I see, said the Coroner.
An so dat ebenin I goes off at half-past eight and Joe he run de elevator till eleben.
Did any one call on Miss Derwent yesterday?
I see nobody, sah.
Did the young lady go out during the day?
Yes, sah.
Tell us all you know of her movements.
Jim rubbed his woolly pate in some perplexity: Well, sah, yesterday de young lady she went out mighty early, little before eight, maybe, and den she come back about ten; but she dont stay long; goes out again mos right away.
Here Jim paused, evidently searching his memory.
Pears to me she come in bout half-past twelve; at any rate twasnt no later, and she goes out again immedjutely. Yes, sah, and den I seed her come in bout seven, and I aint seen her again, he ended up with a sigh of relief.
And you are sure that she was alone each time you saw her?
Yes, sah. A good many parcels come for her in de afternoon, he added.
Well, Jim, said the Coroner, you may go now; but mind you, dont say a word about this business to any one; do you hear? If I find out you have been gossipping Ill know how to deal with you, and he looked so threatening that Im sure the unfortunate boy expected capital punishment to follow any incautious remark.
Pardon me, said Mr. Merritt, with a slight bow towards the Coroner, but I should like to ask Jim how this man was dressed when he saw him last.
Just so s he is now, sah, replied Jim, pointing to the Tuxedo coat, which had been thrown over the body.
The negro lad who next appeared, bowing and scraping, was not at all intimidated by the scene before him, and seemed to think himself quite the hero of the occasion.
Your name is Joe Burr, I believe, began the Coroner, consulting a small paper he held in his hand, and you run the elevator here?
Yes, sah.
Now look carefully at this body and tell me if you recognize it as that of anyone you know.
The boy looked at the dead man attentively for some moments and then answered: Yes, sah.
Who is he?
I dunno his name, sah; he wouldnt send up his card.
Have you seen him often?
No, sah; just dat once.
When was that?
Tuesday ebenin, sah.
At what time?
It was a quarter to ten, zactly.
How are you so sure of the exact time? the Coroner asked, in some surprise.
Cause I thought it mighty late to call on a lady, and so I looked at de clock when I come down.
Do you remember his ever calling on Miss Derwent before?
Why, sah, twasnt Miss Derwent he was calling on; twas Mrs. Atkins. This was a surprise; even the detective seemed interested.
So it was Mrs. Atkins he had been calling on, exclaimed the Coroner.
No, sah; it were Mrs. Atkins he gwine ter call on. He only come at a quarter to ten. He wouldnt send up his card; said hes spected.
And did Mrs. Atkins receive him?
Yes, sah.
Do you remember at what time he left?
No, sah; I didnt see him go out.
Now, Joe, there was another gentleman calling in the building on that evening. When did he leave?
Joe seemed bewildered. I didnt see no other gemman, sah.
Now, my lad, try and remember!
No, sah; I dun saw no one else. Mr. Stuart, he come in at ten
No, no; it is a tall, dark gentleman, slightly resembling the corpse, that we want to hear about.
I see no such party, sah.
Didnt a gentleman answering to this description call here at about half-past six and ask for a lady?
I couldnt say, sah; I want in de building at dat time.
Did you see Miss Derwent on Tuesday?
Yes, sah; I seen her arrive.
Didnt you see her go out again?
No, sah.
How long were you out?
I went out at six, sah, and stayed till eight, or maybe later.
So you persist in saying that the only stranger you saw enter or leave the building on Tuesday evening, was the deceased?
Yes, sah.
And you are quite sure that you are not mistaken in your identification?
Yes, sah; I noticed him particlar.
What made you notice him particularly?
The lad hesitated. Out with it, said the Coroner.
Well, sah, he seemed like he been drinking.
How did he show it?
He talked loud and angry, sah.
Do you know what he was angry about?
You see, sah, we have orders to ask visitors to send deir names, or deir cards up, and to wait in de reception room till we find out if de parties are at home, or will see dem. Well, he comes in and says very loud, gettin into de elevator, Take me up to de fifth floor, and I says, says I, Do you mean Mrs. Atkins? and he says, Yes, fellow, and be quick bout it. And den I asks him to wait, and send up his card, and he roars: Min your own business, fellow; Im spected. So I gwine take him up, and rings de bell, and he says: Dats all. But I waited till de door opened, and there were Mrs. Atkins herself, and she didnt say notin, and he jus went in.
Joe paused for breath.
Is Mrs. Atkins in the habit of answering the door-bell herself?
No, sah; I neber see her do so befo.
Was Mr. Atkins in the house at the time?
No, sah; de gemman was out of town. Another sensation!
When did he return?
Some time las night.
Now, inquired the Coroner, what can you tell us about Miss Derwents movements during the last two days?
Joes answers coincided, as far as they went, with Jims statements.
And Mrs. Atkins,what did she do yesterday, the Coroner asked.
Well, sah, she went out mighty early and stayed till late in de arternoon, and when she come in she had her veil all pulled down, but peared to me she had been crying.
Did she say anything?
No, sah.
Now, Joe, would it have been possible on Tuesday evening for a man to walk downstairs, and go out, without your seeing him, while you were running the elevator?
Yes, sah, praps, the lad answered, dubiously; but Tony, hes de hall boy, he would a seen him.
Have you told us all you know of the deceased?
Yes, sah.
And you have not noticed any strangers hanging around the building during the last few days?
No, sah.
Very well, then; you may go. Send in Tony.
Yes, sah; tank you, sah, and Joe bowed himself out.
A few minutes later a small darky appeared.
Now, Tony, began the Coroner, solemnly, look at this man carefully; did you ever see him before? The boy looked at the body attentively for some time, then said: No, sah.
Do you mean to say that you saw no one resembling the deceased come to this building on Tuesday evening?
No, sah.
Where were you on that evening? Now, be careful what you answer.
Well, sah, I went out bout half-past six to do some errands for Mr. McGorry. McGorry nodded assent to this.
And when did you return?
Guess it must have been mos eight, sah, but I disremember, zactly.
Did you see Miss Derwent either come in or go out on Tuesday evening?
Yes, sah, I seen her come; she had a satchel.
But did you see her again after that?
But did you see her again after that?
No, sah.
Mrs. Atkinswhat did she do on Tuesday?
Dunno, sah; didnt see her go out all day.
And yesterday, what did she do then?
Mrs. Atkins? She went out in de mornin and come in in de ebenin.
Did you notice anything unusual about her?
Well, peared to us shed been crying.
Can you remember who went in or out of the building on Tuesday evening? the Coroner asked.
Well, sah, nears I can say only two gemmen come inMr. Stuart, and a gemman who called on Mrs. Atkins.
Does the corpse at all resemble that gentleman?
I couldnt rightly say, sah.
Why not?
Well, sah, I was a-sittin in de office when he come, an I jus see a big man go past and heard him talkin loud in de elevator.
While Joe was upstairs what did you do?
I sat in de front hall, sah.
Did you see anyone go out?
No, sah.
After being severely admonished not to speak of this affair to anyone, Tony was allowed to depart.
Now we have got through with the employees of the building, said the Coroner, and must begin on the families and their servants.
Yes, Mr. Coroner, and I think I had better step up-stairs myself and tell Mr. and Mrs. Atkins that you want to see them, said Mr. Merritt, and, in case the lady should be overcome by the sad news, perhaps it would be as well for Dr. Fortescue to come along also.
I was only too delighted, of course.
CHAPTER IV
UNWILLING WITNESSES
NOT waiting for the elevator, we walked up the intervening flight and rang a bell on our right. The door was opened by a neat-looking maid, who showed some surprise at our early call.
Is Mr. Atkins at home? inquired the detective.
Yes, sir; but he is having his breakfast.
Ah, indeed; I am sorry to disturb him, replied Mr. Merritt. However, it cant be helped. Will you please tell your master that two gentlemen must see him for a few moments on important business.
Yes, sir, and showing us into a gaudily furnished room on our left, the girl vanished. I saw at once that this was not the scene of last nights drama, but a smaller room adjoining the other. My observations were almost immediately interrupted by the entrance of a young man, whose handsome face was at that moment disfigured by a scowl.
Mr. Atkins, I believe, said Mr. Merritt, advancing towards him with his most conciliatory smile. Mr. Atkins nodded curtly. It is my painful duty, continued the detective, to inform you that a very serious accident has occurred in the building.
The frown slowly faded from the young mans forehead, giving place to a look of concern. Oh, Im so sorry! he exclaimed, in the most natural manner; what has happened? Can I do anything?
Well, Mr. Atkins, replied Mr. Merritt, slowly, to tell you the truth, a man has been killed, and as we havent been able to find any one so far who can identify him we are going through the formality of asking every one in the building to take a look at the corpse, hoping to discover somebody who knew the dead man, or at any rate can give us some clue to his identity. Will you and Mrs. Atkins and your two servants, therefore, kindly step down-stairs? The body is lying in the unoccupied apartment on the next floor.
Killed! exclaimed young Atkins. How dreadful! how did it happen? But without waiting for an answer he pulled out his watch, which he consulted anxiously. Pardon me, gentlemen, but I have a most important engagement down town which it is impossible for me to postpone. My wife is not up yet, and I really cant wait for her to get ready; but I can go with you now, and take a look at the poor fellow on my way out. In the meantime, Mrs. Atkins will dress as quickly as possible, and follow with the two girls as soon as she is ready.
All right, said Mr. Merritt; that will do nicely. Dr. Fortescue, with a wave of his hand in my direction, will stay here, and escort Mrs. Atkins down-stairs. Ladies sometimes are overcome by the sight of death.
Yes, yes; and my wife is very excitable, rejoined the young man. I am glad Dr. Fortescue will wait and go down with herif it isnt troubling you too much, he added, turning towards me.
Not at all, I replied, politely but firmly, with my eyes on Mr. Merritt. I shall be delighted to return for Mrs. Atkins in a quarter of an hour and escort her down-stairs.
I watched the detective keenly to see how he would take this disregarding of his orders, but he only smiled amiably, almost triumphantly, I thought. Mr. Atkins now left us, and I could hear him dashing up-stairs several steps at a time. How I longed to pierce the ceiling, and hear how he broke the news to his wife, and above all to observe how she took it. He returned in a few minutes, and, snatching his hat from the hall-table, prepared to follow us. On the way down he inquired with great interest about the accident, but Merritt put him off with evasive replies. When confronted with the dead body, he gazed at it calmly, but with a good deal of curiosity.
Did you know the deceased? the Coroner asked him.
The young man shook his head. Never saw him before. Then, looking at the corpse more closely he exclaimed: Why, he is a gentleman; cant you find out who he is?
We havent been able to, so far, replied the Coroner.
How did the accident occur?
He was murdered.
The young man started back in horror.Murdered, and in this houseHow, when?
Presumably the night before last.
Was it my imagination, or did Mr. Atkins turn slightly pale? Tuesday night, he muttered. After a brief silence he turned to us, and withdrawing his eyes from the corpse with obvious difficulty, said, in a hearty, matter-of-fact voice: Gentlemen, I regret that I have to leave you. I should like to hear some more of this affair, but I suppose if you do discover anything you will keep it pretty close?
You bet well try to, the Coroner assured him. After shaking us all most cordially by the hand, Mr. Atkins departed, and was escorted down-stairs by the detective, whose excessive politeness seemed to me very suspicious. Was he going to put a sleuth on the young mans tracks? I wondered.
The air in the room was heavy with the odour of death, so I stepped out on the landing. The workmen were all talking in low tones. I know that Frenchman did it; I know it, I overheard one of them say. Much excited by these words, I was just going to ask who the Frenchman was, and why he should be suspected, when Mr. Merritt stepped out of the elevator and rang the bell of the opposite apartment. Miss Derwent had evidently not been far off, for the door was opened almost immediately, and a tall, slight young figure stood on the threshold. She was dressed in a quiet travelling suit, and a thick brown veil pulled down over her face rendered her features, in the dim light of the landing, completely invisible.
Miss Derwent? inquired Mr. Merritt. She bowed. You have no doubt been told, he continued, that a very serious accident has occurred in the building. She inclined her head slowly. As we have been unable to identify the corpsehere the detective paused, but she gave no sign and he went onwe are asking every one in the house to take a look at it.
Instead of answering, the girl went back into the apartment, but returned in a minute, carrying a handbag. Stepping out on to the landing she shut and locked the door behind her with apparent composure. As she turned to follow the detective she asked, in a low but distinct voice: How did this accident occur?