At that instant a sudden thought occurred to George. This last fact pointed alone to one conclusion, namely, that Nelly being given the letter by Liane, and knowing its contents, kept the appointment herself, desiring to speak to him alone upon some subject the nature of which he could not, of course, guess. This would not only account for her presence at the spot where he found her, but also for her dismounting and resting at the gateway where they had discovered the curious marks in the dust, and for the fragments of the letter being recovered near.
A similar theory appeared to suggest itself to the minds of the jury, for a moment later the foreman asked
Would the deceased have any definite object in seeking an interview with you?
None whatever, he promptly replied, puzzled nevertheless that the remains of Lianes note should have been recovered in Cross Lane.
You assisted the police to search the road for any traces of the assassin, I believe, Mr Stratfield, continued the Coroner. Did you discover anything?
George raised his eyes and met the curious gaze of the woman he loved. At that moment her veil failed to hide the strange look of dread and apprehension in her face, so intense it was. Her lips, slightly parted, quivered, the pallor of her cheeks was deathlike, and her whole attitude was that of one who feared the revelation of some terrible truth.
During my search I discovered a ladys hairpin lying in the grass at the roadside, George replied, after a silence, brief but complete. He was not thinking of the question, but was sorely puzzled at the extraordinary change in the woman who had promised to become his wife. The transformation was amazing.
That pin is here, the Coroner explained to the jury, passing it across for their inspection. I will call Henry Fawcett, hairdresser, of Reading, who will give evidence regarding it.
The man referred to was called in, and in reply to a formal question, took the hairpin in his hand, saying,
I have, at the instigation of the police, minutely compared this pin with those worn by the young lady at the time of her death, and also those found upon her dressing-table. I find that although apparently the same make it is nevertheless entirely different. Some of them found upon her dressing-table were of similar length and size, but while the pins she used were of the ordinary kind, such as may be purchased at any drapers, this one is of very superior quality. By the shape of its points, together with its curve, I can distinguish that this is the pin manufactured solely by Clark and Lister, of Birmingham, and sold by first-class hairdressers.
Your theory is that this pin was never worn by the deceased? the Coroner said, thoughtfully stroking his grey beard.
I feel confident it never was, for the pin is quite new, and they are sold in large boxes, was the reply.
In that case it seems probable that another woman was with her immediately before her death, observed the foreman to his brother jurors.
George looked again at Liane. Her eyes were still staring into space, her lips were trembling, her face was ashen pale. She started at the ominous words which fell upon her ear, then feigned to busy herself in re-buttoning the black glove she had removed before taking the oath.
It, of course, remains for the police to prosecute further inquiries and to discover the owner of that hairpin, the Coroner said. Most of us are aware that ladies frequently use various kinds of pins in dressing their hair, but in this case not a single one of the peculiar sort found on the spot was discovered in the deceaseds possession; and this fact in itself certainly lends colour to a suggestion that immediately prior to the tragedy Miss Bridson was not alone.
George having concluded his evidence, had taken a seat beside his well-beloved. Only once she glanced at him, then evaded his gaze, for in her grey eyes was an expression as though she were still haunted by some unknown yet terrible dread. His statement regarding the hairpin had unnerved her. Did she, he wondered, wear similar pins in her own dark, deftly-coiled tresses?
Instantly, however, he laughed the wild, absurd idea to scorn. That she feared lest some startling truth should be elucidated was apparent; but the suspicion that a pin from her own hair had fallen unheeded upon the grass he dismissed as utterly preposterous. Was she not his enchantress? Surely he had no right to suspect her of all women, for he loved her with all his soul. Yet neither police, jury, nor he himself had inquired where she had been at the hour the tragedy was enacted. The thought held him appalled.
While these and similar reflections passed through his mind some words of the Coroner suddenly arrested his attention. The court was at once hushed in expectation, every word being listened to with eager attention.
In the dress-pocket of the deceased has been found this letter, of a somewhat extraordinary character. As it is written in French it may be best if I read an English translation, he said, spreading out the missive before him. It is on superior note-paper of English make, bears traces of having been written by an educated person, and was sent to the post office, Stratfield Mortimer, where the police have ascertained that the deceased called for it about ten days ago. No address is given, and the envelope is missing, but the communication is to the following effect: Dear Nelly, The cord is now drawn so tight that it must snap ere long. England is safer than the south, no doubt, but it will not be so much longer. Therefore I remain here, but fortunately not en convalescence. Do not tell Liane anything, but remember that the matter must be kept a profound secret, or one or other of us must pay the penalty. That would mean the end. For myself, I do not care, but for you it is, of course, entirely different. We are widely separated, yet our interests are entirely identical. Remember me, and be always on your guard against any surprise. Au revoir. It will be noticed, gentlemen, by those of you who know French, the Coroner added, that the words en convalescence occur here in a rather curious sense. It is, in fact, nothing less than thieves argot, meaning under police surveillance; and it is strange that it should be written by one who otherwise writes well and grammatically. The name of the dead girls mysterious correspondent is a rather uncommon one Mariette Lepage.
Mariette Lepage! George cried aloud in a tone of dismay, causing not a little consternation among those assembled.
The strange-sounding foreign name was only too deeply impressed upon his memory. The writer of that curious letter, with its well-guarded expression in the argot of the Paris slums, was the unknown woman to whom, under his fathers will, he was compelled to offer marriage.
Chapter Five
Captain Brookers Objection
As everyone expected, the Coroners jury, after hearing Zerthos evidence at the adjourned inquest, returned the usual verdict of Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. It was the only conclusion possible in such a case, the mystery being left for the police to solve. Later that afternoon Inspector Swayne was closeted with George and Mr Harrison at Stratfield Court, and after an hours consultation regarding the curious letter found in Nellys pocket, the detective left for London.
While that conversation was taking place Liane and her father, having returned from the inquest, were sitting together in the little dining-room. Brooker had cast off his shiny frock-coat with a sigh of genuine relief, assumed his old well-cut tweed jacket, easy and reminiscent of the past, while his daughter, having removed her gloves and veil, sat in the armchair by the fireplace still in her large black hat that gave a picturesque setting to her face. The windows were open, the blinds down, and the room, cool in the half-light, was filled with the sweet perfume of the wealth of old-world flowers outside.
Our ill-luck seems to follow us, even now, my dear, he observed, thrusting his hands deep into his empty pockets and lazily stretching out his legs. That inquisitive old chap, the Coroner, was within an ace of raking up all the past. I was afraid they intended to adjourn again.
Why afraid? asked Liane in surprise. You surely do not fear anything?
Well, no, not exactly, her father answered, with a quick glance at her. But some facts might have been then elicited which are best kept secret.
Liane looked at the Captain, long and steadily, with eyes full of sadness, then said, earnestly,
What caused you to suspect Zertho, father?
Suspect him. I never suspected him!
Do not deny the truth, she answered, in a tone of mild reproach. I know that before you went to London you sent him a message which, had he been guilty, would have allowed him time to escape.
But he was entirely unaware of the tragedy, her father answered, rolling a cigarette with infinite care. Zertho could have had no object in murdering Nelly. Besides, it had already been proved by the station-master that he had left by the train he saw him enter.
Then why did you take the trouble to go to London? she inquired.
My motive was a secret one, he replied.
One that even I must not know? she inquired, in genuine surprise.
Yes, even you must not know, Liane, he answered. Women are apt to grow confidential towards their lovers, and if the secret were once out, then my plans would be thwarted.
You suspect someone? she asked, in a low, harsh voice.
Well, he answered, regarding his unlit cigarette intently, I will not say that I actually suspect someone, but I have a theory, strange though it may be, which I believe will turn out to be the correct one.
Liane started. Father and daughter again exchanged quick glances. She fancied she saw suspicion in his eyes.
May I not assist you? she asked. You know that in the past Ive many times brought you luck at the tables.
No, he said, shaking his head. In this I must act entirely alone. George Stratfield no doubt occupies all your thoughts. She thought she detected a touch of sarcasm in his tone.
The girl blushed deeply, but did not answer. Her father, inveterate smoker that he was, lit his cigarette and sat silent and self-absorbed for a long time. He was thinking of the bright happy girl who, cold and dead in her tiny room upstairs, was the victim of a foul, terrible, and mysterious crime.
How long have you known this man? the Captain inquired at last.
Three months.
And has he proposed to you?
He has, she faltered, blushing more deeply.
He drew a long breath, rose slowly, and pulling aside the white blind, looked out as if in search of something. In truth, he was hesitating whether he should speak to her at once, or wait for some other opportunity. Turning to her at last, however, he said briefly, in a low, pained tone,
You must break off the engagement, Liane. You cannot marry him.
Cannot! she gasped, her face turning pale. Why?
Listen, he continued huskily, coming closer to her, laying his big hand upon her shoulder, and looking down upon her tenderly. Through all these years of prosperity and adversity you alone have been the one bright joy of my life. Your existence has kept me from going to the bad altogether; your influence has prevented me from sinking lower in degradation than I have already sunk. For me the facile pleasures of a stray man have ceased, because, for your sake, Liane, I gave up the old life and returned here to settle and become respectable. I admit that our life in England is a trifle tame after what weve been used to, but it will not, perhaps, be always so. At present my lucks against me and we must wait in patience; therefore do not accept the first mans offer of marriage. Lifes merely a game of rouge-et-noir. Sometimes you may win by waiting. Reflect well upon all the chances before you stake the maximum.
But George loves me, dad, and his family are wealthy, she protested, meeting her fathers earnest gaze with her large grey eyes, in which stood unshed tears.
I dont doubt it, my girl, he answered huskily. I was young once. I, too, thought I loved a woman your mother. I foolishly believed that she loved me better than anyone on earth. Ah! You wring from me my confession, because because it should serve you as a lesson. And he paused with bent head, while Liane held his strong but trembling hand. It is a wretched story, he went on in a low, harsh voice, yet you should know it, you who would bind yourself to this man irrevocably. At the time this woman came into my life I was on leave down in the South of France, with wealth, happiness and bright prospects. I loved her and made her my wife. Then I went with my regiment to India, but already my future was blasted, for within a year of my marriage the glamour fell from my eyes and I knew that I had been duped. A fault committed by her threw such opprobrium upon me that I was compelled to throw up my commission, leave her and go back to England. I could not return to my friends in London, because she would discover and annoy me; therefore I have drifted hither and thither, falling lower and lower in the social scale, until, ruined and without means, I became a common blackleg and swindler. But it belongs to the past. It is dead, gone gone for ever. Those years have gone and my youth has gone. Ive lived like other men since then. Heaven knows it has not been a life to boast of, Liane. There have been days and years in it when I dared not trust myself to remember what had been days of madness and folly, and months of useless apathy. Ah! he sighed, I was straight enough before my marriage, but my life was wrecked solely by that woman.
His daughter listened intently, and when he had finished she echoed his deep sigh. Her father had never before told her the tragic story. She had always believed that her mother died of fever in India a year after marriage.
Then my mother is not dead? she observed reflectively.
I do not know. To me she has been dead these eighteen years, he answered, with a stern look upon his hard-set features. A lump rose in his throat, and in his eye there was a suspicion of a tear.
Was she like me? Liane asked softly, still holding her fathers hand and looking up at him.
Yes, darling, he replied. Sometimes when you look at me I shrink from you because your eyes are so like hers. She was just your age when I married her.
There was a long and painful silence. The hearts of father and daughter were too full for words. They were indeed an incongruous pair. He was a reckless gamester, a cunning adventurer, whose career had more than once brought him within an ace of arrest, while she, although prematurely versed in the evil ways of a polyglot world, where the laws of rectitude and morality were lax, was nevertheless pure, honest and good.
But, dear old dad, why may I not marry George? she asked when, after thinking deeply over the truth regarding her parentage, her mind reverted to thoughts of the man she loved.
I cannot sufficiently explain the reason now, he answered vaguely. Some day, when I am aware of all the facts, you shall know.
But I can love no other man, she exclaimed decisively, with eyes downcast.
You know my wish, Liane, her father answered rather coldly. I feel sure you will endeavour to respect it.
I cannot, father! I really cannot! she cried starting up. Besides, you give me no reason why I should not marry.