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diff --git a/old/71073-h/71073-h.htm b/old/71073-h/71073-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 5a047f5..0000000 --- a/old/71073-h/71073-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,13153 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html lang="en"> -<head> -<meta charset="utf-8"> -<title>The Starvel Hollow Tragedy | Project Gutenberg</title> -<link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> -<style> -body { - margin: 1em auto; - max-width: 40em; -} -p { - margin: 0; - text-indent: 1.5em; - text-align: justify; -} -hr { - width: 40%; - margin: 1em 30%; -} -h1 { - margin: 2em 0; - text-align: center; - text-transform: uppercase; -} -h2 { - margin-top: 2em; - text-align: center; -} -figure { text-align: center; } -img { max-width: 100%; } -td.n { - padding-right: 1em; - text-align: right; -} -blockquote { - margin: 1em 0; -} -.address { - margin-right: 2em; - text-align: right; -} -.dateline { - margin-right: 1em; - text-align: right; -} -.name { font-variant: small-caps; } -.leftmost { text-indent: 0 } -.centered { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; -} -.valediction { - margin-right: 2em; - text-align: right; - text-indent: 0; -} -.signature { - margin-right: 1em; - text-align: right; - text-indent: 0; -} -.subtitle { - font-size: x-large; - font-style: italic; - margin-bottom: 3em; - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - text-transform: uppercase; -} -.authorprefix { - font-size: large; - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - margin: 1em 0; -} -.author { - font-size: x-large; - font-weight: bold; - margin-bottom: 2em; - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - text-transform: uppercase; -} -.dedicationprefix { - padding-top: 1em; - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; -} -.dedicatee { - font-style: italic; - padding-bottom: 1em; - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - text-transform: uppercase; -} -.dedication { - font-variant: small-caps; - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; -} -div.chapter { page-break-before: always; } -div.section { page-break-before: always; } -</style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Starvel Hollow tragedy, by Freeman Wills Crofts</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Starvel Hollow tragedy</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>An Inspector French case</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Freeman Wills Crofts</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 30, 2023 [eBook #71073]<br>Last Updated: August 14, 2023</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Credits: Brian Raiter</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STARVEL HOLLOW TRAGEDY ***</div> - -<figure> - <img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Book cover"> -</figure> - -<div class="section" id="titlepage"> - -<h1>The Starvel Hollow Tragedy</h1> -<p class="subtitle">An Inspector French Case</p> -<p class="authorprefix">By</p> -<p class="author">Freeman Wills Crofts</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="section" id="contents"> - -<h2>Contents</h2> - -<table> -<tr> - <td class="n">I</td> - <td><a href="#ch01">The Tragedy</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">II</td> - <td><a href="#ch02">The Inquest</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">III</td> - <td><a href="#ch03">Mr. Tarkington Develops a Theory</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">IV</td> - <td><a href="#ch04">Inspector French Goes North</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">V</td> - <td><a href="#ch05">French Picks Up a Scent</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">VI</td> - <td><a href="#ch06">Talloires, Lac D’Annecy</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">VII</td> - <td><a href="#ch07">Posthumous Evidence</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">VIII</td> - <td><a href="#ch08">Dr. Philpot’s Story</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">IX</td> - <td><a href="#ch09">The Value of Analysis</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">X</td> - <td><a href="#ch10">Whymper Speaks at Last</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XI</td> - <td><a href="#ch11">A Startling Theory</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XII</td> - <td><a href="#ch12">A Somewhat Gruesome Chapter</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XIII</td> - <td><a href="#ch13">The Piece of Yellow Clay</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XIV</td> - <td><a href="#ch14">The Secret of The Moor</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XV</td> - <td><a href="#ch15">French Baits His Trap</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XVI</td> - <td><a href="#ch16">A Double Recall</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XVII</td> - <td><a href="#ch17">Concerning Wedding Rings</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XVIII</td> - <td><a href="#ch18">Cumulative Evidence</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XIX</td> - <td><a href="#ch19">The Last Lap</a></td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="n">XX</td> - <td><a href="#ch20">Conclusion</a></td> -</tr> -</table> - -</div> - -<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="section" id="dedication"> - -<p class="dedicationprefix">To</p> -<p class="dedicatee">MY WIFE</p> -<p class="dedication">who suggested the idea<br>from which this story grew</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch01"> - -<h2>CHAPTER ONE: The Tragedy</h2> - -<p>Ruth Averill moved slowly across the drawing -room at Starvel, and stood dejectedly at the -window, looking out at the Scotch firs swaying in the -wind and the sheets of rain driving across the -untidy lawn before the house.</p> - -<p>The view was even more depressing than usual -on this gloomy autumn afternoon. Beyond the -grass-grown drive and the broken-down paling of -posts and wire which bounded the grounds, lay the -open moor, wild and lonely and forbidding. A -tumble of dun-coloured sedgy grass with darker -smudges where rock out-cropped, it stretched up, -bleak and dreary, to the lip of the hollow in which -the dilapidated old house had been built.</p> - -<p>To the girl standing in the window with a -brooding look of melancholy on her pretty features the -outlook seemed symbolical of her life, for Ruth -Averill was not one of those whose lives could be -said to have fallen in pleasant places.</p> - -<p>But, in spite of her unhappy expression, she was -good to look at as she stood watching the storm. -Though rather under medium height she had a -charming figure and something of a presence. She -was dark, as though in her veins might flow some -admixture of Spanish or Italian blood. Her -features were small and delicate, but her firmly -rounded chin gave promise of character. She -scarcely looked her twenty years of age.</p> - -<p>But though she had the fresh vitality of youth, -there was something old-fashioned in her -appearance not out of accord with her surroundings. She -wore her long dark hair piled up in great masses -over her broad forehead. Her dress was of the -plainest, and in the fashion of three years earlier. -Though scrupulously neat, it was worn threadbare. -Her shoes were cracked and her stockings showed -careful darns.</p> - -<p>For Ruth Averill was an orphan, dependent on -the bounty of her uncle, Simon Averill, for every -penny. And Simon Averill was a miser.</p> - -<p>Ruth was born in Southern France, and she had -dim recollections of a land of sun and warmth, of -jolly people and bright colours. But since she had -come to this gloomy old house in the wilds of the -Yorkshire moors the joy had gone out of her life. -Her companions during childhood had been the two -not very prepossessing servants and the still less -attractive gardener and out-door man. With her -uncle Simon she had nothing in common. Even -at the time of her arrival he was elderly and morose, -and every day he seemed to grow more self-centred -and less approachable.</p> - -<p>After some years a break had come in her life; -she had been sent to a boarding school. But she -had not been happy there, so that when she was -“finished” she was almost glad to return to the -dullness and loneliness of Starvel.</p> - -<p>There she had found changes. Her uncle Simon -was now an invalid, querulous and solitary, and -living only for the accumulation of money. His -passion took the form of collecting actual coins and -notes and hoarding them in his safe. He made no -attempt to cultivate the friendship of his niece, and -had it not been that he required her to read to him -once a day, she would have seen him but seldom.</p> - -<p>At this time also the two old women servants and -the gardener had gone, and their places had been -taken by a comparatively young married couple -called Roper. Though more efficient than their -predecessors, Ruth did not take to either of the -newcomers, with the result that the fourteen months -which had passed since her return from school were -lonelier than ever.</p> - -<p>Had it not been that Ruth had developed an -interest in flowers and gardening, she would have -found herself hard put to it to fill her life. -Gardening and her friendship with a semi-invalid -entomologist who lived close by, together with -occasional excursions to the neighbouring market -town of Thirsby, were the only distractions she -could count on.</p> - -<p>But recently another factor had come into her -life. She had met on a number of occasions a -young man named Pierce Whymper, the junior -assistant of an ecclesiastical architect in Leeds. -Whymper was acting as clerk of works during some -renovations to the parish church at Thirsby, and -when Ruth had gone with one or two of the local -ladies to inspect the work he had been particularly -attentive. He had begged her to come again to -see how the job progressed, and she had done so -on more than one occasion. Then one day she -had met him walking near Starvel, and she had -invited him to come in and have tea. This visit had -been followed by others and they had made -excursions together on the moor. Though no word -of love had been spoken during any of these -interviews, she knew that he was attracted to her, and -though she would hardly admit it to herself, she -knew also that she would marry him if he should -ask her.</p> - -<p>Such was the general condition of affairs in the -old house of Starvel on this gloomy September -afternoon, an afternoon which was to be -remembered by Ruth as the end of her old life and the -prelude to a new existence in a different world.</p> - -<p>As she was standing, staring mournfully out of -the window, the attendant, Roper, entered the -room. She did not know then, though she realised -it afterwards, that the message he was bringing her -was to be the herald of a series of terrible and tragic -happenings, so dark and sinister and awful that had -she foreseen them she might well have cried out in -horror and dismay. But she did not foresee them, -and she turned with her instinctive courtesy to hear -what the man had to say.</p> - -<p>The message, though almost unprecedented, was -in itself the reverse of alarming. Roper explained -that Mr. Averill had instructed him to hand this -note, which he had received in a letter to himself, -to Miss Ruth, and to say that he hoped Miss Ruth -would accept the invitation it contained. Further, -that as there would be expenses in connection with -the visit, he wished Miss Ruth to have the ten -pounds enclosed in this other envelope. She could -go in to Thirsby in the morning, get any little thing -she might want, and go on to York in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>With rapidly beating heart Ruth unfolded the -dog-eared corner of the note, which was addressed -simply “Ruth,” and read as follows:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="address">“Oakdene,” Ashton Drive,</p> -<p class="dateline">York. <i>September</i> 10<i>th</i>.</p> - -<p>“<span class="name">My Dear Ruth,</span>—I hope you will allow me to -address you in this way, as your father and I were -old friends. I nursed you when you were a baby, -and though we have not met for many years, I do -not feel that you are a stranger.</p> - -<p>“This is to ask if you will come and stay here -for a few days and meet my daughters Gwen and -Hilda. I do hope you can.</p> - -<p>“Our autumn flower show opens on Wednesday, -and the roses are always worth seeing. I am sure -you would enjoy it, so try to reach here on Tuesday -afternoon and you will be in time to go there with -us.</p> - -<p class="valediction">“Yours very sincerely,</p> -<p class="signature">“<span class="name">Helen Palmer-Gore</span>.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>Ruth could scarcely believe her eyes as she read -this friendly letter. Mrs. Palmer-Gore she dimly -remembered as a large, kindly, fussily-mannered -woman, whom she had liked in spite of her trick of -giving unpleasantly moist kisses. But she had never -visited her, or ever been to York, and the prospect -thrilled her.</p> - -<p>But unexpected as the invitation was, it was as -nothing compared to her uncle’s attitude towards it. -That he should have given her permission to go was -surprising enough, but that he should have sent her -ten pounds for her expenses was an absolute miracle. -<em>Ten Pounds!</em> <em>What</em> a sum! Why, she had never -had the tenth part of it in her possession before! -And <em>what</em> she could buy with it! Visions of frocks, -shoes, hats and gloves began to float before her -imagination. Feeling as he did towards money, it -was good of her uncle Simon. She turned -impulsively to Roper.</p> - -<p>“Oh, how kind of uncle,” she exclaimed. “I must -go up and thank him.”</p> - -<p>Roper shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Well, miss, I shouldn’t if I were you,” he -advised in his pleasant Scotch voice. He came from -somewhere in Fife. “The master’s not so well, -as you know, and he particularly said he didn’t want -to be disturbed. I’d wait and see him in the -morning before you go. You will go, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Of course I shall go, Roper.” She hesitated, -undecided. “Well, perhaps if he said that, I’d -better see him in the morning, as you suggest.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, miss. Then I’d best arrange for a -car to take you in to Thirsby in the morning? -About ten, maybe?”</p> - -<p>“Thank you. Yes, about ten will do. And you -might send a telegram to York which I will write -for you.”</p> - -<p>The man bowed and withdrew, and Ruth gave -herself up to glorious dreams of the next few days: -not so much of visiting the Palmer-Gores and York, -but of getting away from Starvel. Yes, she -admitted it to herself at last. It was to get away -from Starvel that she really welcomed the -invitation. While there had been no chance of quitting -it, she had not realised how terribly bitter was her -hatred of the place. And not the place only, but -of every one in it. She hated her uncle—in spite of -the ten pounds. She hated Roper with his sleek -civility, and most of all she hated Mrs. Roper, who -always treated her with a veiled insolence, as if -silently taunting her because of her dependent -position. Oh, how splendid it would be to get away -from the place and everything connected with it, -even for a few days! And she determined she would -use the opportunity of this visit to find out what her -chances would be of getting some job by means of -which she could support herself, so that she might -never be forced to return to Starvel or see any of its -inhabitants again.</p> - -<p>That night she could scarcely sleep from -excitement, and next morning she was ready with her -shabby little suitcase long before the time at which -the car was to arrive.</p> - -<p>She was somewhat uneasy about her uncle’s -condition. For several days he had been ailing, and -when she had gone in to say good-bye to him before -leaving she had thought him looking very ill. He -was asleep, but breathing heavily, and there was -something in his appearance which vaguely -disquieted her.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think he’s at all well,” she said to Roper -when she came down. “I believe he should have the -doctor.”</p> - -<p>“I was of the same opinion, miss, and I took the -liberty of calling at Dr. Philpot’s when I went in to -order your car. But the doctor’s ill. He’s got -influenza and is confined to bed. I thought of going -on to Dr. Emerson, and then I thought if it’s only -influenza that’s wrong with Dr. Philpot we might -just as well wait. He’ll likely be about again in a -day or two.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot was Mr. Averill’s usual attendant. -He was a youngish man who had come to the place -some three or four years earlier, and who had -already built up a reputation for care and skill. The -other practitioner, Dr. Emerson, was old and past -his work, and had retired in all but name.</p> - -<p>Ruth paused in some perplexity.</p> - -<p>“That’s very unfortunate. But I think you are -right that if it’s only a matter of a day or two we -should wait for Dr. Philpot. I hadn’t heard he -was ill.”</p> - -<p>“Neither had I, miss. He was all right on -Thursday, for he was out that day to see Mr. Giles.”</p> - -<p>“So I understand. How is Mr. Giles to-day?”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t heard this morning, miss, but last night -he was far from well. Mrs. Roper is just going up -to see if there is anything wanted.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go round to see him on my way to Thirsby,” -Ruth decided. “Can I give Mrs. Roper a lift?”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, miss, it would be a convenience. I’ll -tell her.”</p> - -<p>Markham Giles, the entomologist, was their -nearest neighbour. He was the son of an old friend of -Mr. Averill’s and lived alone in a little cottage half -a mile away across the moor. He was a pathetic -instance of the wreckage left by the War. Never -physically strong, he had been rejected for the -earlier army drafts, but when the struggle had -dragged out and the standard for recruitment had -been lowered he had again volunteered and had got -through. He had served in Flanders, had been -badly gassed and wounded, and six months later -had left the hospitals the shadow of his former self. -Being alone in the world and penniless save for -his pension, he had headed north to his father’s old -friend. A small cottage belonging to Starvel being -then vacant, Mr. Averill had offered it to him at -a nominal rent. There he had since lived, occupying -his time by keeping bees and by studying the insect -life of the moor. On this subject he had become -somewhat of an authority, and had written articles -which had attracted attention in entomological -circles. He and Ruth were good friends and she had -helped in the capture and arrangement of his -specimens.</p> - -<p>Some days previously he had developed influenza, -and though he did not seem seriously ill, he was not -shaking it off. Mrs. Roper had been kind in looking -after him and Ruth also had done what she could.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later the two women arrived at the -tiny cottage which lay just outside the lip of Starvel -Hollow, the big saucer-shaped depression in the -moor in the centre of which stood Simon Averill’s -house. Markham Giles looked worse than when -Ruth had last seen him. He lay with half-closed -eyes and seemed too dull and listless to more than -notice his visitors. But he feebly thanked them for -coming and said he was quite comfortable and -wanted nothing.</p> - -<p>“If he’s not better by to-morrow, I think you -should send for Dr. Emerson,” Ruth declared as she -returned to her car.</p> - -<p>“I think so, too, miss. Very good, I’ll arrange -it. And if he seems bad to-night either John or I -will come over and sit with him. I don’t like his -look this morning somehow.”</p> - -<p>“It’s very good of you, Mrs. Roper. But I expect -he’ll be all right.”</p> - -<p>“I hope so, miss. Good-morning, miss.”</p> - -<p>Ruth’s mind was troubled as she turned away. -She had always been intensely sorry for Markham -Giles, and now she hated leaving him lying there -alone. But there was nothing that she could do, -and with a half sigh she re-entered her vehicle and -was driven into Thirsby.</p> - -<p>There she spent the morning shopping, packing -her purchases in her suitcase. This was followed -by a frugal meal at the local tea shop, and then -arose the question of how she should spend the hour -remaining until train time.</p> - -<p>She left her suitcase at the tea shop, and sallied -forth. Involuntarily her steps turned towards the -church, though she assured herself that under no -circumstances would she enter the building. There -could, however, be no objection to walking past the -gate.</p> - -<p>What she would have done eventually if left to -herself will never be known, as Fate intervened and -arranged her visit for her. Turning a corner she -all but ran into Mrs. Oxley, the wife of one of the -local solicitors. Mr. Oxley had charge of all Simon -Averill’s business, and on his occasional visits to -Starvel he had made a point of asking for Ruth and -chatting to her in his pleasant cheery way. Mrs. -Oxley she had known for years, and had experienced -many kindnesses at her hands.</p> - -<p>They stopped to talk and Mrs. Oxley heard of the -visit to York with interest and sympathy.</p> - -<p>“Well,” she said, “if you’re not doing anything -until half-past three, come with me to the church. -Boyd, the sexton, promised to send me some of the -old flags for the rock garden, and I want to know -when I’m likely to get them.”</p> - -<p>There was nothing for it but to go, and whether -Mrs. Oxley had any suspicion of how matters stood, -or whether she was genuinely anxious about her -paving-stones, Ruth was left alone to talk to -Whymper for a good ten minutes. And the young man -did not fail to improve the occasion. It appeared -that he had to go to the station to make inquiries -about a consignment of cement, so it was natural -that he should leave the church with the ladies. Mrs. -Oxley, it then turned out, had business in the -opposite direction and to her great regret was unable to -accompany the others. So the task of seeing Miss -Averill off fell to Mr. Whymper.</p> - -<p>It was with shining eyes and heightened colour -that, half an hour later, Ruth Averill sat in the -corner of a third-class compartment, while the train -moved out of Thirsby. That Whymper loved her -she was now positive. It was true that he had not -actually spoken of love, but his every word and look -proclaimed his feelings. He had, moreover, -insisted on telling her about his family and his position -and prospects—a good sign. As to her own -feelings, she was no longer in any doubt whatever. She -loved him, and in loving him the gray clouds that -pressed down upon her life seemed to break and the -rosy light of hope to pour in through the rift.</p> - -<p>She duly reached York and found Mrs. Palmer-Gore -waiting for her on the platform. With her -for two days she spent a pleasant holiday, enjoying -the unwonted good-fellowship. The visit was to -have lasted a week, but on the afternoon of the -second day, there fell the first of the several blows -that she was to experience, and her stay was brought -to an abrupt termination.</p> - -<p>They had just sat down to lunch when a telegram -was handed to her. It was the first she had ever -received. Excited and a trifle embarrassed, she -hesitated to open it.</p> - -<p>But when in answer to Mrs. Palmer-Gore’s -kindly: “Read it, dear. Don’t mind us,” she learned -its contents, all thought of herself was swept from -her mind.</p> - -<p>It was signed “Oxley,” though whether it came -from the solicitor or his wife she could not tell. It -read: “Terrible accident at Starvel. Your uncle -injured. Return Thirsby and stay night with us.”</p> - -<p>It was characteristic of the girl that her thoughts -and feelings were all for old Simon Averill. Was -the poor old man badly injured? Was he suffering? -Could she do anything to help him? It was kind of -the Oxleys to ask her to stay the night, but of course -she could not do so. She must go out to Starvel -and help with the nursing. Not one thought of the -possible effect on herself of the disaster entered -her mind. That the old man might die of his -injuries and that she might be his heir never occurred -to her. Nor did she repine at the cutting short of -her first real and altogether wonderful holiday.</p> - -<p>By Mrs. Palmer-Gore’s advice she wired to the -Oxleys that she would be with them at 5.40, and -after a hurried lunch she found herself once more -in the train. During the journey she had time to -ponder over her news. A “terrible accident” at -Starvel! What <em>could</em> have happened? It must -surely be bad or that ominous word “terrible” would -not have been used. She began to invent -possibilities. Had her uncle taken the wrong medicine, -perhaps some awful burning stuff that would hurt -him horribly? Or had he fallen downstairs or into -the fire? Or cut himself and been unable to -summon help?</p> - -<p>She gave full rein to her imagination, but when -she learned the truth she found it vastly more -terrible than anything she had thought of. The Oxleys -met her at the station, and having driven her to -their home, broke the news.</p> - -<p>It seemed that when about eleven o’clock that -morning the baker was approaching Starvel to make -his customary Thursday call, he had noticed a faint -pall of smoke hanging in the sky above the hollow. -On crossing the shoulder he had glanced down as -usual into the curious circular dell, and had instantly -been overwhelmed with incredulous amazement. -There were the trees, the thin, stunted pines which -surrounded the old house, but—<em>the house was gone!</em> -The long line of slated roof which had stood out -above the trees had absolutely vanished. No trace -remained. At first sight the man thought that the -entire building had disappeared, but a closer -approach revealed blackened windowless walls -surrounding a still smouldering interior, all that -remained of the old place.</p> - -<p>No sign of life appeared about the ruins, and the -horror-stricken man was forced to the conclusion -that all three occupants had lost their lives in the -flames.</p> - -<p>He drove hurriedly into Thirsby and gave the -alarm, and soon Sergeant Kent of the local police -force with some of his men, Dr. Emerson, Mr. -Oxley and a number of others were hastening to the -scene. They found matters as the baker had -described, the smouldering ruins standing gaunt and -sinister at the bottom of the dell, lonely and -deserted, hidden from the surrounding country by the -rim of the strange natural Hollow.</p> - -<p>The fire had evidently raged with extraordinary -fury. With the exception of an outhouse separate -from the main building not a scrap of anything -inflammable remained. Floors, roof, staircase, -window sashes, all were gone. And in that glowing -mass of red-hot débris within the blackened and -twisted walls lay, almost certainly, the bodies of -Simon Averill, and of John and Flora Roper.</p> - -<p>Anxious that Ruth should not have to learn the -terrible news from the papers, Mr. Oxley had -returned to Thirsby and sent his wire. He had thought -it best to make this only a preparation, intending -that the full story should be broken more gently on -the girl’s arrival.</p> - -<p>Ruth was terribly shocked and upset. It was the -first time, since reaching years of discretion, that -she had been brought in contact with tragedy and -death, and she was appalled by its horror. She -begged to be allowed to go out to Starvel, but -neither of the Oxleys would hear of it, pointing out -that a visit would only harrow her feelings, and -that she could do nothing there to help.</p> - -<p>As the long evening dragged away she found -herself hoping against hope that Whymper would call. -But there was no sign of him and she supposed he -had not heard of her return.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Kent, however, had heard of it, and -about eight o’clock he called and asked to see her. -He was a tall, rather brusque man, though in -Oxley’s presence he was polite enough. He questioned -her as to the household and its personnel, but she -had nothing to tell him which could throw any light -on the tragedy.</p> - -<p>The next day it was found possible to attempt -some research work among the ruins, and by ten -o’clock a number of men were engaged in removing -the cooler portions of the débris. Ruth insisted -that she must see the place for herself, and the -Oxleys, not liking to let her go alone, drove her out -in their car. But the terrible picture which met her -eyes and the thought of what lay below the sinister -mound where the men were working made her feel -almost sick with horror. Her feelings too, had -changed. Gone was her hatred of the place, and -particularly of the three poor people who had met -with such an appalling fate. She felt she had been -wicked to hate them. Her uncle had been a recluse -and fond of money no doubt. But in his own way -he had always been kind to her. He had opened his -door to her when she was a homeless child, and had -since supported her without grudging the money -she must have cost him. And he had been -ill—continuously ill; and when people are ill they cannot -help being depressed and a little trying to others. -And the Ropers, had she not misjudged them also? -In their own way, they, too, had always been kind -to her. For the first time, Ruth saw that the lives -of the couple must have been as dull and gray as -her own. Though their jobs were underpaid, and -rather thankless, they had not complained. And -she, Ruth, had never shown an appreciation of their -services. She saw now that she had really had no -reason at all for hating them, and when she thought -of their terrible death, her tears flowed. In silence -she allowed Mrs. Oxley to lead her back to the car -and drive her to Thirsby.</p> - -<p>On their way to the little town the second blow -fell on the young girl, and coming so quickly on the -first, left her weak and trembling. As they mounted -the rim of the Hollow they saw a funeral -approaching along a converging road. It was a sorry -procession; only the hearse, and the vicar and Dr. Emerson -in the former’s car. As the two ladies drew up for -it to pass, the vicar also stopped, and he and the -doctor came over to express their sympathy with -Ruth.</p> - -<p>“You will be sorry for poor Mr. Giles, also, Miss -Ruth,” the vicar went on. “I understood you were -kind enough to help him in his scientific researches.”</p> - -<p>Ruth stared at him in horror.</p> - -<p>“You don’t mean,” she stammered, “that Mr. -Giles is—is dead?”</p> - -<p>“He died on Tuesday, I’m sorry to say. After -a short illness he passed away in his sleep. He had -no suffering. But, only thirty-six! Truly, another -tragedy of the War.”</p> - -<p>Ruth was stunned. Markham Giles, also! To -lose at one blow all four persons whom she had -known best—the only four persons in the world she -had known at all well! It was too much.</p> - -<p>She pulled herself together, however, and insisted -on following her friend’s body to its last -resting-place, but when she reached the Oxleys’ house she -broke down altogether. Mrs. Oxley put her to bed -and at last she sobbed herself to sleep.</p> - -<p>That evening the charred remains of three human -bodies were found within the tragic walls of Starvel.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch02"> - -<h2>CHAPTER TWO: The Inquest</h2> - -<p>When Ruth Averill awoke next morning she -found that the overwhelming sense of sick horror -which had weighed her down on the previous -evening had lightened. She had been worn out in body -from the shock and the nervous strain, but sleep had -restored her physical well-being, and her mind -reacted to her body. She was young, she was in -perfect health, and—she was in love.</p> - -<p>While her feelings of compassion for the trio who -had lost their lives in so terrible a way were in no -whit lessened, she would have been less than human -had she not begun to look upon the tragedy as it -affected herself. And here at once was something -exciting and a little terrifying. What would -happen to her now? She had hated her life at Starvel; -would the life that lay before her be better or -worse? Scarcely worse, she thought; any change -must surely be for the better. She had intended -while at York to make some inquiries about earning -her own living so that she might leave Starvel. Now -this was no longer a matter of choice; in some way -she must learn to support herself. Vaguely she -wondered if any of her uncle’s money would come -to her. But she dismissed the idea as too good to -be true. Perhaps with luck there might be enough -to keep her until she could train for some post, but -even about this she could not be certain. However, -Mr. Oxley was kind and clever. She need not worry -overmuch. He would advise her.</p> - -<p>While making up her mind to rise and face what -the day might bring forth, Ruth was greatly -comforted by a visit from Mrs. Oxley. That lady -presently knocked to inquire if her charge were -awake, and she was so kind and understanding and -kissed her in such a motherly way that Ruth felt a -glow of warmth in her heart. Mrs. Oxley brought -with her a tiny tray with the daintiest little tea -service and the thinnest of bread and butter, and -while Ruth enjoyed this unheard-of luxury the elder -woman sat on the bed and proceeded to feed the -girl’s mind with healing news. She mentioned, -casually and yet with such a wealth of detail, that Mr. -Whymper had called on the previous evening to -inquire for Miss Averill. With really praiseworthy -ingenuity she spun out the subject for nearly ten -minutes, then she went on to tell something of -almost—though of course not quite—equal -importance. Mr. Oxley had wished her to say, in the -strictest confidence—no one at this stage was -supposed to know anything about it—but in order to -relieve Ruth’s mind, he thought he might tell -her—that she was not to worry as to her future. He had -drawn up old Mr. Averill’s will and there would be -some money. Mr. Oxley had not said how much, -but Mrs. Oxley was sure there would be enough. -At all events Ruth was not to worry. And now, -breakfast would be ready in half an hour and there -was plenty of hot water in the bathroom.</p> - -<p>During the morning Ruth went down into the -little town and engaged in the melancholy business -of buying mourning. Mr. Oxley had lent her twenty -pounds, explaining that she could repay him when -she got her own money. This prospect of money -coming to her made Ruth feel excited and -important, and she could not refrain from -daydreaming about all the wonderful things she would do -when she received it. It was well for her indeed -that she had something so absorbing to take her -mind off the ghastliness of the tragedy which -surrounded her. In fact, if only Pierce Whymper had -come to see her again, she would have been really -happy. But, as she afterwards learned, the young -architect was out of town on business all that -morning.</p> - -<p>During Sergeant Kent’s call on the evening after -the tragedy he had warned Ruth that she would be -required to give evidence at the inquest. Now he -came round to say that this was to be held in the -courthouse at three o’clock that afternoon, and that -she must be sure to be there in good time. The girl -was naturally nervous at the prospect of giving -evidence, which she had always heard was a terrible -ordeal. But Mrs. Oxley reassured her in her kindly -way, explaining that she had nothing to do but -answer the questions she was asked, and promising -that Mr. Oxley would see that nothing untoward -befell her.</p> - -<p>Shortly before the hour, therefore, the little party -approached the courthouse. The building was -already crowded, but Mr. Oxley’s position as the -leading solicitor of the town and Ruth’s as one of -the most important witnesses procured them an -immediate entrance and places on the seats usually -reserved for counsel. As Ruth looked round the -small old-fashioned building she saw many familiar -faces. There, surrounded by policemen and looking -weighed down with importance and responsibility, -was Sergeant Kent. He was moving restlessly -about, whispering to various persons and consulting -at times a sheaf of papers he held in his hand. Some -of the policemen she recognised also. There was -the young smiling one with the light blue eyes whom -she had met so many times when shopping in the -town, and his companion with the long drooping -nose and the hollow cheeks. In the seat behind was -Mr. Snelgrove, the butcher, and Mr. Pullar, of the -shoe shop. That tall very thin man with the little -moustache and the bald head was Mr. Tarkington, -the bank manager, and the slight, medium-sized man -beside him was Mr. Bloxham, the clerk whom he -used to send out to Starvel with Mr. Averill’s -money. The venerable-looking old gentleman with -the short white beard who was just pushing to the -front was Dr. Emerson. And there—how could -she have failed to see him before?—there, at the -back of the court, was Pierce Whymper. He looked -anxious and troubled, and though when she caught -his eye and smiled, he smiled back, there was a -something of embarrassment or reserve in his manner -that seemed to her strange and disquieting. And -just beside him—but a sudden shuffle took place -about her, and looking in front of her, she saw that -a stout thick-set man with a square face and a -walrus moustache had entered from some invisible -side door and was taking his seat in the judge’s -chair.</p> - -<p>“Dr. Lonsdale, the coroner,” Mr. Oxley -whispered, and Ruth nodded. She was surprised to find -that the affair began so tamely. She had expected -an elaborate and picturesque ritual, but nothing of -the kind took place. The coroner opened his bag, -and taking out some papers, began to turn them -over. Other persons sitting round the table before -her also took out papers and shuffled them, while -Sergeant Kent, turning round, shouted out “Robert -Judd!” so suddenly and loudly that Ruth jumped. -Some one at the back of the court answered “Here!” -and was promptly ordered to come forward and -enter the jury box. Other names were called—to -some of which there was no reply—until all the -places in the box were occupied. Then all stood -up and stared vacantly at Kent while he murmured -something about “justly try and true deliverance -make,” after which every one sat down again.</p> - -<p>“Have the jury viewed the remains?” asked the -coroner, and Kent, answering, “They’re going to -do it now, sir,” shepherded his charges out of the -box and away through a door just behind it. Every -one began conversing in low tones except the -coroner, who kept on steadily writing. Presently the -jury trooped in again and the proceedings began -in real earnest.</p> - -<p>“Call Peter Spence!” Sergeant Kent shouted.</p> - -<p>“Peter Spence!” repeated two or three -policemen, and a stout redfaced man pushed to the front, -and entering the witness box, was sworn.</p> - -<p>Spence told his story in great detail. In answer -to the sergeant’s questions he explained that he -drove a breadcart belonging to Messrs. Hinkston -of Thirsby, and that for over twelve years he had, -three times a week, delivered bread at Starvel. He -remembered the day before yesterday. On that day, -about eleven in the morning when he was -approaching Starvel to deliver bread, he had observed a cloud -of smoke in the sky. On crossing the lip of the -Hollow he happened to look down at the house. -He was amazed to notice that the roof, which -formerly showed up above the surrounding trees, had -totally disappeared. He drove on quickly to the -place, and then he saw that the house had been -burnt down. Only the walls were standing. There -was no one about. He hurried into Thirsby, and -reported the matter to Sergeant Kent.</p> - -<p>Simple as these facts were, their recital was a -lengthy business. After each question a pause -ensued while the coroner wrote a précis of the man’s -reply. Finally Dr. Lonsdale, after vainly inviting -the jury to ask the witness any questions, read over -what he had written. Peter Spence, having agreed -that it was a correct transcript of his evidence, was -asked to sign the document, and then allowed to step -down.</p> - -<p>The next witness was a lugubrious looking man in -gray tweeds. He deposed that his name was Abel -Hesketh, and that he was Town Officer of Thirsby. -He also acted as chief of the fire brigade. On the -Thursday in question he received a telephone -message from Sergeant Kent, informing him that Starvel -had been burnt down. He inquired if he should get -the brigade out, but the sergeant answered that it -would be of no use, the damage being already done. -Sergeant Kent asked him to go with him to see the -place. He did so, and he would describe what he -saw. The entire buildings at Starvel were gutted -except a detached outhouse at the opposite side of -the yard. He had never seen such complete -destruction. Nothing that could be burnt was left. -Between the walls the débris was still a red-hot -glowing mass. In answer to the coroner, he thought -it quite impossible to say either where or how the -fire had originated. There was no wind that night -and the outbreak, once started, would creep through -the entire building.</p> - -<p>Hesketh went on to say that the very heavy rain -which fell on the following night had cooled down -the red-hot interior, enabling his men to search the -ruins. They had come on the charred remains of -three human beings. Yes, he could say just where -the remains were found. The house was in the -shape of the inverted letter “┓” with the shorter -wing pointing to the west and the longer to the -south. At the extremity of the shorter wing—in the -north-western corner—were two bodies. The third -body was about ten feet from the end of the -southern wing. All the bodies were unrecognisable, but -he assumed they were those of the three inmates -of the house.</p> - -<p>After the bodies had been removed he continued -his investigations, but he found nothing of interest -except a safe, which was in the southern wing, not -far from the single body. It was locked, and he -had set it up on a pile of débris so that the expert -that he understood Sergeant Kent was getting to -open it should be able more conveniently to carry -out the work.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Kent corroborated the evidence of the -last two witnesses in so far as their testimony -concerned himself, and added that an expert from -Hellifield had that morning opened the safe. In it he -had found £1952 in sovereigns and a mass of burnt -papers.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me an extraordinary thing,” the -coroner remarked when he had noted these details, -“that a fire of such magnitude could take place -without being seen. I quite understand that the Hollow -is deep enough to hide the actual flames, but there -must have been a tremendous glare reflected from -the sky which would have been visible for miles -round. How do you account for that, sergeant, or -can you account for it?”</p> - -<p>“As a matter of fact, sir, it was noticed by at -least three people, and I have one of them here in -case you would like to call him. But I agree with -you, sir, that it is very strange that it was not more -generally observed. All I can suggest is that it was -a clear night with a quarter moon, and there -wouldn’t, therefore, be such a glare as if it had -been quite dark or if there had been clouds to -reflect the glow. Then, as you know, sir, this is a -quiet district, and it would be only by chance that -any one would be awake or looking out at the time.”</p> - -<p>“Who were the three who saw it?”</p> - -<p>“First, sir, there was James Stokes, a tramp. He -was sleeping in one of Mr. Herbert Reid’s outhouses -at Low Tolworth, about a mile and a half to the -west across the moor. He said nothing about it at -the time because he thought it wasn’t his business -and he didn’t want his whereabouts inquired into. -But he mentioned it in Thirsby in the morning and it -came to my ears, though not before the baker had -reported. I have Stokes here, if you wish to call -him. Then, sir, it was seen by Mrs. Eliza Steele, a -labourer’s wife living just outside the town on the -Hellifield Road. Her husband was ill and she was -sitting up attending to him. She did nothing about -it because she was busy with her husband and the -glare looked far away. She said she thought those -nearer it would do all that was possible. The third -party, or rather parties, were the two Miss Lockes, -elderly ladies who live alone about a mile on the -road to Cold Pickerby. Miss Julia saw the glare -and awoke her sister Miss Elmina, but they thought -the same as Mrs. Steele, that they were not called on -to do anything, as they would only get to the town -to find that everyone knew about it and that the -brigade had gone out.”</p> - -<p>“I can understand that attitude,” the coroner -admitted. “It is a pity, however, that no one noticed -it in time to give a warning, though indeed it is -doubtful whether a warning would have been of any -use. I will hear the man Stokes.”</p> - -<p>But the tramp had little to say, and nothing which -threw any light on the subject of the inquiry. He -had seen a glow through the door of the outhouse -and had looked out. From the direction of Starvel -great masses of smoke were belching up, with a -bright flickering glare and occasional jets of fire. -The night was calm and even at the distance of a -mile and a half he could hear the roaring and -crackling of the flames. That was about four in the -morning.</p> - -<p>Ruth’s feelings were harrowed by these recitals, -which seemed to bring home the tragedy to her in all -its grim starkness. But she had not time to dwell -on the terrible pictures, as after the tramp had -signed his deposition and stepped down from the -box, her own name was called.</p> - -<p>With her heart beating rapidly she left her seat -and entered the little pulpit-like enclosure. There -she stood while the sergeant repeated a phrase about -truth, and then, having given her name, she was -told to sit down. The coroner bent towards her.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry, Miss Averill,” he said kindly, “to -have to ask you to attend and give evidence in this -tragic inquiry, but I promise you I shall not keep -you longer than I can help. Now, sergeant.”</p> - -<p>In spite of this reassuring beginning, Ruth soon -began to think Sergeant Kent’s questions would -never cease.</p> - -<p>Half the things he asked seemed to have no -connection whatever with the tragedy. She stated that -she was the late Simon Averill’s niece, the daughter -of his brother Theodore, that she was aged twenty, -and that she had come to Starvel when she was four. -She told of her schooldays in Leeds, saying that it -was now over a year since she had returned to -Starvel and that she had lived there ever since.</p> - -<p>Her uncle had recently been in very poor health. -She thought his heart was affected. At all events, -to save climbing the stairs he had had a room on the -first floor fitted up as a bed-sitting room. For the -last year he had not been downstairs and some days -he did not get up. Recently he had been -particularly feeble, and she told of his condition when she -saw him two mornings before the tragedy. Then -she described her visit to York, mentioning Mrs. -Palmer-Gore’s invitation and the episode of the ten -pounds.</p> - -<p>There seemed no end to Sergeant Kent’s -inquisition. He switched over next to the subject of the -house and elicited the facts that her uncle’s and the -Ropers’ beds were situated in the extremities of the -southern and western wings respectively.</p> - -<p>“You heard the last witness describe where the -bodies were found,” he went on. “Would I be -correct in saying that if Mr. Averill and the Ropers -had been in bed when the fire took place their bodies -would have been found in just those positions?”</p> - -<p>Ruth assented, and then the sergeant asked how -the house was lighted. There was oil, Ruth told -him, oil for the lamps other than Mr. Averill’s -and for the cooker which was used sometimes -instead of the range. There was also petrol. Her -uncle’s sight was bad and he used a petrol lamp. -The oil and petrol were kept in a cellar. This -cellar was under the main building, and if a fire were -to start there, in her opinion the whole house would -become involved. The lamps were attended to by -Roper, who had always been most careful in -handling them.</p> - -<p>“Now, Miss Averill,” the sergeant became more -impressive than ever, “I think you said that during -the last fourteen months, when you were living at -Starvel, Roper and his wife were in charge of the -house?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, they were there when I came back from -school.”</p> - -<p>“Now, tell me, during all that time have you -ever known either of them the worse for drink?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no,” Ruth answered, surprised at the -question. “No, never.”</p> - -<p>“You have never even noticed the smell of drink -from either of them?” the sergeant persisted.</p> - -<p>“No.” Ruth hesitated. “At least—that is—”</p> - -<p>“Yes?” went on the sergeant encouragingly.</p> - -<p>“Once or twice Roper has smelt of whisky, but -he was never the least bit the worse of it.”</p> - -<p>“But you have smelt it. Was that recently?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but Roper explained about it. He said he -felt a cold coming on and had taken some whisky -in the hope of getting rid of it.”</p> - -<p>“Quite so. And how long ago was that?”</p> - -<p>“A couple of times within the last fortnight, -perhaps once or twice before that.” But to Ruth her -answer did not seem quite fair, and she added: “But -he was as sober as you and I are. I never saw him -the least bit drunk.”</p> - -<p>“I follow you,” the sergeant answered, and began -to ask questions about Mrs. Roper. Here Ruth -could truthfully say that she had never even smelled -drink, and she insisted on giving each of the -deceased an excellent character.</p> - -<p>The sergeant next attempted to draw from her an -opinion as to how the fire might have originated. -Did Mr. Averill read late in bed? Might he have -knocked over his petrol lamp? Could he have fallen -in the fire? Did he take a nightcap of whisky? -And so forth. But Ruth had no ideas on the -subject. Any accident might have happened, of course, -but she didn’t think any that he had suggested were -likely. As to her uncle taking drink, he was a strict -teetotaller.</p> - -<p>This ended Ruth’s examination. None of the -jurors wished to ask her any questions, and after -her evidence had been read over to her and she had -signed it, she was allowed to return to her seat with -the Oxleys.</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson was the next witness. He deposed -that he had examined the remains disinterred from -the débris. It was, of course, quite impossible to -identify them, but so far as he could form an -opinion of the body found in the southern wing it was -that of an elderly, tall, slightly built man and the -others were those of a man and a woman of medium -height and middle age. These would correspond -to Mr. Averill and the Ropers respectively, and so -far as he was concerned he had no doubt whatever -that the bodies in question were theirs.</p> - -<p>Questioned as to the conditions obtaining at -Starvel before the fire, Dr. Emerson said that for the -last four years he had not attended Mr. Averill. -At his advancing age he found it too much to visit -outlying patients, and Dr. Philpot had taken over -almost all of them.</p> - -<p>“Is Dr. Philpot here?” the coroner asked.</p> - -<p>“Dr. Philpot is suffering from influenza at -present,” Dr. Emerson returned, though it was to -Sergeant Kent that the question had been addressed. -“I saw him this morning. He wished to attend, but -I persuaded him not to run the risk. It would have -been most unwise. He had a temperature of over -101.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry to hear he is laid up. But I don’t -suppose he could have helped us. I should have -liked to ask him about Mr. Averill’s condition and -so forth, but it doesn’t really matter.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Dr. Emerson returned, “I can tell you -a little about that, if I should be in order in -mentioning it. I attended him for some eight years, -during the last two of which he aged very -considerably, growing slowly and steadily weaker. Without -going into details I may say that he had an incurable -complaint which must eventually have killed him. -Four years ago he was already feeble, and since -then he can only have become gradually worse.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Dr. Emerson, that was what I -wanted to know. Would you say that his condition -rendered him liable to sudden weakness during -which he might have dropped his lamp or had some -similar accident?”</p> - -<p>“I should say so decidedly.”</p> - -<p>A Miss Judith Carr was next called. She proved -to be a rather loudly-dressed young woman whom -Ruth had not seen before. She was pretty in a -coarse way, and entered the witness-box and took -her seat with evident self-confidence.</p> - -<p>Her name, she admitted heartily, was Judith -Carr, and she was barmaid at the Thirsdale Arms, -the largest hotel in Thirsby. She knew Mr. Roper, -the attendant at Starvel. He occasionally called for -a drink, usually taking one or at most two small -whiskies. She remembered the evening of the fire. -That evening about seven o’clock Mr. Roper had -come into the bar. He seemed to have had some -drink, but was not drunk. He asked for a small -Scotch, and believing he was sober enough she had -given it to him. He had taken it quickly and gone -out.</p> - -<p>The last witness was a young man with bright red -hair who answered to the name of George -Mellowes. He was, he said, a farmer living at -Ivybridge, a hamlet lying some miles beyond Starvel. -On the day before the tragedy he had been over in -Thirsby on business, and he had left the town in his -gig shortly after seven to drive home. He had not -passed beyond the lights of the town when he had -overtaken Mr. Roper, whom he knew. Roper was -staggering, and it was not difficult to see that he -was drunk. The deceased was by no means -incapable, but he had undoubtedly taken too much. -Mellowes had stopped and offered him a lift, and Roper -had thanked him and with some difficulty had -climbed into the gig. He had talked in a maudlin -way during the drive. Mellowes had gone a little -out of his way and had set the other down at the -gate of Starvel. Roper had opened the gate -without difficulty, and had set off towards the house, -walking fairly straight. Mellowes had then driven -home. That was close on to eight, and there was no -sign of a fire.</p> - -<p>When Mellowes had signed his deposition and -returned to his seat, the coroner made a little speech -to the jury. He said that every one must feel -appalled at the terrible tragedy which had happened -so near to them all. The police had been unable -to find relatives of any of the deceased other than -Miss Averill, who had given evidence that day, -and he took that opportunity of conveying to her -their respectful sympathy in her loss. He would -remind the jury that their duty on this occasion was -threefold: first, to state the identity of the -deceased if they were reasonably convinced by the -evidence on this point; second, to find the cause of -death in each case, and third, to state whether, in -their opinion, blame attached to any person or -persons, and if so, to whom. He did not think their -task would be difficult. On neither of the first two -points was there any doubt. He had only one -observation to make with regard to the third point—the -fixing of responsibility for the catastrophe. It -had been shown that the manservant, John Roper, -had been to some extent under the influence of -drink on the evening in question. The suggestion, -of course, was that some careless act of Roper’s -might have caused the fire. Now, while he approved -the action of the police in bringing out this -matter—they could not have done anything else—he must -point out to the jury that there was no evidence -that Mr. Roper’s condition had had anything to do -with the fire. If anything, the evidence tended in -the opposite direction. The position of the remains -suggested that the three unfortunate people had -been burnt in their beds, and if this was so it seemed -to involve the presumption that they had been -suffocated by the smoke while asleep. If the jury -accepted this view they would see that it ruled out the -possibility of any accident with lamps, or by falling -in the fire or by igniting petrol or paraffin oil. The -argument was, of course, not conclusive, but he -thought it tended as he had said. In any case he -should be sorry that a slur should be cast on the -memory of Mr. Roper, to whose zeal and efficiency -different witnesses had testified, unless that slur were -really deserved. It was, of course, for the jury to -decide, but he suggested that they might find that -Simon Ralph Averill, John Roper and Flora Roper -had lost their lives in a fire at Starvel on the night -of the fifteenth of September, the cause of which -there was no evidence to show.</p> - -<p>Without leaving the box the jury found as the -coroner directed, the verdict was entered on the -records and signed, and the inquest was over.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch03"> - -<h2>CHAPTER THREE: Mr. Tarkington Develops a Theory</h2> - -<p>As Ruth emerged from the comparative gloom of -the courthouse into the bright September sunshine -her spirits seemed to rise. A reaction had set in -from the strain of the inquiry, with its continuous -suggestion of the hideous details of the tragedy. -Now with the ending of the inquest, it seemed to her -that the terrible affair was all but over. The final -episode, the funerals, would not be anything like -so harrowing. Not since the first hint of disaster -had come in the shape of Mr. Oxley’s telegram -to York had she felt so lighthearted and in love -with life. She seemed to have awakened from an -evil dream.</p> - -<p>It was therefore no indication of heartlessness that -she should glance eagerly around as she and her -friends advanced from the shadow of the old -building into the little square. She was young and the -claims of the living were more to her than those of -the dead. And who will reproach her for the thrill -of pleasurable excitement which she experienced as -the sight she was hoping for met her eyes? There -was Pierce Whymper evidently waiting for a chance -of speaking to her. With a smile she invited him -over, and he came and joined her. At the same -moment Mr. Tarkington, the thin hawk-like bank -manager, whom she had seen in the courthouse, -approached and spoke to Mr. Oxley.</p> - -<p>“Will you go on?” the latter said to his wife. -“I want to go round to the bank with Mr. -Tarkington. I’ll follow in a few minutes.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Oxley, Ruth and Whymper moved off in one -direction while Mr. Oxley and Mr. Tarkington -disappeared in the other. For a time the trio chatted -with animation, then Ruth grew gradually more -silent, leaving the burden of the conversation to the -others. She was in fact puzzled and a little hurt by -a subtle change which she felt rather than noticed in -Whymper’s manner. He seemed somehow different -from the last time she had seen him—that time in -another existence when she had left Thirsby for her -visit to York. Then he had been obviously eager -for her company, anxious to talk to her, even before -Mrs. Oxley making no secret of his admiration and -regard. But now, though he was just as polite as -ever, his manner was less spontaneous, indeed at -times she thought it almost embarrassed. It occurred -to her that possibly the change might be in herself, -and even when their ways parted at the turn to the -church she had not completely made up her mind. But -whatever the cause, a certain disappointment -remained, and when she went up to change for dinner -she had lost a good deal of the lightheartedness -she had felt on emerging from the courthouse.</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley, when he arrived shortly after, also -showed a change of manner. He was a kindly, jovial -man, fond of a joke and the sound of his own voice, -but during dinner he was strangely silent and wore -an expression of concern and disappointment. But -he did not offer any explanation until the meal was -over, and then he followed the ladies into the -drawing-room and unburdened his mind.</p> - -<p>“I am awfully sorry, Miss Ruth,” he began -hesitatingly, “but I am afraid I have brought you some -more bad news. It’s about money,” he added -hurriedly as the girl turned a piteous glance towards -him. “I’ll tell you exactly what has happened. You -know, or perhaps you don’t, that in spite of the way -he lived, your uncle was a rich man. As his solicitor -I have known that for many a year, but I had no -idea of just how much he had. Tarkington knows I -was his solicitor and he was talking about it just now. -He tells me that Mr. Averill must have been worth -between thirty and forty thousand pounds when he -died. Of course one would naturally suppose that -the money was in securities of some kind, but here is -my terrible news. Tarkington assures me that it was -not, that practically the whole sum was in Mr. -Averill’s safe.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Arthur!” Mrs. Oxley burst out. “You can’t -mean that it’s gone.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid I do,” her husband answered. “It’s -awful to think about, but there were only some five -hundred pounds in the bank. The rest was in Mr. -Averill’s safe in notes and gold. The nineteen -hundred odd pounds in gold are there all right, but the -whole of the paper money has been destroyed.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, how perfectly dreadful! But surely it can -be replaced? Surely something can be done by the -bank?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Nothing, I’m afraid. I talked it over with -Tarkington. The money is a total loss.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Oxley took Ruth into her arms.</p> - -<p>“You poor child,” she commiserated. “I just -can’t tell you how sorry I am.”</p> - -<p>But Ruth took the news coolly.</p> - -<p>“Dear Mrs. Oxley,” she answered. “How kind -you are! But indeed I look upon this as a -comparatively little thing. I shall have far, far more -than I ever expected. I want to get some work, and -I shall have plenty to support me while I am training -and perhaps even a little after that. I am more -than content.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Oxley kissed her and commended her spirit, -though she felt the girl’s attitude was due more to -her unworldliness and ignorance of life than to -courage under disappointment. She wished to change -the subject, but Ruth asked to have her position -made clear to her and begged the others’ advice as -to her future. The Oxleys, delighted by her -common sense, willingly agreed to discuss the situation, -and after a long talk a proposal of Mr. Oxley’s was -provisionally agreed to.</p> - -<p>It appeared that, assuming the old man’s money -had really been lost, Ruth’s capital would amount to -about £2400. Of this Mr. Oxley was to invest all -but £100, so as to bring Ruth about £130 per annum. -The remaining £100 was to be spent in taking a -secretarial course at one of the London training -colleges. With the backing of the £130 a year and -what she could earn for herself she ought, Mr. -Oxley believed, to be quite comfortably off. “But -you must,” Mr. Oxley went on, “stay here for as -long as you like, until you have rested and got over -the shock of this terrible affair.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Oxley warmly seconded this invitation, and -Ruth thankfully accepted it. It was true that she -was anxious to start work as soon as possible, and -life in London and the undergoing of the course of -training appeared to her as a glorious and thrilling -adventure. But even more anxious still was she to -meet Pierce Whymper and find out if there really -was a change in his feelings towards her. At the -time she had imagined that there was, but now she -thought that perhaps she had been mistaken and that -after the inquest he had simply been suffering from -a headache or some other trifling indisposition. -That he loved her she had not the slightest doubt, -and she could not bring herself to go away until -she was sure that no stupid, unnecessary -misunderstanding should have been allowed to come -between them.</p> - -<p>Two days later she met him in the main street of -the little town. She stopped to chat and he turned -about and walked with her, and presently they had -tea at the local confectioner’s. But the interview -left her more puzzled than ever. Her belief that -Whymper loved her was confirmed beyond any doubt -by his manner, by the way he looked at her, by the -tones of his voice. But it was evident to her that -something was weighing on his mind which -prevented him making the proposal which, if the truth -must be admitted, she had been expecting. He gave -her the impression that he would speak if he could, -but that he was being held back by matters outside -his own control. And the same state of mind was -evident at their subsequent encounters, until Ruth’s -pride asserted itself and she grew colder and more -distant and their intimacy bade fair to come -gradually to an end.</p> - -<p>She would have made a move for the metropolis -to begin her course of training had not Mrs. Oxley, -from what was probably a quite mistaken sense of -kindliness, suggested that a rest would be good for -her after the shocks she had experienced. On the -excuse of desiring the girl’s assistance in the -remodelling of her garden, which, owing to the difficulty of -obtaining labour, she was doing with her own hands, -the good lady invited her to stay on for a few weeks. -Ruth did not like to refuse, and she settled down -with the intention of remaining at Thirsby for at -least another month.</p> - -<p>During the month the little town also settled -down again after its excitements and alarms, and -events once more began to pursue the even tenor of -their ways. The Starvel Hollow Tragedy ceased to -be a nine days’ wonder and was gradually banished -from the minds of the townspeople, until an event -happened which was to bring up the whole matter -again, and that in a peculiarly sensational and tragic -manner.</p> - -<p>One morning in mid-October, some five weeks -after the fire, Mr. Tarkington called to see his -friend Oxley. The bank manager’s thin face wore a -serious and mystified expression, which at once -informed Mr. Oxley that something out of the -ordinary had occurred to disturb the other’s usual placid -calm.</p> - -<p>“Good morning, Oxley,” said Mr. Tarkington in -his thin, measured tones. “Are you busy? I should -like a word with you.”</p> - -<p>“Come along in, Tarkington,” the solicitor -rejoined heartily. “I’m not doing anything that can’t -wait. Sit you down, and have a spot.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks, no, I’ll not drink, but I’ll take one of -these cigarettes if I may.” He drew the client’s big -leather covered chair nearer to Mr. Oxley and went -on: “A really extraordinary thing has just happened, -Oxley, and I thought I’d like to consult you about -it before taking any action—if I do take action.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley took a cigarette from the box from -which the other had helped himself.</p> - -<p>“What’s up?” he asked, as he struck a match.</p> - -<p>“It’s about that terrible Starvel affair, the fire, -you know. I begin to doubt if the matter is really -over, after all.”</p> - -<p>“Not over? What on earth do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you, and it is really a most disturbing -thought. But before you can appreciate my news I -must explain to you how Averill carried on his bank -business. The poor fellow was a miser, as you know, -a miser of the most primitive kind. He loved money -for itself—just to handle and to look at and to -count. His safe was just packed full of money, -but of course you know all this, and that it was -through this dreadful weakness of his that poor -girl lost what should have come to her.”</p> - -<p>“I know,” Mr. Oxley admitted.</p> - -<p>“Averill’s income passed through the bank, and -that’s how I come to be aware of the figures. He -had between sixteen and seventeen hundred a year -and it came from three sources. First he had a -pension; he had held a good job with some company -in London. That amounted to about three hundred -pounds. Next he had an annuity which brought him -in £150. But the major portion came from land—land -on the outskirts of Leeds which had been built -over and which had become a very valuable -property. In this he had only a life interest—not that -that affects my story, though it explains why that -poor girl didn’t get it.”</p> - -<p>“I know about that property,” Mr. Oxley -interjected. “I’ve had a deal to do with it one way and -another. The old man got it through his wife and -it went back to her family at his death.”</p> - -<p>“I imagined it must be something of the kind. -Well, to continue. Averill’s income, as I said, was -passed through the bank. He received it all in -cheques or drafts and these he would endorse and -send to me for payment. He had a current account, -and my instructions were that when any cheque came -I was to pay in to this account until it stood at -something between £40 and £60—whatever would leave -an even £20 over—and I was to send the surplus -cash in £20 notes out to Starvel. Averill evidently -looked upon this as a sort of revenue account and -paid all his current expenses out of it. It never of -course rose above the £60 and seldom fell below -£20. To carry on my simile, any monies that were -over after raising the current account to £60 he -considered capital, and they went out to swell the -hoard in the safe at Starvel. In addition he kept -a sum of £500 on deposit receipt. I don’t know -exactly why he did so, but I presume it was as a sort -of nestegg in the event of his safe being burgled. -You follow me?”</p> - -<p>“I follow you all right, but, by Jove! it was a -queer arrangement.”</p> - -<p>“Everything the poor old man did was queer, -but, as you know, he was——” Mr. Tarkington -shook his head significantly. “However, to go on -with my story. These monies that were to be sent -out to Starvel I used to keep until they reached at -least a hundred, and then I used to send a clerk -out with the cash. The mission usually fell to -Bloxham—you know Bloxham, of course? Averill -liked him and asked me to send him when I could. -Bloxham has seen into the safe on two or three -occasions, and it is from him I know that it was -packed with notes as well as the gold.”</p> - -<p>“I never can get over all that money being burnt,” -Mr. Oxley interjected. “It makes me sick to think -of even now. Such stupid, needless, wicked waste!” -Mr. Tarkington took no notice of this outburst.</p> - -<p>“It happened that about a week before the -tragedy,” he went on in his precise manner, “a cheque -for £346 came in from the Leeds property. The -current account was then standing at £27, so I paid -£26 into it, raising it to £53, and sent Bloxham with -the balance, £320, out to Starvel. The money was -in sixteen twenties, the numbers of which were kept. -As I said, it was one of the old man’s peculiarities -that he liked his money in £20 notes. I suppose it -made it easier to hoard and count. Bloxham saw -Averill lock these notes away in his safe and brought -me the old man’s receipt.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington paused to draw at his cigarette, -then continued:—</p> - -<p>“In my report about the affair to our -headquarters in Throgmorton Avenue, I mentioned -among other things that these notes, giving the -numbers, had been destroyed in the fire. Well, -Oxley, what do you think has happened? I heard -from headquarters to-day and they tell me that -one of those notes has just been paid in!”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley looked slightly bewildered.</p> - -<p>“Well, what of it?” he demanded. “I don’t -follow. You reported that these notes had been -destroyed in the fire. But wasn’t that only a guess? -How did you actually know?”</p> - -<p>“It was a guess, of course, and I didn’t actually -know,” Mr. Tarkington agreed. “But I think it was -a justifiable guess. I am acquainted with Averill’s -habits; he made no secret of them. Monies he paid -out he paid by cheque on the current account—everything -that one can think of went through it, even -the Ropers’ salaries. The cash sent out to Starvel -went into the hoard.”</p> - -<p>“All of it didn’t.”</p> - -<p>“Why, what do you mean?”</p> - -<p>“The ten pounds to Ruth Averill didn’t.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington seemed slightly taken aback.</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s true,” he admitted slowly. “I -forgot about the ten pounds. I——”</p> - -<p>“And there’s another twenty that didn’t,” Mr. -Oxley continued, “and that’s the twenty that turned -up in London. I don’t get your idea, Tarkington. -Just what is in your mind?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington moved uneasily in the big -arm-chair.</p> - -<p>“It seems far-fetched, I know, and I hardly like -putting it into words, but are you satisfied in your -own mind that business was all just as it appeared to -be?”</p> - -<p>“What? The fire? How do you mean ‘as it -appeared to be’?”</p> - -<p>“That it really was the accident we thought it.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley whistled.</p> - -<p>“Oh, come now, Tarkington, that’s going a bit -far, isn’t it? Do you mean arson? What possible -grounds could you have for suggesting such a -thing?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t exactly suggest it; I came to ask your -opinion about it. But what passed through my -mind was this: There have been several burglaries -lately—skilful burglaries, and, as you know, the -police have been completely at fault. Averill was -universally believed to be wealthy—the legend of -the safe was common property. Is it impossible -that some of these burglars might have decided to -make an attempt on Starvel? Remember the -situation was one of the loneliest in England. Assume -that they got in and that something unexpected -happened—that they were surprised by Roper, for -example. In the resulting disturbance Roper might -easily have been killed—possibly quite accidentally. -The intruders would then be fighting for their lives -as well as their fortunes. And in what better way -could they do it than to murder the other members -of the household, lay them on their beds and burn -the house down?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley did not reply. The idea was -chimerical, fantastic, absurd, and yet—it was certainly -possible. There <em>had</em> been a number of daring burglaries -within the last few months, which were generally -believed to be the work of one gang, and in no single -instance had the police been able to effect an arrest. -The belief in the old miser’s hoard <em>was</em> universal, -and from the point of view of the thief, Starvel -would be one of the easiest cribs to crack. -Moreover, on second thought Tarkington’s suggestion as -to the origin of the fire was not so fanciful, after all. -The safe containing the money was in Averill’s -bedroom, and the old man would have to be quieted in -some way before it could be opened. Roper’s -attention might easily have been attracted, and the -burglars, either by accident or in self-defence, might -have killed him. If so, the fire would be their -obvious way of safety. Yes, the thing was possible. -All the same there wasn’t a shred of evidence that -it had happened.</p> - -<p>“But my dear fellow,” Oxley said at last, “that’s -all my eye! Very ingenious and all that, but you -haven’t a scrap of evidence for it. Why invent a -complicated, far-fetched explanation when you have -a simple one ready to hand? Sounds as if you had -been reading too many detective stories lately.”</p> - -<p>Tarkington did not smile with his friend.</p> - -<p>“You think it nonsense?” he asked earnestly. -“You think I needn’t tell the police about the note?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think you have any evidence: not -evidence to justify even a suspicion. You’ve no real -reason to suppose Averill did not hand that -twenty-pound note to some one from whom it passed to -the man who paid it in.”</p> - -<p>“To whom, for example?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. Neither of us knows what -visitors the old man might have had. But that doesn’t -prove he had none.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington seemed far from satisfied. He -threw away his cigarette and took another from the -box, handling it delicately in his long, thin fingers. -He moved nervously in his chair and then said in a -low voice:—</p> - -<p>“I suppose then, Oxley, I may take it that you -were quite satisfied about that business—I mean at -the time?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley looked at his friend in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Good gracious, Tarkington, what bee have you -in your bonnet? Do you mean satisfied that the fire -was an accident and that those three poor people -were burned? Of course I was. It never occurred -to me to doubt it.”</p> - -<p>The other seemed slightly relieved.</p> - -<p>“I hope sincerely that you’re right,” he answered. -“But I may tell you that I wasn’t satisfied—neither -at the time nor yet since. That’s the reason that -when I heard about the note I came at once to -consult you. There’s a point which you and the coroner -and the police and every one concerned seem to have -overlooked.” He dropped his voice still further and -became very impressive. “What about the papers -that were burnt in the safe?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley was surprised at his friend’s -persistence.</p> - -<p>“Well, what in Heaven’s name about them? For -the life of me I don’t see what you’re driving at.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you ever been in Averill’s bedroom?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. What of it?”</p> - -<p>“Did you notice the safe?”</p> - -<p>“Not particularly.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ve both been there and noticed it.” He -bent forward, and his thin face seemed more hawk-like -than ever as he said impressively: “Oxley, that -safe was fireproof!”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley started.</p> - -<p>“Good Heavens, Tarkington! Are you sure of -that?” he queried sharply.</p> - -<p>“Not absolutely,” the other replied. “It was -certainly my strong opinion and if I had been asked -before the fire I should have had no doubt. When I -heard the evidence at the inquest I concluded I had -made a mistake. But now this affair of the -twenty-pound note has reawakened all my suspicions.” He -paused, but as Oxley did not reply, continued: -“Perhaps I’ve got a bee in my bonnet as you said, but -I’m now wondering if Roper’s drunkenness doesn’t -support the theory? Could he not have been -enticed into Thirsby by some member of the gang and -treated so as to make him sleep well and not hear -what was going on? Remember, he was an -absolutely temperate man.”</p> - -<p>“Not absolutely. Ruth had smelt drink on other -occasions.”</p> - -<p>“You are right. Perhaps that is a trifle -far-fetched. But what do you think on the main point, -Oxley? Ought I to tell the police of my suspicions?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley rose and began to pace the room. -Then he went to the window and stood for some -moments looking out. Finally he returned to his -chair, and sat down again.</p> - -<p>“I declare, Tarkington, I think you ought,” he -said slowly. “When you first made your—I might -perhaps say—your amazing suggestion I confess -I thought it merely grotesque. But if you are right -about the safe it certainly puts a different -complexion on the whole business. I take it it’s not too late -to ascertain? The safe is not too much damaged -to trace the maker and find out from him?”</p> - -<p>“I should think the police could find the maker -quite easily.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I think you should tell them. If you are -wrong no harm is done. If not, there are murderers -to be brought to justice and perhaps a fortune to be -recovered for Ruth.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington rose.</p> - -<p>“I agree with you, Oxley. I’ll go down to the -police station and tell Kent now.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley waved him back into his seat.</p> - -<p>“Steady a moment,” he said. “Don’t be in such -a hurry.” He drew slowly at his cigarette while -the other sat down and waited expectantly.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me,” went on Mr. Oxley, “that if -your suspicions are correct the thing should be kept -absolutely quiet. Nothing should be said or done -to put the criminals on their guard. Now Kent, you -know as well as I do, is just a bungling ass. My -suggestion is that we both take the afternoon off -and go see Valentine. I know him pretty well and -we could ring him up and make an appointment.”</p> - -<p>“Valentine, the Chief Constable of the County?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. He’s as cute as they’re made and he’ll do -the right thing.”</p> - -<p>“Kent will never forgive us if we pass him over -like that.”</p> - -<p>“Kent be hanged,” Mr. Oxley rejoined. “Can -you come in by the three-thirty?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’ll manage it.”</p> - -<p>“Right. Then I shall ring up Valentine.”</p> - -<p>Five hours later the two friends found their way -into the strangers’ room of the Junior Services Club -in Leeds. There in a few moments Chief Constable -Valentine joined them, and soon they were settled -in a private room with whiskies and sodas at their -elbows and three of the excellent cigars the Chief -Constable favoured between their lips.</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington propounded his theory in detail, -explaining that he was not sure enough of his facts -even to put forward a definite suspicion, but that he -and his friend Oxley agreed that Major Valentine -ought to know what was in his mind. The major -could then, if he thought fit, investigate the affair.</p> - -<p>That the Chief Constable was impressed by the -statement was obvious. He listened with the -keenest interest, interjecting only an occasional “By -Jove!” as Mr. Tarkington made his points. Then -he thanked the two men for their information, and -promised to institute inquiries into the whole matter -without delay.</p> - -<p>Two days later Mr. Tarkington received a letter -from Major Valentine saying that he thought it only -fair to inform him in the strictest confidence that -his belief that the safe was fireproof was well -founded, that he, the Chief Constable, strongly -suspected that more had taken place at Starvel on that -tragic night than had come out in the inquest, and -that as he considered the matter was rather outside -the local men’s capacity he had applied to Scotland -Yard for help in the investigation.</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington, honouring the spirit rather than -the letter of the Chief Constable’s communication, -showed the note to Mr. Oxley, and the two men -sat over the former’s study fire until late that night, -discussing possible developments in the situation.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch04"> - -<h2>CHAPTER FOUR: Inspector French Goes North</h2> - -<p>The stone which Messrs. Tarkington and Oxley -had thrown into the turbid waters of the British -Police Administration produced ripples which, like -other similar wave forms, spread slowly away from -their point of disturbance. One of these ripples, -penetrating into the grim fastness of the Criminal -Investigation Department of New Scotland Yard, -had the effect of ringing the bell of a telephone on -the desk of Detective Inspector Joseph French and -of causing that zealous and efficient officer, when -he had duly applied his ear to the instrument, to -leave his seat and proceed without loss of time to the -room of his immediate superior.</p> - -<p>“Ah, French,” Chief Inspector Mitchell remarked -on his entry. “You should be about through with -that Kensington case, I fancy?”</p> - -<p>“Just finished with it, sir,” French answered. “I -was putting the last of the papers in order when you -rang.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you’ve had a lot of trouble with it and I -should have liked to have given you a breather. But -I’m afraid I can’t.”</p> - -<p>“Something come in, sir?”</p> - -<p>“A Yorkshire case. A place called Thirsby, up on -the moors not far, I understand, from Hellifield. -We’ve just had a request for a man and I can’t spare -any one else at present. So it’s you for it.”</p> - -<p>“What is the case, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Suspected murder, robbery and arson. The -people there appear to know very little about it and -the whole thing may turn out a mare’s nest. But -they’re darned mysterious about it—say they don’t -want it to be known that inquiries are being made -and suggest our man might go to the Thirsdale -Arms, the local hotel, in the guise of an angler or an -artist. So, if you’re a fisherman, French, now’s your -chance. You’re to call down at the police station -after dark, when Sergeant Kent, who’s in charge, -will give you the particulars.”</p> - -<p>It was with mixed feelings that Inspector French -received his instructions. He delighted in travelling -and seeing new country, and the Yorkshire moors -comprised a district which he had often heard spoken -of enthusiastically, but had never visited. He was -by no means averse, moreover, to getting away from -town for a few days. It would be a welcome break -in the monotony of the long winter. But on the -other hand he loathed working away from -headquarters, bereft of his trained staff and of the -immediate backing of the huge machine of which he -was a cog. Local men, he conceded, were “right -enough,” but they hadn’t the knowledge, the -experience, the technique to be really helpful. And -then the “Yard” man in the country was usually -up against jealousies and a more or less veiled -obstruction, and to the worries of his case he had -to add the effort always to be tactful and to carry -his professed helpers with him.</p> - -<p>However, none of these considerations affected -his course of action. He had his orders and he -must carry them out. He completed the filing of -the papers in the Kensington murder case, handed -over one or two other matters to his immediate -subordinate, and taking the large despatch case of -apparatus without which he never travelled, went -home to inform his wife of his change of plans -and pack a suitcase with his modest personal -requirements. Then he drove to St. Pancras and -caught the 12.15 restaurant car express to the north.</p> - -<p>He was neither an artist nor an angler, and in -any case he considered the month of November was -scarcely a propitious time for worthies of either -type to be abroad. Therefore beyond dressing in -a more countrified style than he would have affected -in town, he attempted no disguise.</p> - -<p>He changed at Hellifield and took the branch -line which wound up in a north-easterly direction -into the bleak hills and moors of western Yorkshire. -Six o’clock had just struck when he reached the -diminutive terminus of Thirsby.</p> - -<p>A porter bearing the legend “Thirsdale Arms” -on his cap was at the station, and having surrendered -his baggage, French followed the man on foot down -the main street of the little town to a low, straggling, -old-fashioned building with half-timbered gables and -a real old swinging sign. Here a stout and cheery -proprietor gave him a somewhat voluble welcome, -and soon he was the temporary tenant of a low and -dark, but otherwise comfortable bedroom, while an -appetising odour of frying ham indicated that the -<i lang="fr">pièce de résistance</i> of his supper was in full -preparation.</p> - -<p>He smoked a contemplative pipe in the bar, then -about half-past eight took his hat, and passing the -landlord at the door, gave him a cheerful good-night -and said he was going for a walk before bed.</p> - -<p>While he did not intend to hide the fact of his -visit to Sergeant Kent, he had no wish to draw -attention thereto. He believed that in a small town -such things invariably get out, and to shroud them -in an air of mystery was only to invite publicity. -He therefore did not ask for a direction, but instead -strolled through the streets until he saw the police -station. Walking quietly but openly to the door, -he knocked. Two minutes later he was shaking -hands with the sergeant in the latter’s room.</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I’m grateful to you for giving me the -chance of a change from London,” French began -in his pleasant, cheery way as he took the chair the -other pulled forward to the fire. “Will you join -me in a cigar, or do you object to smoking in the -office?”</p> - -<p>The sergeant dourly helped himself from French’s -case, and gruffly admitted he was not above the use -of tobacco after office hours. French seemed in -no hurry to come to business, but chatted on about -his journey and his impressions of the country, -drawing the other out and deferring to his views in a -way that was nothing less than flattering. Before -ten minutes Kent had forgotten that his visitor was -an interloper sent to him over his head because his -superiors imagined that he was not good enough -for his own job, and was thinking that this stranger, -for a Londoner and a Yard man, was not as bad as -he might reasonably have been expected to be. -Under the soothing influences of flattery and good -tobacco, he gradually mellowed until, when French -at last decided the time had come, he was quite -willing to assist in any way in his power.</p> - -<p>At French’s request he gave him a detailed -account of the tragedy together with a copy of the -depositions taken at the inquest, and then went on -to describe the bomb which Mr. Tarkington had -dropped when he mentioned his theories to Major -Valentine.</p> - -<p>“Chief Constable, he told me to find out what -kind of safe it was in the house,” the sergeant went -on. “I knew, for I had seen it at the time, but I -went out again to make sure. It was made by -Carter & Stephenson of Leeds, number—” he referred -to a well-thumbed notebook—“12,473. I went down -to Leeds, and saw the makers, and they said the -safe was twenty years old, but it was the best -fireproof safe of its day. I asked them would the notes -have burned up in it, and they said they wouldn’t -scarcely be browned, not no matter how fierce the -fire might be.”</p> - -<p>“And what exactly was in the safe?”</p> - -<p>“Just paper ashes and sovereigns. No whole -papers—all was burned to ashes.”</p> - -<p>“Could I see those ashes? Are any of them -left?”</p> - -<p>“I think so. We took out the sovereigns and -left the rest. The safe is lying in the rubbish where -we found it.”</p> - -<p>French nodded, and for some minutes sat silent, -drawing slowly at his cigar while he turned over in -his mind the details he had learned. As he did -so the words of Chief Inspector Mitchell recurred -to him: “The people down there don’t appear to -know much about it, and the whole thing may turn -out to be a mare’s nest.” Now, having heard the -story, he wondered if this was not going to be -another of his chief’s amazing intuitions. It certainly -looked as like a mare’s nest as anything he had ever -handled. The only shred of evidence for foul play -was the safe-builders’ statement that their safe -would protect papers even in the fiercest fire, and -that statement left him cold. What else could the -builders say? They had sold the thing as -fireproof; how could they now admit they had made -a false claim? And this Tarkington’s theory of -the twenty-pound note was even less convincing. -There was no real reason to believe that Averill -had not handed it to his servant or to a visitor or -sent it away by post. In fact, the whole tale was -the thinnest he had listened to for many a day, and -he saw himself taking a return train to St. Pancras -before many hours had passed.</p> - -<p>But he had been sent up to make an investigation, -and make an investigation he would. He rapidly -planned his line of action. The first thing to be -done was to get rid of this sergeant. He might be -right enough for his own job, but French felt that -he would be no help in an affair of this kind. Left -to himself, he would go out and examine the house -and then interview Tarkington. By that time he -should have learned enough at least to decide -whether or not to go on with the case. He turned -to Kent.</p> - -<p>“Your statement, sergeant, has been so very complete -that I do not believe there is anything left for -me to ask you. But I think I should understand -the affair even better if I went and had a look at -the house. I’ll do that to-morrow. But, much as -I should like your company, I cannot ask you to -come with me. I entirely agree with and admire -your wisdom in keeping the affair secret, and if we -were seen together the cat would be out of the bag. -I will give out that I am a representative from the -insurance companies and I think no suspicion will -be aroused. If now you will kindly tell me where -the place lies, I think that’s all we can do in the -meantime.”</p> - -<p>Five minutes later French turned from the main -street into the door of the Thirsdale Arms. The -landlord was standing in the hall and French stopped -in a leisurely way, as if ready for a chat. They -discussed the weather for some moments, and then -French asked the other if he would join him in a -drink.</p> - -<p>It was not long before they were seated before -a glowing fire in the private bar, when French -proceeded to account for himself.</p> - -<p>“I like your country,” he began, “what I’ve seen -of it. I’ve been a bit run down lately, and though -it’s not the time one would choose for a holiday, -my doctor thought I should take a week or two’s -rest. So, as I had a bit of business here I thought I -would kill two birds with one stone and do my -business and take my holiday at the same time. And -about that bit of business I thought that if you -would be good enough you could maybe give me -some help.”</p> - -<p>The landlord, evidently curious, was anxious to -do anything in his power and French, following out -his theory that where absolute truth is inadmissible, -deviations therefrom should be as slight as possible, -went on confidentially:—</p> - -<p>“It’s about a place called Starvel where there -was a big fire recently. You know all about it, of -course.” The landlord nodded eagerly. “Well, -I may tell you strictly between ourselves that I am -a detective. A fire unaccounted for is a very -disturbing matter to insurance companies, and I have -been sent down to try to find the cause of the -outbreak. I’ve seen the police sergeant, and he has -very kindly promised to show me his notes of the -inquest, but I should like more general information -than that. I wondered if you could, perhaps, tell -me something about the affair; about the people who -lived in Starvel, and so on?”</p> - -<p>With this beginning, and the help of whiskies and -sodas and two more of his cigars French was soon -in possession of all the landlord knew and surmised -about the Starvel Hollow tragedy. But he learned -nothing helpful. The man’s story agreed with -that of Sergeant Kent, though it was obvious that -the idea of foul play had never entered his mind.</p> - -<p>One thing he remarked on which Kent had not -mentioned—about which indeed, as French -afterwards learned, Kent knew nothing—and that was -the incipient affair between Ruth Averill and Pierce -Whymper. When French learned later on how -slight this affair had been he was filled with -amazement, as he had been so many times before, at the -range and exhaustiveness of local gossip.</p> - -<p>“Nice young fellow, Mr. Pierce Whymper,” the -landlord went on. “He’s a son of Mr. Stephen -Whymper, the Leeds surgeon, and a junior assistant -of Nixon and Arbuthnot’s, the church architects. -He’s here as clerk of works of the renovation of -the church—a fine old church, this of ours! I got -to know Mr. Whymper a bit, for he stayed here -for a few days when he came first, and before he -got lodgings. Our terms are a bit high for him, -you know, for a constancy. They don’t overpay -these young fellows that are just starting on their -jobs.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a fact,” French admitted. “And how is -the affair with the young lady getting on?”</p> - -<p>“No one rightly knows. It seemed to be going -on thick enough before the fire and then, somehow, -it seemed to be cooled off. I suppose one of these -here lovers’ quarrels.” And the landlord smiled -tolerantly, as one man of the world to another.</p> - -<p>But whether or not the landlord was a man of -the world, there was no doubt whatever that he was -a thoroughly accomplished and successful gossip. -French soon found that by the mere interjection of -an occasional phrase he could obtain a detailed -description of the life, habits and character of any of -the inhabitants of Thirsby that he cared to name. -Very willingly, therefore, he suggested more whisky -and proffered further cigars, while he sat registering -in his memory the impressions of his neighbours -which the other sketched with such evident relish.</p> - -<p>He was a likeable old fellow, the landlord, or so -French thought. Though a gossip first and always, -he was something of a philosopher and his outlook -was human and kindly. The people he spoke of -were real people, and French could picture them -living in the little town and going about their -businesses, with their loves and hates, their ambitions -and their weaknesses. Old Mr. Averill—well, the -landlord hadn’t a great opinion of him. He was -dead, and one didn’t ought to say too much about -the dead, but there was no denying that he was -mean—a regular miser, he was. The way he had -treated that niece of his—as nice a young lady as -ever stepped—was just a fair scandal. A young -lady just grown up, like Miss Ruth was, should -have a bit of pleasure sometimes, and the poor girl -hadn’t even decent clothes to wear. Mean, the -landlord called it. And what use, he asked, growing -oratorical, was the old man’s money to him now? -That was what he said—and he waved his cigar -to give point to his remark—that was what he said: -What had the old man got for all his screwing and -saving? It would have paid him better . . .</p> - -<p>French insinuated the idea of Roper.</p> - -<p>Roper, the landlord did not know so much about, -though he had to confess he had not particularly -liked him. Roper had a squint, and if French took -the landlord’s advice, he would just keep his weather -eye open when dealing with a man with a squint. -Roper was quiet enough and civil spoken, and they -said he was good enough at his job, but he was -close—very close. Sly, the landlord would call it, -though, mind you, he hadn’t known anything wrong -about the man. Mrs. Roper? He had only met -her once. He didn’t know much about her, but -she was well enough spoken of. Neither of them -could have had much of a time out at Starvel, but -they had served the old man well and made no -complaint.</p> - -<p>About Tarkington, the landlord waxed almost -lyrical. Tarkington was a white man, straight as -a die and no fool neither. He was more than a -bank manager. He was, so French gathered, a -sort of financial father confessor to the -neighbourhood. Every one trusted Tarkington, and took -their difficulties to him for help and advice. And -Tarkington gave both, in good measure pressed -down and shaken together. He did not spare -himself, and if he could help a lame dog over a stile, -he did it. What Tarkington said went, as far as -most things were concerned.</p> - -<p>The landlord also approved of Oxley. Oxley -would have his joke, if he was to be hung for it -the next minute, but he was a very sound man and -a good lawyer. If you had Oxley on your side he -would make a keen fight for you, and for all his -jokes and his breezy manner he wouldn’t give -nothing away. Oxley was well liked and he deserved it.</p> - -<p>Of the medical profession in Thirsby the -landlord was equally ready to impart information. Dr. -Emerson was a good doctor and well respected, but -he was growing old. He hardly did any work now, -but he had made plenty and he could afford to -retire. Not that he had been a money-grubber—the -landlord had known many a case where he had -treated poor patients free—but until Dr. Philpot -had come he had the whole of the practice, and -he hadn’t done badly with it. The landlord wished -that hotel keeping was half as profitable. Well off, -Dr. Emerson was.</p> - -<p>French next murmured Dr. Philpot’s name, but -the landlord spoke with more reserve. He was a -clever man, first rate at his job, the landlord -believed, though he was thankful to say he hadn’t -ever needed to call him in. But he had made some -good cures and people that had had him once -wouldn’t have anybody else. And he was pleasant -spoken and likeable enough, and there was no -reason why he shouldn’t have done extra well at -Thirsby, for there was an opening for just such a -man on account of Dr. Emerson’s age. But—the -landlord sank his voice and became more confidential -than ever—the truth was he had made a muck of -things, and no one would be surprised to see him -take down his plate any day. He was all right in -every way, but the one—he was a wild gambler. -Fair ruining himself, he was. Horses mostly. It -was a pity, because he was well liked otherwise. -But there you were. The landlord had nothing -to say about backing an occasional horse—he did -it himself—but, systematic gambling! Well, you -know, it could go too far.</p> - -<p>French was interested to learn that Sergeant Kent -was a fool. The landlord did not put it quite in -those words, but he conveyed the idea extraordinarily -well. Kent was bumptious and overbearing, -and carried away by a sense of his own importance. -French, the landlord was afraid, wouldn’t get much -help there.</p> - -<p>The landlord showed signs of a willingness to -go on talking all night, but by the time eleven-thirty -had struck on the old grandfather’s clock in the -hall French thought he had all the information that -was likely to be valuable. He therefore began -insinuating the idea of bed, and this gradually -penetrating to the other’s consciousness, his flow of -conversation diminished and presently they -separated.</p> - -<p>The next day was Sunday, and after a late -breakfast and a leisurely pipe, French asked for some -sandwiches, saying he was going out for a long -tramp over the moor. Having thus explained -himself he strolled off and presently, by a circuitous -route, reached the lip of Starvel Hollow.</p> - -<p>In spite of the fact that his professional and -critical interests were aroused, French could not help -feeling impressed by the isolation of the ruins and -the morbid, not to say sinister atmosphere which -seemed to brood over the entire place. Around him -were the wild rolling spaces of the moor, forbidding -and desolate, rising here into rounded hills, dropping -there into shallow valleys. The colouring was drab, -in the foreground the dull greens of rushes and -sedgy grass, the browns of heather and at intervals -a darker smudge where stone outcropped, on the -horizon the hazy blues of distance. Scarcely a tree -or a shrub was to be seen in the bare country, and -the two or three widely separated cottages, -crouching low as if for protection from the winds, seemed -only to intensify the loneliness of the outlook.</p> - -<p>At French’s feet lay the Hollow, a curious, saucer-like -depression in the moor, some quarter of a mile -or more across. Its rim looked continuous, the -valley through which it was drained being winding -and not apparent at first sight. In the centre was -the group of pines which had surrounded the old -house, stunted, leaning one way from the prevailing -wind, melancholy and depressing. Of the walls of -the house from this point of view there was no -sign.</p> - -<p>French walked down toward the ruins, marvelling -at the choice which would bring a man of means to -such a locality. He could understand now why on -that night some five weeks earlier a building of the -size of this old house could be burned down without -attracting more attention. The Hollow accounted -for it. Even flames soaring up from such a -conflagration would not surmount the lip of the saucer. -Truly a place also, as Tarkington had pointed out, -where burglars could work their will unseen and -undisturbed.</p> - -<p>French had seen the remains of many a fire, but -as he gazed on the wreckage of Starvel he felt he -had never seen anything quite so catastrophic and -complete. He felt a growing awe as he began to -examine the place in detail.</p> - -<p>The walls were built of stone, and except these -walls and the small outhouse at the opposite side -of the yard, nothing remained standing. The house -was two storied and “L” shaped, with the remains -of a single story porch in the angle of the two -wings. French compared the ruins with the sketch -plan given him by Kent and identified the places -where the bodies had been found. Then after a -general survey he stepped through the gaping hole -that had evidently been the front door and ploughed -his way across the débris to the safe.</p> - -<p>It was red with fire and rust, but the makers’ -name and number, in raised letters on a cast iron -plate, were still legible. The safe had been lifted -upright and fixed on a roughly built pile of stones, -as the town officer of Thirsby had deposed at the -inquest. The doors were now shut, but with some -difficulty owing to the rusty hinges French was able -to swing them open. Inside, as he had been told, -was a mass of paper ash.</p> - -<p>Fortunately it was a calm day or the heap might -have whirled away in dust. As it was, French sat -down on a stone, and putting his head into the safe, -began to examine the ash in detail.</p> - -<p>The greater part had been ground to dust, -doubtless by the fall of the safe from the second story, -and the churning of the sovereigns, though there -still remained a number of small flakes of burnt -paper. These French began to turn over with a -pair of forceps, examining them at the same time -with a lens.</p> - -<p>He was delighted to find that on nearly all he -could distinguish marks of printing. But, as he -turned over piece after piece he became conscious -of growing astonishment. For this printing was -not the printing of bank notes. Rather it seemed -to him like newspaper type. Wrapping paper, he -supposed. But why should the contents of the safe -have been wrapped up in newspapers? More -important still, why should portions of the newspapers -rather than of the notes have been preserved?</p> - -<p>His interest keenly aroused, he set to work in -his careful, methodical way to check over all the -fragments he could find. As he did so something -very like excitement took possession of him. There -were no fragments of notes! Every single piece -that bore any marking was newspaper!</p> - -<p>What, he asked, himself, could this portend? -What other than robbery? And if robbery, then -murder! Murder and arson! Could Tarkington -and the Chief Constable be right, after all? -Certainly, after this discovery he couldn’t drop the -investigation until he had made sure.</p> - -<p>He had brought with him a small case of -apparatus, and from this he now took a bottle of gum -and some thin cards. Painting over the cards with -the gum, he laid on them such flakes of ash as bore -legible words. From one piece in particular he -thought he might be able to identify the newspaper -of which it had been a part. It was a roundish -scrap about the size of half a crown, along the top -of which were the words: “—ing as we—” in small -type, with below it in capitals, as if the headline -of a small paragraph: “RAT-CATCHER’S -F——”</p> - -<p>French secured the cards in a case specially -designed to preserve specimens, and re-closed the safe. -It certainly looked as if Tarkington’s suggestions -might be true, and as he put the case away in his -pocket, he wondered if there was any further -investigation he could make while he was on the ground.</p> - -<p>Stepping outside the building, he considered how -a hypothetical burglar might have forced an -entrance. The window frames and doors were all -gone; moreover, any marks which might have been -made approaching them must long since have been -defaced by time and the footprints of sightseers and -workmen. French, nevertheless, walked all round -the house and about the grounds, looking -everywhere in the hope of coming on some clue, though -he was scarcely disappointed when his search ended -in failure.</p> - -<p>He was anxious, if possible, to find out what -newspaper had been burned. He did not think the point -of vital importance, but on general principles the -information should be obtained. There was no -knowing what clue it might not furnish. On his -way back to Thirsby, therefore, he turned aside -to Mr. Oxley’s house and sent in his card.</p> - -<p>In the privacy of the solicitor’s study French -introduced himself and in confidence declared his -mission to the town. He apologised for troubling -the other on Sunday, but said that at the moment -he wished only to ask one question: Could Mr. -Oxley tell him, or could he find out for him from -Miss Averill, what daily paper the late Mr. Averill -had taken?</p> - -<p>Mr. Oxley did not know, and excused himself -to interrogate Ruth. Presently he returned to say -it was the <i>Leeds Mercury</i>.</p> - -<p>Next morning French took the first train to -Leeds, and going to the <i>Mercury</i> office, asked to -see the files of the paper for the month of -September. Commencing at the 15th, the day of the fire, -he began working back through the papers, -scrutinising each sheet for a paragraph headed -“RAT-CATCHER’S F——”</p> - -<p>He found it sooner than he had expected. Tucked -in among a number of small news items in the paper -of Tuesday, 14th September, he read: -“RAT-CATCHER’S FATAL FALL.” And when he saw -that the type was similar to that on the burnt scrap -and the last line of the preceding paragraph was -“Mr. Thomas is doing as well as can be expected,” -with the “—ng as we—” in the correct position -relative to the “RAT-CATCHER’S F——” he -knew he had really got what he wanted.</p> - -<p>French was extraordinarily thorough. Long -experience had taught him that everything in the -nature of a clue should be followed up to the very -end. He did not therefore desist when he had -made his find. Instead he worked on to see if he -could identify any of the other scraps he had found. -And before he left he had found eight out of the -eleven he had mounted, and proved that the burnt -papers were those of the 13th, 14th, and 15th; the -three days before the fire.</p> - -<p>So far, then, the indications were at least for -continuing the investigation. Leaving the <i>Mercury</i> -office, French walked up the Briggate to Messrs. -Carter & Stephenson’s, the makers of the safe. He -asked for one of the principals, and was presently -shown into Mr. Stephenson’s room. Introducing -himself in the strictest confidence in his true guise, -he propounded his question: Was the safe -absolutely fireproof?</p> - -<p>Mr. Stephenson rose and went to a drawer from -which he took a number of photographs.</p> - -<p>“Look at those,” he invited, “and tell me was -the fire at Starvel any worse than those fires?”</p> - -<p>The views were all of burnt-out buildings, most -of them completely gutted and resembling the -wreckage of Starvel. French assured him that the cases -seemed on all fours.</p> - -<p>“Very well, there were safes in all those fires—safes -just the same as that at Starvel, and all -those safes had papers in them, and there wasn’t -a single paper in any one of them so much as -browned.”</p> - -<p>French took out his burnt fragments.</p> - -<p>“Look at those, Mr. Stephenson,” he invited in -his turn. “Suppose there were newspapers in that -safe before the fire, could they have come out like -that after it?”</p> - -<p>“Not under any conceivable circumstances,” Mr. -Stephenson declared emphatically, “that is, of -course, unless the door had been left open. With -the door shut it’s absolutely impossible. And I’ll -be prepared to stand by that in any court of law -if you should want me to.”</p> - -<p>The man’s manner was convincing, and French -saw no reason to doubt his statement. But he saw -also that its truth involved extremely serious -consequences. If Mr. Stephenson was right the -newspapers had not been burnt during the Starvel fire. -They could only have been burned while the safe -door was open. But the door was locked during -the fire; Kent had had to get an expert to open it. -They must therefore have been burned before it -was locked. A sinister fact truly, and terribly -suggestive!</p> - -<p>On his way back to Thirsby French sat smoking in -the corner of a carriage, weighing in his mind the -significance of his discoveries. He considered the -points in order.</p> - -<p>First. Old Averill was a miser who had filled up -his safe with notes and gold. The notes had been -seen on more than one occasion by Mr. Tarkington’s -clerk, Bloxham, the last time being only a few -days before the tragedy. Mr. Tarkington estimated -there must have been some £30,000 to £40,000 -worth of notes in the safe, though this was probably -only a guess. But it was at least certain that before -the fire it contained a very large sum in notes.</p> - -<p>Second. After the fire the gold was intact, or at -least part of it was there, but there was no trace of -the notes. It was perfectly true that a number of -notes might have been burned and been crushed -to powder by the falling sovereigns. But it was -straining the probabilities too far to believe that -no single fragment of any one note should remain. -On the other hand fragments did remain—but these -were all of newspapers.</p> - -<p>Third. The newspapers, according to Mr. -Stephenson’s evidence, were burned before the door of the -safe had been closed.</p> - -<p>Gradually French came to definite conclusions. -As far as his information went the following facts -seemed to be established:—</p> - -<p>First. That the safe was unlocked, and the notes -were taken out before the fire.</p> - -<p>Second. That three or four newspapers were put -in to replace them.</p> - -<p>Third. That the newspapers were set on fire and -allowed to burn to ashes while the safe door was -open.</p> - -<p>Fourth. That after they were burned the safe -was locked.</p> - -<p>If these conclusions could be sustained it -unquestionably meant that French was on to one of the -most dastardly and terrible crimes of the century. -He felt the sudden thrill of the hunter who comes -across the fresh spoor of some dangerous wild -beast. But he did not disclose his feelings. Instead -he kept his own counsel, simply reporting to -headquarters that the case seemed suspicious and that -he was remaining on to make further inquiries.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch05"> - -<h2>CHAPTER FIVE: French Picks Up a Clue</h2> - -<p>The more Inspector French pondered over the -problems which his discoveries had raised, the more -difficult these problems seemed to grow. There -was so desperately little to go on. It was a -common enough trouble in detective work certainly, but -this business was worse than the average. He could -not recall a case which offered fewer clues or -“leads.”</p> - -<p>As he turned over in his mind all that he had -learned it seemed to him indeed that there was but -one channel to be explored, and that a channel which -offered a very poor chance of success—the £20 bank -note. If he were unable to trace the £20 bank note, -and the odds were enormously against his doing so, -he did not see what other line of inquiry he could -follow up.</p> - -<p>Of course, there was the usual police question: -Who was seen in the vicinity of the crime at the -time of its commission? But he had already put -this inquiry to Kent and the answer had been: “No -one.”</p> - -<p>If, as seemed likely, Tarkington’s theory were -true and this crime had been committed by the -burglars who had already brought off so many <i lang="fr">coups</i> -in the district, French was up against a very able -gang. For over six months the police had been -searching for these men and they seemed no nearer -finding them now than in the beginning.</p> - -<p>The bank note, then, appeared to be the only -chance, and French decided that he would begin -operations by trying to trace the passer, trusting -that if this line failed, some other would by that -time have opened out.</p> - -<p>The night was still young, and desiring to lose no -time, French left his comfortable corner in the bar -and went out to call on Mr. Tarkington.</p> - -<p>The bank manager was greatly interested when -French revealed his calling and mission. He -willingly repeated all he knew about old Simon Averill -and his finances and explained his theories at length.</p> - -<p>“The only other thing I wish to ask you,” French -remarked when the other showed signs of coming to -an end, “is about previous sums sent out to Starvel. -Your clerk kept a record of the numbers of all the -twenty-pound notes sent in the last consignment, but -have you a similar record of former consignments?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington nodded.</p> - -<p>“I early appreciated that point and made -inquiries,” he replied in his precise, measured tones. -“By my own instructions it has been the practice to -keep such records of all notes over ten pounds in -value, and this was done in the case of those sent to -Starvel. The records, however, are not retained very -long, and I did not hope to be able to lay my hands -on those of earlier consignments. But by a piece -of pure chance my clerk, Bloxham, found some -earlier records in an old notebook, and I am able -to give you the numbers of the notes of eleven; not -consecutive consignments, but stretching at intervals -over nearly five years. They cover £3860, all of -which was sent to Starvel in twenties; that is 193 -twenties. I have their numbers here.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a piece of luck for me,” French -commented, as he pocketed the list which the other -passed him. “Curious that Mr. Averill collected -twenty-pound notes. Why not fifties or hundreds -or tens?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Tarkington shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Like most of us,” he said, a hint of human -kindness showing beneath his rather dry manner, “the -poor old fellow had his weakness. Why he should -prefer twenties to notes of other denominations I -don’t know. I can only record the fact that he -did.”</p> - -<p>The next morning French occupied in making the -acquaintance of the obvious <i lang="la">dramatis personæ</i> in the -case. He paid a long visit to Ruth Averill, hearing -her story at first hand and questioning her on various -details which occurred to him. Oxley he saw at his -office and the lugubrious Abel Hesketh, the town -officer, he found at the toll room in the markets. -He was waiting for Dr. Emerson as the latter -concluded his morning round, and he went to the trouble -of an excursion over the moor to interview the -red-haired farmer, George Mellowes, who had driven -Roper home on the fatal night. Dr. Philpot he -also called on, to obtain his impressions of the -Starvel household.</p> - -<p>Lastly, he saw the bank clerk, Bloxham, who -struck him at once as a man of character. Though -seemingly not more than thirty, he had a strangely -old face, sardonic and determined looking, almost -sinister. He gave his testimony with a refreshing -restraint of words, and seemed to have observed -carefully and to know just what he had seen. He -said that on three occasions when he was at Starvel -Mr. Averill had opened his safe and he had had -a glimpse of its contents. From the size of the -stacks of notes he would estimate that these -contained possibly 1500 separate notes. If these were -twenties that would mean £30,000. There was also -a cardboard box of sovereigns. If he had not heard -the number he would have estimated that it -contained about two thousand.</p> - -<p>To all of these people, except Oxley, who already -knew the truth, French accounted for himself by -the story of the detective employed to ascertain the -cause of an unexplained fire. All seemed anxious -to help him, but unfortunately none could tell him -anything more than he already knew.</p> - -<p>Having thus completed the obvious local -inquiries, he felt free to follow up the matter of the -£20 note. He therefore left Thirsby by the -afternoon train and late that night reached St. Pancras. -Next morning saw him at the headquarters of the -Northern Shires Bank in Throgmorton Avenue. In -five minutes he was closeted with the manager, who -shook his head when he heard what was required -of him.</p> - -<p>“I naturally imagined some such question might -arise,” the manager said, “and I questioned the -clerk who had received the note. At first he was -unable to give me even the slightest hint, but on -thinking over the matter he said the balance of -probability was in favour of its having been paid in by -the messenger from Cook’s office in Regent Street. -He explained that in Cook’s deposit, which was -an unusually heavy one, there were no less than -seventeen notes for twenty pounds, and he remarked -to the messenger: ‘You’re strong in twenties -to-day.’ It was shortly afterwards that the clerk -discovered he held one of the numbers sent in by Mr. -Tarkington. He had twenty-two twenties in hand -when he made his discovery and he believed he had -not parted with any since the Cook lodgment, -therefore, the chances that the note came from Cook’s -are as seventeen to five.”</p> - -<p>“There is no certainty about that,” said French.</p> - -<p>“No certainty, but a good sporting chance,” the -manager returned with a smile as he bade his visitor -good day.</p> - -<p>The next step was obviously Cook’s office. Here -again French asked for the manager, and here again -that gentleman shook his head when French stated -his business.</p> - -<p>“I should be only too glad to help you, Mr. -French,” he declared, “but I fear it is quite -impossible. In the first place we don’t know the numbers -of any of the notes which passed through our hands, -and we don’t, therefore, know if we had the one -in which you are interested. Apparently you don’t -even know it yourself. But even if we did know, -we couldn’t possibly tell you who paid it in. So -much money comes in over the counter that -individual notes could not be traced. And then we have -no idea of the date upon which we received this -one, if we did receive it. You think we lodged it -yesterday week. We might have done so and yet -have received it weeks before. You see, we keep -a fairly large sum in our safe in connection with our -foreign exchange department.”</p> - -<p>“Do you give receipts for all monies received?”</p> - -<p>“For most transactions. But not all. If a man -came in for a ticket to Harrogate, for example, we -should hand him the ticket, and the ticket would be -his receipt. Again, no note other than that of the -actual sums passing is taken in our exchange -department.”</p> - -<p>French smiled ruefully.</p> - -<p>“It doesn’t seem to get any more hopeful as it -goes on, does it?” he remarked, continuing after a -moment’s silence. “You see what I’m trying to get -at, don’t you? If I could look over your receipts -for some time prior to yesterday week I might find -a name and address which would suggest a line of -inquiry.”</p> - -<p>“I follow you,” the manager returned. “It is -just possible that you might get something that way, -though I must warn you it’s most unlikely. You -see, the balance of the payments in notes would not, -in the nature of things, require receipts, and -conversely most of the accounts requiring receipts are -paid by cheque. However, if you wish to make a -search, I am prepared to help you. How far back -do you want to go?”</p> - -<p>“The note in question was known to be in the -possession of the dead man on Friday, 10th -September. It was discovered in the bank here on Monday, -October 18th. That is,” he took out his engagement -book and rapidly counted, “thirty-three working -days: a little over five weeks.” He looked -deprecatingly at the other, then added: “Rather a job to go -through all that, I’m afraid.”</p> - -<p>“It’ll take time,” the manager admitted. “But -that’s your funeral. If you wish to see our books, I -shall be pleased to facilitate you in every way I can.”</p> - -<p>French thanked him and a few minutes later was -hard at work under the guidance of a clerk going -through interminable lists of names and addresses. -For two hours he kept on steadily, then suddenly -surprised his companion by giving a muttered curse. -He had come on a name which dashed all his hopes -and showed him that his one clue was a wash out. -The item read:—</p> - -<p>“Oct. 6th. Pierce Whymper, Oaklands, Bolton -Road, Leeds,—£16 8s. 4d.”</p> - -<p>“Curse it!” French thought. “There goes all my -work! There’s where the twenty-pound note came -from all right. That young man has been out at -Starvel before the fire and Averill has given him the -note for some purpose of his own.”</p> - -<p>French was disgusted. Though he had known his -clue was weak, he had, nevertheless, subconsciously -been building on it, and now that it was gone he felt -correspondingly at a loss. However, thoroughness -before all things! He continued his study of the -books, working through the period until he reached -the end, but nowhere else did he get any hint of a -possible connection with the tragedy.</p> - -<p>But the same habit of thoroughness prevented his -dropping the matter until he had explored its every -possibility. He asked the clerk to take him once -again to the manager.</p> - -<p>“Your kind help, sir, and this young gentleman’s, -have not been wasted,” he began. “I’ve almost -certainly got the man who gave you the note. -Unfortunately, however, he turns out to be some one who -could have obtained it from its owner in a perfectly -legitimate way. So I fear its usefulness as a clue is -nil. At the same time I should like to follow up the -transaction and make quite sure it is all right. It is -this one that I have marked—name of Whymper.”</p> - -<p>“Fortunately,” the manager answered, “that is an -easier proposition than the last.” He directed the -clerk to conduct French to a Mr. Bankes. “Mr. -Bankes will give you details about that case,” he -went on, “and if there is anything further you -require, just come back to me.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Bankes proved most willing to assist, and in a -few moments the whole of the transactions between -Mr. Pierce Whymper of the one part and Messrs. -Thos. Cook & Son of the other part, stood revealed. -They were as follows:—</p> - -<p>On Saturday, 18th September, the day of the -inquest at Thirsby, Whymper had written to ask the -cost of a second class return ticket from London to -Talloires, near Annecy, Savoy, and to know if a -passport would be necessary for the journey, and if so, -where such was to be obtained. This letter was -received at Cook’s on Monday evening and replied -to on Tuesday 21st. Two days later Whymper -wrote asking Messrs. Cook to provide the tickets as -well as various coupons for meals, etc., en route, -which, he said, he would call for on the afternoon of -Wednesday, October 6th. He evidently had done -so, as on that date a receipt had been made out to -him for the £16 8s. 4d.</p> - -<p>“What was the route covered?” French inquired.</p> - -<p>“Dover-Calais, Paris Nord, Paris P.L.M., Bourg, -Amberieu, Culoz, and Aix-les-bains. Return the -same way. Meals on the outward journey were -included as well as three days’ pension at the Hotel -Splendide, Annecy.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know Annecy at all. What kind of place -is it?”</p> - -<p>“Delightful little town on the lake of the same -name. A tourist place, becoming better known in -recent years. I could recommend it for any one who -liked a fairly quiet change.”</p> - -<p>“But surely October is too late for it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, it’s rather late. Still, I have no doubt -it would be pleasant enough even then.”</p> - -<p>Next day French travelled back to Thirsby. He -was in a very despondent frame of mind, for he did -not see a single clue or line of inquiry which might -lead to the solution of his case. He would, of course, -interview Whymper and follow up the affair of the -bank note, but he felt certain that the young man -had obtained it in a legitimate way, and that his -inquiries would lead nowhere.</p> - -<p>From the talkative Miss Judith Carr, the barmaid -at the Thirsby Arms, French learned that Whymper -had lodgings on the outskirts of the town, at 12 -Stanhope Terrace, and when dusk had fallen he went -out to make the young man’s acquaintance.</p> - -<p>Whymper was at work on some plans when -French was shown into his sitting-room. He was a -typical, healthy-looking Englishman of the upper -middle class. French observed him with some -favour, as not at all the type to be mixed up in -criminal enterprises. He rose on French’s entry, -and with a slight look of surprise, indicated an -arm-chair at the fire.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Pierce Whymper?” French began with his -pleasant smile. “My name is French, and I called -to see you on a small matter in which I am going to -ask your kind help.”</p> - -<p>Whymper murmured encouragingly.</p> - -<p>“I must explain in the very strictest confidence,” -French went on, glancing searchingly at the other, -“that I am an inspector in the Criminal -Investigation Department of New Scotland Yard, and it is -in connection with an investigation I am making that -I want your assistance.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke French had been watching his -companion, not with inimical intent, but as a matter of -mere habit. He was surprised and interested to -notice a look of apprehension amounting almost to -fear in the young man’s eyes, while his face paled -perceptibly, and he moved uneasily in his seat. -French decided at once to be more careful in his -examination than he had intended.</p> - -<p>“I have been,” he resumed, “working at Messrs. -Cook’s office in Regent Street. I need not go into -details, but there has been a robbery, and they have -been handling some of the stolen money. Your -name appeared among others who had been dealing -with them during the period in question, and I am -trying to find out if you or these others could -unwittingly have passed in the money.”</p> - -<p>That Whymper was experiencing considerable -relief French was sure. He did not reply, but nodded -expectantly.</p> - -<p>“I can ask everything I want in a single question.” -French’s voice was friendly and matter of fact, -though he watched the other intently. “Where did -you get the twenty-pound note with which you paid -for your trip to Annecy?”</p> - -<p>Whymper started and the signs of uneasiness -showed tenfold more strongly.</p> - -<p>“Where did I get it?” he stammered, while French -noted the admission his bluff had drawn. “Why, I -couldn’t tell you. I had it for a considerable time. -It probably came in my pay.”</p> - -<p>“You get your pay in notes?” French’s voice was -stern.</p> - -<p>“Well, sometimes—that is, I may have got the -note from my father. He makes me an allowance.” -The young man twisted nervously in his chair and -gave every sign of embarrassment. French, whose -experience of statement makers was profound, said -to himself: “The man’s lying.”</p> - -<p>It did not occur to him that this thoroughly -normal looking youth could be guilty of the Starvel -Hollow crime, but it suddenly seemed possible that -he might know something about it.</p> - -<p>“I should like you to think carefully, Mr. -Whymper. The matter is more serious than perhaps you -realise. You handed Messrs. Cook a stolen -twenty-pound note. I am not suggesting that you stole it or -that you are in any way to blame for passing it. But -you must tell me where you got it. You cannot -expect me to believe that you don’t know. -Twenty-pound notes are too uncommon for that.”</p> - -<p>Rather to French’s surprise the young man began -once more to show relief.</p> - -<p>“But that’s what I must tell you, Inspector,” he -declared, but he did not meet French’s eye, and again -the other felt he was lying. “I have had that note -for a long time and I don’t really remember how it -came into my possession.”</p> - -<p>“Now, Mr. Whymper, as a friend I should urge -you to think again. I am not making any threats, -but it may become very awkward for you if you -persist in that statement. Think it over. I assure you -it will be worth your while.”</p> - -<p>French spoke coaxingly and the other promised he -would try to remember. He seemed to French like a -man who felt he had been exposed to a danger which -was now happily past. But if he thought he had got -rid of his visitor he was mistaken.</p> - -<p>“When were you last at Starvel, Mr. Whymper?”</p> - -<p>At this question Whymper seemed to crumple -up. He stared at his questioner with an expression -of something very like horror. When he answered -it was almost in a whisper.</p> - -<p>“The day after the fire. I have not been there -since.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t mean that. I mean, when were you last -there before the fire?”</p> - -<p>Whymper’s composure was coming back. He -seemed to be nerving himself for a struggle. He -spoke more normally.</p> - -<p>“Really, I couldn’t tell you, Inspector. It was a -long time ago. I was only there half a dozen times -in my life. Once it was by Miss Averill’s invitation, -the other times on the chance of seeing her.”</p> - -<p>“Were you there within a week of the fire?”</p> - -<p>“Oh no. The last time was long before that.”</p> - -<p>“Had you any communication with Mr. Averill—I -mean within a week of the fire?”</p> - -<p>“No. I never had any communication with Mr. -Averill. I have never seen him.”</p> - -<p>“Or with any one in the household; either by -letter, telegram, telephone, personal interview or in -any other way whatever?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. I met Miss Averill accidentally on the day -before the fire. Mrs. Oxley, the wife of a solicitor -here, came round to the church where I am working -to see about some stones she was buying, and Miss -Averill was with her. Miss Averill was on her way -to stay with some friends and I saw her to the -station.”</p> - -<p>“Did she give you the twenty-pound note?”</p> - -<p>“She did nothing of the kind,” Whymper returned -with some heat.</p> - -<p>“Was Miss Averill the only member of the -Starvel household with whom you communicated during -the week before the fire?”</p> - -<p>Whymper hesitated and appeared to be thinking.</p> - -<p>“Well, Mr. Whymper?”</p> - -<p>“I met Roper, Mr. Averill’s valet and general -man, for a moment on the evening of the fire. We -met by chance and merely wished each other -good-evening.”</p> - -<p>“Where did you meet him?”</p> - -<p>“On the street just outside the church gate. I was -leaving work for the night.”</p> - -<p>“At what hour was that?”</p> - -<p>“About half-past five.”</p> - -<p>“And do you assure me that you had no other -communication with any member of the Starvel -household during the period in question?”</p> - -<p>“None.”</p> - -<p>“Nor received any message through any third -party?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Mr. Whymper, it is only fair to tell you -that the note in question was in Mr. Averill’s safe -five days before the fire. You will have to explain -how it came into your possession, if not to me, then -later on in court. Now think,” French’s voice was -suave and coaxing, “would you not rather tell me -here in private than have it dragged out of you in -the witness box?”</p> - -<p>“I would tell you at once, Mr. French, if I had -anything to tell, but I’ve nothing. There must -be some mistake about the note. The one I gave to -Messrs. Cook couldn’t possibly have been in Mr. -Averill’s safe at any time.”</p> - -<p>The words sounded reasonable, but Whymper’s -manner discounted them. More than ever was -French convinced that the man was lying. He -pressed him as hard as he could, but Whymper -stuck to his story and nothing that French could say -shook him. French, of course, could only bluff. He -was quite unable to prove that Whymper had really -passed the stolen note, and though he believed he -had done so, he fully realised that he might be -mistaken.</p> - -<p>Recognising he had failed for the moment, French -set himself to calm the other’s anxieties before -taking his leave. He pretended to accept the young -man’s statement, saying he was afraid his journey -had proved a wild-goose chase, and that he would -now have to interview the other persons whose -names he had obtained from Cook’s. Whether his -efforts were successful he wasn’t sure, but the look of -relief on Whymper’s face made him think so. -Outwardly at all events both men seemed to consider the -incident closed when, after French had again warned -the other as to secrecy, they bade each other -good-night.</p> - -<p>But to French it was very far indeed from being -closed. He saw that the matter must be probed to -the bottom. There was, however, nothing he could -do that night except to take one obvious precaution. -Whymper must be watched, and going to the police -station he surprised Sergeant Kent considerably by -asking him to put the young man under careful -surveillance.</p> - -<p>This precaution was a bow drawn at a venture, -but to French’s surprise and delight, on the very next -day it proved that the arrow had found its way -between the joints of Whymper’s harness. While he -was breakfasting a note was brought to him from -Kent. In it the sergeant said that as a result of the -order to put a watch on Whymper, Constable -Sheldrake had made a statement which he, Kent, thought -the inspector should hear. Sheldrake said that on -the evening of the fire he had spent a couple of his -free hours in taking a walk in the direction of -Starvel with a friend of his, a young lady. Between -half-past nine and ten the two were approaching -the junction where the Starvel lane diverged from -the road which circled round the outside of the -hollow, when they heard steps approaching. Not -wishing to be observed, they had slipped behind some -bushes, and they had seen a man coming from the -Starvel lane. He had passed close to them, and by -the light of the moon Constable Sheldrake had not -only recognised Whymper, but had seen that his face -bore an expression of horror and distress. At the -time there was no suspicion either of Whymper or -of foul play at Starvel, and the constable, not -wishing to be chaffed about the girl, had not mentioned -the matter. But now he believed it to be his duty -to come forward with his report.</p> - -<p>Here was food for thought. The Starvel lane -after passing through the Hollow almost petered -out. As a rough track it wound on past one or two -isolated cottages, debouching at last into a cross -road some four miles farther on. It was therefore -most unlikely that Whymper could have been -coming from anywhere except Starvel. But if he had -been coming from Starvel he had lied, as he had -stated that he had not been there within a week of -the fire.</p> - -<p>This fact made French’s next step all the more -imperative. He went down to the police station and -saw Kent.</p> - -<p>“Look here, sergeant,” he explained, “I want to -search that young man’s rooms and I want your help. -Will you do two things for me? First, I want you -to find out at what time he goes home in the -evening and let me know, and second to make some -pretext to keep him half an hour later than usual at the -church to-night. Can you manage that?”</p> - -<p>“Of course, Mr. French. You may count on me.”</p> - -<p>Kent was as good as his word. When French -returned to the hotel in the afternoon a note was -waiting for him, saying that Whymper always reached -home about six. Accordingly ten minutes before six -found French once more knocking at the door of 12 -Stanhope Terrace.</p> - -<p>“Has Mr. Whymper come back yet?” he asked -the stout, good-humoured looking landlady.</p> - -<p>She recognised her visitor of the night before and -smiled.</p> - -<p>“Not yet, sir. But he won’t be long. Will you -come in and wait?”</p> - -<p>This was what French wanted. It was better that -she should suggest it than he. He paused -doubtfully.</p> - -<p>“Thanks,” he said at last, “perhaps it would be -better if you think he won’t be long.”</p> - -<p>“He might be here any time. Will you go up, -sir? You know your way.”</p> - -<p>French thanked her and slowly mounted the stairs. -But once in Whymper’s sitting-room with the door -shut behind him his deliberation dropped from him -like a cloak and he became the personification of -swift efficiency. Noiselessly he turned the key in the -lock and then quickly but silently began a search of -the room.</p> - -<p>It was furnished rather more comfortably than -the average lodging-house sitting room, though it -retained its family resemblance to the dreary species. -In the centre was a table on half of which was a -more or less white cloth and the preparations for a -meal. Two dining-room chairs and two easy chairs, -one without arms, represented the seating -accommodations. A sideboard, a corner cabinet laden with -nondescript ornaments, a china dog and a few books, -together with a small modern roll-top desk -completed the furniture. On the walls were pictures, a -royal family group of the early eighties and some -imaginative views of sailing ships labouring on -stormy seas. A gilt clock with a bell glass cover -stood on the chimney-piece between a pair of china -vases containing paper flowers.</p> - -<p>French immediately realised that of all these -objects, only the desk was of interest to him. It -was evidently Whymper’s private property, and in -its locked drawers would lie any secret documents -the young man might possess. Silently French got -to work with his bunch of skeleton keys and a little -apparatus of steel wire, and in two or three minutes -he was able to push the lid gently up. This released -the drawers, and one by one he drew them out and -ran through their contents.</p> - -<p>He had examined rather more than half when he -pursed his lips together and gave vent to a soundless -whistle. In a small but bulky envelope at the back -of one of the drawers was a roll of banknotes. He -drew them out and counted them. They were all -twenties. Twenty-four of them—£480.</p> - -<p>With something approaching excitement French -took from his pocket the list given him by -Tarkington of the numbers of twenty-pound notes sent to -Starvel. A few seconds sufficed to compare. Every -single one of the twenty-four was on the list!</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch06"> - -<h2>CHAPTER SIX: Talloires, Lac D’Annecy</h2> - -<p>Having noted the twenty-four numbers, French -hurriedly replaced the notes and with even more -speed looked through the remaining drawers. He -was now chiefly anxious that Whymper should not -suspect his discovery, and as soon as he was satisfied -that he had left no traces of his search, he silently -unlocked the door and then walked noisily -downstairs. As he reached the hall the landlady appeared -from the kitchen.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said politely, “that I -cannot wait any longer now. I have another -appointment. Please tell Mr. Whymper that I’ll call to see -him at the church to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>The door closed behind him, but he made no -attempt to return to the hotel. Instead he hung about -the terrace until he saw Whymper approaching in -the distance: Then walking towards him, he hailed -him as if their meeting was accidental.</p> - -<p>“Good-evening, Mr. Whymper. I’ve just been -calling at your rooms to ask if you could see me at -the church to-morrow. One or two points occurred -to me in connection with our discussion of last night, -and I wanted to get your views on them. -Unfortunately I have an appointment to-night, and cannot -wait now.”</p> - -<p>Whymper, evidently not too pleased at the -prospect, curtly admitted he would be available, and with -a short “Good-night,” passed on.</p> - -<p>French went his way also, but when in a few -seconds the shadowing constable put in an appearance, -he stopped him.</p> - -<p>“Look here, Hughes. I have a suspicion that -Whymper may try to get rid of some papers -to-night. Be specially careful if you see him trying to -do anything of the kind, and let me hear from you -about it in the morning.”</p> - -<p>He reached the hotel and in his pleasant way had -a leisurely chat with the landlord before turning in. -But when once he reached his room for the night he -lit a cigar and settled down to see just where he -stood.</p> - -<p>It was obvious in the first place that the evidence -which he had obtained against Pierce Whymper -would have been considered by most police officers -sufficient to justify an arrest. To find a man -suspected of the theft with the stolen property in his -possession was usually reckoned an overwhelming -proof of his guilt. And if to this be added the fact -that the accused was seen in the neighbourhood of -the crime about the time of its commission, having -previously denied being there, and further, that his -whole bearing when questioned was evasive and -embarrassed, any lingering doubt might well have been -swept away.</p> - -<p>But French was not wholly satisfied. A ripe -experience had made him an almost uncanny judge of -character and he felt a strong impression that Pierce -Whymper was not of the stuff of which thieves and -murderers are made. That the young man knew -something about the crime he had no doubt; that he -was guilty of it he was not so certain.</p> - -<p>He racked his brains as to whether there was no -other statement of Whymper’s which he could check. -Then he remembered that the young architect had -admitted having seen Roper on the afternoon of the -tragedy. This was a point of contact with Starvel, -and French wondered whether more might not have -passed between the two men than Whymper had -divulged. He decided that it would be worth while -trying to find out.</p> - -<p>According to his own statement Whymper had -met Roper outside the church gate at about 5.30 on -the evening in question. Next morning French -therefore strolled to the church, and getting into -conversation with one of the workmen, learned that the -sexton was usually waiting to lock up when the men -left at 5.15. From the notice board he learned the -sexton’s address, ran him to earth and explained that -he wished to speak to him confidentially.</p> - -<p>To his customary story of the insurance company -who wished to discover the cause of the Starvel fire -he added some slight embroidery. At the inquest a -suggestion was made of contributory negligence—in -other words, drink—and his instructions were to find -out what he could about this possibility.</p> - -<p>Now he had heard that Roper was seen outside -the church gate about 5.30 on the afternoon of the -tragedy and he, French, wondered whether the -sexton might not have noticed him when locking up.</p> - -<p>It was a long shot, but rather to French’s -surprise, it got a bull’s eye. The sexton had seen Mr. -Roper. Mr. Whymper, the young gentleman in -charge of the renovation, had been ten or fifteen -minutes late finishing up that evening and he, the -sexton, had waited by the gate till he should leave. -While there he had noticed Roper. The man seemed -to be hanging about as if waiting for some one, and -when Mr. Whymper appeared, Roper went up and -spoke to him. The two men talked together as if -Roper were delivering a message, then they -separated, walking off in opposite directions. They -talked, the sexton was sure, for two or three -minutes. No, he did not observe the slightest sign of -drink on Mr. Roper. As a matter of fact the man -wished him good-evening and he could swear he was -then perfectly sober.</p> - -<p>“Well, I’m glad to know that,” French declared, -“though I suppose it is really against my company. -But I expect we shall have to pay in any case. Now, -I think I’d best see this Mr. Whymper you speak of, -and get his confirmation of your views.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll find him in the church, probably in the -north transept where they’re rebuilding the window.”</p> - -<p>French did not, however, go immediately to the -north transept of the church. Instead he found his -way to the residence of a certain Colonel Followes, -a prominent magistrate with a reputation for -discretion, whose name had been given him by Sergeant -Kent. He took the colonel into his confidence, made -the necessary formal statement and obtained a -warrant for the arrest of Pierce Whymper. Whether -or not he would execute it would depend on the -young man’s answers to his further questions, but he -wished to be able to do so if, at the time, it seemed -wise.</p> - -<p>Returning to the church, French found his quarry -superintending the resetting of the stone mullions of -the beautiful north transept window. He waited -until the young man was free, then said that he -would be glad if they could now have their talk.</p> - -<p>“Come into the vestry room,” Whymper returned. -“I use it as an office and we won’t be disturbed.”</p> - -<p>Of all the sights which the groined roof of the old -vestry had looked down on during the three -centuries of its existence, none perhaps was so out of -keeping with the character of the place as this -interview between a detective of the C.I.D. and the man -whom he half suspected of murder, arson, and -burglary. And yet there was nothing dramatic about -their conversation. French spoke quietly, as if their -business was everyday and matter of fact. -Whymper, though he was evidently under strain, gave none -of the evidence of apprehension he had exhibited on -the previous evening. Rather had he the air of a -man who feared no surprise as he had braced -himself to meet the worst. He waited in silence for the -other to begin.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry, Mr. Whymper,” French said at last, -“to have to return to the subject we discussed last -night, but since then further facts have come to my -knowledge which render it necessary. I think it -right to tell you that these facts suggest that you -may be guilty of a number of extremely serious -crimes. I am, however, aware that facts, -improperly understood, may be misleading, and I wish, -therefore, to give you an opportunity of explaining -the matters which seem to incriminate you. I would -like to ask you a number of questions, but before I -do so I must warn you that if your answers are -unsatisfactory I must arrest you, and then anything -you have said may be used in evidence against you.”</p> - -<p>Whymper had paled slightly while the other was -speaking. “I shall try to answer your questions,” -he said in a low voice, and French resumed:—</p> - -<p>“The main question is, of course, the one I asked -you last night: Where did you get the twenty-pound -note with which you paid Messrs. Cook? You -needn’t tell me that you don’t know. Apart from -the improbability of that I have absolute proof that -you know quite well. Now, Mr. Whymper, if you -are innocent you have nothing to fear. Tell me the -truth. I can promise you I will give your statement -every consideration.”</p> - -<p>“I have already explained that I don’t know where -the note came from.”</p> - -<p>French paused, frowning and looking inquiringly -at the other.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” he said at last, “let us leave it at -that for the moment. Now tell me: Did you receive -any other money from Mr. Averill or Miss Averill, -or Roper or Mrs. Roper within three or four days -of the fire?”</p> - -<p>“None.”</p> - -<p>“There was a matter of a certain £500. It was in -Mr. Averill’s safe four days before the fire. All but -twenty pounds of it was in your possession last night. -Now where did you obtain that money?”</p> - -<p>In spite of his being prepared for the worst, -Whymper seemed completely taken aback by the -question. He did not answer, but sat staring at the -Inspector, while an expression of utter hopelessness -grew on his face. French went on:—</p> - -<p>“You see, Mr. Whymper, I know all about your -having that money. And I know that you were at -Starvel on the night of the fire. I know also that -your interview with Roper outside the church on that -same evening involved a good deal more than a mere -exchange of good-nights. Come now, I want to give -you the chance of making a statement, but I don’t -want to press you. If you would like to reserve your -replies until you have consulted your solicitor, by all -means do so. But in that case I shall have to take -you into custody.”</p> - -<p>For some moments Whymper did not speak. He -seemed overcome by French’s words and unable to -reach a decision. French did not hurry him. He -had sized up his man and he believed he would -presently get his information. But at last, as Whymper -remained silent, he said more sternly:—</p> - -<p>“Come now, Mr. Whymper, you’ll have to make -up your mind, you know.”</p> - -<p>His words seemed to break the spell and -Whymper replied. He spoke earnestly and without any of -the evidences of prevarication which had marked his -previous statements. “The truth this time,” said -French to himself, and he settled down to listen, -thinking that if the other really had a satisfactory -explanation of his conduct, it was going to be worth -hearing.</p> - -<p>“I wanted to keep this matter secret,” Whymper -began, “for quite personal reasons. The £500 you -speak of, of which the money I paid to Cook was a -part, was not stolen. It never occurred to me to -imagine I could be accused of stealing it. I don’t see -now what makes you think I did. However, I see -that I must tell you the truth so far as I can and I -may begin by admitting that what I have said up to -now was not the truth.”</p> - -<p>French nodded in approval.</p> - -<p>“That’s better, Mr. Whymper. I am glad you are -taking this line. Believe me, you will find it the best -for yourself.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid I can’t take any credit for it. I -needn’t pretend I would have told you if I could -have helped myself. However, this is what -happened:—</p> - -<p>“On that Wednesday evening of the fire, as I left -the church about half-past five, I saw Roper outside -the gate. He seemed to be waiting for me and he -came up and said he had a message for me from Mr. -Averill. Mr. Averill wasn’t very well or he would -have written, but he wanted to see me on very urgent -and secret business. Roper asked could I come out -that night to Starvel and see Mr. Averill, without -mentioning my visit to any one. I said I should be -out there shortly after eight o’clock, and we parted.”</p> - -<p>Again French nodded. This was a good -beginning. So far it covered the facts.</p> - -<p>“I walked out as I had promised. Roper opened -the door. He showed me into the drawing-room and -asked me to wait until he had informed Mr. Averill. -He was absent for several minutes and then he came -back to say that Mr. Averill was extremely sorry, -but he was feeling too ill to see me. He had, -however, written me a note, and Roper handed me a -bulky envelope.</p> - -<p>“I was fairly surprised when I opened it for it -contained banknotes, and when I counted them I -was more surprised still. There were twenty-five of -them and they were all for £20: no less than £500 -altogether. There was a note with them. I don’t -remember the exact words, but Mr. Averill said he -was sorry he was too unwell to undertake what must -be a painful interview, that he didn’t wish to put the -facts in writing, that Roper was entirely in his -confidence in the matter and would explain it, and that -as I should want money for what he was going to ask -me to do, he was enclosing £500, to which he would -add a further sum if I found I required it.</p> - -<p>“Roper then went on to tell me a certain story. I -can only say that it is quite impossible for me to -repeat it, but it involved a visit to France. Mr. Averill -would have preferred to have gone himself, but he -was too old and frail, and he could not spare Roper. -He asked me would I undertake it for him. The -money was for my expenses, if I would go. The -matter was, however, very confidential, and this I -could see for myself.</p> - -<p>“I agreed to go to France, and took the notes. I -left Starvel about half-past nine, and walked back to -my rooms. Next day came the news of the tragedy. -This put me in a difficulty as to the mission to -France. But I saw that my duty would be to go just -as if Mr. Averill was still alive. So I went, as you -seem to know, but I was unable to carry out the work -Mr. Averill had wished me to do. Instead, -therefore, of spending four or five hundred pounds as I -had expected to, the trip only cost me my travelling -expenses, and I was left with £480 of Mr. Averill’s -money on my hands. At first I thought I had better -hand it over to Mr. Oxley, Mr. Averill’s solicitor, -but afterwards I decided to keep it and go out again -to France and have another try at the business.”</p> - -<p>French was puzzled by the story. It certainly -hung together and it certainly was consistent with all -the facts he had learned from other sources. -Moreover, Whymper’s manner was now quite different. -He spoke convincingly and French felt inclined to -believe him. On the other hand, all that he had said -could have been very easily invented. If he -persisted in his refusal to disclose his business in France, -French felt he could not officially accept his -statement.</p> - -<p>“That may be all very well, Mr. Whymper,” he -said. “I admit that what you have told me may be -perfectly true. I am not saying whether I myself -believe it or not, but I will say this, that no jury on -the face of this earth would believe it. Moreover, -as it stands, your story cannot be tested. You must -tell the whole of it. You must say what was the -mission Mr. Averill asked you to undertake in France. -If I can satisfy myself about it there is no need for -any one else to know. Now, be advised, and since -you have gone so far, complete your statement.”</p> - -<p>The hopeless look settled once more on -Whymper’s face.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry,” he said despondently. “I can’t. It’s -not my secret.”</p> - -<p>“But Mr. Averill is now dead. That surely makes -a difference. Besides, it is impossible that he could -wish to get you into the most serious trouble any man -could be in because of even a criminal secret. Tell -me in confidence, Mr. Whymper. I’ll promise not to -use the information unless it is absolutely necessary.”</p> - -<p>Whymper shook his head. “I can’t tell,” he -repeated.</p> - -<p>French’s tone became a trifle sterner.</p> - -<p>“I wonder if you quite understand the position. -It has been established that some person or persons -went to Starvel on the evening we are speaking of, -murdered Mr. Averill and Roper and his wife,” -Whymper gave an exclamation of dismay, “stole Mr. -Averill’s fortune and then set fire to the house. So -far as we know, you alone visited the house that -night, some of the stolen money was found in your -possession, and when I give you the chance of -accounting for your actions, you don’t take it. Do you -not understand, Mr. Whymper, that if you persist -in this foolish attitude you will be charged with -murder?”</p> - -<p>Whymper’s face had become ghastly and an -expression of absolute horror appeared on his features. -For a moment he sat motionless, and then he looked -French straight in the face.</p> - -<p>“It’s not my secret. I can’t tell you,” he declared -with a sudden show of energy and then sank back -into what seemed the lethargy of despair.</p> - -<p>French was more puzzled than ever. The facts -looked as bad as possible, and yet if Whymper’s tale -were true, he might be absolutely innocent. And -French’s inclination was to believe the story so far -as it went. The secret might be something discreditable -affecting, not Mr. but Miss Averill, which would -account for the man’s refusal to reveal it. On the -other hand could Whymper be hiding information -about the Starvel crime? Was he even shielding the -murderer? Could he, learning what had occurred -and finding proof of the murderer’s identity, have -himself set fire to the house with the object of -destroying the evidence? Somehow, French did not -think he was himself the murderer, but if he knew -the identity of the criminal he was an accessory after -the fact and guilty to that extent.</p> - -<p>Whether or not he should arrest the young man -was to French a problem which grew in difficulty the -longer he considered it. On the whole, he was -against it. If Whymper turned out to be innocent -such a step would, of course, be a serious blunder, -but even if he were guilty there were objections to it. -Arrest might prevent him from doing something by -which he would give himself away or at least indicate -the correct line of research. Free, but with arrest -hanging over him, the man would in all probability -attempt to communicate with his accomplice—if he -had one—and so give a hint of the latter’s identity. -French made up his mind.</p> - -<p>“I have more than enough evidence to arrest you -now,” he said gravely, “but I am anxious first to put -your story to a further test. I will, therefore, for -the present only put you under police supervision. -If you can see your way to complete your statement, -I may be able to withdraw the supervision. By the -way, have you got the note Mr. Averill enclosed -with the £500?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it is in my rooms.”</p> - -<p>“Then come along to your rooms now and give it -to me. You had better hand over the notes also, for -which, of course, I’ll give you a receipt. I shall also -want a photograph of yourself and a sample of your -handwriting.”</p> - -<p>When French reached the hotel he took out -some samples of Mr. Averill’s handwriting which -he had obtained from Mr. Tarkington and -compared them with that of Whymper’s note. But he -saw at a glance that there was nothing abnormal -here. All were obviously by the same hand.</p> - -<p>That evening after racking his brains over his -problem it was borne in on him that a visit to -Annecy was his only remaining move. It was not -hopeful, but as he put it to himself, you never knew. He -felt there was nothing more to be learned at Thirsby, -but he <em>might</em> find something at Annecy which would -give him a lead.</p> - -<p>He saw Sergeant Kent and urged him to keep a -close watch on Whymper’s movements, then next -day he went up to town and put the case before -Chief Inspector Mitchell. That astute gentleman -smiled when he heard it.</p> - -<p>“Another trip to the Continent, eh, French?” he -observed dryly. “Fond of foreign travel, aren’t -you?”</p> - -<p>“It’s what you say, sir,” French answered, -considerably abashed. “I admit it’s not hopeful, but it’s -just a possibility. However, if you think it best I -shall go back to Thirsby, and——”</p> - -<p>“Pulling your leg, French,” the Chief Inspector -broke in with a kindly smile. “I think you should -go to France. You mayn’t learn anything about -the tragedy, but you’re pretty certain to find out -Whymper’s business and either convict him or clear -him in your mind.”</p> - -<p>That evening at 8.30 French left Victoria and -early next morning reached Paris. Crossing the city, -he bathed and breakfasted at the Gare de Lyon, and -taking the 8.10 a.m. express, spent the day watching -the great central plain of France roll past the -carriage windows. For an hour or two after starting -they skirted the Seine, a placid, well wooded stream -garnished with little towns and pleasant villas. -Then through the crumpled up country north of -Dijon and across more plains, past Bourg and -Amberieu and through the foothills of the Alps to -Culoz and Aix. At Aix French changed, completing -his journey on a little branch line and reaching -Annecy just in time for dinner. He drove to the -Splendid, where Whymper had stayed, a large hotel -looking out across a wide street at the side of which came -up what looked like a river, but which he afterwards -found was an arm of the lake. Scores of little boats -lay side by side at the steps along the road, and on -the opposite side of the water stood a great building -which he saw was the theatre, with behind it, the -trees of a park.</p> - -<p>After dinner French asked for the manager, and -producing his photograph of Whymper, inquired if -any one resembling it had recently stayed at the -hotel. But yes, the manager remembered his guest’s -friend perfectly. He had stayed, he could not say -how long from memory, but he would consult the -register. Would monsieur be so amiable as to -follow him? Yes, here it was. M. Whymper?—was -it not so? M. Whymper had arrived on Friday the -8th of October and had stayed for three nights, -leaving on Monday the 11th. No, the manager -could not tell what his business had been nor how he -had employed his time. Doubtless he had gone on -the lake. To go on the lake was very agreeable. -All the hotel guests went on the lake. By steamer, -yes. You could go to the end of the lake in one hour, -and round it in between two and three. But yes! A -lake of the greatest beauty.</p> - -<p>French had not expected to learn more than this -from the manager. He remembered that in his -original letter to Cook Whymper had asked for -Talloires, and he now spoke of the place. Talloires, -it appeared, was a small village on the east side of -the lake, rather more than half-way down. A -picturesque spot, the manager assured him, with no less -than three hotels. If monsieur wished to visit it he -should take the steamer. All the steamers called.</p> - -<p>Next morning accordingly French took the -steamer from the pleasant little Quay alongside the -park. French thought the lake less lovely than that -of Thun, but still the scenery was very charming. -High hills rose up steeply from the water, -particularly along the eastern side, while towards the south -he could see across the ends of valleys snow peaks -hanging in the sky. Villas and little hamlets nestled -in the trees along the shore.</p> - -<p>Right opposite the pier at Talloires was a big -hotel and there French, having ordered a drink, -began to make inquiries. But no one had seen the -original of the photograph, or recollected hearing a -name like Whymper.</p> - -<p>Another large hotel was standing close by, and -French strolled towards it beneath a grove of fine -old trees which grew down to the water’s edge. This -hotel building had been a monastery and French -enjoyed sauntering through the old cloisters, which he -was told, formed the <i lang="fr">salle à manger</i> during the hot -weather.</p> - -<p>Having done justice to an excellent <i lang="fr">dejeuner</i>, he -returned to business, producing his photograph and -asking his questions. And here he met with -immediate success. Both the waiter who attended him -and the manager remembered Whymper. The -young architect had, it appeared, asked to see the -manager and had inquired if he knew where in the -neighbourhood a M. Prosper Giraud had lived. -When the manager replied that no such person had -been there while he had been manager—over five -years—Whymper had been extremely disconcerted. -He had then asked if a Mme. Madeleine -Blancquart was known, and on again receiving a negative -reply, had been more upset than ever. He had left -after lunch and the manager had heard that he had -repeated his questions to the police.</p> - -<p>In ten minutes French was at the local -gendarmerie, where he learned that not only had Whymper -made the same inquiries, but had offered a reward of -5000 francs for information as to the whereabouts -of either of the mysterious couple. Interrogations -on the same point had been received from the police -at Annecy, so presumably Whymper had visited -them also.</p> - -<p>This supposition French confirmed on returning to -the little town. Whymper had made his inquiries -and offered his reward there also and had seemed -terribly disappointed by his failure to locate the -people. He had left his address and begged that if -either of the persons was heard of a wire should be -sent him immediately.</p> - -<p>As French made his way back to London he felt -that in one sense his journey had not been wasted. -Whymper’s actions seemed on the whole to confirm -his story. French did not believe he would have had -the guile to travel out all that way, and to show such -feeling over a failure to find purely imaginary -people. He felt sure that M. Prosper Giraud and -Mme. Madeleine Blancquart did really exist and -that Mr. Averill had mentioned them. If -Whymper had invented these people he would have spoken -of them so that his inquiries might be discovered in -confirmation of his statement. If Whymper, -moreover, had had sufficient imagination to devise such a -story, he would certainly have had enough to -complete it in a convincing manner.</p> - -<p>The more French considered the whole affair, the -more likely he thought it that there really was a -secret in the Averill family, a secret so important or -so sinister that Whymper was willing to chance -arrest rather than reveal it. And if so, it could -concern but one person. Surely for Ruth Averill alone -would the young man run such a risk. And then -French remembered that until the fire, that was, until -Whymper’s visit to Starvel, the courtship of the -young people had been going strong, whereas after -the tragedy the affair had seemed at a standstill. -There was some secret vitally affecting Ruth. French -felt he could swear it. And what form would such a -secret be likely to take? French determined that on -his return he would make some guarded inquiries as -to the girl’s parentage.</p> - -<p>But when he reached London he found a fresh -development had taken place, and his thoughts for -some time to come were led into a completely new -channel.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch07"> - -<h2>CHAPTER SEVEN: Posthumous Evidence</h2> - -<p>The cause of Inspector French’s change of -outlook on the Starvel case was a note from Sergeant -Kent which was waiting for him on his arrival at -Scotland Yard. The sergeant wrote enclosing a -letter addressed to “The Heirs or Assigns of the -late Mr. John Roper, Starvel, Thirsby, Yorkshire, -W.R.” The postmaster, he explained, had shown it -to him, asking him if he knew to whom it should be -forwarded. Though he did not suppose it could -have anything to do with the tragedy, the sergeant -thought that French should see it.</p> - -<p>“No good,” French thought. “Nothing to me.” -Nevertheless he slit open the envelope and withdrew -the contents.</p> - -<p>It was a letter headed “The Metropolitan Safe -Deposit Co., Ltd., 25b King William Street, City,” -and read as follows:—</p> - -<p>“<span class="name">Dear Sir or Madam,</span>—We beg to remind you -that the late Mr. John Roper of Starvel, Thirsby, -Yorkshire, W.R., was the holder of a small safe in -our strongrooms. The rent of the safe, 30/- (thirty -shillings stg.) is now due, and we should be glad to -receive this sum from you or alternatively to have -your instructions as to disposal of its contents.</p> - -<p class="centered">“Yours faithfully,</p> -<p class="signature">“For <span class="name">The Metropolitan Safe Deposit Co., -Ltd.</span>”</p> - -<p>To French it seemed a rather unusual thing that a -man in Roper’s position should require the services -of a safe deposit company. He could not but feel a -certain curiosity regarding the object which required -such careful guarding. As things were he supposed -he had as much right as anybody to deal with the -affair, and as it was but a short distance to King -William Street, he decided he would go down and -investigate.</p> - -<p>Half an hour later he was explaining the position -to the manager. As far as was known, Roper had -no relatives or heirs. His safe would therefore be -given up, and on behalf of Scotland Yard, he, -French, would take charge of its contents.</p> - -<p>The contents in question proved to be a small -sealed envelope, and when French had once again -reached the seclusion of his own office he tore it open -and ran his eye over its enclosure. As he did so his -eyes grew round and he gave vent to a low, sustained -whistle. To say that he was at that moment the -most astonished man in London would be a very -inadequate description of his sensations.</p> - -<p>The enclosure consisted of a single sheet of gray -note paper with an address, “Braeside, Kintillock, -Fife,” printed in small embossed letters at the top. -One side was covered with writing, a man’s hand, -cultivated, but somewhat tremulous. It read:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="dateline">15<i>th</i> <i>May</i>, 1921.</p> -<p>“I, Herbert Philpot, doctor of medicine and at -present assistant on the staff of the Ransome -Institute in this town, under compulsion and in the -hope of avoiding exposure, hereby remorsefully -confess that I am guilty of attempting the death of my -wife, Edna Philpot, by arranging that she should -meet with an accident, and when this merely -rendered her unconscious, of killing her by striking her -on the temple with a cricket bat. I do not state my -overwhelming sorrow and despair, for these are -beyond words.</p> - -<p>“May God have mercy on me,</p> -<p class="signature">“<span class="name">Herbert Philpot</span>.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>French swore in amazement as he read this -extraordinary document. Dr. Herbert Philpot! Surely -that was the Thirsby doctor? He turned to his notes -of the case. Yes, the name was Herbert all right. -Presumably it was the same man. At all events it -would be easy to find out.</p> - -<p>But what under the sun did the document mean? -Was it really a statement of fact, a genuine -confession of murder, written by Philpot? If so, how had -it fallen into the hands of Roper, and what had the -man been keeping it for? Had he been -blackmailing Philpot? Or was the whole thing a forgery? -French was completely puzzled.</p> - -<p>But it was evident that the matter could not be -left where it stood. It must be gone into and its -monstrous suggestion must be proved or rebutted.</p> - -<p>French’s hand stole toward his pocket and half -unconsciously he filled and lit his pipe, puffing out -clouds of blue smoke while he thought over this -latest development. <em>If</em> the confession were genuine -and <em>if</em> Roper were blackmailing Philpot, Philpot -would want to get rid of Roper. Could it therefore -be possible that Philpot was in some way mixed up -with the Starvel crime? Not personally of course; -there was medical evidence that the doctor was ill -in bed at the time of the tragedy. But could he be -involved in some way that French could not at the -moment fathom? It seemed too far-fetched to -consider seriously, and yet here was undoubtedly a -connection with Roper of the most extraordinary kind.</p> - -<p>But this was sheer idiocy! French pulled himself -together. An inspector of his service ought to know -better than to jump to conclusions! Hadn’t bitter -experience again and again taught him its folly? -Let him get hold of his data first.</p> - -<p>And then French recalled the statement of the -landlord of the Thirsdale Arms in Thirsby. He had -taken all that the landlord had said with a grain of -salt—gossips were seldom entirely reliable—but if -Philpot <em>had</em> been gambling to the extent of -embarrassing himself financially. . . . It was worth -looking into anyway.</p> - -<p>Obviously the first thing was to make sure that -the Philpot of the confession really was the Thirsby -doctor. This at least was easy. He sent for a -medical directory and traced the Thirsby man’s -career. A few seconds gave him his information.</p> - -<p>Herbert Philpot was born in 1887, making him -now 39 years old. He passed through Edinburgh -University, taking his final in 1909. For a year he -was at sea and for two more years he worked in one -of the Edinburgh hospitals. In 1913 he was -appointed junior assistant at the Ransome Institution -at Kintilloch, where he remained for eight years. -In September 1921—four months after the date of -the confession, French noted—he set up for -himself in Thirsby.</p> - -<p>So that was that. French’s interest grew as he -considered the matter. If the confession were -genuine, the affair would be something in the nature -of a scoop, not only for himself personally, but even -for the great organisation of the Yard. It would -create a first-class sensation. The powers that be -would be pleased and certain kudos and possible -promotion would be forthcoming.</p> - -<p>French left the Yard and drove to the office of -<i>The Scotsman</i> in Fleet Street. There he asked to -see the files of the paper for the year 1921, and -turning to the month of May, he began a search for -news of an accident to a Mrs. Philpot at Kintilloch.</p> - -<p>He found it sooner than he had expected. On the -17th May, two days after the date of the confession, -there was a short paragraph headed “Tragic Death -of a Doctor’s Wife.” It read:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>“The little town of Kintilloch, Fife, has been -thrown into mourning by the tragic death on -Tuesday evening of Mrs. Edna Philpot, wife of Dr. -Herbert Philpot, one of the staff of the Ransome -Institute. The deceased lady in some way tripped while -descending the stairs at her home, falling down the -lower flight. Dr. Philpot, who was in his study, -heard her cry and rushed out to find her lying -unconscious in the hall. She was suffering from severe -concussion and in spite of all his efforts she passed -away in a few minutes, even before the arrival of -Dr. Ferguson, for whom Dr. Philpot had hurriedly -telephoned. Mrs. Philpot took a prominent part in -the social life of the town and her loss will be keenly -felt.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>“It’s suggestive enough,” French thought, as he -copied out the paragraph. “It looks as if she had -been alone with him in the house. I must get more -details.”</p> - -<p>He returned to the Yard and put through a -telephone call to the Detective Department of the -Edinburgh police, asking that any information about -the accident be sent him as soon as possible.</p> - -<p>While he was waiting for a reply his thoughts -reverted to Whymper. He was rather troubled in his -mind about the young architect. While he was now -strongly inclined to believe in his innocence, he was -still not certain of it, and he hesitated upon starting -off on this new inquiry until he had made up his -mind definitely about the other matter. But some -further thought showed him that there was no -special reason for coming to an immediate decision -about Whymper. Sergeant Kent was keeping him -under police supervision and might well continue -to do so for a day or two more.</p> - -<p>Two days later French received a voluminous -dossier of the case from the authorities in Scotland. -There were cuttings from several papers as well as -three columns from the <i>Kintilloch Weekly Argus</i>. -There was a detailed report from the local sergeant -embodying a short history of all concerned, and a -copy of Dr. Ferguson’s certificate of “death from -concussion, resulting from a fall.” Finally there was -a covering letter from the head of the department, -marked “confidential,” which stated that, owing to -some dissatisfaction in the mind of the local -superintendent, the matter had been gone into more fully -than might otherwise have been the case, but that -this inquiry having evolved no suspicious -circumstances, the affair had been dropped.</p> - -<p>Considerably impressed and beginning to think he -was on a hot scent, French settled down to study the -documents in detail. And the more he did so, the -more determined he became that he would sift the -affair to the bottom. Apart from the possible -murder of Mrs. Philpot and the bringing of her -murderer to justice, he saw that if such a crime had been -committed it might have a very important bearing -on the Starvel tragedy. Roper might have been -blackmailing Philpot, and though he did not see how, -Philpot might have some association with the crime. -Therefore, from two points of view it was his duty -to carry on.</p> - -<p>By the time he had read all the papers twice he -had a very good idea in his mind of what at least was -supposed to have taken place. Dr. Philpot was -third in command on the medical staff of the -Ransome Institute, a large mental hospital about a mile -from Kintilloch, a small town in Fifeshire. He was -a man of retiring disposition, neither popular nor -exactly unpopular, and pulling but a small weight in -the public and social affairs of the little township. -In May 1914 he had married Miss Edna Menzies, -the daughter of the manager of a large factory near -Dundee. Miss Menzies was a pretty young woman -with a vivacious manner and was a general -favourite, particularly among the athletic and sporting sets -of the community.</p> - -<p>The Philpots, who had no children, lived at -Braeside, a small detached house some half-mile -from the town and a few hundred yards from the -gate of the Ransome Institute. The only other -member of the household was a general servant, Flora -Macfarlane, who had been with them for over three -years at the date of the tragedy and who was -believed to be an efficient servant. But she was “ay -one for the lads,” as the local gossips expressed it, -and though the breath of scandal had so far passed -her by, dark hints were given and heads shaken -when her doings came under review.</p> - -<p>This girl, Flora, lived only a short distance from -Braeside. For some weeks before the tragedy her -mother had been ailing, and she had formed the -habit of running over to see her for a few minutes -when her duties permitted. About 5.30 on the -afternoon of the accident she had asked and obtained -permission to make one of these visits, undertaking -to be back in time to prepare dinner. This would -normally have meant an absence of about half an -hour. But as the girl left a heavy shower came on, -with the result that, after sheltering under a tree -for a few minutes, she abandoned her purpose and -returned to the house some fifteen minutes earlier -than she had expected. Braeside is built on sloping -ground, the hall door being level with the road in -front while the basement kitchen has an independent -entrance to the lower ground behind. Flora used -this lower entrance, and as she passed through she -heard Dr. Philpot speaking in a loud and agitated -voice. Something in the sound suggested disaster -and she ran up the back stairs to the hall to see if -anything was wrong. There she found Mrs. -Philpot lying on the floor at the foot of the stairs, -motionless and the colour of death. As a matter of -fact the lady was then dead, though Flora did not -know this until later. Dr. Philpot, with an -appearance of extreme anguish and despair, was -telephoning for help. His call made, he put down the -receiver and then, noticing the girl, cried: “She’s dead, -Flora! She’s dead! She has fallen downstairs and -been killed!” He was terribly upset and indeed -seemed hardly sane for some hours. Presently Dr. -Ferguson, the senior medical officer of the Institute, -arrived and a few minutes later Sergeant -MacGregor of the local police.</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot afterwards explained that he was -writing letters in his study when he heard a sudden -scream from his wife and a terrible noise like that of -a body falling down the stairs. He rushed out to -find Mrs. Philpot lying in a heap at the bottom of -the lower flight. She was unconscious and a large -contusion on her temple showed that she had struck -her head heavily on the floor. He laid her on her -back and tried everything that his knowledge -suggested to bring her round, but it was evident that she -had been fatally injured and in a minute or two she -was dead. The doctor had been so busy attending to -her that he had not had a moment to summon aid, -but directly he saw that all was over he telephoned -for his chief and the police.</p> - -<p>The lower flight consisted of sixteen steps. At the -top was a small landing. On this the stair carpet -was worn and there was a tiny hole. After the -tragedy the edge of this hole next the lower flight -was found to be raised and torn. That, coupled with -the fact that the deceased lady was wearing very -high-heeled shoes, suggested the theory that she had -met her death by catching her heel in the carpet -while descending the stairs.</p> - -<p>Such was the gist of the story as understood by -French. He thought it over in some doubt, -considering it from various angles. The tale certainly -hung together, and there was nothing impossible in -it. Everything indeed might well have taken place -exactly as described, and French felt that had he not -known of the confession, no suspicion of foul play -would have entered his mind. But in the light of -the confession he saw that the events might bear -another interpretation. Philpot was alone with his -wife at the time of the occurrence; and he probably -knew beforehand that he would be alone, that Flora -had obtained half an hour’s leave of absence. When -Flora returned Mrs. Philpot was dead. There was -no witness of the accident. No one other than -Philpot knew how the lady died. To have staged the -accident would have been easy, and a blow on the -temple with some heavy weapon such as a cricket -bat would have produced a bruise similar to that -caused by a fall. Moreover, a resourceful man could -have produced the suggestion that she had tripped -by deliberately raising the edge of the carpet at the -hole. Yes, it could all have been done exactly as -the confession suggested.</p> - -<p>Were these the considerations, French wondered, -which had caused the dissatisfaction in the mind of -the local superintendent, or were there still further -circumstances throwing suspicion on Philpot? -Whether or not, he felt the case against the doctor -was strong enough to justify a visit to Kintilloch.</p> - -<p>But one point—a vital one—he could settle -before starting, or so he believed. Walking down -the Embankment to Charing Cross, he went to the -writing room of the station hotel and wrote a letter -on the hotel paper.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="dateline">“5<i>th</i> <i>November</i>.</p> -<p>“<span class="name">Dear Sir,</span>—I should be grateful if you would -kindly inform me if a man named Henry Fuller ever -worked for you as gardener, and if so, whether you -found him satisfactory. He has applied to me for a -job, giving you as a reference.</p> -<p>“Apologising for troubling you,</p> -<p class="centered">“Yours faithfully,</p> -<p class="signature">“<span class="name">Charles Musgrave</span>.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>French addressed his letter to “Herbert Philpot, -Esq., M.D., Thirsby, Yorkshire, W.R.” and -dropping it into the hotel letter box, returned to the -Yard.</p> - -<p>Two days later he called for the reply, explaining -to the porter that he had intended to stay in the -hotel but had had to change his plans. Dr. Philpot -wrote briefly that there must be some mistake, as -no one of the name mentioned had ever worked for -him.</p> - -<p>But French was not interested in the career of the -hypothetical Henry Fuller. Instead he laid the -letter down on his desk beside the confession and with -a powerful lens fell to comparing the two.</p> - -<p>He was soon satisfied. The confession was a -forgery. The lens revealed a shakiness in the -writing due to slow and careful formation of the letters -which would not have been there had it been -written at an ordinary speed. French had no doubt on -the matter, but to make assurance doubly sure he -sent the two documents to the Yard experts for a -considered opinion. Before long he had their reply. -His conclusion was correct, an enlarged photograph -proved it conclusively.</p> - -<p>But even if the confession were forged, French -felt that the circumstances were so extraordinary -that he could not drop the matter. The whole affair -smacked of blackmail, and if blackmail had been -going on he thought it might in some way have a -bearing on the Starvel tragedy. At all events, even -though a forgery, the confession might state the -truth. It seemed necessary, therefore, to learn all -he could about the affair and he went in and laid -the whole matter before his Chief for that officer’s -decision.</p> - -<p>Chief Inspector Mitchell was surprised by the -story.</p> - -<p>“It’s certainly puzzling,” he admitted. “If the -document were genuine one could understand it a -bit. It’s possible, though it’s not easy, to imagine -circumstances under which it might have been -written. It might, for example, be that Roper had proof -of the doctor’s guilt, which he held back on getting -the confession to enable him to extort continuous -blackmail. Even in this case, however, it’s difficult -to see why he couldn’t have blackmailed on the proof -he already held. But none of these theories can be -the truth because the document is not genuine. A -forged confession is useless. Why then should -Roper value it sufficiently to store it in a safe -deposit? I confess it gets me, French, and I agree -that you should go into it further. I don’t see -that it will help you in any way with the Starvel -affair, but you never know. Something useful for -that too may come out. Say nothing to Philpot in -the meantime, but get away to this place in Scotland -and make a few inquiries.”</p> - -<p>That night French took the 11.40 sleeping car -express from King’s Cross. He changed at -Edinburgh next morning and, having breakfasted, -continued his journey into Fifeshire in a stopping train. -Eleven o’clock saw him at Cupar, the headquarters -of the Kintilloch district, and fifteen minutes later -he was seated in the office of the superintendent, -explaining to that astonished officer the surprising -development which had taken place.</p> - -<p>“They told me from Headquarters that you were -not satisfied about the affair when it occurred,” -French concluded. “I wondered if you would tell -me why?”</p> - -<p>“I will surely,” the other returned, leaning -forward confidentially, “but you’ll understand that we -hadn’t what you’d call an actual suspicion. There -was, first of all, the fact that it wasn’t a very -common kind of accident. I’ve heard of an occasional -person falling downstairs, but I’ve never heard of -any one being killed by it. Then there was nobody -there when it happened except Philpot: there was -no one to check his statement. What’s more, he -knew the servant was going out. The girl’s -statement was that Mrs. Philpot was with the doctor in -the study when she asked permission to go. It all -looked possible, you understand. But the thing that -really started us wondering was that the Philpots -were supposed to be on bad terms, and it was -whispered that Philpot was seeing a good deal of one -of the nurses up at the Institute. It’s only fair to -say that we couldn’t prove either of these rumors. -The only definite things we got hold of were that -the Philpots never went anywhere together, Mrs. -Philpot being socially inclined and he not, and that -he and the nurse were seen one day lunching in a -small hotel in Edinburgh. But of course there was -nothing really suspicious in these things and the rest -may have been just gossip. In any case he didn’t -marry the nurse. The talk made us look into the -affair, but we thought it was all right and we let it -drop.”</p> - -<p>French nodded. The superintendent’s statement -was comprehensive and he did not at first see what -more there was to be learned. But he sat on, -turning the thing over in his mind, in his competent, -unhurried way, until he had thought out and put in -order a number of points upon which further -information might be available.</p> - -<p>“I suppose that other doctor—Ferguson, you -called him—was quite satisfied by the accident -theory?”</p> - -<p>“Sergeant MacGregor asked him that, as a -routine question. Yes, there was no doubt the blow on -the temple killed her and in his opinion she might -have received it by falling down the stairs.”</p> - -<p>“And the servant girl had no suspicion?”</p> - -<p>“Well, we didn’t exactly ask her that in so many -words. But I’m satisfied she hadn’t. Besides, her -story was all right. There was nothing to cause -her suspicion—if she was telling the truth.”</p> - -<p>“Is she still in the town?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” the superintendent returned. “I -have an idea that she married shortly afterwards -and left. But Sergeant MacGregor will know. -Would you have time to go down to Kintilloch and -see him? I could go with you to-morrow, but I’m -sorry I’m engaged for the rest of to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, I’d like to see the sergeant, but I -shouldn’t think of troubling you to come. I think -indeed I shall have to see all concerned. It’s a -matter of form really; I don’t expect to get anything -more than your people did. But I’m afraid I shall -have to see them to satisfy the Chief. You see, there -may be some connection with this Starvel case that -I’m on. You don’t mind?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not. I’ll give you a note to -MacGregor. These country bumpkins become jealous -easily.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you. I think there’s only one other thing -I should like to ask you, and that’s about Roper. -Do you know anything of him?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t, but he might have lived at Kintilloch all -his life for all that. I don’t know the local people -very well. The sergeant will help you there. He -is a useful man for his job—a shrewd gossip. -There’s not much happens in his district that he -doesn’t know about.”</p> - -<p>A short run in a local train brought French to -Kintilloch and he was not long in finding the local -police station and introducing himself to Sergeant -MacGregor. That worthy at first displayed a canny -reserve, but on seeing his superintendent’s note -became loquacious and informative. With the -exception of two pieces of information, he had little to -tell of which French was not already aware. Those -two items, however, were important.</p> - -<p>The first was that he had known John Roper -well. Roper had been for six years an attendant -at the Ransome Institute. He had been, the -sergeant believed, directly under Dr. Philpot. At all -events he and the doctor knew each other intimately. -As to the man’s character; MacGregor knew -nothing against him, but he had not liked him, nor -indeed had many other people. Roper was an able -man, clever and efficient, but he had a sneering, -satirical manner and was unable to refrain from -making caustic remarks which hurt people’s -feelings and made him enemies. He left his job and the -town some three or four years after Dr. Philpot as -a result of trouble at the Institute, and so far as the -sergeant could tell, no one was very sorry to see the -last of him. The sergeant had supposed he had -gone to Brazil, as he had applied for a passport for -that country. He had informed the sergeant that -he had a brother in Santos and was going out to -him.</p> - -<p>The second piece of news was that Flora -Macfarlane, the Philpots’ maid, had been married a month -or so after Mrs. Philpot’s death, and to no less a -person than John Roper. The girl who had all but -witnessed her mistress’ tragic death had herself five -years later been a victim in that still more terrible -tragedy at the old house in Starvel Hollow.</p> - -<p>As French shortly afterwards walked up the long -curving drive of the Ransome Institute, he felt that -he was progressing. He was getting connections -which were binding the isolated incidents of this -strange episode into a single whole, and if that -whole was not yet completely intelligible, he hoped -and believed it soon would be. There was first of -all the confession. He had started with the -confession as a single fact, connected incomprehensibly -with Roper through the medium of possession, but -not connected with Philpot at all. Now the -connection between Roper and Philpot had been -demonstrated. Roper had first-hand information about -the doctor from their respective positions on the -staff of the Institute, and he had as good as -first-hand information about the doctor’s household from -the girl he afterwards married. It all looked bad. -Every further fact discovered increased the -probability that Roper was blackmailing Philpot, and -that the confession was a true statement of what -had happened.</p> - -<p>French’s interview with Dr. Ferguson was -disappointing. He asked first about Roper and received -very much the same information that Sergeant -MacGregor had given him. Roper had been attendant -to an invalid gentleman, a great traveller, with -whom he had been over most of Europe and -America. On the invalid’s death he had applied for a -job at the Ransome. He was a fully qualified -nurse, very intelligent and efficient, but he had not -been personally liked. He seemed rather inhuman -and did not mind whom he offended with his sharp -tongue. He was, however, good with the patients, -except for one thing. On two occasions he had been -found giving troublesome patients unauthorised -drugs to keep them quiet. The first case was not a -bad one, and on promising amendment, he was let -off with a caution. When the second case was -discovered he was immediately dismissed. He had not -asked for, nor been given, a discharge.</p> - -<p>Anxious to see whether Roper’s handwriting -contained any idiosyncrasies which had been reproduced -in the forged documents, French with some difficulty -obtained some old forms which he had filled up. -These he put in his pocket for future study.</p> - -<p>He then turned the conversation to Philpot. But -he was here on difficult ground and had to be very -wary and subtle in his questions. Between doctors, -he knew, there is a considerable freemasonry, and -he felt sure that if Ferguson imagined Philpot was -suspected of murder, he would take steps to put him -on his guard; not in any way to take the part of a -murderer, but to see that a colleague in trouble had -a fair chance. That Philpot should get any hint of -his suspicions was the last thing French wanted, as -he hoped the man’s surprise at an unexpected -question would force him into an involuntary admission -of guilt.</p> - -<p>At all events Ferguson told him nothing about -Philpot that he had not known before. He asked -and obtained permission to interrogate a number of -the staff who remembered the two men, but from -none of these did he learn anything new about -either.</p> - -<p>He could see nothing for it, therefore, but to -interview Philpot forthwith, and returning to the -station, he caught the last train to Edinburgh. -There he stayed the night, and next day took a train -which brought him through the Border country to -Carlisle and thence in due course to Hellifield and -Thirsby.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch08"> - -<h2>CHAPTER EIGHT: Dr. Philpot’s Story</h2> - -<p>Doctor Philpot lived in a small detached house -at the end of the High Street of the little town, -close enough to the centre of things to be -convenient for patients, and far enough away to have a -strip of garden round his house and to avoid being -overlooked by his neighbours.</p> - -<p>The reply to the letter he had written from -“Charles Musgrave” about the mythical gardener -told French that the doctor’s consulting hours were -from six to eight o’clock in the evening, and at two -minutes to eight on the day he had returned from -Edinburgh French rang the doctor’s bell. The door -was opened by an elderly woman who led the way -to the consulting room.</p> - -<p>There seemed to French a vaguely unprosperous -air about the place. The garden was untended, the -railing wanted paint and the house, while well -enough furnished, looked neglected and dirty. -French wondered if these were the outward and -visible signs of the betting proclivities of their owner, -of which the hotel landlord had taken so serious a -view.</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot was seated at a writing table, but he -rose on French’s entry. His appearance was not -exactly unprepossessing, but it suggested a lack of -force or personality. Physically he was frail, neither -tall nor short, and washed out as to colouring. His -tired, dreamy-looking eyes were of light blue, his -fair hair, thinning on the top, was flecked with gray -and his complexion had an almost unhealthy pallor. -He had well-formed, rather aristocratic features, -but his expression was bored and dissatisfied. He -struck French as a dreamer rather than a practical -man of affairs. But his manner was polite enough -as he wished his visitor good-evening and pointed -to a chair.</p> - -<p>“I have called, Dr. Philpot, not as a patient, -but to consult you on a small matter of -business.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot glanced at the clock on the marble -chimney piece.</p> - -<p>“It is just eight,” he answered. “I shall not have -any more patients to-night. I am quite at your -service.”</p> - -<p>French sat down and made a remark or two about -the weather, while he watched the man opposite to -him keenly but unobtrusively. He was playing for -time in which to ascertain what manner of man -this doctor really was, so that he might handle the -interview in the way most likely to achieve its end. -Philpot replied politely but shortly, evidently at a -loss to know why his visitor could not come to the -point. But French presently did so with surprising -suddenness.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry, Dr. Philpot, that I am here on very -unpleasant business, and I must begin by telling -you that I am a detective inspector from New -Scotland Yard.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke French made no secret of his keen -scrutiny. His eyes never left the other’s face, and -he felt the thrill of the hunter when he noticed a -sudden change come over its expression. From -inattentive and bored it now became watchful and -wary, and the man’s figure seemed to stiffen as if -he were bracing himself to meet a shock.</p> - -<p>“I regret to say,” French proceeded, “that -information has recently been received by the Yard -which, if true, would indicate that you are guilty -of a very serious crime, and I have to warn you -that if you are unable to offer me a satisfactory -explanation I may have to arrest you, in which case -anything which you may now say may be used in -evidence against you.”</p> - -<p>French was deeply interested by the other’s -reception of this speech. Dr. Philpot’s face was showing -extreme apprehension, not to say actual fear. This -was not altogether unexpected—French had seen -apprehension stamped on many a face under similar -circumstances. But what was unexpected was that -the doctor should show no surprise. He seemed -indeed to take French’s statement for granted, as -if a contingency which he had long expected had -at last arisen. “He knows what is coming,” French -thought as he paused for the other to speak.</p> - -<p>But Philpot did not speak. Instead he -deliberately raised his eyebrows, and looking inquiringly -at French, waited for him to continue. French -remained silent for a moment or two, then leaning -forward and staring into the other’s eyes, he said -in a low tone: “Dr. Philpot, you are accused of -murdering your wife, Edna Philpot, at your home -at Braeside, Kintilloch, about 5.30 on the afternoon -of the 15th May, 1921.”</p> - -<p>The doctor started and paled. For a moment -panic seemed about to overtake him, then he pulled -himself together.</p> - -<p>“Ridiculous!” he declared coolly. “Your -information must be capable of some other explanation. -What does it consist of?”</p> - -<p>“It purports to be the statement of an -eyewitness,” French returned, continuing slowly: “It -mentions—among other things—it mentions—a cricket -bat.”</p> - -<p>Again Philpot’s start indicated that the shot had -told, but he answered steadily:—</p> - -<p>“A cricket bat? I don’t follow. What has a -cricket bat to do with it?”</p> - -<p>“Everything,” French said grimly: “if the -information received is correct, of course.”</p> - -<p>Philpot turned and faced him.</p> - -<p>“Look here,” he said harshly, “will you say right -out what you mean and be done with it? Are you -accusing me of murdering my wife with a cricket -bat, or what are you trying to get at?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you,” French rejoined. “The statement -is that you arranged the—‘accident’—which befell -your wife. The ‘accident,’ however, did not kill -her, as you hoped and intended, and you then struck -her on the temple with a cricket bat, which did kill -her. That, I say, is the statement. I have just -been to Kintilloch and have been making inquiries. -Now, Dr. Philpot, when I mentioned the cricket -bat you started. You therefore realised its -significance. Do you care to give me an explanation -or would you prefer to reserve your statement until -you have consulted a solicitor?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot grew still paler as he sat silent, lost in -thought.</p> - -<p>“Do you mean that you will arrest me if I don’t -answer your questions?”</p> - -<p>“I shall have no alternative.”</p> - -<p>Again the doctor considered while his eyes grew -more sombre and his expression more hopeless. At -last he seemed to come to a decision. He spoke -in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Ask your questions and I’ll answer them if I -can.”</p> - -<p>French nodded.</p> - -<p>“Did you ever,” he said slowly, “admit to any -one that you had committed this murder?”</p> - -<p>Philpot looked at him in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Never!” he declared emphatically.</p> - -<p>“Then how,” French went on, slapping the -confession down on the table, “how did you come to -write this?”</p> - -<p>Philpot stared at the document as if his eyes would -start out of his head. His face expressed -incredulous amazement, but here again French, who was -observing him keenly, felt his suspicions grow. -Philpot was surprised at the production of the paper; -it was impossible to doubt the reality of his -emotion. But he did not read it. He evidently -recognised it and knew its contents. For a moment he -gazed breathlessly, then he burst out with a bitter -oath.</p> - -<p>“The infernal scoundrel!” he cried furiously. “I -knew he was bad, but this is more than I could have -imagined! That——Roper is at the bottom of this, -I’ll swear! It’s another of his hellish tricks!”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean?” French asked. “Explain -yourself.”</p> - -<p>“You got that paper from Roper—somehow, -didn’t you?” The man was speaking eagerly now. -“Even after he’s dead his evil genius remains.”</p> - -<p>“If after my warning you care to make a -statement, I will hear it attentively, and you will have -every chance to clear yourself. As I told you I -have learned about the case from various sources. -I retain that knowledge to check your statement.”</p> - -<p>Philpot made a gesture as if casting prudence to -the winds.</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you everything; I have no option,” he -said, and his manner grew more eager. “It means -admitting actions which I hoped never to have to -speak of again. But I can’t help myself. I don’t -know whether you’ll believe my story, but I will -tell you everything exactly as it happened.”</p> - -<p>“I am all attention, Dr. Philpot.”</p> - -<p>The doctor paused for a moment as if to collect -his thoughts, then still speaking eagerly though more -calmly, he began:—</p> - -<p>“As you have inquired into this terrible affair, -you probably know a good deal of what I am going -to tell you. However, lest you should not have -heard all, I shall begin at the beginning.</p> - -<p>“In the year 1913 I was appointed assistant on -the medical staff of the Ransome Institute. One of -the attendants there was called Roper, John Roper: -the John Roper who lost his life at Starvel some -weeks ago. He was a sneering, cynical man with -an outwardly correct manner, but when he wished -to be nasty, with a very offensive turn of phrase. -He was under my immediate supervision and we fell -foul of each other almost at once.</p> - -<p>“One day, turning a corner in one of the corridors -I came on Roper with his arms round one of the -nurses. Whether she was encouraging him or not -I could not tell, but when he saw me he let her go -and she instantly vanished. I spoke to him sharply -and said I would report him. I should have been -warned by his look of hate, but he spoke civilly and -quietly.</p> - -<p>“ ‘I have nothing to say about myself,’ he said, -‘but you’ll admit that Nurse Williams is a good -nurse, and well conducted. I happen to know she -is supporting her mother, and if she gets the sack -it will be ruin to both of them.’</p> - -<p>“I told him he should have considered that earlier, -but when I thought over the affair I felt sorry for -the girl. She was, as he had said, a thoroughly -attentive, kindly girl, and a good nurse. Well, not -to make too long a story, there I made my mistake. -I showed weakness and I made no report.”</p> - -<p>Philpot had by this time mastered his emotion -and now he was speaking quietly and collectedly, -though with an earnestness that carried conviction.</p> - -<p>“But though I hadn’t reported him, Roper from -that moment hated me. He was outwardly polite, -but I could see the hatred in his eyes. I, on my -part, grew short with him. We never spoke -except on business and as little as possible on that. -But all the time he was watching for his revenge.</p> - -<p>“In May, 1914, I married and set up house at -Braeside. Then came the war and in ’15 I joined -up. After two years I was invalided out and went -back to Kintilloch. Roper, I should say, was -exempted from service owing to a weak heart.</p> - -<p>“On my return after that two years I was a -different man. I am not pleading neurasthenia, though -I suffered from shell-shock, but I had no longer the -self-control of my former days. Though I still -dearly loved my wife, I confess I felt strongly -attracted to other women when in their company. -Thus it happened—I don’t want to dwell on a -painful subject—that I, in my turn, became guilty of the -very offence for which I had threatened to report -Roper.” He spoke with an obvious effort. “There -was a nurse there—I need not tell you her name: -she’s not there now—but she was a pretty girl with -a kindly manner. I met her accidentally in -Edinburgh and on the spur of the moment asked her to -lunch. From that our acquaintance ripened and -at last, by Fate’s irony—well, Roper found her -in my arms one evening in a deserted part of the -Institute shrubbery. I can never forget his satanic -smile as he stood there looking at us. I sent the -girl away and then he disclosed his terms. The price -of his silence was ten shillings a week. If I would -pay him ten shillings a week he would forget what -he had seen.</p> - -<p>“Well, just consider my position. The incident -was harmless in itself and yet its publication would -have been my ruin. As you probably know, in such -institutions that sort of thing is very severely dealt -with. If Roper had reported me to the authorities -my resignation would have followed as a matter of -course. And it was not I alone who would have -suffered. The nurse would probably have had to go. -My wife also had to be considered. I needn’t -attempt to justify myself, but I took the coward’s way -and agreed to Roper’s terms.</p> - -<p>“Then there was triumph on his evil face and -he saw that he had me. With outward civility and -veiled insolence he said that while my word was as -good to him as my bond, the matter was a business -one, and should be settled in a business way. To -ensure continued payment he must have a guarantee. -The guarantee was to take the form of a statement -written and signed by myself, stating—but I can -remember its exact words. It was to say:—</p> - -<p>“ ‘I, Herbert Philpot, doctor of medicine and at -present assistant on the staff of the Ransome -Institute in this town, under compulsion and in the -hope of avoiding exposure, hereby admit that I have -been carrying on an intrigue with Nurse So-and-so -of the same institution. I further admit unseemly -conduct with her in the grounds of the Ransome -Institute on the evening of this 2nd October, 1920, -though I deny any serious impropriety.’ ”</p> - -<p>Philpot was now speaking in low tones with every -appearance of shame and distress, as if the memory -of these events and the putting of them into words -was acutely painful to him. His manner was -convincing, and French felt that the story, at least so -far, might well be true.</p> - -<p>“You can’t think less of me than I do of myself, -Inspector, when I tell you that at last after a protest -and a long argument I submitted even in this -humiliation. I am not trying to justify myself, but -I just couldn’t face the trouble. I wrote the -statement. Roper took it, and thanking me civilly, said -he would keep it hidden as long as the money was -paid. But if there was a failure to pay he would -send it anonymously to the Institute authorities.</p> - -<p>“After that everything seemed to become normal -again. Every Saturday I secretly handed Roper a -ten-shilling note and our relations otherwise went -on as before. And then came that awful afternoon -when my wife lost her life.</p> - -<p>“I can never forget the horror of that time and -I surely need not dwell on it? If you have made -inquiries at Kintilloch you will know what took place. -Every word I said then was the literal truth. I -shall pass on to what happened afterwards, but if -there is any question you want to ask I will try to -answer it.”</p> - -<p>“There is nothing so far.”</p> - -<p>“One evening about a week after the funeral -Roper called at my house and asked for an -interview. I brought him into my study and then he -referred to the ten shillings a week and said that -he was sure I would see that his knowledge had now -become vastly more valuable, and what was I going -to do about it? I said that on the contrary it was -now almost worthless. My wife was dead and I -didn’t care what became of myself. There was -only the nurse to think of, and even about her I -didn’t now mind so much, as she had gone to -America. At the same time for peace’ sake I would -continue the payments. He need not, however, think -he was going to get any more out of me.</p> - -<p>“His answer dumbfounded me. It left me -terribly shaken and upset. He said he expected I hadn’t -known it, but the police suspected me of murdering -my wife, and were making all sorts of inquiries about -me. He pointed out that it was generally believed -my wife and I hated each other: that we were seldom -seen together and that she had been overheard -speaking disparagingly of me. Then he said I was -alone in the house when she met her death; no one -had seen the accident and there was only my word -for what had taken place. He said it was known -there was a cricket bat in the hall, and that it would -be obvious to any one that a blow on the temple -from the flat side of the bat would look just like a -bruise caused by striking the floor. All this, he -said, the police had discovered, but what prevented -them taking action was the fact that they didn’t -think they could show a strong enough motive to -take the case into court. That, he said—and I shall -never forget the devilish look in his eyes—that was -where he came in. He had but to go forward and -relate the incident in the shrubbery to complete their -case. He explained that he could do it in a -perfectly natural way. He would say that while the -affair was only a mere intrigue he did not consider -it his business to interfere, but when it came to -murder it was a different thing. He did not wish to -be virtually an accessory after the fact.</p> - -<p>“His remarks came as a tremendous shock to me. -The possibility of such a terrible suspicion had not -occurred to me, but now I saw that there was indeed -a good deal of circumstantial evidence against me. -I need not labour the matter. The result of our -long conversation is all you wish to hear. In the -end I was guilty of the same weakness and folly -that I had shown before; I asked him his price and -agreed to pay it. Two pounds a week, he demanded, -until further notice, and I gave way. But when he -went on to say that as before he required a -guarantee and must have a written confession of the crime, -I felt he had passed the limit. I refused to avow -a crime of which I was not guilty, and dared him to -do his worst.</p> - -<p>“But once again he proved himself one too many -for me. With his cynical evil smile he took two -photographs out of his pocket and handed me one. -It was an extraordinarily clear copy of my -confession of the intrigue with the nurse. Then he handed -me the other photograph and at first I just couldn’t -believe my eyes. It was a copy of this,” and Dr. -Philpot picked up the note that French had found -in Roper’s safe deposit.</p> - -<p>“I asked him, of course, for an explanation and -he admitted brazenly that he had forged the letter. -He had spent the week since the accident making -copy after copy until he had got it perfect. When -I stormed at him and threatened him with arrest he -just laughed and said the boot was on the other -foot. He said I needn’t have the slightest -uneasiness, that so long as the money was paid the letter -would never see the light of day. Otherwise the -document would be enclosed anonymously to the -police. You may guess how it ended up. I promised -to pay: and I paid.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot’s face looked more gray and weary -than ever and his eyes took on a deeper sombreness -as he said these words. He waited as if for French -to speak, but French did not move and he -resumed:—</p> - -<p>“After all that had happened, life at Kintilloch -became inexpressibly painful for me and I began to -look out for another job. Then I heard that the -principal doctor of this little town was old and in -failing health, and there was a possible opening for -a new-comer. I resigned the Ransome job and set -up my plate here. But every week I sent two -treasury notes to Roper.</p> - -<p>“Some fifteen or sixteen months ago, when I had -been here between three and four years, I had a -letter from Roper saying that he had seen an -advertisement for a man and wife to act as servants -to a Mr. Averill of Starvel in my neighbourhood. -As he had shortly before left the Ransome he -wished to apply. As a matter of fact, I found out -later that he had been dismissed for drugging a -patient. I forgot to say also that he had married -my former servant. If, he went on, I would use -my influence with Mr. Averill to get him the job he -would cease his demand for the two pounds a week -and send me the note he had forged.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Averill was by this time my patient, and I -mentioned Roper to him. I could do so with a clear -conscience for with all his faults Roper was an -excellent attendant. His wife, Flora, also was a good -servant and I believed they would suit Mr. Averill -well. At the same time I told Mr. Averill just why -he had left the Ransome. But Mr. Averill thought -that for that very reason he could get them cheap -and after some negotiations they were engaged.</p> - -<p>“The very same week Roper called on me and said -I had kept my word in the past and he would keep -his now. He said he was tired of crooked going -and wished to live straight. He would blackmail -me no longer. He handed me the forged note and -watched me put it in the fire. I ceased paying him -the money. From then to the day of his death he -was civil when we met, and no unpleasant subjects -were touched on. I began to believe his reformation -was genuine, but now since you show me this I see -he was unchanged. It is evident he must have made -a copy of his forgery and kept one while he let me -destroy the other. I wish you would tell me how -you got it. What his motive can have been you -may be able to guess, but I cannot.</p> - -<p>“That, Inspector, is the whole truth of this -unhappy affair. I had hoped never to have to speak -of it again, and now that I have told you of it I -trust that the whole miserable business may be -decently buried and forgotten.”</p> - -<p>French nodded gravely. He was puzzled by this -long story of the doctor’s. The tale was certainly -possible. As he reviewed each point he had to admit -that not only was it possible, but it was even -reasonably probable. Given a man of weak character -as this doctor appeared to be, and a clever and -unscrupulous ruffian, as Roper had been painted, the -whole affair could have happened quite naturally -and logically. Moreover it adequately covered all -the facts.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, if Philpot had killed his wife -he would tell just some such tale as this. There was -no one to refute it. Roper and his wife were dead -and the nurse had left the country. Of course, it -might be possible to trace the nurse, but it certainly -couldn’t be done easily or rapidly.</p> - -<p>As he turned the matter over in his mind it seemed -to French that the crucial point was the authenticity -of the confession. If Philpot had written it, he had -done so because he was guilty and because he, -therefore, could not help himself. However terrible the -putting of such a statement in black and white would -be to him, it would be the lesser of two evils, the -alternative being immediate betrayal. But if the -confession were a forgery all this would be reversed. -It could only have come into being in some such way -as the doctor had described. In fact, in his case -it would amount to a powerful confirmation of his -story.</p> - -<p>Now, upon this point there was no doubt. The -confession definitely <em>was</em> a forgery. The Yard -experts were unanimous, and their opinion under such -circumstances might be taken for gospel. French -might therefore start with a strong bias in favour of -Philpot.</p> - -<p>This French realised, and then he found himself -again weighed down by doubt. Was it credible that -a man would really pay blackmail for fear of -having an obviously forged confession produced? At -first French did not think so—he would not have -done it himself—but as he considered the special -circumstances he saw that this question did not -accurately describe the situation as it would appear to -the doctor. In the first place, Philpot did not know -how bad a forgery the document was. It seemed -to him his own writing, and he had no guarantee -that it would not be accepted as such. But he knew -that if it were produced he would almost certainly -have the misery of arrest and imprisonment and -possibly of trial also. Moreover, the episode of the -nurse would come out, and the result of the whole -business would have been ruin to his career. If -Philpot had been a strong man he would no doubt have -faced the situation, but as it was, French felt sure -that he would take the coward’s way. No, there was -nothing in this idea to make him doubt the man’s -story.</p> - -<p>On the contrary, Philpot’s admission that he had -submitted to blackmail was actually in his favour. -If he had intended to lie surely he would have -invented a tale less damaging to himself. He had not -hesitated to tell French about the nurse and so -present him with the very motive for his wife’s -murder which was lacking in the case against himself.</p> - -<p>On the whole it seemed to French that the -probabilities were on Philpot’s side and he himself inclined -to the view that he was innocent. Whatever the -truth, he saw that he had no case to bring into court. -No jury would convict on such evidence.</p> - -<p>And if here was no evidence to convict the man -of the murder of his wife, there was still less to -associate him with the Starvel affair. In fact there -was here no case against him at all. Even leaving -Philpot’s illness out of the question, there was -nothing to indicate any connection with the crime. It -would be just as reasonable to suspect Emerson or -Oxley or even Kent.</p> - -<p>French had an uncomfortable feeling that he had -been following will-o’-the-wisps both in this affair -and in Whymper’s. The circumstances in each had -been suspicious and he did not see how he could have -avoided following them up, but now that he had -done so it looked as if he had been wasting his time. -Ruefully he saw also that he had rather got away -from his facts. He had forgotten that the motive -of the Starvel crime had not to be sought in -anything indirect or ingenious or fanciful. The motive -was obvious enough and commonplace enough in all -conscience; it was theft. And such a motive French -could not see actuating either Philpot or Whymper.</p> - -<p>No, he must get back to the facts. Who had -stolen the money? That was what he had to find -out. And he would not get it the way he was going. -He must start again and work with more skill and -vision. First, he must reassure this doctor, and then -he must get away to some place where he could think -without interruption.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry, Dr. Philpot, to have had to give -you the pain of reopening matters which I can well -understand you would have preferred to leave -closed. It was necessary, however, that my doubts -on these matters should either be confirmed or set -at rest. I may say that I accept your story and am -satisfied with the explanation you have given me. I -hope it may be possible to let the affair drop and at -the present time I see no reason to prevent it.” He -arose. “I wish you good-night, doctor, and thank -you for your confidence.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch09"> - -<h2>CHAPTER NINE: The Value of Analysis</h2> - -<p>The next morning was fine and bright, with an -invigorating autumn nip in the air. The kind of -day for a good walk, thought French, as after -breakfast he stood in the hotel coffee room, looking -out on the placid life of the little town, exemplified -at the moment in the dawdling passage of three tiny -children with school satchels over their shoulders. -He liked the place. He had taken a fancy to it -on that first evening of his arrival, and what he -had seen of it since had only confirmed his first -impression. The surroundings also seemed attractive, -and he hoped to explore them more fully before he -left.</p> - -<p>As he stood gazing into the main street it -occurred to him that for his explorations no time more -propitious than the present was likely to offer. For -the moment he was at a dead lock in his case. After -he had finished writing out the doctor’s statement -on the previous evening he had thought over the -affair and he had not seen his way clear. What he -required was a detailed study of the whole position -in the hope of lighting on some further clue or line -of research. And what better opportunity for such -contemplation could there be than during a long -tramp through lonely country? Surely for once -duty and inclination coincided?</p> - -<p>Whether this latter was strictly true or not, ten -minutes later saw him starting out with a stick in -his hand and a packet of sandwiches in his pocket. -He turned in the Starvel direction, and climbing up -the side of the valley, came out on the wide expanse -of the moor. Ahead of him it lay, stretching away -in irregular undulating waves into the gray-blue -distance, with here and there a rounded hill rising -above the general level. For miles he could see the -ribbon of the road showing white against the browns -and greens of the grass where it wound up over -shoulders and ridges and mounted the far sides of -hollows. Extraordinarily deserted was the country -side, a solitude quite astonishing in so densely -populated a land as this of England.</p> - -<p>For a time French tramped on, his mind -occupied with his surroundings, but gradually it turned -back to his case and he began reckoning up his -progress, and considering how he could best attack -what still remained to be done. And the more he -thought of it, the less rosy the outlook seemed. -Ruefully he had to admit that in point of fact he -was practically no further on than when he started. -He had done a good deal of work, no doubt, but -unfortunately it had brought him only a negative -result. His researches into the movements of -Whymper and Philpot had been unavoidable, but these had -proved side lines and he did not believe that either -would help him with the main issue.</p> - -<p>He let his mind rest once again on Philpot’s -statement. If it were true, Roper showed up very badly. -From every point of view he seemed a thorough-paced -blackguard. Though this had come out more -particularly from the doctor’s story it was fairly -well-confirmed by what French had been told at -Kintilloch. Neither Sergeant MacGregor nor Dr. -Ferguson had a good word to say about the man. No -one appeared to like him, and in the end he had been -dismissed from the Institute for a fault of a -particularly serious nature.</p> - -<p>But he was a clever rascal also. French was -amazed when he considered how he had succeeded in -worming himself into old Averill’s confidence. -Even making allowances for the old man’s weak-minded -senility, it was almost incredible that this -shifty scoundrel should have been trusted with a -secret which Whymper would risk a murder charge -rather than reveal.</p> - -<p>French tramped on, pondering over the matter in -his careful, painstaking way. Yes, that was the -point. Misers were proverbially suspicious, and -Averill’s knowledge of Roper’s break at the -Ransome would not tend to increase his trust in him. -His confidence was certainly rather wonderful.</p> - -<p>And then French suddenly stood stock still as an -idea flashed into his mind. Was his confidence not -too wonderful to be true? Had Roper really -wormed his way thus far into old Averill’s -confidence? He had not hesitated to blackmail Philpot; -had he played some similar trick on Whymper?</p> - -<p>As French considered the suggestion, a point -which had before seemed immaterial now took on -a sinister significance. Though Averill was -represented as the moving spirit of the affair, his -connection with it had never been directly proved. -Roper, and Roper alone, had appeared. It was true -that a note purporting to come from Averill had -been produced, but in the light of Philpot’s revelation -of Roper’s skill as a forger, who had written -it? Was there any reason why Roper should not -have engineered the whole thing?</p> - -<p>French reviewed the circumstances in detail. The -first move was Roper’s. He had met Whymper -outside the church gate and told him that Mr. -Averill wished to see him, asking him to go out there -that evening. Secretly, mind you; no one was to -know of the visit. Whymper had accordingly gone -out. But he had not seen Averill. He had seen -Roper, and Roper only. It was true that he was -presented with a note purporting to be from Averill, -but had Averill written it? French remembered -that the handwriting was extremely like Averill’s, -but in the absence of any reason for suspecting its -authenticity he had not given it the careful scrutiny -which he might have done. That was an error he -must repair at once, and if the shadow of a doubt -was aroused in his mind he must send the papers -to the Yard for expert opinion.</p> - -<p>Altogether it undoubtedly looked as if the whole -of the Whymper episode might have been Roper’s -work. But if so, what about the £500? Surely in -this case Roper must have stolen it? And if he had -stolen it—French grew almost excited as step after -step revealed itself—if Roper had stolen it, did -it not follow that he had murdered Averill, rifled -the safe, taken out the notes and replaced them with -burnt newspapers?</p> - -<p>And then French saw a step farther. If he were -right so far, Roper’s motive in the Whymper -incident became clear as day. If Roper had stolen -thousands of pounds’ worth of notes he must find out -whether it was safe to pass them. Were the -numbers of the notes known? This was a matter of -vital importance, and it was one on which he could -not possibly ask for information. If suspicion -became aroused, to have made inquiries on the point -would be fatal. He must therefore arrange for -some one else to pass a number of the notes, and -preferably a number of those most recently acquired -by Averill. Moreover, this person must not, if -suspected, be able to account satisfactorily for their -possession. Given the knowledge of Whymper’s -feeling for Ruth and some acquaintance with -Averill’s family affairs, a clever and unscrupulous man -like Roper could easily have invented a story to -make Whymper his dupe.</p> - -<p>All this, French recognised, was speculation. -Indeed it was little more than guesswork. But it was -at least a working theory which covered all the facts, -and he believed it was worth while following it up.</p> - -<p>He turned aside off the road, and sitting down -in the thin, autumn sunshine with his back against an -outcropping rock, slowly filled and lit his pipe as he -pursued his cogitations.</p> - -<p>If Roper had stolen the notes and put burnt -newspapers in the safe, he must have intended to burn the -house. And here again the motive was clear. In -no other way could he so conveniently get rid of -Averill’s body and the traces of his crime. In fact, -the plan had actually succeeded. It was not the -doings at Starvel which aroused suspicion, but -Whymper’s passing of the note some three weeks later. -The coroner’s court had brought in a verdict of -accidental death. If Tarkington had not kept the -numbers of the notes sent out to Averill and advised -his headquarters that those notes had been -destroyed, no doubts would ever have arisen.</p> - -<p>But just here was a snag. Could so able a man -as Roper have bungled so hideously as to have -allowed himself and his wife to be caught in the trap -he had arranged for Averill? Or had he intended -to murder Mrs. Roper also? There was certainly -no evidence for suspecting this. But whether or not, -what terrible Nemesis could have overtaken Roper? -Had he really been drunk and paid for his indulgence -with his life? French did not think so. He -could not devise any convincing explanation of -Roper’s death, and he began to wonder if this -objection were not so overwhelming as to upset the -theory of the man’s guilt which he had been so -laboriously building up.</p> - -<p>He gazed out over the wide expanse of the moor -with unseeing eyes as he dreamily puffed at his pipe -and wrestled with the problem. And then a further -point occurred to him. Did not this theory of the -guilt of Roper throw some light on Ruth Averill’s -visit to York? French had noted it as a curious -coincidence that she should have left the house on the -day before the tragedy. But now he wondered if it -was a coincidence. Had her absence been arranged; -arranged by Roper? He reconsidered the facts -from this new angle.</p> - -<p>First, it was significant that all the arrangements -had been carried through by Roper. Just as in -Whymper’s case, Mr. Averill was supposed to be -the prime mover, but his power was manifested only -through Roper. Roper it was who handed Ruth -the note from Mrs. Palmer-Gore; doubtless a -forged note. Roper had produced the ten pounds. -Roper had arranged about the journey, and Roper -had used his influence to prevent Ruth from seeing -her uncle. When she had persisted she found the -old man asleep, breathing heavily and looking queer -and unlike himself. As to the cause of that -appearance and that sleep French could now make a pretty -shrewd guess. Roper had been faced with a -difficulty. He could not keep Ruth from her uncle -without arousing suspicion. Nor could he allow her to -have a discussion with him or his plot would have -been exposed. He had, therefore, taken the only -way out. He had drugged the old man. Ruth -could pay her visit, but she would learn nothing from -it.</p> - -<p>French was thrilled by his theory. It was working -out so well. He was congratulating himself that -at last he was on the right track, when another -snag occurred to him and brought him up, as it were, -all standing.</p> - -<p>The Palmer-Gore invitation could not have been -forged! Had Mrs. Palmer-Gore not written it, the -fact would have come out on Ruth’s arrival at York.</p> - -<p>Here was a rather staggering objection. But the -more French thought over the case as a whole, the -more disposed he became to believe in Roper’s guilt. -The man was a clever scoundrel. Perhaps he had -been able to devise some way to meet this difficulty -also.</p> - -<p>On the whole French was so much impressed by -his theory that he determined to go into it without -loss of time in the hope that further research would -lead to a definite conclusion.</p> - -<p>He ate his sandwiches, then leaving his seat in the -lee of the rock, walked back to Thirsby. Among his -papers was the letter which Roper had given to -Whymper, and this he once again compared with -the samples of old Mr. Averill’s handwriting he had -obtained from Tarkington.</p> - -<p>Possibly because of the doubt now existing in his -mind, this time he felt less certain of its authenticity. -After some study he thought that some further -samples of the genuine handwriting might be helpful, -and walking down to Oxley’s office, he asked if the -solicitor could oblige him with them. Oxley handed -him four letters, and when French had critically -examined these he found his suspicions strengthened. -While by no means positive, he was now inclined to -believe Whymper’s was a forgery. He therefore -sent the lot to the Yard, asking for an expert -opinion to be wired him.</p> - -<p>In the meantime he decided he would concentrate -on a point which he felt would be even more -conclusive than forged letters: the matter of Mrs. -Palmer-Gore’s invitation to Ruth. If Roper had got rid of -Ruth so that the coast might be clear for the -robbery, he had provided the invitation. He had either -written it himself or he had arranged the -circumstances which caused Mrs. Palmer-Gore to do so. -If he had done either of these things he was pretty -certain to be guilty.</p> - -<p>The only way to learn the truth was to interview -Mrs. Palmer-Gore. French therefore took the -evening train to York, and nine o’clock found him at -Oakdean, Ashton Drive, asking if the lady of the -house could see him.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Palmer-Gore was a big, rather untidy, -kindly-looking woman of about fifty. French, rapidly -sizing her up, introduced himself in his real -character, apologised for his late call and begged her -kind offices. If she wouldn’t mind his not giving -her the reason of his inquiry for the moment, he -should like to ask a question. Would she tell him -just why she had asked Miss Ruth Averill to York -some eight weeks previously?</p> - -<p>Mrs. Palmer-Gore was naturally surprised at the -inquiry, but when she understood that the matter -was serious she answered readily.</p> - -<p>“Why, I could scarcely have done anything else. -Mr. Averill’s note was phrased in a way which -would have made it difficult to refuse.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Averill’s note? I didn’t know he had -written.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he wrote to say that he hoped he was not -presuming on an old friendship in asking me -whether I would invite Ruth to spend a day or two. -He explained that she had recently been rather run -down and depressed, and that the one thing she -wanted—a day or two of cheerful society—was just -the thing he couldn’t give her. If I would condone -a liberty and take pity on her he did not think I -would regret my action. He went on to say Ruth -was greatly interested in roses, and as he was sure -I was going to the flower show, he wondered if I -would add to my kindness by allowing her to -accompany me. He said that Ruth was longing to see -it, but that he had no way of arranging for her to -go.”</p> - -<p>“I’m quite interested to hear that,” French -returned. “It rather falls in with a theory I have -formed. Had you often had Miss Ruth to stay with -you?”</p> - -<p>“Never before. In fact I had only seen her three -or four times. Some twelve years ago I spent a -day at Starvel and she was there. Besides that I -met her with Mr. Averill a couple of times in -Leeds.”</p> - -<p>“But you were pretty intimate with Mr. Averill -surely? I don’t want to be personal, but I want to -know whether your intimacy was such that you -might reasonably expect him to ask you to put his -niece up?”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Palmer-Gore seemed more and more -surprised at the line the conversation was taking.</p> - -<p>“It’s a curious thing that you should have asked -that,” she declared. “As a matter of fact, I was -amazed when I read Mr. Averill’s letter. He and -I were friendly enough at one time, though I don’t -know that you could ever have called us intimate. -But we had drifted apart. I suppose we hadn’t met -for five or six years and we never corresponded -except perhaps for an exchange of greetings at -Christmas. His letter was totally unexpected.”</p> - -<p>“You thought his asking for the invitation -peculiar?”</p> - -<p>“I certainly did. I thought it decidedly cool. So -much so, indeed, that I considered replying that I -was sorry that my house was full. Then when I -thought what a terrible life that poor girl must have -led I relented and sent the invitation.”</p> - -<p>“It was a kind thing to do.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t know. At all events I am glad I -did it. Ruth is a sweet girl and it was a pleasure to -have her here and to let my daughters meet her. I -would have given her as good a time as I could if -she had not been called away.”</p> - -<p>“You haven’t kept Mr. Averill’s letter?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid not. I always destroy answered -letters.”</p> - -<p>“You recognised Mr. Averill’s handwriting, of -course?”</p> - -<p>“Oh yes. I knew it quite well.”</p> - -<p>“Now, Mrs. Palmer-Gore, I am going to ask -you a strange question. Did you ever suspect that -that letter might be a forgery?”</p> - -<p>The lady looked at him with increasing interest.</p> - -<p>“Never,” she answered promptly. “And even -now when you suggest it I don’t see how it could -have been. But, of course, it would explain a great -deal. I confess I can hardly imagine Mr. Averill -writing the note. He was a proud man and the -request was not in accordance with my estimate of his -character.”</p> - -<p>“That is just what I wanted to get at,” French -answered as he rose to take his leave.</p> - -<p>What he had learned was extraordinarily -satisfactory. It looked very much as though his theory -about Roper was correct. The great snag in that -theory had been Mrs. Palmer-Gore’s invitation, -and now it was evident that Roper could have -arranged for it to be given. Some remark of Mr. -Averill’s had probably given the man Mrs. Palmer-Gore’s -name, and by skilful questions he could have -learned enough about her to enable him to construct -his plot.</p> - -<p>As French sat in the smoking room of his hotel, -not far from the great west front of the minster, he -suddenly saw a way by which he could establish the -point. The letter Mrs. Palmer-Gore had received -had stated that Ruth was longing to see the flower -show. Was she? If she was, the letter might be -genuine enough. If not, Averill could scarcely have -written it, and if Averill had not written it no one -but Roper could have done so.</p> - -<p>It was with impatience at the slowness of the -journey that French returned next morning to -Thirsby to apply the final test. He was lucky enough -to catch Ruth as she was going out and she took him -into the drawing-room.</p> - -<p>“I was talking to a friend of yours a little while -ago, Miss Averill,” French said when they had -exchanged a few remarks: “Mrs. Palmer-Gore, of -York.”</p> - -<p>“Oh yes?” Ruth answered, her face brightening -up. “How is she? She was so kind to me, -especially when the terrible news came. I can never -forget her goodness.”</p> - -<p>“I am sure of it. In the short time I was with -her I thought she seemed most attractive. You -went to York to see the flower show?”</p> - -<p>Ruth smiled.</p> - -<p>“That was the ostensible reason for her asking -me. But, of course, show or no show, I should have -been delighted to go.”</p> - -<p>“I dare say; most people like to visit York. You -hadn’t then been looking forward to the show?”</p> - -<p>“I never even heard of it until Mrs. Palmer-Gore -mentioned it in her letter. But naturally I was all -the more pleased.”</p> - -<p>“Naturally. You’re a skilful gardener, aren’t -you, Miss Averill?”</p> - -<p>She smiled again and shook her head.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! But I’m fond of it.”</p> - -<p>French, in his turn, smiled his pleasant, kindly -smile.</p> - -<p>“Oh, come now, I’m sure you are not doing -yourself justice. Mr. Averill thought a lot of your -gardening, didn’t he?”</p> - -<p>“My uncle? Oh, no. I don’t think he knew -anything about it. You remember he was an invalid. -He hadn’t been in the garden for years.”</p> - -<p>“But do you mean that you never discussed -gardening with him? I should have thought, for -example, you would have talked to him of this York -flower show.”</p> - -<p>“But I thought I explained I didn’t know about -that until Mrs. Palmer-Gore’s letter came, and after -it came my uncle was too ill to speak about -anything.”</p> - -<p>Here was the proof French had hoped for!</p> - -<p>With some difficulty keeping the satisfaction out -of his voice, he continued his inquiries.</p> - -<p>“Of course I remember you told me that. But -I must get on to business. I’m sorry to have to -trouble you again, Miss Averill, but there are one -or two other questions I have thought of since our -last meeting. Do you mind if I ask them now?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not.”</p> - -<p>French leaned forward and looked grave.</p> - -<p>“I want to know what kind of terms Roper was -on with his wife. You have seen them together a -good deal. Can you tell me?”</p> - -<p>Ruth’s face clouded.</p> - -<p>“I hate to say anything when the two poor people -are dead, but if I must tell the truth, I’m afraid -they were not on good terms at all.”</p> - -<p>“I can understand what you feel, but I assure you -my questions are necessary. Now please tell me -what exactly was the trouble between those two?”</p> - -<p>“Well,” Ruth said slowly, and an expression -almost of pain showed on her face, “they had, I -think—what is the phrase?—incompatibility of -temperament. Mrs. Roper had a very sharp tongue and -she was always nagging at Roper. He used to -answer her in a soft tone with the nastiest and most -cutting remarks you ever heard. Oh, it was -horrible! Roper really was not a nice man, though he -was always kind enough to me.”</p> - -<p>This was really all that French wanted, but he still -persisted.</p> - -<p>“Can you by any chance tell me—I’m sorry for -asking this question—but can you tell me whether -Roper was attached to any other woman? Or if -you don’t know that, have you ever heard his wife -mention another woman’s name in anger? Just try -to think.”</p> - -<p>“No, I never heard that.”</p> - -<p>“Have you ever heard them quarrelling?”</p> - -<p>“Once I did,” Ruth answered reluctantly. “It -was dreadful! Roper said, ‘By ——,’ he used a -terrible curse—‘I’ll do you in some day if I swing -for it!’ And then Mrs. Roper answered so -mockingly and bitterly that I had to put my hands over -my ears.”</p> - -<p>“But she didn’t make any definite accusation?”</p> - -<p>“No, but wasn’t it dreadful? The poor people -to have felt like that to one another! It must have -been a terrible existence for them.”</p> - -<p>French agreed gravely as he thanked Ruth for -her information, but inwardly he was chuckling with -delight. He believed his theory was proved, and -once it was established, his case was over. If the -murderer lost his life in the fire Scotland Yard would -no longer be interested in the affair and he, French, -could go back to town with one more success added -to the long list which already stood to his credit.</p> - -<p>He returned to the Thirsdale Arms, and getting a -fire lighted in his room, settled down to put on paper -the data he had amassed.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch10"> - -<h2>CHAPTER TEN: Whymper Speaks at Last</h2> - -<p>By the time French had completed his notes the -theory he had formed had become cut and dry and -detailed. He was immensely delighted with it and -with himself for having evolved it. Except for the -failure to explain Roper’s death it seemed to him -flawless, and for that one weak point he felt sure -that a simple explanation existed. In the hope of -lighting on some such he decided before putting -away his papers to go once more in detail over the -whole case as he now saw it.</p> - -<p>First there was the character of Roper. Roper -was a clever and unscrupulous man with a cynical -and discontented outlook on life. He was, in fact, -the sort of man who might have planned and carried -out the Starvel crime.</p> - -<p>His anxiety to get the job at Averill’s was an -interesting feature of the case. It must have been a -poor job for a man who had been male nurse in the -Ransome Institute. It was not only a hard and -thankless job in itself, but it meant being buried in -one of the bleakest and most barren solitudes of -England. Moreover, such a job would lead to -nothing, and as Averill was paying, it was unlikely -that the salary was other than miserable. Of course -after dismissal from the Institute Roper might have -been glad of anything, but French did not feel -satisfied that this really explained the matter. His -thoughts took another line.</p> - -<p>The belief in Averill’s wealth was universal and -Roper could scarcely have failed to hear of it when -inquiring about the place. The feebleness of the -old man and the isolation of the house were, of -course, patent. Was it too much to conclude that -the idea of robbery had been in Roper’s mind from -the first? If so, a reason why he had ceased to -blackmail Philpot might be suggested. The doctor -was the one person in the neighbourhood who knew -his real character. If anything untoward happened -at Starvel, the doctor would immediately become -suspicious. It was, therefore, politic to suggest a -reformation of character to Philpot, and the best -way in which this could be done was undoubtedly -the way Roper had chosen. But he was not going to -spoil the affair by haste. This was the one great -effort of his life and he was out to make a job of it. -No time nor trouble nor inconvenience was too great -to devote to it. So he waited for over a year. How -many a wife murderer, thought French, has aroused -suspicion by marrying the other woman within the -twelve months. Roper was not going to make the -mistake of acting too soon.</p> - -<p>During this time of waiting the man had -doubtless been perfecting his scheme. And then another -factor had entered into it. He had come to hate -his wife. Why not at one fell stroke achieve both -wealth and freedom? The same machinery would -accomplish both.</p> - -<p>In the nature of the case French saw that all this -must necessarily be speculative, but when he came to -consider the details of the crime he felt himself on -firmer ground.</p> - -<p>The first move was to get Ruth Averill out of the -way, and here the <i lang="la">modus operandi</i> was clear. Roper -had evidently either heard enough about Mrs. -Palmer-Gore from Mr. Averill to give him his idea, or -he had discovered her existence from old letters. -He had forged the note to her from Averill, and -intercepting its reply, had used its enclosure to -induce Ruth to go to York. As he couldn’t prevent -the girl from visiting her uncle, he had drugged the -old man so that the fraud would remain hidden.</p> - -<p>His next care was to make sure that Averill’s -bank notes could be passed without arousing -suspicion; in other words, that their numbers were -unknown. To this end the fraud on Whymper was -devised. Whymper was to be used to test the -matter, and in the event of the theft being discovered, -Whymper was to pay the penalty. So Whymper -was brought out to the house on the night of the -crime and there given the fateful money, being told -some yarn which would make him spend it in a -mysterious way for which he would be unable to -account. That that yarn was connected with -something discreditable about Ruth’s parents French -shrewdly suspected, and he determined to see -Whymper again and try to extract the truth from -um.</p> - -<p>Whymper duped and sent away from Starvel, -French thought he could picture the next sinister -happenings in the lonely old house. Averill first! -The frail old man would prove an easy victim. Any -method of assassination would do which did not -involve an injury to the skeleton. A further dose -of the drug, smothering with a pillow, a whiff of -chloroform: the thing would have been child’s -play to a determined man, particularly one with the -training of a male nurse in a mental hospital.</p> - -<p>Then Mrs. Roper! How the unfortunate woman -met her end would probably remain for ever a -mystery. But that she died by her husband’s hand -French was growing more and more certain.</p> - -<p>Witnesses to the theft removed, the safe must -have claimed Roper’s attention next. French in -imagination could see him getting the keys from -under their dead owner’s pillow, opening the safe, -and packing the notes in a suitcase. How it must -have gone to Roper’s heart to leave the gold! But -obviously he had no other course. Gold wouldn’t -burn. It must therefore be found in the safe. Then -came the substitution and burning of the newspapers. -Here Roper made his first slip. Doubtless he was -counting that the safe would fall to the ground level -when the floor it stood on burned away and the -churning of the sovereigns would reduce the paper -ashes to dust. But there he had been wrong. -Enough was left to reveal the fraud.</p> - -<p>There was plenty of petrol and paraffin in the -house and Roper’s next step must have been to spill -these about, so as to leave no doubt of the completeness -of the holocaust. In that also he was only too -successful.</p> - -<p>So far, French felt he was on pretty firm ground. -He was becoming convinced that all this had -happened, substantially as he had imagined it. But now -came the terrible snag. Or rather two snags, for -the one did not entirely include the other. The first -was: What had happened to Roper? The second: -Where was the money?</p> - -<p>The more French puzzled over the first of these -problems the more he came to doubt his first idea -that some quite simple explanation would account -for it. That nearly every criminal makes some -stupid and obvious blunder during the commission -of his crime is a commonplace. Still French could -not see so astute a man as Roper making a blunder -so colossal as to cost him his life. What -super-ghastliness had happened upon that night of -horrors? Had Roper started the fire before killing his -wife and been overcome by fumes while in the act -of murder? Had he taken too much drink to steady -his nerves and fallen asleep, to meet the fate he -had prepared for others? French could think of -no theory which seemed satisfactory.</p> - -<p>Nor could he imagine where the money might be. -Was it burned after all? Had the receptacle in -which it had been packed been left in the house and -had its contents been destroyed? Or had Roper -hidden it outside? Here again the matter was -purely speculative, but French inclined to the former -theory. All the same he determined that before -he left the district he would make a thorough search -in the neighbourhood of the house.</p> - -<p>There was still the matter of the Whymper -episode to be fully cleared up, and French thought that -with the help of his new theory he might now be able -to get the truth out of the young man. -Accordingly he left the hotel and walked up the picturesque -old street to the church. Whymper was busily -engaged with a steel tape in giving positions for a -series of new steps which were to lead up to the altar -and French, interested in the operation, stood -watching until it was complete. Then the young -fellow conducted him for the second time to the -vestry room, and seating himself, pointed to a chair.</p> - -<p>“As no doubt you can guess, I’ve come on the -same business as before,” French explained in his -pleasant, courteous tones. “The fact is, I’ve learned -a good deal more about this Starvel business since -I last saw you, and I want to hear what you think -of a theory I have evolved. But first, will you tell -me everything that you can of your relations with -Roper?”</p> - -<p>“I really hadn’t any relations with Roper except -what I have already mentioned,” Whymper returned. -“Of course I had seen him on different occasions, -but the first time I spoke to him was the first -time I called on Miss Averill. He opened the door -and showed me into the drawing-room. The next -time I went we spoke about the weather and so on, -but I had no actual relations with him until the night -of the tragedy, when he gave me Mr. Averill’s -message at the church gate.”</p> - -<p>“It never occurred to you to doubt that the -message did come from Mr. Averill, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not,” Whymper answered promptly. -“You forget the note Mr. Averill sent me when I -got to Starvel.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t forget the note. But suppose I were -to suggest that Roper had forged the note and that -Mr. Averill knew nothing whatever about it? I -should tell you that it has been established that -Roper was a very skilful forger.”</p> - -<p>“Such an idea never occurred to me. Even if -Roper was a skilful forger I don’t see why you -should think he forged this note. What possible -motive could he have had?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I think we possibly might find a motive. -But let that pass for the moment. Go over the -circumstances again in your mind and let me know if -you see any reason why Roper should not have -arranged the whole business himself.”</p> - -<p>Whymper did not at once reply. French, -anxious not to hurry him, remained silent also, idly -admiring the pilasters and mouldings of the octagonal -chamber and the groining of the old stone roof.</p> - -<p>“I don’t see how Roper could have done it,” -Whymper said presently. “There’s the money to -be considered. The £500 couldn’t have been -forged.”</p> - -<p>“No. But it could have been stolen, and I have -no doubt it was.”</p> - -<p>“Surely not! You don’t really believe Roper -was a thief?”</p> - -<p>“At least he might have been. No, Mr. -Whymper, you haven’t convinced me so far. Does -anything further occur to you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Whymper: “the story he told me. -No one could have known it but Mr. Averill.”</p> - -<p>French leaned forward and his face took on an -expression of keener interest.</p> - -<p>“Ah, now we’re coming to it,” he exclaimed. “I -suggest that that whole story was a pure invention -of Roper’s and that it had no foundation in fact. -Now tell me this.” He raised his hand as Whymper -would have spoken. “If the story were true would -you not have expected to hear something of M. -Prosper Giraud and Mme. Madeleine Blancquart -at Talloires?”</p> - -<p>Whymper seemed absolutely dumbfounded at -the extent of the other’s knowledge.</p> - -<p>“Why,” he stammered with all the appearance -of acute dismay, “how do you know about that? I -never mentioned it.”</p> - -<p>“You did,” French declared. “To the police at -Talloires. I traced you there and found out about -your inquiries. It was perfectly simple. If the -story had been true would you not have had an -answer to your inquiries?”</p> - -<p>A sudden eagerness appeared in the young man’s -face. He leaned forward and cried excitedly:—</p> - -<p>“My Heavens, I never thought of that! I -supposed Roper had made a mistake about the address. -Oh, if it could only be so!” He paused for a -moment, then burst out again: “You may be right! You -may be right! Tell me why you thought it might -be Roper’s invention. I must know!”</p> - -<p>“In the strictest confidence I’ll tell you -everything,” French answered and he began to recount, -not indeed everything, but a good many of the -reasons which had led him to believe in Roper’s guilt. -Whymper listened with painful intensity, and when -the other had finished he seemed almost unable to -contain his excitement.</p> - -<p>“I must know if you are right,” he cried, -springing from his chair and beginning to pace the room. -“I must know! How can I be sure, Inspector? You -have found out so much; can’t you find out a little -more?”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I came down for, Mr. Whymper,” -French said gravely. “I must know too. And -there’s only one way out of it. You’ve got to tell -me the story. I’ll not use it unless it’s absolutely -necessary. But I’ll test it and get to know definitely -whether it’s fact or fiction.”</p> - -<p>Whymper paused irresolutely.</p> - -<p>“Suppose,” he said at length, “suppose, telling -you the story involved letting you know of a crime -which had been committed—not recently; many, -many years ago. Suppose the criminal had escaped, -but my story told you where you could find him. -Would you give me your word of honour not to -move in the matter?”</p> - -<p>French glanced at him sharply.</p> - -<p>“Of course not, Mr. Whymper. You know it is -foolish of you to talk like that. Neither you nor -I could have knowledge of that kind and remain -silent. If you learn of a crime and shield the -criminal, you become an accessory after the fact. You -must know that.”</p> - -<p>“In that case,” Whymper answered, “I can’t tell -you.”</p> - -<p>French became once more suave, even coaxing.</p> - -<p>“Now, Mr. Whymper, that is quite an impossible -line for you to take up. Just consider your own -position. I have ample evidence to justify me in -arresting you for the theft of Mr. Averill’s money. -If I do so, this story that you are trying to keep to -yourself will come out: not privately to me, but in -open court. Every one will know it then. By -keeping silent now you will defeat the very object you -are striving for. Attention will be forced on to the -very person you are trying to shield. And when -it comes out you will be charged as an accessory. -On the other hand, if you tell me the whole thing -here and in private you will ease your mind of a -burden and may clear yourself of suspicion of the -theft. And with regard to the other crime we may -find that it is a pure invention and that no such thing -ever took place. Now, Mr. Whymper, you’ve got -to take the lesser risk. You’ve got to tell me. As -I say, I’ll not use your evidence unless I must.”</p> - -<p>Whymper made no reply and French, recalling -his theory that the secret concerned Ruth’s -parentage, decided on a bluff.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he said, quite sharply for him. “If you -won’t speak I shall have to get the information -from Miss Averill. I shall be sorry to have to force -her confidence about her parents, but you leave me -no option.”</p> - -<p>The bluff worked better than French could have -hoped. Whymper started forward with -consternation on his face.</p> - -<p>“What?” he cried. “Then you know?” Then -realising what he had said, he swore. “Confound -you, Inspector, that was a caddish trick! But you -won’t get any more out of me in spite of it.”</p> - -<p>French tried his bluff again.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense,” he answered. “It would be far -better for Miss Averill that you should tell me than -that she should. But that’s a matter for you. If -you like to tell me, well; if not, I shall go straight -to her. Look here,” he leaned forward and tapped -the other’s arm, “do you imagine that you can keep -the affair secret? I’ve only got to trace Mr. Simon -Averill’s history and go into the matter of Miss -Ruth’s parentage and the whole thing will come out. -It’s silly of you.” He waited for a moment, then -got up. “Well, if you won’t, you won’t. You’ll -come along to the station first and then I’ll go to -Miss Averill.”</p> - -<p>Whymper looked startled.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to arrest me?”</p> - -<p>“What else can I do?” French returned.</p> - -<p>Whymper wrung his hands as if in despair, then -motioned the Inspector to sit down again.</p> - -<p>“Wait a minute,” he said brokenly. “I’ll tell -you. I see I can’t help myself. It is not that I am -afraid for myself, but I see from all you say that -I have no alternative. But I trust your word not -to use the information if you can avoid it.”</p> - -<p>“I give you my word.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I suppose that is as much as I can expect.” -He paused to collect his thoughts, then went on: “I -have already explained to you about Roper meeting -me when I reached Starvel and his saying that Mr. -Averill was too ill to see me, and you have seen -the letter that I took to be from Mr. Averill, -stating that he did not wish to put the matter in -question in writing, that Roper was his confidential -attendant, that he understood the affair in question -and had been authorised to explain it to me. Of -course on receipt of that letter I was prepared to -believe whatever I heard, and I did believe it.”</p> - -<p>“Quite natural,” French admitted suavely.</p> - -<p>“Roper began by saying that his part in the affair -was very distasteful to him, that he felt he was -intruding into a family and very private matter, but -that he had no alternative but to carry it through as -Mr. Averill had given him definite instructions to do -so. He added that he was particularly sorry about -it, as the matter was bound to be very painful to me. -It was about Miss Averill.”</p> - -<p>Whymper was evidently very reluctant to proceed, -but he overcame his distaste after a moment’s -hesitation and in a lower voice continued:—</p> - -<p>“He went on to ask me, again with apologies, -whether Mr. Averill was correct in believing I -wished to marry Miss Averill. If I did not, he said -the information would be of no interest to me and -he need not proceed with the matter. But if I did -wish to marry her there was something I should -know.</p> - -<p>“As a matter of fact, I wanted the marriage more -than anything else on earth, and when I said so to -Roper he gave me the message. He told me that, -a few days before, Mr. Averill had received a -letter which upset him very much and, Roper thought, -had brought on his illness. But before I could -appreciate the significance of the letter he would have -to explain some family matters.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Simon Averill had a brother named -Theodore—I shall call them Simon and Theodore to -distinguish them. As a young man Theodore had -all the promise of a brilliant career. He had -gone into business in London and held a very good -position as French representative of his firm. He -had married a French lady of old family and great -beauty. One child was born, a daughter, Ruth.</p> - -<p>“But unfortunately he was not steady, and as -time passed he grew wilder and wilder and his -relations with his wife became more and more strained. -At last when Ruth was four years old and they were -living in London, there was some fearful trouble -which finished him up.</p> - -<p>“Roper did not know the details, but it was a -scandal in some illicit gambling rooms in London. -Theodore was caught cheating. They were all half -drunk and in the row that followed a man was killed. -It was never known who actually fired the shot, but -Theodore was suspected. At all events he -disappeared and was never heard of again. It was the -last straw for his wife and she collapsed altogether. -She brought Ruth, a child of four, to Simon, begged -him to look after her, and then committed suicide.</p> - -<p>“Nothing more was heard of Theodore Averill -and every one concerned believed him dead. -Simon’s surprise may be imagined then, when during -the last two or three days he received a letter from -him. This was the letter which I told you had -upset him so much.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t see the letter, but Roper told me it said -that Theodore was living under the name of -Prosper-Giraud at Talloires in Savoy. He had escaped -from London to Morocco and after wandering -about for a year or two had entered the French -Foreign Legion. After serving several years he -left that and went to Talloires, where he supported -himself by writing short stories for the magazines. -He did fairly well, and was comfortable enough, -but recently a disastrous thing had happened to him. -He had been in poor health for some time and had -begun to talk in his sleep. His old housekeeper, -Mme. Madeleine Blancquart, must have listened and -heard something which gave his secret away, for -one morning she came to him and said she had -discovered all, and asked what he was going to pay -to have the matter kept from the English police. -He was unable to give what she demanded and for -the sake of his family he prayed his brother Simon -to help him. If Simon wouldn’t do so, nothing could -save him. He would be brought to England and -perhaps executed, and Simon and Ruth would have -to bear the shame.”</p> - -<p>The recital of these facts was evidently very -painful to Whymper, but he went on doggedly with his -statement.</p> - -<p>“Simon in his delicate state of health was much -upset by the whole thing, so Roper said. If the -story was true he was willing to make some -allowance, both because he didn’t wish to have his brother -come to such an end and also for his own and Ruth’s -sake. He had, therefore, replied sending twenty -pounds, and saying that he would either go over -himself to Talloires or send a representative within -a month to discuss the situation.</p> - -<p>“He found he was too feeble to go himself and -for the same reason he couldn’t well spare Roper, so -he cast round for some one who could do it for him, -and he thought of me. He thought that if I wanted -to marry Miss Averill the secret would be safe with -me and also I should be just as anxious to have the -matter settled as he was.</p> - -<p>“Of course I agreed to go. You can understand -that I really hadn’t any option, though as far as I -was concerned myself I didn’t care two pins what -Theodore had done or hadn’t done. Roper said -Simon would be extremely relieved to hear my -decision. He said also that Simon did not wish me -to go for about three weeks, lest it would look too -eager and Mme. Blancquart would think she had -frightened us.</p> - -<p>“Roper went on to say that Simon was giving me -£500. Out of this I was to take my expenses and -the balance was to buy off Mme. Blancquart. He -did not want me to give her a lump sum, but to -arrange a monthly payment which she would know she -would lose if she informed. I was to find some one -in Talloires who would take the money and dole it -out for a percentage. The <i lang="fr">curé</i> possibly might do -it, or I could employ a solicitor. He left the -arrangements to my judgment. In any case I was to -make the best bargain I could with the woman.</p> - -<p>“That was all on the Wednesday night before the -fire started. Then came the tragedy. With Simon -dead I didn’t know what on earth to do. Of course -I saw that I must carry out my promise just the -same, and go out to Talloires and try to arrange for -Theodore’s safety, but I thought that if Simon’s -money went to Ruth, Theodore might try to make -trouble with her. However, I could do nothing -until I saw him and Mme. Blancquart, and I -arranged to go to Talloires at the end of the three -weeks as Simon had asked me.</p> - -<p>“You can guess the rest. I took the money and -went to Talloires. But as you know, I could find -no trace either of Prosper Giraud or Mme. -Blancquart.</p> - -<p>“I was in a difficulty then. I had no doubt that -the message was really Simon’s. It never occurred -to me that Roper could invent the story or steal the -money, and when I failed to find the people I -simply thought he had made a mistake in the address. -I was pretty bothered, I can tell you. I was -expecting every day to read of Theodore’s arrest, and I -could do nothing to prevent it.” The young man -was very earnest as he added: “I swear to you that -what I have told you is the literal truth. I don’t -know whether you will believe me, but whether or -not, I am glad I’ve told you. It is a tremendous -weight off my mind, and if you can prove that the -story was only Roper’s invention I’ll be ten thousand -times more relieved.”</p> - -<p>French felt that he might very well believe the -statement. Not only had Whymper’s manner -changed and borne the almost unmistakable -impress of truth, but the story he told was just the -kind of story French was expecting to hear. No -tale that he could think of would have better suited -Roper’s purpose: to make this young fellow change -stolen bank notes the possession of which he could -not account for. The more French thought it over -in detail, the more satisfied he felt with it. It was -true that there were two minor points which he -did not fully understand, but neither would -invalidate the tale, even if unexplained. Of these the -first was: Why had Roper asked Whymper to wait -three weeks before going to France? And the -second: If the young man was as enamoured of this -girl as he pretended to be, why had he not proposed -to her so as to be in a proper position to offer her -his protection?</p> - -<p>A little thought gave him the answer to the first -of these problems. Evidently no suspicion must fall -on Whymper other than through the notes. If he -were to rush away directly the tragedy occurred, -any general suspicion which might have been -aroused might be directed towards him for that very -reason. That would be no test of the safety of -passing the notes. But if three weeks elapsed -before he made a move, suspicion must depend on the -notes alone.</p> - -<p>With regard to the second point French thought -he might ask for information.</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to be unnecessarily personal, Mr. -Whymper, but there is just one matter I should like -further light on. You were, I understand you to -say, anxious to marry this young lady and desired -to protect her from trouble with Mme. Blancquart. -If that were so, would it not have been natural for -you to propose to her and so obtain the right to -protect her?”</p> - -<p>Whymper made a gesture of exasperation.</p> - -<p>“By Heaven, I only wish I had! It might have -come out all right. But, Inspector, I have been a -coward. To be strictly truthful, I was afraid. I’ll -tell you just what happened. After the tragedy I -was very much upset by this whole affair. And it -made me awkward and self-conscious with Miss -Averill to have to keep secret a thing which -concerned her so closely. I tried not to show it in my -manner, but I don’t think I quite succeeded. I think -my manner displeased her. At all events she grew -cold and distant, and—well! there it is. I didn’t -dare to speak. I was afraid I would have no chance. -I thought I would wait until I found something out -about her father. Then when this began to seem -impossible, I determined to risk all and speak, but -then you came threatening me with arrest for theft. -I couldn’t propose until that was over. And the -question is, is it over now? Are you going to arrest -me or how do I stand?”</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to arrest you, Mr. Whymper. -You have given me the explanations I asked for, -and so far I see no reason to doubt your story. I -am glad you have told me. But though I believe -you, I may say at once that I believe also the whole -thing was Roper’s invention. Why did he not show -the letter he alleged Theodore Averill had -written?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. I assumed there was something -further in it which Mr. Averill wished to keep from -Roper and me.”</p> - -<p>French shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Much more likely it didn’t exist and he wanted -to save the labour and risk of forging it. Now, Mr. -Whymper, there is only one thing to be done. You -or I, or both of us together must go to Miss Averill -and ask her the truth. I do not mean that we must -tell her this story. We shall simply ask her where -her father lived, and where she was born. Records -will be available there which will set the matter at -rest.”</p> - -<p>Whymper saw the common sense of this proposal, -but he said that nothing would induce him to -ask such questions of Miss Averill. It was, -therefore, agreed that French should call on her and -make the inquiries.</p> - -<p>Ruth was at home when French reached the -Oxleys’, and she saw him at once. French -apologised for troubling her so soon again, and then -asked some questions as to the possible amount of -petrol and paraffin which had been at Starvel on the -night of the fire. From this he switched the -conversation on to herself, and with a dexterity born -of long practice led her to talk of her relatives. So -deftly did he question her, that when in a few -minutes he had discovered all he wished to know, she -had not realised that she had been pumped.</p> - -<p>In answer to his veiled suggestions she told him -that her father’s name was Theodore Averill, that -he had lived in Bayonne, where he had held a good -appointment in the wine industry, and that he had -married a French lady whom he had met at -Biarritz. This lady, her mother, had died when she -was born and her father had only survived her by -about four years. On his death she had come to -her uncle Simon, he being her only other relative. -She was born in Bayonne and baptised, she believed, -by the Anglican clergyman at Biarritz. Her father -was a member of the Church of England and her -mother a Huguenot.</p> - -<p>“This,” French said when, half an hour later, -he was back in the vestry room of the old church, -“will lead us to certainty. I will send a wire to the -Biarritz police and have the records looked up. Of -course, I don’t doubt Miss Averill’s word for a -moment, but it is just conceivable that she might have -been misled as to her birth. However, we want to -be absolutely sure.”</p> - -<p>He wired that evening and it may be mentioned -here that in the course of a couple of days he -received the following information:—</p> - -<p>1. Mr. Theodore Averill was a wine merchant -and lived at Bayonne.</p> - -<p>2. Mr. Averill and Mlle. Anne de Condillac had -been married in the English church at Biarritz on -the 24th of June, 1905.</p> - -<p>3. Mrs. Averill had died on the 17th of July, -1906, while giving birth to a daughter.</p> - -<p>4. This daughter, whose name was Ruth, was -baptised at the Anglican church, Biarritz, on the -19th of August, 1906.</p> - -<p>5. Mr. Theodore Averill had died on the 8th -of September, 1910, his little four-year old -daughter then being sent to England.</p> - -<p>So that was certainty at last. Roper was the evil -genius behind all these involved happenings. He it -was who had got Ruth away from the doomed -house; he had sent Whymper off to pass the stolen -notes so that he might learn if their numbers were -known; he had murdered Simon Averill; he had -stolen the notes from the safe; he had murdered his -wife; he had burned the house. All was now -clear—except the one point at which French, trembling -with exasperation, was again brought up. What -had happened to Roper? What blunder had he -made? How had he died? And again; where was -the money? Was it hidden or was it destroyed?</p> - -<p>As French went down to the police station to tell -Sergeant Kent he might withdraw his observation -on Whymper, he determined that next morning he -would begin a meticulous and detailed search of the -ground surrounding the ruins in the hope of finding -the answer to his last question.</p> - -<p>But next morning French instead found himself -contemplating with a growing excitement a new idea -which had leaped into his mind and which bade fair -to change the whole future course of his -investigation.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch11"> - -<h2>CHAPTER ELEVEN: A Startling Theory</h2> - -<p>Inspector French’s change of plans was due -to a new idea which suddenly, like the conventional -bolt from the blue, flashed across the horizon of -his vision.</p> - -<p>For some reason he had been unable to sleep on -that night on which he had completed his proof that -the Whymper incident had been engineered by -Roper. French, as a rule, was a sound sleeper: he -was usually too tired on getting to bed to be -anything else. But on the rare occasions when he -remained wakeful he nearly always turned the -circumstance to advantage by concentrating on the difficulty -of the moment. His brain at such times seemed -more active than normally, and more than one of -his toughest problems had been solved during the -hours of darkness. It was true that he frequently -reached conclusions which in the sober light of day -appeared fantastic and had to be abandoned, but -valuable ideas had come so often that when up -against a really difficult case he had thankfully -welcomed a sleepless night in the hope of what it might -bring forth.</p> - -<p>On this occasion, when he had employed all the -conventional aids to slumber without effect, he -turned his attention to the one problem in the -Starvel Hollow tragedy which up to now had baffled -him: the cause of Roper’s fate. How had the man -come to lose his life? What terrible mistake had -he made? How had Nemesis overtaken him? -French felt he could see the whole ghastly business -taking place, excepting always this one point. And -the more he thought of it, the more difficult it -appeared. It seemed almost incredible that so clever -a man should have blundered so appallingly.</p> - -<p>He had asked himself these questions for the -hundredth time when there leaped into his mind an -idea so startling that for a moment he could only lie -still and let his mind gradually absorb it. Roper’s -death seemed the incredible feature of the case, but -<em>was this a feature of the case at all?</em> <em>Had Roper -died?</em> What if his death was a fake, arranged to -free him from the attentions of the police so that -he might enjoy without embarrassment the fruits -of his crime?</p> - -<p>French lay trying to recall the details of a -paragraph he had read in the paper a year or two -previously and wondering how he had failed up to the -present to draw a parallel between it and the Starvel -Hollow affair. It was the account of the burning -of a house in New York. After the fire it was -found that a lot of valuable property had -disappeared and further search revealed the remains of -two human bodies. Two servants were believed to -have been in the house at the time, and these bodies -were naturally assumed to have been theirs. -Afterwards it was proved—French could not remember -how—that the two left in the house had planned -the whole affair so as to steal the valuables. They -had visited a cemetery, robbed a grave of two -bodies, conveyed these to the house, set the place on -fire and made off with the swag. Had Roper seen -this paragraph and determined to copy the -Americans? Or had the same idea occurred to him -independently?</p> - -<p>How Roper might or might not have evolved his -plan was however, a minor point. The question -was—had he evolved and carried out such a plan? -Was he now alive and in possession of the money?</p> - -<p>It was evident there were two possible lines of -inquiry, either of which might give him his -information.</p> - -<p>The first was the definite identification of the body -which had been found in the position of Roper’s -bed. Was there any physical peculiarity about -Roper which would enable a conclusion to be -reached as to whether this body was or was not -his? It was true that the remains had been -examined by Dr. Emerson and unhesitatingly accepted -as Roper’s, but the doctor had had no reason for -doubt in the matter and might therefore have -overlooked some small point which would have led to a -contrary conclusion.</p> - -<p>The second line of inquiry was more promising. -If Roper had carried out such a fraud he must have -provided a body to substitute for his own. Had he -done so, and if he had, where had this body been -obtained?</p> - -<p>Here was an act which, French felt, could not -have been done without leaving traces. Roper had -proved himself a very skilful man, but the secret -acquisition of a dead body in a country like England -was an extraordinarily difficult undertaking, and of -course the more difficult an action was to carry out, -the greater were the chances of its discovery. Proof -or disproof of his theory would be quickly -forthcoming.</p> - -<p>Hour after hour French lay pondering the -matter, and when shortly before daylight he at last fell -asleep, he had laid his plans for the prosecution of -his new inquiry.</p> - -<p>He began by calling on Dr. Emerson. The doctor -was writing in his consulting room when French was -shown in, and he rose to greet his visitor with -old-fashioned courtesy.</p> - -<p>“Sorry for troubling you again, doctor,” French -began with his pleasant smile, “but I wanted to ask -you a question. It won’t take five minutes.”</p> - -<p>“My dear sir, there is no hurry. I’m quite at -your disposal.”</p> - -<p>“Very good of you, Dr. Emerson, I’m sure. It’s -really a matter more of idle curiosity than a serious -inquiry. I was thinking over that Starvel affair, -and I wondered how you were able to identify the -bodies. It was a phrase in the evidence that struck -me. I gathered that you said that the bodies of -each of the three occupants of the house were lying -on the sites of their respective beds. I should like -to ask if that was stated from definite identification -of the remains, or if it was merely a reasonable and -justifiable assumption?”</p> - -<p>“If that is what you read, I am afraid I have not -been correctly reported. I certainly never said that -the body found at each bed was that of the owner of -the bed. That they were so I have no doubt: from -every point of view I think that is a reasonable and -justifiable assumption, to use your own phrase. But -actual identification was quite impossible. It is -rather an unpleasant subject, but fire, especially such -a furnace as must have raged at Starvel, destroys -practically all physical characteristics.”</p> - -<p>“But you were able to tell the sex and age of the -victims?”</p> - -<p>“The sex and approximate age, yes. Given a -skeleton or even certain bones, that can be stated -with certainty. But that is a very different thing -from identification.”</p> - -<p>“I thought I was right,” French declared. “I -had always heard that was the result of fire, and -therefore was puzzled. Identification of burnt -remains has however been frequently established from -rings or jewelry, has it not?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly, though there was nothing of the kind -in the instance in question. Indeed, such -identification would have been almost impossible in any case. -In that intense heat gold rings or settings would -have melted and the stones themselves would have -dropped out and would only be found by an -extraordinarily lucky chance.”</p> - -<p>French rose.</p> - -<p>“Quite so. I agree. Well, I’m glad to know I -was right. We Yard Inspectors are always on the -look-out for first-hand information.”</p> - -<p>So the first of the three lines of inquiry had -petered out. The bodies were unidentifiable, and -therefore so far as that was concerned, his theory -might be true or it might not.</p> - -<p>As he strolled slowly back to the hotel, French -considered his second clue: the provision by Roper -of a body to take the place of his own.</p> - -<p>From the first the difficulty of such a feat had -impressed French, and as he now thought of it in detail, -this difficulty grew until it seemed almost -insurmountable. Where could bodies be obtained? Only -surely in one of three ways: from a medical -institution, from a cemetery, and by means of murder.</p> - -<p>With regard to the first of these three, it was -true that bodies were used for medical purposes, -for dissection, for the instruction of students. But -they were not obtainable by outside individuals. -French thought that it would be absolutely -impossible for Roper to have secured what he wanted -from such a source. So convinced of this was he -that he felt he might dismiss the idea from his -mind.</p> - -<p>Could then the remains have been obtained from -a cemetery?</p> - -<p>Here again the difficulties, though not quite so -overwhelming, were sufficiently great as almost to -negative the suggestion. Of one thing French felt -convinced; that neither Roper nor any other man -in Roper’s position could have carried out such an -enterprise singlehanded. One or more confederates -would have been absolutely necessary. To mention -a single point only, no one person would have had -the physical strength to perform such a task. No -one person, furthermore, could have taken the -requisite precautions against surprise or discovery, nor -could one person have carried out the needful -transport arrangements between the cemetery and -Starvel.</p> - -<p>The whole subject, as French thought out its -details, was indescribably gruesome and revolting. -But so interested was he in its purely intellectual -side—as a problem for which a solution must be -found—that he overlooked the horror of the actual -operations. For him the matter was one of pure -reason. He did not consider the human emotions -involved except in so far as these might influence -the conduct of the actors in the terrible drama.</p> - -<p>Assuming then that the remains had not been -procured from a cemetery, there remained but one -alternative—murder! Some unknown person must -have been inveigled into that sinister house and there -done to death, so as to provide the needful third -body! If Roper were guilty of the Starvel crime -as French now understood it, it looked as if he must -have been guilty of a third murder, hitherto -unsuspected.</p> - -<p>Here was food for thought and opportunity for -inquiry. Who had disappeared about the time of -the tragedy? Was any one missing in the -neighbourhood? Had any one let it be known that he was -leaving the district or going abroad about that date? -Instead of being at the end of his researches, French -was rather appalled by the magnitude of the -investigation which was opening out in front of him. To -obtain the necessary information might require the -prolonged activities of a large staff.</p> - -<p>He was anxious not to give away the lines on -which he was working. He decided therefore not -to make his inquiries from Sergeant Kent at the -local station, but to go to Leeds and have an -interview with the Chief Constable.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, unconsciously following the example -of Oxley and Tarkington several weeks earlier, he -took the 3.30 train that afternoon and two hours -later was seated in Chief Constable Valentine’s room -at police headquarters. The old gentleman received -him very courteously, and for once French met some -one who seemed likely to outdo him in suavity and -charm of manner.</p> - -<p>“I thought, sir, my case was over when I had -cleared up the matter of the bank notes passed to -Messrs. Cook in London,” French declared as he -accepted a cigarette from the other’s case, “but one -or two rather strange points have made me form a -tentative theory which seems sufficiently probable -to need going into. In short——” and he explained -with business-like brevity his ideas about Roper with -the facts from which they had sprung.</p> - -<p>The Chief Constable was profoundly impressed -by the recital, much more so than French would -have believed possible.</p> - -<p>“It’s a likely enough theory,” he admitted. -“Your arguments seem unanswerable and I certainly -agree that the idea is sufficiently promising to -warrant investigation.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad, sir, that you think so. In my job, as -you know, there is always the danger of being -carried away by some theory that appeals because of -its ingenuity, while overlooking some more -commonplace explanation that is much more likely to be -true.”</p> - -<p>“I know that, and this may of course be an -instance. I am glad, however, that you mentioned -your theory to me. It is an idea which should be -kept secret, and I shall set inquiries on foot -without giving away the Starvel connection.”</p> - -<p>“Then, sir, you can’t recall any disappearances -about the time?”</p> - -<p>“I can’t. And I don’t expect we shall find any. -Do you?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I was in hope that we might.”</p> - -<p>Major Valentine shook his head.</p> - -<p>“No, Inspector; there I think you’re wrong,” he -said with decision. “If Roper really carried out -these crimes, he’s far too clever to leave an obvious -trail of that kind. We may be sure that if he -inveigled some third person to the house and -murdered him, a satisfactory explanation of the victim’s -absence was provided. You suggested it yourself in -your statement. The man will ostensibly have left -his surroundings, never to return. If he was a -native he will have gone to America or some other -distant place. If he was a visitor he will have left -to return home. Somehow matters will have been -arranged so that he will disappear without raising -suspicion. Don’t you think so?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I certainly do. But it’s going to make -it a hard job to trace him.”</p> - -<p>“I know it is. If he lived in a large town it will -be so hard that we probably shan’t succeed, but if -he came from the country or a village the local men -should have the information.”</p> - -<p>“That is so, sir. Then I may leave the matter in -your hands?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’ll attend to it. By the way, where are -you staying?”</p> - -<p>French told him, and after some desultory -discussion, took his leave and caught the last train back -to Thirsby. He was partly pleased and partly -disappointed by his interview. He had hoped for the -co-operation of the Chief Constable, but Major -Valentine had gone much further than this. He had -really taken the immediate further prosecution of -the investigation out of French’s hands. French -was therefore temporarily out of a job. Moreover -French had the contempt of the Londoner and the -specialist for those whom he was pleased to think -of as “provincial amateurs.” And yet he could not -have acted otherwise than as he had. The -organisation of the police with all its ramifications was -needed for the job, and the Chief Constable -controlled the organisation.</p> - -<p>Next morning after he had brought his notes of -the case to date, French left the hotel, and walking -in the leisurely, rather aimless fashion he affected -in the little town, approached the church. It had -occurred to him that he would spend his enforced -leisure in an examination of the cemeteries in the -immediate district, to see if any local conditions -would favour the operations of a body-snatcher.</p> - -<p>Owing to the renovation, the church gate was -open and French, passing through, turned into the -graveyard surrounding the picturesque old -building. It also was old—old and completely filled -with graves. As French leisurely strolled round -the paths, he could not find a single vacant lot. -Even on the wall of the church itself there were -monuments, one of which bore the date 1573 and -none of which were later than 1800. Though the -place was carefully tended there were no signs of -recent interments, and French was not therefore -surprised to learn from one of the workmen that -there was a new cemetery at the opposite end of the -town.</p> - -<p>He stood looking round, considering the -possibilities of grave robbing. The church was almost in -the centre of the town and the graveyard was -surrounded on all sides by houses. In front was the -old High Street, fenced off by a tall iron railing -and with a continuous row of houses and shops -opposite. The other three sides were bounded by a -six-foot wall, the two ends abutting on the gables and -yards of the High Street houses, and the back on a -narrow street called Church Lane, again with houses -all the way along its opposite side. There were -heavy wrought iron gates leading to both Church -Lane and High Street.</p> - -<p>The longer French examined the place, the more -certain he became that the robbery of a grave by -less than three or four persons was an absolute -impossibility. However, he saw the sexton and made -sure that both gates were locked on the night in -question.</p> - -<p>He next paid a similar visit to the new cemetery. -Here the difficulties were not quite so overwhelming -as it was farther from the town and much less -overlooked. At the same time even here they were so -great as to make theft practically impossible.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon he tramped to the only other -cemetery in the district—that of a village some three -miles north-east of Starvel. But again his investigations -met with a negative result and he definitely -put out of his mind the theory that Roper had -robbed a grave.</p> - -<p>For two days he kicked his heels in Thirsby, -hoping against hope that he would hear something from -Major Valentine and wondering whether he should -not go back to London, and then he accidentally -learned a fact which gave him a new idea and started -him off on a fresh line of investigation.</p> - -<p>As a forlorn hope it had occurred to him that he -would call again on Ruth Averill to inquire whether -she could think of any one who might have visited -Starvel after she left for York. He did not expect -an affirmative reply, but he thought the inquiry -would pass the time as profitably as anything else.</p> - -<p>Ruth, however, had known of no one.</p> - -<p>“We never had a visitor, Mr. French,” she went -on, “rarely or ever. Except those three or four calls -of Mr. Whymper’s of which I told you, I don’t -think a single person had come to the place for a -year. Why should they?”</p> - -<p>“It must have been lonely for you,” French said -sympathetically.</p> - -<p>“It was lonely. I didn’t realise it at the time, -except just after coming back from school, but now -that I have plenty of people to speak to I see how -very lonely it was.”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t feel able to make confidants of the -Ropers? Of course,” French went on hastily, “I -know they were only servants, but still many -servants are worthy of the fullest confidence.”</p> - -<p>Ruth shook her head.</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t feel that I could make friends with -either. It was not in the least because they were -servants. Some of the cottagers were even lower -socially, and yet they were real friends. But there -was something repellent about the Ropers, or at -least I thought so. I was never happy with either -of them. And yet both were kind and attentive and -all that. Of course, there was Mr. Giles. He was -always friendly, and I enjoyed helping him with his -insects. But I didn’t really see a great deal of him.”</p> - -<p>French felt sorry for the young girl, as he thought -of the unhappy life she must have led.</p> - -<p>“I think I understand how you feel,” he returned -gently. “Personality is a wonderful thing, is it not? -It is quite intangible, but one recognises it and acts -on it instinctively. And that Mr. Giles whom you -mentioned. Who is he, if it is not an impertinent -question?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, he is dead,” Ruth answered sadly and with -some surprise in her tones. “Did you not hear about -him? He lived close to Starvel—at least, about -half a mile away—but his cottage was the nearest -house. He was dreadfully delicate and, I am afraid, -rather badly off. He was wounded in the War and -was never afterwards able to work. He was -interested in insects and kept bees. He collected -butterflies and beetles and wrote articles about them. -Sometimes I used to help him to pin out his -specimens. He taught me a lot about them.”</p> - -<p>“And you say he died?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, wasn’t it tragic? The poor man died just -at the time of the Starvel affair. It was too terrible. -When I came back from York I found he had gone -too.”</p> - -<p>French almost leaped off his seat as he heard -these words. Was it possible that in his careless, -half-interested inquiries he had blundered on to the -one outstanding fact that he needed? Could it be -that Mr. Giles’ death represented Roper’s search -for a body? That he was his third victim?</p> - -<p>Crushing down his eagerness French did his best -to simulate a polite and sympathetic interest.</p> - -<p>“How terrible for you, Miss Averill!” he said -with as real feeling in his tones as he could compass. -“One shock added to another. Tell me about it, if -it is not too painful a recollection.”</p> - -<p>“Oh no, I’ll tell you. He fell ill a few days -before I went to York—influenza, Mrs. Roper -thought, but he must have been fairly bad as he -had Dr. Philpot out to see him. Both the Ropers -were certainly very good to him. They went up and -nursed him, for the woman who usually looked after -him had not time to stay with him for more than an -hour or so in the day. I went up and sat with him -occasionally, too. On the morning I went to York -he seemed much worse. I called on my way into -Thirsby, and he was lying without moving and was -terribly white and feeble looking. His voice also -was very faint. He just said he was comfortable -and had everything he wanted. Mrs. Roper said -that if he didn’t soon get better she would send -Roper in for Dr. Emerson. Dr. Philpot, I should -explain, had just gone down with influenza.”</p> - -<p>“And what was the next thing you heard?”</p> - -<p>“Why,” Ruth made a little gesture of horror, -“the next thing I knew of it was that we met the -funeral. It was awful. It was the second day after -the fire. I wanted to go out and see Starvel, and -Mrs. Oxley drove me out in their car. When we -were coming back, just as we reached the point -where the Starvel road branches off, we saw a -funeral coming in along the main road. It was trotting -and we waited to let it pass on. Mr. Stackpool—that’s -the vicar—and Dr. Emerson were there and -they told us whose it was. Of course we joined -them. <em>Poor</em> Mr. Giles. I <em>was</em> sorry for him. But -nothing could have been done. Dr. Emerson said -he became unconscious the same day that I saw him, -and passed away without suffering. That was -something to be thankful for at least.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed, yes,” French agreed with feeling. “I -wonder if I haven’t heard about Mr. Giles. He -was a very tall old man, wasn’t he, and walked with -a stoop?”</p> - -<p>“Oh no, he wasn’t specially tall or old either. -Just medium height and middle age, I should say. -Nor did he walk with a stoop. You must be -thinking of some one else.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose I must,” French admitted, and as soon -as he reasonably could he took his leave.</p> - -<p>That he now held in his hand the solution of the -mystery he no longer doubted. He would have -wagered ten years of his life that this Giles’ remains -had been taken from the wreck of Starvel and -interred under the name of John Roper. Such a -supposition, moreover, was consistent with the -medical evidence. Dr. Emerson had stated at the inquest -that the third body was that of a man of middle -height and middle age. This, of course, had been -taken as applying to Roper, but it might equally -apply to Giles. It was certainly a lucky thing for -Roper’s scheme that a person so suitable for his -diabolical purpose should happen to live so near -to the scene of the crime. Or more probably, it -was this very fact that had suggested the idea of -the substitution to Roper.</p> - -<p>But if Giles had been murdered, what about Dr. -Emerson’s certificate? In this wretched case the -solution of one problem only seemed to lead to -another. French felt that he had still further work -before him ere he could begin the second stage of -his case—the search for Roper. Lost in thought he -returned to the Thirsdale Arms for lunch.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch12"> - -<h2>CHAPTER TWELVE: A Somewhat Gruesome Chapter</h2> - -<p>To inquire of a fully fledged and responsible -medical man whether he has or has not given a -false death certificate, without at the same time -ruffling his feelings is an undertaking requiring a nice -judgment and not a little tact. As French once -again climbed the steps to Dr. Emerson’s hall door -early that same afternoon, he felt that the coming -interview would tax even his powers of suave -inquiry. In a way, of course, it didn’t matter whether -the doctor’s feelings were ruffled or not, but both -on general principles and from a desire to prevent -his witness becoming hostile, the detective was -anxious to save the other’s face.</p> - -<p>“How are you, doctor? Here I am back to worry -you again,” French began pleasantly as he was -shown in to the consulting-room. They chatted for -a few moments and then French went on: “I wanted -to ask you in confidence about an acquaintance of -Miss Averill’s, a Mr. Giles who died recently. You -knew him?”</p> - -<p>“I attended him. I attended him for some years -until Dr. Philpot came, then he took him over as -well as most of my other country patients. I am not -so young as I was and the arrangement suited us -both. He died while Dr. Philpot was ill, and I -went out and gave the necessary certificate.”</p> - -<p>“So I gathered, and that’s why I came to you. -What a curious coincidence it was that this man -should pass away at the very time of the fire! That -all four of Miss Averill’s closest acquaintances -should die at practically the same time is, you must -admit, as strange as it is tragic.”</p> - -<p>Emerson looked at his visitor curiously.</p> - -<p>“Strange enough and tragic enough, I admit,” he -answered, “but such coincidences are not infrequent. -It is my experience that coincidences which would -be deemed too remarkable for a novel constantly -occur in real life.”</p> - -<p>“I quite agree with you. I have often said the -same thing. Mr. Giles was an invalid, was he not?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, from what he told me the poor fellow had -a rather miserable life. He was always delicate, -and when he volunteered in 1914, he was rejected -because of his heart. As the war dragged on the -authorities became less particular and in 1917 he -was re-examined and passed for foreign service, -wrongly, as I think. However, that’s what -happened. He went to France and in less than a month -he was in hospital, having been both gassed and -wounded. As a result his heart became more -seriously affected. Even five years ago he was in a state -in which death might have occurred from a sudden -shock, and myocarditis is a complaint which does -not improve as the years pass.”</p> - -<p>“Then it was myocarditis he died of?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. He had an attack of influenza on the -previous Thursday. When Dr. Philpot got laid -up and asked me to take his patients over he told -me he had seen Mr. Giles and that he was in a bad -way. The influenza made an extra call on the poor -man’s heart which no doubt hastened his end, but -the actual cause of death was myocarditis.”</p> - -<p>“Does this disease leave any infallible signs after -death? I mean, can a doctor say definitely from -the mere inspection of the remains that death was -due to it and to no other cause? Don’t think me -impertinent in asking. I told you we inspectors -were always out after first-hand information.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson raised his eyebrows as if to indicate -delicately that the question was perhaps not in -the best taste, but with only the slightest hint of -stiffness he replied:—</p> - -<p>“In this case the question does not arise. This -man was in a serious condition of health; his heart -might have failed at any moment. Moreover, he -was suffering from influenza, which puts an extra -strain on the heart. Dr. Philpot gave it as his -opinion that he would not recover. When therefore I -learned that he had died suddenly I was not -surprised. It was only to be expected. Further, when -I examined him he showed every sign of death from -heart failure.”</p> - -<p>“But that is just the point, doctor. Excuse my -pressing it, but I really am interested. For my own -information I should like to know whether these -signs that you speak of were absolutely peculiar to -a death from heart disease. I understood, please -correct me if I am wrong, but I understood that -only an autopsy could really establish the point -beyond question.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson hesitated.</p> - -<p>“These are very peculiar questions,” he said -presently. “I think you should tell me what is in your -mind. It seems to me that I am equally entitled to -ask how the death of Mr. Giles affects the cause of -the Starvel fire?”</p> - -<p>French nodded, and drawing forward his chair, -spoke more confidentially.</p> - -<p>“You are, doctor. I had not intended to -mention my suspicion, but since you have asked me, I’ll -answer your question. I will ask you to keep what -I am about to say very strictly to yourself, and on -that understanding I must tell you that I’m not -connected with an insurance company: I’m an -inspector from Scotland Yard. Certain facts which I -do not wish to go into at present have led me to -suspect that Mr. Giles may have been murdered. -I want to make sure.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson stared as if he couldn’t have -believed his ears, and his jaw dropped.</p> - -<p>“God bless my soul!” he cried. “<em>Murdered?</em> -Did I hear you say murdered?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said French, “but I am not sure about it. -It is only a suspicion.”</p> - -<p>“A pretty nasty suspicion for me, after my -certificate! But you couldn’t be right. The very idea -is absurd! Who could have murdered such a -harmless man, and badly off at that!”</p> - -<p>“Well, I think it might be possible to find a -motive. But if you don’t mind, I’d really rather not -discuss what may prove to be a mare’s nest. -However, you see now the object of my questions. I -want to know the possibilities from the medical -point of view. Perhaps you will tell me about that -autopsy?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson was manifestly disturbed by -French’s suggestion. He moved uneasily in his -chair and gave vent to exclamations of scepticism -and concern. “Of course,” he went on, “I’ll tell -you everything I can, and I needn’t say I most -sincerely hope your suspicion is unfounded. You are -perfectly correct on the other point. Only an -autopsy can establish beyond question the fact of a -death from myocarditis. If I had had the slightest -doubt in Mr. Giles’ case I should have required one -before giving a certificate. But I had no doubt, and -with all due respect to you I have none now.”</p> - -<p>“You may be right, doctor. I’ll tell you as soon -as I know myself. In the meantime thank you for -your information and not a word to a soul.”</p> - -<p>French left the house with a deep satisfaction -filling his mind. Dr. Emerson’s admission was what -he had hoped for and it very nearly banished his -last remaining doubt. But he felt that he ought to -get Dr. Philpot’s views also. Philpot had seen the -man before death and his evidence would certainly -be required if the matter went further.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, he turned in the direction of the -younger man’s house, and a few minutes later was -entering a consulting-room for the second time that -day.</p> - -<p>“Good-afternoon, doctor,” he said, with his -usual cheery smile. “I’ve come on my old tack of -looking for information. But it’s a very simple -matter this time: just one question on quite a different -subject.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot was looking changed: old and worn -and despondent. French was rather shocked at his -appearance. He was sitting forward in his chair, -hunched over the fire, with his head resting in his -hands and a look of brooding misery on his -features. He looked like a man upon whom a long -expected blow had at last fallen; a man at the end -of his tether, who does not know which way to turn -for relief. And then, somewhat to French’s -surprise, the cause came out.</p> - -<p>“Of course, of course,” the other murmured, -rousing himself as if from an evil dream. “If you -want to know anything from me ask it now, for -I’m leaving the town almost at once.”</p> - -<p>French was genuinely surprised.</p> - -<p>“Leaving the town?” he repeated. “You don’t -mean——? Do you mean for good?”</p> - -<p>“For good, yes. And I don’t want ever to see -the cursed place again. But it’s my own fault. I -may as well tell you, for you’ll hear it soon enough. -I have failed.”</p> - -<p>“Financially, you mean?”</p> - -<p>Philpot glanced at his visitor with sombre -resentment.</p> - -<p>“Financially, of course. How else?” he growled. -“It was never a land flowing with milk and honey, -this place, but for the last few months my position -has been getting more and more impossible. The -only things I get plenty of are bills—bills -everywhere, and no money to meet them. I’ve struggled -and fought to keep my end up, but it has been no -good. When I came, I couldn’t afford to buy a -practice, and though I’ve not done so badly owing -to Dr. Emerson’s giving up his more distant -patients, I haven’t built up quickly enough and my little -capital couldn’t stand the strain. Another three or -four years and I might have got my head above -water.” He made a gesture of despair. “But there -it is and complaining won’t help it.”</p> - -<p>French’s natural reaction was to show sympathy -with any one in trouble, and he could not help feeling -sorry for this doctor who had made a mess of his -life and who now, nearing middle age, was going to -have to begin all over again. But when he remembered -what the landlord of the Thirsdale Arms had -told him of the man’s gambling proclivities, his -sympathy was somewhat checked. To continue -gambling when you know that your indulgence is -going to prevent your paying your just debts is but -a short way removed from theft. Of course, French -did not know how far the landlord’s story was true, -so it was with relief that he reminded himself that -he was not Philpot’s judge, and that his business -was simply to get the information he required as -easily and pleasantly as he could.</p> - -<p>“I am exceedingly sorry to hear what you say,” -he declared gravely, and he was not altogether a -hypocrite in making his manner and tone express -genuine regret. “It is a terrible position for any -one to find himself in and I can well understand how -you feel. But, though bad, you must not consider it -hopeless. Many a man has passed through a similar -trouble and has come out on top in the end.”</p> - -<p>Philpot smiled faintly.</p> - -<p>“I appreciate your kindness,” he answered. “But -don’t let us talk about it. I told you in order to -explain my departure and because you would hear -it in any case. But if you don’t mind, I would -rather not speak of it again. You said something -about a question, I think?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but first I must ask just this. You say you -are leaving here. Suppose through some unexpected -development in this Starvel case you are wanted to -give evidence. Can I find you?”</p> - -<p>“Of course. I am going to a friend in Glasgow -who says he can find me a job. I shall be staying -with Mrs. MacIntosh, of 47 Kilgore Street, -Dumbarton Road.”</p> - -<p>French noted the address.</p> - -<p>“Thanks. I do not think I shall want you, but I -should be remiss in my duty if I failed to keep in -touch with you. The other question is about a -friend of Miss Averill’s, a man named Giles, who -died about the time of the fire. I wish you would -tell me what he died of.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot looked at him in surprise. Then -something approaching a twinkle appeared in his -eye.</p> - -<p>“Hullo! Another—er—unexpected -development? Is it indiscreet to inquire?”</p> - -<p>“It is,” French answered, “but I’ll tell you -because I really want my information. It may be a -very serious matter, Dr. Philpot, and I am -mentioning it in strict confidence only. I have certain -reasons to suppose that Mr. Giles may have been -murdered and I want to get your views on the -possibility.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot’s astonishment at the announcement -was quite as marked as that of his <i lang="fr">confrère</i>, but he -made less effort to conceal his scepticism.</p> - -<p>“My dear Inspector! You’re surely not serious? -Giles? Oh come now, you don’t expect me to -believe that? What possible motive could any one -have for doing such a thing?”</p> - -<p>French did not explain the motive. He said he -didn’t claim infallibility and admitted he might be -wrong in his theory. He was simply collecting facts -and he wanted any the other could supply.</p> - -<p>“Well,” Philpot declared, “these are the facts so -far as I know them.” He crossed over to an index, -and rapidly looking through it, withdrew a card. -“This is the man’s record. He was seriously ill to -begin with: he had a heart affection which might -have killed him at any moment. I have attended -him for years and his disease was growing worse. -His life in fact was precarious. That is your first -fact.</p> - -<p>“The second is that during the week before his -death he developed influenza. I went out and saw -him on the Thursday. I believed that his days were -numbered and I expected to hear of his death at -any time. He did die, if I remember correctly, on -the following Tuesday. I did not see him then, as -I was myself down with ’flu, but Dr. Emerson saw -him and he can tell you if his death was natural. I -don’t know, Inspector, what you are basing your -opinion on, but I can say with certainty that I shall -be surprised if you are right.”</p> - -<p>“It is your outlook on the matter which most -strongly supports my suspicion,” French rejoined: -“yours and Dr. Emerson’s, for I have seen him and -his is the same. He was expecting that Mr. Giles -would die from his disease, consequently when he -did die he assumed that the disease was the cause. -Perfectly naturally, mind you: I’m not criticising -him. But my point is that his preconceived idea -made him less critical than he might otherwise have -been.”</p> - -<p>“Ingenious no doubt, but to me unconvincing. -However, it is not my affair, but yours. Is there -any other question that you wish me to answer?”</p> - -<p>French rapidly reflected. He thought that there -was nothing more. Between these two men he had -got what he wanted.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think there is, doctor,” he returned. -“I’m afraid your information hasn’t helped me on -much, but after all it was facts that I wanted. I’ll -not detain you any longer. Allow me just to say -that I hope your present difficulties will be -short-lived and that you may soon settle down -satisfactorily again.”</p> - -<p>So, as far as the medical testimony was concerned, -his theory about Giles’ murder might well be true. -Dr. Emerson had really been very lax and yet, -French imagined, most medical men in similar -circumstances would have acted as he had done. But -whether that was so or not, Emerson had jumped -to conclusions and had signed the death certificate -without having really taken any trouble to ascertain -the cause of death. And this, if necessary, he could -be made to admit in the witness box.</p> - -<p>French saw that only one thing would settle the -matter. Giles’ coffin must be opened and the -contents examined.</p> - -<p>To obtain the necessary powers from the Home -Office was a simple matter in London, where the -request could be put through direct from the Yard. -But here in Yorkshire it must come from the local -authorities. French decided therefore that his -proper course would be to put the additional facts -that he had learned before Major Valentine and let -that officer see to the rest. It was not a matter -upon which he cared to telephone or write, so -having made an appointment by wire, he once again -took the afternoon train for Leeds.</p> - -<p>“I believe, sir, that I have found where that third -body was obtained,” he began, as he took his seat -for the second time in the Chief Constable’s room. -“It is, of course, only theory, indeed, you might -almost say guess-work, but I think it works in. The -nearest inhabitant to Starvel, a man living alone, -died on the night before the fire.” French went on -to relate in detail what took place and to give his -views thereon.</p> - -<p>The Chief Constable heard him in silence, and -then sat for some moments thinking the matter over.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid I don’t feel so sanguine about it as -you seem to,” he said at last. “At the same time -I agree that the matter must be settled by an -examination of the coffin. But I shall be surprised if -Giles’ body is not found within it.”</p> - -<p>“It may be, sir, of course,” French admitted. -“But I’m glad you agree that we should make sure. -In that case there is no object in delay. Will you -obtain the necessary exhumation order, or is there -anything you wish me to do in the matter?”</p> - -<p>“No, I’ll see to it. You may arrange with Kent -to get the work done. Let Kent arrange for a -magistrate to be present. A representative will be -required from the Home Office, of course?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid so, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Then you may expect the order in a day or two. -I shall be very much interested to hear the result. -It will be impossible to keep the affair quiet?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid so. There will be too many -concerned in it.”</p> - -<p>“Quite. Well, you must get up some tale about -it. What are you going to say?”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t thought yet, sir. I’ll dish out -something when the time comes.”</p> - -<p>When French reached Hellifield on his return -journey he found Oxley on the platform.</p> - -<p>“You been travelling also, Inspector?” Oxley -greeted him. “I’ve just been to Penrith for the -day. These connections always make me curse. -They’re all arranged to and from Leeds, but people -going to or from the north have to kick their heels -here for the best part of an hour each way.”</p> - -<p>“Can’t please everybody, Mr. Oxley,” French -remarked tritely.</p> - -<p>“You think not?” Oxley smiled. “Well, how’s -the case?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing doing for the moment. I was in seeing -Dr. Philpot this morning. He seems in a bad way, -poor fellow.”</p> - -<p>Oxley looked grave.</p> - -<p>“It’s a bad case, I fear.” He glanced round and -his voice sank. “From what I’ve heard and by -putting two and two together I shouldn’t wonder if -he’ll only pay two or three shillings in the pound. -All gone to the bookies, or nearly all. You know, -Inspector, between ourselves, when a man’s in debt -all round, as he is, it’s not just the game to go -putting his last few pounds on horses.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a fact, Mr. Oxley. Of course, one must -remember that the gambler plunges in the hope of -pulling something off. If he had had some bits of -luck he might have put himself square.”</p> - -<p>“That’s true, and you can imagine any one taking -the risk. If he wins his whole trouble is over, while -if he loses he is little the worse. He may as well be -hanged for a sheep as a lamb. But you haven’t told -me how the case is getting on.”</p> - -<p>It was natural enough that Oxley should be -interested in his investigations, but French thought he -pushed his curiosity a little too far. They met fairly -often—sometimes, he thought, not entirely by -accident—and every time Oxley made a dead set at -him to learn what he was doing and if he had -reached any conclusions. French did not like being -pumped, and as a result he became closer than ever. -On this occasion it taxed even his skill to put the -solicitor off without unpleasantly plain speaking, -but he managed it at last and the talk drifted into -other channels. Oxley was in his usual state of -rather boisterous good humor, and before the train -stopped at Thirsby he regaled French with the -gossip of the district and told a number of the highly -flavoured stories in which his soul delighted.</p> - -<p>Coincidence ordained that French should meet -at the station the one person whose curiosity as to -the progress of the investigation was even keener -than Oxley’s—Tarkington’s clerk, Bloxham. -Bloxham never lost an opportunity of fishing for -information, and French had little doubt that their -frequent “unexpected” meetings were carefully -prearranged. On the present occasion the man joined -French with a “Walking to the hotel, Mr. French? -I’m just going that way too,” and immediately -began to ask leading questions. But French’s feelings -were still somewhat ruffled from his encounter -with Oxley, and for once Bloxham received as direct -and decisive a reply as his heart could wish.</p> - -<p>“Sorry, Mr. French,” he stammered, staring at -French in considerable surprise. “I’m afraid we -outsiders must bother you a lot. I was interested -because of the notes, you understand, but of course -if the thing is confidential that’s another matter.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” French returned, recovering -his temper. “Come and have a drink.”</p> - -<p>Two days later the exhumation order came, and -that same night shortly after twelve o’clock a little -party emerged from the local police station, and -separating at the door, set off by various routes in -the direction of the cemetery. Inspector French -walked down the High Street with Dr. Laming, the -Home Office representative, Sergeant Kent with -Colonel Followes, the local magistrate from whom -French had obtained the warrant for Whymper’s -arrest, went via Cross Lane, while a sturdy -policeman armed with tools disappeared down a parallel -street.</p> - -<p>The night was dark and cloudy, with a cold -south-westerly wind which gave promise of early rain. -There was a thin crescent moon, though its light -penetrated but slightly through the pall of cloud. -The men shivered and turned up their collars as they -faced the raw damp air.</p> - -<p>The five met within the gates of the cemetery, -which were opened to them by the caretaker and -relocked behind them. Two gravediggers were in -attendance. In the darkness and silence the little -company moved off, and led by the caretaker, crossed -the ground towards its north-easterly corner.</p> - -<p>The place was very secluded. It lay on the side -of a gently sloping hill whose curving bulk screened -it from the town. It was tastefully laid out and -well kept, but to the little party, with their minds -full of their gruesome mission, it seemed eerie and -sinister. The shrubs and bushes which French had -so much admired on his previous visit, now -presented shadowy and menacing forms which moved -and changed their positions as the men passed on. -Presently a beam from an acetylene bicycle lamp -flashed out and the caretaker called a halt.</p> - -<p>“This is it,” he said in a low voice, pointing to -the long narrow mound of a grave.</p> - -<p>Silently the two gravediggers advanced, and -stretching a tarpaulin on the grass alongside the -mound, began to remove the sods. Then they dug, -first through dark soil and then through yellow, -which they heaped up in a pyramid on the tarpaulin. -They worked steadily, but a whole hour had passed -before with a dull thud a spade struck something -hollow.</p> - -<p>“We’re down at last,” the caretaker said, while -the diggers redoubled their efforts.</p> - -<p>Gradually the top of the coffin became revealed -and the men, undermining the walls of their -excavation, worked the clay out from round the sides. -Presently all was clear.</p> - -<p>As the interment had taken place only some two -months earlier the coffin was still perfectly sound. -Raising it was therefore an easy matter. Ropes -were lowered and passed through the handles, and -with a steady pull, the sinister casket came away -from the clay beneath and in a few seconds was -lying on the grass beside the hole. French, holding -his electric torch to the brass plate, could read the -inscription: “Markham Giles, died 14th September, -1926. Aged 36.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the sturdy policeman had come -forward with a screwdriver and was beginning to -withdraw the screws holding down the lid. Every one -but the case-hardened Home Office official felt a -thrill of excitement pass over him as the fateful -moment approached. Only Dr. Laming and French -had before taken part in an exhumation, and the -feelings of the others were stirred by the gruesome -nature of the operations and thoughts of the ghastly -sight which they expected would soon meet their -eyes. With French it was different. He was moved -because his reputation was at stake. So much -depended for him on what that raised lid would reveal. -If he had put all concerned to the trouble and -expense of an unnecessary exhumation, it would count -against him. He found it hard to stand still and to -preserve a suitable attitude of aloofness while the -constable slowly operated the screwdriver.</p> - -<p>At last the screws were removed and the lid was -carefully raised and lifted clear. And then the eyes -which had been bulging with anticipated horror, -bulged still more with incredulous amazement. -There was no sign of Markham Giles’ body or any -other! Instead, the coffin was half-full of dark, -peaty earth; and when this earth was sifted nothing -was found embedded in it.</p> - -<p>The sight produced varying emotions in the -onlookers. The uninitiated broke into exclamations -of wonder: French felt such a wave of satisfaction -sweep through him that he could have shouted in his -delight: Dr. Laming contented himself with a quick -glance and a murmur of “One for you, French. -Congratulations.” All felt that they had assisted -in a unique experiment, the result of which had -triumphantly vindicated the authorities.</p> - -<p>This, then, was the end of the mystery. The -conclusion which French had reached by analysis and -deduction had been tested and had proved true, and -that proof established at one and the same time the -whole of the steps of his line of reasoning. Roper -was guilty of one of the most diabolical plots ever -conceived in the mind of a criminal. He had allowed -nothing to stand in his way. He had sacrificed the -lives of no less than three people in order that he -might with the greater security steal his employer’s -money. Every part of his devilish scheme was made -clear, except one—his present whereabouts. French -determined that he would immediately begin to trace -him and that nothing would induce him to stop -until he had succeeded.</p> - -<p>It was not long before the news of the discovery -leaked out. When French came down to breakfast -next morning he found three reporters waiting for -him, and he had hardly begun to speak to them -when a fourth arrived.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, gentlemen,” he said pleasantly. -“I am from Scotland Yard after all, and I’ll tell -you as much as I can. I only wish I knew more! -As to what may or may not lie behind it I cannot -hazard a guess; we are about to go into that. But -the fact is that we received secret information—I -can’t give away the source—you may say an -anonymous letter if you like—but information was -forthcoming which led us to believe that the poor -gentleman, Mr. Giles, had become the victim of a gang -of criminals. The story was to the effect that he had -been murdered by chloroform or poison, and that -after he had been coffined, the gang returned and -removed the body, disposing of it in some other way. -That was all, but it obviously suggested that the -gang in question was that of the burglars who, as -you are aware, have been active in these parts for -many months, and that they had emptied the coffin -in order to find a temporary safe deposit for their -booty. That, at all events, was a possible -explanation. On going into the matter I thought it was -worth while testing the story by exhuming the -coffin, and sure enough, the body was gone. But -the other suggestion about the burglars’ swag -wasn’t so happy. When we opened the coffin we -found it half-full of earth: about the weight of the -deceased. Needless to say we searched it -thoroughly, but there was nothing else in it. So, -whatever the motive of the crime, it was not to find a -safe hiding place for valuables.”</p> - -<p>The reporters were voluble in their interest and -in the joy they evidently felt in the scoop vouchsafed -them.</p> - -<p>“Some story that, Inspector,” they cried. “Tell -us more and we’ll give you a good write up.”</p> - -<p>But French smilingly shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Sorry it’s all I’m at liberty to give away,” he -declared. “Come now, gentlemen, I haven’t done -so badly for you. Plenty of men in my position -wouldn’t have told you anything.”</p> - -<p>“But do you not think,” said one, the least -vociferous of the four, “that your theory may have -been right after all? Is it not possible that the stuff -was hidden in the coffin as you suggested, but was -dug up and removed by the gang before you made -your exhumation?”</p> - -<p>“I thought of that,” French declared brazenly, -“and you may be right, though there were no signs -of it. However, that is one of the things to be -gone into.”</p> - -<p>When French had breakfasted he went to see the -undertaker who had conducted Giles’ funeral, and -there he received some information which still more -firmly established the theory he had evolved.</p> - -<p>“The whole arrangements,” explained Mr. -Simkins, the proprietor, in the course of the -conversation, “were carried out to Mr. Roper’s orders. -Mr. Roper said that Mr. Giles had had an idea he -mightn’t get over the attack, and he had handed -him the money for his funeral, asking him to see to -it as he had no relative to do it. There were twelve -pounds over when the ground was bought, and Mr. -Roper handed the money to me and told me to do -the best I could with it. He said he thought the -best plan would be to get the body coffined that -afternoon—it was a Wednesday—and have the -funeral on the Friday. He said the doctor thought -the coffining should be done as soon as possible, -and while the day of the interment didn’t really -matter, Friday would suit as well as any. That was -the reason he gave for the arrangement, for you -know, sir, in inexpensive funerals at such a distance, -we generally do the coffining just before the funeral -and so make the one journey do. But that was the -way it was done.”</p> - -<p>“I understand,” French continued. “Mr. Giles -died on the Tuesday, the coffining was done on the -Wednesday, and the funeral took place on the -Friday. That right?”</p> - -<p>“That’s right, sir.”</p> - -<p>It seemed to French that the undertaker’s -statement demonstrated the sole remaining steps of -Roper’s plan so completely that every detail of that -hideous night now stood revealed in all its -ghastliness. He had not only murdered Markham Giles, -but he had arranged that the body should lie coffined -in the lonely house on the night of the major -tragedy. On that night he and probably Mrs. Roper -must have opened the coffin, taken out the remains, -replaced them with the proper weight of earth, and -once more screwed down the lid. A small handcart -such as French had noticed in the unburnt outhouse -at Starvel would serve to convey the remains to the -Hollow, where they were to be used in such a terrible -way to bolster up the deception.</p> - -<p>Truly, it was a well-thought-out scheme! And -how nearly had it succeeded! But its success would -be short-lived. With set teeth and frowning brow -French vowed to himself that he would not rest -until he had the monster who had done this deed -safely under lock and key.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch13"> - -<h2>CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Piece of Yellow Clay</h2> - -<p>All that day Inspector French’s thoughts kept -reverting to that tense moment in the cemetery when -the lid of the coffin had been raised and his theory -had been so dramatically established. The memory -filled his mind with a deep satisfaction. He felt -that he had achieved nothing less than a veritable -triumph. Other cases he had handled well, indeed -he thought he might say brilliantly. But in no -previous case had he solved his problem by such a -creative effort of the imagination. He had imagined -what might have happened, he had tested his -theory, and he had found it had happened. The -highest kind of work, this! His superiors could -not fail to be impressed.</p> - -<p>But there was more than that in it. Seldom had -he known of a case which contained such arresting -and dramatic features. When the facts became -known they would make something more than a nine -days’ wonder. The old miser, living meanly in his -decaying house at the bottom of that sinister hollow -on the lonely moor; the hoarded thousands in his -safe; the terrible conflagration which wiped out in -a night the whole building and everything it -contained; the discovery that the tragedy was no -accident, but that murder lurked behind it; the other -murder, when Markham Giles was done to death -for a purpose too dreadful and gruesome to -contemplate without a thrill of horror; these things would -make the Starvel Hollow crime re-echo round the -world. It would be the crime of the century. No -one could fail to be moved by it.</p> - -<p>And all would react to his, French’s advantage. -For a moment he allowed himself to dream. Chief -Inspector Armstrong was getting old. He must -soon retire . . . French ran over in his mind his -possible successors. Yes, it was conceivable . . . -With this brilliant case to his credit it was almost -likely . . . A ravishing prospect!</p> - -<p>But French was at heart too sound a man to waste -time in day-dreaming while there was work to be -done. He had pulled off a <i lang="fr">coup</i> and had every -reason to be pleased with himself, but he had not -completed his case. He had solved his problem, but -he had not found his criminal. Until Roper was -under lock and key he could not relax his efforts or -look for his reward.</p> - -<p>As he went over, point by point, all that he knew -of the missing man, he saw that there were two -matters upon which he should obtain further -information before starting his search. Roper’s statement -to the undertaker was capable of verification. Had -Dr. Emerson stated that Giles’ body required to be -coffined without delay? If Roper had lied on this -point, it would still further confirm the case against -him. The second matter was a search of Giles’ -cottage. It was not a hopeful line of inquiry -certainly, but it could not be neglected. Some clue to -the tragedy might be forthcoming.</p> - -<p>First, then, it was necessary to see Dr. Emerson, -and a few minutes later French was seated once -again in his consulting-room. The doctor greeted -him anxiously.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you called, Inspector,” he exclaimed. -“I was going up to the hotel to look for you. This -is a terrible development.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve heard then, Dr. Emerson?”</p> - -<p>“Just this moment. I met Kent and he told me. -It is an amazing affair, almost incredible. What -does it all mean, Mr. French? Can you -understand it?”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid, sir, it means what I said on my last -call; that Mr. Giles was murdered.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson made an impatient gesture.</p> - -<p>“But good gracious, man, that doesn’t explain it! -Suppose he was murdered: where is his body? Have -you a theory?”</p> - -<p>French hesitated. He felt tempted to disclose -his suspicions to this old man, whose interest and -good faith were so self-evident. But his habit of -caution was too strong.</p> - -<p>“I have a theory, Dr. Emerson,” he answered, -“but so far it is only a theory and I don’t like to -discuss it until I am reasonably sure it is true. I -shall know in a short time and then I will tell you. -In the meantime perhaps you will excuse me. But -I want to ask you one more question. Roper saw -you about the funeral arrangements?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. He said that Giles had given him some -money for the purpose and that he would see that -the best use was made of it.”</p> - -<p>“You thought it necessary, I understand, to have -the coffining done without delay?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson looked up sharply.</p> - -<p>“I thought it necessary? Certainly not. You’re -mistaken there.”</p> - -<p>“Is that so?” French returned. “I thought you -had told Roper that it must be hurried on. You -didn’t?”</p> - -<p>“Never. I never even discussed the matter with -him. I never thought of it. As a matter of fact -there was no need to depart in any way from the -usual procedure.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, doctor. Now there is one -other point. Let us assume that murder was -committed. I want you to tell me from the appearance -of the body how that murder might have been done. -If you are able to do so it might lead me to a clue.”</p> - -<p>Emerson sprang to his feet and began pacing the -room.</p> - -<p>“Merciful powers! That’s a nice question to ask -me, after my giving a certificate of death from -myocarditis!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“I know, doctor.” French spoke soothingly. -“But none of us are infallible, and if you made a -mistake it’s only what every one does at one time -or another. Your reasons for giving the certificate -were very convincing, and if they were not sound in -this case it is only because this case is one in a -million. Don’t worry about the certificate. Instead, -just sit down and recall the appearance of the body -and see if you can think of another cause of death. -If you’re not able to give a definite opinion we can -still get something by elimination. I take it, for -example, the man’s skull was not battered in nor his -throat cut? That limits the affair. You see what -I mean?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I see right enough, and naturally I’ll give -you all the help I can. But tell me first, have you -found the body?”</p> - -<p>“No, nor have I the faintest idea where to look. -That will be my next job, I suppose. I don’t even -say it’s murder. But it may be, and if you can -answer my question it might be a considerable help.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson thought for some moments.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he said at last, “I must admit that -murder is <em>possible</em>, though I don’t for a moment believe -death occurred otherwise than as I said. As to -possible methods, there were no obvious wounds on -the body and violence in the literal sense is -therefore unlikely. A sharp blow over the heart or on -the stomach might have caused heart failure without -leaving physical marks, but in such a case the -features would have looked distressed. For the same -reason death from the shock of a sudden fright or -start may be ruled out. It is of course true that -certain kinds of poison might have been -administered. A whiff of hydrocyanic acid gas would -cause almost instantaneous death and produce the -same appearance as death from natural causes. An -injection of cocaine would do the same where there -was heart disease, and there are other similar -agents. But in these cases the difficulty of the -average man in obtaining the substances in question -and also in knowing how to use them if obtained, is -so great that I think they might all be ruled out. -No, Inspector, amazing as your discovery seems, I -cannot think you are right in assuming murder.”</p> - -<p>“But,” thought French, though he did not put his -thought into words, “if the man you suspect spent -the best years of his life as male nurse in a medical -institution, these difficulties pretty well vanish.” -But he concealed his satisfaction, and, instead, -simulated disappointment.</p> - -<p>“That seems very reasonable, doctor, I must -admit. At the same time I shall have to put -inquiries in hand as to whether any one recently tried -to obtain cocaine or those other things you have -mentioned. Of course, I don’t say that necessarily -I am right in my ideas.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think you are right, though I confess I’m -absolutely lost in amazement about that coffin. -Come now, Inspector, you must know more than -you pretend. Are your ideas hopelessly -confidential?”</p> - -<p>French shook his head, then said, “I can tell you, -doctor, that I know nothing more than I have -already mentioned. I may have a surmise, but you -will agree that I could not repeat mere surmises -which might also be slanders against perfectly -innocent persons. If I find that my theories seem to -have a basis on fact I may ask for your further help, -but at present I see no signs of that. You’ll agree -that I’m right?”</p> - -<p>Emerson admitted it, and after some further -conversation French took his leave. So far everything -was going satisfactorily. Each new fact which he -learned tended to strengthen his theory. And -incidentally and unexpectedly he had come on another -piece of evidence, circumstantial of course, but none -the less strong. According to Dr. Emerson, the -murder was most likely to have been committed by -methods which Roper alone, of all the people that -French could think of, had the knowledge and the -ability to employ. French’s satisfaction was intense -as he noted the cumulative effect of his discoveries. -By this method of cumulative circumstantial -evidence was he accustomed to find suspicion grow to -certainty and certainty to proof.</p> - -<p>So much for the first of the two inquiries French -had set himself to make. There remained the -investigation of the late Markham Giles’ cottage, and -after a snack of early lunch at the hotel, he started -out along the Starvel road.</p> - -<p>It was dull and rather cold, but a pleasant day for -walking. French tramped along, enjoying the -motion and the extended view offered by the wide, open -spaces of the moor. Though, owing to the -atmosphere, the colouring was neither so warm nor so -rich as it had previously appeared, there was a -fascination in the scenery which strongly appealed -to him. He had found a similar though keener -charm in Dartmoor, which he had once explored -on the occasion of a visit to a cracksman doing time -in the great prison at Princetown. Indeed -Dartmoor and Exmoor both figured on his list of places -to be visited when time and money should permit.</p> - -<p>Diverging from the Starvel road at the point -where Ruth Averill and Mrs. Oxley had joined the -deceased man’s funeral, French skirted the edge of -the Hollow and in a few minutes reached the -cottage. It was a tiny box of a place, but strongly -built, with stone walls and slated roof. Its -architecture was of the most rudimentary kind, a door -and two windows in front and at the back being the -only relieving features in the design. The house -stood a short distance back from the road in the -middle of a patch of cultivated ground. Behind -was a row of wooden beehives.</p> - -<p>French looked round him. As far as he could see -he was the only living thing in all that stretch of -country. The town, nestling in the valley up which -he had come, was hidden from sight below the edge -of the moor. The three or four houses standing -at wide intervals apart seemed deserted. No one -appeared on the road or on the moor.</p> - -<p>He walked up the little path to the door and -busied himself with the lock. It was too large for -his skeleton keys, but a few moments’ work with a -bit of bent wire did the trick, and presently he was -inside with the door closed behind him.</p> - -<p>The house consisted of three rooms only, a -sitting-room, a bedroom, and a kitchen. A narrow -passage separated the last two of these, the front -portion of which formed a porch and the back a -pantry. The atmosphere was heavy and nauseating, -and this was soon explained by the fact that -everything seemed to have been left just where it was -when Giles died. The clothes were still on the bed -and there was mouldy and decaying food in the -pantry. Dust was thick over everything; indeed it -was a marvel to French where so much dust should -have come from in the heart of the country.</p> - -<p>He opened the doors to let the atmosphere clear -and then began one of his meticulous examinations. -He did not expect to find anything of interest, yet -he searched as if the key to the whole mystery lay -waiting to be discovered. But after an hour he had -to admit failure. There was nothing in the place -from which he could get the slightest help.</p> - -<p>Reluctantly he locked the doors and started back -to Thirsby. He walked slowly, scarcely conscious -of his surroundings as he racked his brains in the -hope of seeing some other clue which might bring -him more result. At first he could think of -nothing, then another line of investigation occurred -to him which, though it seemed hopelessly -unpromising, he thought he might pursue.</p> - -<p>He had been thinking that if his main theory -were correct Giles’ body must have been conveyed -from his cottage to Starvel, probably during the -darkness of that tragic Wednesday night. How -had this been done? He had noticed in the single -outhouse of Starvel which remained unburnt a light -handcart, and it had before occurred to him that this -cart might have been used. He now thought he -would go down to Starvel and have another look at -the outhouse and this handcart. A miracle might -have happened and some helpful clue been left.</p> - -<p>He turned aside from the road, and crossing the -lip of the Hollow, went down to the ruins in the -centre. The outhouse was a small stone shed built -up against the yard wall. Through the broken and -cobweb-covered window he could see that it -contained the handcart, a few gardening tools and some -old broken crates and other rubbish. The door was -secured with a rusty chain and padlock of which the -key had disappeared.</p> - -<p>A few seconds’ work with his bent wire -unfastened the lock and he pushed open the door and -entered. The place was unspeakably dirty and he -moved gingerly about as he began to look over its -contents. But he was just as meticulous and -thorough in his examination as if it were the throne -room of a palace.</p> - -<p>He had completed his work and was about to -retire disappointed when the presence of a small -scrap of yellow clay which he had observed on -entering, but to which he had given no attention, suddenly -struck him as being slightly puzzling. It was shaped -like a half-moon, the inner edge showing a definite -curve. Evidently it had caked round a man’s heel -and had dropped off, possibly as the heel had become -drier in the shed. French looked round and -presently he saw two more pieces. One was stuck to the -rim of the left wheel of the handcart as if the wheel -had rolled over a clod and picked it up, the other -was on the left leg as if the leg had been put down -on a similar clod which had stuck in the same way.</p> - -<p>It was, of course, evident that the handcart had -been not only wheeled over a place where there was -yellow clay, but had been set down there. At first -French saw nothing remarkable in this, but now it -occurred to him that he had not noticed any clay -of the colour in the neighbourhood. Where then -had the pieces been picked up?</p> - -<p>He had seen similar clay on the previous night, -but not close by. The heap of stuff removed in -opening the grave down in Thirsby was just that -kind of material. He had noticed it particularly in -the light of the acetylene lamp. It was of a -characteristic light yellow and very stiff and compact -like puddle. But he had seen nothing like it up on -the moor. The soil all about was dark coloured, -almost peaty.</p> - -<p>He cast his thoughts back to that scene in the -graveyard and then he recalled another point. He -had looked down into the grave when the coffin was -being raised, and he now remembered that the sides -of the opening had shown black soil over the clay. -A layer of some three feet six or four feet of dark, -peaty soil had covered the yellow. French whistled -softly as the possible inference struck him.</p> - -<p>A worn but still serviceable looking spade stood -in the corner of the shed. French picked it up, and -going a few yards out on to the moor, began to dig. -He was not particularly expert, and before he had -worked for many minutes he was in bath of -perspiration. But he persevered and the hole grew -until at a depth of nearly three feet he found what -he wanted. The spade brought up a piece of hard, -compact clay of a light yellow colour.</p> - -<p>French had grown keenly interested as he filled -in the hole and removed the traces of his work. -With a feeling of suppressed excitement he returned -to the shed and carefully packed the half-moon -shaped cake of clay in a matchbox. Then locking -the door, he went out again on the moor and stood -looking round him as he pondered the facts he had -just learned.</p> - -<p>The handcart had been recently set down in and -wheeled across a patch of yellow clay. This almost -certainly had been done on the last occasion it had -been used, otherwise the clay would have been -knocked off on subsequent journeys. For the same -reason the place must have been close to Starvel. -There was no exposed clay near Starvel, but it was -to be found at a depth of some three feet below -ground level.</p> - -<p>From this it surely followed that some one had -dug a hole near Starvel and wheeled the handcart -to the edge before it was filled in.</p> - -<p>French went a step farther. If he was correct -that the body of Markham Giles had been brought -to Starvel on that tragic night it was almost certain -that the handcart had been used, as there was no -other way, so far as he could see, in which the -terrible burden could have been carried. But so long -a journey would have knocked the clay off the wheel; -therefore the journey to the hole had been made -<em>after</em> that with the body. Further, the handcart -could scarcely have been used since the fire: the -tragedy was then over and the surviving actor had -left the district.</p> - -<p>Did these considerations not suggest that Roper, -having brought the man’s body to Starvel, had -loaded up his booty on the handcart—possibly there -were old silver or valuable ornaments as well as -the bank notes—wheeled it out on the moor and -buried it so as to hide it safely until he could come -back and remove it?</p> - -<p>French recalled his reasons for thinking that the -booty might have been so hidden. All those -notes—assuming there was nothing else—would have had a -certain bulk. Probably a suitcase would have been -necessary to carry them. A man with a suitcase -is a more noticeable figure than one without. Would -it not have been wise for a criminal fleeing from -justice to hide the stuff, provided he could find a -safe place in which to do so? Moreover—and this -was the strongest point—had Roper been arrested -without the notes nothing could have been proved -against him. He could say he had escaped from -the fire by the merest piece of good fortune or he -could simulate loss of memory from the shock. Or -again he could explain that he had feared to come -forward lest he should be suspected. No matter -what might have been thought, he was safe. But -let him be found with the notes in his possession -and he was as good as hanged.</p> - -<p>French, looking round him there in the centre of -the great Hollow, felt his spirits rising as he -wondered if he were about to make the greatest <i lang="fr">coup</i> -of the whole case.</p> - -<p>His question now was: Where would Roper make -his cache? Not near the road where the disturbed -earth would be visible to a chance passerby. Not -near the house in case some of the crowds attracted -by the fire should make an unexpected find. But -not too far away from either lest he himself might -have difficulty in locating the place.</p> - -<p>French began to walk round the house in circles -of ever increasing radius, scrutinising the ground -for traces of yellow clay. And so he searched until -the evening began to draw in and dusk approached.</p> - -<p>And then, as he was coming to the conclusion that -it was getting too dark to carry on, he found what -he wanted. Out on the open moor at the back of -the house and at the bottom of a tiny hollow were -unmistakable traces of recent digging. The ground -over a few square feet was marked with scraps of -disintegrating yellow clay and the sods with which -the hole was covered still showed cut edges.</p> - -<p>French was overwhelmed with delight. That he -had found something of value, most probably a -cache containing the stolen money, he had no doubt. -Scarcely could he restrain his desire to open the hole -again then and there. But it was getting dark and -he had no lamp. He thought two witnesses would -be desirable, so he curbed his impatience, noted -carefully the position of the marks, and regretting the -necessity for leaving it unguarded, set off on his -return journey.</p> - -<p>He called to see Sergeant Kent and arranged that -he and a constable should meet him at the outhouse -at eight o’clock on the following morning. At the -hotel he dined, and saying that he had to take the -night train to Carlisle, asked for a packet of -sandwiches. Then he left the town and walked out once -more to Starvel.</p> - -<p>His mind was not at rest until he had again visited -the site of the hole and made sure it remained -undisturbed. Then, determined to take no chances, -he re-entered the outhouse, and seating himself at -a window from which he could see the hollow in the -light of the moon, lit his pipe and composed himself -to watch.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch14"> - -<h2>CHAPTER FOURTEEN: The Secret of the Moor</h2> - -<p>That night in the lonely shed beside the gaunt, -blackened walls of the old house, proved one of the -longest French had ever spent. But there was no -escape from the vigil. If Averill’s hoard lay -beneath the sods a few yards away, the place must be -watched. Roper might come for the swag at any -time and French could not run the risk of its being -snatched at the last moment from his own eager -clutches.</p> - -<p>He pulled a couple of old boxes to the window, -and sitting down, made himself as comfortable as he -could. But time dragged leadenly. He watched -while the moon crept slowly across the sky, he -speculated over the tragic business on which he was -engaged and indulged in waking dreams of the time -when he should be Chief Inspector French of the -C.I.D., but nothing that he could do seemed to -shorten the endless hours. He was cold, too, in spite -of his heavy coat. He longed to go out and warm -himself by a brisk walk, but he dared not risk -betraying his presence. In the small hours he ate -his sandwiches, and then he had to fight an -overwhelming desire for sleep, intensified by the fact -that he had been up a good part of the previous -night. But his vigilance was unrewarded. There -was no sign of a marauder, and as the first faint -glow of dawn began to show in the east, he saw that -he had had all his trouble for nothing. Altogether -he was not sorry when just before eight o’clock -Sergeant Kent and the constable put in an -appearance, and as he stepped out to meet them he heaved -a sigh of heartfelt relief.</p> - -<p>“You’re here before us,” Kent greeted him in -surprise.</p> - -<p>“That’s right, but I was too early. Now, -sergeant, I asked you to come out here for rather an -unusual purpose: in fact, so that we might dig a -hole. Here is a spade and we’ll go and begin at -once.”</p> - -<p>The sergeant looked as if he wondered whether -French hadn’t gone off his head, but he controlled -his feelings and with his satellite followed the -other’s lead.</p> - -<p>“I want you,” went on French when they had -reached the site of his discovery, “to see just why -I wish to dig this hole at this place,” and he showed -him the traces of the yellow clay and the cut sods. -“You see, some one has buried something here, and -I want to find out what it is.”</p> - -<p>Kent in a non-committal silence seized the spade -and began digging. The constable then tried his -hand, and when he had had enough, French relieved -him. So they took it in turns while the hole deepened -and the heap of soil beside it grew.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the spade encountered something soft -and yielding which yet resisted its pressure. Kent, -who was using it, stopped digging and began to clear -away the surrounding soil, while the others watched, -French breathlessly, the constable with the bovine -impassiveness which he had exhibited throughout.</p> - -<p>“It’s a blanket, this is,” the sergeant announced -presently. “Something rolled up in a blanket.”</p> - -<p>“Go on,” said French. “Open it up.”</p> - -<p>Kent resumed his digging. For some minutes he -worked, and then he straightened himself and looked -at French wonderingly.</p> - -<p>“Lord save us!” he exclaimed in awed tones. -“It’s uncommon like a human corpse.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” French answered sharply. “It -couldn’t be anything of the kind. Get on and open it -and then you’ll know.”</p> - -<p>The sergeant hesitated, then climbed heavily out -of the hole.</p> - -<p>“Well, look yourself, sir,” he invited.</p> - -<p>French jumped down, and as he gazed on the -outline of the blanket covered object, his eyes grew -round and something like consternation filled his -mind. The sergeant was right! There was no -mistaking that shape! This was a grave that they were -opening and the blanket was a shroud.</p> - -<p>French swore, then controlled himself and turned -to the sergeant.</p> - -<p>“You’re right, Kent. It’s a body sure enough. -Clear away the soil round it while the constable and -I get that shed door off its hinges.”</p> - -<p>The task of raising the uncoffined and decaying -remains on to the improvised stretcher was one -which French could never afterwards think of -without a qualm of sick loathing, but eventually it was -done and the men slowly carried the shrouded -horror to the shed. There the door was placed -upon a couple of boxes and French, clenching his -teeth, turned back the blanket from the face.</p> - -<p>In spite of the terrible ravages of time both Kent -and the constable immediately recognised the -distorted features. The body was that of Markham -Giles!</p> - -<p>The discovery left French almost speechless. If -Markham Giles’ body was here, <em>whose was the third -body at Starvel?</em> Was the whole of his case -tumbling about his ears? Once again he swore bitterly -and once again pulled himself together to deal with -the next step.</p> - -<p>“This means an inquest,” he said to Kent. “You -and I had better get back to Thirsby and notify the -coroner and so forth, and this man of yours can stay -here and keep watch.”</p> - -<p>They walked down to the little town almost in -silence, French too full of his new problem to indulge -in conversation, and the sergeant not liking to break -in upon his companion’s thoughts. On arrival Kent -got in touch with the coroner while French rang up -Major Valentine.</p> - -<p>“No, sir, I don’t know what to make of it,” he -admitted in answer to the major’s sharp question. -“It certainly does look as if the man I suspected was -dead after all. But I would rather not discuss it -over the ’phone. Could I see you, sir, if I went -down to Leeds?”</p> - -<p>“No, I’ll go to Thirsby. I’d like to look into the -matter on the spot. There will be an inquest, of -course?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. Sergeant Kent is arranging it with the -coroner. We shall want an autopsy also. One of -the things I wanted to know is who you think I -should have to make it. But you can tell me that -when you come.”</p> - -<p>Major Valentine replied that he would drive over -in his car and would pick up French at the police -station at two p.m. on his way out to Starvel.</p> - -<p>It was now getting on towards midday, but French -decided that he would have time to make an -inquiry and get lunch before the Chief Constable’s -arrival. He therefore turned into High Street -and walked to Pullar’s, the largest shoe shop of the -town.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Pullar in?” he asked pleasantly. He had -met the man in the bar of the Thirsdale Arms and -there was a nodding acquaintance between the two.</p> - -<p>“I suppose you haven’t heard of our discovery, -Mr. Pullar?” French began when he was seated in -the proprietor’s office. The whole business was -bound to come out at the inquest, so he might as well -enlist the other’s goodwill by telling him -confidentially something about it.</p> - -<p>Mr. Pullar cautiously admitted he hadn’t heard -anything unusual.</p> - -<p>“This is unusual enough for any one,” French -assured him, and he told of the finding of the grave on -the moor, though making no mention of his doubts -and fears about Roper.</p> - -<p>Mr. Pullar was duly impressed and repeatedly -begged that his soul might be blessed. When he had -absorbed the news French turned to the real object -of his call.</p> - -<p>“I thought that maybe you could give me a bit of -help, Mr. Pullar. You’d perhaps be interested to -know how I got on to the thing. Well, it was in -this way.” He took from the matchbox the piece -of clay he had found on the floor of the shed.</p> - -<p>“I picked this up in the shed, and as that sort of -clay is covered everywhere here with three feet of -dark soil, it followed that some one had dug a hole -more than three feet deep.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Pullar expressed his admiration of the other’s -perspicacity with the same pious wish as before.</p> - -<p>“Now you see,” French continued, “this clay was -sticking to a shoe. It probably got a bit dry in the -shed and dropped or got knocked off. Now, Mr. -Pullar, can you tell me what kind of a shoe it was?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Pullar shook his head. With every wish to -assist, he was doubtful if he could answer the -question. He picked up the piece of clay and turned it -over gingerly in his fingers.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he said presently, pointing to the hollow -curve, “that’s been sticking round the outside of a -heel, that has. If it had been a toe it would have -been squeezed flatter. But that’s the square-edged -mark of a heel.” He looked interrogatively at -French, who hastened to interject: “Just what I -thought, Mr. Pullar. A man’s heel.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a man’s heel I would think: though, mind -you, it’s not easy to tell the difference between a -man’s and some of these flat heeled shoes women -wear now.”</p> - -<p>“I thought it was a man’s from the size.”</p> - -<p>“No: it might be either a big woman or a small -man. Sevens, I should say.” He got up and put his -head through the office door. “Here, John! Bring -me three pairs of gents’ black Fitwells: a six and a -half, a seven and an eight: medium weight.”</p> - -<p>When the shoes came Mr. Pullar attempted to fit -the circle of clay to the curve of each heel. French -was delighted with the thorough and systematic way -he set about it. He tried with all three sizes, then -roared out for a pair of sixes and a pair of nines.</p> - -<p>“It’s no good, Mr. French,” he said when he had -tested these also. “Look for yourself. It’s smaller -than a nine, but you can’t tell any more than that. -It might be a six or a seven or an eight. It isn’t -sharp enough to say.”</p> - -<p>French looked for himself, but he had to admit -the other’s conclusion was correct. The prints -presumably had been made by a man with rather small -feet, and that was all that could be said.</p> - -<p>French was disappointed. He had hoped for -something more definite. Roper admittedly had -rather small feet, but the same was true of numbers -of other men.</p> - -<p>He bade Mr. Pullar good day and returned to the -hotel for lunch. But he soon learned that the worthy -shoe merchant had made the most of his -opportunities. Scarcely had he sat down when the -reporter of the local paper hurried into the coffee -room and excitedly demanded details of the great -find. And behind him appeared the hotel proprietor -and a number of clients who had been supporting -British industries in the bar.</p> - -<p>French saw there was nothing for it but -capitulation. Good-humouredly he told his story, merely -stipulating that after his statement to the reporter -he should not be troubled further until he had -finished his lunch. This was agreed to, but it is sad to -relate that French did not entirely play the game. -His repast ended, he slipped out through the yard, -and by devious ways reached the police station -unnoticed. Major Valentine drove up as he arrived -and in a few seconds the two men were whirling out -along the Starvel road, while French told his story -in detail.</p> - -<p>“It’s really an extraordinary development,” the -Chief Constable commented. “You assumed that -Giles had been murdered in order to obtain his body -for the Starvel fraud. If you were correct it -followed that his coffin would be empty. You opened -his coffin and it was empty. A more complete -vindication of your line of reasoning it would be hard -to imagine. And now it turns out that the body was -not used for the Starvel fraud; therefore the whole -of your reasoning falls to the ground. If you had -not made a mistake and acted on false premises you -would not have discovered the truth. Peculiar, -isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Peculiar enough, sir. But I wish I could agree -with you that I had discovered the truth. It seems -to me I am further away from it than ever.”</p> - -<p>“No; the correction of an error is always -progress. But I’m not denying,” Major Valentine went -on with a whimsical smile, “that there is still -something left to be cleared up.”</p> - -<p>French laughed unhappily.</p> - -<p>“I don’t like to think of it,” he said. “But the -post-mortem may tell us something. According to -my previous theory this man was murdered. Now -this discovery raises a certain doubt, though -personally I have very little. But in any case we have -no proof. Therefore I thought we should want a -post-mortem.”</p> - -<p>“Undoubtedly. We’ll get Dr. Lingard of -Hellifield. This the shed?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir. The body’s inside.”</p> - -<p>A few minutes sufficed to put the chief constable in -possession of all the available information and the -two men returned to the car.</p> - -<p>“You know,” the major declared as he restarted -his engine, “if this man was murdered it doesn’t say -a great deal for that Dr. Emerson. He gave a -certificate of death from natural causes, didn’t he?”</p> - -<p>“If you ask my opinion,” French answered -gloomily, “he didn’t examine the body at all. I saw him -about it. It seems the man had been suffering from -heart disease for years. He also had a touch of -influenza some days before his death which might -have caused heart failure. Dr. Emerson practically -admitted he had assumed this had happened. He -also admitted that anyhow only a post-mortem could -have made sure.”</p> - -<p>“Careless and reprehensible, no doubt. But, -French, I wonder whether we shouldn’t all have -done the same in his circumstances. The idea of -foul play in such a case would never enter any one’s -head.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what he said, sir. Until I told him about -the empty coffin he scouted the suggestion. When I -mentioned that he didn’t know what to say.”</p> - -<p>“He’ll be required at the inquest?”</p> - -<p>“Of course, sir. And the other doctor, Philpot. -He attended the man during his illness.”</p> - -<p>They ran rapidly into the town and pulled up at -the police station. Kent, recognising his visitor, -hurried obsequiously to meet them.</p> - -<p>“Good-evening, Kent,” the major greeted him. -“Inspector French has just been telling me of this -affair. Have you heard from the coroner?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I saw him about it. To-morrow at -eleven he’s fixed for the inquest.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“At the courthouse. He asked that the remains -might be brought in before that.”</p> - -<p>“It’s not allowing much time for the post-mortem. -Better see the coroner again, Kent, and get him to -take evidence of identification and adjourn for a -week. I’ll arrange with Dr. Lingard about the -post-mortem at once, and will you, French, get in -touch with the local doctors. Meanwhile as we’re -here let us settle about the evidence.”</p> - -<p>Kent led the way to his room and there a -discussion took place on the procedure to be adopted at the -inquest. A list of the witnesses was drawn up with -a note of the testimony which was to be expected -from each. Certain facts, it was considered, should -be kept in the background, and Kent was instructed -to see the coroner and ask him to arrange this also. -When the business was complete the major rose.</p> - -<p>“Then I shall see you at the adjourned inquest, -Kent. French, if you’ll come along I’ll give you -a lift as far as your hotel. As a matter of fact I’d -like to have a chat with you,” he went on when they -had left the police station. “This new development -is certainly very puzzling and I’d like to discuss it -in detail. Have you a private sitting room?”</p> - -<p>“Not all the time. I’ve had one once or twice -for an evening when I had work to do, but ordinary -times I don’t have it. We can get it all right now -though.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you arrange it while I see to the car. And -order some tea. You’ll join me in a cup, won’t -you?”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, I should like to.”</p> - -<p>In a few minutes a fire of logs was crackling in the -rather dismal private sitting room of the Thirsdale -Arms. Until tea was over the major chatted of -men and things apart from the case, but when the -waiter had disappeared with the tray and the two -men had settled themselves with cigars before the -fire he came to business.</p> - -<p>“I admit, French, that I am not only -tremendously interested in this case, but also extremely -puzzled. From what you say, that’s your position -also. Now just to run over two or three points. I -take it there is no doubt as to motive?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir, we may take it as gospel that Mr. -Averill’s thirty thousand pounds were stolen and that -that’s the key of the whole affair.”</p> - -<p>“You suspected Whymper at first?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, at first sight things looked bad for him. I -needn’t go over the details: he had some of the -stolen money in his possession and had been to the -house on the night of the tragedy and so on. But -I went into the thing thoroughly and I was satisfied -that Roper had made him his dupe. Whymper’s -all right, sir. We shall get nothing there.”</p> - -<p>“I hear he and Miss Averill are to be married.”</p> - -<p>“So I heard, in fact he told me himself. He -wanted to propose and then this affair made him -hold back. But as soon as I told him I was not -going to arrest him he went straight to the lady -and told her the circumstances and asked her to -marry him. She accepted him and the wedding is -to take place soon.”</p> - -<p>“I know his father in Leeds and I’m glad to hear -that he’s definitely out of trouble. Then you -suspected Philpot?”</p> - -<p>“I suspected Philpot because of his connection -with Roper, though there was nothing directly -connecting him with the Starvel crime. But I soon saw -that I was on the wrong track there too. He -accounted for everything that seemed suspicious, and -what was more, any points of his statement which in -the nature of the case could be corroborated, were -corroborated by other witnesses. Besides, he was -ill at the time: there was the evidence of his -housekeeper and others as well as Dr. Emerson’s -testimony that he was unable to leave his bed. And -there was his failure. If he had just obtained -£30,000 he wouldn’t have allowed the bailiff in.”</p> - -<p>“Might not that have been a trick to put people -off the scent?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir, I don’t think so. If he had been guilty -he wouldn’t have shown sudden evidence of wealth, -but he wouldn’t have gone bankrupt either—just -for fear it might be taken as a trick. Of course, -sir, I’m aware that none of this is absolutely -conclusive. There was absence of evidence of guilt, but -not proof of innocence, and, of course, illness can -be faked and so on. But the thing that really -cleared Philpot in my mind was the conduct of -Roper. It’s impossible to consider this case -without considering Roper’s conduct.”</p> - -<p>“I know, and I really agree with you. Still let us -exhaust the possibilities. You thought of other -people, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“I thought of every one else in the place almost. -Oxley, Tarkington, Emerson and several others; -even Kent I considered. But there wasn’t a shred -of evidence against any of them. The only other -real alternative to Roper is the burglars—the gang -who have been operating for some months past. But -here again Roper’s conduct comes in. If Roper -wasn’t guilty he wouldn’t have acted as he did.”</p> - -<p>The chief constable smoked in silence for some -moments.</p> - -<p>“I think all you say is very sound. Now just -run over the case against Roper and I shall try to -pick holes.”</p> - -<p>“First, sir, there was the man’s character; -vindictive, unscrupulous, a blackmailer, and as well as that -a skilful forger. Admittedly this description came -from Philpot, but all that could be known to -outsiders was confirmed by the sergeant and many -others at Kintilloch. Roper was the only person -we know of, other than the burglar gang, who had -the character and the ability to commit the crime.”</p> - -<p>“Not convincing, but go on.”</p> - -<p>“Not convincing alone, no doubt; but it does not -stand alone. Secondly, there was the getting of -Miss Averill out of the way; thirdly, there was the -Whymper episode and fourthly, the matter of -Giles’s funeral.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right except that when we find Giles’s -body was not burned the whole case falls to the -ground.”</p> - -<p>French threw the stub of his cigar into the fire.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you believe it, sir. None of what I have -been saying falls to the ground. Though I admit -the motive of this Giles business is not clear, the -facts remain and their significance remains. I don’t -now follow all Roper’s scheme, but I still believe -he is our man.”</p> - -<p>Major Valentine nodded decisively.</p> - -<p>“So do I, French, and we shall get him all right. -Then you’ve no theory of where the third body -came from?”</p> - -<p>“I believe Roper enticed some other poor devil -to the house and murdered him also. I think, sir, -we’ll have to try again to find out if any one -disappeared about that time.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll see to it, but I’m not hopeful of doing better -than before.”</p> - -<p>Major Valentine showed signs of breaking up -the conference, but French raised his hand.</p> - -<p>“A moment, sir, if you please. I was thinking -that this inquest gives us a chance that perhaps we -should take advantage of. No more of those notes -have come through. What, sir, would you say was -the reason for that?”</p> - -<p>“Well, if we’re right about Roper being alive, I -suppose because he’s afraid.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I think. And this business will -make him still more afraid. Now I wonder if we -couldn’t set his mind at ease for him.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t quite follow.”</p> - -<p>“Why, this way. Suppose that I was very frank -in my evidence—very frank and open and comprehensive. -Suppose that I should tell about the notes; -about their numbers having been taken, and about -the one turning up in London, and robbery being -thereby suspected and my being sent down to -investigate. Suppose I explained that I had succeeded in -tracing that note and had found that it had been -given by Mr. Averill himself to a friend, and that -the whole transaction was perfectly in order. But -suppose I conveyed that only the numbers of the -last batch of notes—say, twenty twenties—were -known. Wouldn’t that do the trick?”</p> - -<p>“You mean that if the numbers of only twenty -notes were known, Roper would feel safe in -changing the others?”</p> - -<p>“Quite so. Furthermore, if nothing was said -about the ashes being newspaper he would think that -the suspicion of robbery had been dispelled by the -discovery that the note passed in London was all -right.”</p> - -<p>“It’s worth trying. If he rises to it you’ll get -him.”</p> - -<p>“Right, sir. Then I’ll advise the coroner -beforehand. Or perhaps you would do so?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do it. Well, I must be getting home. I’m -glad to have had this talk and I hope your scheme -will meet with success.”</p> - -<p>Next morning the inquest opened and formal -evidence of identification of the remains of the late -Markham Giles was taken. The proceedings were -then adjourned for seven days to enable the police -to prosecute inquiries.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch15"> - -<h2>CHAPTER FIFTEEN: French Baits His Trap</h2> - -<p>That day week was a red letter day in the -history of Thirsby. The story of French’s discoveries, -by this time common property, had created an -absolute furore in the little town. Never had such a -series of tragedies and thrills disturbed its placid -existence. Never had interest risen to such fever -heat. It was therefore not surprising that every -available seat in the courthouse was occupied long -before the hour of the adjourned inquest, and that -a queue of eager, pushing people, unable to gain -admittance, stretched away in a long column from its -door. But the police had seen to it that all who -were particularly interested in the tragedy had -obtained places. In the row usually reserved for -barristers sat Oxley with Ruth Averill, who had -been summoned to attend as a witness, and Mrs. -Oxley, who looked on the girl as her charge and -insisted on accompanying her. Whymper, now an -accepted lover, sat next Ruth, and behind were -Tarkington, Bloxham, Emerson, Philpot and the -police doctor, Lingard. Major Valentine and -French were together in the seat usually occupied -by the clerk of the Crown, while Kent, looking -harassed and anxious, was standing in the body of the -court, fumbling with a sheaf of papers and -whispering to his subordinates.</p> - -<p>The coroner was that same Dr. Lonsdale who had -acted in a similar capacity some nine weeks earlier -when the inquiry into the death of the three victims -of the Starvel fire had taken place. He also seemed -worried, as if he feared the elucidation of these -mysterious happenings might try his powers beyond -their capacity.</p> - -<p>The preliminaries having been gone through -already, the coroner began to take evidence -immediately, and Dr. Emerson was called.</p> - -<p>“You attended the late Mr. Markham Giles?” -the coroner asked when he had obtained the other’s -name and qualifications.</p> - -<p>“I attended him up to five years ago, when Dr. -Philpot took the case over. Owing to Dr. Philpot’s -being ill at the time of his death I was again called -in.”</p> - -<p>“For what complaint did you formerly attend -the deceased?”</p> - -<p>“Myocarditis. It was a disease of some years’ -standing.”</p> - -<p>“Myocarditis is heart disease, isn’t it? Was the -deceased badly affected?”</p> - -<p>“Five years ago, fairly badly. I have no doubt -that at the time of his death he was much worse, -as the disease is incurable and progressive.”</p> - -<p>“We can no doubt get that from Dr. Philpot. -When did you hear of Mr. Giles’s death, Dr. -Emerson?”</p> - -<p>“On Wednesday morning, 15th September.”</p> - -<p>“Who told you of it?”</p> - -<p>“John Roper, the Starvel man-servant.”</p> - -<p>“Did you go out to Starvel and examine the -body?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I did, after first consulting Dr. Philpot -on the case.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you saw Dr. Philpot. And what was the -result of your consultation?”</p> - -<p>“Dr. Philpot told me that Mr. Giles had -developed influenza, and that he had seen him on -Thursday. He was very weak and Dr. Philpot did -not expect him to get over it.”</p> - -<p>“Then you examined the body?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I went out to Starvel immediately.”</p> - -<p>“And what opinion did you then form as to the -cause of death?”</p> - -<p>“I believed it to be myocarditis.”</p> - -<p>“And you gave a certificate to that effect?”</p> - -<p>“I did.”</p> - -<p>“Did you make any specific examination of the -remains on which you based your opinion?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, so far as it was possible without a -post-mortem.”</p> - -<p>“And you were quite satisfied that you had made -no mistake?”</p> - -<p>“I was quite satisfied.”</p> - -<p>“That will do in the meantime. Please do not -go away, Dr. Emerson, as I may have some further -questions to put to you later.”</p> - -<p>Dr. Philpot was then called. He corroborated -the evidence of the last witness in so far as it -concerned himself. He had attended Mr. Giles during -the past five years. Deceased was suffering from -myocarditis, which had become worse and of which -he might have died at any moment. On the Thursday -prior to his death witness had been informed -by Roper, Mr. Averill’s man-servant, that deceased -seemed rather seriously ill, and he went out to see -him. Deceased was feeble and witness believed that -he was very near his end. Witness did not think -he could live more than three or four days. When -he heard of his death it was only what he had -expected.</p> - -<p>Ruth Averill was the next witness. She was nervous, -but the sergeant was deferential to her and -the coroner fatherly and kind. Her evidence was -soon over. In answer to a number of questions she -deposed that she had known Mr. Giles fairly well -and had been to sit with him on different occasions -during his illness. On the Tuesday of that tragic -week she had left Starvel to pay a short visit to -York, and on her way into Thirsby she had called -to see him. He had seemed very weak and frail. -He could scarcely speak. Ruth had spent about ten -minutes with him and had then driven on to Thirsby. -She had never seen him again.</p> - -<p>A number of persons were then called relative -to the funeral. The clerk from the Town Hall who -dealt with interments, the caretaker of the new -cemetery, the undertaker and such of his men as had -assisted, gave evidence in turn. The coroner was -extremely detailed in his questions, and when he had -finished the whole history of the sad affair stood -revealed, with the exception of one point.</p> - -<p>This was Roper’s false statement to the undertaker -that the body required to be coffined without -delay. It had been decided that nothing must leak -out connecting the death of Giles with Starvel, and -it spoke volumes for the coroner’s skill that he was -able to obtain the other details of the interment -while keeping Roper’s duplicity secret.</p> - -<p>From the united testimony given it seemed that -Markham Giles had died at some time during the -Tuesday night. Roper had stated to more than one -witness that Mrs. Roper had gone out to see him -about eight o’clock on that evening, when she found -him weak, but fairly easy and showing no sign of -any early collapse. About nine the next morning, -Wednesday, she went over again to find that the -man had been dead for some hours. Mr. Giles was -lying in the same position as he had occupied on -the previous evening, and from the peaceful expression -on his face it looked as if he had passed away -painlessly. Mrs. Roper had gone back for her -husband, who had returned with her to the cottage. -There they had done what they could, and Roper -had then gone into Thirsby and made arrangements -for the funeral. First he had reported the death -to Dr. Emerson. Then he had called at the Town -Hall and purchased a grave, going on to the new -cemetery to see the site. Lastly, he had visited -the undertaker, arranging the details of the -funeral.</p> - -<p>The undertaker had known Mr. Giles, and later, -on that day, the Wednesday, he had sent out two -men with a coffin which he believed would be of the -right size. His estimate had proved correct and -the men had placed the remains in the coffin, -screwing down the lid and leaving all ready for the -funeral.</p> - -<p>On the second day, the Friday, the interment took -place. The same men who had coffined the remains -lifted the coffin into the hearse, and they declared -that they saw no signs of the screws having been -tampered with or of the presence of any person in -the house during their absence. The funeral was -conducted in the customary manner, and when the -grave had been filled none of those who had been -present imagined that anything out of the common -had taken place. Roper had paid all the bills in -advance, saying that the deceased had had a -premonition of his death and had handed him the sum -of fifteen pounds to meet the expenses.</p> - -<p>French was the next witness. The coroner had -been carefully primed as to his evidence also, and -asked only general questions.</p> - -<p>“Now, Mr. French, you made some unexpected -discoveries about this matter?”</p> - -<p>“I did, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Will you please tell the jury in your own words -the nature of these discoveries and how you came -to make them.”</p> - -<p>This was French’s opportunity. Speaking -respectfully and with an air of the utmost candour, -he told very nearly the truth. Deliberately he -slightly coloured the facts, coloured them with the -object and in the hope that somewhere Roper would -read what he had said—and be deceived into coming -into the open.</p> - -<p>“I was sent here,” he explained, “on a matter -arising out of the fire at Starvel. I made certain -inquiries and received certain information. As to -the truth of the information I cannot of course bear -testimony, but I cannot explain the steps I took -unless I mention it. With the object of accounting -for my actions, sir, is it your wish that I do so?”</p> - -<p>“If you please, Mr. French. We quite understand -that your actual evidence is confined to matters which -came under your own observation. That does not -prevent you introducing explanatory matter as to -how you got your results.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, sir. According to my information -the following was the state of affairs which had -obtained prior to my being sent down here. The -late Mr. Averill had a sum of money amounting to -several thousand pounds stored in a safe in his -bedroom. This was given in evidence at the inquest -on the victims of the Starvel tragedy. It was not -then mentioned, but it was the fact—always -according to my information—that that money had -consisted largely of twenty-pound notes. Mr. Averill -was in the habit of sending to the bank the various -cheques, dividends and so forth by which he -received his income. By his instructions these were -cashed and the money was returned to Starvel in -the form of twenty-pound notes, which the old -gentleman placed with the others in his safe. All these -notes were believed to have been destroyed in the -fire. But it so happened that the numbers of the -last consignment—ten notes, for £200—were taken -by the bank teller before the notes were sent out -to Starvel, and these notes were reported to the -bank’s headquarters as being destroyed. When, -therefore, some three weeks after the tragedy one -of them turned up in London, questions were asked. -Reasons were given for believing that this particular -note had been in Mr. Averill’s safe at Starvel on -the night of the fire, so the suggestion at once arose -that the fire was not an accident, but a deliberate -attempt to hide a crime of murder and burglary. -I was sent down to investigate the affair, and I may -say that I found out who had passed the note and -satisfied myself beyond question that he had -received it in a legitimate manner, and that all his -actions were perfectly correct and in order. It -followed, therefore, that the finding of the note did not -in reality support any theory of crime such as had -been put forward.”</p> - -<p>While French was speaking the proverbial pin -could have been heard, had any one tried the -experiment of dropping it in the courthouse. He had, -to put it mildly, the ear of his audience. Every one -listened, literally, with bated breath. Though it -was vaguely known that he was a detective working -on the Starvel case, the story that he himself had -circulated had been generally accepted; that he was -employed on behalf of certain insurance companies -to ascertain the cause of the outbreak. To find -that the pleasant-spoken, easygoing stranger whom -the townspeople had almost begun to accept as one -of themselves, was none other than a full-fledged -inspector from Scotland Yard, investigating what -had been at first suspected to be a triple murder of -an unusually terrible and sinister kind, was a -discovery so thrilling as completely to absorb the -attention of all.</p> - -<p>“While engaged in clearing up the Starvel affair,” -French went on, “a hint was conveyed to me that I -was working on the wrong case: that if I wanted a -real mystery I should drop what I was at and turn -my attention to the death and burial, particularly -the burial, of Mr. Giles. With your permission, -sir, I do not feel at liberty to mention the source -from which this hint came. It was very vague, but -we men from the Yard are taught to pick up vague -hints. I thought over the matter for some days -before I guessed what might be meant. Could Mr. -Giles’s coffin have been used as a hiding place for -stolen goods? I knew, of course, of the many -burglaries which had taken place in the surrounding -country during the last six months. I knew also that -if burglars wished to hide their swag, no better place -could be devised than a coffin. There it would be -safe until the hue and cry had died down and from -there it could be recovered when desired. If this -theory were true, the gang of burglars would either -have heard of Mr. Giles’s death and used the -circumstances to their advantage, or they would have -arranged the circumstance by murdering him. In -either case they would have taken the remains from -the coffin, buried them somewhere close by, and -replaced them with the stolen articles.”</p> - -<p>French paused and a wave of movement swept -over the crowded assembly as its members changed -their cramped positions. Seldom had the public had -such a treat and they were not going to miss any -of it. There was an instantaneous stiffening to -concentrated attention as French resumed:—</p> - -<p>“After careful consideration I thought the matter -serious enough to warrant action. I therefore -obtained an order to open the grave, and there I found -that my suspicions were well founded. There was -no body in the coffin, but on the other hand there -was no swag. The coffin was half-full of earth. -But this did not of course invalidate the theory I -have outlined. It only meant that if that theory -were true we were late; that at some time within -the past nine weeks the burglars had visited the -churchyard and removed the stuff. This might or -might not have happened.”</p> - -<p>Again French paused and this time the coroner -remarked quietly:—</p> - -<p>“And then, Mr. French?”</p> - -<p>“Then, sir, I returned to the gentleman’s cottage -and made a further investigation. Eventually I -found traces of yellow clay lying about. All the -soil in the district is dark, but at the grave I had -noticed that a layer of dark soil covered a bed of -similar yellow clay. So I dug a hole and found, as -I expected, that this bed of clay extended under the -moor also. It therefore seemed certain that some -one had dug a hole in the vicinity, and on searching -the moor I found the place. I took Sergeant Kent -and a constable out, and the three of us re-opened -the hole and found the body just as these -gentlemen”—indicating the jury with a gesture—“have seen it.”</p> - -<p>The police made no attempt to subdue the buzz -of repressed though excited conversation which -arose as French ceased speaking. The coroner was -still laboriously writing down French’s statement, -but he soon laid his pen down and spoke.</p> - -<p>“You have made such a complete statement, Mr. -French, that I have but little to ask you. There -are just one or two small points upon which I should -like further information,” and he went on to put -his questions.</p> - -<p>The coroner was a clever man and he played up -well to the request of the police. To the public he -continued to give the impression of a careful, -painstaking official, laboriously trying to obtain all the -facts in a difficult and complicated matter; in reality -his questions were futile in every respect except that -they directed attention away from the features of -the case which the authorities wished kept secret. -The result was that when he had finished and asked -if any one else desired to put a question, all were -convinced that there was no more to be learnt and -embarrassing topics were avoided.</p> - -<p>“Dr. Reginald Lingard!”</p> - -<p>The tall, thin, ascetic looking man seated beside -Philpot rose and went into the box. He deposed -that he practised at Hellifield and was the police -surgeon for the district.</p> - -<p>“Now, Dr. Lingard,” began the coroner, “at the -request of the authorities did you make a -post-mortem examination of the remains of the late Mr. -Markham Giles, upon which this inquest is being -held?”</p> - -<p>“That is so.”</p> - -<p>“And did you ascertain the cause of death?”</p> - -<p>“I did.”</p> - -<p>“Will you tell the jury what that was.”</p> - -<p>“The man died from shock following a large -injection of cocaine.”</p> - -<p>“But an injection of cocaine is surely not fatal?”</p> - -<p>“Not under ordinary circumstances. But to a -person suffering from myocarditis a large injection -is inevitably so.”</p> - -<p>Though the evidence of French ought to have -prepared every one for such a <i lang="fr">dénouement</i>, there -was a gasp of surprise at this cold, precise -statement. It was only a few minutes since Dr. Emerson -had been heard to testify that he had given a -certificate of death from heart disease without mention -of cocaine, and that he had no doubt as to the -correctness of his diagnosis. What, every one -wondered, would Emerson say to this?</p> - -<p>“I suppose, doctor, you have no doubt as to your -conclusion?”</p> - -<p>“None whatever.”</p> - -<p>“Could this cocaine have been self administered?”</p> - -<p>“Undoubtedly it could.”</p> - -<p>“With what object?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Lingard gave a slight shrug.</p> - -<p>“It is universal knowledge that many persons are -addicted to the drug. They take it because of its -enjoyable temporary effects. It might have been -taken with that motive in this instance, or it might -have been taken with the knowledge that it would -cause death.”</p> - -<p>“You mean that Mr. Giles might have committed -suicide?”</p> - -<p>“From the medical point of view, yes.”</p> - -<p>“Might it also have been administered by some -other person?”</p> - -<p>“Unquestionably.”</p> - -<p>“With what object, Dr. Lingard?”</p> - -<p>“It is not easy to say. Possibly in ignorance or -through error or with a mistaken desire to give the -patient ease, or possibly with the object of causing -his death.”</p> - -<p>“You mean that the action might have been wilful -murder?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that is what I mean.”</p> - -<p>Again a movement ran through the tense -audience. The coroner frowned and paused for a -moment, then resumed:—</p> - -<p>“Do you know of any legitimate object—any -legitimate object whatever—for which the cocaine -might have been administered? Could it, for -example, have been intended as a medicine or -restorative?”</p> - -<p>“I do not think so. In my opinion the drug could -only have been administered in error, or with intent -to kill.”</p> - -<p>“Do you consider that the deadly nature of -cocaine is known to the public? I mean, is that -knowledge not confined to those with some medical -training?”</p> - -<p>“I think the danger to a weak or diseased heart -is pretty generally known. Most people are aware -that deaths have occurred by its use, for example, -by dentists, and that for this reason it is now -seldom employed as an anesthetic.”</p> - -<p>The coroner slowly blotted his manuscript.</p> - -<p>“Now, Dr. Lingard, injections are administered -with a hypodermic syringe, are they not?”</p> - -<p>“That is so.”</p> - -<p>“Is there any other way in which they can be -given?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>“Was such a syringe found in the present -instance?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Lingard did not know. He had examined -the body only, not the house in which the death had -occurred. The coroner turned to another point.</p> - -<p>“Did the body show any sign of the injection -having been forcibly administered?”</p> - -<p>“No, but force sufficient to leave traces would -not have been necessary.”</p> - -<p>“Would death from this cause leave traces other -than those ascertainable from a post-mortem?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Lingard hesitated very slightly.</p> - -<p>“I do not think so,” he answered. “If it did -they would be very faint and it would be easy to -overlook them.”</p> - -<p>“Was Dr. Emerson at the post-mortem?”</p> - -<p>“He was.”</p> - -<p>“Have you anything else to tell us, anything -which you think might throw further light on this -extraordinary affair?”</p> - -<p>No, Dr. Lingard had nothing, and Dr. Emerson -was recalled. He declared emphatically that he -had never had any suspicion that the deceased might -have been addicted to the cocaine habit.</p> - -<p>“You have heard the evidence the previous -witness gave as to the cause of the deceased’s death. -Do you from your present knowledge agree with -his conclusions?”</p> - -<p>“Completely,” Dr. Emerson answered. The man -looked harassed and careworn, but his bearing -remained dignified.</p> - -<p>“Then how do you account for your certificate -that death occurred from natural causes?”</p> - -<p>Dr. Emerson made a gesture of helplessness.</p> - -<p>“How can I account for it except in the one way?” -he replied. “I was misled by the facts. I admit -being in error, but I do not think that under the -circumstances any doctor in the world would have -acted otherwise than as I did.”</p> - -<p>“Now, Dr. Emerson,” the coroner leaned -forward and looked keenly at his witness, “tell me this. -Did you really examine the body at all after death?”</p> - -<p>“I certainly examined it. And I examined it with -reasonable care, and neither then nor at any time -since until I heard of this extraordinary -development had I the slightest doubt that my certificate -was incorrect.” He paused, then, as the coroner -did not speak, went on again. “You will admit that -under the circumstances the idea of murder was the -last that would occur to any one. Five days earlier -Dr. Philpot had seen the man: he was then at the -point of death. He told me he expected to hear -of his death at any moment. When I heard of it -I went out and examined the body. It had all the -appearance of death from myocarditis. Only a -post-mortem could have told the difference: only a -post-mortem did tell the difference. As you know a -post-mortem is seldom held unless there is suspicion -of foul play. In this case there was none. I deeply -regret that I was misled, but I believe in all honesty -that there is no one who would not have acted as I -did under similar circumstances.”</p> - -<p>The coroner bowed and turned to the jury.</p> - -<p>“As Dr. Emerson has spoken so fully and frankly -on this matter, I do not think that I am called -upon to refer to it further. He no doubt realises -how regrettable it was, for if suspicion had been -aroused at the time instead of nine weeks later it -might have made all the difference in capturing the -criminal. In saying this I am not suggesting that -blame attaches to him. Would any one like to ask -Dr. Emerson any further question before he stands -down?”</p> - -<p>No one responded to the invitation, and Dr. -Philpot was recalled. He deposed that he had never -seen any indications of the cocaine habit about -deceased, and he did not believe that considering the -state of his heart he could have used it.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Kent was then sworn. He said that on -learning the result of the post-mortem he had -proceeded to the deceased’s cottage and had there made -a detailed search for cocaine or a hypodermic -syringe, but without finding traces of either. The -undertaker’s men, recalled, also declared that they -had seen nothing of the kind while attending to the -body.</p> - -<p>There being no further witnesses the coroner -made a short businesslike statement summing up the -evidence. As to the cause of death, he said, there -could be no doubt. The medical evidence was -complete and undisputed. Deceased had died as the -result of an injection of cocaine, which his diseased -heart was unable to stand. That injection might -or might not have been self-administered. The -evidence of both doctors was that in their opinion -the deceased was not a victim of the cocaine habit, -and it was for the jury to consider the probability -of his having used it in this instance. He would -direct their attention to another point. Had the -fatal dose been self-administered, the syringe must -have remained on or beside the bed. It had not -been found. Who then had removed it and why? -On the other hand if the jury considered the dose -had been given by some other person or persons, -they must consider with what motive this had been -done. If they believed a genuine error had been -made they would return a verdict of death from -misadventure, but if upon weighing all the -circumstances they rejected the possibility of error they -would return a verdict of wilful murder.</p> - -<p>For nearly an hour the jury deliberated, and then -they brought in the expected verdict of wilful -murder against some person or persons unknown.</p> - -<p>“You did that quite well,” Major Valentine -assured French as the two men walked to the former’s -car after the inquiry. “If Roper is alive and reads -your evidence—and he is certain to do that if he is -in the country—he will think he is safe and may -start changing the notes. By the way, are you sure -that Tarkington and that clerk of his won’t give -you away about the numbers of the notes? Your -evidence must have sounded peculiar to them.”</p> - -<p>“I thought of that,” French answered, “and I -saw them both and warned them. They’ll hold their -tongues.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose no one has been trying to get just -that information out of them?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir. I asked them that first thing, but no -one had.”</p> - -<p>Before Major Valentine left he discussed with -French the steps that he would take to try to find -out whether any one had disappeared at the time -of the fire. The inquiry had already been made, -but this time it was to be pressed much more -energetically. At the same time the watch for the stolen -notes was to be redoubled, and French undertook -to arrange that a general memorandum on the -subject would be sent to all the banks in the country.</p> - -<p>A third line of research was suggested by the -medical evidence, and this French and the major -agreed to work jointly. The most searching -inquiries were to be made for any one who had -obtained or tried to obtain cocaine or a hypodermic -syringe during a period of several weeks prior to -the tragedy.</p> - -<p>In addition to these three there was, of course, -the most important and hopeful line of all, a direct -search for Roper. French undertook to organise -this with as little delay as possible.</p> - -<p>After discussing the situation for nearly two -hours the two men parted, hopeful that their several -efforts would before long place the key of the -mystery in their hands.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch16"> - -<h2>CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A Double Recall</h2> - -<p>When French settled down to consider how the -search for Roper could best be carried out he saw -that he was up against a very much steeper -proposition than had appeared at first sight.</p> - -<p>There were two ways in which he could attack -the problem. He could attempt to trace the man’s -movements from the night of the fire and go on step -by step until he found him, or he could try to -discover his present whereabouts, irrespective of how -he had arrived there.</p> - -<p>The first method was not very hopeful. Not only -was there little to go on, but such trail as the man -must have left was cold. It was now over two -months since the tragedy, and while the passage of -a wanted man during the week previous to an inquiry -might be remembered by porters, taxi-men or others -who come in contact with the public, few would -recall having seen a stranger two months earlier.</p> - -<p>Direct search, French thought, was much more -promising. For this he had behind him the whole -of the amazingly complete and far-reaching -organisation of the police. If Roper had not left the -country he would find it hard to evade recognition -by some one of the thousands of constables and -detectives who would be looking out for him.</p> - -<p>French remembered that the Kintilloch sergeant -had mentioned that Roper had applied for a -passport to Brazil, and he began operations by writing -to the Yard to send a man to the Passport Office to -obtain a copy of the photograph lodged. Then he -set to work to compile a description of Roper. He -saw Oxley, Whymper, Ruth and one or two others -and got down from them details of the man’s -appearance. From these he synthesised the following:—</p> - -<p>“Wanted for murder. John Roper. Age 34; -height about 5 ft. 9 inches; slight build; thick, dark -hair; dark eyes with a decided squint; heavy dark -eyebrows; clean shaven; sallow complexion; small -nose and mouth; pointed chin; small hands and feet; -walks with a slight stoop and a quick step; speaks -in a rather high-pitched voice with a slight -Lowland Scotch accent.”</p> - -<p>On the whole French was pleased with the -description. It was more complete than was usually -obtainable from unofficial sources. It had not, of -course, been volunteered by any of his informants, -but had been gradually reached by persistent -questions on each feature in turn. He sent it to the -Yard, asking that it be published in the next issue -of the Police Gazette along with a copy of the -photograph obtained from the Passport Office. This -meant that within three or four days every police -officer in the land would be applying it to newcomers -of less than ten weeks’ standing. If Roper had not -escaped abroad or was not lying hidden in the most -populous district of some great town there was a -very good chance that he might be found.</p> - -<p>In his letter to the Yard French had also asked -that systematic inquiries should be made at the -various seaports and from steamship lines to try to find -out if the man had left the country. He suggested -concentrating on lines running to Brazil or calling -at places from which other lines ran to Brazil. Air -lines to the Continent he included as well as the -ordinary cross-channel services, though from these -he scarcely expected a result.</p> - -<p>Next he determined to make, so far as he could, -lists of the attendant’s friends, places where he had -spent his holidays, and any other details of his life -that could be ascertained. Frequently he had found -that such vague inquiries produced valuable results. -It was a speculative move, of course, but he thought -it would be worth a couple of days’ work.</p> - -<p>As Kintilloch was the most likely place to pick up -such information, he travelled for the second time -to the little Fifeshire town. There he interviewed -every one who, he thought, might help him, but -entirely without result. Even when he visited the -home of the late Flora Roper and discussed the -affair with the unfortunate woman’s mother he -learned nothing valuable.</p> - -<p>As he was leaving Kintilloch it occurred to him -as a last forlorn hope that possibly Dr. Philpot -might be able to assist. The address the doctor -had given him was in Glasgow, and to return via -Glasgow was but little out of his way. He decided -he would pay the call on chance.</p> - -<p>About five o’clock that afternoon, therefore, he -turned from Dumbarton Road into Kilgore Street -and looked up No. 47. It was a rather decayed -looking apartment house of a shabby-genteel type, -and the landlady who answered his ring gave him -the same impression of having fallen on evil days. -Rather a comedown, French thought, for a man -who had occupied a comfortable villa standing in -its own grounds, to be reduced to this semi-slum -lodging house. With a momentary feeling of pity -he inquired if Dr. Philpot was at home.</p> - -<p>“There’s no Dr. Philpot lives here,” the woman -answered in complaining tones. “There’s a <em>Mr.</em> -Philpot, if that’s who you mean.”</p> - -<p>“He may not be a doctor; I’m not sure,” French -returned. “The man I mean is fair-haired with a -thin face, and could only have come to you within -the last week.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s him all right. But he isn’t in.”</p> - -<p>“When do you expect him?”</p> - -<p>“He generally comes in about six or half-past.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’ll call back.”</p> - -<p>French strolled about the parks around Kelvinside -until his watch warned him to return to Kilgore -Street. Philpot had just arrived. He seemed glad -to see French and told of his new life with an -eagerness that the latter thought rather pathetic.</p> - -<p>“I hated that place, Inspector,” he went on. “I -didn’t realise it while I was there, but now that I -have left I am surprised how much I hated it. But -I believe I’m going to like my new work. I’ve got -a job, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Glad to hear it,” French returned cheerily. “I -hope it’s a good one.”</p> - -<p>“It’s too soon to say that. I’m now a commission -agent. It is by the kindness of an old friend. -He has let me have one of his side lines to see how -I get on. It doesn’t sound a promising proposition, -but I confess I’ve been surprised at its possibilities -since I started. It concerns the marketing of -inventions. My friend keeps in touch with the patent -agents and approaches all the smaller patentees, -then if the thing looks good I try to find a -manufacturer or a market. I am to pay him a percentage -of all my takings and already I’ve been in touch -with five inventions, all of which are doing very well. -If my luck holds I hope some day to be able to -square all those people I now owe money to in -Thirsby. Then my idea is to get across to the States -and start afresh.”</p> - -<p>French offered his congratulations and as soon -as he reasonably could switched the conversation -over to Roper. Philpot seemed considerably -surprised, but he willingly discussed the attendant and -obviously did his best to satisfy his visitor. He gave -a good deal of information, but only one piece -seemed to French at all useful.</p> - -<p>Roper had occasionally visited Peebles. What he -had gone for Philpot did not know, but he believed -his family lived there. Roper had once referred -to his widowed mother and had spoken of going to -Peebles to see her.</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry not to be able to give you more help,” -Philpot apologised when French at last showed signs -of coming to an end. “I suppose it would be -indiscreet to inquire what you’re after?”</p> - -<p>French hesitated. He had avoided mentioning -his theory to any one except Chief Inspector Mitchell -and Major Valentine, and his working principle in -such cases was reticence. For a moment he was -tempted to confide in Philpot, then habit triumphed -and he prevaricated.</p> - -<p>“My dossier of the case is not complete without -all the information I can put into it. It is academic, -of course, but I like to do things thoroughly. Gets -you a reputation for efficiency, you know. One can’t -afford to sneeze at it. Well, doctor, I’m glad to -have seen you and I hope your good luck will -continue.”</p> - -<p>It was evident that Philpot realised that he had -been put off, but he made no further reference to -the subject, and his good-bye was cordial enough. -French in his kindly way was pleased to see that -the man had a chance of making good, and his -congratulations and good wishes were really sincere.</p> - -<p>After some thought he determined to follow up -the doctor’s clue and next morning he went to -Peebles. There he had little difficulty in finding -Roper’s mother. She kept a huckster’s shop in the -poorer part of the town, but it was evident that -she was getting too old for the work, and that -business was not flourishing. She was suspicious at first, -but under the genial influence of French’s manner -she thawed and presently became garrulous. French -was soon satisfied that she had no idea that her son -might be alive. He pumped her with his usual skill, -pretending he was a former acquaintance of Roper’s, -but in the end also he was unable to learn anything -helpful.</p> - -<p>He returned to Thirsby and began a series of -inquiries at the nearby railway stations, posting -establishments, inns and villages, in the hope of coming -on some trace of the quarry. But the trail was too -old. For three days he worked early and late, but -nowhere did he learn of any mysterious stranger -who might prove to be the missing man. He was -indeed about to give up in despair, when his labours -were brought to an unexpected conclusion. Chief -Inspector Mitchell wired an urgent recall to the -Yard.</p> - -<p>It was by no means the first of such recalls that -French had received, though it was not usual to -interrupt an officer who was actually engaged in -investigating a case. The incident always bred a slight -uneasiness. The possibility of having made some -serious blunder was ever present. And French was -aware that his most unhappy experiences had -almost invariably followed periods of exaltation and -self-satisfaction. Chief Inspector Mitchell was an -exceedingly shrewd man and he had a perfectly -uncanny way of delving to the bottom of problems -and of seeing clues that other people missed. French -earnestly hoped that it was not so in the present -instance.</p> - -<p>He travelled up by the night train and early next -morning reported at the Yard. There he found his -fears were groundless. The Chief Inspector, so far -from grumbling, was in a very good mood and -almost complimented him on what he had done.</p> - -<p>“Well, French, you’re up against it again, are -you? What were you busy at when you got my -wire?”</p> - -<p>French explained.</p> - -<p>“You can do something better. Read that.”</p> - -<p>It was the typewritten note of a telephone -conversation. It appeared that at four o’clock on the -previous evening the manager of the Northern -Shires Bank in Throgmorton Avenue had rung up -to say that two twenty-pound notes bearing -numbers on the list supplied in connection with the -Starvel Hollow crime had been passed into the -bank that afternoon. The cashier had just at that -moment made the discovery, but unfortunately he -was unable to remember from whom he had received -them.</p> - -<p>“By Jove, sir!” French exclaimed. “Then Roper -is in town!”</p> - -<p>“It looks like it if your theory is right,” the Chief -Inspector admitted. “I sent Willis across at once -and he saw the cashier. But the man couldn’t say -where the notes had come from. Willis got him to -prepare a list of all the lodgments he had received -that day, intending, if you didn’t turn up, to go -round the people to-day with Roper’s description. -You had better see him and find out what he has -done. I want you to take over from him at once -as he is really on that Colchester burglary.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, sir. Do you know if the notes were -together: if they seemed to have come in from the -same party?”</p> - -<p>“Willis asked that. They were not near each -other in the pile. Of course, the argument is not -conclusive, but the suggestion is that they came in -separately.”</p> - -<p>“If that is so it looks as if Roper was changing -them systematically.”</p> - -<p>“Possibly. In that case we may expect more notes -to come in. That’ll do, French. Go and see Willis -and start right in.”</p> - -<p>Inspector Willis was seated at the desk in his -room, apparently trying to reduce to some sort of -order the chaotic heap of papers which covered it.</p> - -<p>“Hullo, French! Come in and take a pew,” he -greeted his visitor. “I don’t know any one I’d be -better pleased to see. If you hadn’t turned up within -another ten minutes I was going out about those -blessed notes, but now I shall be able to get down -to Colchester on the next train. I’m on that -burglary at Brodrick’s, the jewellers. You heard about -it?”</p> - -<p>“The Chief mentioned it, but I have heard no -details. Interesting case?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing out of the way. The place was broken -into from a lane at the back and the safe cut with a -oxyacetylene jet. They got about six thousand -pounds’ worth. It happened that Brodrick had just -sent a lot of stuff to town, else they’d have cleared -twice that.”</p> - -<p>“Any line on the men?”</p> - -<p>“It was Hot Alf and the Mummer, I believe. It -was their style, and Alf was seen in the town two -days before. But I’ve not got anything definite yet. -There’s a fearful muck of stuff about it: look at all -this.” He indicated the litter on the table.</p> - -<p>“No fingerprints?”</p> - -<p>“Nope. But I’ll get them through the fences. -I’ve only to sit tight and they’ll give themselves -away. But what about your do? I’ve got it -finished, thank the Lord! There it is.” He pointed -to a little heap of papers apart from the others. -“There’s more in it, the Chief hinted, than stolen -notes, but he didn’t say what it was.”</p> - -<p>“There’s pretty well everything in it so far as I -can see,” French rejoined. “Murder—quadruple -murder—theft, arson and body-snatching.”</p> - -<p>Willis whistled.</p> - -<p>“Body-snatching? Good Lord!” he exclaimed. -“You don’t often hear of that nowadays.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t,” French admitted, “but this was not -ordinary body-snatching. You remember the case: -a fire at Starvel in which the three occupants of the -house were supposed to be burned? Well, one -wasn’t. He burgled the place and escaped with the -swag: those notes that you were on to to-day. But -he had to have a body to represent himself, so he -murdered a neighbour and burned his in the house.”</p> - -<p>“Lord, French! That’s quite a tale. It would -make a novel, that would. How did you get on -to it?”</p> - -<p>French gave a somewhat sketchy résumé of his -activities and so led the conversation back to the -notes. “The Chief said you would give me the -details so that I could get ahead with it to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Right-o. The Chief called me in about four -yesterday afternoon and said he’d just had a ’phone -from the Northern Shires Bank that two of the -Starvel notes had been paid in, and as you weren’t -there, I’d better take over. So I went and saw the -teller. He couldn’t say who had given him the -notes, as it was only when he was balancing his cash -after the bank closed that he recognised the -numbers. I got him to make me a list of the lodgments -during the day. That took a bit of time, but he -had it at last. Then I went through it with him -and we eliminated all the entries at which he was -sure that no twenty-pound note was handled. That -left just under two hundred possibles. Then I -brought the list home and went over it again, -ticking off people or firms who do not usually take in -cash from the public, like shipowners, manufacturers -and wholesale dealers. Of course, these are -possibles, but not so likely as the others. It was -rough and ready, but I wanted to tackle the most -probable first. You follow me?”</p> - -<p>“Of course. I should have done the same.”</p> - -<p>“I waited up until I had put the probables in -location order, and here is the list ready for you.”</p> - -<p>“Jolly good, Willis. I’m sorry you had so much -trouble. I’ll carry on and hope for the best.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll get it all right,” Willis opined as he -settled down again to his work.</p> - -<p>All that day and the next French, armed with -the list and with Roper’s photograph and -description, went from place to place interviewing -managers and assistants in shops and business firms. -But all to no purpose. Nowhere could he obtain -any trace of the elusive twenty-pound notes, nor -had any man answering to the description been seen. -And then to his amazement he was taken off the -inquiry.</p> - -<p>Like other officers of the C.I.D., it was his habit -to keep in as close touch with headquarters as -possible while pursuing his investigations. At intervals -therefore during these two days he called up the -Yard and reported his whereabouts. It was during -one of these communications that for the second -time in two days he received an urgent recall.</p> - -<p>In this case it was a summons which he could -obey promptly, and twenty minutes after receiving -the message he was knocking at the door of Chief -Inspector Mitchell’s room.</p> - -<p>One glance at the Chief’s face showed him that -at least there was no trouble brewing, Mitchell -greeting him with a half smile.</p> - -<p>“Sit down, French,” he said, “and listen to me. -I want to tell you a story.”</p> - -<p>After glancing at a few papers which he took -from a drawer, he began to speak.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch17"> - -<h2>CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Concerning Wedding Rings</h2> - -<p>“This morning about 10.30,” said the Chief -Inspector, “we had a ’phone from Inspector Marshall -of the Whitechapel District. He wanted to know -whether we had had any recent reports of thefts of -small jewellery, as he had come across some in -connection with a scrap between two lightermen. It -seems that about ten o’clock last night a constable -on patrol heard cries coming from an entry off Cable -Street, as if some one was being murdered. He -ran down and found a man on the ground with -another belabouring him furiously with his fists. -The constable pulled the victor off, to find his -opponent was little the worse. The fellow was really -more frightened than hurt. The constable would -have dismissed the affair with a good-humoured -caution to both, had it not been that in the heat of the -explanations the cause of the quarrel came out. The -men had obtained some jewellery, which both -claimed, and when the constable saw the stuff he -didn’t wait for further discussion, but marched them -both off to Divisional Headquarters. Marshall -questioned them and reported their statements with -his inquiry.</p> - -<p>“The whole thing so far was purely commonplace, -and if the jewellery had consisted of ordinary -trinkets I should have thought no more about -it. But the nature of the stuff tickled my fancy and -I grew interested. You would hardly guess what -they had. Wedding rings!”</p> - -<p>“I certainly shouldn’t have guessed that, sir.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t suppose you would. Well, that’s what -they had. Thirty-nine wedding rings on a cord. -They were all much of the same size and value. -And there was not another ring. They were -searched, but nothing else was found on them.</p> - -<p>“Marshall, of course, asked them where they got -them, and their answer was more interesting still. -It appeared that the victor, James Gray, was the -skipper of a Thames lighter and the vanquished, -William Fuller, was his ‘crew.’ A third man was -on board who looked after the engine, but he didn’t -come into the affair. Gray stated that about 8.30 -that same evening they were working empty down -the river. They had left a cargo of Belgian coal -at an up-river works and were running down to their -moorings for the night. They usually stopped about -six, but trouble with their engine had delayed them -on this occasion. It was rather a dirty night, -raining and very dark and blowing a little. Gray, the -skipper, was at the helm and Fuller was forward -acting as look-out. The third man was below at -the engines. Just as they began to emerge from -beneath the Tower Bridge Fuller heard a smack on -the deck beside him. He looked down and in the -light of some of the shore lamps saw some bright -objects rolling about on the planks. On picking -one up he was astonished to find it was a wedding -ring. He began to search and found several others, -but the skipper swore at him for not minding his -job, and he had to let the remainder lie. When -they reached their moorings he tried again, but Gray -was curious and came forward and found a ring -himself. Then they had a proper look with -lanterns and recovered the thirty-nine. Immediately, -as might be expected, a row broke out. Both men -wanted the rings. Fuller said they had fallen -beside him and he had found all but one or two, but -Gray held that he was skipper and that anything -that came on the ship was his. They had to bury -the hatchet temporarily so as not to give away the -secret to their engineer, but the quarrel broke out -again ashore, Fuller’s cries attracting our man. -What do you think of that, French? A good story, -isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Like a book, sir. Just a bit humorous too, if you -don’t mind my saying so.”</p> - -<p>There was a twinkle in Chief Inspector Mitchell’s -eye as he continued:—</p> - -<p>“Oh, you think so, do you? Well, anyhow, as I -say, I was interested. The men’s mentality I found -quite intriguing. I wondered how much imagination -they had between them. Marshall described -them as slow, unintelligent, bovine fellows. Now, -such men could never have invented a tale like that. -If they had been making it up they would have said -they found a bag of rings in the street. The idea -of wedding rings having been thrown over the -parapet of the Tower Bridge just as they were passing -beneath would only occur to men of imagination, -and to have got all the details right would have -involved a very considerable gift of invention as -well. Do you see what I’m getting at, French? -Their story shows too much imagination for their -intelligences as described by Marshall, and -therefore I am disposed to accept it.”</p> - -<p>Chief Inspector Mitchell paused and looked at -French as if expecting a comment.</p> - -<p>“I follow you all right, sir, and what you say -sounds reasonable to me. And yet it’s not very -likely that any one would throw thirty-nine wedding -rings into the Thames off the Tower Bridge, for I -take it it was into the river and not on to the boat -they were intended to go.”</p> - -<p>“I should say undoubtedly.” Mitchell sat for a -moment drumming with his fingers on his desk and -looking thoughtfully out of the window. “You think -the whole thing’s unlikely, do you? Perhaps you -are right. And yet I don’t know. I think I can -imagine circumstances in which a man might be very -anxious to get rid of thirty-nine wedding rings. And -what’s more, to throw them over the parapet of the -Tower Bridge at 8.30 in the evening seems to me -a jolly good way of getting rid of them. How -would you have done it, French?”</p> - -<p>French glanced at his superior in some surprise. -He could not understand the other’s interest in this -commonplace story of stolen rings. Still less could -he understand why he had been interrupted in his -useful and important work to come and listen to it. -However, he realised that it would be tactless to -say so.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, sir,” he answered slowly. “I -suppose to throw ’em in the river would be the best -way. But he should have seen there was nothing -passing underneath.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, now that is an interesting point also. But -first, does anything else strike you?”</p> - -<p>French looked wary.</p> - -<p>“Just in what way, sir?”</p> - -<p>“This. Suppose you want to throw a package into -the river and you want to do it absolutely -unobserved. Where will you do it?”</p> - -<p>“I see what you mean, sir. That bridge at that -time of night is about as deserted as any of the -London bridges.”</p> - -<p>“Exactly, that’s what I mean. There is evidence -there of selection which would never strike a man -like these bargees. But you say he ought to have -seen the boat. Why should our unknown not have -looked out for passing boats? I’ll tell you, I think. -Though the bridge is <em>comparatively</em> deserted, it is -<em>not</em> deserted. To look over the parapet far enough -to see the water below would have attracted -attention. A suicide might have been feared. Some -officious person might have come forward. No, the -unknown would simply chuck his parcel over without -even turning his head, secure in the belief that even -if by some miracle it was found, the contents would -never be traced to him. Do you agree?”</p> - -<p>“Seems quite sound, sir.”</p> - -<p>“It may be sound or it may not,” Mitchell -returned. “All that I have been saying to you may -be the merest nonsense. But it shows, I think, that -the story these men told may be true. The chances -of its being true are sufficiently great to warrant -investigation before they are charged with theft. -You agree with that?”</p> - -<p>This time French felt no doubt.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, sir, I agree with that certainly. The -men could not be convicted without going into their -story.”</p> - -<p>The Chief Inspector nodded as if he had at last -reached the goal for which he had so long been -aiming.</p> - -<p>“That’s it, French. Now will you start in and do -it?”</p> - -<p>French stared.</p> - -<p>“Me, sir?” he exclaimed as if unable to believe -his ears. “Do you wish me to take it up?”</p> - -<p>The other smiled satirically.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know any one who could do it better.”</p> - -<p>“And drop my present case?”</p> - -<p>“Only temporarily,” the Chief assured him. “A -day or so will make little difference to your own -affair, and I have no one else to send on this one. -Look into it and try and find out if any one dropped -those rings off the bridge, and if so, who he was -and why he did it. When you have done that you -can go ahead with the Starvel affair.”</p> - -<p>French was completely puzzled. This was very -unlike the line the Chief usually took.</p> - -<p>“Of course, sir, it’s what you say; but do you -not think it is very urgent that this bank-note -business be followed up while the trail is warm? Every -day that passes will make it more difficult to get -the truth.”</p> - -<p>“That applies even more strongly to this other -affair. But it has the advantage of probably being -a shorter inquiry. With luck you can finish it off -to-morrow, and if so, that will delay the larger case -only very slightly.”</p> - -<p>French saw that whatever might be the Chief’s -motive, he had made up his mind.</p> - -<p>“Very good, sir,” he returned. “I’ll go down -to Whitechapel at once and get started.”</p> - -<p>“Right, I wish you would.”</p> - -<p>French was conscious of not a little exasperation -as he walked to Charing Cross and there took an -eastward bound train. A few hours might make -all the difference between success and failure in the -Starvel case, and here he was turned on to this other -business during the very period when it was most -important he should be on his own job. He could -not understand what was at the back of the Chief -Inspector’s mind. Apparently he suspected a crime, -though what crime he had in view French could not -imagine. Marshall could have dealt with ordinary -petty theft. But if Mr. Mitchell suspected a -serious crime and if, as he said, no other officer was -available to investigate the affair, his attitude would -be explained.</p> - -<p>But whether it were explained or not orders were -orders, and French with an effort switched his mind -off John Roper and on to lightermen and wedding -rings. On arrival at Divisional Headquarters he -saw Inspector Marshall and heard his account of -the affair, which was almost word for word that -of the Chief Inspector’s.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what the Chief’s got in his mind,” -French grumbled. “Here was I on that Starvel case -and on a hot scent too, and why he should switch -me off on to this affair I can’t see. He’s got some -bee in his bonnet about it. He believes these -fellows’ yarn and he wants me to find the man who -threw the rings over.”</p> - -<p>Marshall made noises indicative of surprise and -sympathy. “I shouldn’t have thought the Chief -Inspector would have stood for that dope,” he -remarked. “What are you going to do about it?”</p> - -<p>French didn’t exactly know. He supposed he had -better hear the men’s story for himself, though, of -course, after his colleague had examined them his -doing so would be only a matter of form to satisfy -the Chief. Then he would think over the affair -and try to plan his next move.</p> - -<p>But rather to his own surprise, French found -himself considerably impressed by the two men’s -personalities and the way they told their story. Both -were heavy and slow-witted and, French judged, -without any imagination at all, and both seemed -reasonably honest. After he had questioned them -he felt very much inclined to accept his Chief’s view -and to believe the tale.</p> - -<p>“You say you found the rings by the light of a -hand lamp,” he went on presently. “Very good. -Come along down with me to this boat of yours -and we’ll have another look by daylight. Perhaps -you missed a few.”</p> - -<p>The men didn’t think so, but they were very -willing to do anything which got them out of the police -station. They led the two inspectors to the dirtiest -wharf that French had ever seen, and there hailing -a man in a wherry, the four were put aboard the -Thames lighter <i>Fickle Jane</i>.</p> - -<p>She was a long low craft more like a canal boat -than a lighter. Nine-tenths of her was hold, but -at one end there was a tiny fo’csle and at the other -an equally diminutive engine-room. She was steered -by a small wheel aft.</p> - -<p>“Now,” French said to the “crew,” “go and stand -just where you were when the rings came down.”</p> - -<p>Fuller moved to the fo’csle and took up a -position on the port side of the companion.</p> - -<p>“And where did the rings strike?”</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t just say to a foot, guv’nor,” the man -answered, “but abaht that there bolt ’ead or maybe -a bit forra’d.”</p> - -<p>The point he indicated was starboard of the -companion and mid-way between it and the side of the -boat. French saw that objects falling at that point -might scatter in any direction, and he began a -careful search for further rings.</p> - -<p>In less than a minute he found one. It had rolled -down along the strip of deck at the side of the -hold and jammed itself in a crack of the coaming -timbers.</p> - -<p>This discovery seemed to French to prove the -men’s story completely. He took their addresses and -told them they were free and that if the owner of -the rings could not be found they would be -returned to them. He wanted them, however, to -come up with him to the Tower Bridge and show -him the exact point at which the incident had -occurred, but for this they would be paid.</p> - -<p>He was frankly puzzled as he stood looking over -the parapet of the bridge after Gray and Fuller -had gone. As far as he could see there was -absolutely nothing in the nature of a clue to the person -he sought. The rings were probably stolen, but -not, he imagined, from a jeweller. Rather, he -pictured some street row in which a hawker had been -relieved of his stock-in-trade. Though, if this had -been done, he could not imagine why the stock should -have been thrown away.</p> - -<p>There were, of course, some obvious steps to be -taken, but French hesitated over them because he -did not think any of them could bring in useful -information. However, he couldn’t stand there all -day, and he might as well get on with all the lines -of inquiry that suggested themselves.</p> - -<p>First, he called at the Yard and arranged that -any constables who had been on patrol duty on or -near the Tower Bridge at 8.30 the previous evening -should be found and sent to him for interrogation. -Then with the rings in his pocket he went to a small -jeweller’s shop in the Strand, of which he knew the -proprietor.</p> - -<p>“I want your help, Mr. Alderdice,” he said as -they shook hands in the little private room at the -back of the shop. “I’m trying to find some one who -amuses himself by throwing wedding rings into the -Thames,” and he told his story, concluding: “Now -I wondered if you could tell me anything about these -rings which would help me. Have you heard of any -thefts of rings? Is there any way of identifying -or tracing these? Might they be sold by a hawker, -or would they be more probably from a jeweller’s -shop? Any information that you could give me -would be most gratefully received.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Alderdice, a precise, dried-up little man, -rubbed his chin thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“Well, you know, Mr. French,” he said, “I don’t -believe that I can think of anything in my trade -about which I could give you less help. There are, -as you know, millions of wedding rings in this city -alone, and they are all more or less alike. In fact, -sir, you might as well try to identify a given nail -in an ironmonger’s bin. I don’t think it’s possible. -Needless to say though, I’ll do what I can. Let -me see the rings.”</p> - -<p>He took the bunch, nattily untied the knot on -the cord which held them, and taking the rings -one by one, examined each carefully.</p> - -<p>“They are all of eighteen carat gold,” he said -in the manner of an expert pronouncing a deliberate -judgment. “They are fairly well the same size and -thickness and would sell from thirty to thirty-five -shillings each, according to weight. I do not know -much about the hawkers you refer to, but I should -imagine that they would content themselves with -a rather inferior article, and that these rings were -sold by reputable jewellers. I have not heard of -any cases of robbery of such rings. I do not see -how you or any one else could trace their sales, but -of course that is speaking from my point of view: -you gentlemen from the Yard have a wonderful -way of finding out things.”</p> - -<p>French made a grimace. “I’m afraid my job’s -not very hopeful,” he bewailed as he thanked his -friend and took his leave.</p> - -<p>He walked slowly back to the Yard, thinking -intently. This was one of those hateful jobs in which -you had to work from the general; to deal with the -whole of the possible sources of information -concerned. He would now have to apply to all the -jewellers’ shops in London—a tremendous job. -How much he preferred working from the particular! -In that case, to complete the parallel, he -would get a clue which would lead to the one shop -or group of shops he required. But here the -situation was reversed. He would have to deal with -all jewellers, and he did not know exactly what he -was to ask them.</p> - -<p>He made several drafts and at last produced a -circular which he considered satisfactory. In it he -said that the Yard desired to trace a person who had -got rid of forty wedding rings on the night of -Monday, 6th December, of which the particulars were -as followed, and that he would be obliged for any -information which might help. In particular he -wished to know whether any wedding rings had -disappeared or been stolen recently. Failing that he -would be grateful for the description as far as it -could be ascertained, of all persons who had bought -wedding rings within the previous four days, with -the date and approximate hour of the purchase. -Replies, which would be treated as entirely -confidential, were to be sent to Inspector French at New -Scotland Yard.</p> - -<p>He set some men to work with directories to find -out the addresses of jewellers in London and made -arrangements to have the necessary copies of his -circular prepared and delivered. Then he organised -a staff to deal with the replies when they came in. -Finally, having cleared his conscience with regard -to the rings episode, he returned to his work on the -bank-note case, picking up the thread at the point -at which he had left off.</p> - -<p>By next morning several hundred answers to his -circular had been received and others were arriving -continuously. Reluctantly he gave up the bank-note -question and went to his office to have a look over -them.</p> - -<p>In accordance with his instructions, his staff had -prepared a statement to which they added the -information given in each reply. One column they had -headed “Robberies and Disappearance of rings,” -and a glance down this showed French that none -such had occurred. In a number of other columns -they had put information about purchasers. These -columns were headed with certain details of -appearance, such as estimated age—over or under thirty, -forty-five and sixty; tall, medium and short, dark -and fair, with and without glasses, and so on. By -this means it became possible to determine whether -the same person might have dealt in more than one -shop.</p> - -<p>There were a great many columns and comparatively -few entries in each, and of those in the same -column nearly all were distinguished by differences -in other columns. Of course the vast number of -the descriptions were vague and incomplete and -most of the shops recorded purchases in connection -with which the assistants could recall nothing of the -purchaser. But this was only to be expected, and -French worked with such results as he could get.</p> - -<p>Of the 631 replies entered up, French gradually -eliminated 625. The remaining six he examined -more carefully, whistling gently as he did so. They -were all under the general divisions, “Homburg -hat,” “fawn coat,” “dark,” “with moustache,” and -“with glasses.” But this in itself conveyed little. -It merely indicated a possibility. But when he -found that four of the six shops were in the same -street and that the purchases in all four had been -made on the same day and at almost the same hour, -his interest suddenly quickened. French considered -that the matter was worth a personal call, and -leaving the Yard, he drove to the first of the six and -asked to see the manager.</p> - -<p>“We’re very sorry to have given you all this -trouble,” he began as he produced the reply they -had sent in, “but the matter is really important. -This may be possibly the man we want. Could I -see the assistant who attended to him?”</p> - -<p>In a few seconds a Mr. Stanley was produced -and French asked him to repeat his description of -his customer.</p> - -<p>“I remember the man quite clearly, sir,” Stanley -answered. “He had very dark hair and a thick, -dark moustache and dark glasses. He wore a soft, -gray Homburg hat and a fawn-coloured coat.”</p> - -<p>“It is a pleasure to deal with you, Mr. Stanley,” -French smiled. “You are certainly very observant. -Now tell me, how do you come to remember the -man so clearly?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think there was any special reason, sir. -Unless it was that I happened to look out of the -window and saw him get out of a taxi, and that sort -of fixed my attention on him. The taxi waited while -he was in the shop and he got into it again and -drove off when he had bought the ring.”</p> - -<p>This was very satisfactory. If the customer was -really the man French wanted, here was a clue and -a valuable one. To find the taxi which had stopped -at the shop at a given time on the previous day -should not be difficult. He continued his questions.</p> - -<p>“At what hour was that?”</p> - -<p>“About half-past eleven,” the salesman said after -some thought. “I couldn’t say for sure, but it was -about an hour before I went for dinner and that -was at half-past twelve.”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t seem at all agitated, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir. Not more than most of them.” Stanley -smiled knowingly, and French felt that only -for the sobering presence of the manager a wink -would have conveyed the man’s thought. “Most of -them are a bit, shall we say, nervous. But this -man was just the same as the rest. He gave a size -and said he wanted a medium weight, and that was -all that passed.”</p> - -<p>French nodded, and reverting to the description, -tried for some further details with which to -augment it. Though he had complimented Stanley on -it, he realised that as it stood it was of little use. -But the young man was unable to improve on his -former effort and French was about to thank the -two men and leave the shop when Stanley chanced -to drop a phrase which sent the detective into a -white heat of excitement and made him marvel at -Chief Inspector Mitchell’s perspicacity and his own -obtuseness.</p> - -<p>“And there was nothing in the slightest degree -out of the ordinary in the whole transaction, no -matter how trivial?” he had asked as a sort of general -finale to his catechism, more as a matter of form -than because he hoped to gain any information, and -it was in reply that the assistant, after saying: “No, -sir, I don’t think so,” had pronounced the priceless -words: “Unless you would call changing a large -note out of the ordinary. The man hadn’t enough -loose change to make up the thirty-five shillings and -he asked me to change a twenty-pound note.”</p> - -<p>“What!” roared French with a delighted oath, -springing to his feet in his excitement. So that was -it! He saw it all now! Like a flash this whole -mysterious business of the wedding rings became -clear as day. And the Chief had guessed! Moreover -the Chief had given him a broad hint and he, -like the <em>ass</em> that he was, had missed its meaning! -He sat down and wiped his forehead.</p> - -<p>Who was this mysterious individual, this dark-haired -man with moustache and glasses, but Roper! -Roper it was who had been going about buying -wedding rings, and Roper it was who naturally found -that he must get rid of such incriminating purchases -at the earliest possible moment. The whole thing -was clear! For every ring a £20 note, a tainted £20 -note, a £20 note from Mr. Averill’s wrecked safe up -at Starvel. And for every £20 note got rid of over -£18 of good, clean, untraceable money brought in. -It was a scheme, a great scheme, worthy of the -man who had devised the crime as a whole.</p> - -<p>As these thoughts passed through his mind French -saw that the fact that the elusive purchaser had a -moustache and glasses while Roper wore neither by -no means invalidated his conclusion, but rather -strengthened it. To a person of Roper’s mental -calibre a moustache would appear one of the best -of disguises, while a man with a squint had -practically no option but to wear tinted glasses if he -wished to preserve his incognito. From disgust -at his job French had suddenly swung round to -enthusiasm. He had not now the faintest doubt that -some forty-eight hours earlier, Roper, alive and in -the flesh, had been in that very shop, having -dealings with the salesman, Stanley. And then came -the delightful thought that with so fresh a trail and -with such a multiplicity of clues, the man’s capture -was a question of a very short time only. The steps -to be taken were obvious, and the first was to find -the taxi-man who had driven him round. This must -be put in hand without delay.</p> - -<p>He crushed down his impatience and turned once -more to his companions, who had been regarding -him with not a little surprise.</p> - -<p>“That is important information you have just -given me, Mr. Stanley,” he declared. “Now can -you tell me if this is the man?” He handed over -one of Roper’s photographs.</p> - -<p>And then his enthusiasm received a check. The -salesman looked doubtfully at the card and shook -his head.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “I couldn’t just -be sure. It’s like him and it’s not like him, if you -understand what I mean. The man who came here -had a moustache.”</p> - -<p>“A false one,” French suggested.</p> - -<p>The other brightened up.</p> - -<p>“My word, but it might have been,” he exclaimed. -“I noticed it looked queer, now I come to think of -it. It was very thick and long; thicker and longer -than you generally see. And what you might call -fuzzy round the top. Not like a real moustache. -Yes, sir, I believe you’re right. It looked just like -a wad of hair set on.”</p> - -<p>French laid a scrap of paper over the mouth.</p> - -<p>“Now look “again.”</p> - -<p>Once more Stanley shook his head.</p> - -<p>“No, sir, it’s no good. I couldn’t say for sure. -You see that photograph shows his hair and his -forehead and his eyes. Well, I didn’t see any of -those. He had tinted glasses and he wore his hat -low down near his eyebrows. I couldn’t tell. It -might have been him and it might not.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if you can’t you can’t, and that’s all there -is to it. Now another point. Have you the -twenty-pound note?”</p> - -<p>The manager disappeared, returning in a moment -with a handful of money.</p> - -<p>“Here are seven twenty-pound notes: all of that -value we hold,” he explained. “I cannot tell you -certainly whether that paid in by your friend is -among them; but it probably is, as the cashier thinks -she did not give such a note in change and no -lodgment was made at the bank since the sale.”</p> - -<p>Eagerly French compared the numbers of the -seven with those on his list, but this time he had -no luck. If one of these had come from Starvel it -was one of which Tarkington had not retained the -number.</p> - -<p>In spite of this French was certain that he had -discovered the truth. But he felt that before acting -on his theory he must put it to the proof. -Fortunately there was a very obvious way of doing so. -If he traced another sale and found that another -£20 note had been tendered, no further doubt could -possibly remain.</p> - -<p>Pausing only to ascertain from the salesman that -his customer had spoken with a Scotch accent, French -hurried down the street to the next address on his -list. There he had a somewhat different question -to put to the manager. He was looking for a man -who had within the last three or four days bought -a wedding ring and who had paid for it with a £20 -note. No, the manager need not be apprehensive. -The note was good and the whole business in order: -it was simply a question of tracing the man.</p> - -<p>Inquiries speedily produced the desired -information. A Mr. Russell was sent for who had sold -the ring in question. He remembered the purchaser, -a slightish man of medium height with a heavy black -moustache, a sallow complexion and tinted glasses. -Owing to the latter he had not noted the colour -of the man’s eyes, but he had observed that his hair -was long and very dark and that his hands were -small. He thought the man might be the original -of the photograph, but he could not be sure. When -the bill had been made out the man had searched -his pockets and had been unable to produce -sufficient change. He had said: “I’m afraid I’m -short: I thought I had another ten-shilling note. -Can you change twenty pounds?” The salesman had -replied, “Certainly, sir,” and the man had handed -over a £20 note. Both the salesman and the cashier -had examined it carefully and both were satisfied -it was genuine. Unfortunately it had since been -paid away and they could not therefore produce it.</p> - -<p>This information resolved French’s last doubt and -he hailed a taxi and ordered the man to hurry to -the Yard. He was more than delighted with his -day. At long last he was on a hot trail. With -the vast resources of the C.I.D. at his disposal it -could not now be long before he had his hands on -the criminal of Starvel and had accomplished that -triumph which was to be another milestone on the -road which led to promotion.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch18"> - -<h2>CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Cumulative Evidence</h2> - -<p>Inspector French’s satisfaction in this new -development was but slightly marred by his knowledge -that a certain amount of the credit for it must be -allotted to his Chief. Mr. Mitchell had certainly -spotted the true significance of the discarding of the -wedding rings, but French now saw that this was -a comparatively unimportant achievement. In the -first place it was not due to superior ability, but to -the lucky accident that the rings had fallen on -the lighter instead of going overboard. In the -second—and this French thought fundamental—the -episode at the best had only hastened matters. -If he had been left alone he would certainly have -traced one of the notes. Perhaps indeed this would -have proved quicker in the end.</p> - -<p>But what, French asked himself, had led to the -whole dénouement? Was it not his, French’s, -foresight and ingenuity at the inquest? He had -devised and skilfully baited a trap for his victim, and -lo! the victim had walked into it with the most -commendable promptness. He had fallen for the dope, -as French’s former acquaintance, Mrs. Chauncey S. -Root of Pittsburgh, would have put it. And now -a little energetic action and the man would pay the -price of his folly.</p> - -<p>For some time after reaching his room French -busied himself in putting in motion against the -ingenious purchaser of rings the great machine of -which he was a part. A telephone warning was -sent to all stations that the man whose description -had already been circulated in connection with the -Starvel murders had disguised himself with a -moustache and tinted glasses and had recently been in -London occupied in certain business involving taxis -and wedding rings. A number of men were put -on to trace the taxi or taxis employed, others to try -to obtain further information at the jewellers’, while -still others were sent round the hotels in the hope -of picking up a scent. It was not indeed until the -late afternoon that French had time to settle down -really to consider where he now stood.</p> - -<p>In the first place it was clear not only that Roper -had remained in the country, but that he had kept -himself in touch with events in Thirsby. Of course -this latter did not mean much, for the circumstances -of the Starvel case had created widespread interest -and the details which came out at the inquest were -fully reported in the papers. But Roper had -evidently been uncertain as to how much the police -knew, and French’s evidence had had the desired -reassuring effect.</p> - -<p>It might, of course, have happened that Roper’s -hand had been forced. He might have run out of -cash to live on or he might have required a lump -sum, say, to leave the country. But whatever the -reason, he had determined on a coup. And very -cleverly he had arranged it. He must have made -over £18 a purchase, and if he bought forty rings -in a day his profits would amount to over £700. -£700 a day was not bad.</p> - -<p>The following day was Sunday, but by Monday -evening reports had begun to come in from French’s -little army of workers. Sixteen more shops had -been found at which Roper had bought rings and -changed £20 notes, and one of these notes bore a -Starvel number. Moreover it had been established -that his activities had extended over at least three -days. Inquiries at the fashionable restaurants had -revealed the fact that on the Tuesday a man answering -Roper’s description had paid for his lunch at -the Carlton with a similar note. French received -these items thankfully, and having made a skeleton -time-table of the three days in question, fitted each -item into its appropriate place.</p> - -<p>But none of those who had come in contact with -Roper had been able to add to his knowledge of the -man or to give a clue to his present whereabouts. -It was not indeed until the middle of the following -forenoon that information came in which promised -more satisfactory results.</p> - -<p>Within ten minutes of each other two telephone -messages were received stating that taximen who -drove Roper had been found. These men on discovery -had been ordered to report themselves at -the Yard, and they arrived almost simultaneously. -French had them up to his room in turn.</p> - -<p>The first driver said he had been hailed by a man -of the description in question about 10.0 a.m. on -Tuesday of last week. The fare had explained that -he wished to engage his vehicle up till one o’clock. -He was a traveller in precious stones and he wished -to be taken to certain jewellers of which he had -a list. The taximan had done as he was asked. -Starting near the Marble Arch, he had visited one -jeweller after another during the whole morning. -Shortly after one the fare had instructed him to -drive to Marylebone Station, which was then close -by. There the taxi had been paid off, the fare -disappearing into the station.</p> - -<p>Asked if he could remember all the shops he -called at, the man said he thought he could, and -French at once despatched Sergeant Carter with -him to drive over the same ground and make -inquiries <i lang="fr">en route</i>.</p> - -<p>The second taximan had a very similar story -to tell. About three o’clock on the Thursday -afternoon he was driving slowly down Aldwych, when -he was hailed by a man of the description the -sergeant had given him. The man had engaged him -by the hour and had told him of his business in -precious stones and they had driven to a number of -jewellers, ending up about five-thirty at Malseed’s, -in the Strand. There the man had paid him off -and he had seen him entering the shop as he drove -away.</p> - -<p>This driver also said he could remember the -places at which he had called, and French sent -another of his satellites round with him to amass -information.</p> - -<p>As far as it went, this was satisfactory enough. -If the other taximen could be found, every minute -of Roper’s three days would soon be accounted for. -And it would be a strange thing if amongst all those -with whom he had come in contact, some one person -had not learnt or noticed anything which would -help to find him. French could recall many instances -where a chance recollection of some physical -peculiarity, of some word or phrase uttered, of some -paper or small article dropped, had led to the -identification of a criminal and he thought the chances -of similar good fortune in the present instance were -not too remote.</p> - -<p>All through the afternoon information continued -to come in, and when he had added the items to his -skeleton time-table he found that he had learnt -where thirty-one rings had been bought and where -Roper had lunched on each of the three days in -question. Of course, this information did not directly -help with his present problem, but there were two -other items of news which seemed more promising.</p> - -<p>The first was that seven of the thirty-one shop -assistants who had been interviewed had noticed -a fresh cut on Roper’s thumb, small, but peculiarly -shaped. This was an additional identification which -might be useful in dealing with waiters, dining-car -attendants, hotel porters and others who would be -likely to observe a customer’s hand.</p> - -<p>The second item French received with deep -satisfaction. Roper had spent the Tuesday night at the -Strand Palace Hotel. This seemed to negative the -suggestion that the man was living in London, and -French therefore became much more hopeful of the -prospects of finding his whereabouts on the -Thursday night, the point at which he must start if he -was to succeed in tracing him.</p> - -<p>But it was not until the next afternoon that his -hopes were fulfilled. When he reached the Yard -after lunch he found that a telephone message had -just been received from Sergeant Elliott, who was -working the hotels in the Bloomsbury area. Roper, -the man reported, had spent the Thursday night at -the Peveril Hotel in Russell Square.</p> - -<p>Within twenty minutes French had reached the -building. Sergeant Elliott was waiting for him in -the lounge.</p> - -<p>“How did you get on to him?” French asked, -after they had greeted each other heartily and -withdrawn into a quiet corner.</p> - -<p>“Just pegging away, sir; no special clue. This -is the sixteenth hotel I’ve been to. But I think -there’s no doubt it’s him. He turned up here about -7.15 on Thursday evening and asked for a room. -On the plea of having a chill he had a fire in his -room and dined there. Next morning he paid his -bill to the waiter and left about 9.45.”</p> - -<p>“Did he take a taxi?”</p> - -<p>“Not from the hotel, sir. He just walked out, -carrying a small suitcase in his hand.”</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t taking any risks. Confound him for -giving us all this trouble. See Elliott, you look round -and get hold of the men who were on point duty -hereabouts on Friday morning. Some of them may -have noticed him. Then go round to the nearby -Tube Stations. I’ll go back to the Yard and get the -taxis and the terminal stations worked. You follow -me?”</p> - -<p>“Right, sir. I’ll go now.”</p> - -<p>French turned to the manager’s office to check his -subordinate’s information. There his inquiries -speedily convinced him that Roper had indeed stayed -in the hotel. It was true that he had registered -under the name “Jas. Fulton, Manchester,” but the -handwriting set the matter at rest. That it was -Roper’s, French had no doubt whatever.</p> - -<p>Except that one of the waiters had noticed the -cut on the man’s right thumb, this unfortunately was -the only result of his inquiries. Though he was as -thorough and painstaking as ever, he could find no -clue to the man’s present whereabouts.</p> - -<p>Returning to the Yard, he recalled the men who -were engaged on the hotels and jewellers’ shops and -set them new tasks. Some of them were to look for -a taximan who had taken up a fare of the suspect’s -description in the neighbourhood of Russell Square -about 9.45 on the morning of the previous Friday, -the remainder were to visit the great stations in the -hope of learning that the same man had left by train.</p> - -<p>French was accustomed to prompt and efficient -service, but when within an hour the wanted taximan -had been found, he could not but admit pleasurable -surprise. He therefore paid a somewhat unusual -compliment to his subordinate on his prowess, and -told him to fetch the man along.</p> - -<p>The driver proved to be a big brawny Irishman. -He stated he had picked up a fare like the man -described at the Russell Square end of Southampton -Row about the hour named. The man had carried a -small suitcase and had been walking away from the -Square. The driver had not seen his face clearly, as -he had his collar turned up and his hat pulled low, -but when French heard that he spoke with a Scotch -accent, he felt that things were going as they should. -It was therefore with keen interest that he waited -for a reply to the question, where had he driven -him?</p> - -<p>“To Gracechurch Street, sorr,” the man answered, -“to a block o’ buildings half-way down the street on -the left-hand side.”</p> - -<p>“Could you find it again?”</p> - -<p>“I could, sorr, surely.”</p> - -<p>“Then drive there.”</p> - -<p>An inspection of the plates at each side of the -entrance door showed that the “block o’ buildings” -contained eleven suites of offices. French stood -contemplating the names and wondering in which of the -firms Roper had been interested.</p> - -<p>None of them seemed very promising at first sight. -There were two coal merchants, a chemical analyst, -a stockbroker, an engineer and architect, three -shipping firms and three commission agents. Of these -the shipping firms seemed the most hopeful and -French decided to start with them.</p> - -<p>Obtaining no information at the shipping offices, -he went on to the remaining firms, and at the seventh -he struck oil. The office boy at Messrs. Dashwood -and Munce’s stockbrokers, remembered such a man -calling at the hour in question. He had, he believed, -seen Mr. Dashwood, and it was not long before -French was seated in the senior partner’s room.</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood, a tall, thin man with a shrewd -expression and keen eyes, listened attentively while -French stated his business.</p> - -<p>“I admit,” he said, “that the description you give -resembles that of our client. But you must be aware, -Inspector, that a client’s dealings are confidential, -and unless you can prove to me that this is really the -man you want and that it is my duty to discuss his -business I do not think I feel called on to say any -more.”</p> - -<p>“I thoroughly appreciate your position,” French -returned suavely, “and under ordinary circumstances -agree that you would be absolutely right. But these -circumstances are not ordinary. Firstly, here are -my credentials, so that you will see that I really am -an officer of Scotland Yard. Secondly, I must take -you into my confidence to the extent of telling you -that the man is wanted for a very serious crime -indeed—a triple murder, in fact. You will see, -therefore, that you cannot keep back any information -about him which you may possess.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood shrugged.</p> - -<p>“What you say alters the matter. Tell me what -you wish to know.”</p> - -<p>“First, your client’s name and address.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood consulted a small ledger.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Arthur Lisle Whitman, c/o Mr. Andrew -Macdonald, 18 Moray Street, Pentland Avenue, -Edinburgh.”</p> - -<p>“Was he an old client?”</p> - -<p>“No, I had never seen him before.”</p> - -<p>“And what was his business?”</p> - -<p>“He wished us to purchase some stock for him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh,” said French. “Did he pay for it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he paid in advance.”</p> - -<p>“In notes of £10 and less in value, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood shot a keen glance at the other.</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” he admitted. “It seemed a -peculiar way of doing things, but he explained that he -was a bookmaker and had been doing some big -business lately.”</p> - -<p>“What was the amount?”</p> - -<p>“Roughly two thousand pounds.”</p> - -<p>“No twenty-pound notes, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“None. He counted it out here, and ten was the -highest value.”</p> - -<p>French was delighted. There was no doubt he -was on the right track. Further, three days at £700 -just made the required sum.</p> - -<p>“In what stock were you to invest?”</p> - -<p>“Brazilian. A thousand in Government five per -cents, and the rest in rails.”</p> - -<p>This was satisfactory too. French remembered -Roper’s Brazilian passport. At the same time he -was slightly puzzled. Surely the man was not mad -enough to imagine he could get out of the country? -Still, if he thought he was not suspected he might -try to do so.</p> - -<p>“Where was the interest to be paid? Did he say -he was going out?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. He said he was sailing in a few weeks and -that he already had an account in the Beira Bank at -Rio, to which the dividends were to be paid.”</p> - -<p>French laid his photograph and description on the -other’s desk.</p> - -<p>“That the man?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood examined the photograph and -slowly read and re-read the description.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” he said at last. “At first glance I -should say not, but on consideration I’m not so sure. -If it was he, he was disguised.”</p> - -<p>“I have reason to believe he was disguised.”</p> - -<p>“Then probably it was he. The features which he -couldn’t alter, such as his height and build, -correspond all right.”</p> - -<p>“Have you got a specimen of his handwriting?”</p> - -<p>Yes, Mr. Dashwood had his signature to certain -forms. French gazed at the four specimens of -“Arthur Lisle Whitman” which were produced. And -then he felt himself up against the same difficulty -which had confronted Mr. Dashwood. At first -sight the signatures were not so obviously Roper’s -as those in the Peveril register, but as French -examined them he felt more and more satisfied that the -man had indeed written them, though he had -obviously made some attempt at disguise.</p> - -<p>French was more than pleased with his interview -when, after warning Mr. Dashwood to keep the -affair secret, he took his departure. In the first -place the whole of Roper’s scheme of escape was at -last revealed. The man had evidently set himself -two problems, first, to change his possibly incriminating -twenty-pound notes in such a way that any which -might afterwards be identified should not be -traceable to him, and secondly, to get this money into -Brazilian securities, payable in Brazil, with a similar -immunity from risk. And very cleverly he had -solved both these problems.</p> - -<p>But he had made an error, and French smiled -grimly as he thought of it. He had given an address -to Dashwood and Munce. A bad, a fatal error! -A trip to Edinburgh for French, and Master John -Roper’s career would meet with a sudden check. -And with that the Starvel Hollow crime would be -avenged and French—he hoped against hope—would -come in for his reward.</p> - -<p>Could he not, French wondered, find out something -about that address without leaving London? -He turned into a telegraph office and sent a wire to -the Edinburgh police. Early next morning there was -a reply.</p> - -<p>It seemed that Mr. Andrews Macdonald of 18 -Moray Street, Pentland Avenue, through whom -“Mr. Arthur Lisle Whitman” was to be approached, -was a small tobacconist with a rather shady -reputation. It was evident therefore that Roper had -adopted a time-honoured expedient to obtain his -correspondence secretly. Letters could be addressed -to Macdonald and for a consideration they would -either be re-addressed to Roper or be kept till called -for. In either case Macdonald would not know who -his client really was or where he was to be found, -in the event of questions from inquisitive seekers.</p> - -<p>French saw that Macdonald, at least if he was a -man of strong character, could give a lot of trouble. -He would admit that he kept letters for Whitman, -but would state that Whitman always called for -these and that he did not know where his client was -to be found. And the closest watch kept by the police -might be quite unavailing. French remembered a -case in point in the East End. Here a small -newsagent had been chosen as the intermediary, and -though the place was kept under observation for -several weeks, the criminal was never seen. It was -only when he was captured through an entirely -different line of research that the reason came out. -The newsagent had guessed his establishment was -being shadowed and he had exhibited a prearranged -sign. He had placed a certain article in a certain -place in his window. The criminal, riding past in a -bus, had seen the danger signal and had kept away.</p> - -<p>In the present instance French wished if possible -to avoid the chance of a similar expensive and -irritating delay. If he could devise some other method -of attack, this clue of the tobacconist could be kept -as a last resource.</p> - -<p>He took his problem home with him that night, -and after he had dined he drew an arm-chair up to -the fire and settled down comfortably with his pipe -to think the thing out. For a considerable time he -pondered, then at last he thought he saw his way. -He worked at the details of his plan until he was -satisfied with them, then with a smile of triumph on -his lips and deep satisfaction in his heart he knocked -the ashes out of his pipe, switched off the lights and -went up to bed.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch19"> - -<h2>CHAPTER NINETEEN: The Last Lap</h2> - -<p>Next morning Inspector French was early occupied -in making the necessary preparations for his -great <i lang="fr">coup</i>. The first of these involved a visit to -Messrs. Dashwood and Munce, and the business day -had scarcely begun when he presented himself once -more at their office.</p> - -<p>“I am sorry, Mr. Dashwood, for troubling you so -soon again,” he apologised, “but I want to ask you -one other question. Can you tell me whether Mr. -Whitman saw your partner during his call? In other -words, if Mr. Whitman were to meet Mr. Munce, -would he recognise him?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood raised his eyebrows, but he -answered without hesitation.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Whitman was shown in to me, and so far as -I know, he did not meet my partner. But Mr. Munce -is in his room. We can ask him.”</p> - -<p>The junior partner was a more good-natured -looking man than Mr. Dashwood, and French was sorry -he had not had to deal with him throughout.</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t see him,” he said with a pleasant -smile. “As a matter of fact I was out at the time -you mention. I went over——” he looked at -Dashwood—“to see Troughton about eleven and I did -not get back till after lunch.”</p> - -<p>French nodded.</p> - -<p>“Now, gentlemen,” he went on, “I am obliged for -what you have told me and I am going to ask for -your further help in this matter. What I want is -very simple. If any letter or wire or telephone call -comes to you from Whitman will you please advise -me before replying? That is all.” He repeated to -Mr. Munce what he had already told Mr. -Dashwood as to his suspicion of Whitman’s criminality, -stating that under the circumstances he felt sure -he could count on the assistance of both gentlemen.</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood hemmed and hawed and was inclined -to demur. He was, he pointed out, a stockbroker, -not a detective, and he didn’t see why he should -be involved in Inspector French’s machinations. -If the Inspector wished to make an arrest it -was up to him to do it himself. But fortunately for -French, Mr. Munce took the opposite view.</p> - -<p>“Oh, come now, Dashwood, hang it all,” he -protested, “we’ll have to do what the Inspector wants. -If this Whitman is a murderer we’re pretty well -bound to. Besides, Mr. French doesn’t want us to -make any move, only to sit tight and not spoil his -plans. What do you say, now?”</p> - -<p>Mr. Dashwood made a gesture as if washing his -hands of the whole affair, and announced stiffly that -if his partner considered such action in accordance -with the traditional relations between stockbroker -and client he would not press his own views. Mr. -Munce thereupon smiled genially at French and -assured him that he could count on his wishes being -carried out.</p> - -<p>This was all right so far as it went, and it paved -the way for French’s next proceeding. Going to the -nearest telegraph office, he saw the postmaster, -showed him his credentials, and explained that he -wished to send a reply prepaid telegram, the answer -to which was not to be delivered at its address, but -was to be sent to him at Scotland Yard. Then -drawing a form towards him he wrote:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>“To Whitman, care of Macdonald, 18 Moray -Street, Pentland Avenue, Edinburgh.</p> -<p>“Serious fall in Brazilian stocks impending. -Advise modification of plans. Would like an interview. -Munce travels to Aberdeen by 10.0 a.m. from King’s -Cross, Tuesday. Could you see him at Waverley -where train waits from 6.15 to 6.33?</p> -<p class="signature">“<span class="name">Dashwood & Munce</span>.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>This, French thought, should draw Roper. -Unless the man was extraordinarily well up in Brazilian -politics, of which the chances were negligible, he -would suspect nothing amiss. And if he did not -suspect a trap he would almost certainly turn up. Not -only would he really be anxious about his money, but -he would see that it would be suspicious not to show -such anxiety.</p> - -<p>All the same French believed that the telegram -should be confirmed by a letter. In the ordinary -course of business such a letter would necessarily -follow, and Roper might notice the omission.</p> - -<p>To ascertain the form of Messrs. Dashwood and -Munce’s correspondence French adopted a simple -expedient. He wrote confidentially to the firm -saying he had just learnt that the man in whom he was -interested had particularly small ears, and asking -whether Mr. Dashwood had noticed Whitman’s. -This letter he sent by hand and in an hour back came -an answer. It took a comparatively short time to -print a similar letter form, and on this French typed -the following with the same coloured ribbon and -spacing:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>“<span class="name">Dear Sir,</span>—Confirming wire sent you to-day. -We beg to state that we have just had confidential -advices from our agents in Brazil, warning us that -unsettled conditions are imminent which are likely to -depress Government securities considerably. Under -these circumstances we feel that we would like to -discuss the question of your investments, as we think -you would be wiser to modify your original -proposals. In such matters a personal interview is more -satisfactory than correspondence, and as Mr. Munce -happens to be passing through Edinburgh next -Tuesday, we thought perhaps it might be convenient to -you to see him at the station. The train waits long -enough to enable him to explain the situation fully.</p> -<p class="valediction">Yours faithfully,”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>French copied the “Dashwood and Munce” signature -and despatched the letter by the evening mail. -He was in hopes that it would allay any suspicion -the telegram might have raised in Roper’s mind, -while at the same time involving no reply to the -stockbrokers other than that of the prepaid wire -which would be delivered at the Yard.</p> - -<p>The next point to be considered was the matter of -Roper’s identification. French did not believe he -could manage this himself. He had never seen the -man. He had, of course, a copy of the photograph -on the passport, but he did not consider this sufficient. -In a matter of such importance he dared not leave a -loop-hole for mistake. He felt he must have some -one who knew Roper there to assist him.</p> - -<p>He thought at once of Ruth Averill. Of all the -persons he had come across she probably knew -Roper’s appearance best. But he felt the job was -not one for a young girl and he cast round for some -one else.</p> - -<p>No one at Thirsby seemed suitable. Several -people there had been acquainted with Roper, but he -did not think any had known him sufficiently -intimately to penetrate a disguise, should the man still -be wearing one. Nor did he believe any one at -Kintilloch would be much better, though for a while he -considered getting Sergeant McGregor.</p> - -<p>Finally, he decided that he would ask Philpot. -Philpot had known Roper intimately at the Ransome -and had seen him at intervals up till the tragedy. -He was now in Glasgow: nearer than any one else -that French could get. Moreover, Philpot hated -Roper and would no doubt be glad to put the final -spoke in his wheel. French was sure he would come -for the asking.</p> - -<p>Accordingly he drew a sheet of paper to him and -wrote:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="centered">“<i>Strictly private and confidential,</i></p> -<p class="dateline">“New Scotland Yard.</p> - -<p>“<span class="name">Dear Dr. Philpot,</span>—You will be surprised to -hear from me, and particularly to learn that I -believe I have got my hands on the man wanted for -the affair I have been working on. I do not wish to -give details in a letter, but it is a man whom you -know well and whom we all thought to be dead. -You can probably guess from this.</p> - -<p>“We have found that under an alias he has been -transferring his money abroad, and in the name of -the stockbrokers concerned I have asked him to meet -their junior partner at Waverley Station, -Edinburgh, on Tuesday next at 6.15 p.m. on the arrival -of the 10.0 a.m. from King’s Cross. The junior -partner will not be there, but I shall, and I hope to -make the arrest.</p> - -<p>“My difficulty is that I cannot myself identify the -wanted man. In this I want your kind help. Will -you please meet me under Scott’s Monument at 5.0 -p.m.? I shall then ask you to accompany me to the -station and from some inconspicuous place keep a -look-out for him. When you see him you will tell -me and I shall do the rest.</p> - -<p>“I ask you to assist me in this, and feel sure that -when you consider all the circumstances of the case -you will agree to do so.</p> - -<p>“Will you please wire your decision on receipt of -this letter.</p> - -<p class="valediction">“Yours faithfully,</p> -<p class="signature">“<span class="name">Joseph French</span>.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>For the next few hours French was like the -proverbial hen on the hot griddle. Every time his -telephone bell rang he snatched up the receiver hoping -that the caller was the post office from which he had -sent his message. Every time the door opened he -looked up eagerly to see if it was not an orange -coloured telegraph message that was being brought -in. He found it hard to settle to work, so much -depended on his plans succeeding.</p> - -<p>When, therefore, about four in the afternoon a -wire was brought to him, he had to exercise real -self-control not to snatch the paper from the -messenger. And then he could have laughed with -delight. The message had been handed in at the -General Post Office in Edinburgh, and read:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="leftmost">“<span class="name">To Dashwood and Munce,</span></p> -<p class="address">“Dover House,</p> -<p class="dateline">“Gracechurch Street,</p> -<p>“Your wire. Will meet Munce as suggested.</p> -<p class="signature">“<span class="name">Whitman</span>.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>So far, so very excellent! Here was the major -difficulty overcome! On Tuesday evening the public -career of John Roper would come to a sudden stop. -The end of the case was at last in sight.</p> - -<p>Early the next morning a second telegram was -handed to French, which gave him almost equally -great satisfaction. It was from Philpot and read:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>“Will meet you place and time stated.”</p> - -</blockquote> - -<p>There was now just one other point to be settled. -Roper was coming to the station to meet Munce. -But Munce was not going to Edinburgh. Some one -must therefore take his place.</p> - -<p>It would be better to have some one as like Munce -in appearance as possible. In spite of the statement -of the partners, Roper might have got a glimpse of -Munce or at least have had his description. In view -of this very summons he might make it his business -to learn what the man was like. French considered -his brother officers and he soon saw that Inspector -Tanner, with a slight make-up, could present himself -as a very passable imitation of the junior partner. -The men were about the same build and colouring, -and an alteration in the cut of Tanner’s hair, a pair -of spectacles, different clothes and a change of -manner would do all that was necessary.</p> - -<p>French went to Tanner’s room and arranged the -matter. Tanner was to call and see Munce on some -matter of a prospective investment which would -afterwards fall through, and while there observe his -model. He would then make himself up and travel -to Edinburgh by the 10.0 a.m. from King’s Cross. -On reaching Waverley he would co-operate with -French as circumstances demanded.</p> - -<p>To enable him to keep his appointment with -Philpot, French found he must leave London on the -Monday night. He therefore took the 11.35 p.m. -from Euston, and about eight o’clock the next -morning reached Princess Street Station. He had not -been to Edinburgh for years, and emerging from the -station, he was struck afresh with the beauty of the -gardens and the splendour of the Castle Rock. But -Princess Street itself, which he had once thought so -magnificent, seemed to have shrunk, and its -buildings to have grown smaller and plainer. “Too much -foreign travel,” he thought, vaguely regretful of his -change of outlook; “the towns abroad certainly spoil -one for ours.”</p> - -<p>He spent most of the day in exploring the historic -buildings of the old town, then as five o’clock -approached he entered the Princess Street Gardens, -and strolling towards Scott’s Monument, took his -stand in an inconspicuous place and looked around -him.</p> - -<p>Almost immediately he saw Philpot. The doctor -was muffled in a heavy coat, a thick scarf high about -his ears, and fur-lined gloves—a get-up, French -shrewdly suspected, intended more as a disguise from -Roper than a protection from the cold. He was -approaching from the Waverley Station direction, -walking slowly, as if conscious that he was early. -French moved to meet him.</p> - -<p>“Well, doctor, this is very good of you. A -surprising development, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>Philpot shook hands, and glancing round, said -eagerly:</p> - -<p>“Look here, I want to understand about it. I was -quite thrilled by your letter. You tell me you know -the Starvel murderer, and you seem to hint that it is -Roper—at least, I don’t know whom else you can -refer to. But surely, Inspector, you couldn’t mean -that?”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Why not? Why, because— I don’t know, but -the idea seems absolutely absurd. Roper’s dead. If -he is not dead, whose was the third body found? -Are you really serious?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” French said in a low tone. “I am quite -satisfied that Roper escaped from that house and -that some poor devil was murdered and buried in -his place. And what’s more, I’ll have him in an -hour’s time. Come. Let us walk to the station and -take up a position before he arrives.”</p> - -<p>They moved off, while Philpot clamoured for -further details. French, true to his traditions of -caution, was not overcommunicative, but he explained -some of the reasons which had led him to believe in -Roper’s guilt, and told of the purchases of rings -which the man had made to get rid of his tainted -money. Philpot evinced the keenest interest and -plied the other with questions.</p> - -<p>French told him as much as his training would -allow, which was as little as he conveniently could, -and then he switched the conversation on to the -coming scene. Did Philpot know the station? If so, -where had they best hide so as to see the train -arrive while remaining themselves unobserved?</p> - -<p>On reaching the platform French introduced -himself to the station-master and explained his business. -He had arranged for Tanner to travel in the last -first-class compartment in the train, and he now -found out from the station-master where this coach -would stop. Opposite was the window of one of the -offices, and on French asking whether they might use -it for reconnoitring purposes, the station-master at -once gave them the unrestricted use of the room. -There, hidden from view by a screen, the two men -took up their positions and began to scrutinise those -who were assembling on the platform to meet the -train.</p> - -<p>Philpot was fidgety and nervous, and from one or -two remarks that he made, French saw the direction -in which his thoughts were running. Evidently he -was afraid that if he assisted in Roper’s capture, the -man would round on him and try to make trouble -for him about Mrs. Philpot’s death. In vain French -attempted to reassure him. He was clearly uneasy -in his mind, but presently he seemed to master his -fears and concentrated his attention on the -platform outside.</p> - -<p>Time passed slowly until the train was almost due. -A large number of persons had collected and were -strolling slowly up and down or standing talking in -little groups. French and his companion watched -the moving throng from behind their screen, but no -one resembling Roper put in an appearance. This, -however, was not disconcerting. It was not unlikely -that the man had also taken cover and was waiting -until he saw some one who might be Munce before -coming out into the open.</p> - -<p>French, as the time dragged slowly away, was -conscious of the thrill of the hunter who waits before a -clump of jungle for a hidden man-eater. The crisis -that was approaching was almost as important to -him as the tiger’s exit to the sportsman. This was -the last lap of his case, the climax of the work of -many weeks. If he carried off his <i lang="fr">coup</i> all would be -well; it would bring the affair to a triumphant -conclusion, and to himself possibly the reward he -coveted. But if any slip took place it would be a -bad look-out for him. There was his and Tanner’s -time besides the expense of these journeys to -Scotland, not to speak of his own loss of prestige. No, -French felt he could not afford to miss this chance, -and insensibly his brows contracted and his lips -tightened as he stood waiting for what was coming.</p> - -<p>Presently a movement amongst the passengers on -the platform and a heavy rumble announced the -advent of the express. The huge engine with its -high-pitched boiler and stumpy funnel rolled slowly past, -followed by coach after coach, brightly lighted, -luxurious, gliding smoothly by. A first-class coach -stopped opposite the window and French, gazing -eagerly out, presently saw Tanner descend and -glance up and down the platform.</p> - -<p>Now was the moment! Roper could not be far -away.</p> - -<p>But Tanner continued to look searchingly about -him. The additional bustle of the arrival waxed and -waned and the platform began to clear, people -drifting away towards the exit or clustering round -carriage doors close to the train. And still no sign of -Roper.</p> - -<p>The express was timed to wait for eighteen -minutes, and of these at least fifteen had slipped -away. Porters were already slamming doors, and -the guard was coming forward, lamp in hand, ready -to give the right away signal. Tanner stepped -forward clear of the train and once again gazed up and -down the platform, then as the hands of the clock -reached the starting time he turned back and -retrieved his suitcase from the compartment. The -guard whistled and waved his green lamp, the -coaches began to glide slowly away, the dull rumble -swelled up and died away, and in a second or two -some rapidly dwindling red lights were all that were -left of the train.</p> - -<p>French was almost speechless from chagrin. Had -his plan failed? Was it possible that Roper had -been one too many for him? Had the man suspected -a plant and kept away from the station? Or was he -even now in some hidden nook on the platform -doubtful of Tanner’s identity and waiting to see -what would materialise?</p> - -<p>As the minutes slipped away French, unspeakably -disappointed, found himself forced to the conclusion -that the affair had miscarried. Roper must have -become alive to his danger. Perhaps he had -suspected French’s wire and had replied as he did -merely in order to gain time to disappear. Perhaps -by this time the clue of the tobacconist’s shop itself -was a washout. French swore bitterly.</p> - -<p>But they could not remain in the office for ever, -nor could Tanner be left to pace the platform -indefinitely. With a word of explanation to Philpot, -French passed out, and the two men strolled in the -direction of Tanner. French greeted him quietly -and introduced Philpot, and the three stood talking.</p> - -<p>“Washout?” Tanner said laconically, glancing at -his colleague.</p> - -<p>“Looks like it,” French admitted, and turning to -Philpot, began to apologise for having brought him -from Glasgow on a wild goose chase. “I’m sorry -that I can’t stay and offer you hospitality either,” he -went on. “I must get round to police headquarters -and start some further inquiries. But let us go and -have a parting drink to our mutual good luck in the -future.”</p> - -<p>They passed into the refreshment room, French -pre-occupied and, for him, somewhat brusque, -Tanner frankly bored, and Philpot showing evidences of -mixed feelings of disappointment and relief.</p> - -<p>“I wish you people weren’t so infernally close -about your business,” the doctor complained as they -stood at the bar waiting for the three small Scotches -and sodas French had ordered. “Here am I, vastly -interested in the affair and anxious to know what -your further chances are, and you’re as close as a -pair of limpets. Surely I know so much that a -little more won’t hurt. Do you think you’ll get him -soon?”</p> - -<p>French laughed disagreeably.</p> - -<p>“I don’t say exactly how soon,” he answered -grimly, “but you may take it from me that we’ll get -him all right. We have a hot scent. We’ll have the -man before any of us are much older. Well, -doctor, here’s yours.”</p> - -<p>He tossed off his whisky, while Philpot, picking up -his glass, murmured his toast. And then suddenly -French stiffened and stood motionless, staring at the -other’s hand. There in the flesh at the right hand -side of his right thumb and projecting slightly on to -the nail was an almost healed cut of a peculiar shape: -a shape which French had had described and -sketched for him by seven of the men who had sold -rings to the changer of twenty-pound notes in -London! French’s brain whirled. Surely, surely, it -couldn’t be!</p> - -<p>Philpot noted the other’s change of expression -and followed the direction of his gaze. Then with -a sudden gesture of rage and despair he dropped his -glass, and his left hand flashed to the side pocket of -his coat. French had noticed that this pocket bulged -as if it contained some round object of fair size such -as an apple or an orange. Philpot drew out a -dark-coloured ball of some kind and began desperately -fumbling at it with his right hand. And then French -saw what the man was doing. The object was a -Mills’ bomb and he was pulling out the pin!</p> - -<p>With a yell to Tanner for help, French flung -himself on the doctor, and clutching his left hand, -squeezed it desperately over the bomb. The pin -was out, but the man’s hand prevented the lever -from moving. If his grasp were relaxed for even an -instant nothing could save all three from being blown -to atoms!</p> - -<p>Philpot’s mild and gentle face was convulsed with -fury. His lips receded from his teeth and he snarled -like a wild beast as he struggled wildly to release his -grip. His right fist smashed furiously into French’s -face and he twisted like an eel in the other’s grasp. -Then Tanner also seized him and the three men went -swinging and rolling and staggering about the room, -knocking over tables and chairs and sweeping a row -of glasses from the bar. Philpot fought with the -fury of desperation. To the others it seemed -incredible that so slight a man could show such -strength. He strove desperately to free his left -hand from French’s clasp, while French with both -hands tried for nothing but to keep it tightly closed -on the bomb.</p> - -<p>But the struggle was uneven and only one end was -possible. Gradually Tanner improved his grip -until at last he was able to use a kind of jiu-jitsu lock -which held the other steady at the risk of a broken -right arm. This lock he was able to maintain with -his left hand, while with the other he took the pin of -the bomb from the now nerveless fingers and with -infinite care, French shifting his hands to allow of it, -slipped the pin back into place. A moment later the -bomb lay safely on the counter, while its owner sat -faint and exhausted and securely handcuffed.</p> - -<p>By the good offices of the barmaid French was able -to wash the blood from his face, and a few minutes -later a taxi was procured, and almost before the -excited throng on the platform had learnt what was -amiss, the three actors in the little drama had -vanished from their ken.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="chapter" id="ch20"> - -<h2>CHAPTER TWENTY: Conclusion</h2> - -<p>The identity of the criminal known, it took -Inspector French but a short time to compile a -complete and detailed account of that terrible series of -crimes which comprised what had become known as -the Starvel Hollow Tragedy. Herbert Philpot, -once he understood that the evidence against him was -overwhelming and that nothing could save him -from the scaffold, broke down completely and made -a confession which cleared up the few points which -from their nature it was impossible that French -could have learnt otherwise.</p> - -<p>The first act of the Inspector, on lodging his -prisoner in jail, was to visit his rooms in Glasgow. -There in a battered leather portmanteau he -discovered a large cashbox of hardened steel which -when broken open was found to contain the balance -of Mr. Averill’s money. With the £2000 which had -been paid to Messrs. Dashwood and Munce, no less -a sum than £36,562 was recovered, no doubt all the -old miser had possessed. Ruth Averill therefore -received her fortune intact, and between the -consequent easing of her circumstances and her -engagement to Pierce Whymper, she found the happiness -which had been denied her during her early years.</p> - -<p>The history of the crime, as French at last -presented it, made very terrible reading. Like most -accounts of human weakness and guilt, it arose from -small beginnings and increased stage by stage, until -at last almost inevitably it reached its frightful -consummation.</p> - -<p>The trouble first arose in that house near the -Ransome Institute in Kintilloch, when Dr. Philpot -discovered that he and his wife had nothing in -common and that their marriage had been a fatal -blunder. There is no need to recount the steps by which -they drifted apart: it is enough to say that within -two years of the wedding their hatred was mutual -and bitter. Then Philpot became intimate with the -nurse whom Roper afterwards found him embracing -in the Institute shrubbery, and from that time the -idea of getting rid of his wife by murder was never -far from the doctor’s mind. At first he did not see -how this could be done, but as he brooded over the -problem a method presented itself, and coldly and -deliberately he made his preparations.</p> - -<p>First, he selected a time when his wife should be -alone with him in the house. Taking advantage of -Flora’s absence one afternoon, he made a pretext -to get Mrs. Philpot up to the bedroom landing. -Silently he slipped upstairs after her and across the -top of the lower flight he tied a dark-brown silk cord. -Then, returning to the study, he called to her for -Heaven’s sake to come quickly for the house was on -fire. She rushed down, caught her foot in the cord, -and fell headlong to the hall below. She was -stunned though not killed, but Philpot was prepared -for this eventuality. Seizing the only implement -he could find, a cricket bat, he struck her savagely on -the temple, killing her instantaneously. As he -expected, the blow made a bruise such as she might -have received from the fall, and no suspicion was -aroused by it.</p> - -<p>But an unexpected contingency had given Philpot -away. He had supposed that the servant, Flora, -had really gone to visit her sick mother. But in this -he was mistaken. It was to see, not her mother but -her lover, Roper, that the girl had left the house, -and this afternoon, like many another before it, she -met him in a near-by copse. There, just after they -had greeted each other, a heavy shower came on, -and Flora had proposed an adjournment to the -kitchen for shelter. To this Roper had agreed, and -they had just settled down therein for their fifteen -minutes’ chat when they heard Philpot’s shout to his -wife, followed in a moment by Mrs. Philpot’s -scream of terror and the crash of her fall. Flora -involuntarily sprang to her feet and ran up the stairs -from the basement to the hall. But she was -transfixed by the sight which met her eyes and she stood -rigid, gazing at Philpot. Roper had by this time -crept up the stairs behind her, and both actually saw -the doctor commit the murder. Flora was about to -reveal herself, but Roper’s grip tightened upon her -wrist and held her motionless. Watching thus, they -saw Philpot rapidly examine the body, and -apparently satisfied that life was extinct, wipe the cricket -bat and replace it in the stand. Then he ran -upstairs and removed the silk cord, afterwards -stooping over the floor on the half-way landing. They -could not see what he was doing, but the evidence -given later as to the hole in the carpet made his -action clear.</p> - -<p>Then followed a dramatic moment. When -Philpot came downstairs he found Roper and Flora -standing in the hall, and they soon let him know -that they had witnessed the whole of his terrible -proceedings. Philpot attempted to bluster, but he -was quite unable to carry it off, and at last he asked -Roper what he proposed to do.</p> - -<p>Roper, in his way quite as unscrupulous as the -doctor, had instantly thought how he might turn the -affair to his own advantage, and he quickly stated -his terms. If Philpot would increase his ten -shillings a week to forty, thus enabling Roper and Flora -to marry in comfort, the evidence against him would -be withheld. Philpot protested, but Roper was -adamant and the doctor had to give way. Had that -been all that Roper required, the matter would have -been settled in five minutes. But the attendant -pointed out that unless he had some material proof -of the crime, his hold over Philpot would be gone -by the evening: if he did not give his testimony at -once he would have to explain later why he had -withheld it. He would therefore follow the -precedent he had set in the case of the nurse, and would -require from Philpot a signed confession of the -murder. He swore solemnly to keep this secret as -long as the money was paid, but with equal solemnity -swore to send it anonymously to the police the first -time the two pounds failed to materialise. Again -Philpot blustered, but again he had to give way. -But he pointed out that a confession would take -some time to prepare, and that if he wrote it then -and there the body would be cold before the police -and another doctor were called in, which would give -the whole affair away. Roper admitted this -difficulty and proposed the following solution. He -would give Philpot until nine o’clock that night to -write it. If it was not forthcoming Flora and he -would visit the police station with the yarn that -Flora alone had seen what had taken place—but -without revealing herself to Philpot; that she had -been so frightened she did not know what to do; -that she had consulted him, Roper, and that he -had told her she must immediately reveal what she -knew.</p> - -<p>Philpot had perforce to agree to this, and by nine -o’clock the confession was ready. But Philpot with -perverse ingenuity found a way of tricking his -adversary and rendering it useless. He was an -extraordinarily clever draughtsman and had frequently -amused himself by forging the handwriting of -others. Now he forged his own. He wrote the -confession out, and then copied it, letter by letter, -<em>upside down</em>. The result was a passable imitation -of his own handwriting, but one which any expert -would recognise as a forgery. If the document -were produced his denial of its authorship would be -accepted without question.</p> - -<p>But Philpot did not wish the document to be -produced. It was too horribly credible, and inquiries -by the police might easily lead to some discovery -which would convict him. With all the appearance -of reluctant good faith he therefore handed over -the document and promised to pay the two pounds a -week with the utmost regularity. Roper, believing -in the value of his instrument and fearing Philpot -might make an effort to regain it, rented a box in -a safe deposit and stored it there.</p> - -<p>Some four months later Philpot, as already stated, -left the Ransome Institute and put up his plate at -Thirsby. There he speedily made the acquaintance -of Mr. Averill. The old man indeed called him in, -thinking that the fees of a newcomer who had to -make his way would be less than those of a -well-established practitioner.</p> - -<p>When Roper was dismissed from the Institute -he wrote to Philpot asking if he could help him -towards getting another job, and it was while -thinking over this request that the first idea of the crime -entered the doctor’s mind. His plan was if possible -to get Averill to dismiss his servants and to employ -the Ropers in their places. Then he intended to get -the couple to join with him in the murder of Averill -and the theft of his money.</p> - -<p>At first Philpot’s only idea was to obtain as firm -a hold over the Ropers as they had over him, so -as to free himself not only from the serious -financial drain of their blackmail, but also from the -terrible haunting fear that sooner or later they would -betray him. But further consideration showed him -a way by which he could get enormously more than -this. By it not only would he achieve absolute safety -in connection with his wife’s death, but the whole -of Averill’s wealth might be his. It was no doubt -a very terrible plan, for it involved committing two -other murders, but fear and greed had by this time -rendered Philpot almost inhuman and he cared for -nothing but his own welfare. By this plan both the -Ropers were to be done to death in such a way -that suspicion could not possibly fall on himself. -Even suspicion that a crime had been committed at -all was unlikely, but if this by some unforeseen -circumstance were aroused, it would certainly be -believed that Roper had not died, but had committed -the crime himself. After careful thought Philpot -decided to put his plan into operation.</p> - -<p>First, he sent Roper a note to meet him at a -secluded point on Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, and -there he put up his proposal. Roper listened -eagerly and accepted with alacrity. But in the course -of conversation he made an admission and suggested -a modification which amazed the doctor, but which, -as it fell in with the latter’s secret plan, he agreed -to after some show of objection. Roper, it -appeared, had also made a mistake in his marriage. -He had also grown to hate his wife and would -go to any lengths to regain his freedom. In the -light of the doctor’s proposal he saw his chance. -Old Averill was to be murdered and to cover up -the crime an accident was to be staged. Very well: -Mrs. Roper could be got rid of at the same time. -The same accident would account for both deaths. -The two men discussed the ghastly details, and -by the time they parted the whole hideous affair -was cut and dry. Briefly, the plan was as follows:—</p> - -<p>Roper should first arrange his getaway, and while -still living at Kintilloch should apply for a passport -for Brazil. Inquiries about him would come to -the local police, who would certify that he was -the original of the photograph enclosed and that -the matter was in order. Roper would drop a -hint that he had a brother in Santos whom he had -often thought of joining, a course which he -proposed to follow now that he had left the Ransome. -On receipt of the passport he would obtain the -necessary visa.</p> - -<p>Philpot in the meantime was to see Averill and -try to get him to dismiss his servants and install -Roper and his wife in their places. As a matter of -fact he found this an easy task. Working on the -old man’s weakness, Philpot explained that having -left the Ransome under a cloud, Roper would be -thankful to take a job at a greatly reduced salary. -This was enough for Averill, and he at once gave -his people notice and offered their positions to the -Ropers.</p> - -<p>The couple thereupon settled down at Starvel, -and by living exemplary lives sought to establish -a reputation for integrity which would tend to -support the accident theory to be put forward later. -Philpot insisted that for at least a year they were -to carry out their duties quietly, so that no one -would think the “accident” came suspiciously soon -after their advent. “We are going to make all the -money we want for the rest of our lives,” he would -say to Roper. “No precaution is too great to be -observed.”</p> - -<p>Philpot told Roper quite openly that he wished to -use the crime to free himself from the other’s -blackmail. Roper on his part accepted the position, as -he considered the money would be worth it, and also -as he believed that his hold over Philpot would -remain strong enough to protect him completely. -The two scoundrels therefore concluded their evil -compact, deciding to act jointly in all respects and -so to bear equal responsibility. After the crime -Roper was to emigrate to Brazil, the idea that he -had lost his life being suggested by the dreadful -expedient of leaving a third body in the house, -which, it was hoped, would be taken for his.</p> - -<p>The procuring of this third body was not the least -of their difficulties. Markham Giles was to be the -victim; in fact it was Giles’ existence which had -suggested the plan to Philpot. The man was known -to be in poor health, and a few doses of a mild -poison would make it poorer still. The result was -that his death at the critical time excited no -comment.</p> - -<p>Philpot was to assist in the murders, and partly -as a safeguard against night callers, and partly to -establish an alibi, he determined to fake illness. -He therefore took to his bed on Thursday evening, -telling his housekeeper he had influenza. The -symptoms were easy to simulate and a doctor knows ways -of raising the temperature. His housekeeper and -the aged Dr. Emerson were easily deceived, and on -the two dreadful nights of crime he was able to leave -his house unheard and unsuspected.</p> - -<p>For the safe working of the scheme it was -necessary that Ruth Averill should be got rid of. We -have seen how this was done, but it unexpectedly -involved drugging her uncle to prevent the fraud -from becoming known. The plan was, of course, -Philpot’s. He supplied all the necessary forged -letters and the ten pounds, but Roper carried out -the actual details. Ruth left for York on the -Tuesday, and that evening after dusk had fallen Roper -and Philpot met secretly at Markham Giles’ cottage, -and there in cold blood the two miscreants murdered -the unfortunate man by a forcible injection of -cocaine. They left him in bed, Roper undertaking -to “discover” his death next morning. On that -fatal Wednesday morning he arranged the funeral -in such wise that the body would be coffined and -left in the house that night.</p> - -<p>The Whymper episode had been thought out to -learn whether or not the numbers of Averill’s notes -were known. Roper would not murder the old man -without Philpot’s actual assistance, lest the doctor -might evade his share of responsibility, so he kept -him drugged to enable the £500 to be obtained. -Whymper on that Wednesday evening was brought -out to Starvel and made the accomplices’ dupe.</p> - -<p>On that same fateful evening Roper laid the -foundation of the accident theory by simulating -drunkenness in Thirsby. Of course it was a lucky -chance for him that George Mellowes should -overtake him on the way home, but even without this -he believed he had arranged sufficient evidence of -his condition.</p> - -<p>Then came the hideous deeds of that tragic night. -Under cover of darkness Philpot went out to Starvel -and there with almost incredible callousness and -deliberation first Mrs. Roper and then Averill were -done to death by throttling, their bodies being laid -on their respective beds. Next the safe was robbed -and the contents packed in two despatch cases, half -for Philpot and half for Roper. The newspapers -were burned in the safe, the latter locked, and the -key replaced under Averill’s pillow. Finally, petrol -was poured over the house, ready to be set alight -at the proper moment.</p> - -<p>The next step was to bring over the body of -Markham Giles. Philpot and Roper took the handcart -from the outhouse and went across the moor to the -unfortunate man’s cottage. There they opened the -coffin, with diabolical coolness took out the remains, -laid them on the handcart, placed a suitable weight -of earth in the coffin and screwed down the lid. -They wheeled the body to Starvel, and carrying it -upstairs, left it on Roper’s bed.</p> - -<p>All this time Philpot had carried out his part of -the affair so wholeheartedly that any suspicion that -might have lurked in Roper’s mind as to his -companion’s good faith had been completely dispelled. -But Philpot had been only biding his time until his -dupe had given him all the assistance that he -required with his own even more hideous plan.</p> - -<p>As they turned to set fire to the house Philpot -moved rapidly behind his victim and suddenly with -all his strength struck him in the back with a large -knife which he had secreted in his pocket. Roper, -stabbed to the heart, fell and died in a few seconds.</p> - -<p>There were now in that sinister house the bodies -of no less than four murdered persons—Giles, -Averill and the two Ropers. But of these only three -must be found. Philpot had foreseen the difficulty -and quickly and methodically he proceeded to meet -it. One of the four bodies must be buried, so that -no suspicion of untoward or unusual events might -afterwards be aroused, and no investigation as to -the identity of the fourth victim might lead to the -truth. He chose that of Giles for two reasons. -First, it was the lightest, and second, if -identification of any of them should prove possible, it would -obviously be safer to have those of Averill and the -Ropers found. The interment accomplished, he -transferred Roper’s portion of the money to his -own despatch case, set the house on fire and returned -unseen to Thirsby.</p> - -<p>Philpot was pretty certain that no suspicion would -fall on him, but to safeguard himself still further he -adopted yet another subterfuge. Some months -before the crime he began deliberately to lose money -by betting. When the crime was committed he was -known to be in low water, and he was careful -afterwards to continue gambling, even to the extent of -ruining his ostensible career and going through the -bankruptcy courts. In this way he hoped to dispel -any suggestion that he had recently come into money, -and give a reasonable excuse for quitting Thirsby.</p> - -<p>From what French had told him, Philpot realised -that the numbers of some of the stolen notes were -known, and French’s announcement at the inquest -he did not fully believe, fearing a trap. His ready -money was, however, by this time exhausted, and -he set to work to devise means not only to obtain -more, but also to transfer a nest-egg to Brazil, to -which country it had all along been his intention to -emigrate.</p> - -<p>The arrangements for this journey he had carried -out with the same careful regard to detail which -had characterised his other actions. Hidden in the -cashbox with Averill’s money French found a -passport made out for Brazil in the name of Arthur -Lisle Whitman, with a photograph of Philpot, viséed -and complete and—a forgery. The way in which -this had been done showed the man’s extraordinary -ingenuity once again. He had obtained in the -ordinary way a passport for himself for holidaying in -France. Roper’s passport with its Brazilian <i lang="fr">visé</i> -he had searched for and stolen before setting fire -to the house. Of these two he had built up a new -one, using certain pages from each. From his own -book he took the description of himself, his stamped -photograph and the vacant pages at the back. On -certain blank pages from Roper’s he forged both -the printing and writing where he could not suitably -alter his own, as well as obtaining a model of the -Brazilian <i lang="fr">visé</i>, which he also forged.</p> - -<p>The wretched criminal’s last move, the meeting -with French at Waverley, was on his part a throw -of the dice. On receipt of the wire to Whitman -through the Edinburgh tobacconist he half-suspected -a trap, and of course the plan became apparent when -French’s letter to himself arrived. He saw, -however, that he was either quite safe or irretrievably -lost. If French had no inkling of the truth it was -evident that he must keep the appointment and -continue to play his game. On the other hand, if French -knew, nothing could save him, and he would make an -end of things for all concerned with his Mills’ bomb.</p> - -<p>To bring this tale of the Starvel Hollow Tragedy -to a close it remains only to be said that after a -dramatic trial Herbert Philpot paid for his crimes -with his life, while to turn to a happier side of the -picture, Pierce Whymper and Ruth Averill were -united in the bonds of holy matrimony where both -found the happiness which at one time had seemed -likely to be denied them.</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="section" id="transcriber"> - -<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> - -<p>This transcription follows the text of the edition published by -Grosset & Dunlap in 1927 (by arrangement with Harper & -Brothers). However, the following alterations have been made to -correct what are believed to be unambiguous errors in the text:</p> - -<ul> - <li>“be would consult” to “he would consult” (Ch. VI);</li> - <li>“the man” to “The man” (Ch. IX);</li> - <li>“arroused” to “aroused” (Ch. X);</li> - <li>“oxyacetlene” to “oxyacetylene” (Ch. XVI).</li> -</ul> - -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STARVEL HOLLOW TRAGEDY ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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