At first I hesitated, refusing to compromise her, yet she had fallen upon her knees imploring me to help her, and I was bound to fulfil the promise I had so injudiciously made.
There was no love between us now, she had declared. The flame had flickered and died out long ago.
If you will only consent to act as though I were your wife, then I may be able to save myself, she urged. You will do so, will you not?
But why? I had asked. I cannot see how our pretended marriage can assist you?
Leave it all to me, was her confident reply. One day you will discern the reason.
And then, with tears in her beautiful eyes, and kneeling at my feet, she begged again of me to act as she suggested and thus save her life.
So I consented. Yes you may say that I was foolish, that I was injudicious, that I was still beneath the spell of her exquisite grace and matchless beauty. Perhaps I was: yet I tell you that at the moment so stunned was I by the tragedy, by what Eric had revealed, and by her midnight visit, that I hardly knew what I did.
Very well, Sybil, I said at last. Let it be so. I will help you to escape, and I will act as though I were your husband. For your sake I will do this, although I tell you plainly that I see in it a grave and deadly peril.
There is a far greater peril if I remain unmarried, she answered. You recollect my question this afternoon. I asked whether you would not really marry me. I asked because I feared that the blow might fall, and that I should have to seek protection.
And the blow has fallen? I asked.
Yes, she answered, in a low, desperate voice. And were it not for you I I should go to my room now and kill myself, Wilfrid! You, however, have promised to save me. There is no time to lose. I must get away at once. You will help me to get out the car?
Of course. And you will take Mason? You must take her, I added.
Why?
Because it is dangerous for her to remain here. She may raise the alarm, I said, rather lamely. Take my advice and carry her with you down to Bournemouth.
Very well, she answered, hurriedly, and raising my hand to her soft lips, kissed it before I could prevent her, and said, Wilfrid, let me thank you. You have given me back my life. An hour ago I was in my room and made preparations to bid adieu to everything. But I thought of you my last and only chance of salvation. Ah! you do not know no, no I I can never tell you! I can only give you the thanks of a desperate and grateful woman! And then she slipped out, promising to meet me again there with Mason in a quarter of an hour.
I crept back to my room, and when I had closed the door Eric stepped from his hiding-place.
She intends to fly, I explained. She is going away on the car, and I have persuaded her to take Mason.
On the car? At this hour?
In brief I explained all that had taken place between us, and he listened to me in silence till the end.
What? he cried. You are actually going to make people believe that youre her husband?
Im going to make people in Camberwell believe it, I answered.
But isnt that a very dangerous bit of business? he queried. Suppose any of her people knew it. What would be said?
I only shrugged my shoulders.
Well, he remarked at last, please yourself, old chap, but I cant help thinking that its very unwise. I cant see either how being married protects her in the least.
Nor can I. Yet Ive resolved to shield her, and at the same time to try and solve the mysterious affair, therefore, Im bound to adopt her suggestions. She must get away at once, and we must get Mason out of the neighbourhood those two facts are plain. The motor will run down the avenue without any noise, so shell be miles away when the household awake.
Wheres she going?
I told him, and he agreed that my suggestion had been a good one.
Leaving him in my room, I crept again down the corridor, and presently both she and Mason came noiselessly along in the dark. My little friend had on a thick box-cloth motor coat with fur collar, a motor-cap and her goggles hanging round her neck, while Mason, who often went in the car with her, had also a thick black coat, close cap and veil.
I hope we shant get a break-down, Tibbie said, with a laugh. I really ought to take Webber with me, she added, referring to her smart chauffeur. But how can I?
No, I said. Drive yourself and risk it. I know you can change a tyre or mend a puncture as well as any man. Whereat she laughed.
Very well, she said, let us go, and we crossed the Long Gallery and descended the wide oak stairs, Mason carrying the candle, which she afterwards blew out.
Upon my suggestion, we made our exit by that same window through which Eric and I had passed earlier in the night. Mistress and maid scrambled through, and I assisted them down upon the grass.
Then we slipped across to where the car was, opened the door, and after Sybil had mounted into her place Mason and I pushed the fine Mercedes slowly out, while she steered it down the incline to the avenue.
She let it run twenty yards or so, and afterwards put on the brake to allow her maid to mount beside her. Then after I had tucked the rug round her legs, she gripped my hand tightly and meaningly, saying in a low voice,
Thanks so much, Mr Hughes. Good-bye.
Good-bye, I whispered. Bon voyage.
And slowly the long powerful car glided off almost noiselessly down the incline, and was a moment later lost in the darkness of the great avenue.
I stood peering into the blackness, but in a few moments could hear no further sound. She had escaped, leaving me utterly mystified and wondering.
When, ten minutes later, I returned to Eric and described her silent departure, he said,
So youre going to meet her in town eh?
Yes, in secret, on Thursday night. She has made an appointment. She will leave Mason in Bournemouth, and then simply disappear. By the time Mason returns here the dead man will be in his coffin, therefore she wont have any opportunity of identifying him.
But therell be a hue and cry after her. The police will think that something has happened to her.
Let them think. We shall pretend to make inquiries and assist them. In the meantime, with all these letters and things in our hands, we hold the trump cards.
If Tibbie knew that we had her letters, I wonder what she would say how she would act?
She no doubt fears that they may fall into the hands of the police. That is why she is disappearing.
Of course. And for the present she must be allowed to remain in that belief, Eric replied. I wonder who the man Parham is? We must inquire. On Sydenham Hill are some rather nice houses. I once knew a rather pretty girl who lived in that neighbourhood, and used to take her for evening walks up the hill to the Crystal Palace.
Yes, I said. We must discover all we can about the dead mans friends. We must also call and see the pawnbroker in the Fulham Road. He may be able to tell us who pledged the watch and ring. Indeed, we might get them out of pawn and see whether there are any remarks or inscription that will tell us anything.
With my suggestion he entirely agreed, and for a second time we re-read those curious letters of the woman who was now flying into hiding, and whom I had promised to meet and assist.
I had placed myself in a very difficult and dangerous position. Of that I was well aware. I hoped, however, to save her. Too well I knew that she was in desperation, that she had seriously contemplated suicide until she had resolved to make her appeal for my sympathy and help.
I had placed myself in a very difficult and dangerous position. Of that I was well aware. I hoped, however, to save her. Too well I knew that she was in desperation, that she had seriously contemplated suicide until she had resolved to make her appeal for my sympathy and help.
Yet she was under the impression that I was as yet in ignorance of this tragedy, although in her white, terrified countenance I saw guilt distinctly written.
I took counsel with Eric. He was entirely against the very dangerous part that I had now promised to play, saying, I cant for the life of me see what motive she can have. To hide is all very well to bury herself in a working-class suburb and pretend to be poor is certainly a much safer plan than endeavouring to slip across to the Continent. But why does she want you to act as her husband? Not for appearances sake, surely! And yet if she hadnt a very strong motive she would not thus run the very great risk of compromising herself. She respects you, too, therefore all the stronger reason why she would never ask you to place yourself in that awkward position. No, old fellow, he declared, seating himself upon the edge of my bed, I cant make it out at all.
Of course, it has to do with the affair of yesterday, I remarked.
Undoubtedly. It has some connection with it, but what it is we cant yet discern.
I can only act as she suggests, I remarked.
I fear you cant do anything else, he said, after a pause. Only youll have to be most careful and circumspect, for I can foresee danger ahead. Tibbies clever enough, but she is erratic sometimes, and one untimely word of hers may upset everything. I hardly like the idea of you posing as her husband, Wilfrid. I tell you plainly that I have some distinct premonition of evil forgive me for saying so.
I hope not. Im only consenting to it for her sake.
Because you are still just a little bit fond of her, old fellow. Now, confess it.
Im not, Eric. I swear to you Im not. We could never marry. We are no longer lovers.
I hope not, he said in an altered tone. But pretended love-making is always dangerous, you know.
Well, I said, pacing up the old tapestried room and down again, lets leave love out of the question. What I intend to do is to save Tibbie, and at the same time find out the truth. You, Eric, will help me, wont you?
With all my heart, my dear chap, he said. But well, somehow I have had lately a very faint suspicion of one thing; and that is, I believe Ellice Winsloe is deeply in love with her. Ive seen it in his face. If so, you and I have to reckon with him.
How?
Because as soon as she disappears hell commence making eager inquiries and trying to trace her. His inquiries may lead him in our direction, dont you see. Besides, it would be awkward if he found you down at Camberwell.
I was silent. There was a good deal of truth in what he said. Eric Domville always had a knack of looking far ahead. He was what is vulgarly known as a far-seeing man.
But dont you think that when Im a compositor in a well-worn tweed suit and a threadbare overcoat with wages of two pounds a week Ill be beyond the pale and safe from recognition?
Thats all very well, but the working-class are intelligent. Theyll easily see through a gentlemans disguise.
I quite agree, I said. There is no more intelligent class than the working-class in London, or indeed in any of the big cities of the North. It is the working-man who is the back-bone of England, after all. The capitalist may direct and public companies may manoeuvre, but it is the skilled labourer who has made England what she is. Yes, Im quite with you there. I shall have to exert all my tact if Im to pass as a printer among working-men. Yet Tibbies idea that I should be on a morning paper and be out at work at night is an ingenious one, isnt it?
Ingenious? Why, isnt she one of the very cleverest women in England? he asked. I say that she is as unequalled for her ingenuity as for her beauty. Therefore, Wilfrid, have a care. Ill help you unknown to Tibbie, of course but I beg of you to be careful. And now lets turn in for an hour or so. We must be astir and alert to-morrow, for our work of fathoming the mystery must commence at once. We must be all ears and eyes. We already hold the honours in our hand, it is true; but much very difficult and dangerous work lies before us.
Never mind, I said. We must save her, Eric. We must save her at all hazards!
Chapter Eight.
Mainly about the Stranger
When next morning the tragedy in the wood became known the whole household was agog.
It was discussed at the breakfast-table, and Scarcliff, Wydcombe, Ellice Winsloe and myself agreed to walk down to the village and ascertain the facts. Eric remained behind to drive Lady Wydcombe into Chichester as he had arranged on the previous evening.
About half-past ten we four men walked down the avenue into the village, where we found the constable with two other officers in plain clothes. Great consternation had, of course, been created by the startling news, and the whole village seemed to be gossiping at the doors, and forming wild theories concerning the death of the unfortunate unknown.
After making inquiries of the constables, and hearing details of which I, of course, was already aware, Scarcliff asked leave to view the body.
Certainly, mlord, was Booths prompt reply, and we moved off together.
My great fear was that the village constable should remark upon my previous visit to him, therefore I walked with him, keeping him a considerable distance behind the others as we went up the street.
The superintendent is not here now? I remarked casually, in order that he should recall our meeting up in the wood while we were alone, and not before my friends.
No, sir. The guvnor went back to Chichester about an hour ago, was his answer, and a few minutes later we turned into a farmyard, where in a barn, the door of which was unlocked by one of the men, we saw the body lying face upwards upon a plank on trestles.
Booth drew the handkerchief from the dead face that seemed to stare at us so grimly in the semi-darkness of the barn, and from my companions escaped exclamations of surprise and horror.
Awful! gasped the young viscount who was known as The Scrambler to his intimates a name given to him at Eton; I wonder who murdered him?
I wonder! echoed Ellice Winsloe in a hard, hushed voice.
His strange tone attracted me, and my eyes fell upon his countenance. It had, I was amazed to see, blanched in an instant, and was as white as that of the dead man himself.
The sudden impression produced upon the others was such that they failed to notice the change in Ellice. I, however, saw it distinctly.
I was confident of one thing that he had identified the victim.
Yet he said nothing beyond agreeing with his companions that a dastardly crime had been committed, and expressing a hope that the assassin would be arrested.
Hes a stranger, declared Scarcliff.
Yes an entire stranger, said Winsloe, emphatically, and at the same time he bent forward to get a better view of the lifeless countenance. Standing behind, I watched him closely.
The sight of the body had produced a remarkable change in him. His face was wild and terrified, and I saw that his lips trembled.
Nevertheless he braced himself up with a great effort, and said,
Then its a complete mystery. He was found by Harris, the keeper, last night?