Glancing at Ella, I saw she had turned even paler than before, and was trembling. The question nonplussed me. In my heart I strongly suspected that some attachment existed between them; but resenting this impertinent question from a man who struck me as a local busybody, I made a negative reply.
Then jealousy, it would appear, was not the cause of the crime, the foreman observed to his fellow-jurymen.
The Coroner, however, quickly corrected him, pointing out that they had not yet ascertained whether death had, or had not, been due to natural causes.
Turning to me, he said,
I believe I am right in assuming that you are engaged to be married to Miss Laing, am I not?
I was engaged to her, I replied hoarsely.
Then you are not engaged at the present moment? Why was the match broken off?
I hesitated for several moments, trying to devise some means to avoid answering this abrupt question. The bitter thought of Ellas double dealing occurred to me, and with foolish disregard for consequences I resolved not to spare her.
Because of a confession she made to me, I said.
A confession! What of?
Of unworthiness.
She acknowledged herself unfaithful to you, I presume? observed one of the jurymen who had not before spoken; but to this I made no reply.
Now, have you any suspicion that any secret affection existed between her and the deceased? the Coroner asked, in a dry, distinct voice, that could be heard all over the room.
I I cannot say, I faltered.
The movement among the audience showed the sensation my reply had caused, and it was increased by Ella suddenly rising from her place and shrieking hysterically: That answer is a lie a foul lie!
Silence! shouted the Coroner, who, above all things, detested a scene in his Court. If that lady interrupts again, she must be requested to leave.
Have you any further question to ask Mr Deedes? he inquired, turning to the jury; but as no one replied, he intimated that the examination was at an end, and I felt that I had, at last, successfully passed through the ordeal I had dreaded.
Retiring to a seat, my place as a witness was at once taken by Beck; but scarcely had I sunk into a chair near where Ella was sitting when I felt within my hand the object I had taken from among the things found in the dead mans possession. It had not been missed, and I wondered whether its loss would ever be detected. To keep it was, I felt, extremely dangerous; nevertheless I sat holding it in my palm, listening to the evidence of the well-known member for West Rutlandshire. His story, related in that loud, bombastic tone that had at first so prejudiced me against him, was much to the same effect as mine regarding the discovery of the body, its removal into the house, and the subsequent examination by the doctor, until there commenced the minute cross-examination.
How long have you known the deceased? the Coroner inquired, looking up suddenly from his notes.
A few months. About six, I should think, he answered.
Have you any suspicion that he had an enemy?
No. He was about the last man in the world who would arouse the hatred of anybody. In fact, he was exceedingly popular.
You say you have been a frequent visitor at Mrs Laings. Now, from your own observations, have you seen anything that would lead you to the belief that he loved Miss Laing?
Nothing whatever, he replied. Ella was engaged to Mr Deedes, and although she was on the river a great deal with Ogle, I am confident she never for a moment regarded him as her lover.
Why are you so confident?
Because of certain facts she has confided in me.
What are they?
He was silent. Evidently he had no intention of being led on in this manner, but, even finding himself cornered, his imperturbable coolness never deserted him, for he calmly replied, with a faint smile,
I refuse to answer.
Kindly reply to my question, sir, and do not waste the time of the Court, exclaimed the Coroner, with impatience. What were these facts?
Again he was silent, twisting his gloves around his fingers uneasily.
Come, answer if you please.
Well, he replied, after considerable hesitation, briefly, she gave me to understand that she loved Deedes, and had refused to listen to the deceaseds declaration of affection.
How came she to confide this secret of hers to you? the Coroner asked eagerly.
Through my memory at that moment there flashed the scene I had witnessed in secret in the garden on that memorable night when I had detected this man with his arm around Ellas waist, and I looked on in triumph at his embarrassment.
I am a friend of the family, he answered, with a calm, irritating smile a moment later. She has told me many of her secrets.
I knew from the expression upon his face that he lied. Was it not far more likely that on that night when I had discovered them he was uttering words of affection to her, and she, in return, had confessed that she loved me?
Are you aware whether Mr Deedes had any knowledge that the deceased was his rival for Miss Laings hand? inquired the Coroner, adding, self-apologetically, I much regret being compelled to ask these questions, for I am aware how painful it must be to the family.
I believe he was utterly ignorant of it, Beck replied. He regarded Mr Ogle as his closest friend.
A false one, to say the least, Dr Diplock observed in tones just audible. Beck shrugged his shoulders, but did not reply.
The inquisitive foreman of the jury then commenced a series of clumsy, impertinent questions, many of which the witness cleverly evaded. He resented this mans cross-examination just as I had done, and during the quarter of an hours fencing with the tradesman no noteworthy fact was elicited. The Coroner, seeing this, suddenly put an end to the foremans pertinacious efforts to draw from the Member of Parliament further facts regarding home life at The Nook, and called Dr Allenby.
The doctor, who had apparently had long experience of inquests, took the oath in a business-like manner, and related the facts within his knowledge clearly and succinctly, describing how I had summoned him, his visit to The Nook, and the appearance of the dead man.
Have you made a post-mortem? the Coroner asked, without looking up from the notes he was making.
I made an examination yesterday, in conjunction with Dr Engall. We found no trace of disease, with the exception of a slight lung trouble of recent date.
Was it sufficient to cause death?
Certainly not; neither was the bruise upon the forehead, which had, no doubt, been caused by the fall upon the gravel. The heart was perfectly normal, and we failed utterly to detect anything that would result fatally. The contents of the stomach have been analysed by Dr Adams, of the Home Office, at the instigation of the police, I believe.
Then, as far as you are concerned, you are unable to determine the cause of death?
Quite. It is a mystery.
The next witness was a thin, white-haired, dapper little man, who, in reply to questions, explained that he was analyst to the Home Office, and had, at the request of the police, submitted the contents of the deceaseds stomach to analysis, the position of the hands pointing to a slight suspicion of poison.
And what have you discovered? inquired the Coroner, the Court being so silent that the proverbial pin, if it had been dropped at that moment, might have been heard.
Nothing, he answered clearly. There was no sign of anything of a deleterious nature whatsoever. The deceased was certainly not poisoned.
The assembly of excited townspeople again shifted uneasily, as it was wont to do after every important reply which might elucidate the mystery. It seemed as though a rumour had been circulated that Dudley had been poisoned, and this declaration of the renowned analyst set at rest for ever that wild, unfounded report. People turned to one another, whispering excitedly, and a shadow of disappointment rested upon their inquisitive countenances. They had expected it to be pronounced a case of murder, whereas it would now be proved that death had occurred from some natural but sudden and unknown cause.
Then you have no opinion to offer as to the cause of death! the Coroner exclaimed.
None whatever, was the reply, and that concluded the analysts important testimony.
The foreman of the jury expressed a wish to put a question to Ella, and a few moments later she stood where I had stood, and removing her glove, took the oath with trembling voice.
Have you any reason to suppose, Miss Laing, that Mr Ogles declaration of love to you had aroused the enmity of Mr Deedes? asked the man, seriously.
No, she answered in a tone so low that I could scarcely distinguish the word.
Mr Deedes was your lover, wasnt he?
I am still engaged to him, she replied, tears welling in her eyes. He tells a falsehood when he says that our love is at an end.
Then why did you not tell him of Mr Ogles declaration?
Because they were friends, and I did not wish to arouse animosity between them.
Slight applause followed this reply, but it was instantly suppressed.
The Coroner, to bring matters to a conclusion, asked, Now, knowing Mr Ogle as intimately as you did, do you suspect that he might have been murdered?
She gasped, swayed slowly forward and gripped the corner of the baize-covered table to steady herself.
Yes, she answered in a clear but tremulous voice. I I believe he was murdered.
A thrill of excitement and wonder ran through the onlookers. Her handsome face was ashen pale, and her breast, beneath her blouse of cool-looking muslin, rose and fell quickly, showing how intense was her agitation.
And what causes you to believe this? asked the Coroner, raising his brows in interrogation.
I have suspicions, she answered in a low voice, striving to remain calm, and glancing quickly around the silent assembly.
You suspect some person of having been guilty of murder? he asked, interested.
Not exactly that, she said quickly. That Mr Ogle was murdered I feel confident, but who committed the crime I am unaware. It is a mystery. Knowing Mr Ogle so well as I did, he entrusted to me knowledge of certain facts that he strenuously kept secret from others. Yet I cannot conceive who would profit by his death.
At this point the inspector of police rose and expressed a desire to know, through the Coroner, whether she had quarrelled with Mr Ogle.
The day prior to his death we had a few words, she faltered.
Upon what subject? asked the Coroner.
She at first refused to reply, but after being pressed, said, We quarrelled about my engagement to Mr Deedes.
So she acknowledged with her own lips that the dead man had been my bitter enemy, as I, too late, had discovered.
He wished you to marry him? suggested the Coroner. She did not answer, but burst into a fit of hysterical tears, and a few moments later was led out of the Court.
I think, gentlemen, the Coroner observed, turning to the jury, no end can be obtained in pursuing this very painful inquiry further. You have heard the evidence, and while on the one hand the exact cause of death has not been established, on the other we have Miss Laing declaring that the unfortunate gentleman was murdered. The evidence certainly does not point to such a conclusion, and there are two courses that may be pursued; either to adjourn the inquiry, or to return an open verdict and leave the elucidation of the mystery in the hands of the police.
The jury, after consulting among themselves, retired, but only for five minutes, coming back into court and returning an open verdict of Found dead.
Then, as the Coroner thanked the twelve tradesmen for their attendance, I rose and crossed to Beck, afterwards walking with him to The Nook.
Chapter Eight
I Dare Not!
What do you think of Ellas statement? Beck asked, as we were crossing Staines Bridge on our way to Mrs Laings.
I cant understand it, I replied.
Neither can I, he said. Girls of her excitable temperament are apt to make statements of that character utterly without foundation. No doubt Dudley was her intimate friend, and finding him dead, her romantic mind at once conjured up visions of murder.
Yes. There is a good deal in your argument, I admitted, with a touch of sorrow at the remembrance that Ogle had aspired to her hand.
I never spoke to you on the subject, for fear of making mischief, but I have many times been amazed at your blindness when Dudley and Ella used to flirt openly before your very eyes, he observed, glancing at me.
Ah! you are right, I cried angrily. I foolishly trusted him, believing implicitly in his honour and in Ellas purity.
Of the latter you surely have no cause for suspicion, he exclaimed quickly.
I am not so certain, I replied with bitterness. The more deeply I attempt to probe this mystery, the more sorrow I heap upon myself. I was happy in the belief that she loved no other man except me, yet apparently she is as tactful as an adventuress, and delights in toying with a mans affections.
Every woman is fickle, my friend remarked sympathetically. If she is thrown into the society of one man frequently, and passes idle hours alone with him, she either ends in loving him or hating him. There is little purely platonic friendship between men and women nowadays.
Yes, alas! I echoed, as we entered the carriage drive and passed the well-remembered spot where I had discovered the body. There is very little indeed.
A quarter of an hour later I stood alone before the window of the bright morning-room which commanded a beautiful view of the brilliant, sunlit Thames, and the row of tall, swaying poplars and drooping, wind-whitened willows on the opposite shore. I was awaiting Ella, who had, her maid told me, gone to her room.
Presently, pale-faced and trembling, she entered, and, closing the door, moved slowly towards me, stretching forth her hand in silence, her tearful eyes downcast. I grasped the slim, white fingers, and found them cold as marble.
Geoffrey, she exclaimed, low and huskily. Geoffrey, forgive me!
Forgive! For what reason? I inquired sternly, looking at her in admiration, yet determined to be firm. This was, I resolved, to be our last interview.
Because I I was foolish and weak, and She paused, sighing deeply.
Well? I said cynically. What other excuse?
Yes, yes, she cried brokenly. I know they are mean, paltry excuses. I know I am trying to make you believe it was not my own fault, yet and pausing again, she raised her clear blue eyes to mine with passionate glance, and yet, Geoffrey, I love you in a manner I have loved no other man before.
You have a strange way of exhibiting this so-called affection, I observed coldly. You actually encouraged the advances of the man in whom I reposed foolish and ill-placed confidence.