That, we have not yet been able to ascertain, he replied, leading her to the room where the dead lay. I hastily stepped back and resumed my former position at the foot of the corpse. As the girl crossed the threshold she hesitated a moment, then walked steadily in.
Miss May Derwent, I believe? the Coroner inquired, in his suavest tones. Again she bowed assent.
Please look at this man and tell me if you have ever seen him before. Before replying, the girl slowly lifted her veil and revealed to my astonished eyes, not only a face of very unusual beauty, butand this is what I found inexplicablecoils of golden hair! Where were the raven locks I had seen only a few hours before? Had I dreamed them? But no, my memory was too clear on this point. My surprise was so great that I am afraid I showed it, for I caught Mr. Merritt looking at me with one of his enigmatical smiles. Miss Derwent was excessively pale, with heavy black rings under her eyes, but otherwise she seemed perfectly composed. She looked at the corpse a moment, then turning towards the Coroner, said, in a clear, steady voice: I do not know the man.
Have you ever seen him before?
No, she answered, quietly.
Miss Derwent, pardon my questioning you still further, but I have been told that a gentleman closely resembling the deceased called on you on Tuesday evening. Now, do you see any resemblance between the two?
A burning blush overspread the girls face, and then she grew so ghastly pale that I moved to her side, fearing she would fall.
Mr. Coroner, cant the rest of the questions you have to ask Miss Derwent be put to her somewhere else? I suggested. The atmosphere here is intolerable.
Certainly, he replied, with unexpected mildness.
I drew the young ladys unresisting hand through my arm and supported her into the next room. She was trembling so violently that she would have fallen if I had not done so, and I could see that it was only by the greatest self-control that she kept any semblance of composure.
Now, resumed the Coroner, if you feel well enough, will you kindly answer my last question?
The gentleman who called on me on Tuesday does not resemble the dead man, except in so far that they both have black, pointed beards.
At what time did your friend leave you on Tuesday evening? was the next question asked.
I cannot see why the private affairs of my visitors or myself should be pried into, she replied, haughtily. I decline to answer.
My dear young lady, here interposed Mr. Merritt, you have, of course, every right not to answer any question that you think likely to incriminate you, but, he continued with a smile, it is hardly possible that anything could do that. On the other hand, it is our duty to try and sift this matter to the bottom. You certainly will agree with the necessity of it when I tell you that this man has been murdered!
Murdered! the girl repeated, as if dazed. Oh, no!
I regret to say that there is absolutely no doubt of it. Now, one of the elevator boys has identified the corpse as that of the gentleman who called on you the day before yesterday. I do not doubt that he was mistaken,in fact, I am sure of it; but as no one saw your friend leave the building, it becomes incumbent on us to make sure that he did so. It will save a great deal of trouble to us, and perhaps to yourself, if you will tell us the gentlemans name and at what hour he left here.
She had covered her face with her hands, but now dropped them, and lifting her head, faced us with an air of sudden resolution.
Gentlemen, she began, then hesitated and looked at us each in turn, you can readily imagine that it will be a terrible thing for me if my name should in any way, however indirectly, be connected with this tragedy. But I see that it is useless to refuse to answer your questions. It will only make you believe that I have something to conceal. I can but ask you, you on whom I have no claim, to shield from publicity a girl who has put herself in a terribly false position.
Miss Derwent, I think I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to help you. Nothing you say here shall be heard beyond these walls unless the cause of justice demands it. The Coroner spoke with considerable warmth. Evidently, Miss Mays charms had not been without their effect on him.
Very well, then, said the girl, I will answer your questions. What do you want to know?
In the first place, please tell us how you came to spend two nights in an unoccupied apartment?
I suppose you already know, she answered, a trifle bitterly, that I arrived here unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon? The Coroner made a motion of assent.
I had reached the city earlier in the day, and had meant to catch the five oclock train to Bar Harbor. As I had several errands to do, I sent my maid ahead to the Grand Central Depot with orders to engage a stateroom and check my luggage. I forgot to notice how the time was passing till I caught sight of a clock in Madison Square pointing to eight minutes to five. I jumped into a hansom, but got to the station just in time to see the train steam away, with my maid hanging distractedly out of a window. She paused a moment. A gentleman happened to be with me, she continued with downcast eyes, so we consulted together as to what I had better do. On looking up the trains I found that I could not get back to my mothers country place till nine oclock that evening, and then should have to leave home again at a frightfully early hour so as to catch the morning train to Bar Harbor. Otherwise I should be obliged to wait over till the following afternoon and take a long night journey by myself, which I knew my mother would not wish me to do. Altogether, it seemed so much simpler to remain in town if I could only find a place to go to. Suddenly, our apartment occurred to me. Of course, I knew that the world would not approve of my staying here alone; nevertheless, I decided to do so.
You went out again very soon after your arrival, did you not? asked the Coroner.
Yes, she answered, as there was no way of getting any food here, my friend (she hesitated slightly over the last word) had little difficulty in persuading me to dine with him at a quiet restaurant in the neighbourhood.
Did the gentleman return to the Rosemere after dinner?
Yes.
And did he leave you then?
Miss Derwent hesitated a moment, then, throwing her head back she answered proudly: No! But a deep crimson again suffused her cheek, and she added almost apologetically: It was all so unconventional that I did not see why I should draw the line at his spending the evening with me. He was a very intimate friend.
Why do you use the past tense? asked Mr. Merritt. She cast a little frightened glance in his direction, evidently startled at being caught up so quickly: Wewe had a very serious disagreement, she murmured.
Was the disagreement so serious as to put an end to your friendship? inquired the detective.
Yes, she replied curtly, while an angry light came into her eyes.
At what time did the gentleman leave you? resumed the Coroner.
It was very late;after eleven, I think.
And you have not seen him again since then?
Certainly not, she replied.
Why did you not carry out your first intention of leaving the city on the following morning?
The girl appeared slightly embarrassed as she answered: I did not feel like paying visits just at the moment, and besides I had not enough money to carry me as far as Bar Harbor. My maid had most of my money, and I was no longer willing to borrow from my visitor, as I had intended doing.
Why did you not carry out your first intention of leaving the city on the following morning?
The girl appeared slightly embarrassed as she answered: I did not feel like paying visits just at the moment, and besides I had not enough money to carry me as far as Bar Harbor. My maid had most of my money, and I was no longer willing to borrow from my visitor, as I had intended doing.
Excuse my questioning you still further, said the Coroner, with a glance of admiration at the beautiful girl, who was fretting under the examination, but, why, then, didnt you return to your home?
I did not wish to do so. Then, catching Mr. Merritts eye, she added: I had been a good deal upset byby what had occurred the night before and felt the need of a day to myself. Besides, I had some shopping to do, and thought this a good opportunity to do it. I am going home this morning.
Thank you, Miss Derwent, exclaimed the Coroner, heartily; your explanations are perfectly satisfactory. Only you have forgotten to tell us the gentlemans name.
Why need you know his name? she demanded, passionately, you will soon find out who this unknown man is. There must be hundreds of people in this city who knew him. Why should I tell you the name of my visitor? I refuse to do so.
Miss Derwent is quite right, interposed the detective, with unexpected decision; once convinced that the dead man and her friend are not identical, and the latters name ceases to be of any importance to us.
Quite so, quite so, the Coroner rather grudgingly assented.
Can I go now? she inquired.
Certainly, said the Coroner, cordially. Good-day, Miss.
I was just going to offer myself as an escort when Mr. Merritt stepped quietly forward, and possessed himself of the young ladys bag. With a distant bow, that included impartially the Coroner and myself, Miss Derwent left the room.
Remember Mrs. Atkins, the detective murmured as he prepared to follow her. I nodded a curt assent. My brain was in a whirl. What was I to believe? This beautiful, queenlike creature seemed incapable of deceit, and yetwho were the two people I had so lately seen in her apartment? Why had no mention been made of them? No matter; I felt my belief in the young girls innocence and goodness rise superior to mere facts, and then and there vowed to become her champion should she ever need one, which I very much feared she might. I was vaguely annoyed that the detective should have insisted on escorting her. Had he a motive for this, I wondered, or had he simply succumbed to her fascination, like the rest of us? At any rate, I didnt like it, and I rang Mrs. Atkinss bell in considerable ill humour.
CHAPTER V
MRS. ATKINS HOLDS SOMETHING BACK
IS Mrs. Atkins ready? I inquired of the pretty maid. Before she had time to answer, I heard the frou-frou of silk skirts advancing rapidly towards me. The perfume I had already noticed grew still more overpowering, and the lady herself appeared. And an exceedingly pretty little woman she proved to to be, too, with golden hair and cheeks that rivalled the roses. Her large blue eyes were as innocent and, it would be hypercritical to add, as expressionless as her sisters of the toy-shop. A white muslin garment, slashed in every direction to admit of bands and frills of lace, enveloped her small person, and yards of blue ribbon floated around her. Her tiny, dimpled fingers were covered with glittering rings, which, however, scarcely outshone her small pink nails. She beamed coquettishly at me, showing some very pretty, sharp little teeth as she did so, and I found myself smiling back at her, completely forgetting the tragic errand I had come on.
Oh, Doctor, she cried, in a high treble voice, isnt it dreadful! They tell me that a poor man has been killed in the building, and I am so terrified at having to look at him! Must I really do so? She wrung her hands in graceful distress.
Im afraid you must, I replied, smiling down at her.
But you will go with me, wont you? she begged.
Certainly, dear Madam, and if your servants are also ready we had better get it over immediately.
As the lady crossed the threshold of her apartment she tucked her hand confidingly into my arm, as if the support of the nearest man were her indisputable right, and, followed by the two servants, we proceeded in this fashion down-stairs. Mr. Merritt met us on the landing, and, signing to the two girls to wait outside, ushered us into the room where the body lay.
As Mrs. Atkins caught sight of the dead man a great shudder shook her whole body, and I felt the hand on my arm grow suddenly rigid. She neither screamed nor fainted, but stood strangely still, as if turned to stone, her eyes riveted on the corpse in a horrified stare.
Mrs. Atkins? inquired the Coroner.
She seemed incapable of answering him.
Mrs. Atkins, he repeated, a little louder, do you recognise the deceased?
This time she moved slightly and tried to moisten her grey lips. At last, with a visible effort, she slowly raised her eyes and glanced about her with fear.
No, no, she murmured, in a hollow voice.
Mrs. Atkins, I must request you to look at the dead man again, the detective said, fixing his eyes on her. One of the elevator boys has identified the body as that of a gentleman who called on you on Tuesday evening.
She raised her arm as if to ward off a blow, and moved slightly away from me.
I dont know the man, she said.
You deny that he called on you on Tuesday evening?
I do, she answered, in a steady voice.
I saw that she was rapidly recovering her self-control, and I made up my mind that I had misjudged the little woman. Under that soft, childish exterior must lie an indomitable will.
Do you deny that you received a man on that evening? She glanced hastily at each of us before answering: No.
Oh, you did see a gentleman? Who was he?
She hesitated a moment: An old friend.
Will you kindly tell us his name?
No! I wont have him mixed up in this.
Madam, said the detective, the deceased has been murdered, and A shriek interrupted him.
Murdered! Oh, no, no, she gasped, her eyes wide with terror.
I regret to say that there is no doubt of it.
But when,how? she demanded, in a trembling voice.
On Tuesday night.
She drew a deep breath. The horror faded slowly from her face, and she repeated with great composure, Oh, Tuesday night, with a slight emphasis on the Tuesday.
The change in her was perfectly startling. She seemed calm,almost indifferent.
Have you discovered how he was murdered? she inquired.
Yes; he was stabbed through the heart by an instrument no larger than a knitting-needle.
How strange, she exclaimed; do you know who committed the crime?
Not yet, said the Coroner; and now, Mrs. Atkins, I ask you again if you are quite sure that you have never seen the deceased before?
Yes, she answered, firmly.
And you are willing to testify to this effect?
Yes.
You are aware that the elevator boy has positively identified the body as that of your visitor?
I guess my words as good as a niggers, she said, with a defiant toss of her head.
No doubt, replied the Coroner, politely; but if you would tell us the name and address of your friend we could look him up and be able to assure the police of his safety, and so save you the disagreeable necessity of appearing in court.