Warr still had the sealed letter in his possession, therefore the only way she could have known of the return of the bluff fellow who called himself Richard Keene was by the discovery made by herself.
I remembered her fierce desperation and her trembling fear; how cold her hands had been, and how wild that look in her beautiful eyes a hunted look such as I had never before seen in the eyes of either man or woman. Then suddenly I recollected what damning evidence might remain on that soft clay in the hollow where the body had been found. The detectives would certainly be able to establish her presence there! I felt that at all risks I must prevent that. I had promised to help her, and although there were dark suspicions within my heart I intended to act loyally as a man should towards the woman he honestly loves. I therefore set my alarm to awaken me in an hour, and just as the grey light was breaking through the clouds eastward over Monks Wood, I rose, dressed myself, and concealing a small garden trowel in my pocket set forth for the spot before any of the villagers were astir.
The morning air was keen and fresh as I hurried up the avenue and with some trepidation descended into the hollow, fearing lest the report had already been spread in the village and that any of the curious yokels might notice my presence there.
But I was alone, and therefore breathed more freely.
Over an area of fifteen yards or so the grass was beaten down here and there, and in the cold grey light became revealed the dark stain where the victim had fallen the stain of his life blood.
I searched around among the grass and over the soft boggy places bare of herbage, but found no footmarks nor any trace except that of the downtrodden grass where the struggle had evidently taken place and where the unknown man had apparently fought desperately for his life. After twenty minutes or so, fearing lest some labourers early astir might come to the spot before going to work, I was about to leave when, of a sudden, in a place where no grass grew upon the clay, I saw something that held me rigid.
In the soft earth was the plain imprint of the small sole of a womans shoe, with a Louis XV heel!
Lolita wore high heels of exactly that character, and took threes in shoes. Was it possible that the footprint was hers?
As I looked I saw others, both of a person advancing and receding. One was ill-defined, where she had apparently slipped upon the clay. But all of them I stamped out all, indeed, that I could find. Yet was it possible, I wondered, to efface every one?
If one single one remained, it might be sufficient to throw suspicion upon her.
While engaged in this, something white caught my eye lying upon the grass about ten yards distant. I picked it up and found it to be a piece of white fur about an inch square that had evidently been torn bodily out of a boa or cape the same fur that had been found between the dead mans fingers.
This I placed carefully in my cigarette-case and continued my work of effacing the damning footprints. There were other marks, of mens boots, but whether those of the dead man or of our own I could not decide, so I left them as evidence for the police to investigate.
My eyes were everywhere to try and discover the weapon with which the foul deed had been committed, for the assassin, I thought, might have cast it away, but my search was in vain. It had disappeared.
Fully twenty distinct marks of those small well-shod feet I effaced by stamping upon them or scraping the surface with the trowel, and was preparing to return and keep the appointment with the doctor when of a sudden I saw, lying close behind the trunk of the giant oak, a half-smoked cigarette, which on taking up I found to be of the same brand as those found in the dead mans pocket. He had therefore kept a tryst at that spot, and had smoked calmly and unsuspiciously in order to while away the time.
Of mens footprints in the soft ground there were a quantity, but then I remembered how all four of us had tramped about there, in addition to the victim himself, and I was not sufficiently expert in tracking to be able to distinguish one mans tread from anothers.
It was already daylight and in the distance I could hear the sound of a reaping machine in one of the fields beyond the park, therefore I was compelled to escape in order that my premature examination should remain secret. So I struck straight across the level sward to the London road, which ran beyond the park boundary, in preference to passing straight down the avenue at risk of meeting any of the labourers.
News of the tragedy I knew had not yet reached the Hall, otherwise the servants would have been out to see the spot, therefore I believed myself quite safe from detection until, just as I scaled the old stone wall and dropped into the broad white high road with its long line of telegraph lines, I encountered the innkeeper Warr who, mounted on his bicycle, was riding towards me.
He had approached noiselessly and we were mutually surprised to meet each other in such circumstances.
Halloa! he cried, dismounting. Youve been out again very early eh?
Ive been back to the spot to see if I could find any traces of the dead mans assailant, was my reply. I thought Id go back early, before the crowd trod over the place. Dont say anything, or Knight may consider that Ive taken his duty out of his hands.
Ah, a very good idea, sir, was the mans approving response. I thought of doing so myself, only theyre beginning to cut my bit o wheat in the mill-field this morning and I have to go into Thrapston about the machine. Ill be back in an hour.
He was preparing to re-mount, when I stopped him, saying
Look here, Warr. You recollect that stranger who called and left the note for Lady Lolita last evening? Well, there seems considerable mystery about the affair, and somehow I feel theres connexion with the fellows visit with this poor young mans death. If so, her ladyships name must be rigorously kept out of it, you understand. Theres to be an inquest to-morrow, and we shall both be called to give evidence. Recollect that not a word is said about the man Keene, the note, or the message.
If you wish it, sir, Ill keep a still tongue, was his reply. Ive told nobody up to now not even the missus.
Very well. Remember only you and I know of this mans return, and the knowledge must go no further. Theres a mystery, but it must have no connexion with her ladyship.
You may trust me, sir. The family have been too good to me all these years for me not to try and render them a service. I quite agree with you that the stranger was suspicious, and from what he said to me in private it is certain that he must know her ladyship very well indeed.
Youre sure youve never seen that young man before? I asked, watching his face narrowly.
Him? No, I dont know him from Adam! was the landlords reply, yet uttered in a manner and tone that aroused my distinct suspicions. His assurance was just a trifle too emphatic, I thought.
I paused a moment, half inclined to express my doubt openly, then said at last
That letter what shall you do with it?
Give it to her, of course. Ill come up to the Hall when I come back. I ought to have given it to her last night.
Had you done so that mans life might perhaps have been saved who knows?
Ah! he sighed in regret. I never thought of that. I didnt know it was of such importance. You see the missus is in bed with a cold, and I couldnt leave the house in charge o the girl. They were a bit merry last night after Jim Cooks weddin.
I paused a moment, half inclined to express my doubt openly, then said at last
That letter what shall you do with it?
Give it to her, of course. Ill come up to the Hall when I come back. I ought to have given it to her last night.
Had you done so that mans life might perhaps have been saved who knows?
Ah! he sighed in regret. I never thought of that. I didnt know it was of such importance. You see the missus is in bed with a cold, and I couldnt leave the house in charge o the girl. They were a bit merry last night after Jim Cooks weddin.
I was anxious to obtain possession of the mysterious letter, but I already knew that he would only deliver it to Lolita personally. Yet I had no wish that the man Warr should come to the Hall just at the moment when the startling news of the tragedy would create a sensation throughout the whole household. If he were to deliver the letter, it should not be before the first horror of the affair had died down. Therefore I made excuse to him that her ladyship was going over very early to Lady Sudboroughs to join a picnic and would not be back before evening.
Very well, he answered. Ill come up then. And mounting his machine he spun away down the hill.
Next moment, from where I stood, I distinguished a trap approaching along a bend in the road. Three men were in it, two of them being in uniform the police from Northampton.
Having no desire that they should know that I had returned to the spot to efface those tell-tale marks, the only way to avoid them was to spring over the wall again into the park, which I did without a moments hesitation, crouching down until they had passed, and then crossed the corner of the park and entered the Monks Wood, a thick belt of forest through which ran a footpath which joined the road about a mile further down. The way I had taken to Sibberton was a circuitous one, it was true, but at any rate I should avoid being seen in the vicinity of the spot where the tragedy was enacted.
Walking forward along the dim forest path covered with moss and wild flowers, where the rising sun glinted upon the grey trunks of the trees and the foliage above rustled softly in the wind, I was sorely puzzled over the innkeepers manner when I had put that direct question to him.
Notwithstanding his denial, I felt convinced that he had recognised the dead man.
I had almost gained the outer edge of the wood, walking noiselessly over the carpet of moss, when of a sudden the sound of voices caused me to start and halt.
At first I saw nothing, but next moment through the tree trunks twenty yards away I caught sight of two persons strolling slowly in company a man and a woman.
The mans face I could not see, but the woman, whose hair, beneath her navy blue Tam o Shanter cap showed dishevelled as a ray of sunlight struck it, and whose white silk dress showed muddy and bedraggled beneath her dark cloak, I recognised in an instant although her back was turned towards me.
It was Lady Lolita, the goddess of my admiration. Lolita my queen my love.
Chapter Six
For Love of Lolita
I held my breath, open-mouthed, utterly dumbfounded.
Lolitas appearance showed too plainly that she had been out all the night. Her cloak was torn at the shoulder, evidently by a bramble, and the weary manner in which she walked was as though she were exhausted.
The man, bearded, broad-shouldered and athletic, seemed, as far as I could judge from his back, to be of middle age. He wore a rough tweed suit and a golf cap, and as he strode by her side he spoke with her earnestly, emphasising his words with gesture, as though giving her certain directions, which she heard resignedly and in silence.
I noticed that when he stretched out his hand to add force to his utterance that she shrank from him and shuddered. She was probably very cold, for the early morning air was chilly, and the dew was heavy on the ground.
Without betraying my presence, I crept on noiselessly after them, hoping that I might overhear the words the fellow uttered, but in this I was doomed to disappointment, for at the edge of the wood, before I realised the mans intention, he suddenly raised his hat, and turning, left her, disappearing by the narrow path that led through a small spinney to Lowick village. Thus I was prevented from obtaining a glance at his features and blamed myself for not acting with more foresight and ingenuity.
After he had left her, she stood alone, gazing after him. No word, however, escaped her. By his attitude I knew that he had threatened her, and that she had no defence. She was inert and helpless.
In a few moments, with a wild gesture, she sank upon her knees in the grass, and throwing up her two half-bare arms to heaven cried aloud for help, her wild beseeching words reaching me where I stood.
My adored was in desperation. I heard the words of her fervent prayer and stood with head uncovered. Long and earnestly she besought help, forgiveness and protection; then with a strange, determined calm she rose again, and stood in hesitation which way to proceed.
For the first time she seemed to realise that the sun was already shining, and that it was open day, for she glanced at her clothes, and with feminine dexterity shook out her bedraggled skirts and glanced at them dismayed.
I recognised her utter loneliness: therefore I walked forward to her.
Slowly she recognised me, as through a veil, and starting, she fell back, glaring at me as though she were witness of some appalling apparition.
You! she gasped. How did you find me here?
No matter how I found you, Lady Lolita, I responded. You are in want of a friend, and I am here to give you help, as I promised you last night. This is no time for words; we must act, and act quickly. You must let me take you back to the Hall.
But look at me! she cried in dismay. I cant go back like this! They would they would suspect!
There must be no suspicion, I said, thoroughly aroused to the importance of secrecy now that the police were already in the park making their investigations. You cannot return to the Hall like this, for the servants would see you and know that youve been absent all night.
Im afraid of Weston, she said. She is so very inquisitive. Weston was her maid.
Then you must come with me to my house, I suggested. We could reach it across the fields and enter by the back way unobserved. I can send Mrs Dawson out on some pretext, and you can remain locked in my sitting-room while I go up to the Hall and fetch one of your walking-dresses. I can slip up to your wardrobe and manage to steal something without Weston suspecting. Then, when you return, you can explain that youve merely been out for an early walk.
The suggestion, although a desperate one, commended itself to her, and with a few words of heartfelt thanks she announced her readiness to accompany me.
I longed to inquire the name of the male companion, but feared to do so, seeing how pale and agitated she was. Her face had changed sadly since the previous night, for she was now white, wan and haggard, presenting a strange, terrified appearance, dishevelled and bedraggled as she was. She must certainly have been out in the park for fully seven hours. Was she aware of the tragedy, I wondered?
I told her nothing of the discovery. How could I in those circumstances? True, she was not wearing the ermine collar, as I had suspected, yet the prints made by her shoes as she now walked with me were assuredly the same as those I had effaced.
We spoke but little as we hurried along, creeping always beneath walls and behind trees, and often compelled to make long détours in order to obtain cover and avoid recognition by any of those working in the fields.