Not as far as weve been able to discover. A doctor can tell us more after the post-mortem, I responded.
There were many very strange features connected with this remarkable discovery. My friends reluctance to commence an investigation, his firm resolve not to report the discovery, the mysterious voice at the telephone, the fact that some experimental scientist had his laboratory in that house, and the revelation of the unaccountable tragedy itself, were all so extraordinary that I stood utterly bewildered.
Absolutely nothing remained to show who were the pair lying dead, and no explanation seemed possible of that strange red light burning there so steadily, and unflickering. By the appearance of the glass, and the dust in the oil, the tiny lamp must have burned on incessantly for a very long time.
Strange it was that there, within a few yards of one of Londons great arteries of traffic, that charming woman and her companion should have been cut off swiftly and suddenly, without a hand being stretched forth to save them.
In company we went downstairs, leaving the light in the laboratory still burning, and re-entered the drawing-room to take a final glance around. As I approached the prostrate body of the man I felt something beneath my foot, and glancing down saw that some coppers had evidently fallen from his pocket and were lying strewn about the carpet. Then, having remained a few minutes longer, we both went out by the door we had entered, locking it and taking the key.
We must report it, Patterson, I said. It certainly has some queer and very extraordinary features.
Yes, he responded; adding slowly, did you notice anything strange up in that top room where the chemicals and things were?
Yes, a good deal, I answered. It isnt every one who keeps snakes as pets.
I dont mean that, he answered. But did you notice on the table a glassful of liquid, like water?
Yes.
Well, that stuff was bubbling and boiling without any heat beneath.
Perhaps the man who experiments there is a conjurer, I suggested, smiling at his surprise at seeing liquid boil when exposed to air. Police-officers know little of any other science save that of self-defence.
Now, he said seriously, as we strode forward together in the direction of Kensington Church, you must go to the station and report the discovery as if made by you you understand. Remember, the snake attracted your attention, you entered, found the man and woman lying dead, lit the gas, searched the house, then left to get assistance, and met me.
Thats all very well, I answered. But you forget that you borrowed that lamp from one of your own men, and that I called on you first.
Ah! he gasped; turning slightly pale. I never thought of that!
Why dont you report it yourself? I urged.
For superstitious reasons, he laughed nervously.
Hang superstition! I cried. Adding: Of course, Ill report it if you like, but it would be far better for you to do so and risk this mysterious bad luck that you fear.
He was silent for a moment, thinking deeply, then answered in a strange, hard voice,
Perhaps youre right, Urwin. I Im a confounded fool to be afraid, and with an effort quite apparent he braced himself up and we entered the police-station. Ascending the stairs we were soon closeted with Octavius Boyd, inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department attached to that Division, a middle-aged, dark-bearded, pleasant-faced man in plain-clothes, who, as soon as he heard our story, was immediately ready to accompany us, while five minutes later the clicking of the telegraph told that news of our discovery was being transmitted to headquarters at New Scotland Yard.
Patterson took down the London Directory, and turning it up at Upper Phillimore Place, found that the occupier of the house in question was Andrew Callender. He made inquiries in the section-house of the men off duty as to what was known of that house, but only one constable made a statement, and it was to the effect that he had, when on duty in Kensington Road, seen a youngish lady with fair hair, whose description tallied with that of the dead woman, come out and go across to the shops on the opposite side of the road.
Do you know anything of the servants? inquired Patterson.
Well, sir, the man answered, one was a man, and the other a woman.
How do you know?
Because the servant of the house next door told me so. The woman was the cook, and the man did the housework. She said that the house was a most mysterious one.
Is she there now? my friend asked.
No, sir. She was discharged a fortnight ago. Dishonest, I think.
And you dont know where she is?
Boyd had by this time called one of his plain-clothes men, who had obtained lamps, turning the dark slides over the flame, the station-sergeant had carefully ruled a line and written something in that remarkable register kept in every London police-station, wherein is recorded every event which transpires in the district, from a tragedy to the return of the sub-divisional inspector from his rounds, or the grooming of the horses. Then, after a short conversation with one of the second-class inspectors, we all four, accompanied by a sergeant, started for Upper Phillimore Place.
In order not to attract attention we separated. Patterson walking with me to the opposite side of the road, while the detectives walked together, and the sergeant alone. Little did the passers-by suspect when they saw Patterson and me strolling leisurely along that we were on our way to investigate what afterwards proved to be one of the strangest and most remarkable mysteries that had ever puzzled the Metropolitan Police.
Chapter Four
The Three Cards
On reaching the house, Boyd, an expert officer who had spent years in the investigation of crime, ascended with his subordinate to the drawing-room, while we remained on the ground floor to complete our search, the sergeant being stationed inside the hall.
Our further investigations were not very fruitful. The fact that dinner was laid for three indicated that a third person had been present, or was expected. The room did not differ from any other, except that it was perhaps better furnished than one would have expected in such a house, for although in a first-class and rather expensive neighbourhood the row of houses had declined in popularity of late years, and was now inhabited mostly by the lodging-house fraternity.
In moving about the room, however, my coat caught the plate laid for the person who was to occupy the head of the table, and it was nearly swept off. I saved it, however, but beneath was revealed a plain white card which, until that moment, had been concealed. Patterson caught sight of it at the same moment, and taking it in my hand I examined it, finding that it was a plain visiting card of ladys size, one side being blank, and other bearing a roughly-drawn circle in ink.
There was nothing else.
Thats certainly curious, my companion remarked, looking over my shoulder.
Yes, I said, lifting a second plate to see what was there concealed, and finding another card, in all appearances similar, plain, but bearing across its reverse a single straight line drawn with a pen.
By Jove! observed Patterson, lifting the other plate, and finding a third card, this is certainly very strange.
He turned the card over, but it was blank on both sides.
I wonder what game is this, or whether these have any connexion with the crime? I exclaimed, holding all three of the cards in my hand, turning them over and examining them carefully beneath the light. By the ink they have the appearance of having been prepared long ago. See! I added, holding one of them towards him, the corners of this one are slightly turned up and soiled. It has been carried in some ones pocket, and is not a fresh card.
Again Patterson took it and examined it. It was the one with the line drawn across it. The others were quite clean, as if just taken fresh from a packet.
Theres some mystery about these, he said reflectively, as though speaking to himself. If we could but solve it we should likewise solve the problem of the crime, depend upon it.
No doubt, I assented. Each of them have some meaning, occult but extraordinary. They were turned face downwards so that the accidental removal of the plate would not reveal the device upon them.
The devices are simple enough, but undoubtedly they have some hidden meaning, my friend said.
They were evidently concealed there, and the three persons, unsuspecting, were to discover them when the first plates were removed, I suggested.
He placed them together on the table, saying
Better let Boyd see them when he comes down. The affair grows more queer and complicated as we proceed.
Dont you recollect, I said suddenly, in the dead mans pocket was a card exactly similar, but quite blank. You threw it into the fireplace.
Ah! of course, he answered quickly. That fact shows that he had something to do with these mysterious symbols. I wonder what is their real meaning.
I wonder, I said. As you say, the mystery grows each moment more and more inexplicable. Curious, too, that the snake in the garden path should have directed your attention to it.
No, he said quickly, his face in an instant pale and serious, dont mention that, theres a good fellow. Im trying not to think of it; for when I recollect all that it means to me Im unnerved.
Bah! I laughed. Surely theres nothing to fear. It only shows that however careful the assassin is to cover his crime it must be unearthed sooner or later. The finger of Fate always points to the crime of murder, however well it may be concealed.
True, he sighed, his brows knit in serious thought. But the finger of Fate has in this case shown me an omen of evil.
Youre a fool, Patterson, I said bluntly. You have here every chance to distinguish yourself as a shrewd officer, yet you calmly stand by talking of omens and all that rot.
Yes, he answered. I know Im an idiot, Mr Urwin, but I cant help it. Thats the worst of it.
Well, I suggested, while Boyd is upstairs, why not make inquiries of the next-door neighbours regarding those who occupied this place?
He at once acted on my suggestion, and together we went out and rang the bell of the house adjoining on the right. My friends curious apathy in this matter surprised me, for usually he was a quick, active fellow, who prosecuted his inquiries methodically, and worked up evidence in a manner that had more than once called forth the commendation of the judge at the Old Bailey. That night, however, he was plainly upset nervous, trembling and agitated, in a manner quite unusual to him.
Boyd, the keen-eyed, quick-witted detective inspector, had noticed this when at the police-station, but Patterson had only replied
Im a bit unwell, thats all.
Our summons at the house next door was answered by the occupiers wife, a rather stout, white-haired, gaily-capped old lady named Luff.
The appearance of Patterson in uniform surprised her, but when she had asked us in, and we were seated, he said
There is no occasion to be alarmed, madam. I have merely called to make an inquiry of you. It is in your power to render us assistance in a rather confidential matter regarding the occupiers of the house next door your neighbours on the left. What do you know of them?
Nothing, she answered. They came about six months ago, a young lady and a very old gentleman, with a single maid-servant. They speak to no one, and, as far as I have observed, have very few friends. I have often remarked to my son, who is a civil engineer, and now away making the railway in China, that they are a mysterious couple. What is wrong with them?
Oh, its simply a private matter, my companion answered carelessly, not wishing to alarm the neighbourhood by news of our discovery.
What is the old gentleman like? Can you describe him? I inquired. No doubt she took me for a detective, but at that moment this thought did not occur to me.
He is sixty, I should think, old and decrepit, with white hair, and always walks with a stick.
And the lady was his daughter? suggested the inspector.
I suppose her to be his daughter, she answered. The old mans name is Dawson, I believe at least one day a messenger-boy brought a note here by mistake, addressed to Professor Dawson. The daughter is a very good pianist, and plays every morning regularly.
They are well off, as far as you can judge? Patterson inquired with his assumed careless air.
No, I dont think they are, because my maid heard at Bouchers the grocers across the way that they owed a large bill which they couldnt settle. Again, people who have a house of that sort do not have coal by the hundredweight taken down into the kitchen as they do.
Patterson nodded. No more sure sign of a light purse is there than the purchase of coal by the half-sack. Yet the interior of that house, with its well-laid dinner-table, certainly did not betray any sign of poverty. Indeed, I had noticed in the cellar a dusty stock of choice wines, hocks, ports, and champagnes of expensive brands.
You dont know the young ladys name, then? asked my friend, after a slight pause.
If shes really his daughter it would, I suppose, be Dawson, she replied with a smile. But Im not certain, remember, as to either of their names.
Perhaps your servants may know something about them. Servants generally gossip and pick up information about ones neighbours, you know.
You are right, answered the affable old lady, they gossip far too much. Unfortunately, however, both my servants are out at this moment.
We chatted on, but it was evident from her conversation that her servants knew little beyond what she did. One statement she made was somewhat curious. She alleged that a few nights before she was awakened about two oclock in the morning by hearing the loud shrill screams of a woman who seemed to be in the room next hers in the adjoining house. She could hear a mans voice talking low and gruffly, and three or four times were the screams repeated, as if the woman were in excruciating pain.
What visitors came to the house? Patterson asked at length.
Very few. A youngish gentleman came sometimes. He called the other morning just as I was going out.
Who admitted him?
The young lady herself.
Many more questions Patterson put to the old lady, but elicited no noteworthy fact, except that two large, heavy trunks had been sent away by Parcels Delivery a couple of days before. Therefore, thanking Mrs Luff, who, of course, was extremely curious to know why the police were taking such an active interest in her neighbour, we left and made inquiries of the people in the adjoining house on the opposite hand.
It was a lodging-house and the owner, a rather surly old widow, was not at all communicative. What she told us amounted practically to what we had already learnt. She, too, had long ago set the old man and his daughter down as mysterious persons, and her two servants had never been able to find out anything regarding them.
So after nearly half an hours absence we returned to the house of mystery, watched, of course, by the persons in the houses on either side. None suspected a tragedy, but all remained at their windows expecting to see somebody arrested.