him. Where would Mr. -Garth be then? In such an event the estates would probably be thrown -into Chancery while Sir Louis was undergoing imprisonment, and would -not come to Garth for years. Your idea is a good one, Crate, but I do -not see how it would benefit our friend."</p> - -<p>Crate scratched his chin. "I suppose that Mr. Garth is lawyer enough -to know all that," he said, grudgingly, "and wouldn't risk his neck -for the mere chance of such a thing. He----"</p> - -<p>"Ah! now you are on another track. Mr. Garth may be anxious to prove -the case against Sir Louis, but I do not think he killed Sir Gregory -himself."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I know who you think is guilty, Mr. Fanks. All the same, I do not -agree with you; and I should not be surprised if this Garth turned out -to be the real criminal."</p> - -<p>"Garth isn't a negro."</p> - -<p>"I guess you have your own ideas about that negro, Mr. Fanks."</p> - -<p>The detective smiled and rose from his seat. "I guess I have, Mr. -Crate. You are improving, my friend; and you are beginning to see -further than your nose. I should not wonder if I made something of you -yet. So you suspect Garth?"</p> - -<p>With becoming modesty, but a good deal of emphasis, Crate asserted -that he did, and moreover said that if permitted by his superior -officer he would have great pleasure in proving his case against the -barrister. To this Fanks assented readily enough.</p> - -<p>"Prove your case by all means, Crate," he said, dryly. "I do not agree -with you in the least; all the same I am always open to correction. -One thing only I ask. You must tell me all you do, all you discover, -as I do not wish you to cross my trail."</p> - -<p>This Crate assented to without demur, and Fanks departed to Duke -Street, where he changed his clothes for the more stylish ones of -Rixton. Thence he went to the Athenian Club, and, as he expected, -found Garth in the smoking-room. The lean lawyer looked so haggard and -worn out that Fanks wondered if there might not be more in Crate's -theory than appeared at first sight. But he rejected this idea almost -as soon as it crossed his mind; he was confident that the true -assassin of Sir Gregory was--but that revelation comes later. In the -meantime he greeted Garth with his customary coolness, and sat down -beside him with a view to learning all that had transpired during his -absence.</p> - -<p>"Were you waiting for me here?" he asked, lighting a cigarette.</p> - -<p>"Not exactly," replied Garth, with some hesitation. "I hoped that you -would come in here sooner or later, and I wished to see you. But at -present I am waiting for Herbert Vaud."</p> - -<p>"Really! Do you expect him shortly?"</p> - -<p>Garth looked at his watch. "He ought to be here now."</p> - -<p>"What do you wish to see him about?" asked Fanks, eyeing his companion -keenly; "anything about this case?"</p> - -<p>Garth nodded. "Yes; young Vaud knew Emma Calvert, and I wish to learn -if she is really dead."</p> - -<p>"You can set your mind at rest on that point," said Fanks, coolly. -"Emma Calvert is six feet below the soil of Pere la Chaise."</p> - -<p>"But the woman who appeared at my cousin's chambers; the woman whom -Robert said was she."</p> - -<p>"That is Anne Colmer, the twin sister of the dead woman."</p> - -<p>"Anne Colmer! She is engaged to Ted Hersham."</p> - -<p>"She is. I have been down to Taxton-on-Thames, and I have found out -all the family history."</p> - -<p>"Have you found out who wrote on the back of the photograph; who -directed that envelope?"</p> - -<p>"No," said Fanks, gloomily, "I have not discovered anything yet about -that."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that Anne Colmer wrote it?"</p> - -<p>"I am certain from personal observation that Anne Colmer did not."</p> - -<p>"Did her mother?"</p> - -<p>"Impossible. Mrs. Colmer is a hopeless paralytic."</p> - -<p>"Then who wrote it?"</p> - -<p>"That is just what I have to learn. I am no further in the case than I -was when I saw you last. Have you discovered anything?"</p> - -<p>"No; but I had hoped to have learned about Emma from Herbert."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Fanks, with a sigh, "we know all about Herbert Vaud; we -are aware of the identity of Emma Calvert. It is not in that direction -we must search. Our only chance of finding out the truth, lies in -discovering this negro."</p> - -<p>"I saw your advertisement in the 'Morning Planet.' Anybody who can -give information is to call at the office of Vaud and Vaud, I see."</p> - -<p>"I thought it best that they should receive the information," said -Fanks, "seeing that they are the solicitors of Sir Louis. I hope that -something will turn up; but I am doubtful; I am very doubtful."</p> - -<p>At this moment the waiter brought in a telegram to Mr. Garth. The -barrister opened it, and uttered an ejaculation of surprise. After a -pause, he handed the telegram to Fanks. "Queer, isn't it?" he said.</p> - -<p>Fanks looked at the message, which ran as follows: "Cannot see you -to-day; have to wait in to see Fanks about advertisement. H. Vaud."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Fanks, rising briskly to his feet, "it is strange that I -should be here with you; and stranger still that the advertisement -should be answered so promptly. I told Vaud to write to Scotland Yard -should anything turn up; but this will save me a journey."</p> - -<p>"Can I come with you?"</p> - -<p>"If you like; I must call at my room first," said Fanks. "By the way, -my friend," he added, turning sharply on Garth, "you don't know -anything about this very apropos telegram?"</p> - -<p>"Good Lord, no! How should I? You don't think that I sent it?"</p> - -<p>"No, I don't. But it is--no matter. Let us get on; there is no time to -lose."</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, Fanks did not like the look of things at all. He -was naturally suspicious of this telegram, fitted in so very neatly -with the subject of their conversation, that he thought Garth might -know more of it than he had chosen to say. But a moment's reflection -convinced him that he suspected the lawyer wrongly. Garth did not know -that he was coming to the Athenian Club; therefore, he could not have -made such an arrangement. Fanks dismissed the matter from his mind; -and allowed Garth to come with him to his room.</p> - -<p>In Duke Street he picked up a photograph, and placed it in his pocket. -Garth saw the face of the picture, and whistled. "You don't think that -person has anything to do with it?" he asked, anxiously.</p> - -<p>"This person has to do with the present matter," said Fanks, smartly, -"but I can't say if the person has anything to do with the death in -Tooley's Alley. I am only taking this portrait on chance; I may be -wrong. However, we shall see," and not another word would Fanks say, -until he arrived at Lincoln's Inn Fields.</p> - -<p>Here they found Herbert in his father's room with an apology. "I have -to take the place of my father to-day, Mr. Fanks," said the young -lawyer, who looked ill, "he is not well, and deputed me to see after -this matter."</p> - -<p>"Touching the advertisement?" said Fanks, eagerly.</p> - -<p>"Yes. A man turned up this morning in answer to it. He is waiting in -the next room; and he says that he knows all about the negro you are -in search of."</p> - -<p>"Good. Let us have him in. You do not mind my friend, Mr. Garth, being -present, I hope?"</p> - -<p>"Not at all," replied Herbert, coldly; "that lies more in your hands -than mine. Show in that man who came about the advertisement," he -added to a clerk who entered.</p> - -<p>The gentleman in question entered. A dried-up little man, brisk and -keen-eyed, with a horsey look about him. He glanced sharply at the -three men, pulled his forelock, and proceeded to ask about the reward.</p> - -<p>"I want thirty puns," he said, calmly.</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, you don't," retorted Fanks, "you want ten or twenty. The two -rewards are separate; you must not add them together."</p> - -<p>"But I can tell of the whereabouts of this negro; and I can tell his -movements. I know all about him, so I ought to get both rewards."</p> - -<p>"You'll get either the ten or the twenty," said Fanks. "Now no more -talk; what is your name?"</p> - -<p>"Berry Jawkins; I am barman at the Eight Bells public on the Richmond -Road."</p> - -<p>"Ho; Ho!" muttered Fanks, "I thought as much."</p> - -<p>"On the twenty-first a nigger came riding a bicycle about eight -o'clock; he came into the bar; and had a drink. He wore a green coat -with brass buttons. After he had his drink, he asked if he might wash -his face. I sent him out to the pump in the back yard; he washed and -came in. Then gents," said the little man, with emphasis, "I got a -surprise, I can tell you."</p> - -<p>"What kind of surprise?" demanded Garth, with an astonished look.</p> - -<p>"Why, sir; that nigger weren't no nigger at all; he were a white man; -as white as you make 'em."</p> - -<p>"A white man," said Fanks, producing the portrait from his pocket.</p> - -<p>"A white man with a smile and a moustache; a very good-looking sort of -feller," added the barman, "he explained how it was he--"</p> - -<p>"Wait a moment," said Fanks, "is that the man you saw?"</p> - -<p>Berry Jawkins started back in surprise, the moment he set eyes on the -photograph which Fanks had thrust under his nose. "My gum, here's a -start," said Mr. Berry Jawkins. "That's the very identical person who -washed himself at the Eight Bells. How did you come to know of him, -sir?"</p> - -<p>"I suspected it for some time," said Fanks, "do you recognise the -face, Mr. Vaud?"</p> - -<p>Herbert looked at the face, and his countenance reflected the -astonishment of Berry Jawkins and of Garth.</p> - -<p>"Why!" exclaimed the young solicitor, starting back, "it is Ted -Hersham."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_21" href="#div1Ref_21">CHAPTER XXI</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE EIGHT BELLS ENIGMA.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Although Fanks quite expected this revelation, he was, nevertheless, -rather astonished at its unexpected confirmation. From that bicycle -ride of Hersham's to Taxton-on-Thames to thwart his designs on Anne -Colmer, Fanks had deduced certain suspicions; the hesitation of the -journalist had confirmed those suspicions. Frankly speaking, he -had no reason to connect Hersham with the negro; but he had been -satisfied from the evidence of Simeon Wagg that Caesar--Dr. Binjoy's -servant--had not been away from the Surrey village on that fatal -night. Failing the real negro someone must have personated the black -man; from the behaviour of Hersham, Fanks thought he might be the -person in question. His random shot had hit the bull's-eye; it was -quite an accident that it had done so.</p> - -<p>"I expected as much," said Fanks, again restoring the photograph; to -his pocket-book. "I told you, Garth, that I was right to trust to my -instincts. This discovery explains the extraordinary conduct of -Hersham."</p> - -<p>"In what way?"</p> - -<p>"I shall tell you later on. In the meantime let us hear what this man -has to say."</p> - -<p>He turned towards Berry Jawkins as he spoke, and waited for him to -speak. The barman looked rather downcast, and when he did open his -mouth it was to revert to the subject of the reward.</p> - -<p>"I'm a poor man, gentlemen," he said, in a whining tone, "and I hope -you mean fair about this thirty puns."</p> - -<p>"We mean fair about the twenty pounds, man," said Vaud, sternly. "You -heard what Mr. Fanks said."</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, I heard fast enough," retorted Berry Jawkins, "and I don't -hold with him; the rewards added together make thirty puns."</p> - -<p>"No doubt they do; but then the rewards are not to be added together," -said Fanks. "You had better tell all you know, Mr. Berry Jawkins, or -I'll look into the matter myself, and then you'll get no reward."</p> - -<p>"Ah you'd go back on me. Well, d'y see, I shan't tell anything."</p> - -<p>Fanks shrugged his shoulders. He had no desire to quarrel with the man -or to waste time in arguing. The only way to induce speech from this -obstinate creature was to pay him the money, which, after all, he had -earned fairly enough. The detective therefore advised Herbert Vaud to -fulfil the terms of the advertisement, which was accordingly done, and -Mr. Jawkins found himself the richer by twenty pounds.</p> - -<p>"Though it should have been thirty puns," said the obstinate creature; -"but there ain't no chance of getting what's fair out of the -aristocracy. I am a Radical, I am, and I goes----"</p> - -<p>"We don't want to have your political opinions, man," said Fanks, -sharply. "Come to the point."</p> - -<p>"I'm coming to it," grumbled Berry Jawkins. "On the night of the -twenty-first I was in the bar. Business was bad that evening, -gentlemen, and there was not a blessed soul in the bar but myself. -Just about eight o'clock I thought as how I might shut up, when the -door opened and in came a black man. He said, 'I've left my bike -outside: I want a drink of Scotch cold,' he ses. And, mind you, I -twigged that he wasn't a nigger when he spoke, and I saw as he was a -gent by the peculiar refinement of his jawing. But as it wasn't my -business, I said nothing till he asked to wash his face. Then I told -him to go round to the pump in the back yard, 'tho'' ses I, 'a gent -like you will want hot water.' 'I ain't a gent,' ses he, 'I'm only a -poor strolling Christy Minstrel,' he ses. Then I laughs, seein' as he -was lying; but he scowls and bolts out to the back. When he comes back -his face was white--as white as you or me--and he had a moustached -like the feller in that photo. In fact, gents, he is the feller in -that photo, as I can swear to in any court of law. Well, he comes back -clean, and finishes his Scotch cold, and goes out. I thinks his manner -queer-like, and goes to the door. He gets on his bike, and goes off -down the road like a house on fire."</p> - -<p>"Which way did he go? To London or down the country?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, down the country, for sure, gents. Well, I didn't say anything -about all this, for I thought as he might be a gent doing a bolt in -disguise; but it wasn't any of my business to split, perticular as he -had given me two shilling, just for fun like. But, all the same, I -keeps my eye on the papers to see if there was anyone wanted. Then I -comes to this Tooley Alley murder, and a description of the negro in a -green coat and brass buttons. 'That's my man,' I ses, 'but hold hard, -Berry Jawkins, and don't say nothing till you see as there is a -reward.' So I waits and waits, till in this morning's paper I sees a -reward of thirty puns----"</p> - -<p>"Twenty pounds!"</p> - -<p>"Very well, gents all, we'll say twenty, tho' to my mind it ought to -be another tenner. But, as I ses, I sees this reward, and comes up to -get it. I have got it," said Jawkins, slapping his pocket, "tho' not -the amount I did expect; now, having told all, I goes, hoping you'll -catch that black-white nigger and hang him, for I think he is a -aristocrat, and I hates them, they being my natural enemies."</p> - -<p>Having heard this history, Fanks let Berry Jawkins go, as there was no -reason why he should be detained. First, however, he found out that -Mr. Jawkins was always to be heard of at the Eight Bells in his -capacity of barman. The man having left the room, Fanks turned towards -Garth and Herbert to see what they thought of the revelation which had -been so unexpectedly made. They returned his gaze, and Garth was the -first to break the silence.</p> - -<p>"Well," he said, in a low tone, "so Hersham is the culprit after all?"</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, Garth; but I do not think that we have proved that yet. -What do you say, Mr. Vaud?"</p> - -<p>"I can say nothing," replied Herbert, coldly. "I have no opinion in -the matter. As my father is absent I am attending to the case by his -desire; but, personally speaking, I would not lift one finger to -discover the assassin--or rather, the punisher of Gregory Fellenger."</p> - -<p>"You hated him then?" said Fanks, quietly.</p> - -<p>"I hated him; I still hate him; even though he is dead. You wonder at -my speaking in this way, Mr. Fanks, but--"</p> - -<p>"No!" replied Fanks, with a certain pity in his tone. "I do not -wonder; your father told Mr. Garth here the story of Emma Calvert; and -Mr. Garth repeated it to me. I know you hate the very memory of that -dead scoundrel."</p> - -<p>"Can you wonder at it?" said Herbert again. "I loved her; she did not -love but she might have grown to do so in time. But he came with his -lies and money to drag her away from me. He married her certainly, but -he drove her to suicide; and if he had not met with his death by this -unknown hand, he would have had to reckon with me for his baseness."</p> - -<p>"You would have killed him yourself, perhaps?"</p> - -<p>Herbert Vaud opened and shut his hand convulsively. "I don't know what -I should have done," he said in a thick voice. "But he is dead, so -what does it matter. But if I had my way, the assassin of Gregory -Fellenger should go free."</p> - -<p>"He may go free after all," said Fanks, quietly, "we have not yet -solved the problem of his death."</p> - -<p>"We have proved that Hersham was disguised as the negro," said Garth, -impetuously.</p> - -<p>"We have proved that Hersham was disguised as <i>a</i> negro," replied -Fanks, making the correction with point, "but we have not proved that -he was--that he is--the negro who killed your cousin in Tooley's -Alley."</p> - -<p>"If he did not, why was he blacked up on the very night the murder was -committed. He must have had some reason for so masquerading."</p> - -<p>"I have no doubt he had a reason; and I have no doubt that he will -explain his reason to me when I see him. But, on the face of it, I do -not think that he is the negro of Tooley's Alley."</p> - -<p>"Why not?" said Garth, impatiently. "Look here, Fanks. The skein runs -out as clean as a whistle. Hersham has a cross tattooed on his arm. -The death of my cousin was caused by a similar cross being pricked on -his arm. Hersham is engaged to Anne Colmer; you tell me that she is -the sister of the girl, Emma Calvert, who committed suicide in Paris, -as the victim of Sir Gregory. The envelope, making the appointment -comes from Taxton-on-Thames; Anne Colmer comes from the same place; -she lives there. Hersham was disguised as a negro on the very night of -the murder--at the very time the murder was committed. What is more -reasonable than to suppose that Hersham was inspired by Anne Colmer to -kill the man who had deceived her sister. There, in a few words you -have the motive of the crime; and the way in which it was carried out. -Oh, there is no doubt in my mind that we have the real man at last. -Were I you, I should arrest Hersham without delay."</p> - -<p>"If you were in my place, you would do what I intend to do," said -Fanks, quietly, "and take time to consider the matter. I admit that -you have made a very strong case out against Hersham, but there is one -important particular which you have overlooked."</p> - -<p>"What is that?" asked Garth, "it seems to me that there is not a link -missing."</p> - -<p>"That comes of being too confident. Can you see the missing link, Mr. -Vaud?"</p> - -<p>The young lawyer reflected for a few moments in a composed and -careless manner, then looked up, and professed his inability to amend -the case as set out against Hersham. Fanks shrugged his shoulders at -their lack of penetration, and explained his theory.</p> - -<p>"The negro who was in Tooley's Alley had no moustache," he said, -slowly, "as was proved by the evidence of Mrs. Boazoph. Hersham, on -the contrary, both as negro and white man, had a moustache; as has -been proved by the story of Berry Jawkins."</p> - -<p>"It might have been a false moustache," said Garth, still sticking to -his point.</p> - -<p>"It was not a false moustache," retorted Fanks, shaking his head, "if -Hersham intended a disguise he would have worn a beard. A moustache -would disguise him little. But for the sake of argument, we will grant -that the moustache was intended as a disguise. If so, why did he -retain it when he washed the black off his face; or, if it was part of -his disguise, why did he wear it both as the black and the white man. -No, no. I am sure that Hersham wore his own moustache; and not a false -one. And again," added Fanks, with an afterthought, "I saw Hersham -shortly after the murder--within two or three days in fact--he then -wore a heavy moustache; and you can trust me when I say it was not a -false one. If then Hersham was the Tooley Alley negro, who we have -agreed committed the murder, how did he manage to grow his moustache -in so short a period. The thing is impossible," finished the -detective, "that one point alone assures me that Hersham is guiltless -of the crime."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Boazoph may have made a mistake," suggested Garth, "remember she -did not see the negro go out."</p> - -<p>"She saw him go in, however. Mrs. Boazoph is too clever a woman to -make a mistake of that sort. The black man who committed the murder -had no moustache; our friend, masquerading as a Christy Minstrel, had -one. Against the evidence of Mrs. Boazoph we can place the evidence of -Berry Jawkins; the one contradicts the other; and both evidences -conclusively prove that Hersham had no hand in the commission of the -mysterious tragedy."</p> - -<p>"And another thing," said Herbert, suddenly. "Mr. Garth couples the -fact of the murder with the name of Miss Colmer. As a friend of the -family, I protest against that. I know Mrs. Colmer, I know her -daughter; and I am certain that neither of these unfortunate people -have anything to do with the death of that scoundrel."</p> - -<p>"Nevertheless the envelope which contained the appointment of the Red -Star in Tooley's Alley as the rendezvous bore the Taxton-on-Thames -postmark. Mrs. Colmer and her daughter live at Taxton-on-Thames."</p> - -<p>"What of that? Sir Louis Fellenger and his medical friend lived at the -same place. You might as well say that the new baronet committed the -crime so as to succeed to the title and estates. The one theory is as -feasible as the other."</p> - -<p>"Very true," said Fanks, in a desponding tone; "I am as much in the -dark as ever. At the present moment we can build up a theory on -anything. For instance, I might say that our friend Garth here killed -his cousin."</p> - -<p>"The deuce!" cried Garth, aghast.</p> - -<p>"You are startled," said Fanks, keenly watching the effect of his -speech on the young man. "I don't wonder at it. I merely say this to -show how slow you should be in condemning Hersham."</p> - -<p>"But I don't see how you could bring me in," stammered Garth.</p> - -<p>"It is easy enough. You are the heir, failing Sir Louis; you know the -purport of that tattooed cross. You might have killed your cousin, and -have sent the appointment from Taxton-on-Thames to implicate Sir Louis -in the matter, and so have removed the two people between you and the -title at one sweep."</p> - -<p>"But I don't want the title."</p> - -<p>"Possibly not; but you want money. But do not look so afraid, Garth. I -don't think you committed the crime; you are no doubt as innocent as -Mr. Herbert here."</p> - -<p>"If I had committed the crime I should not deny it," said Herbert, -gloomily. "I should glory in causing the death of such a scoundrel. If -Fellenger had not been killed by the negro in Tooley's Alley, Mr. -Fanks, you might have had to arrest me as the cause of his death. As -it is, my revenge has been taken out of my hands. But the same end has -been arrived at. I am glad the blackguard is dead."</p> - -<p>Here the argument ended, and Fanks went out arm in arm with Garth. -Both of them were sorry for the unhappy Herbert Vaud, and both of them -were more puzzled than ever over the case. As yet all evidence had -failed to throw the least gleam of light on the subject.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_22" href="#div1Ref_22">CHAPTER XXII</a>.</h4> -<h5>MRS. BOAZOPH RECEIVES A SHOCK.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Shortly after the conversation at Lincoln's Inn Fields Fanks took his -leave of Garth. He was rather weary of the lawyer's company, and, -moreover, he found such a third person a hindrance to the free speech he -wished to induce from those with whom he conversed. In his own heart -he was perfectly satisfied that Garth was connected in no way with the -crime, for the test which he applied in the office of Vaud and Vaud -entirely satisfied him. Nevertheless, he was not so certain that Garth -would not be pleased to learn that his cousin--the sole person who -stood between him and the Fellenger estate--was implicated in the -affair.</p> - -<p>On these grounds he therefore excused himself to the barrister, and -walked off by himself, intent on his own business. Garth, who was -suffering from a bad attack of detective fever, was not over pleased -at being thus dismissed; still he thought it best to obey his friend, -and so he departed, to think over the aspect the case had now assumed. -In fact, he intended to do a little detective business on his own -account, and, if possible, he wished to surprise Fanks by an -unexpected discovery. There were now three different people following -three different lines of action with respect to the case, so it was to -be hoped that one of them at least would run down the assassin of Sir -Gregory Fellenger, unless indeed all failed on the principle that too -many cooks spoil the broth.</p> - -<p>On leaving the barrister, Fanks took his way towards Tooley's Alley. -It was his intention to see Mrs. Boazoph and to try an experiment on -that astute lady. From her demeanour Fanks believed that the landlady -of the Red Star knew more about the case than she choose to confess, -and that she was anxious to screen the man or woman who had done the -deed. Of this belief he wished to make certain.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph received the detective with her customary composure. She -was quite prepared for his visit, as she knew that her connection with -the case was too patent to escape his vigilant eye. Anticipating a -trying conversation, she directed Fanks to be shown into her private -sitting-room, and she braced herself up to confuse and baffle him.</p> - -<p>No one would have guessed the landlady's thoughts from the amiable -manner in which she received her almost declared enemy. She was -positively genial in her conversation and demeanour, and Fanks augured -ill from this.</p> - -<p>"Well, Mrs. Boazoph," said he, mildly, "I suppose you are wondering -what brings me here?"</p> - -<p>"Indeed I am doing no such thing, Mr. Fanks. You came to find out what -I know about this crime."</p> - -<p>"I congratulate you on your perspicuity, Mrs. Boazoph. And what do you -know about it?"</p> - -<p>The woman raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders.</p> - -<p>"I know nothing at all," she replied. "I gave my evidence at the -inquest; you heard it."</p> - -<p>"Well?"</p> - -<p>"Well, there is nothing more to be said."</p> - -<p>"I beg to differ with you, Mrs. Boazoph; there is a great deal more to -be said."</p> - -<p>"Not by me," said Mrs. Boazoph, obstinately, closing her mouth. "If -you think that I am going to assist you to find out who killed this -wretched man, you are very much mistaken."</p> - -<p>"Strange," said Fanks, in a musing tone, meant to reach her ear, "the -same thing was said in almost the same words by Anne Colmer."</p> - -<p>"What do you know about Anne Colmer?"</p> - -<p>"More than you can guess. For instance, I know that she is the niece -of--Mrs. Bryant."</p> - -<p>With a start, instantly repressed, she looked to him in a hard and -fixed manner, a disbelieving smile on her lips. "Mrs. Bryant," she -repeated, "and who is Mrs. Bryant?"</p> - -<p>"If you don't know, I am sure I do not."</p> - -<p>"Speak plainly. I hate epigrams."</p> - -<p>"So do I. They are such a bar to intelligent conversation. Well, Mrs. -Bryant is a lady of birth, who married beneath her. Mr. Bryant was a -bully, a sot, a spendthrift, and he lost all his money by fast living. -When he became poor, his friends--for strange to say, this unpleasant -person had some friends--set him up in an hotel. He was ashamed to -stick his own name over his door; so he cast about for another. -Perhaps you can tell me what that other name was?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"What a singularly obstinate person you are," said, Fanks, shaking his -head. "Believe me, it is no use our wasting time in discussing facts. -Be sensible, Mrs. Boazoph, and admit that you are Mrs. Bryant."</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, -dressmaker, and decayed gentlewoman."</p> - -<p>"I don't know her; I never heard her name."</p> - -<p>"Really!" said Fanks, with gentle pity, "then I must inquire of Mrs. -Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, how is it that her sister, Mrs. Bryant, -is the notorious Mrs. Boazoph, of London."</p> - -<p>"You are a fiend!"</p> - -<p>"And what is Mrs. Bryant, alias Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"She is a most unhappy woman; a woman rather to be pitied than -blamed."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said Fanks, drawing a long breath of satisfaction. "So you admit -your identity at last."</p> - -<p>"I can do nothing else. I do not wish my poor sister to know that I am -Mrs. Boazoph. She thinks that I live on the money left to me by my -late husband; she does not know that I keep this hotel; that I am the -woman who has been mentioned so often in the papers, in connection -with thieves, rogues, and detectives. Yes. I admit that I am Mrs. -Bryant, the sister of Mrs. Colmer. Who told you?"</p> - -<p>"Your niece, Anne."</p> - -<p>"She had no business to do so."</p> - -<p>"Very probably; but she could not help herself. I forced her to speak; -how, it does not matter; but I extracted the truth out of her, Mrs. -Bryant."</p> - -<p>"Call me Mrs. Boazoph," flashed out the woman, "and relieve me of your -presence as speedily as possible. What do you wish to know?"</p> - -<p>"I wish to know the agreement you made with Dr. Binjoy, regarding this -crime."</p> - -<p>"Who is Dr. Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"Come now, Mrs. Boazoph, do not let us have another argument. I have -neither the time nor the patience to endure one, I assure you. I know -more than you think; and I can force you to speak if I so choose. I -would rather not choose, if it is all the same to you. Let us conduct -this conversation pleasantly, if possible. You know that Dr. Binjoy is -the same as Dr. Renshaw?"</p> - -<p>"Indeed, I do not. How can you prove it?"</p> - -<p>"Very easily. I followed Dr. Renshaw on his presumed journey to -Bombay, and tracked him to Mere Hall at Bournemouth."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph quailed, and shrank back. This man knew so much, that she -did not know where she stood.</p> - -<p>For the moment, she did not know what to do; but, unable to deny the -identity of Renshaw with Binjoy, she admitted it.</p> - -<p>"Good!" said Fanks, in a satisfied tone, "we are getting on. And the -agreement you made with this man?"</p> - -<p>"I made no agreement with him."</p> - -<p>"Then why was he here on the night of the murder?"</p> - -<p>"It was an accident. For some reason of his own, Dr. Binjoy, whom I -met at Taxton-on-Thames, was in the habit of changing his name when in -London. He usually stayed with Dr. Turnor, who is an old friend of -his; and did his work when Turnor was absent. When I found out the -murder, I sent for Dr. Turnor, he was away, and Dr. Binjoy came under -his name of Renshaw. I was astonished to see him. I did not know that -he was in town."</p> - -<p>"Oh! Had you any reason to go to Mere Hall to see him?"</p> - -<p>"Mere Hall!" stammered Mrs. Boazoph, "you saw me at Mere Hall?"</p> - -<p>"I saw you with my own eyes; you cannot deny that."</p> - -<p>"I have no wish to deny it," retorted Mrs. Boazoph, with asperity, -"yes I was at Mere Hall. I went there to warn Binjoy against you."</p> - -<p>"Indeed; and no doubt Binjoy assured you that he had baffled me by the -pretended journey to Bombay."</p> - -<p>"Yes, he said that."</p> - -<p>"And did he say that he had sent his negro, Caesar, to Bombay, in his -place?"</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph drew back and gasped, holding tightly on to the arms of -her chair. "You know that?" she said, in alarm.</p> - -<p>"I know that, and a great deal more," said Fanks, grimly. "In fact, I -more than suspect that I know the assassin."</p> - -<p>"Then you know that Caesar killed Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"You jump to conclusions, Mrs. Boazoph," said Fanks, noting the tone -of relief in which she made this remark. "I do not know that Caesar -killed Sir Gregory Fellenger. But I know that both you and Dr. Binjoy -would like me to think so."</p> - -<p>"Man! Man!" cried Mrs. Boazoph, with an hysterical laugh, "do you -think that I had anything to do with this crime?"</p> - -<p>"Why not; the man was killed in your house: you called in a doctor, -who is the dearest friend of the present baronet; it was to Binjoy's -interest that Sir Gregory should be got out of the way."</p> - -<p>Again Mrs. Boazoph seemed relieved. "Then you suppose that Binjoy -instructed Caesar to kill Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"No, I do not; Caesar had nothing to do with the commission of the -crime."</p> - -<p>"Then who was the black man who killed the baronet?"</p> - -<p>"It was no black man."</p> - -<p>"But it was," said. Mrs. Boazoph, angrily. "I saw him myself enter the -room."</p> - -<p>"You saw a white man disguised as a negro enter the room."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph bounded to her feet. "What!" she cried, "do you mean to -say that the black man was a disguised white man?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I do say so; although I daresay it is no news to you."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph stamped her foot. "It is news to me, I tell you. I -thought that Caesar killed Sir Gregory at the behest of Dr. Binjoy. -When you entered the room I hoped to keep the fact from you; because I -did not wish Binjoy to get into trouble. But you say that Caesar did -not commit the crime, and so you have upset my ideas altogether. Now, -Mr. Fanks, I tell you truly, that if this negro did not kill Sir -Gregory, I do not know the name of the assassin."</p> - -<p>Fanks looked puzzled. She evidently spoke in all good faith, and he -could not but believe her. He wondered if she was right, and whether -the negro of Dr. Binjoy had killed the baronet after all. "Did you -recognise as Caesar the black man who came here on that night?" he -asked.</p> - -<p>"No; how could I? I never saw Caesar in my life. But I know that -Binjoy had a negro servant; that he smuggled him off to Bombay; and -that he was the friend of Sir Louis Fellenger. Therefore I thought -this negro was the instrument Binjoy made use of to kill Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"Do you know anything about a tattooed cross, Mrs. Boazoph?" asked -Fanks, going on another tack.</p> - -<p>The woman fell into her chair as pale as a sheet of paper. The mention -of the tattooed cross had a most powerful effect on her mind, and she -stared thunderstruck at the detective. Not a word could she utter for -at least two minutes. When she spoke her voice was thick and unsteady. -"What do you know of the tattooed cross?" she muttered.</p> - -<p>"I know that Sir Gregory let this disguised man tattoo a cross on his -left arm, and that the needle used was poisoned. Now, can you tell me -why Sir Gregory let a cross be pricked on his arm?"</p> - -<p>"No! no! I--I--can't tell you that."</p> - -<p>"Does that mean that you won't tell me?"</p> - -<p>"It--means that I--I--can't tell you," gasped Mrs. Boazoph. "I did not -know Sir Gregory Fellenger."</p> - -<p>"Do you know anyone else who has a cross tattooed on his left arm?" -asked Fanks, preparing for his great stroke.</p> - -<p>"No! Why do you ask me?" she muttered, in a terrified tone.</p> - -<p>"Because the man who has that cross tattooed on his left arm was the -disguised negro; he was the man who killed Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"Ah Heavens! Oh, Edward Hersham?" moaned Mrs. Boazoph, and fell upon -the floor in a faint.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_23" href="#div1Ref_23">CHAPTER XXIII</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE CONFESSION OF HERSHAM.</h5> -<br> - -<p>When Fanks saw Mrs. Boazoph lying at his feet his first intention was -to wait until she recovered. Later on he changed his mind, and when he -had placed her in the hands of the servant he went home full of -thought and dark surmises. It seemed to him that the case was centring -in Ted Hersham; that the whole situation depended on the right reading -of the tattooed cross riddle. Mrs. Boazoph knew something about the -cross, she knew something about Hersham; but what it was Fanks could -by no means make up his mind. It seemed to him that in exploring the -depths of Mrs. Boazoph's mind he had found a still lower deep; and he -was puzzled what to think.</p> - -<p>"Confound the woman," he thought, meditating over a pipe; "I said that -we should find her at the end of the path which leads to the discovery -of the mystery, and it seems that I was right. She screened Binjoy for -some reason which I cannot discover; she will now attempt to save -Hersham, lest he should fall into my clutches. Why should she take all -this trouble for those two men? And what does she know about the -tattooed cross? Does Binjoy know about it also? And was it he who made -the obliterating mark? I can't think Hersham guilty, and yet things -look black against him. But no," said Fanks, rising, "the disguised -man who slew in Tooley's Alley and Hersham are two different people; I -proved that conclusively to Garth. What's to be done now?"</p> - -<p>It was difficult to decide. At first he almost resolved to return to -Mrs. Boazoph and urge her confession; again, he thought it best to -wait until he heard what Hersham had to say. It might be, he thought, -that Hersham's confession would throw some light on his relation to -Mrs. Boazoph. The hints of Anne Colmer, the terror of Hersham, the -fainting of Mrs. Boazoph were all of a piece, and Fanks felt confident -that beneath these perplexities lay the key to the riddle. It was not -that he had no clue; he was in reality quite bewildered by the -multiplicity of clues, so bewildered that he did not know which clue -to seize first. At length he came to the conclusion that it would be -best to wait till he saw Hersham and heard what he had to say, and -afterwards to follow up the clue placed in his hands by the fainting -of Mrs. Boazoph.</p> - -<p>"I'll write to Hersham, and remind him that he promised to see me in a -few days and tell the truth." said Fanks, going to his desk; "and if -he reveals all I am certain that his confession will contain the -information that Mrs. Boazoph wrote and warned him against me."</p> - -<p>He was confident, as he said, that she would do this. If she tried to -save Binjoy, she would certainly try to help Hersham; but her reason -for doing the one was as inscrutable as her reason had been for acting -in the way she did towards Binjoy. The further he went into the case -the darker it grew; and in sheer despair Fanks wrote his reminder to -Hersham, and did nothing more for the next few days but meditate over -the tangle in which he found himself involved. His meditations led to -no result, and when Hersham called on him at the Duke Street chambers -in three days, the detective was at his wit's end how to proceed.</p> - -<p>However, he was delighted to see Hersham, as he had doubted whether -the young man would fulfil his promise. Now that he had come to do so -there might be some chance of seeing a gleam of light. Fanks did not -tell the journalist what he had discovered concerning his movements on -the night of the twenty-first, as he wanted to see if Hersham would -confess as much. If he did so, such frankness would confirm his belief -that the young fellow had nothing to do with the commission of the -crime. If, on the other hand, Hersham concealed the proven facts Fanks -intended to force him into confession by revealing what he had heard -from Berry Jawkins. By the result he would be guided in his future -movements. The ensuing conversation was likely to prove as interesting -and important as that which he had held with Mrs. Boazoph.</p> - -<p>"I am glad to see you, Hersham," he said, in a gentle tone, "as I hope -what you have to tell me may throw some light on the darkness of this -Tooley Alley crime."</p> - -<p>"I can throw no light on the cursed thing," said Hersham, gloomily. "I -am only here to exonerate myself."</p> - -<p>"From what? What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Why should you ask me that?" said Hersham, angrily. "Is it not you -who suspect me of killing this man?"</p> - -<p>"Decidedly not. I do not think you killed Fellenger. As I told you -before I do not believe you had anything to do with it."</p> - -<p>"Then why did you have me watched?" demanded the young man.</p> - -<p>"Ask that of yourself," said Fanks, coolly. "You roused my suspicions; -you hinted that you knew something; you thwarted me with regard to -Anne Colmer. Cast your mind back to our first conversation, man; you -will say that I had every reason for acting as I did. If you had told -me the truth at first; had you become my ally instead of my enemy, you -would not have had all this trouble. But, for all that, I do not -suspect you of being a murderer. Had I done so," finished Fanks, "you -would have been in a cell long e'er this."</p> - -<p>"I held my tongue because I was afraid of you," said Hersham, -sullenly.</p> - -<p>"If you are innocent, there is no reason to be afraid of me."</p> - -<p>"I am innocent; and yet I am afraid of you. Yes, I am dreading to tell -you what I am about to reveal."</p> - -<p>"Why so?"</p> - -<p>"Circumstances may so close round an innocent man," continued Hersham, -not heeding the interruption, "that it would seem as though he were -guilty. Think yourself, Fanks. Innocent men have been hanged e'er now, -because circumstantial evidence was strong against them."</p> - -<p>"True enough," replied Fanks. "I suppose it is natural that you should -be afraid. No man would run the risk of putting his head into the -noose if he could help it. You say that circumstances are strong -against you. What are these circumstances?"</p> - -<p>Hersham bit his lip, and turned a wan face on his friend. "I place my -life in your hands, mind you," he said, hoarsely.</p> - -<p>"It will be safe there," replied Fanks, getting up and fetching a -decanter of brandy from the sideboard. "Nothing will induce me to -believe that you had anything to do with the commission of this -crime."</p> - -<p>"Will you swear to that?" cried Hersham, stretching out a shaking -hand.</p> - -<p>"Certainly if it will comfort you. Here, my friend, drink this, and -tell me what you know. It may help me to nab the person I have my eye -on."</p> - -<p>Hersham drank the brandy. "Have you found out who killed Fellenger?"</p> - -<p>Fanks shrugged his shoulders. "I think so," he said, "but who can -tell; I may be wrong."</p> - -<p>"Is it a man or woman?" asked Hersham, quickly.</p> - -<p>"I shan't tell you."</p> - -<p>"Is it--"</p> - -<p>"I shan't tell you, my friend. But I shall tell you this for the -quieting of your fears, that it is not you whom I suspect. Now sit -down again, and let me hear what you have to say."</p> - -<p>Hersham resumed his seat obediently, and began his recital. He -confessed exactly what Fanks expected he would confess; what Fanks -already knew, but the detective listened to this twice-told tale with -the keenest attention. Thereby he hoped to learn some new detail which -had been overlooked by the zealous Berry Jawkins.</p> - -<p>"About the beginning of June," said Hersham, in a hesitating voice, "I -was engaged on a series of papers for the 'Morning Planet' on Street -Music. To gain the information I required, I thought it would be an -excellent plan to go about the streets of London in guise, and to get -at the root of the matter. I told my editor that I would burnt-cork my -face and go with some street minstrels. He approved of the idea, and I -did so."</p> - -<p>"And how were you dressed?"</p> - -<p>"In a great coat with brass buttons. I also wore brown boots. Now, you -can see why I was afraid to tell you. That is the dress the negro you -are looking for wore."</p> - -<p>"Yes!" said Flanks, perplexedly, "I know that; but I do not see why -you should have been afraid to tell me. You can explain your movements -on that night."</p> - -<p>"That is exactly what I can't do," said Hersham, his face growing -dark.</p> - -<p>"I don't understand."</p> - -<p>"I shall explain. On the night of the twenty-first I intended to go -out in the streets in disguise. Before doing so, I told the office boy -that if a telegram came for me he was to bring it at once to me; I -expected a wire about six o'clock; and I told the boy that I would be -in the Strand near St. Clements Church."</p> - -<p>"From whom did you expect the telegram?"</p> - -<p>"From Anne Colmer. That day I had received a letter from her, saying -that she was greatly worried about something; what it was she did not -tell me; but she said that if she wanted me she would wire, and that I -was then to come down at once to Taxton-on-Thames."</p> - -<p>"Go on," said Fanks, greatly interested in the introduction of Anne's -name.</p> - -<p>"Well, I blacked my face, and went out with the genuine niggers to -sing and play. About six, or a little after, I was near St. Clement's -Church, and there the office boy came to me with a telegram."</p> - -<p>"Why did you expect the telegram at six?"</p> - -<p>"Because I was in the office about five, and it had not come then. I -thought it might come after I left, so I appointed St. Clement's -Church as the meeting-place where the boy might find me."</p> - -<p>"And you obeyed?"</p> - -<p>"What was in the telegram?"</p> - -<p>"A request that I should come down to Taxton-on-Thames at once."</p> - -<p>"Yes, there was no reason why I should not. I thought that Anne was in -trouble; I went down at once on my bicycle."</p> - -<p>"Why did not you go by train? It would have been easier."</p> - -<p>"Not for me. I was in the habit of running down to Taxton-on-Thames on -my machine; it is only two hours' run."</p> - -<p>"Had you your machine in town?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; I had left it at a shop in the Strand where I usually leave it; -though sometimes I ride it on to the office in Fleet Street. On this -occasion it was in the Strand. As soon as I got the telegram I left my -troupe and went off on my bicycle.</p> - -<p>"Didn't you wash your face?"</p> - -<p>"Not at that time; I was in such a hurry and so anxious to learn what -was the matter with Anne, that I did not think of doing so. I rode -along until I was recalled to the spectacle I must have presented, by -the laughing, and the guying of the boys. Then I thought that I might -startle Anne, and I determined to wash myself."</p> - -<p>"And did you?"</p> - -<p>"Not immediately. On the way to Richmond I had an accident, and the -tyre of my back wheel was punctured. The air escaped, and I was over -an hour mending it. Then I had to go slowly, and did not get to -Richmond till after eight o'clock. I went into the hotel called -the Eight Bells, and had a drink and a wash. Then I came out a -white man to the astonishment of the barman, and went on down to -Taxton-on-Thames. I got there shortly after nine o'clock."</p> - -<p>"Didn't you nearly run over a man as you neared the village?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I did," said Hersham, in some astonishment. "But how do you know -that?"</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you later on," replied Fanks, smiling. "But about the -result of your trip to Taxton-on-Thames?"</p> - -<p>Hersham's face fell. "There was no result," he said, in a low voice. -"When I arrived I went at once to Briar Cottage and asked for Anne. I -was told that she had gone up to town by the five o'clock train."</p> - -<p>"Gone up to town!" repeated Fanks. "That is curious. Why did she go up -to town after sending you a wire to bring you down?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say. She returned by the night train, and I was at the -station to meet her. I asked her why she had gone to town, and she -refused to tell me. She merely said that she had sent the wire shortly -before five o'clock, and that she had found occasion to go up by the -five train."</p> - -<p>"Can you conjecture what took her to town?"</p> - -<p>"No; and she will not tell me."</p> - -<p>Fanks said nothing. He was meditating on the strange story told to him -by Hersham, and on the stranger conduct of Anne Colmer. The mystery -concerning this young lady, which had begun in the chambers of Sir -Gregory, seemed to be thickening. Fanks was puzzled and gloomy.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_24" href="#div1Ref_24">CHAPTER XXIV</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE CLUE OF THE HANDWRITING.</h5> -<br> - -<p>On concluding the recital of his movements on the night of the -twenty-first of June, Hersham looked anxiously at Fanks to see what -the detective thought of the matter. The latter made no immediate -comment, whereupon the journalist, impatient of the silence, made the -first observation.</p> - -<p>"I have told you all," he said; "now what is your opinion?"</p> - -<p>"Let me think for a minute or two," replied Fanks, holding up his -hand. "I must consider."</p> - -<p>Thereupon he thrust his hands into his pockets and strolled to the -window, where he stood looking absently at the adjacent chimney-pots. -Hersham eyed him with continued anxiety, but he did not dare to -interrupt, so that Fanks had ample time to reflect over the strange -story which had been related to him.</p> - -<p>He had heard the main facts of it before from Berry Jawkins, and these -corresponded entirely with the narrative of the journalist. Still, the -additional evidence concerning Anne Colmer disquieted Fanks not a -little. Her behaviour was strange, to say the least of it, and far -more suspicious than that of Hersham. Why had she sent a telegram to -withdraw her lover from London at the very time of the committal of -the crime? And why had she--so to speak--nullified that telegram by -going herself to town almost immediately after she had despatched it. -Such conduct was decidedly suspicious; and it looked as though she was -implicated in the matter in some underhand way. Why had she behaved in -so mysterious a fashion, and why had she refused to reveal her reason -for so acting to Hersham?</p> - -<p>So far, so good; but there remained a greater mystery. It was Anne -Colmer herself who had instructed Hersham to confess to Fanks; yet she -must have known that her very extraordinary conduct would need -explanation. But would she explain? Fanks thought not. He recalled -his conversation with her; how she had refused to speak lest her -evidence--whatever it was--should be detrimental to an innocent -person. Clearly that innocent person could not be Hersham, for he had -established his innocence in the eyes of the detective. Then if the -person in question was not Hersham, who could he--or she--be? Mrs. -Colmer, Dr. Binjoy, Anne, or Caesar, the missing negro?</p> - -<p>Not the first, thought Fanks, decidedly not the first, for Mrs. Colmer -was confined to her room by paralysis, and could not take an active -part in the business. Scarcely the second, for Anne could have no -reason to screen the doctor--at least no reason that Fanks could even -guess at. If the third--and seeing that Mrs. Boazoph was her aunt it -might be so--the motive might be that Anne desired aid to carry out a -scheme of revenge against the destroyer of her sister. As to Caesar, -Fanks had quite settled in his own mind that the negro was innocent, -and that his personality was being made use of merely to screen the -chief actor or actors in the tragedy.</p> - -<p>The result of Fank's meditations therefore resulted in his having an -increased suspicion of Mrs. Boazoph. Her behaviour at the time of the -discovery of the murder, her visit to Mere Hall, and her fainting at -the mention that Hersham was the probable criminal--all these things -were suspicious; and now the probable visit of Anne Colmer to her -aunt--although such visit was not yet proved--clinched the matter. All -the interest of Fanks now centred in Mrs. Boazoph; and he addressed -himself again to Hersham in the hope of learning something tangible, -likely to connect her more intimately with her niece either in London -or at Taxton-on-Thames. He was right to act in this way; an -indefinable instinct had placed him on the right path.</p> - -<p>"I wish you had told me of this before," he said to Hersham, as he -resumed his seat. "It would have saved me a lot of trouble."</p> - -<p>"I did not wish to tell you. I was afraid to speak lest I should -inculpate myself. I am sure my movements on that fatal night must -appear very suspicious to you. What is your opinion of me now?"</p> - -<p>"The same as before. I am satisfied that you have told me the truth. -No, Hersham, it is not you whom I suspect."</p> - -<p>"Then who is it?" asked the young man, eagerly.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you that later on," replied Finks. "In the meantime you -must answer a few more questions. I am not yet quite clear on some -points. How did you obtain your disguise?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, that was Miss Colmer's suggestion."</p> - -<p>"The deuce it was!" said Fanks, rather startled at this admission.</p> - -<p>"Yes! I told her of my idea to disguise myself in order to -obtain a thoroughly realistic description of street music, and of -those who make it. I asked her how she thought I should dress. In a -half-laughing way she advised me to take Binjoy's servant Caesar as my -model."</p> - -<p>"Which you did?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly. I thought the suggestion a good one. Caesar was rather an -oddity in his way, and dressed with that mixture of vivid colours -which is so dear to the black race. When off duty he usually wore a -red neck scarf, a brown felt hat, black trousers, and a long green -coat with large brass buttons, quite a noticeable garb in fact. He had -several of these quaint garments, and he had brought one to Anne's -establishment to get yellow velvet cuffs and collar sewn on to it. On -the promise that I would not keep it more than a fortnight Anne lent -me the coat, which I wore for my purpose."</p> - -<p>"Strange," said Fanks, thoughtfully. "So you wore the very coat of the -man whom we suspected in the first instance?"</p> - -<p>"I did. It is odd now that you mention it."</p> - -<p>Fanks considered. "Did anyone suggest your disguising yourself as a -negro for this street music business, or was it your own fancy?"</p> - -<p>"It was the suggestion of Dr. Binjoy."</p> - -<p>"Oh, was it? Humph! I am beginning to see daylight."</p> - -<p>"Why, you don't think----?"</p> - -<p>"I think nothing at present," said Fanks, quickly; "matters are in too -crude a state."</p> - -<p>This observation was hardly true, for Fanks was beginning to think -that the affair of the green coat looked singularly like a conspiracy. -He was unwilling to communicate his suspicions to Hersham, because of -necessity they included Anne Colmer; therefore he passed the matter -off as before mentioned. Nevertheless, he thought it doubtful that the -disguise was the result of an accident. That Binjoy should suggest the -idea of blackening the face, that Anne should induce Hersham to dress -up in the very clothes of Caesar, both these things seemed suspicious -and quite impossible to understand. He could guess Binjoy's object, -presuming that Binjoy had designed the murder--it was to avert -suspicion from himself and servant by throwing it on Hersham. But what -Fanks could not see was why Anne should act as she did, when Hersham -was her lover. She surely did not wish to implicate Hersham in the -matter--if it could be presumed that she was connected with it -herself, of which Fanks was by no means sure--and yet Fanks was -honestly puzzled to understand the action, so at variance with her -position. With his usual sense he therefore abandoned the subject for -the present, and re-addressed himself to the examination of Hersham.</p> - -<p>"Did you know Dr. Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"I did, and disliked him greatly. I don't think he liked me either," -added Hersham, smiling, "for I was his successful rival."</p> - -<p>"With Miss Colmer?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! Fancy, that old man fell in love with Anne and wished to marry -her; asked her to be Mrs. Binjoy four or five times, in fact. Like his -impudence, wasn't it? However, Anne told him that she was engaged to -me, and sent him off with a flea in his ear. I don't think he liked me -any better for my triumph."</p> - -<p>"No," said Fanks, dryly. "I have no doubt he would do his best to -injure you."</p> - -<p>"Fanks, do you think he designedly induced me to act as a duplicate of -Caesar?"</p> - -<p>"That I can't say. It looks suspicious. His being at the Red Star on -the night of the murder under an assumed name is still more -suspicious. All the same he has managed the business so cleverly that -I can bring nothing home to him."</p> - -<p>"Do you think that he designed the murder of Fellenger so as to get -the estates for Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>"His actions bear that interpretation," said Fanks, scratching his -chin; "but I have no proof as yet. I may find out at Mere Hall."</p> - -<p>"Are you going there?"</p> - -<p>"Next week. I wish to see my employer, Sir Louis, and tell him what I -have done; at the same time I intend to observe Binjoy. By the way," -added the detective, "did you like Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>Hersham shrugged his shoulders. "So, so," he replied. "He is a dry -stick, wrapped up in his scientific studies. He passes most of his -days with Binjoy in the laboratory making experiments. A tall, stout -fellow, he is, not at all like a dry-as-dust savant."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Fanks, twisting his ring; "a tall stout creature. Dr. -Binjoy is also tall and stout?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! and so is the negro, Caesar. The trio are all fat and healthy."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Fanks again. "I wonder--but that is impossible."</p> - -<p>"What is impossible?"</p> - -<p>"Something that came into my head. What it is, does not matter. I -shall no doubt prove its impossibility at Mere Hall."</p> - -<p>"You suspect Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>"Such a suspicion did cross my mind. But, as Sir Louis is employing me -to hunt down the murderer, he would hardly act in such a way. Never -mind that at the present moment, Hersham, but tell me if you have -written to your father?"</p> - -<p>"About the tattooed cross? No, I have not done so yet. I don't see how -my father can help you."</p> - -<p>"I am of another opinion," said Fanks, dryly. "It is my firm -conviction that the whole secret of that murder in Tooley Alley lies -in the explanation of that tattooed cross. Do not look so scared, -Hersham. I do not suspect your father."</p> - -<p>"I should think not," said Hersham, fiercely.</p> - -<p>Fanks laughed indulgently, in nowise offended with the indignant tone -adopted by the young man. Indeed, he rather admired him for being so -ready to take up the cudgels on behalf of his parent. Nevertheless, he -stuck to his point, as he was determined to fathom the meaning of the -tattooed cross, and he saw no one was so likely to help him to an -interpretation as the Rev. George Hersham, Vicar of Fairview, Isle of -Wight.</p> - -<p>"You must do as I ask," he said, "and write to your father. I must -know why he had that cross tattooed on your arm."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe my father had anything to do with it," said Hersham, -angrily. "However, as you insist on it, I shall go home and see him. -If he tells me, I shall tell you. If he refuses, as he has done -before--"</p> - -<p>"In that case I'll come down to Fairview and see him myself."</p> - -<p>"As you please," said Hersham, with a feigned air of indifference, but -real vexation. "I'll do my best; I can do no more."</p> - -<p>"Don't be angry, old fellow. I don't wish to vex either you or your -father, but you must see that it is important that I should know the -meaning of this cross. You will go and see Mr. Hersham?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; before the end of the week. Will that content you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," replied Fanks, in his turn. "And now, before you go, just tell -me if you received a letter from Mrs. Boazoph, and if you have brought -it with you?"</p> - -<p>"Now it is strange that you should have guessed that," said Hersham, -in astonishment. "I did get a letter from Mrs. Boazoph; I brought it -to see what you thought of it. It quite slipped my memory till you -spoke of it. Here it is. Came yesterday from Fairview."</p> - -<p>"From Fairview!" repeated Fanks, making no attempt to take the letter -which Hersham held towards him. "Was it sent to that address?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, care of my father, who forwarded it on to me. See for yourself."</p> - -<p>"Did Mrs. Boazoph know of your address in the Isle of Wight?"</p> - -<p>"No, that's odd," added Hersham, staring at Fanks. "How did she get -it?"</p> - -<p>"From Miss Colmer."</p> - -<p>"I have never given any but my London address to Miss Colmer. I had my -reasons for not doing so."</p> - -<p>"So Mrs. Boazoph knew of your address without your telling her," said -the detective, stretching out his hand for the letter. "Queer! If I am -not mistaken I--By Jove!"</p> - -<p>"What is the matter?"</p> - -<p>"Wait. Wait," said Fanks, in great excitement. "Let me read the letter -first. My word, here is a discovery."</p> - -<p>"What discovery?" asked Hersham, staring at the letter.</p> - -<p>But Fanks paid no attention to him. He was already devouring the -communication from the landlady of the Red Star, which ran as -follows:--</p> - -<p>"Dear Mr. Edward Hersham,--Come and see me at once. Important -business, and, in the meantime, hold no communication with the man who -calls himself Fanks. I will explain when we meet.--Yours, Louisa -Boazoph."</p> - -<p>"I wish you had shown me this before," said Fanks.</p> - -<p>"I was so anxious about what I had to confess, that I forgot, Fanks. -Is it important?"</p> - -<p>"I should think so. You must see her at once, and tell me what she -says. We may find the key to the whole business in her conversation."</p> - -<p>"Do you think Mrs. Boazoph has anything to do with it?"</p> - -<p>For answer, Fanks got out the photograph of the dead Emma Calvert, and -the envelope which had contained the red star. He pointed out the -handwritings on both to Hersham.</p> - -<p>"You see that," he said, eagerly. "The handwriting on the back of the -portrait, and that on the envelope are the same as that on your -letter."</p> - -<p>"True enough," said Hersham, examining the three objects closely, "but -what of that?"</p> - -<p>"Only this. That Mrs. Boazoph addressed the envelope, and enclosed the -red cardboard star, which lured the late Sir Gregory Fellenger to his -death on the evening of the twenty-first of June."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_25" href="#div1Ref_25">CHAPTER XXV</a>.</h4> -<h5>AT MERE HALL, HANTS.</h5> - -<p>Fanks was rather astonished when he learned that Mrs. Boazoph had -contrived the lure which had drawn Fellenger to his death. He had -given the landlady credit for more cleverly concealing her scheme, and -that she should have carried out a plan so compromising, in so open a -manner, seemed to him to be the height of folly. Nevertheless, he was -pleased that he had discovered who had directed the fatal envelope; -and he was still more pleased that Mrs. Boazoph had sent for Hersham. -If possible he intended to learn her reason for seeking an interview, -and to ascertain why she had fainted at the intelligence that Hersham -was likely to be arrested for committing the crime. A true report of -that conversation--and Fanks had no doubt that Hersham would repeat it -faithfully to him--might afford the clue to the mystery. At the -present moment Fanks was convinced that the landlady of the Red Star -could unravel the riddle if she chose, and he was resolved to force -her to do so. But here an element on which Fanks had not calculated -came into play.</p> - -<p>As instructed by the detective, Hersham duly called at the Red Star -only to be informed that Mrs. Boazoph was dangerously ill, and could -not see him. This he reported to Fanks, and at first the detective -deemed the illness an excuse to postpone the interview, the more -especially as Dr. Turnor was the medical man in attendance. He -mistrusted Turnor as much as he did Binjoy, and thought that the -former had persuaded Mrs. Boazoph to relinquish the idea of seeing and -confiding in Hersham. Such confidence might prove as fatal to Turnor -as to Binjoy; and if so there was no doubt that Turnor had compelled -Mrs. Boazoph to hold her tongue lest she should compromise him. Thus -Fanks argued out the situation; and he sought Tooley's Alley to -ascertain if Mrs. Boazoph was really ill, or merely feigning at the -order of Turnor.</p> - -<p>A view of the sick woman showed him plainly that he was wrong. Mrs. -Boazoph was laid on a bed of sickness, incapable almost of speech, and -Fanks concluded promptly that there was no chance of learning anything -until she recovered. The result of the last interview had shaken her -terribly, and she was thoroughly worn out with nervous prostration. -Turnor, more like a ferret than ever, eyed Fanks complacently, and -seemed relieved that things were going so badly for the case. Fanks -questioned him, but could learn nothing definite, for, if the -detective was clever, the doctor was cleverer, and defeated Fanks on -every point. Indeed, he carried the war into the camp of the enemy.</p> - -<p>"I suppose I am right in ascribing this illness to you, sir," he said, -with a sly smile. "It seems that my patient fainted at her last -interview she had with you."</p> - -<p>"She did. I said something which startled her."</p> - -<p>"That was very wrong of you, Mr. Fanks. Mrs. Boazoph is a woman of -delicate organisation, and a sudden shock might bring about her death. -She has a weak heart."</p> - -<p>"I am sorry to hear so, sir," retorted Fanks, gloomily. "I counted on -gaining some information from her. Do you think she will soon -recover?"</p> - -<p>"Not for some time," said Turnor, in a satisfied tone. "I presume you -wish to learn something from her, relative to the case you have in -hand?"</p> - -<p>"You are quite right. I do wish to learn something relative to the -murder which took place in this hotel. But if Mrs. Boazoph cannot tell -me what I wish to know, you may be able to do so."</p> - -<p>Dr. Turnor spread out his hands in a deprecating manner. "I, my dear -friend," he said, "what can I know about the case?"</p> - -<p>"As much as Dr. Renshaw could tell you," retorted Fanks, fixing Turnor -with his keen eye.</p> - -<p>"Dr. Renshaw told me nothing, because he knew nothing."</p> - -<p>"I have my own opinion about that, Dr. Turnor."</p> - -<p>"Really; I thought you were satisfied that my friend had nothing to do -with the matter. He went to India, you know."</p> - -<p>"Are you sure he went to India, Dr. Turnor?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes; he will be soon be at Bombay. I got a letter from him at -Aden, where he changed into the 'Clyde.'"</p> - -<p>"No doubt," said Fanks, affably, "I expect you will hear from him when -he is settled in Bombay."</p> - -<p>"Certainly; Renshaw and I are great friends."</p> - -<p>"I am sure of that. You confide your secrets to one another, and work -in unison."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by working in unison, Mr. Fanks?" said Turnor, -drawing himself up.</p> - -<p>"I don't think I need afford you any explanation, Dr. Turnor. You are -playing a dangerous game, sir."</p> - -<p>"You insult me, sir."</p> - -<p>"Is it possible to insult you, Dr. Turnor?" sneered Fanks.</p> - -<p>"I'll make you prove your words," said Turnor, with rather a pale -face.</p> - -<p>"There will not be much difficulty in doing that--at the proper time."</p> - -<p>The ferret of a man eyed Fanks nervously and savagely. "Do you think I -have anything to do with the matter of Sir Gregory's death?" he burst -out.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you that when I return from Mere Hall," was Fank's reply.</p> - -<p>"Mere Hall?" repeated Turnor, betraying himself, which was the reason -Fanks had mentioned the name; "what do you know of Mere Hall?"</p> - -<p>"That is just what I wish to ask you. What do <i>you</i> know of Mere Hall, -sir?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing, nothing. I merely repeated your words."</p> - -<p>"In a very singular fashion, doctor."</p> - -<p>The little man turned away with a scowl. "I shall defend myself from -your insinuations," he said, in a stifled voice, "if you suspect me, -say so."</p> - -<p>"Suspect you of what?" asked Fanks, innocently; "you speak in -riddles."</p> - -<p>Turnor pointed to the woman lying on the bed. "Perhaps Mrs. Boazoph -can solve them," he said.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps she can," retorted Fanks, with equal coolness; "and I trust -it will not be to your disadvantage when the answers come."</p> - -<p>"I can look after myself, Mr. Fanks," said Turnor, and left the room -without the detective making any effort to detain him.</p> - -<p>Fanks was suspicious of Turnor, from his connection with the so-called -Renshaw; and this conversation went a long way towards confirming -these suspicions. However, as he wished to go to Mere Hall and follow -up the Binjoy clue, he had no time to attend to the Turnor matter. -Nevertheless, on leaving Tooley's Alley he sought out Crate, and -instructed him to look after the doctor.</p> - -<p>"Find out his financial position," said Fanks; "what kind of practice -he has, how he lives, what kind of character he bears, and all about -him."</p> - -<p>"Very well, Mr. Fanks." said Crate, noting the instructions down, "and -what about Mrs. Boazoph?"</p> - -<p>"Keep an eye on her, and should she recover so far as to see Mr. -Hersham or to journey to Taxton-on-Thames, let me know. You can write -or wire me at the Pretty Maid Inn, Damington."</p> - -<p>"That's near Mere Hall, ain't it, sir?"</p> - -<p>"A quarter of a mile away. I shall stay there some time to watch -Binjoy and Sir Louis Fellenger."</p> - -<p>"Do you suspect him, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>"If you remember the name I mentioned, you would not ask me that, -Crate."</p> - -<p>The underling was abashed and said no more, but turned the -conversation to the subject of Garth. "What am I to do about him, -sir?"</p> - -<p>"Oh," said Fanks, dryly, "you think he is guilty, so I will leave him -to you. But do not neglect my interests to look after that business. I -tell you, Crate, the man is innocent."</p> - -<p>"I have my own opinion about that."</p> - -<p>"Then keep to your opinion, but mind my instructions."</p> - -<p>"Well, I will tell you one thing, sir," said Crate. "Mr. Garth has -left town."</p> - -<p>"You don't say so," said Fanks, frowning, "he did not say that he was -going away. Where has he gone to?"</p> - -<p>"I can't tell you that, sir, I lost him. But I'll tell you where he -hasn't gone--and that is to Taxton-on-Thames."</p> - -<p>"I didn't expect he would go there, but it does not matter. I have my -hands full without thinking of Garth. I leave him to you. In the -meantime, goodbye; I am off to Hampshire."</p> - -<p>Fanks arrived at Damington about five o'clock, and put up at The -Pretty Maid Inn as he had done before when following Binjoy in the -disguise of a parson. But thanks to his cleverness in "making up," no -one at the inn suspected that he was the same man. The landlady--a -genial soul with a plump person and a kindly face, quite an ideal -landlady of the Dickens type--welcomed him without suspicion, as a -gentleman come down for the fishing, and detailed all the gossip of -the neighbourhood. She was especially conversant with the affairs of -Sir Louis Fellenger.</p> - -<p>"Such a nice gentleman," said Mrs. Prisom, "rather melancholy and -given to hard study, which ain't good for a young man. But he comes -here and takes a glass with a kind word and a smile always."</p> - -<p>"Does Dr. Binjoy come over with him?" said Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, sir; I am sorry to see that the doctor ain't well lately, he -looks pale and mopey-like. Seems as if he had something on his mind."</p> - -<p>"And what do you think he has on his mind, Mrs. Prisom?"</p> - -<p>"Well, it ain't for me to say, sir; but I should think as he was sorry -he and Sir Louis did not get on so well as they might."</p> - -<p>"What makes you think they do not get on well?" said Fanks, pricking -up his ears.</p> - -<p>"It is the way they look at one another," said Mrs. Prisom, -reflectively. "And they say Dr. Binjoy is going away; though what Sir -Louis will do without him, I don't know."</p> - -<p>"Dr. Binjoy going away," murmured Fanks, rather startled, "now what is -that for?"</p> - -<p>Mrs. Prison could not tell him; she could only say that the doctor was -departing from Mere Hall that day week; and that it was reported in -the village that he had quarrelled seriously with Sir Louis. "Though -of course," added Mrs. Prisom, "it may not be true."</p> - -<p>"I must see to this," thought Fanks. "I wonder if this sudden -departure has anything to do with the murder. Is it a case of thieves -falling out; I must keep my eyes open." After which resolution, he -asked the landlady if she was well acquainted with the Fellenger -family.</p> - -<p>"I should think so," said Mrs. Prisom, with pride, "I knew that poor, -young man who was murdered in that wicked London, as well as I know -myself. A noble gentleman, but wild; ah me!" sighed Mrs. Prisom, "just -like his father."</p> - -<p>"Did you know Sir Gregory's father?"</p> - -<p>"Did I know Sir Gregory's father," echoed Mrs. Prisom, contemptuously, -"do I know the nose on my face, sir? The late Sir Francis and myself -were playmates. Yes, you may well look astonished, sir, but it is the -truth. I was the daughter of the steward at Mere Hall, and I was -brought up with the late Sir Francis almost like brother and sister. I -could tell you many a good story of him," finished Mrs. Prisom, with a -nod and a smile.</p> - -<p>"You must do so," said Fanks, returning the smile, "I am fond of -stories."</p> - -<p>The fact is, he was wondering if he could find the motive for the -murder in the family history of the Fellengers. Many great families -had secrets, which, if divulged, might lead to trouble; and it might -be that the Mere Hall folk's secret had to do with the tattooed cross. -If it proved to be so, then Fanks thought there might be a chance of -penetrating the mystery of Sir Gregory's death. The family secret and -the death in Tooley's Alley were widely apart; but there might be a -connecting link between them, at present hidden from his gaze. At all -events, it was worth while examining Mrs. Prisom, and hearing her -story.</p> - -<p>This Fanks resolved to do that evening; but in the meantime he left -the garrulous landlady, and went out for a stroll in the direction of -Mere Hall. It was not his intention to see Sir Louis on that evening -but rather to wait till the morning. Nevertheless, he had a desire to -look again at the splendid mansion of the Fellengers, more to pass -away the time than with any ulterior motive. In the calm twilight he -strolled along, and soon left the village behind him. His way lay -through flowery hedges, bright with the blossoms of summer; and, under -the influence of the hour and the beauty of the landscape, Fanks quite -forgot that he was at Damington for the purpose of unmasking a -murderer. From his dreams he was rudely awakened, and brought back to -real life.</p> - -<p>As he sauntered along, swinging his stick, he saw a man ahead, whose -figure and gait seemed to be familiar. In the clear, brown twilight he -could see fairly well; and so it appeared could the man he was looking -at; for the figure made a pause and jumped over the hedge. Fanks -wondered at this, for he had noted that the figure was that of a -gentleman, or, at all events, someone other than a labourer. With his -usual suspicion, and as much out of curiosity as anything else, Fanks -jumped over the hedge also; whereupon the stranger began to run across -the fields. By this time, Fanks was thoroughly convinced that -something was wrong; so he gave chase at once, with a chuckle of -delight at the excitement of the adventure.</p> - -<p>Across the green meadow they raced, and Fanks saw the man fading into -the dim twilight. He redoubled his sped; so did the fellow, but in the -next field Fanks found that he was gaining. The fugitive sprang over -another hedge; with Fanks close on his heels. But when the detective -landed he could see nothing of the stranger. A backward glance showed -him that the man had doubled, and was running along beside the hedge. -The next instant, Fanks was following on his trail; and, although the -mysterious figure made the greatest efforts to escape, Fanks drew -closer. Then an accident brought the race to an end, for the man -stumbled over a clod, and rolled on the grass. The next moment Fanks, -panting for breath, stood over him.</p> - -<p>The detective peered down, to see who it was he had caught, and, to -his surprise, he recognised Garth.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_26" href="#div1Ref_26">CHAPTER XXVI</a>.</h4> -<h5>MRS. PRISOM'S STORY.</h5> -<br> - -<p>"What the deuce are you doing here?" asked the detective, angrily, -"and why did you run away when you saw me?"</p> - -<p>"As to my being here," replied Garth, sitting up and wiping his face, -"I came down to watch my cousin, of whom I was suspicious; and I ran -away because, on catching sight of you in the twilight, I took you for -Louis Fellenger."</p> - -<p>"Oh! And for what purpose are you down here?"</p> - -<p>"I have told you. I suspect that my cousin, through his medical -friend, is concerned in the murder of Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>Fanks frowned, and Garth having got on his feet, they walked on -together. He wished that Garth would leave the case to him, and -resented the presence of the young lawyer on the spot. "Where are you -staying?" he asked, abruptly.</p> - -<p>"At the Pretty Maid Inn. I suppose you are there also, as it is the -only comfortable lodging in the village."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I am there, and, now as I have dropped across you, we may as -well go back to supper. I had intended having a look at the Hall, but -on second thoughts I shall go back with you to pump Mrs. Prisom."</p> - -<p>"I know Mrs. Prisom very well," said Garth; "she is an old servant of -our family, but I do not see what you can learn from her."</p> - -<p>"I may learn nothing, on the other hand I may learn a great deal. She -was well acquainted with the father of the late baronet."</p> - -<p>"And she was well acquainted with my mother, and with the father of -the present baronet. But in what way do you expect her to help you?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll tell you. I want to find out if there is anything in the -family history of the Fellengers likely to have induced Sir Gregory to -submit to that tattooing."</p> - -<p>"I am a member of the family, and I don't know of any reason," said -Garth.</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Prisom belongs to a generation before you," replied Fanks, "and -it is possible that she may know something. Of course, it is only -fancy on my part. Still, a drowning man clutches a straw, and I am -clutching at this. We may learn something."</p> - -<p>Garth shook his head. He knew the history of his family, and there was -nothing he could recall likely to touch on the subject of a tattooed -cross.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Prisom received them both with great dignity, and in half an hour -they were seated at a well-spread table. Both did justice to the -viands set before them; and during the progress of the meal they -chattered about the case. While they were thus conversing Fanks -elicited an important fact concerning Sir Louis.</p> - -<p>"I don't know why you should suspect your cousin," he said, in reply -to a remark of Garth's. "Mr. Vaud told us that both Sir Louis and -Binjoy were at Taxton-on-Thames on the night of the murder. The first -was ill, and the second was in attendance."</p> - -<p>"True enough," replied Garth, frankly; "all the same, you proved that -Binjoy was masquerading in London on the evening of the twenty-first."</p> - -<p>"Yes; it is strange that Sir Louis should say that Binjoy never left -his side. I suppose you suspect your cousin on that account?"</p> - -<p>"By no means. I suspect my cousin because he was himself in London on -that night."</p> - -<p>Fanks leaned back in his chair, and stared at the barrister. "What is -that you say?" he cried. "Was Sir Louis in Tooley's Alley on that -evening?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I won't go so far as that. But Louis certainly went up to London -on that night. I found that out from Mrs. Jerusalem."</p> - -<p>"And who is Mrs. Jerusalem?"</p> - -<p>"She was the housekeeper of Sir Louis at Taxton-on-Thames. When he -came in for the title he brought her here. I saw her yesterday, and -she inadvertently admitted that much."</p> - -<p>"How did you get that out of her?"</p> - -<p>"Well, it was a fluke. She is an old servant of our family, like Mrs. -Prisom. I met her while out walking, and she recognised me. I made her -promise not to tell Sir Louis that I was here."</p> - -<p>"But what excuse did you make?"</p> - -<p>"None," said Garth, coolly. "I'll tell you a secret, Fanks. Mrs. -Jerusalem likes me and hates Sir Louis. She was a foster-sister of my -mother's, and she desires to see me in the place of my scientific -cousin."</p> - -<p>"Indeed," said Fanks, eyeing Garth in a strange manner; "and has she -done anything likely to forward your interest in that respect?"</p> - -<p>"I suppose you mean to hint that she would like to clear Sir Louis out -of my path by accusing him of the murder?" said Garth, coolly; "well, -you are about right. Mrs. Jerusalem connects the absence of Sir Louis -from Taxton-on-Thames with the death of Sir Gregory. She saw the -report of the inquest, you know; she recognised--as she thinks--the -description of Binjoy's servant Caesar, and, by putting two and two -together, she told me yesterday that it is her firm conviction--on the -slightest of proofs, remember--that Louis killed Gregory by means of -the black man."</p> - -<p>"Humph!" said Fanks, thoughtfully; "I must see this lady. But if she -dislikes Sir Louis and Binjoy why does she stay in the service of the -former?"</p> - -<p>Garth shrugged his shoulders. "One must live," he said, "and Mrs. -Jerusalem has a very easy time of it with my cousin. When my mother -died, and we were as poor as rats, my father got Louis's father to -take Mrs. Jerusalem into his service, and she has been there ever -since. Oh, she will not tell my cousin that I am here," concluded -Garth, with a satisfied nod.</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Prisom may," suggested Fanks. "You may be sure that a good deal -of gossip goes on between inn and Hall. How long have you been here?"</p> - -<p>"About three days."</p> - -<p>"Then you may be certain that your cousin knows of your presence in -the village. If he has any danger to fear from you he will take his -measures accordingly. I don't like your Mrs. Jerusalem, Garth; she -ought to be true to her salt."</p> - -<p>"I can't help that," retorted Garth, sulkily. "She would willingly -keep house for me if I had a house to keep, but as I have not she -stays where she is. But what do you think of her suspicions? Do yours -point in the same way?"</p> - -<p>"They did not," replied Fanks, promptly; "but your discovery of Sir -Louis's visit to town on that night puts quite a different complexion -on the case. All the same, I can come to no conclusion until I see -this spy of yours."</p> - -<p>"She isn't a spy," said Garth, gloomily. "I did not drag the -information out of the creature. She thought that she was doing me a -good turn by betraying my cousin. She thinks that if he killed Gregory -he ought to suffer, and let me have the property."</p> - -<p>"And what do you think?" asked Fanks, with a keen glance.</p> - -<p>"I don't want to build up my life on the ruins of another man's; it is -a bad foundation. I know you believe that I wish to get my cousin into -trouble, but you are wrong. I would help Louis to escape if I could."</p> - -<p>"There may be no necessity for that; we have proved nothing against -him as yet. I hardly think that a man who has committed a crime would -put down money to hunt out himself, and thereby lose the benefit he -gained by his wickedness. No, no, Garth, I do not believe Sir Louis is -such a guilty fool. However, I shall give my opinion when I see him -and question Mrs. Jerusalem."</p> - -<p>"Will you tell my cousin that I am here?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly. There is nothing to be gained by concealment. You only -place your honour in the hands of that Jerusalem creature, and make -yourself her accomplice. However, I am ready to bet you that Sir Louis -knows you are here through Mrs. Prisom."</p> - -<p>Garth made no reply, but stating that he was weary, went off to bed. -The detective, left alone, thought over what he had been told, and -found himself unable to come to any conclusion. He did not like the -way in which Garth was acting, but, all the same, he believed that the -lawyer had no ill intentions towards his cousin, despite Crate's -opinion to the contrary. The young man laughed as he thought how he -had picked up the trail of Garth when it had been lost by the astute -Crate. "I am afraid that Crate will never make a success of the -detective business," thought Fanks, lighting his pipe. "But I don't -agree with him about Garth; and I don't agree with Garth about Sir -Louis. Certainly, it is strange that Sir Louis should have feigned -illness, and shielded Binjoy, and then have gone up to town on that -night. What the deuce were he and his medical friend doing there? Dr. -Turnor knows; I believe that Sir Louis was alone with Binjoy in the -Great Auk Street house. It is odd, to say the least of it. I wonder if -that negro was the actual Caesar, or Binjoy or Sir Louis in disguise. -At all events, he wasn't Hersham, for that young man has exonerated -himself clearly enough. H'm. I'll reserve my decision as to Mrs. -Jerusalem's story till I see Sir Louis. Perhaps the secret of the -crime is to be found at Mere Hall, after all. No, no, no!" said Fanks, -getting on his feet with an emphatic stamp. "The secret is connected -with that tattooed cross. I wonder who can tell us about it."</p> - -<p>At, this moment, as if in answer to his query, the door opened, and -Mrs. Prisom came in to clear away the dinner things. As a rule, she -left this duty to the parlour maid, but as Garth, an offshoot of the -great Fellenger family, was dining under her roof, she would let no -one but herself attend to him. She looked surprised when she saw that -Garth was not in the room. At once Fanks explained the absence of his -friend.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Garth has retired to bed," he said, "as he is very tired. I shall -go myself soon, as your country air makes me sleepy, but at present I -should like to have a chat with you, Mrs. Prisom."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Prisom smiled in an expansive manner, and expressed the honour -she felt at such a request, adding that she dearly loved a chat.</p> - -<p>"All the better," thought Fanks, as she cleared away the dishes. "You -will be the more likely to tell me what I want to know."</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the table was tidy, and Mrs. Prisom, at Fanks' -request, had brought in her knitting. He guessed that she would talk -better with the needles clicking in her active hands, and herein he -judged wisely, for thus employed Mrs. Prisom would gossip for hours, -provided she had a good listener.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you knew the mother of Mr. Garth?" said Fanks, plunging at -once into the history of the Fellenger family.</p> - -<p>"Miss Eleanor? Ah, that I did; but she was a proud young lady, and -didn't care to play with me, even as a child, because I was the -daughter of the steward. They were all proud, the Fellengers, except -Sir Francis."</p> - -<p>"That was Sir Gregory's father?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. There was Sir Francis, the eldest and the merry one; Mr. -Michael, the father of the present Baronet, Sir Louis, he was proud, -too; and then Miss Eleanor, who married Mr. Garth. But I liked Sir -Francis the best of all," concluded the old lady, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>There was a look in her eyes as she said this, which made Fanks think -that she had been in love with the gay baronet, in the old days.</p> - -<p>"He was a bonny man, Sir Francis Fellenger," she resumed. "Never a -maid but what he had a smile for, and many a kiss did he take without -the asking," laughed Mrs. Prisom. "Oh, he was a merry blade. But all -sailors have those ways."</p> - -<p>"Was Sir Francis a sailor?" asked Fanks, suddenly.</p> - -<p>"He was a Captain in the Navy before he came into the title," said -Mrs. Prisom, "then he settled down and married Miss Darmer, a -Shropshire lady. But she died, poor soul, when Sir Gregory was born, -and it was five weeks after her death, that Sir Francis was killed by -being thrown from his dog-cart."</p> - -<p>"Sir Francis was a sailor?" asked Fanks, abruptly. "I suppose when he -went to sea and came home a middy, he had anchors, and ships, and true -lovers' knots, and such like things tattooed upon his skin."</p> - -<p>"He just had," replied Mrs. Prisom, laughing. "He had quite a fancy -for that sort of thing. He told me he learnt how to do it in Japan."</p> - -<p>"He learnt how to do it," echoed Fanks, leaning forward in his -excitement.</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes; and very clever he was at drawing such pictures on the -skin. I shall never forget how angered my mother was when Sir -Francis--Master Francis he was then--insisted on pricking those blue -marks on my arm."</p> - -<p>"Did he do that?" demanded the detective, little expecting what would -follow.</p> - -<p>"He did, sir; the mark of it remains to this day," and Mrs. Prisom -drew up the sleeve of her left arm. Fanks bent forward, and saw -tattooed thereon--a cross. Was he then about to unravel the mystery of -the tattooed cross which had puzzled him for so long?</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_27" href="#div1Ref_27">CHAPTER XXVII</a>.</h4> -<h5>MRS. PRISOM'S STORY.--CONTINUED.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Fanks restrained his joy at this important discovery; he was afraid -lest Mrs. Prisom should cease to speak should she think that the -revelation was of consequence to him. That she should have the same -symbol as that possessed by Hersham, as that attempted on Sir Gregory, -appeared to hint at its owning a certain significance. What that -significance might be he now set himself to discover.</p> - -<p>"Why did Sir Francis choose a cross to tattoo on your arm, Mrs. -Prisom," he asked, as the old lady pulled down her sleeve.</p> - -<p>"I cannot say, Mr. Fanks. I fancy it was because he could draw a cross -better than anything else. You see it is St. Catherine's cross, with -four arms and a wheel--at least, that is what Sir Francis called it."</p> - -<p>"It is St. Catherine's cross," said Fanks, recalling the mark on -Hersham's arm. "Perhaps Sir Francis attached some meaning to it. Do -you know if he tattooed anyone else with the same symbol?"</p> - -<p>At this remark Mrs. Prisom suddenly desisted from her occupation, and -not only refused to speak but taxed Fanks with trying to fathom her -meaning for some ill purpose. "Why should you come down here, and ask -questions about Sir Francis Fellenger?" she asked, with a troubled -look; "why do you wish to know all these things?"</p> - -<p>There was no help for it. If Fanks wished to learn the truth he would -have to tell her the real purpose of his visit; and then out of love -for the memory of Sir Francis she might do what she could to aid him -to discover the person who had murdered Sir Gregory. Resolving to risk -all on the casting of this die, he spoke out boldly and to the point. -Yet he approached the old lady with a certain amount of caution.</p> - -<p>"I have an important reason for asking you these questions," he said, -in an earnest tone, "and I shall tell you my reason shortly. But first -say if you regretted the death of Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"I regretted it because he was the son of his father, but I did not -care over much for him. He was a bad man, Mr. Fanks, a very bad man. I -loved the father as an old playmate, and as one who was always kind to -me and mine; but the son--ah!" Mrs. Prisom shook her head and sighed.</p> - -<p>"You know that he was murdered?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; but they never found out who murdered him."</p> - -<p>"No; they are trying to find out now. You may be able to help me to do -so."</p> - -<p>"Help you?" said the old lady, in a frightened tone. "Who are you, -sir?"</p> - -<p>"My name is Fanks, as, you know, Mrs. Prisom. But what you do not know -is that I am a detective, anxious to learn who killed Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"I know nothing of the murder, sir. I am a simple old body, and cannot -help you in any way."</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, you can, Mrs. Prisom. You can help me by relating all you -know about this tattooing."</p> - -<p>"But what can the death of Sir Gregory have to do with an old story of -man's treachery and woman's folly?"</p> - -<p>"More than you think. The whole secret of the death lies in the -explanation of that tattooing. Come, Mrs. Prisom, you must tell me all -you know."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Prisom thought for a moment, and then made up her mind. "I'll do -what I can," said she. "Those who are concerned in this tale are dead -and gone; and, so long as it does not hurt the living, I see no reason -why I should not gratify your curiosity; but I must ask you not to -repeat what I tell you, unless you are absolutely obliged to do so. It -is no good spreading family scandals, but as you have appealed to me -to help you to revenge the murder of my old, playfellow's son, I will -confide in you."</p> - -<p>Fanks assured Mrs. Prisom that he would be as reticent as possible -about her forthcoming history, and would not use it unless compelled -to do so. Satisfied on this point, Mrs. Prisom commenced; at the same -moment Fanks took out his note-book to set down any important point.</p> - -<p>"The other person who was tattooed," said Mrs. Prisom, "was Madaline -Garry." Fanks whistled softly and made a note in his book. "Only a -thought which struck me," he explained. "Madaline Garry; was she also -tattooed with a cross?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. Madaline and Jane Garry were the daughters of old Captain -Garry, a retired naval officer, who lived in Damington. I knew them -both very well, as we used to meet on terms of equality in parish -work. Jane was the quiet one, but Madaline was a flighty girl, fond of -admiration and dress. She attracted the attention of Sir Francis, and -it was thought at one time that he would marry her. However, he did -not do so, but brought home the lady from Shropshire to Mere Hall. -Still, Madaline must have been fond of him, for she let him tattoo on -her arm a cross similar to this one of mine, I saw it one day while -she was changing her dress, and remarked it. She said Sir Francis had -pricked it on her arm as a sign that she was engaged to him, and that -it was like a wedding ring. I warned her against Sir Francis, and -mentioned the lady of Shropshire to whom he was said to be paying his -addresses. She laughed at this, and said Sir Francis would marry her. -'If he doesn't,' she added, 'I shall know how to avenge myself.'"</p> - -<p>"Did she know that you had a cross on your arm also?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, I told her; but I never expected to marry Sir Francis, and -he did me no harm. I can't say the same of Madaline. He acted badly -towards her. I don't say that Sir Francis was a good man," added Mrs. -Prisom, in a hesitating manner; "but he was good to me. He certainly -should have married Madaline Garry."</p> - -<p>"Did he go about tattooing all the girls he was in love with?"</p> - -<p>"He was not in love with me," rejoined Mrs. Prisom, with dignity, "and -I only let him tattoo me because I was a schoolgirl and his old -playfellow. I knew no better then; but Madaline was a grown woman when -he loved her, and marked her with the cross. I suppose it was to bind -her to him;--not that it did much good, for shortly afterwards he -married Miss Darmer, and in a rage at his desertion Madaline took up -with an old admirer--Luke Fielding was his name--and she married him -almost on the same day that Sir Francis led his bride to the Hall."</p> - -<p>"Did she ever forgive him?"</p> - -<p>"She said she did," replied Mrs. Prisom, with hesitation; "but I have -my doubts of that. At all events, she was stopping at the Hall within -the year of her marriage."</p> - -<p>"How was that?"</p> - -<p>"Well, you see, sir, in nine months after the marriage Mr. Fielding -died, leaving Madaline with no money and a little child. About the -same time Lady Fellenger died at the birth of the dead Sir Gregory. -Somebody was wanted as a nurse, and Madaline asked Sir Francis if she -could come. She was poor, you see, and wanted money, although after -the death of her husband she was living with her father. At first Sir -Francis would not let her come--feeling ashamed-like, no doubt--but in -some way she prevailed against him, and went to the hall as the nurse -to the heir."</p> - -<p>"And what about her own child?"</p> - -<p>"She took him also, by permission of Sir Francis."</p> - -<p>"Oh! was the child of Madaline a son?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Her son and that of Sir Francis were born almost on the same -day; she insisted that her son should come to the Hall also, so Sir -Francis agreed in the end."</p> - -<p>"And Madaline Garry nursed the heir--that is, the late Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"She did," assented Mrs. Prisom. "Till Sir Francis was killed, as I -told you, five weeks after the death of his wife. His body was brought -home and buried; but, almost immediately after the funeral, Madaline -disappeared with her child. She was never heard of again; and I have -no doubt that by this time she is dead."</p> - -<p>"How long ago is it since she disappeared?" asked Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Twenty-eight years, sir. Where she and the child went, I do not know; -for she had no money. Poor soul; I was sorry for her."</p> - -<p>"And her sister and Captain Garry?"</p> - -<p>"Captain Garry died soon after. Madaline was his favourite child; he -never held up his head after she disappeared. When the Captain died, -Miss Jane went to some relatives in Scotland."</p> - -<p>"And the heir?"</p> - -<p>"Sir Gregory? Oh, Dr. Binjoy got another nurse for him."</p> - -<p>Fanks glanced up in astonishment. "Dr. Binjoy!" he repeated. "Was he -here?"</p> - -<p>"Of course he was, sir," replied Mrs. Prisom, with a slight shade of -surprise, "he was at the births of both Madaline's child and Sir -Gregory. Afterwards, when the father of Sir Louis died, he asked Dr. -Binjoy to look after his son, who was sickly. The doctor agreed; and -he has been with Sir Louis ever since."</p> - -<p>"Yet now they are about to part."</p> - -<p>"It seems strange, doesn't it, sir?" said Mrs. Prisom, "but ever since -Dr. Binjoy has been here with Sir Louis, they have got on badly. I -think it was the chemistry which kept them together; for their -characters are quite unlike one another."</p> - -<p>"You like Sir Louis?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. But I don't like Dr. Binjoy. No. Not though I have known him for -so many years. He was a lover of Madaline Garry also, but she would -have nothing to do with him. I am glad he is leaving Sir Louis."</p> - -<p>"Was Binjoy friendly with Sir Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"I can't say, sir. I do not think he had much love for him; because he -was the heir and kept Sir Louis out of the property."</p> - -<p>"Oh; and no doubt Binjoy wanted Sir Louis to have the property, so -that he could get a share of the money."</p> - -<p>"I think so, sir. They said that Dr. Binjoy was always very gay; and -used to go to London to lead a fast life."</p> - -<p>"Who said that? Did you ever go to Taxton-on-Thames?"</p> - -<p>"No, Mrs. Jerusalem told me. You know she was the housekeeper of the -late Mr. Garth; and, after his death, she went to keep house for Sir -Louis at Taxton-on-Thames. When Sir Louis came in for the property he -brought her here."</p> - -<p>"Is she a native of this village?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes; she was a school friend of mine, though I never liked her -over much. I believe she was in love with the late Mr. Garth. At all -events, she is devoted to his son. I wonder she left him to keep house -for Sir Louis. But, as poor, young Mr. Garth had no money, I suppose -she had to do the best she could for herself."</p> - -<p>In Fanks' opinion, the love of Mrs. Jerusalem for the late Mr. Garth -explained why she was so anxious to benefit the son; but it did not -indicate why she should hate Sir Louis. Mrs. Prisom's next words -enlightened him on this point.</p> - -<p>"It is more strange," pursued Mrs. Prisom. "Because Mr. Michael, the -father of Sir Louis, treated Mrs. Jerusalem very badly. Yes, almost as -badly as Sir Francis did Madaline Garry."</p> - -<p>"I wonder Sir Francis was not afraid that Madaline Garry would avenge -herself for his treatment," said Fanks, now satisfied as to the cause -of Mrs. Jerusalem's hatred for Sir Louis.</p> - -<p>"I think he was afraid," replied Mrs. Prisom, rising and rolling up -her work. "I can't explain what he said to me in any other way."</p> - -<p>"What was that?" said Fanks, eagerly.</p> - -<p>"I was at the Hall one day, shortly after the death of Lady -Fellenger," said the landlady, "and I saw him in his study. He was -grieving greatly for the death of his wife; but he also told me how -pleased he was at the birth of an heir. While he was talking, Madaline -entered, and spoke about something; then she nodded to me, and went -away. As the door closed after her, Sir Francis looked anxious. -'Nancy,' he said, turning to me--he always called me 'Nancy,'" said -Mrs. Prisom, in parentheses. "'Nancy,' he said, all in a flutter like, -'if it should chance as I die, and anything goes wrong about my son, -remember that cross I tattooed on your arm; and if you want any -further proof, look in this desk.' Just then, we were interrupted, and -he did not say any more. I never saw him again," added Mrs. Prisom, -with emotion, "for he was brought home dead that day week."</p> - -<p>"Can you understand what he meant?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir," said Mrs. Prisom, rising. "I can only say from the look he -gave the door, that he was afraid of Madaline. What he meant by the -cross and the desk I know no more than you do. But he was wrong in -thinking that Madaline would harm his child--for that was what he -thought, I'm sure--for she went away a week after his death with her -own, and Sir Gregory grew into a fine, young gentleman, though wild, -very wild."</p> - -<p>After which speech, Mrs. Prisom, exclaiming that it was close on ten -o'clock, left the room; and Fanks sat meditating over the strange -history he had heard, far into the night. Already he saw a connecting -link between the story of Madaline Garry and the tragedy of Tooley's -Alley.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_28" href="#div1Ref_28">CHAPTER XXVIII</a>.</h4> -<h5>SIR LOUIS EXPLAINS.</h5> -<br> - -<p>The outcome of Fanks' midnight meditations, was that he resolved to -devote himself entirely to following the clue afforded by Mrs. -Prisom's story of the tattooed cross. The dead father had chosen the -symbol of St Catherine's martyrdom for some unknown purpose; the -murdered son had perished while the same emblem was being tattooed on -his arm. For some reason he had wished to be marked in such a way, and -the murderer had taken advantage of the wish to inoculate the blood of -his victim with a deadly poison. If then, Fanks could learn the -significance of the cross, he might be able to fathom the mystery of -the death. The question he asked himself was, whether he could find -out the truth concerning the cross in the study of the late Sir -Francis.</p> - -<p>The warning which the dead man had given to Mrs. Prisom, seemed -strange to the detective. That it was dictated by fear of Madaline -Garry, he felt sure; but as she had passed away, and had foregone her -vengeance it would seem that the warning was useless. Nevertheless, -Fanks resolved to see the desk referred to by Mrs. Prisom, and to -search for the evidence hinted at by Sir Francis. Also, for reasons of -his own, which the reader may guess, he wired to Hersham at the -Fairview vicarage, to seek an explanation from his father relative to -the cross tattooed on his arm. The tale of the Reverend Hersham might -show why the special symbol of Sir Francis was figuring on the skin of -a young man who had nothing to do with the Fellengers and their mad -freaks. After concluding the first part of his scheme by despatching -this letter, Fanks proceeded to the second, and walked to Mere Hall to -see the desk referred to by Mrs. Prisom. Garth had refused to -accompany the detective to the Hall; and gave his reason for such -refusal. "It is no good my going," he said, "I don't wish to see my -cousin; and if, as you think, he knows that I am here, there is no -longer any reason why I should stay in Damington. I shall go up to -town by the midday train, and leave you to find out if he has anything -to do with the crime."</p> - -<p>"Well, as I know all you know, and a great deal more besides, I don't -think it is necessary for you to stay," said Fanks, dryly. "I'll -follow up the clue afforded by the malice of Mrs. Jerusalem. Return to -town by all means, and if you want anything to do, just join Crate in -watching the Red Star Hotel in which Mrs. Boazoph lies ill."</p> - -<p>This Garth promised readily enough, much to the amusement of Fanks, as -the latter was simply throwing him into the society of Crate in order -to afford that person a chance of learning the connection--if any--of -Garth with the crime. He was assured in his own mind that Garth was -innocent, but he was willing to afford Crate some innocent amusement, -by setting him to find the mare's nest of his own imagination. When -Garth, therefore, departed, Fanks smiled in his own quiet way; and -went off to solve the more difficult riddle which awaited him at Mere -Hall.</p> - -<p>When he was nearing the Hall, a woman stepped out of a gap in the -hedge almost in front of him. She was dressed in a black silk dress -with lavender coloured shawl over her shoulders; and she wore also a -bonnet of grey velvet made Quaker fashion, and close fitting over the -ears. But it was not at her dress that Fanks looked; he was staring at -the most malignant countenance he ever saw in his life. She was pale -and thin-lipped; her hair and eyes and eyebrows were of a light, sandy -hue; and she had a stealthy, observant way with her, which made Fanks -mistrust her on the instant. Like an apparition she arose from the -ground; and laid one thin hand on his breast to detain him.</p> - -<p>"One moment, Mr. Fanks," she said, in a perfectly unemotional voice. -"You must speak to me before you go to Mere Hall."</p> - -<p>"Why must I?" demanded Fanks, with a stare, "and how is it you know my -name?"</p> - -<p>"Mr. Garth told me your name and your errand."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" cried Fanks, remembering Garth's excuse for retiring to bed on -the previous night. "So you are Mrs. Jerusalem?"</p> - -<p>"That is my name; and I wish to tell you--"</p> - -<p>"I wish to hear nothing," said Fanks, roughly. "Mr. Garth had no -business to speak about me. What is there between you and him that he -should act in this underhand way without telling me? He said he was -going to bed last night. Instead of that, he sneaks out and sees you."</p> - -<p>"There you are wrong," replied Mrs. Jerusalem, still without a trace -of emotion. "Mr. Garth did not come to me. On the contrary, it was I -who came to him at the inn while you were talking to Mrs. Prisom. He -came out of his bedroom to see me for a few moments; and then I went -away."</p> - -<p>"And why did he not tell about this meeting?" asked Fanks, angrily.</p> - -<p>"Because I asked him not to. I wished to take you by surprise. If you -had heard of my midnight visit, you might mistrust me; as it is--"</p> - -<p>"As it is, I mistrust you still. Well, Mrs. Jerusalem, we will waive -the point. I know you accuse Sir Louis of this murder. Is it to betray -the master whose bread you eat, that you have sought this meeting?"</p> - -<p>"That is just why I am here," was the quiet reply. "I hate my -master--"</p> - -<p>"Because his father, Michael Fellenger, treated you ill. I know all -about that, Mrs. Jerusalem."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said the woman, coldly. "I see you employed your time with Mrs. -Prisom to good purpose. Well, you can understand that I hate Sir -Louis, and I would gladly see Francis Garth sit in his place?"</p> - -<p>"And for this purpose you have concocted a story against Sir Louis."</p> - -<p>"I have concocted no story. I tell the truth. Sir Louis and Dr. Binjoy -went up to London on the night of the murder; although they now -pretend that the one was ill, and the other attended him. They sent me -out of the house on that night; but I suspected, I watched, I -discovered. Do you know why the pair went up to London?" she -continued, grasping Fanks by the arm. "To kill Sir Gregory. Do you -know why they killed Sir Gregory? To get money for their scientific -experiments. Do you know how they killed Sir Gregory? Ask them about -the poisoned needle. Yes. They made use of their scientific knowledge -to slay the man whose money they wanted."</p> - -<p>"Who put the advertisement in the paper?"</p> - -<p>"Ask Mrs. Boazoph, she knows."</p> - -<p>"Does she?" said Fanks, disgusted with her malignity, "and perhaps you -know about the tattooed cross?"</p> - -<p>"No, I don't know about the tattooed cross," said Mrs. Jerusalem, "but -I daresay Madaline Garry can tell you."</p> - -<p>"Madaline Garry? Do you know her? Is she still alive?"</p> - -<p>"I know her, she is still alive. See Sir Louis, Mr. Fanks," said the -woman, stretching out her lean hand, "tear the mask off the lying face -of Dr. Binjoy who loved Madaline Garry and ask him where she lives; -and what evil he has worked with her aid?"</p> - -<p>More Fanks would have asked, but with a sudden movement she eluded his -detaining hand, and before he could recover from his astonishment she -was far down the road to the village, gliding like an evil shadow into -the sunny distance. Fanks thought of following her, but on second -thoughts he pursued his journey to the Hall. "Sir Louis and Binjoy -first," he muttered, "afterwards Mrs. Jerusalem and Madaline Garry."</p> - -<p>Despite his belief in the evidence of Mrs. Jerusalem, which was -obviously dictated by a malignant spirit, he caught himself wondering -if she was really right, and if, after all, Sir Louis was guilty. But -the moment afterwards he rejected this idea, as it was incredible that -Sir Louis would commit a crime and then offer a reward for the -detection of the assassin. Still Fanks admitted to himself that if Sir -Louis was not frank, he would find it difficult to come to a decision -touching his innocence or guilt.</p> - -<p>On sending in his card at Mere Hall, the detective was admitted into -the study of Sir Louis Fellenger. Here he found not the baronet but -his old acquaintance Dr. Renshaw, who advanced boldly and introduced -himself as Dr. Binjoy. In place of wearing a thick brown beard he was -clean-shaven, and his face looked young, fresh-coloured, and smooth. -For the rest he was as tall and burly as ever, as unctuous in his -speech; and to complete the resemblance between himself and the doctor -of Tooley's Alley, there lurked an unmistakable look of anxiety in his -grey eyes. It was impossible to think how he hoped to deceive so -clever a man as Fanks by so slight a change in his personal -appearance; but he evidently thought Fanks knew nothing of the truth, -for he came forward with a bland smile, prepared to carry on the -comedy.</p> - -<p>"My dear sir," said Binjoy, with magnificent pompousness, "your card -was brought to Sir Louis, but he has been busy in his laboratory, and -is rather untidy in consequence, he deputed me to receive you. Pray be -seated."</p> - -<p>Fanks smiled slightly and sat down, while Dr. Binjoy, rendered uneasy -by the silence, carried on a difficult conversation.</p> - -<p>"I presume, Mr. Fanks, that you have come to report your doings to Sir -Louis touching this unfortunate death of my friend's predecessor in -the title. May I ask if you have any clue to the assassin?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes," said Fanks, quietly; "you will be pleased to hear, Dr. -Binjoy, that I have every hope of arresting the right man."</p> - -<p>Binjoy turned grey and looked anything but delighted. Indeed an -unprejudiced observer would have said that he looked thoroughly -frightened. But he controlled himself so far as to falter out a -question as to the name of the guilty man. Fanks mentioned the name of -Renshaw, and thereby reduced his listener to a state of abject terror.</p> - -<p>"Renshaw is innocent, sir," said the doctor, tremulously, "I would he -were here to defend himself; but he is in India at present, at Bombay. -I received a letter from him, dated from Aden."</p> - -<p>"How strange," said Fanks, innocently; "Dr. Turnor got a letter from -him also."</p> - -<p>Binjoy saw that he had over-reached himself, and bit his lip. "We need -discuss Renshaw no longer," he said, coolly. "Let us talk of other -matters till Sir Louis enters."</p> - -<p>"By all means," said Fanks. "Let me ask you, Dr. Binjoy, what you -were doing at Dr. Turnor's in Great Auk Street on the night of the -twenty-first?"</p> - -<p>Binjoy went pale again, and stammered out a denial. "I was not in town -on that night," he protested. "I was attending on Sir Louis, who was -ill. I never left the house at Taxton-on-Thames."</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, you did. You went up with Sir Louis."</p> - -<p>"Prove it, prove it," gasped Binjoy, with white lips.</p> - -<p>"I can prove it by the mouth of Mrs. Jerusalem. She saw you leave; she -saw Sir Louis return alone."</p> - -<p>"A lie! A lie!"</p> - -<p>"It is not a lie, and you know it. It is time to have done with this -farce, Dr. Binjoy. I know who you are. I know all about your -impersonation and disguise. I know why you called yourself Renshaw. I -traced you to Plymouth and saw you disembark; I followed you to this -place, and now I have you."</p> - -<p>Binjoy stared wildly for a moment at seeing his mask of lies fall away -from him, and then sank back in his chair with a shiver, moaning and -crying. "It is a lie, a lie," was all he could gasp.</p> - -<p>"It is not a lie," said a voice at the door, and Fanks turned to see -Sir Louis. "It is not a lie," repeated the baronet. "Binjoy is -Renshaw; he went up with me to town on the night of the twenty-first. -If you want to know who killed my cousin, Mr. Fanks, there is the -assassin."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_29" href="#div1Ref_29">CHAPTER XXIX</a>.</h4> -<h5>DR. BINJOY PROTESTS.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Silence ensued after this astounding statement had been made by Sir -Louis, during which time Fanks narrowly observed the personality of -the speaker. The baronet was a tall, and rather stout young man, with -a round face, destitute of beard and moustache. He was shabbily -dressed in an old tweed suit. He wore spectacles, and his shoulders -were slightly bowed as from constant bending over a desk. His -appearance was rather that of a studious German than that of a young -Englishman, but Fanks, from this hasty observation, judged him to be -of a sensible and reflective nature. Such a man would not make so -terrible an accusation unless he was able to substantiate it on every -point.</p> - -<p>Binjoy arose to refute the accusation of his quondam pupil. "That -man," he said, pointing an unsteady hand at the baronet, "is lying. He -hates me because I know his secrets. For their preservation he seeks -to destroy me. But if I fall he falls also; if I am guilty he is -doubly so. Let him speak and admit that our sin is mutual."</p> - -<p>"I admit nothing of the sort," retorted Sir Louis, coming forward. -"You tell your story, and I shall tell mine. Mr. Fanks can judge -between us."</p> - -<p>"You had better be careful, Louis," said Binjoy, with an attempt at -bravado. "I hold you in the hollow of my hand."</p> - -<p>"We will see," said Fellenger, coldly. "Be seated, Mr. Fanks. Before -you leave this room you shall hear my story, and decide as you think -best. I refuse to be the accomplice of that man any longer."</p> - -<p>"Louis, I implore you."</p> - -<p>But Fellenger turned a deaf ear to the voice of the charmer, and sat -down near Fanks, to whom he addressed himself. "For the sake of Binjoy -I concealed the truth; out of pity for him I held my tongue; but when -he strives to make me an accomplice in the crime, when he attempts to -blackmail me by threatening to inform you of our doings on the night -of the twenty-first of June, I prefer to forestall him, and let you -know the worst of myself."</p> - -<p>"You were listening to our conversation, Sir Louis?" said Fanks.</p> - -<p>"I was," replied the baronet, coldly. "I know what Mrs. Jerusalem -thinks; I know how Binjoy has been lying to you; and I am sick of -living on the verge of a precipice, over which that man and my -housekeeper threaten to push me. At any cost you shall hear the truth -so far as I am able to tell it to you. Ask what questions you like, -Mr. Fanks, and I shall answer them; when I fail no doubt the worthy -doctor there will come to my aid, and shield himself if possible at my -expense."</p> - -<p>"I shall say nothing," said Binjoy, wiping his lips. "My only desire -is to save myself from the consequences of your falsehoods. I wish you -no harm."</p> - -<p>"Just hear him!" cried Louis, in a mocking tone. "Would you believe -that my friend there threatened to blackmail me last week by saying he -would denounce me to the police. Well, Binjoy, here is a -representative of the law. You can now speak. I give you full power to -do so."</p> - -<p>Binjoy did not accept this challenge. He sat back in his chair to -listen to the forthcoming conversation, and to defend himself if -necessary.</p> - -<p>"Well, Sir Louis," said the detective, "I have heard your accusation -and the denial of Dr. Binjoy. Until I hear your story and his I attach -no value to either."</p> - -<p>Binjoy drew a long breath of relief. "I can defend myself," he said, -in a defiant tone. "I can prove to you that Louis lies."</p> - -<p>"You shall have ample opportunity of doing so," replied Fanks, coldly; -"in the meantime I shall hear what Sir Louis has to say."</p> - -<p>"I must begin at the beginning," said Louis, quietly. "That man Binjoy -was the doctor in this village of Damington. When my father died -leaving me an orphan--for my mother had died some years before--he -asked Binjoy to look after me."</p> - -<p>"And I have done so," broke in Binjoy, "and this is my reward."</p> - -<p>"This is your reward for trying to blackmail me," said Fellenger, -dryly. "You did your best to ruin me, and to put bad thoughts into my -heart as to Gregory's wealth and my own poverty. See here, Mr. Fanks," -added Louis, turning to the detective, "I am a man of science; I am -devoted to my work. I wanted neither money nor title, and I would not -have lifted a finger to obtain either. I did not like Gregory; he was -a brutal and wicked boy, and when we were playmates together he -treated me like a dog. I never saw him for years. We never -corresponded or treated each other as relatives, but for all that I -did not wish him evil; I did not desire his death; least of all did I -desire to rob him of his titles and lands. Do you believe me, sir?"</p> - -<p>Fanks looked at the open face of the young man, and glanced at the -scowl which rested on the countenance of Binjoy. Drawing his own -conclusions, he replied quietly, "I believe you, Sir Louis; proceed, -if you please."</p> - -<p>"Binjoy," pursued Louis, "was always lamenting that I was not the -owner of the Fellenger estates; and now that I am he hopes to make me -pay him large sums of money to purchase his silence."</p> - -<p>"What does he threaten to accuse you of?" said Fanks.</p> - -<p>"Of murdering my cousin under the disguise of the negro Caesar, but I -am innocent, Mr. Fanks, as I hope to prove to you. I was trapped by -that man and his accomplice, Dr. Turnor."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" murmured Fanks, while Binjoy scowled. "I was sure that the -ferret had something to do with the matter."</p> - -<p>"Of that you shall judge for yourself," said Fellenger. "Have you -heard of Mithridates, Mr. Fanks?"</p> - -<p>The detective was rather astonished at this apparently irrelevant -question; but having some knowledge of ancient history, he said that -he had heard of the monarch. "He was a king of Pontus, wasn't he; who -lived on poisons?"</p> - -<p>"Exactly. He accustomed himself to taking poisons for so long that in -the end the most deadly had no effect on him. I always thought that -this was a fable and I wanted to see if I was right. For this purpose, -I tried experiments on dogs. I inoculated an animal with a weak -poison, and gradually increased the dose. Whether I was successful -does not matter; it has nothing to do with my story. But I may tell -you this, that, with the aid of Binjoy, I prepared a very powerful -vegetable poison for my final experiment; with this I impregnated a -needle."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Fanks, "now I am beginning to see. Was it an ordinary -needle?"</p> - -<p>"No, it was not an ordinary needle," replied Fellenger. "In the first -place it was silver; in the second, it was hollow; in the third, it -was filled with this deadly vegetable poison, of which I told you."</p> - -<p>"Prepared by Dr. Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"Prepared by both of us," said Binjoy, savagely. "Let him take his -share of the guilt."</p> - -<p>"I am not guilty. Mr. Fanks can judge of that for himself when I tell -him what I know," retorted the baronet. "Well, Mr. Fanks, we prepared -this needle and placed it in a case; for the least prick with it meant -death by blood poisoning. We intended to use it on the dog, when the -animal was sufficiently saturated with weaker poisons to admit of the -experiment being made. You may be sure, sir, that I was very careful -of that needle; I placed it in my cabinet. Dr. Binjoy had access to -that cabinet."</p> - -<p>"I had not," contradicted Binjoy.</p> - -<p>"Yes, you had; you possessed a key as well as myself," retorted Sir -Louis, sharply.</p> - -<p>"I did not," said the doctor, obstinate in his denial.</p> - -<p>"Don't lie, Binjoy, I found you with it opened one day; the day Anne -Colmer was with you, and I was so angry."</p> - -<p>"Oh, Anne Colmer knew about this needle?" said Fanks.</p> - -<p>"I can't say," said Fellenger. "While I was living at -Taxton-on-Thames, Miss Colmer sometimes came to the house. But I was -angry at Binjoy for opening that cabinet in her presence, as there -were a lot of dangerous drugs in it."</p> - -<p>"She touched none of them," growled. Binjoy.</p> - -<p>"Oh!" said Fanks, sharply. "Then you admit that you showed Miss Colmer -the cabinet of poisons."</p> - -<p>Binjoy scowled, and grew a shade paler; as he saw that he had over -reached himself. However, he said nothing, lest he should make bad -worse; and, with a significant glance at Fanks the baronet resumed his -story.</p> - -<p>"One day, in the middle of June," said Fellenger, "I found the needle -missing; and Binjoy told me he had given it to Turnor."</p> - -<p>"I did not say that," exclaimed Binjoy, wrathfully. "I said that I -missed it one day when Turnor was in the laboratory; and I thought -that he might have taken it. As it proved, he did not. I know no more -than yourself who took it."</p> - -<p>"We will see," said Louis. "I was ill at the time: and when Binjoy -hinted that Turnor had it, I determined to go up to London, and get it -again. I rose from my bed of sickness and went up to London on the -evening of the twenty-first."</p> - -<p>"But was it necessary that you should have gone up?" said Fanks, -"would not a line to Dr. Turnor have done?"</p> - -<p>"Probably. But the preparation of the poison was a secret, and when I -heard that the needle was in Turnor's possession, I was afraid lest he -should analyse the preparation. I went up to town with Binjoy post -haste to recover it again. This haste may appear strange to you, Mr. -Fanks; but you do not know how jealous we men of science are of our -secrets. But, at all events, we went up to town that evening. Do you -deny that, Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"No, I don't deny it," retorted Binjoy, gloomily. "Mr. Fanks tracked -me to Plymouth; he knows that I am Renshaw."</p> - -<p>"I do. May I ask, Dr. Binjoy, why you took a false name?"</p> - -<p>Binjoy pointed to his friend. "It was to save that ungrateful man," he -said, in a tragic voice. "When I saw you at the Red Star, and found -out that it was Sir Gregory who had been murdered, I foresaw how you -might suspect Louis as the cousin of the dead man. Mrs. Boazoph sent -for Dr. Turnor, I came instead of him, leaving Turnor with Louis. I -had been to the Red Star before, and Mrs. Boazoph knew me as Renshaw."</p> - -<p>"And you wore a false beard. How was that?"</p> - -<p>"I used to go up to London to enjoy myself," said Binjoy, -apologetically, "and I did not want any rumours to creep down to -Taxton-on-Thames concerning my movements. This is why I adopted the -false name; and disguise."</p> - -<p>"Did you know of this?" said Fanks, turning to Louis.</p> - -<p>"I do now, I did not then," said he, promptly. "When I arrived in -town, I went with Binjoy to Dr. Turnor's house in Great Auk Street. -Turnor denied possession of the needle. Shortly afterwards, a message -came that the landlady of the Red Star wanted Turnor. I would not let -Turnor leave the room; as I felt sure that he had the needle, and -thought that he might make away with it. Binjoy went in his place; but -he had no disguise on when he went out of the house."</p> - -<p>"I put it on outside," explained Renshaw, alias Binjoy. "I did not -tell you all my secrets, as you were always so straight-laced, you -might have objected to my enjoying myself."</p> - -<p>"I should certainly have objected to your disguising yourself, and -going under another name," said Louis, coldly, "I do not like such -underhand doings. I did not know that you went to the Red Star as -Renshaw; when you came back I had gone."</p> - -<p>"Ah!" murmured Fanks, "that accounts why we didn't catch you. The -house was not watched till Binjoy came back. Did you return to -Taxton-on-Thames?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. I returned without the needle, which Turnor denied having. I -felt very ill, and got into bed at once."</p> - -<p>"Was Mrs. Jerusalem in the house, then?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Binjoy, as I afterwards learned, had sent her out. It was part -of the trap. He wanted to make out that I had got rid of the woman so -that I could go up to town and kill my cousin."</p> - -<p>"When did you hear of your cousin's death?"</p> - -<p>"The next day. Turnor came down; and said that Binjoy could not return -as he was being watched by detectives."</p> - -<p>"Quite so. And Turnor told you about your cousin's death?"</p> - -<p>"He did; and then he said that if I did not hold my tongue, and -pretend that I had not left Taxton-on-Thames that night, I should be -in danger of being accused of the crime. What could I do, Mr. Fanks; I -saw my danger, I held my tongue."</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Fanks. "I can see why you were afraid. You were in a -dangerous position."</p> - -<p>"I was in a trap," retorted Louis. "Can't you see, Mr. Fanks. Gregory -was killed with a poisoned needle. I had talked about that needle to -many people. Many scientific men knew that I was experimenting with -it. I was in Turnor's house at the very time that the crime was -committed."</p> - -<p>"And you were thereby able to prove an alibi."</p> - -<p>"Indeed, no. Turnor told me that he needed money; and he swore that he -would deny that I had been in his house; that he would denounce me as -the murderer of my cousin, if I did not give him a cheque. I could do -nothing, I was afraid; the circumstances were too strong for me. I -would have told the police; but in the face of Turnor's denial; in the -face of Binjoy's treachery in luring me into that house at the very -time of the murder, I dreaded lest I should be arrested and condemned -on circumstantial evidence. And the negro, Binjoy's servant, was -smuggled off to Bombay by Binjoy, to close the trap more firmly on -me."</p> - -<p>"That's a lie," said Binjoy. "I sent the negro away to Bombay to avert -suspicion. I feigned a voyage to Plymouth for the same reason. I -ordered Caesar to meet me at Plymouth; and sent him to Bombay in my -place."</p> - -<p>"I know you did," said Fanks, "you no doubt did that when I lost you -in the town after you disembarked."</p> - -<p>"Well, you see, Mr. Fanks," said Louis, "that I am innocent. I held my -tongue, and lied about Binjoy, because I was afraid of the -circumstantial evidence which might be brought against me. Thanks to -Binjoy and Turnor, I was in a trap; I was at their mercy. I have told -you all because Binjoy tried to blackmail me last week. Now what do -you say?"</p> - -<p>"Say, Sir Louis. I believe that you have told the truth. You are -innocent of this crime. But the question is, what does Dr. Binjoy -say?"</p> - -<p>"I say that there is not one word of truth in the whole story," said -the doctor, with a scowl.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_30" href="#div1Ref_30">CHAPTER XXX</a>.</h4> -<h5>A LETTER FROM HERSHAM, SENIOR.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Upon hearing this untruthful and obstinate denial of the baronet's -story, Fanks wheeled round his chair, until it directly faced that of -Binjoy. At the sullen creature he looked sternly, and shook an -emphatic forefinger in his face.</p> - -<p>"Now look you here, Dr. Binjoy, or Renshaw, or whatever you choose to -call yourself," he said, sternly. "I believe that Sir Louis has spoken -the truth about this matter. I have not the least doubt that you and -your accomplice, Turnor, lured him into the Tooley Alley crime, with -which, to my belief, he has nothing to do whatever. You laid a trap, -and he fell into it--unluckily for him; but for his wise resolution to -confess his doings on that night to me, I have no doubt that you would -have blackmailed him."</p> - -<p>"I did not want to blackmail him," said Binjoy in a low voice. "I did -not lure him into a trap. On the contrary, when I found out that it -was his cousin who had been murdered, I did all I could to save -him--to draw suspicion on to myself. I feigned the voyage to Plymouth; -I made use of my false name; I sent off Caesar to Bombay; and I closed -the mouth of Dr. Turnor. What more could you expect me to do?"</p> - -<p>"I quite believe that you did all these things; and for why? Because -you wished to rivet your chains more securely on your victim. When you -found that he was in possession of the property, you resolved to get -whatever money you wanted out of him in order to lead a debauched life -in town. Oh, yes, Doctor, I quite believe you changed your name and -assumed a disguise while in London. You did not wish that the scampish -Renshaw of the Red Star should be identified with, the respectable Dr. -Binjoy, late of Taxton-on-Thames, and now of Mere Hall in Hampshire. I -can understand that, and I can understand that you designed the murder -so that Sir Louis could become possessed of money which you intended -to spend."</p> - -<p>"I did not design the murder," said Binjoy, in a hoarse voice. "I -swear I do not know who committed the crime. When I was called in by -Mrs. Boazoph, I was as ignorant as anyone that Gregory Fellenger had -been murdered. I only acted as I did because I saw how dangerous it -was that Louis should be suspected. He was in the neighbourhood--"</p> - -<p>"Lured there by yourself?"</p> - -<p>"No! No! I did not lure him there. That we should be at Turnor's -house, so near to Tooley's at that time, was quite an accident."</p> - -<p>"Was it an accident that Dr. Turnor came down to Taxton-on-Thames, and -threatened to blackmail me," broke in Louis.</p> - -<p>"I know nothing of what Turnor said or did. It was not because you -paid him money that he held his tongue; but because I told him to do -so."</p> - -<p>"You tried to blackmail me, also. That was why we quarrelled; that was -why you were going away next week. And I dare swear, Binjoy," added -Sir Louis, quietly, "that had you gone, you would have found means to -betray me to the police. That is why I have told Mr. Fanks everything. -You cannot harm me now.</p> - -<p>"Don't you be too sure of that," growled Binjoy; "you have got to -clear yourself of suspicion."</p> - -<p>"Sir Louis has cleared himself in my eyes," said Fanks. "But you have -yet to explain what became of the poisoned needle."</p> - -<p>"I do not know; I missed it as did Sir Louis, but I do not know who -took it. You can't prove that I committed the crime."</p> - -<p>"I am not sure of that," said Fanks, coolly. "See here, Dr. Binjoy, -you wanted Sir Louis to get the Fellenger estates so that you could -handle the money. Sir Louis can prove that much. You had access to -this poisoned needle with which the crime was committed; you went up -to London on the evening of the twenty-first of June; you repaired to -the Red Star about the time the deed was committed; you lied about -your name; you took a pretended voyage; you sent your negro to Bombay -in order to throw the suspicion on him. Now you attempt to blackmail -Sir Louis--you and Turnor--by threatening to accuse him of committing -a crime of which he is guiltless. From my own soul I believe that he -is the victim of conspiracy; I believe that you lured him up to Great -Auk Street to entangle him in the matter. And," added Fanks, rising, -"I believe that you, in disguise of a negro, killed Sir Gregory -Fellenger with that poisoned needle."</p> - -<p>"I did not. I swear I did not. It is all a mistake," gasped the -wretched man. "Ask Turnor."</p> - -<p>"The other blackguard, the other blackmailer? No, thank you. He would -only lie to me as you are doing. You are guilty. Confess your share in -this crime. Confess the mystery of the tattooed cross."</p> - -<p>"The tattooed cross? What do you know about the tattooed cross?"</p> - -<p>"More than you think," returned Fanks, significantly. "What about -Madaline Garry and her revenge?"</p> - -<p>Binjoy's eyes seemed to be starting out of his head with terror and -surprise. His face was of a deathly paleness, and great drops of -perspiration rolled down his cheeks. He tried to speak, but the words -rattled in his throat, and with a gasp the man, strong as he was, -fainted quietly in the chair. He had been struck down by his own -terrors; rendered insensible by an instinctive knowledge of his -danger.</p> - -<p>"What do you intend to do, Mr. Fanks?" asked Louis, looking at the -inanimate form of Binjoy with strong distaste. "Arrest this man?"</p> - -<p>"I do. I shall send a telegram to London to get a detective down. In -the meantime--I shall stay here so as not to lose sight of him."</p> - -<p>"You don't think that I would help him to escape?" said Louis, -indignantly. "I am only too glad to see the scoundrel captured. He has -been the curse of my life ever since my father placed me in his care; -he spoilt my nature, he half ruined me, but I stood it all until he -tried to blackmail me. Then I revolted against his tyranny. If you had -not appeared here so opportunely I should have written for you to come -and hear my confession. I admit that I was afraid to speak before, for -these villains had laid their plans so skilfully that I was afraid my -tale would not be believed. But now the scamp has been caught in his -own trap, and I am glad of it."</p> - -<p>"All the same, I am not sure that he killed your cousin."</p> - -<p>"Why not? All the circumstances seem to point to his having done so."</p> - -<p>"No doubt. But some time ago I thought I had spotted the person who -had executed the crime. From that opinion I am not inclined to depart. -Evidently, Binjoy knows all about the affair, and possibly he may be -brought in as the accessory before the fact, but you can see for -yourself that the man is a rank coward. He has fainted. No man of his -timid nature would be brave enough to commit so daring a crime, and -then face me within an hour of such commission. No, Sir Louis, we have -not yet caught the assassin."</p> - -<p>"Then why arrest Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"Because he knows who is guilty, and I wish to force him into -confession. Just send the servant with this telegram, will you, and -tell him to ask if there are any letters for me at the Pretty Maid -Inn?"</p> - -<p>"What about Binjoy?"</p> - -<p>"Leave him here with me for a time. Should I get a letter I may ask -you to take me over the house. Till then I shall watch my man."</p> - -<p>"What is this letter you expect?" demanded Louis, with curiosity.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you that when I have despatched my telegram. Send a groom -with it at once, please."</p> - -<p>Sir Louis obeyed and left the room, while Fanks remained to revive the -insensible Binjoy. He threw water on his face, loosened his collar, -but the doctor still continued insensible. Becoming alarmed, Fanks -rang the bell, and sent for a medical man. The upshot of the affair -was that Binjoy was put to bed in high fever. The shock inflicted on -him by the detective had unsettled his brain; and when Crate arrived -at Mere Hall there was no question of arresting the guilty man. Binjoy -was dangerously ill, and suffering from an attack of brain fever. What -with the doctor ill in the country and Mrs. Boazoph ill in town, Fanks -began to grow uneasy. If all the principals of the case were rendered -incapable of confession in this manner, he did not see how he was to -arrive at any solution of the riddle. He was two days meditating over -the next move in the game. "Mrs. Boazoph knows something," said Fanks, -to himself, "and Dr. Binjoy knows more; but if both are ill and -incapable of confession, what am I to do?"</p> - -<p>There was no answer to this question, but later on the detective's -hands were full in elucidating the mystery of the tattooing. He asked -the baronet if he knew anything about the fancy Sir Francis had for -pricking crosses on the arms of women whom he loved.</p> - -<p>"I never heard of it," said Louis. "I did not know much about my uncle -Francis, and still less about my cousin, his son Gregory. I am afraid -we are a singularly unamiable family, Mr. Fanks, for we all seem to -quarrel."</p> - -<p>"Have you quarrelled with Garth?"</p> - -<p>"Not exactly. But we do not get on well together. He used to come and -see me at Taxton-on-Thames, but I am afraid he thought me a scientific -prig. Indeed, he hinted so much."</p> - -<p>Fanks laughed at this, remembering how Garth had made use of the words -attributed to him by Sir Louis. However, he did not explain the reason -of his laughter, but asked the baronet about Madaline Garry. To this -also he received a denial. Sir Louis knew nothing about the lady or -her connection with the late Sir Francis.</p> - -<p>"All these things were before my time," he said, shaking his head. "If -you want to know about our family secrets, ask Mrs. Prisom, at the -inn. I believe she is a perfect book of anecdotes regarding the -Fellenger family."</p> - -<p>"I have asked her," said Fanks, quietly. "She told me a great deal; -but not all I wish to know. Is there anyone else?"</p> - -<p>"Well, there was Mrs. Jerusalem," said Sir Louis. "But she has walked -off. I intended to tell you, since you referred to her."</p> - -<p>"Where has she gone?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know. On that day you met her she went off and never came -back. I can't say I am sorry, as I feel, from your description, she -bore me ill-will. Perhaps on account of the way my father treated her; -but you must ask Mrs. Prisom to tell you that story."</p> - -<p>"I don't need to do that," replied Fanks. "I know that Mrs. Jerusalem -hated you, and that is enough. She must have intended to bolt the day -I met her; but I thought she would have waited with the amiable -intention of assisting you into trouble. I wish I knew where she had -gone."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps she will come back?"</p> - -<p>"Let us hope so. Now that Binjoy is ill, and she hates him, I should -like to know what she can say about him. By the way, there is a -question I wish to ask you. Why was it, when you were afraid of being -implicated in the crime, that you offered to supply the money for me -to hunt down the criminal?"</p> - -<p>"Well, that was Binjoy's idea. You see he thought that he had -completely destroyed the trail likely to bring you across my track; so -he said it would still further avert suspicion if I offered that -reward. I did so, but, to tell you the honest truth, if I had not -intended to confide in you in order to stop the blackmailing of -Messrs. Binjoy and Turnor, I should not have risked doing so. By the -way, are you going to arrest that atrocious little scamp?"</p> - -<p>"Not yet. Binjoy is ill, and cannot have warned him; Mrs. Boazoph is -in the same plight; no, I will let him wait. He has no idea that he is -in any danger. When the time comes, I will pounce on him, if -necessary; though I hope he will not take a fit also. I can get -nothing out of Binjoy or Mrs. Boazoph, while they are ill."</p> - -<p>"You may not need to do so. You may find out the truth when the letter -comes from Hersham."</p> - -<p>"I wish it would come," said Fanks. "I want to know why he has the -same symbol on his arm as that on the arms of Mrs. Prisom and Madaline -Garry."</p> - -<p>"You speak as if Madaline Garry were still alive?"</p> - -<p>"Mrs. Jerusalem says she is. That is why I want to trace Mrs. -Jerusalem; she might help me to learn where I can find Madaline Garry. -The clue to the mystery of the cross lies with her; or else," added -Fanks, "it is hidden in the desk of the late Sir Francis. You remember -I told you his parting words to Mrs. Prisom?"</p> - -<p>Two days after this the long expected letter came from Hersham. And -not only from him, but one from his father, was enclosed also. The -contents caused Fanks surprise; and yet, he half expected to read what -he did. He was beginning to guess the mystery which filled Dr. Binjoy -and Mrs. Boazoph with such fear. After all, he would be able to -discover the truth without them; although their testimony would be -necessary to confirm it.</p> - -<p>"Dear Fanks" (wrote Hersham). "When you read the enclosed, you will be -astonished, as I was. I have not yet recovered from the shock of -learning the truth; but, as you will see, the mystery of the tattooed -cross is a greater one than ever. I can give you no assistance--all is -told in the enclosed letter, which I particularly asked to be written -for you. I cannot say if it will solve the Tooley Alley riddle, but it -has certainly invested my life with a mystery which I shall not rest -until I solve. I can write no more, for my head is in a whirl. Tell me -what you think of enclosed. And believe me, yours, Ted Hersham (as I -suppose I may still sign myself)."</p> - -<p>The enclosed was a letter from the Rev. George Hersham, to the effect -that Ted was not his son; that he was no relation to him.</p> - -<p>"I am a bachelor" (wrote Mr. Hersham). "I adopted Ted from motives of -pity, and a desire to cheer my lonely life. Nearly twenty-eight years -age, a poorly clad woman came to my door. She was starving, and -carried an infant in her arms. I gave her succour, and procured her -work. After a time, she grew restless, and wished to go away, but in -that time I had become fond of the child. In the end, I offered to -adopt it. To this she consented, rather to my surprise; though, -indeed, she did not seem at any time very much attached to the babe. -However, she gave me the child, and went away with a little money I -had given her. I afterwards received a letter from her in London, but -she then stopped writing, and for years I have never heard anything -about her. The child--now my son, Ted--was marked with a cross on the -left arm, when I adopted him. The woman never told me why he had been -so tattooed. I knew nothing of the woman's history, save that her name -was--Madaline Garry."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_31" href="#div1Ref_31">CHAPTER XXXI</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE SECRET IS REVEALED.</h5> -<br> - -<p>On receipt of Mr. Hersham's letter, Fanks sought out Sir Louis, and -showed him the communication. He had told the baronet all that he had -heard from Mrs. Prisom; for, without permission, he could not hope to -examine the desk of the late Sir Francis. If he did not do so, he -would not be able to discover the secret of the tattooed cross; -therefore, for the gaining of his ends, and also with a belief in -Fellenger's good sense, he made him his confidant, and finally placed -the letter in his hands. Louis read it carefully; and, knowing all -that had gone before, he understood it partially. Nevertheless, he was -puzzled as to the real meaning of the affair; and looked to Fanks for -an explanation.</p> - -<p>"What do you think of that?" asked Fanks, when the baronet gave back -the letter in silence. "Can you understand it?"</p> - -<p>"I do not think it is very difficult to understand," said Fellenger, -with a shrug of his shoulders, "Madeline Garry went from the Isle of -Wight; she was starving, and she met with a good Samaritan, who took -her in. Afterwards, she sought London, and left her child behind to be -adopted. That child is your friend, Edward Hersham. The story is plain -enough."</p> - -<p>"It is so far as you have related it. But Hersham has the cross of St. -Catherine tattooed on his arm. Why should the child of Madaline Garry -be marked in that way?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps my uncle marked the child. He seemed to have had a passion -for tattooing."</p> - -<p>"Why should Sir Francis mark the child of Fielding?"</p> - -<p>There was something so significant in the tone of the detective that -Sir Louis looked at him intently. What he saw in his face prompted his -next remark. "You don't think Hersham is illegitimate, do you?" he -asked.</p> - -<p>"Indeed, that is my opinion," returned Fanks. "Why was Sir Francis -afraid of Madaline Garry? Because he had done her a wrong. Why did she -marry Fielding, almost on the same day that your uncle married Miss -Darmer? Why did Sir Francis tattoo the child with his favourite cross? -The answer to all these questions is--to my mind--to be found in the -fact that the child of Madaline Garry was also the child of Sir -Francis Fellenger. I feel convinced that Hersham is the half-brother -of the man who was murdered at Tooley's Alley."</p> - -<p>"It seems likely," assented Louis, nursing his chin with his hand. -"But how can you establish the truth of your statement?"</p> - -<p>"There are two ways. One is by asking Binjoy. He may know as he was in -attendance both at the birth of Gregory, and at that of Hersham. He -may tell the truth; but as he is delirious, there is no chance of -getting any information from him. The second way is to find out -Madaline Garry, and force her to own up. But the only person who knows -where she is, is Mrs. Jerusalem, who has vanished. If I find Mrs. -Jerusalem, I may find the other woman. But at present that is -impossible also."</p> - -<p>"Quite impossible. I do not see what you can do."</p> - -<p>"Do you remember what Mrs. Prisom said about the desk in the study of -your late uncle?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. She alluded to some secret in connection with the desk, which -was to be used for the benefit of Gregory, should Madaline Garry -attempt to revenge herself."</p> - -<p>"Exactly. Well, we must examine the desk. I fancy that Sir Francis, -dreading the anger of the woman whom he had wronged, wrote out a full -account of his sin; and of the reason why he tattooed the cross on the -arm of the child. If we can find that paper--which Sir Francis plainly -hinted was in the desk, we may discover why your cousin was murdered."</p> - -<p>"I cannot conceive what you mean."</p> - -<p>"You will know soon enough," replied Fanks, a trifle sadly. "I have a -very shrewd idea of what will be the outcome of my search. If things -are as I think, it will not be long before I run down the assassin of -Sir Gregory. I have an instinct--and more than an instinct--that the -clue to the mystery which has eluded me so long, is about to be placed -in my hand. I shall be pleased for my own sake; I shall be sorry for -yours."</p> - -<p>"Why. What do you mean? I do not understand. Explain yourself, Mr. -Fanks."</p> - -<p>"No," replied Fanks, shaking his head. "I may be wrong, and I do not -wish to cause you unnecessary pain. Let me examine the desk. If I am -wrong, all the better for you; all the worse for the case. If am -right, I had rather you learned the truth without my intervention. -Come, Sir Louis, let us seek the study of your late uncle. Do you know -where it is?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes," said Sir Louis, leading the way. "It has been shut up since -his death. You know my cousin was not a man of books, so he did not -use it. As for myself, I am always in my laboratory in the old wing. -If Sir Francis left any secret paper in his desk, it will be there -still. Unless," added Louis, with an afterthought, "unless it was -taken away by the woman he feared."</p> - -<p>"No. If the paper had given Madaline Garry power to revenge herself on -the heir of her old lover, she would have used that power; and then -Mrs. Prisom might have interfered by acting on the last request of Sir -Francis. Nothing of this has happened; so I am sure that if the paper -is in that desk, we shall find it; if we find it we shall learn the -truth about this tattooed cross; and, consequently, discover the -motive which prompted the murder of your cousin."</p> - -<p>After which speech, the detective went with Sir Louis to the study of -the late Sir Francis Fellenger.</p> - -<p>Sir Louis unlocked the door; and they entered into the long-disused -room. It had been shut up for many years, the atmosphere was dusty and -musty, with a chill smell of decay. Fanks opened the shutters, and the -strong sunlight poured into the apartment; it illumined the dusty -carpet on which their feet made marks; it gleamed on the old-fashioned -furniture, cumbersome and comfortless, such as was used in the -early days of the Victorian era; and--to the satisfaction of the -detective--it revealed a mahogany escritoire, all drawers and -pigeon-holes, and brass handles. The key, massive and rusty, was still -in the lock; and Louis, turning it over with, a harsh creak, threw -open the heavy sheet of mahogany which covered the writing cloth. This -was lined with dingy green cloth, ink-stained and dusty, but on it -there rested no papers nor pens nor ink. Evidently the papers had been -arranged before the desk had been closed, and left to its many years' -solitude.</p> - -<p>Fanks bent down and unlocked the drawers one after the other. These -contained nothing but masses of newspaper, everyone of which they -examined carefully, but without finding any writing referring to the -cross. There were also bundles of old letters; and musty accounts, and -ancient records of ships, and stores, and divers expenses; doubtless -remnants of Fellenger's naval days. In another drawer they found -sea-shells, and seaweed mounted on cardboard; while some shallow -repositories contained pictures, and small charts. But nowhere could -they discover the paper to which Sir Francis had referred in that last -long conversation with Mrs. Prisom.</p> - -<p>"Well, it is not in any of these," said Fanks, rising with a look of -disappointment. "I wonder where it can be?"</p> - -<p>"Perhaps there is a secret drawer," suggested Sir Louis.</p> - -<p>"It is not unlikely; and no doubt the paper would be hidden in such a -receptacle out of fear of the woman.</p> - -<p>"I believe you are right, Sir Louis; let us look for a secret drawer. -If there is one I shall find it; I have been at this sort of work -before; and I have an idea how to go about it."</p> - -<p>Fanks made no vain boast, for after a hard search of an hour or more; -after sounding with the knuckles and measuring with a tape, they -stumbled across a hiding-place, contrived in the thickness of the wood -at the back of the desk. Herein was a paper yellow with age, which -Fanks drew slowly out; for it was so fragile with time that he thought -it would crumble in his hand; carrying this to the strong light of the -window he read carefully, while Sir Louis waited for a revelation of -its contents. The face of the detective paled when he read it; and he -glanced pityingly at the baronet, when he finished his perusal.</p> - -<p>"It is the paper I hoped to find," he said, slowly, "and it clears up -the most important point of the case. But I told you, Mr. Fellenger, -that the contents would give you pain. Read them for yourself."</p> - -<p>"Why do you call me Mr. Fellenger?" asked Louis, quietly.</p> - -<p>"You will find the answer to that question in this paper," replied -Fanks, and passed it to the baronet. After a pause, and a sharp glance -at the detective, Fellenger took the thin yellow sheet, and read it -slowly. This was what he read, in the faded handwriting of Sir -Francis:</p> - -<p>"I have deceived Madaline Garry; I am the father of the child born to -her about the same time that my heir, Gregory, was born. Madaline -wished me to marry her; but, for reasons which I need not explain -here, I was unable to do so. She married Luke Fielding, and he is -supposed to be the father of her child. This is not so; the boy is -mine. When my wife died, Madaline insisted on coming to the Hall and -nursing Gregory. For obvious reasons I could not refuse her; she would -have revealed the truth, and have disgraced me and her family, had I -not yielded to her wish. She came to the Hall with her own child and -nursed that of my late wife. But I was afraid that she would change -the children so that her son should enjoy what rightfully belonged to -his half-brother. I was twice nearly sending her away on account of -this fear; but she threatened to disgrace me by revealing the truth; -so I let her stay. But, to avert the danger, I one night tattooed on -the left arm of my son, Gregory, the cross of St. Catherine, which I -had already tattooed on the arm of Madaline and of Nancy Prisom. -Should the children be changed, and I die, the truth can be -ascertained by the tattooed cross. The child marked with the cross is -my son and heir, Gregory Fellenger; the other is his brother, Edward, -the son of myself and Madaline Garry. I hope, in this way, that I -shall prevent Madaline from revenging herself on me, as I feel sure -she intends to do.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Francis Luddham Fellenger."</p> -<br> - -<p>On reading this extraordinary document, Louis felt the room whirl -round him, and he was fain to be seated. Fanks turned silently towards -him and received back the paper--the paper which robbed the young man -at one sweep of title and property. Louis recovered himself, and -smiled faintly. "I understand," he said, in a low tone, "Sir Gregory -enjoyed the title and estates wrongfully; Hersham is the rightful -heir."</p> - -<p>"Yes. Madaline Garry fulfilled her vengeance. She put her child in the -place of the real heir, after the death of Sir Francis, and took away -the son of Lady Fellenger. That was why she came to the Hall to be the -nurse; she wanted her child to enjoy the property. Owing to the -tattooing and the father being alive, she could not change the -children; but when Sir Francis was killed she did so, and therefore -secured the title for her son. I now understand why she parted so -readily with Hersham so that he should be adopted by the Vicar of -Fairview; he was not her child, but that of her rival in the -affections of Sir Francis; I can see all this; so can you; but," added -Fanks, with hesitation, "can you guess how this discovery affects -you?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," replied Louis, calmly, "I shall have to give the property -up to my cousin, who now goes by the name of Hersham. I assure you, I -shall not mind the loss so much as you seem to think. As I told you, I -care nothing for money, and everything for science. Oh, believe me, -Mr. Fanks, I am quite content to surrender title and estates, and go -back to Taxton-on-Thames, as plain Louis Fellenger."</p> - -<p>"You can contest this matter?"</p> - -<p>"I shall not contest the matter. I believe that paper to be true. We -found it together; and it proved beyond a doubt--by the evidence of -the cross tattooed on Hersham's left arm, that he is the rightful Sir -Gregory, and the owner of these estates. Let him have them; I shall -not raise one finger to prevent his enjoying what is rightfully his -own. Besides, I like Hersham--as I may still call him--he is a good -fellow. I used to meet him at Taxton-on-Thames. Let him marry Anne -Colmer, and take up his position; he will make a much better baronet -than I."</p> - -<p>They left the room, and went downstairs again to the library. In there -Louis asked Fanks a question which had been in his mind for some time.</p> - -<p>"I say, Mr. Fanks," he said, "what makes you say that this tattooed -cross clears up the mystery of Tooley's Alley?"</p> - -<p>"Well," said Fanks, "someone must have known this story; and have told -it to Sir Gregory. That was why he allowed the cross to be tattooed on -his arm."</p> - -<p>"I don't see that."</p> - -<p>"Why, the person who told him the story assured him that the only -chance he had of keeping the property was to be tattooed with the -mark, which Sir Francis said was on the arm of his real heir."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I understand now. But who was the person who told Sir Gregory the -secret of that cross and tattooed it on his arm?"</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Fanks, "tell me the name of that person, and I'll tell you -the assassin of the son of Madaline Garry, who wrongfully bore the -title and name of Sir Gregory Fellenger."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_32" href="#div1Ref_32">CHAPTER XXXII</a>.</h4> -<h5>MRS. BOAZOPH TELLS THE TRUTH.</h5> -<br> - -<p>Immediately after this great discovery, Fanks received a letter from -Garth informing him that Mrs. Jerusalem was in London, located at the -Red Star. "Mrs. Boazoph," said the writer, "is much better, and is now -permitted to leave her bed; rather I fancy to the disappointment of -Turnor. Should you want to get any information out of Mrs. Boazoph now -is the time to do so." The result of this communication was that Fanks -resolved to go at once to town and interview the landlady.</p> - -<p>"You see that I want to get something out of Mrs. Boazoph," he said to -Louis. "I want her to tell me who killed Sir Gregory."</p> - -<p>"Do you think she knows that?"</p> - -<p>"I think she has known it all along," retorted Fanks. "You can take it -from me, Fellenger, she recognised the negro when he entered the hotel -on that night. For some reason, which I mean to discover, she has held -her tongue. I intend to force her to reveal the name by threatening to -arrest Hersham, in the event of her refusing to speak."</p> - -<p>"Will she tell in order to save Hersham?"</p> - -<p>"I think so; and for more reasons than one. You see she fainted when I -told her that I could prove the crime against that young man. It may -be that she knows how hardly he has been dealt with by Madeline Garry, -and therefore she may be anxious to save him further trouble."</p> - -<p>"But how could she learn the story of Madeline Garry and the changing -of the children," objected Fellenger.</p> - -<p>"From Anne Colmer, who must have learned it from Dr. Binjoy. I believe -he is at the bottom of the whole affair. I do not say that he killed -Gregory; but he can tell us who did."</p> - -<p>"How can you prove that?"</p> - -<p>"Well, the person who killed Gregory must have known that story of the -changing of the children, so as to induce him to let the cross be -tattooed on his arm. Dr. Binjoy must have told that person; Dr. Binjoy -must have supplied that needle; Dr. Binjoy, my friend, is at the -bottom of the whole devilish affair."</p> - -<p>"You forget Madeline Garry; she might have told the murderer about the -changing of the children."</p> - -<p>"I don't think so. Madeline would not have been likely to reveal -anything detrimental to her son; and on the face of it she could not -have obtained access to the poisoned needle. No, I suspect Binjoy as -an accessory before the fact. I shall see Mrs. Jerusalem, and force -her to tell me where to find Madeline Garry; though to be sure I have -a pretty good notion of where to find her as it is."</p> - -<p>"What! Do you know who Madeline Garry is?"</p> - -<p>"I think so. A speech of Mrs. Prisom's put me on her track; but I may -be wrong so I shall say nothing as yet."</p> - -<p>"You are clever in guessing things, Mr. Fanks. Perhaps you can tell me -who killed Gregory?"</p> - -<p>"Well," said Fanks, looking straight at his questioner, "I might even -go as far as that. I do not know for certain who is the assassin; but -I have a shrewd notion. I shall have my doubts set at rest on that -point when I see these women in town. I shall interview Mrs. Boazoph, -take down her confession, and make her sign it. I shall act in the -same way with Binjoy, with Anne Colmer, with Robert, the valet of the -dead man, and with Turnor, the accomplice of your medical friend."</p> - -<p>"Do you think they are all in it?"</p> - -<p>"I am more than certain they are," said Fanks in a confident tone. -"Well, Mr. Fellenger, will you come up with me and see the last act of -the comedy?"</p> - -<p>"No, I shall stay here with Mr. Crate; and keep an eye on Dr. Binjoy, -But you must write me all that befalls you at the Red Star. Do you -really think that you will find the truth in that house?"</p> - -<p>"I am certain of it. Believe me the tragedy will end as it began--in -the Red Star in Tooley's Alley. I hope all will go as I wish," added -Fanks with a gloomy air. "I have had no end of trouble with this case. -And although I think I see daylight at last, I must not be too -confident. The whole proving of my theory lies with Mrs. Boazoph."</p> - -<p>Having thus settled his plans, Fanks left Crate at Mere Hall to look -after Dr. Binjoy, and repaired to town. Immediately on his arrival, -which took place about noon, he sent for Garth, and questioned him -concerning Mrs. Jerusalem. Having received satisfactory replies, he -entrusted a special commission to the lawyer, and, with a detective, -he went himself to the Red Star. That short conversation with Fanks so -astonished Garth, that he went on his errand--which had to do with -such conversation--in a state of great surprise and no little -nervousness.</p> - -<p>At the Red Star Fanks inquired for Mrs. Jerusalem, and was confronted -by Dr. Turnor. The ferret looked rather disconcerted as the detective -appeared; and tried to dissuade him from seeing Mrs. Boazoph as he -wished to do. "She is yet weak," he urged, "and I do not think it will -be wise of you to talk with her as yet."</p> - -<p>"I don't care how weak she is," said Fanks, grimly. "I intend to talk -to her, and to you too."</p> - -<p>"What can you have to say to me?" demanded Turnor, with an attempt at -bravado.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you that after I have seen Mrs. Boazoph and Mrs. -Jerusalem," was the reply. "I know all your doings on the night of the -twenty-first, Dr. Turnor; and I am aware of your attempt to blackmail -Sir Louis Fellenger."</p> - -<p>After which speech Fanks went upstairs to the room occupied by Mrs. -Boazoph. At the door he met with Mrs. Jerusalem. She looked at him in -an expressionless way, and spoke in her usual cold and unemotional -manner. Her first question was of Fanks' visit to Mere Hall.</p> - -<p>"Did you find out the truth, sir?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"I found out the truth; but not the particular truth you wished for," -replied Fanks, who disliked this woman immensely. "Your master is not -guilty."</p> - -<p>"Then who is guilty if he is not?"</p> - -<p>"I'll reveal that in a few moments, Mrs. Jerusalem. I may tell you -that I know all about Madaline Garry and the tattooed cross, also -about Mr. Louis Fellenger."</p> - -<p>The woman drew back, and for the first time since Fanks had known her, -an expression of surprise flitted across her face. "He said Mr. -Louis," she said to herself. "How much does he know?"</p> - -<p>"He knows most of the circumstances which led to the murder in this -house," retorted Fanks, moving towards the door, "and now with your -assistance he is about to learn the rest."</p> - -<p>"At all events the truth will be bad for Louis Fellenger," muttered -Mrs. Jerusalem. "If it was to benefit him I would not move a step. As -it is," she added, throwing open the door, "come in, Mr. Fanks, and -ask Mrs. Boazoph to tell you the story she related to me this -morning."</p> - -<p>Fanks nodded, and without saying a word entered the apartment. In -spite of the warm weather there was a fire burning in the grate, and -beside it crouched Mrs. Boazoph. She was seated on the carpet warming -her thin hands at the blaze; and she turned her face as the detective -entered. He was astonished at the change wrought in her by illness. -Her face was lined and drawn with pain; her hair was falling about her -ears in rough masses; and the looseness of her dress showed how -emaciated she had become. The poor creature was but a shadow of the -notorious woman who had defied the police for so long; and at the -first glance Fanks saw that death was written on her haggard face. If -there was anything to be learned from this wreck there was no time to -be lost in hearing it. Nemesis had claimed at least one victim for the -death of Sir Gregory Fellenger;--or rather Edward Fielding.</p> - -<p>"Have you come here to see me die, Mr. Fanks?" asked Mrs. Boazoph, -with a faint smile.</p> - -<p>"I hope it is not so bad as that," replied Fanks gently, for he pitied -the exhaustion of the poor creature. "You may get better."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph shook her head. "I think not," she said quietly. "The end -is coming fast. I do not care; my life has been none so happy that I -should wish to live. I am anxious to die."</p> - -<p>"Are you anxious to make reparation for your crimes?"</p> - -<p>With a start Mrs. Boazoph looked at the other woman, who still stood -at the door. "What have you told him?" she asked in a hoarse voice.</p> - -<p>"I have told him nothing," replied Mrs. Jerusalem, coldly, "but he -knows all."</p> - -<p>"That is impossible," muttered Mrs. Boazoph, with a shiver. "He cannot -know all. Who is there to tell him?"</p> - -<p>"I was told by the dead."</p> - -<p>"The dead? What dead?"</p> - -<p>"By your dead lover, on whose son you avenged your betrayal, Mrs. -Bryant."</p> - -<p>She shivered, and looked up angrily. "Not that name, I am not Mrs. -Bryant."</p> - -<p>"I can give you another name if you like," said Fanks, pointedly. -"Shall I say Mrs. Fielding or--Madaline Garry?"</p> - -<p>The woman rose to her knees with an effort; and parting the tangled -mass of her grey hair she looked at Fanks in a terrified manner. -"Madaline Garry is dead," she said, in a low voice. "She died when she -married Luke Fielding. Neglect and dishonour killed her."</p> - -<p>"Madaline Garry did not die then," said Fanks, determinedly. "She -lived to avenge herself on her lover by exchanging his child for that -of her own."</p> - -<p>"They were both his children," cried Mrs. Boazoph, with sudden fury, -"I see you know all; so I can speak as I choose. I loved Francis -Fellenger, and he betrayed me. I should have been his wife, but, like -the coward he was, he married another woman. I became the wife of Luke -Fielding, of the man I hated, in order to conceal the truth from my -father. The child I bore was not his. It should have borne the title -of the Fellengers."</p> - -<p>"And it did bear the title of the Fellengers," said Fanks, in an -impressive voice. "It took the place of the real heir, thanks to your -schemes. And you, Madaline Garry, deserted the infant of your rival, -after you had robbed him of his birthright. Wretched woman; make -reparation while you can; give back his name to Edward Hersham, before -it is too late, or" added Fanks, drawing nearer, "keep silence to the -end; and let him suffer on the gallows for the murder of your son."</p> - -<p>"No! No!" shrieked Mrs. Boazoph, clutching at her chair to raise -herself, "not that, anything but that. He is innocent. I tell you that -he is innocent!"</p> - -<p>"If he is innocent, who then is guilty?" asked Fanks.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph reeled, and would have fallen but for the arm of Mrs. -Jerusalem, who sprang forward to catch her. A draught of brandy -brought back her strength, and she sat in the chair by the fire, -rocking herself to and fro, with heart-rending sobs. Fanks approached -to speak to her, but she waved him off.</p> - -<p>"Do not touch her yet," said Mrs. Jerusalem, in a low tone, "she will -recover soon."</p> - -<p>Quiet as was the whisper, Mrs. Boazoph heard it, and moaned. "Never, -never on this side of the grave," he wept. "My race is run; and weary -have been my days. I never had a chance like other women. Once I was -Madaline Garry, the darling of her father, the prettiest girl in -Damington. But Francis Fellenger made me what I am. I curse him, -living or dead, I curse him." She broke into hysterical laughter. "I -revenged myself well. I put my child and his in the place of the heir. -It was my son who reigned at Mere Hall; it was my son who spent the -moneys of that evil family, and bore their title. I am glad of it; I -am glad of it. The real heir--her child--had to work for his bread; -but mine reigned in his place; he took the seat of his father. Of what -use was it that Francis marked his son as he marked me? See," she -cried, pulling up the sleeve of her dress. "Do you see this cross on -my skin, you bloodhound of the law? Francis Fellenger marked me like -that to show that I was his wife; yet he married another. Francis -marked his legitimate son like that, yet the son ate the bread of -strangers, and another sat in his seat. I have done my work, I have -had my revenge, I am willing to die."</p> - -<p>"Are you willing that the son whom you disinherited should die at the -hands of justice?"</p> - -<p>Mrs. Boazoph moaned, and hid her face in her hands. "Ah, no!" she -said, in a plaintive voice. "He has suffered enough. My son is dead, -so let the other take back his name and estates. My son is dead; he -perished in the house of his mother; the mother who was too cowardly -to avenge him, who was afraid to reveal the name of the assassin. My -son is dead, but not by the hand of his half-brother did he meet with -his death."</p> - -<p>"Then who killed him. Tell me," cried Fanks, eagerly. "You have -sinned. Make what reparation you can for your sins while there is yet -time. Look up, Madaline Garry, and tell me if that man slew your son?"</p> - -<p>While Fanks had been speaking, the door had opened softly, and Garth -in the company of another man appeared on the threshold. The two stood -spell-bound when they heard this speech of the detective; and Mrs. -Boazoph turned her face slowly towards them. Suddenly she crushed down -her weakness, and arose to her feet with miraculous strength. -Stretching out her hand at the man who stood terror-stricken awaiting -her words, she cried out in a shrill and triumphant voice:</p> - -<p>"Yonder is the man who killed my son; yonder is the man who must -suffer in the place of Edward Hersham. You wish to know who came here -as a negro and killed my son? There he stands--Herbert Vaud!"</p> - -<p>"I thought so," murmured Fanks, and the next instant he had the -handcuffs on Vaud's wrists.</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_33" href="#div1Ref_33">CHAPTER XXXIII</a>.</h4> -<h5>HOW AND WHY THE DEED WAS DONE.</h5> -<br> - -<p>The evidence of Mrs. Boazoph:--</p> - -<p>"My name is Madaline Garry. I was born in the village of Damington, -where my father lived for years after his retirement from the navy. I -have one sister, Jane, now Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames. We lost -our mother at an early age, and, being without maternal care, we grew -up to be rather more independent than most young women. Jane was -always much quieter than I, and she was not considered so beautiful. -Yes, I am now an old woman, and I can speak without vanity; I was -considered very beautiful, in my youth, and I had many lovers who -wished to marry me. Luke Fielding especially was in love with me, but -I refused to marry him as, in my turn, I was in love with Sir Francis -Fellenger. He had then lately given up the sea on his accession to the -title; but still retaining his pleasure in his old profession he was -accustomed to visit my father, and the two would talk over naval -matters together.</p> - -<p>"At first he came solely for these chats, but afterwards he came -because he was in love with me. Had I played my cards well, I might -have been Lady Fellenger; but in my love and weakness I trusted too -much to his honour, and I learned, too late, that he had none. He had -promised to make me his wife; but he afterwards told me that the -fortunes of his family were at a low ebb; that if he did not make a -rich marriage he should be forced to sell the Hall. He swore that he -loved no one but me, and said that although he married another woman I -should always be his real wife. Again I yielded to his cunning, and -held my peace about his villainy. Nay, more, to hide his wickedness, I -married my old admirer, Luke Fielding, almost at the same time that -Francis brought home Miss Darmer to take the place which should have -been mine. I should have been Lady Fellenger, and not that puling -minx. Afterwards, I discovered that he loved her--loved her, the -villain, after all the lies he had told to me. I swore to be revenged, -and I told him so.</p> - -<p>"Then my husband died, and I was left penniless, as Luke had been -trying to increase his fortune by speculation. I became a mother, and -the son born of me had the right to call Sir Francis Fellenger father. -In my destitution I went back to my father, and nursed my boy, while I -watched events at the Hall. There the punishment of Francis had -already begun. His wife, for whose sake he had forsaken me, died at -the birth of her son. So matters stood. The two children, both of -Francis Fellenger, although but one was acknowledged, had been born -within a few days of one another. A nurse was wanted at the Hall. I -required money; and I saw an opportunity of working out my revenge by -changing the children. I insisted that I should come to the Hall as -the nurse of the heir. Francis resisted, until I swore to reveal all -his villainy. Then he yielded, and I attained my end; I was -established at Mere Hall as the nurse of the heir, and my child, -Edward Fielding--falsely so called--was in the nursery with me.</p> - -<p>"The two children lay side by side in the cradle. I could have changed -them then, but I was unable to do so with safety; for, guessing my -purpose, Francis had marked his son with the St. Catharine's Cross, -which he had long before pricked on my arm. I could not, therefore, -change the children with safety while Francis lived, and I began to -think that I should not succeed in my revenge. Then the powers above -us intervened. Francis, while driving home one stormy night, was -thrown out of his dog-cart and killed. I saw my opportunity, and I -took it. Nobody knew of the tattooed cross on the skin of the real -heir, save myself and Dr. Binjoy, who had been attending on both -children. He was in love with me, and I made him promise to be silent. -When I had secured his promise, which I did by saying that I would -marry him, I changed the children; in the cradle of the heir I placed -my own child, and with the son of my rival I left the village.</p> - -<p>"I never intended to marry Binjoy, whom I hated, and when I fled he -was forced to hold his tongue, lest he should be accused of complicity -in the abduction. I went to London, but my money came to an end; I -travelled to the Isle of Wight, where my sister was staying. She had -left Ryde, I found out, and had gone to Scotland. I had no money, I -was hungry, and perishing with cold, when I was rescued by that good -Samaritan, the Vicar of Fairview. He wished to adopt the child, and, -as I hated it, as being the son of my rival in the affections of -Francis, I let him take it. Then I went to London, afterwards to -Scotland, where I lived with my sister, who married Mr. Colmer. Later -on I became the wife of a drunken and wealthy brute called Bryant. -Then came misfortune. My sister's husband lost his money, and died of -broken heart. She took her little girls, Emma and Anne, and set up in -Taxton-on-Thames as a dressmaker.</p> - -<p>"I came South with my husband. He lost his money also, but he was set -up by his friends in the Red Star public-house in Tooley's Alley. We -took the name of Mr. and Mrs. Boazoph, so as to cut off all links with -our former lives. My husband drank, and ultimately he died of drink. -As Mrs. Boazoph I carried on the business and drifted into evil ways. -I assisted thieves and rogues. If you wish to know my history for -twenty years ask the police; they will tell it to you. My sister had -become paralytic and never knew me as Mrs. Boazoph. To her I was Mrs. -Bryant, living on the little money left to me by my good husband. I -hope she may die in that belief, so that I may retain at least one -person's respect.</p> - -<p>"All this time I had watched the fortunes of the two children. The -false Sir Gregory had grown up to be a wicked young man, fast and -dissolute, the true Sir Gregory, passing under the name of Edward -Hersham, had become a journalist, and was reported steady and clever. -Dr. Binjoy had left Damington, and was living at Taxton-on-Thames with -Louis, the son of Michael Fellenger. Then my niece Emma came to London -to enter a dressmaker's establishment. She found out the truth about -my life, and told her sister. I asked them to keep the knowledge from -their mother.</p> - -<p>"Binjoy also found out where and how I was living. He used to come up -to town and stay at Dr. Turnor's or with me as Dr. Renshaw, hoping by -a feigned name to hide the iniquitous life he led while in town. He -wanted to oust my son and get Sir Louis to hold the Fellenger estates. -I refused to let him do this, and threatened to produce the real heir -should he attempt to do so. Young Vaud used to come to my hotel. He -saw Emma and fell in love with her. I was glad of this, as I knew -that the young fellow was good and true, much better than my wretched -son, for whom I had sinned. Vaud became engaged to Emma. He went to -Taxton-on-Thames and saw my sister; she gave her consent to the match. -All was going well, when Emma, who had become acquainted with my son, -the false Sir Gregory, went off with him to Paris. He married her and -neglected her. She destroyed herself, as was confessed to me by the -valet Robert, a dog of a creature.</p> - -<p>"I was distracted when I learned all this. I went to my sister and I -told her that the false Sir Gregory was my son. I returned to town to -find that young Vaud was seriously ill. Afterwards he was sent on a -sea voyage, and he went over to Paris when he got back to rescue Emma -from my miserable son. She was dead, and he returned to see if he -could take vengeance on her murderer. He told me that he would kill -Sir Gregory, but I thought that it was an idle threat. Afterwards I -saw nothing more of him for some time. My sister asked for the address -of Sir Gregory, as she wanted a photograph of Emma which had been -taken at Taxton-on-Thames.</p> - -<p>"When I went to Gregory's rooms in Half-Moon Street to tell him the -truth, I saw the photograph. I wrote on it the date of the birth and -death of his victim. I told him about the tattooed cross, and how I -could prove that he was not the real Sir Gregory, because he had not -that mark on his arm. He did not believe me, and turned me out of his -rooms, me--his mother. At that moment I hated him for his likeness to -his father who had wronged me. But I could not harm him. I went to -Taxton-on-Thames; I said nothing. I wrote on an envelope the address -of Sir Gregory, and gave it to my sister, so that she could write to -him for the photograph, on the back of which I had written. All this -took place before the murder.</p> - -<p>"Then Gregory came to my hotel on the evening of the twenty-first of -June. I did not see him, but I saw Vaud, who entered afterwards, -disguised as a black man. I recognised him at once, and asked him why -he was dressed up like the servant of Binjoy. He said it was to play a -trick on the doctor, who was in the inner room waiting to see him. I -believed him, although I thought his behaviour strange. But I know -that he had not been quite right in his head since his illness, so -that I thought his dressing-up was a freak, and let him pass into the -inner room, where I presumed he was about to see Binjoy. I went back -to my own room, and never dreamt that the supposed doctor was my son -in disguise. Had I known I would not have left the half-crazed Vaud go -into him, knowing how he hated my son as the destroyer of Emma.</p> - -<p>"I know nothing more. I saw Binjoy later on. I asked him if he had -seen Vaud; he said no, that he had just come to the hotel. I went into -the inner room and found my son dead. I did not know how he died till -Binjoy told me about the blood-poisoning. Then I sent for the police, -and Mr. Fanks arrived. I saw the grains of gunpowder. I thought they -were the evidence of some drug which had destroyed my son. I got rid -of them by pulling off the tablecloth. I did not tell the truth or -speak out, because I was afraid of being inculpated in the crime. My -character was so bad that I knew the police would have no mercy if -they thought I was mixed up in the murder. I did not want to disgrace -my sister, or let her know my real life, my feigned name. I afterwards -went down to Mere Hall and saw Binjoy. I said I would put the rightful -heir in his own place, and oust Louis. Binjoy said if I did he would -tell my story, and that with his evidence I would be accused of the -murder. I therefore held my tongue; I could not bring back my son to -life. He had treated me badly, and I did not want to get Vaud into -trouble, as I knew that he was mad with grief and rage, and was not -responsible for his actions. On the whole I thought it best to hold my -tongue, and for the above reasons I did so.</p> - -<p>"I have now spoken because Edward Hersham, the rightful heir, is -accused of the crime. He has suffered enough injustice, and I do not -wish to see him hanged. Binjoy can tell his own story of how he came -to the hotel on that night and met with Mr. Fanks. Vaud can confess if -he will as to how he plotted and carried out the crime. For myself, I -have said all I have to say. What is set down here is the truth. I am -deeply sorry for my evil ways, but I am paying for my follies with my -life; all I ask for is forgiveness and forgetfulness. I have sinned, I -am punished. All good Christians pray for the soul of a wicked but -deeply wronged woman.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Madaline Bryant (better known as Louisa Boazoph)."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_34" href="#div1Ref_34">CHAPTER XXXIV</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE SAME.</h5> -<br> - -<p>The evidence of Theophilus Binjoy:--</p> - -<p>"I am a medical man; and in my early manhood, I practised in the -village of Damington. I was present at the birth of Edward Fielding, -and of Gregory Fellenger. I know about the mark on the arm of the real -heir. Madaline changed the two children, and I said nothing as she -promised to marry me. I was madly in love with her. She left the -village, and deceived me. Afterwards I held my tongue lest I should -get into trouble; also I hoped when the false Sir Gregory grew up, to -have a hold on him. I was prevented from doing this by Madaline (whom -I had discovered in Tooley's Alley, under the name of Mrs. Boazoph). -She threatened to reveal the name of the true heir if I meddled with -her son. I therefore did nothing. I saw the poisoned needle which -Louis had made ready for an experiment. It was in a cabinet in the -laboratory. Young Vaud came to Taxton-on-Thames nearly crazed with the -death of Emma Colmer, whom he had courted as Emma Calvert. She had -been driven to her death by her husband, the false Sir Gregory, and -had killed herself in Paris. Vaud asked me about poisons. He said -nothing to me about killing Sir Gregory, or I should have dissuaded -him from doing so wicked and rash an action.</p> - -<p>"I swear I did not wish the death of the young man. What I said to him -in the laboratory, was purely without ulterior motives.</p> - -<p>"I admit I showed him the poisoned needle. I was interested in the -experiment, and, being full of it, I spoke of our intention of trying -the poison on the dog. When Vaud left the laboratory, I did not miss -the needle; I did not miss it until Louis spoke to me about it. As -Turnor had lately been in the laboratory, and we had been speaking -about the experiment, I thought he had taken the needle. It never -struck me that Vaud had benefited by my explanation, and had stolen -the needle to kill Gregory. With Louis I went up to town on the -twenty-first of June, to see Turnor, and ask him for the needle; I had -no motive in taking Louis to Turnor's. If Turnor attempted to -blackmail Louis, I knew nothing about it. I repel with scorn the -insinuation that I purposely inveigled Louis to Great Auk Street to -entangle him in the crime, and so blackmail him. I never heard of the -murder until I went to the Red Star, according to my usual custom of -an evening. Madaline asked me if I had seen Vaud, who was disguised as -a negro. I said I had not.</p> - -<p>"We went into the room; and found the body of Sir Gregory; he was -disguised as a working-man; Vaud had disappeared. I ordered the body -to be taken upstairs, and made an examination. I then saw that Gregory -had been killed by being inoculated with the poison which Louis and I -had discovered. I recognised the cross of St. Catherine, half tattooed -on the arm; and I guessed from that how Vaud had induced Gregory to -let himself be pricked with the poisoned needle. I showed the mark to -Fanks when he came upstairs. But before doing so, I obliterated it -with a cut of the knife. I did this because I thought I might be -inculpated with the crime. I remember advising Hersham (who I did not -know was the real heir) to disguise himself as a negro so as to gain -realistic descriptions of street music. I did not do so with any -wrongful intention of connecting him with the murder. Madaline had -told me how Vaud was dressed as my negro servant; I saw that the death -had been brought about by the poisoned needle stolen from our -laboratory by Vaud; and with these two things in my head I recognised -my danger at once. I gave my feigned name to Fanks; I suggested that -the crime was the work of a secret society. Then I went back to -Turnor, and I was aware that I was being watched and could not return -to Taxton-on-Thames without being discovered.</p> - -<p>"I consulted Turnor; he advised the voyage to Bombay, and said I ought -to send Caesar in my place, in order to get rid of him, since the -murderer of Gregory had been disguised in his livery; and also that -Caesar could send letters (already written by me) from India, in order -to keep up the deception, and baffle the police. I adopted the idea, -and, assisted by Dr. Turnor, I carried it out with great success. I -had an interview with Fanks in the character of Dr. Renshaw, and I -told him that I was going to Bombay. I then took a passage to India in -the P. and O. steamer 'Oceana'; and wired to Caesar to meet me at -Plymouth.</p> - -<p>"Thither I went and gave the letters (purporting to be written by -myself from Bombay) to Caesar and sent him off in my place. -Afterwards, I took off my disguise, and went back to Mere Hall. I had -no idea that I had been followed by Mr. Fanks, and thinking that I had -destroyed all links with the crime in Tooley's Alley, likely to -endanger Louis and myself, I advised him to offer a reward so as to -still further avert suspicion.</p> - -<p>"This he did, and I thought all was well, till Madaline came from Mere -Hall to warn me against Fanks, and to threaten to put the real Gregory -in the place of Louis. I stopped her doing this, and defied Fanks. How -he over-reached me; how I was betrayed by Louis, has been told by -others. I can swear with a clear conscience that I acted throughout in -the interests of Louis, who has treated me with the basest -ingratitude. I have no more to say, save to express my pleasure that -Mr. Hersham has recovered his real name in the world. I hope he will -remember that it was indirectly through me that he was re-instated in -his estates; by my confirming the statements of Madaline, and that of -the late Sir Francis, his father. I think that he should reward me. In -this hope I take my leave.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Theophilus Binjoy."</p> -<br> - -<p>The evidence of Anne Colmer--</p> - -<p>"I am the daughter of Mrs. Colmer, of Taxton-on-Thames, the sister of -Emma Colmer, who died in Paris under the name of Emma Calvert, and the -niece of Madaline Garry, better known as Mrs. Boazoph. I saw the -letter--or rather the envelope--which she directed for my mother, to -get back the photograph of my sister from Sir Gregory. It was taken -out of our house by Herbert Vaud, and I believe he sent it to Sir -Gregory with the cardboard star, making the appointment in Tooley's -Alley. I had no idea that Vaud contemplated revenging the death of my -sister on Gregory. I knew that he hated him, and that he would do him -harm if he could, but I did not know that he would go so far as -murder.</p> - -<p>"I wired to Ted Hersham on the twenty-first, as my mother told me that -she suspected that Vaud had taken the envelope, and that he -contemplated harm to Sir Gregory. I wanted Ted to get back the -envelope. Afterwards, I thought that I would see my aunt in Tooley's -Alley, as I knew she had great influence with Vaud. I sent the -telegram, and immediately, without returning to the house, I went up -to town. I was detained by the train breaking down, and I did not -arrive in town till nearly seven o'clock. I went to the Red Star, -where I saw Mr. Fanks; and then heard of the crime. I fancied that -Vaud might have committed it, but I was not sure. I was afraid lest my -mother should be implicated in it; as she informed me that she had -told Vaud about the substitution of the false Sir Gregory, and about -the tattooed cross. This story had been related to her by Mrs. -Boazoph, when we learned that Sir Gregory had caused the death of his -wife, my sister.</p> - -<p>"I determined to recover the envelope, in case my aunt should get into -trouble, and to obtain the photograph, lest the police should trace -the connection of the so-called Emma Calvert with myself and my -mother. I went up to the chambers in Half-Moon Street. There I saw Mr. -Fanks, and I recognised him as a detective. I had seen him and heard -his name when I had been at the Red Star, shortly after the committal -of the crime. I was afraid we would all get into trouble, therefore, I -took advantage of Robert's faint to leave the room. I got into a cab, -and told the man that I was being followed by a gentleman. He assisted -me to escape by dropping me in Piccadilly, and afterwards--as I -learned--he misled Mr. Fanks, who followed me.</p> - -<p>"I know nothing about the poisoned needle, or how the crime was -accomplished. I heard afterwards about the tattooed cross from my -mother. It was with no intention of getting Ted into trouble that I -told him to assume the dress of Caesar. When the detective suspected -it, I advised him to make a clean breast of it, which he afterwards -did. I did not tell Mr. Fanks what I knew, as I was afraid of getting -my mother and aunt into difficulties. All this is true, I swear, and I -know no more about the matter.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Anne Colmer."</p> -<br> - -<p>The evidence of Mrs. Colmer:--</p> - -<p>"I told Vaud about the substitution of Gregory for Edward Hersham. My -sister, Mrs. Bryant, had confessed it to me. I was mad with rage and -grief at the way in which my girl had been treated by Gregory, and I -thought Vaud might see about getting him turned out of the place he -wrongfully occupied, and so punish his wickedness. I had no idea that -Vaud intended to kill Sir Gregory. Bad as he was, I did not wish to go -that far. I only wanted him to be deprived of his estates and title, -so that he should suffer. I gave the envelope, which had been written -by my sister, Mrs. Bryant, with the address in Half-Moon Street, so -that Vaud should call on Sir Gregory, and tell him the truth, and -should get back the photograph of my poor girl.</p> - -<p>"I knew nothing of the murder, which took place in a low hotel in -Tooley's Alley, and which was kept by a notorious woman called Mrs. -Boazoph. I also told Vaud that Ted Hersham was writing articles on -street music, and that, to study the subject, he was going about -London in the guise of a negro. I only told him this in the course of -conversation, and without any motive. This is all I know about the -affair.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Jane Colmer."</p> -<br> - -<p>The evidence of Dr. Turnor:--</p> - -<p>"I did not take the poisoned needle. I knew nothing of such an -instrument. Louis and Binjoy came up to me on the twenty-first to ask -me about it. I denied having it, but Louis did not believe me. When I -was called in by Mrs. Boazoph he would not let me go out of the room. -Binjoy went under the name of Renshaw. He used that name and a -disguise in order to enjoy himself in London. After he left, Louis, -finding, that I had not the needle, returned to Taxton-on-Thames. -Binjoy came back; he told me that Gregory Fellenger was dead, and that -he was being watched. I saw his danger, and advised him to keep up his -fictitious character so as to deceive the police. I suggested the -voyage to India; I helped to carry out the plan.</p> - -<p>"He got away to Mere Hall safely, as we thought. When Fanks asked me -questions, I did my best to baffle him for the sake of Binjoy. I had -no other motive. I was ignorant of the tattooed cross, of the changing -of the children. I saw Sir Louis when he succeeded to the estates by -the death of his cousin. I did not blackmail him. The sum of money he -gave me was a reward for my helping Binjoy to escape. I know nothing -of the murder save what I read in the newspaper. I consider that I -have been ungratefully treated by Mr. Louis Fellenger, and most -insolently by the man who calls himself Fanks. I have nothing more to -add.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Walter Turnor."</p> -<br> - -<p>The confession of Herbert Vaud:--</p> - -<p>"I killed Gregory Fellenger. I am glad that I killed him. When I found -out in Paris how he had deceived and slain the woman I loved, I -determined to make him pay for his wickedness. 'An eye for an eye,' -that is Scripture. I wished to kill Gregory without harm to myself; -and an opportunity soon occurred. I was at Mrs. Colmer's, at -Taxton-on-Thames, commiserating, with her on the death of her daughter -and my affianced wife. I did not tell her I wished to kill the -scoundrel; I told nobody. She related to me the history of the -changing of the children, which had been told to her by her sister, -Mrs. Bryant, whom I knew as Mrs. Boazoph. She wanted to avenge the -death of her daughter on Gregory by depriving him of his title and -estates. Also, she gave me the address of Gregory, written on an -envelope by Mrs. Boazoph, and asked me to call upon him for the double -purpose of telling him what he really was, and also, to get the -photograph which had been seen and written upon by Mrs. Boazoph, in -Gregory's chambers.</p> - -<p>"I took the envelope, but at that time I did not design the murder. I -wanted to kill Gregory, but I could not see how to do it with safety -to myself. I afterwards went to Mrs. Boazoph, and learned from her -that she had told her son about the tattooing, and the falseness of -his position. She implored me not to see him about his relationship to -her. I agreed; for I wished to kill him, and make him suffer. The -taking away of his property was not good enough in my eyes to punish -him for his wickedness.</p> - -<p>"Afterwards I went to Taxton-on-Thames to see Binjoy. I knew that he -was a chemist, and I desired to ask him about a poison to kill -Gregory. He told me about the poisoned needle, and showed it to me. -Whether he did so in order to put the idea into my head I do not know. -I did not tell him that I intended to kill Gregory; so far he is -guiltless; but he certainly showed me the way--innocently, perhaps--to -kill Gregory. When I came back from Taxton-on-Thames I had the -poisoned needle in my possession, and saw how to carry out my plan. I -remembered the tattooed cross on the arm of the rightful heir, and I -resolved to make use of that to induce Gregory to let me tattoo his -arm with the poisoned needle.</p> - -<p>"I placed the advertisement in a paper, which I knew he took in. I saw -his answer, and I then sent him the cardboard star appointing the -meeting-place in Tooley's Alley. I imitated the writing on the -envelope when designing a star, so that, if necessary, the blame might -rest on Mrs. Boazoph, his mother. For the same reason I chose the Red -Star as the meeting-place. To make things doubly sure, I made use of -Hersham's masquerade as a negro; and I adopted his disguise to -implicate him. Moreover, I thought that, failing Hersham, I might be -able to throw the blame on Binjoy and his negro servant. In every way -I thought that I was safe.</p> - -<p>"I went to the Red Star on the twenty-first; I met Mrs. Boazoph, and -made an excuse to her for my disguise (which she penetrated) that I -was about to play a trick on Binjoy. She thought that I was mad, and I -let her remain in that delusion. But I here state that I am quite -sane; that I killed Gregory with the greatest deliberation, and that I -do not regret what I have done. I went into the room; I met Gregory. -He took me for the negro of Dr. Binjoy, whom he had never seen. The -lights were low, and I said little; also I disguised my voice. Gregory -was a remarkably stupid creature, else I should never have succeeded -in my plan; also he was rather drunk. I counted on his density in -coming into his presence. At all events he did not know me; and when I -told him that the rightful heir must have the cross pricked on his -arm--a fact which I said I had heard from Binjoy--he let me tattoo it -in his arm. I did so with the poisoned needle, and in a short space of -time he became insensible; afterwards he died. Then I pulled down his -sleeve and left the hotel. The gunpowder scattered on the table was -used by me as a device to make Gregory think that I was really -tattooing him.</p> - -<p>"Afterwards I left a parcel containing the poisoned needle at his -chambers, to rid myself of all evidence of the crime. Well, I killed -him and went away. No one else is guilty of the crime but me. I -conceived it without assistance. I alone committed the crime in -Tooley's Alley and killed Gregory Fellenger, or, rather, Edward -Fielding, the son of Madaline Garry and Sir Francis. I am not sorry. I -glory in having punished a villain. I am sorry that I was found out, -but I was not surprised when Mrs. Boazoph betrayed me. I wondered that -she did not do so long ago. When this is read I shall be dead.</p> - -<p>(Signed), Herbert Vaud."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4><a name="div1_35" href="#div1Ref_35">CHAPTER XXXV</a>.</h4> -<h5>THE OPINION OF OCTAVIUS FANKS.</h5> -<br> - -<p>A few months after the confession of Vaud and the end of the Tooley -Alley case, Fanks was seated with Louis Fellenger in the house of the -latter at Taxton-on-Thames. Louis had surrendered the estates to Hersham, who was now known by his rightful title of Sir Gregory -Fellenger. Mrs. Boazoph was dead; Anne Colmer contemplated marriage -with the new Sir Gregory; and Mr. Fanks was having a chat with -Fellenger about the extraordinary matters in which they both had been -concerned.</p> - -<p>"When did you get back to town, Fanks?" asked Louis, when they were -comfortably seated.</p> - -<p>"Last week, old fellow. I have been enjoying myself in Italy, and I -assure you that I needed it after the wear and tear of the Tooley -Alley affair. I came down to have a chat with you about it."</p> - -<p>"I am glad you have. There are one or two points about those -confessions which I do not understand. That case was a hard nut to -crack, Fanks."</p> - -<p>Fanks looked up from the pipe he was filling. "Hard?" he echoed; "you -may well say that, Fellenger. I have had many hard cases in my time, -but the Tooley Alley mystery was the hardest of them all. The affair -of Monsieur Judas was difficult; so was the Chinese Jar Puzzle. The -Carbuncle Clue gave me some trouble; but all these were child's play -compared to the mystery of your cousin's death. I thought I should -never get a hold of the rope with which I designed to hang Vaud."</p> - -<p>"You didn't hang him, however."</p> - -<p>"No; he managed to hang himself before his trial. I was not sorry, -poor devil."</p> - -<p>"Nor was I," said Louis; "and I think that Vaud was mad when he killed -Gregory, mad with despair and grief at the end of Emma Calvert. The -old man has gone abroad, I hear."</p> - -<p>"Yes; I met him in Italy. He is quite broken down, as he was very -proud of his son Herbert. But he told me that he always thought -Herbert would do something rash, although he never suspected that he -killed Gregory. How could he when the young man conducted himself so -circumspectly? I don't think Herbert was insane," said Fanks, -decisively; "he acted too cleverly and cunningly for that. He killed -Gregory in cold blood with the greatest determination. Besides, look -at the measures he took to secure his safety. No, no, my friend; Vaud -was not mad."</p> - -<p>"Crate told me that you suspected him for some time before you found -out the truth."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I did. I suspected him without any evidence to go on. But he -protested so much, and behaved so queerly, that I thought he was the -man I wanted. All the same, as I had no evidence to go on, I held my -tongue until I was certain. When I left Binjoy ill at Mere Hall I -could think of no one so likely to have committed the crime as Vaud; -so, on the chance that Mrs. Boazoph would tell the truth, I sent Garth -for him. When he came into the room at the Red Star Mrs. Boazoph -spotted him at once. I knew that the woman was aware of the real -murderer. I saw that on the night the crime was committed. Her action -with the gunpowder gave me that tip."</p> - -<p>"And Mrs. Boazoph, alias Mrs. Bryant, alias Mrs. Fielding, alias -Madaline Garry, is dead also. I was sorry for that woman, Fanks."</p> - -<p>"So was I," said the detective, promptly. "She had a hard time of it. -I don't think that she was naturally bad, and in happier circumstances -she might have been a decent member of society. But look at the -training and misfortunes she had. Sir Francis, a fool of a first -husband, a brute of a second, and all the temptations at Tooley's -Alley to contend against. I wonder she was as decent as she was. I am -a deal sorrier for her than for your friend Binjoy, who got off -scot-free."</p> - -<p>"Don't call him my friend," said Louis, with a shudder. "I hate the -very name of the man. It was only out of respect for my father that I -bore with him for so long. I was glad when he went away. Did you ever -see so insolent a confession as he made?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I was prepared for anything from a scoundrel like Binjoy. He gave -me a rub for myself; and so did his friend, Turnor. 'Arcades Ambo.' -Blackguards both," quoted Fanks, smiling. "But Hersham did not -remember him as he expected him to."</p> - -<p>"No, the present Sir Gregory, whom you will call Hersham, sent Binjoy -away pretty sharply, I can tell you. Binjoy and Turnor actually had -the cheek to call on him at Mere Hall, and ask him for money in order -to leave England; on the plea that their substantiation of Mrs. -Boazoph's evidence had gained him the estate."</p> - -<p>"I think it was your decency in letting Hersham have the estates -without going into Court that made things so smooth, Fellenger. Do you -regret the loss?"</p> - -<p>"No, I assure you I do not. I was satisfied that Hersham was truly the -heir; the evidence of that paper we found, and of Mrs. Boazoph, was -quite enough. I was glad to come back here, and go on with my -experiments in peace. I accepted a thousand a year from Hersham, which -he insisted on giving me; so you see I am fairly well off."</p> - -<p>"And you are good friends with Hersham--I beg his pardon--Sir Gregory -Fellenger, of Mere Hall, in the county of Hants?"</p> - -<p>"I am excellent friends with him and with his future wife, Anne -Colmer. You know, of course, that they are going to be married in a -month or so, that is, if Mrs. Colmer does not die in the meantime?"</p> - -<p>"From what I hear from Garth, it is likely that she will die," said -Fanks. "I expect the poor woman will be glad to go now that she sees -her daughter will make a good marriage."</p> - -<p>"Garth came to see me the other day," said Louis, "and he told me that -at one time he thought I had committed the crime."</p> - -<p>"I thought so, too," said Fanks, quietly. "Mrs. Jerusalem did her best -to make me suspect you."</p> - -<p>"I am glad you found that I was guiltless. By the way, where is Mrs. -Jerusalem?"</p> - -<p>"She is keeping house for Garth. I hear that Hersham gave Garth some -money, knowing how hard-up he was, so he has set up a house on the -strength of it. I don't envy Garth his housekeeper."</p> - -<p>"Oh, she loves him in her own savage way," said Louis, coolly. "I -daresay when he marries he will give her the go-by. I am sure she -deserves it for the double way in which she treated me. Then she will -go to the Union, or become an emigrant to America, like Messrs. Binjoy -and Turnor."</p> - -<p>"Why America?"</p> - -<p>"She has a sister there. I wonder what those two scoundrelly doctors -are doing in the States?"</p> - -<p>"Evil, you may be sure of that," replied Fanks. "Let us hope that they -will be lynched some day. I am sure that they deserve it."</p> - -<p>"They do," assented Fellenger. "I am sorry they did not get into -trouble."</p> - -<p>Fanks laughed. "That was certainly your own fault, my dear fellow," he -said.</p> - -<p>"Well, I was unwilling to prosecute for that blackmailing, because I -did not want the public to know more of our family scandal than was -necessary. I was sorry to let the blackguards go, but, after all, it -is best so. Don't you think so yourself?"</p> - -<p>"No, I don't," said Fanks. "You are too full of the milk of human -kindness, my dear Fellenger. I should have punished the rascals."</p> - -<p>"I am sure you would not if your family had been involved in such a -business. I am glad you kept so much from the public ear; there are -quite enough scandals as it is. Well, we have discussed the case a -good time, so suppose you come inside and have some luncheon."</p> - -<p>"I'm agreeable," was Fanks' reply, and he got up to follow his friend. -"By the way, can I take any message from you to Hersham and Miss -Colmer? I am going down to Mere Hall next week."</p> - -<p>"Tell them I hope they will ask me to dance at the wedding."</p> - -<p>"Of course they will. I shall dance also," added Fanks, with a smile. -"I deserve to, for I danced enough after the evidence of this Tooley -Alley case. May I never have such another; it was more like a -detective novel than a story in real life. But it is over now, thank -Heaven. We have acted our several parts; the bad have been punished -and the good rewarded, so we can drop the curtain on the Tragedy of -Tooley's Alley."</p> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>THE END.</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> - - -<pre> - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tracked by a Tattoo, by Fergus Hume - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRACKED BY A TATTOO *** - -***** This file should be named 55783-h.htm or 55783-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/7/8/55783/ - -Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by La -Trobe University, Melbourne Australia - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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