In court, she repeated, with a horrified expression. Evidently this possibility had not occurred to her, and she glanced hurriedly around as if contemplating immediate flight.
Mrs. Atkins, said the detective, earnestly, I do not think that you realise certain facts. A man has been murdered who has been identified, rightly or wrongly, with your visitor. Now, no one saw your friend leave the building, and it is our business to ascertain that he did so. Can you tell us what became of him?
A hunted expression came into her eyes, but she answered in a steady voice: My friend left me at a little after eleven; he was going to take the midnight train to Boston. She paused. His name is Allan Brownthere, now!
Thank you, madam, and what is Mr. Browns address in Boston?
I dont know.
What was his address in New York?
Im sure I dont know.
Was he in any business?
I dont know, she answered, sullenly, with a glance at the door.
Mrs. Atkins, you seem singularly ignorant about your friend,your old friend.
Well, I hadnt seen him for some years. Hes a stranger in the city.
Where is his home?
I dont know, she answered, impatiently.
Are you a New Yorker, Mrs. Atkins? inquired the detective.
No.
Ah, I thought not! And where do you come from?
Chicago.
Chicago? Indeed! Ive been there some myself, Mr. Merritt continued, in a conversational tone. Nice place. How long is it since you left there?
Six months, she answered, curtly.
So it was in Chicago you knew your friend?
Yes, she admitted, with a slight start.
And you are sure he didnt belong there?
Yes; but look here: why are you asking such a lot of questions about him? Ive told you his name and where hes gone to, and if you cant find him thats your lookout.
The consequences of our not being able to find him would be much more serious for you than for me, remarked Mr. Merritt, quietly.
Now, Mrs. Atkins, resumed the Coroner, can you say in what particular Mr. Brown differs from this dead man?
Oh, theyre a good deal alike, she replied, fluently,but I noticed that she did not look in the direction of the corpse,only Mr. Browns younger, and not so heavy, and his nose is different. Still, the man does resemble Mr. Brown surprisingly. It gave me quite a shock when I first saw him. It certainly had, only I wondered if that were the true explanation.
Please tell us what you did yesterday.
I went out in the morning and I came home at about half-past five.
What were you doing during all that time?
Oh, several things; I called on some friends and did some errands.
Your husband has been out of town, I hear?
Yes.
When did he leave the city?
On Tuesday morning.
When did he return?
Last night.
At what time?
Half-past one.
Where did he come from?
Boston.
But surely the Boston train gets in a good deal earlier than that! the Coroner exclaimed.
Yes, there had been a delay owing to a slight accident on the line, she reluctantly explained.
Is Mr. Atkins often away?
Yes; hes out of town every week or so, on business.
Thank you, Mrs. Atkins, that is all, the Coroner concluded, politely. But the lady was not so easily appeased, and flounced out of the room without deigning to glance at any of us.
The detective slipped out after herto call the maids, as he explained, but it was five or six minutes before he returned with the waitress.
After answering several unimportant questions, the girl was asked whether she had ever seen the deceased before. No, sir, she replied, promptly.
Did anyone call on your mistress on Tuesday evening?
I cant say, sir; I was out.
At what time did you go out?
At about a quarter to eight, sir.
Where did you go to?
We went to a party at me sisters.
Who do you mean by we?
The cook and me, sir.
Ah, the cook went out, too?
Yes, sir.
Do you usually go out together?
No, sir.
How did it happen that you did so on Tuesday?
Mr. Atkins, he was away, so Mrs. Atkins she said we might both go out.
Mr. Atkins is often away from home, isnt he?
Yes, sir.
How often?
About once a fortnight, sir.
Has Mrs. Atkins ever allowed you both to go out together before?
No, sir.
Where does your sister live, and what is her name?
Mrs. Moriarty, 300 Third Avenue.
The Coroner paused to scribble down the address, then resumed:
At what time did you get back from the party?
The girl tugged at her dress in some embarrassment. It might have been after eleven, she reluctantly admitted.
How much afterquarter past, half-past? he suggested, as she still hesitated.
It was almost half-past, sir.
And when you returned, did you see your mistress?
Oh, yes, sir.
Was she alone?
Yes, sir, the girl answered, with some surprise.
Did you notice anything unusual about her?
Well, sir, shed been crying, and I never see her cry before.
What did Mrs. Atkins say to you?
She scolded us for being so late, the girl answered shamefacedly.
Was that all she said?
Yes, sir.
Where was your mistress when you saw her?
She was lying on the sofy in her bed-room, tired like.
What did Mrs. Atkins do yesterday?
She went out after breakfast and didnt come back till nearly six.
How did she seem when she returned?
Shed been crying awful, and she just lay quiet and wouldnt eat no dinner.
Do Mr. and Mrs. Atkins get along well together?
Oh, sir, theyre that loving, she answered with a blush and a smile.
Again my curiosity got the better of my discretion, and I asked: Did you hear any strange noises during the night?
The Coroner glared at me, but said nothing this time.
Well, replied the girl, me and Jane did think as wed heard a scream.
Ha, ha, thought I, and I saw Mr. Merritt indulge in one of his quiet smiles.
So you heard a scream, said the Coroner.
I dont know for sure; I thought so.
At what time did you hear it?
I dont know, sir; some time in the night.
What did you do when you heard it?
Nothing, sir.
This was all that could be got out of her, so she made way for the cook, who, after being cross-questioned at some length, did no more than corroborate the waitresss statement, only she was more positive of having heard the screech as she called it.
Could you tell whether it was a man or woman who screamed? inquired the Coroner.
It was a womans voice, sir.
Mr. Stuart, who was next admitted, proved to be a small, middle-aged man, extremely well groomed, and whom I recognized as one of the members of my Club, whose name I had never known. On being asked if he had ever seen the dead man before, he solemnly inserted a single eye-glass into his right eye, and contemplated the corpse with the greatest imperturbability.
So far as I can remember, I have never seen the man before, he answered at last. After replying satisfactorily to a few more questions, he was allowed to retire, and his cook took his place. She was a large, stout woman about thirty years old, with a good deal of that coarse Southern beauty, which consists chiefly in snapping black eyes, masses of dark hair, and good teeth. On catching sight of the corpse, she threw up her hands and uttered a succession of squeals, which she seemed to consider due to the horror of the occasion, and then turned serenely towards the Coroner, and with a slight courtesy stood smilingly awaiting his questions.
So far as I can remember, I have never seen the man before, he answered at last. After replying satisfactorily to a few more questions, he was allowed to retire, and his cook took his place. She was a large, stout woman about thirty years old, with a good deal of that coarse Southern beauty, which consists chiefly in snapping black eyes, masses of dark hair, and good teeth. On catching sight of the corpse, she threw up her hands and uttered a succession of squeals, which she seemed to consider due to the horror of the occasion, and then turned serenely towards the Coroner, and with a slight courtesy stood smilingly awaiting his questions.
What is your name? he inquired.
Jeanne Alexandrine Argot, she replied.
You are in the employ of Mr. Stuart?
Yes, sar. I ave been with Mr. Stuah, six a years, and he tell you
Please look at the deceased, and tell me if you have ever seen him before? the Coroner hastily interrupted.
No, sar.
After answering a few more questions with overpowering volubility, she withdrew, and her husband entered. He was a tall, vigorous man, with large hawk-like eyes, apparently a good deal older than his wife. He bowed to us all on entering, and stood respectfully near the door, waiting to be spoken to.
What is your name? inquired the Coroner.
Celestin Marie Argot.
You work for Mr. Stuart?
Yes, sar; I am Meester Stuahs butlair.
Look at this corpse, and tell me if you can identify it as that of any one you know, or have ever seen?
He now glanced for the first time at the body, and I thought I saw his face contract slightly. But the expression was so fleeting that I could not be sure of it, and when he raised his head a few moments later he seemed perfectly composed and answered calmly: I do not know ze man.
Apparently the Coroner was not completely satisfied, for he went on: You know that this man has been murdered, and that it is your duty to give us any information that might lead to his identification. Have you seen any suspicious persons about the building during the last few days?
No, sar; nobody,but I thought he had hesitated an instant before answering.
You must see a good many people pass up and down the back stairs, the detective remarked; especially in this hot weather, when you must be obliged to leave the kitchen door open a good deal so as to get a draught.
The man cast a hurried, and I thought an apprehensive, glance at Mr. Merritt, and replied quickly: Yes, sar; ze door is open almos all ze time, but I ave seen nobody.
Nobody? repeated the detective.
Yes, sar, Argot asserted, still more emphatically. No vone, excep ze butchair, ze bakair, and ze ozer tradesmen, of course.
How early are you likely to open the kitchen door? To leave it open, I mean?
Oh, not till eight oclock, perhapMadame Argot, she stay in déshabille till zen.
What time do you go to bed?
At ten oclock generally, but some time eleven oclockeven midnightit depens.
What time did you go to bed on Tuesday?
At eleven, sar.
What had you been doing during the evening?
I had been at a restaurant wiz some friends.
And when did you return?
At about half-pas ten.
Did you come in the back way?
Yes, sar.
How did you get in?
My wife, she open ze door.
And you saw nobody as you came in?
He paused almost imperceptibly. No, sar, he answered. But I was now convinced that he was holding something back.
Very well; you can go, said the Coroner. The fellow bowed himself out with a good deal of quiet dignity.
I kinder fancy that man knows something he wont tell, said the Coroner. Now, weve seen every one but the workmen, he continued, wearily, mopping his forehead. I dont believe one of them knows a thing; still, Ive got to go through with it, I suppose, and going to the door he beckoned them all in.
There were five of them, including the foreman, and they appeared to be quiet, respectable young men. After looking at the dead man intently for some minutes, they all asserted that they had never laid eyes on him before.
Now have any of you noticed during the three days you have been working here anybody who might have taken the key, kept it for some hours, and returned it without your noticing it? inquired the Coroner.
Weve seen no strangers, the foreman replied, cautiously.
Who have you seen? The foreman was evidently prepared for this question.
Well, sir, weve seen altogether six people: Jim, and Joe, and Tony, Mr. McGorry, Miss Derwent, and the Frinchman, he replied, checking them off on his fingers.
When did the Frenchman come up here?
Yistidy morning, sir; he said he come to see the decorations, and he come again about three; but he didnt stay long. I warnt a-going to have him hanging round here interfering!
Did any of his actions at the time strike you as suspicious?
No, sir, acknowledged the foreman.
And Miss Derwent; when did you see her?
I didnt see her myself in the morning, but hewith a nod towards one of the men,he saw her look in as she was waiting for the elevator, and in the afternoon she come right in.
Did she say anything?
Yes, sir; she said the paint and papers were mighty pretty.
When you saw Miss Derwent, said the Coroner, addressing the man whom the foreman had pointed out, what was she doing?
She was standing just inside the hall.
Was her hand on the door knob?
I didnt notice, sir.
Did the young lady say anything?
When she saw me a-looking at her, she just said: How pretty! and went away.
Have any of you seen Mr. or Mrs. Atkins, or either of their girls, since you have been working here? They all replied in the negative.
The Coroners physician turned up at this juncture, with many apologies for his late arrival, so, having no further excuse for remaining, I took my leave. The lower hall swarmed with innumerable reporters, trying to force their way upstairs, and who were only prevented from doing so by the infuriated McGorry and two or three stalwart policemen. On catching sight of me they all fell upon me with one accord, and I only managed to escape by giving them the most detailed description of the corpse and professing complete ignorance as to everything else.
CHAPTER VI
A LETTER AND ITS ANSWER
WHEN I got back to my diggings I was astonished to find that it was only ten oclock. How little time it takes to change the whole world for one! All day long I forced myself to go about my usual work, but the thought of May Derwent never left me.
It was the greatest relief to find that in none of the evening papers did her name appear. How McGorry managed to conceal from the reporters the fact that she had been in the building remains a mystery to this daybut how thankful I was that he was able to do so! Already my greatest preoccupation was to preserve her fair name from the least breath of scandal. Not for an instant did I believe her to be connected with the murder;on the other hand, I felt equally sure that she was in some great trouble, the nature of which I could not even guess. I longed to protect and help her, but how was I to do so, ignorant as I was of everything concerning her. I didnt even know where she was at that moment. At her mothers, perhaps. But where was that? Suddenly I remembered that my great friend, Fred Cowper, had mentioned in one of his recent letters that Mrs. Derwent and his mother were near neighbours in the country. To think that that lucky dog had been spending the last month within a stones throw, perhaps, of her househad seen her every day probably, and had been allowed these inestimable privileges simply because he had broken an old leg! And I, who would gladly have sacrificed both legs to have been in his place, was forced to remain in New York becauseforsooth!of an apoplectic old patientwho refused either to live or die! Well, as I couldnt go to her, it was at any rate a comfort to be able to get news of her so easilyso seizing a pen, I hastily scratched off the following note: